Multimedia Gallery
Videos
Watch scientific animations, presentations, video shorts, training, and more related to USGS science and research.
I Am A...Fire Ecologist
Welcome to the "The I Am A..." series. This is the third video in a series of USGS whiteboard animations that highlight USGS careers. The concept is to show "what society (or my mom) thinks I do" compared with "what I really do." One image captures a more whimsical representation of a "scientist" in the field and the second demonstrates a more accurate representation of
May the Quartz Be With You
As part of Earth Science Week 2020, USGS scientist Shannon Mahan takes us on a tour of quartz and how geologists like her use quartz to study all kinds of things, from earthquakes to archaeology.
U.S. River Conditions, Water Year 2020
This animation shows the changing conditions of USGS streamgages from October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020. The conditions shown range from the driest condition seen at a gage (red open circles) to the wettest (blue closed circles). There is also a purple ring added to indicate gages that are flooding.
Most of the East Coast was experiencing dry conditions in
Bathymetry: Mapping the depth of Tampa Bay with USGS (Teaser)
Join the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center on an adventure in the field! Our team of scientists will take you on board a personal watercraft near downtown St. Pete to show you how they collect bathymetry data – which is the depth of the ocean floor (in this case, Tampa Bay). This video was created as part of the 2020 St. Petersburg Science Festival (
U.S. River Conditions, July to September 2020
This is an animation showing the changing conditions of USGS streamgages from July 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020. The conditions shown range from the driest condition seen at a gage (red open circles) to the wettest (blue closed circles). There is also a purple ring added to indicate gages that are flooding. At the beginning of July, the Southwest US experienced severe
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Monthly Update: October 1, 2020
Mike Poland, Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, gives an overview of activity at Yellowstone during September 2020.
Response of Big Sagebrush Plant Communities
Response of Big Sagebrush Plant Communities to Climate Change, Grazing, and Cheatgrass Throughout the 21st Century
The big sagebrush region in the Western U.S. is variable in elevation, topography, and climate, and plant communities there are likely to respond to climatic change in a variety of ways. This presentation will describe research that
Video of the water lake at Kīlauea's summit
This video, taken on September 23, 2020, shows a small area of bubbling or upwelling along the western shoreline of the water lake at the summit of Kīlauea. This feature may result from a submerged fumarole (gas vent) on the crater wall. The extent of this feature is limited and it does not seem to have a significant effect on the overall lake surface activity. No other
Views of Kīlauea's growing summit water lake
A helicopter overflight on September 23, 2020, provided airborne views of the water lake at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano. Visual and thermal images collected during the overflight are used for mapping the slowly enlarging lake. A segment of the video shows the remains of Crater Rim Drive, a portion of which collapsed during the 2018 summit activity. USGS video by M.
Hydrography Updates for USFS Southwestern Region in AZ and NM
National Hydrography Advisory Call
Joel Osuna-Williams on Hydrography Updates for USFS Southwestern Region in AZ and NM.
The U.S. Forest Service Southwestern Region (Region 3) conducted an NHD Assessment in 2015 on its need for and benefits of updated hydrography for the lands it manages. In 2016-19, they partnered with the Center for Geospatial Science
Studying How the Beach Changes at Madeira Beach, Florida - AD
The importance of our Nation’s coasts is indisputable. They provide homes for people and animals alike, and support the Nation’s economy. The USGS Coastal Change Hazards team studies how our shorelines change over time, especially following extreme events such as storms and hurricanes. In this video, created for the 2020 virtual St.
Studying How the Beach Changes at Madeira Beach, Florida
The importance of our Nation’s coasts is indisputable. They provide homes for people and animals alike, and support the Nation’s economy. The USGS Coastal Change Hazards team studies how our shorelines change over time, especially following extreme events such as storms and hurricanes. In this video, created for the 2020 virtual St.
Lesson 8: U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Maps
In this lesson we will examine a brief history of the USGS topographic map, Introduce US Topo maps and their content, discuss the production and future goals of US Topo, and learn how to access these maps for viewing or printing.
USGS hydrologists respond to historic hurricane season
Throughout the historically active 2020 Atlantic Hurricane Season,USGS hydrologists have been working quickly to collect vital flood and streamflow information in impacted areas.
Kīlauea Volcano summit water lake color zones on September 18, 2020
The color zones on the lake surface shift from minute to minute. This video shows how the color zones were creating a large swirl in the lake center. USGS video by M. Patrick.
LCMAP Collection 1 Science Products - Annual Land Cover Change
An overview of LCMAP Collection 1 Science Products: Annual Land Cover Change
LCMAP Collection 1 science products include 10 data sets offering different perspectives for the study of land change across the country, through time. While the Annual Land Cover Change product looks very similar to the Primary Land Cover product it contains additional data allowing users
Image of the Week - Summer Fires Rage in California
As fire season continues in the western United States let's look back at a number of incidents tracked by officials across California in August. These fires were captured during the day by Landsats 7 and 8, in natural color bands of the visible spectrum. Landsat sensors also record infrared wavelengths revealing burn scars and active fires. Natural color images show smoke
SDC Seminar: Defining and Using Evidence in Conservation Practice
This is the Science and Decisions Center Seminar Series presentation of Defining and Using Evidence in Conservation Practice with Nick Salafsky, Director, Foundations of Success. Nick focuses on sharing new work on the development of shared evidence libraries based around theory-of-change pathways for key conservation actions. Nick draws on insights of evidence-based
I am an...Ornithologist
Welcome to the "The I Am A..." series. This is the second video in a series of USGS whiteboard animations that highlight USGS careers. The concept is to show "what society (or my mom) thinks I do" compared with "what I really do." One image captures a more whimsical representation of a "scientist" in the field and the second demonstrates a more accurate representation of
Image of the Week - Time Travel by Permafrost
In Russia's Extreme North, a widening chasm known as the Batagaika Crater provides a unique opportunity to study the past. Early declassified aerial images recorded the crater's growth in the 1960s and 1970s followed by multispectral sensor imagery captured by Landsat and Sentinel satellites, building a continuous view over the last 60 years. But the gash in the ground
Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Monthly Update: September 1, 2020
Mike Poland, Scientist-in-Charge of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, gives an overview of activity at Yellowstone during August 2020.
Timelapse: 45 minutes of activity at Kīlauea's summit water lake
This timelapse video shows approximately 45 minutes of activity in the water lake at the summit of Kīlauea volcano. The video shows that the color zones are highly dynamic, shifting from minute to minute. This behavior has been common in the lake during much of the past year. Note that the camera exposure changes several times, shifting the color slightly at times. USGS
Image of the Week: Bird Island Ablaze
In Montana, wildfire swept across Flathead Lake's 30 acre Bird Island in early August of 2020. Landsat 8 captured this imagery one day after the fire began. The satellite's short wave infrared and near infrared bands reveal the active fire covering approximately half of the island. Smoke obscures the remainder. The same band combination highlights healthy vegetation 16
3D Elevation Program FY21 BAA Instructional Webinar
This webinar provides an overview of the Federal fiscal year (FY) 20/21 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) solicitation and application process. The goal of 3DEP is to complete acquisition of nationwide lidar (IfSAR in Alaska) to provide the first-ever national baseline of consistent high-resolution elevation data – both bare earth and 3D point