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Images

Explore images taken during Ecosystems' Land Change Science Program fieldwork and research.

Filter Total Items: 196
aerial view of Palmyra Atoll
Aerial View of Palmyra Atoll
Aerial View of Palmyra Atoll
Aerial View of Palmyra Atoll

Aerial view of the Palmyra Atoll, looking west. The forested island is surrounded by blue water.

Aerial view of the Palmyra Atoll, looking west. The forested island is surrounded by blue water.

A White Tern flies near a Red-Footed Booby that is sitting under a tree
White Tern and Red-Footed Booby, Palmyra Atoll
White Tern and Red-Footed Booby, Palmyra Atoll
White Tern and Red-Footed Booby, Palmyra Atoll

A White Tern and a Red-Footed Booby share some shade under a tree. The White Tern flies while the Booby sits below. 

Gulkana Glacier timelapse illustration
Gulkana Glacier area change, 1957 - 2021
Gulkana Glacier area change, 1957 - 2021
Gulkana Glacier area change, 1957 - 2021

Gulkana Glacier area change, from 1957 - 2021. Gulkana Glacier is located along the south flank of the eastern Alaska Range.

Gulkana Glacier area change, from 1957 - 2021. Gulkana Glacier is located along the south flank of the eastern Alaska Range.

Wolverine Glacier timelapse
Wolverine Glacier area change, 1950 - 2020
Wolverine Glacier area change, 1950 - 2020
Wolverine Glacier area change, 1950 - 2020

Wolverine Glacier area change, 1950 - 2020. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. 

Wolverine Glacier area change, 1950 - 2020. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. 

South Cascade Glacier timelapse
South Cascade Glacier area change, 1970 - 2021
South Cascade Glacier area change, 1970 - 2021
South Cascade Glacier area change, 1970 - 2021

South Cascade Glacier area change, 1970 - 2021.  South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state.

South Cascade Glacier area change, 1970 - 2021.  South Cascade Glacier located in a north-northwest facing valley near the crest of the Cascade Range in northwest Washington state.

Lemon Creek Glacier timelapse illustration
Lemon Creek Glacier area change, 1948 - 2021
Lemon Creek Glacier area change, 1948 - 2021
Lemon Creek Glacier area change, 1948 - 2021

Lemon Creek Glacier area change, 1948 - 2021. Lemon Creek Glacier is located at the southernmost tip of the Juneau Icefield in Southeast Alaska, USA, approximately 6.5 km northeast of the city of Juneau

Lemon Creek Glacier area change, 1948 - 2021. Lemon Creek Glacier is located at the southernmost tip of the Juneau Icefield in Southeast Alaska, USA, approximately 6.5 km northeast of the city of Juneau

scientist examining snow sample while in snowpit
Examining a Snow Sample
Examining a Snow Sample
Examining a Snow Sample

Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center scientist examines snow crystal type, layer temperature, and density to understand snowpack characteristics leading to the formation of avalanche release.

Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center scientist examines snow crystal type, layer temperature, and density to understand snowpack characteristics leading to the formation of avalanche release.

A drawing of a crosscut sediment core depicting historic events from 1950 to 18,000 B.C
Sediment Core
Sediment Core
Sediment Core

Time to get our hands dirty! Paleoclimate researchers study sediment cores, which are accumulated layers of mud and dead plant material collected in a long tube, to learn about what the climate and environment of the past was like.

Time to get our hands dirty! Paleoclimate researchers study sediment cores, which are accumulated layers of mud and dead plant material collected in a long tube, to learn about what the climate and environment of the past was like.

A comic style infographic of USGS researchers studying ice cores.
Ice Cores
Ice Cores
Ice Cores

The cold never bothered our USGS scientists! They ask – do you want to collect an ice core?

The cold never bothered our USGS scientists! They ask – do you want to collect an ice core?

A drawing of a crosscut section of a tree to display its rings and the potential events associated with their differences.
Tree Rings
Tree Rings
Tree Rings

The secret lives of... trees? Trees can live for hundreds and sometimes thousands of years. As they grow, they add new layers of growth – or tree rings – that scientists can study to learn about the tree’s life. The width of tree rings often reflects the factor most influencing growth from one year to the next depending upon where the tree lives.

The secret lives of... trees? Trees can live for hundreds and sometimes thousands of years. As they grow, they add new layers of growth – or tree rings – that scientists can study to learn about the tree’s life. The width of tree rings often reflects the factor most influencing growth from one year to the next depending upon where the tree lives.

ostracode species with eye tubercles identified
Arctic Ostracodes with Eye Tubercles
Arctic Ostracodes with Eye Tubercles
Arctic Ostracodes with Eye Tubercles

Two species of eyed ostracodes that exhibit eye tubercles and inhabit continental shelf environments. Eye tubercles are externally visible semi-globular structures of the calcareous shell, one in each of the two valves.

Two species of eyed ostracodes that exhibit eye tubercles and inhabit continental shelf environments. Eye tubercles are externally visible semi-globular structures of the calcareous shell, one in each of the two valves.

high resolution image of US states and counties on top of the National Climate Change Viewer data
National Climate Change Viewer - High Resolution Map
National Climate Change Viewer - High Resolution Map
National Climate Change Viewer - High Resolution Map

Climate change data from the USGS National Climate Change Viewer tool is shown by US state and county for the contiguous US.

A scientist implants a tiny pill-shaped tag into a small silver fish that is in his hands.
Tagging American Shad
Tagging American Shad
Tagging American Shad

Ted Castro-Santos of the S.O. Conte Research Laboratory implants a small pit tag into a juvenile American shad before release it into the canal at Turners Falls, MA. 

Ted Castro-Santos of the S.O. Conte Research Laboratory implants a small pit tag into a juvenile American shad before release it into the canal at Turners Falls, MA. 

Ponderosa pine tree rings core under microscope
Ponderosa Pine Tree Core
Ponderosa Pine Tree Core
Ponderosa Pine Tree Core

One Green River Ponderosa Pine sample after mounting and sanding lab procedures. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.

One Green River Ponderosa Pine sample after mounting and sanding lab procedures. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.

scientist looking at tree core through microscope
Looking at Tree Cores on Rotary Measuring Stage
Looking at Tree Cores on Rotary Measuring Stage
Looking at Tree Cores on Rotary Measuring Stage

A scientist looks at a Ponderosa Pine tree core using a rotary measuring stage. Credit: Becky Brice, USGS.

screenshot of National Climate Change Viewer Model Agreement display
Slide 4 - National Climate Change Viewer Model Agreement Display
Slide 4 - National Climate Change Viewer Model Agreement Display
Slide 4 - National Climate Change Viewer Model Agreement Display

Slide 4: On the right-hand side menu, the Model Agreement screen option displays the range of change simulated by the group of climate models with additional information on if the projected change is consistent in sign among the models and if the projections are statistically significant.

Slide 4: On the right-hand side menu, the Model Agreement screen option displays the range of change simulated by the group of climate models with additional information on if the projected change is consistent in sign among the models and if the projections are statistically significant.

screenshot of National Climate Change Viewer scatter plot feature
Slide 7 - National Climate Change Viewer Scatter Plot
Slide 7 - National Climate Change Viewer Scatter Plot
Slide 7 - National Climate Change Viewer Scatter Plot

Slide 7: From the right-hand side menu, the Scatter Plot allows you to visualize the spread of all the models for two variables. This can be useful in understanding the relationship between variables in the projections, such as warm-and-wet or warm-and-dry for temperature and precipitation.

Slide 7: From the right-hand side menu, the Scatter Plot allows you to visualize the spread of all the models for two variables. This can be useful in understanding the relationship between variables in the projections, such as warm-and-wet or warm-and-dry for temperature and precipitation.

red rectangles identify the left-hand menu of climate variables and resulting climograph in National Climate Change Viewer
Slide 2 - Default Climograph in National Climate Change Viewer
Slide 2 - Default Climograph in National Climate Change Viewer
Slide 2 - Default Climograph in National Climate Change Viewer

Slide 2: Once a region of interest is selected, the control options are displayed on the left-hand side of the application. These control which climate variable, month, model, scenario, and time period are displayed in the map and charts.

Slide 2: Once a region of interest is selected, the control options are displayed on the left-hand side of the application. These control which climate variable, month, model, scenario, and time period are displayed in the map and charts.

screenshot of National Climate Change Viewer Data Table view
Slide 6 - National Climate Change Viewer Data Table View
Slide 6 - National Climate Change Viewer Data Table View
Slide 6 - National Climate Change Viewer Data Table View

Slide 6: From the right-hand side menu, the Data Table view displays the projected change for all models in tabular form. Clicking on the top row of the table allows you to sort the columns in ascending or descending order.

Slide 6: From the right-hand side menu, the Data Table view displays the projected change for all models in tabular form. Clicking on the top row of the table allows you to sort the columns in ascending or descending order.

screenshot of National Climate Change Viewer data download options
Slide 8 - National Climate Change Viewer Data Download Options
Slide 8 - National Climate Change Viewer Data Download Options
Slide 8 - National Climate Change Viewer Data Download Options

Slide 8: The National Climate Change Viewer (NCCV) application includes downloadable PDF reports, CSV data files, or JavaScript JSON data files for every state, county, and watershed.

Slide 8: The National Climate Change Viewer (NCCV) application includes downloadable PDF reports, CSV data files, or JavaScript JSON data files for every state, county, and watershed.

screenshot of default National Climate Change Viewer dashboard upon opening
Slide 1 - Opening the National Climate Change Viewer
Slide 1 - Opening the National Climate Change Viewer
Slide 1 - Opening the National Climate Change Viewer

Slide 1: Upon opening the National Climate Change Viewer (NCCV) you must select a region of interest to display the charts by either navigating and clicking on the map or selecting a location from the dropdown menu option on the left-hand side.

Slide 1: Upon opening the National Climate Change Viewer (NCCV) you must select a region of interest to display the charts by either navigating and clicking on the map or selecting a location from the dropdown menu option on the left-hand side.

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