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Browse images from a wide range of science topics covered by USGS.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is elongated and straight. Over the past 26 years, Alaskans have witnessed a startling increase of beak deformities among Black-capped Chickadees and other species of resident birds.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a severely deformed beak where the upper beak is elongated and curved down while the lower beak is elongated and straight. Over the past 26 years, Alaskans have witnessed a startling increase of beak deformities among Black-capped Chickadees and other species of resident birds.
Satellite image from the USGS/NASA Landsat-8 satellite showing the eruption cloud at Pavlof Volcano on November 15 at 12:46 pm AKST (21:46 UTC). This is just a portion of the eruption cloud, which extended for more than 250 miles to the northwest at the time this image was collected.
Satellite image from the USGS/NASA Landsat-8 satellite showing the eruption cloud at Pavlof Volcano on November 15 at 12:46 pm AKST (21:46 UTC). This is just a portion of the eruption cloud, which extended for more than 250 miles to the northwest at the time this image was collected.
A Black-capped Chickadee with an upper beak slightly longer than the lower beak. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality.
A Black-capped Chickadee with an upper beak slightly longer than the lower beak. Avian keratin disorder (AKD) is a disease characterized by debilitating beak overgrowth and other abnormalities of keratinized tissues. Affected birds have difficulty feeding and preening and may suffer high rates of mortality.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a normal beak captured at an Anchorage banding station.
A Black-capped Chickadee with a normal beak captured at an Anchorage banding station.
Sheridan River flood
A Slate-colored Junco on Middleton Island, Alaska.
A Slate-colored Junco on Middleton Island, Alaska.
Deploying geophysical equipment in the Nome Creek (AK) area to assess the effect of wildfire on permafrost. Small electrical signals are injected into the ground through metal stakes connected to the orange cable in the foreground. The measured response is used to detect belowground permafrost conditions.
Deploying geophysical equipment in the Nome Creek (AK) area to assess the effect of wildfire on permafrost. Small electrical signals are injected into the ground through metal stakes connected to the orange cable in the foreground. The measured response is used to detect belowground permafrost conditions.
USGS researchers collecting a soil sample for rare earth elements at the Roy Creek prospect, Alaska. Jamey Jones is holding the bag while Erin Todd shovels soil into the bag.
USGS researchers collecting a soil sample for rare earth elements at the Roy Creek prospect, Alaska. Jamey Jones is holding the bag while Erin Todd shovels soil into the bag.
Fire behavior instruments are deployed during wildfires and prescribed fires to provide data on the types of fire environments that damage archaeological resources
Fire behavior instruments are deployed during wildfires and prescribed fires to provide data on the types of fire environments that damage archaeological resources
Fuel treatments and prescribed fires can be used to reduce the likelihood that archaeological resources will be damaged by high severity fires
Fuel treatments and prescribed fires can be used to reduce the likelihood that archaeological resources will be damaged by high severity fires
A scenic view of an Aleutian island with fireweed in full bloom
A scenic view of an Aleutian island with fireweed in full bloom
A huge colony of Common Murres in the Aleutian Islands
A huge colony of Common Murres in the Aleutian Islands
Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.
Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.
Black-legged Kittiwake on a nest on the side of a rock face in the Aleutian Islands.
Black-legged Kittiwake on a nest on the side of a rock face in the Aleutian Islands.
A Peregrine Falcon near Puffin burrow areas in the Aleutian Islands
A Peregrine Falcon near Puffin burrow areas in the Aleutian Islands
A Tufted Puffin swimming in the water in the Aleutian Islands
A Tufted Puffin swimming in the water in the Aleutian Islands
Tufted Puffin looking for fish near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
Tufted Puffin looking for fish near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
Horned Puffin flying near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
Horned Puffin flying near it's burrow area in the Aleutian Islands
Tufted Puffin carrying fish to bring back to it's young in it's burrow.
Tufted Puffin carrying fish to bring back to it's young in it's burrow.
A stream type at the Boreal-Arctic transition of the Brooks Range, Noatak National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park. The stream is in the Agashashok River watershed. This is part of the Hydro-Ecoloy of Arctic Thawing (HEAT) project.
A stream type at the Boreal-Arctic transition of the Brooks Range, Noatak National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park. The stream is in the Agashashok River watershed. This is part of the Hydro-Ecoloy of Arctic Thawing (HEAT) project.
Beach seining on the spawing grounds of sockeye salmon in Salmon Lake. This is the headwater of the Pilgrim River which is the northern edge of the sockeye salmon distribution.
Beach seining on the spawing grounds of sockeye salmon in Salmon Lake. This is the headwater of the Pilgrim River which is the northern edge of the sockeye salmon distribution.