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Cover image for sediment core lab video, showing core-lab walk-in refrigerator USGS Sediment Core Laboratory
USGS Sediment Core Laboratory
USGS Sediment Core Laboratory

USGS scientists collect core samples from estuaries, lakes, coasts, and marine environments to study a range of physical and chemical properties preserved in sediment or coral over time. They process and analyze these core samples at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Sediment Core Lab. 

USGS scientists collect core samples from estuaries, lakes, coasts, and marine environments to study a range of physical and chemical properties preserved in sediment or coral over time. They process and analyze these core samples at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Sediment Core Lab. 

Cover image for sediment core lab video, showing core-lab walk-in refrigerator USGS Sediment Core Laboratory (AD)
USGS Sediment Core Laboratory (AD)
USGS Sediment Core Laboratory (AD)

USGS scientists collect core samples from estuaries, lakes, coasts, and marine environments to study a range of physical and chemical properties preserved in sediment or coral over time. They process and analyze these core samples at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Sediment Core Lab. 

USGS scientists collect core samples from estuaries, lakes, coasts, and marine environments to study a range of physical and chemical properties preserved in sediment or coral over time. They process and analyze these core samples at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Sediment Core Lab. 

usgs Heterosigma akashiwo collected from Seaplane Lagoon in San Francisco Bay
Heterosigma akashiwo collected from Seaplane Lagoon in San Francisco Bay
Heterosigma akashiwo collected from Seaplane Lagoon in San Francisco Bay

Heterosigma akashiwo collected from Seaplane Lagoon in San Francisco Bay on August 9, 2022. Video was taken with an ioLight 1mm microscope.

Heterosigma akashiwo collected from Seaplane Lagoon in San Francisco Bay on August 9, 2022. Video was taken with an ioLight 1mm microscope.

the world with Landsat image of Tulare Basin. text reads "Tulare Basin refills" Image of the Week: Tulare Basin Refills
Image of the Week: Tulare Basin Refills
Image of the Week: Tulare Basin Refills

A winter of heavy rain causes flooding in California's Tulare Basin, threatening cropland. The basin was once the site of a large lake that appeared naturally every winter as rainfall and snowmelt from the nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range flowed down and filled the basin. It was even known as the largest lake west of the Mississippi River.

A winter of heavy rain causes flooding in California's Tulare Basin, threatening cropland. The basin was once the site of a large lake that appeared naturally every winter as rainfall and snowmelt from the nearby Sierra Nevada mountain range flowed down and filled the basin. It was even known as the largest lake west of the Mississippi River.

Image shows Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) lifted by a crane during a test deployment Free Ascent Tripod Test on the Santa Cruz Wharf (AD)
Free Ascent Tripod Test on the Santa Cruz Wharf (AD)
Free Ascent Tripod Test on the Santa Cruz Wharf (AD)

Staff from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility engineered a Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) for deployment in deep-sea environments along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

Staff from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility engineered a Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) for deployment in deep-sea environments along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

Image shows Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) lifted by a crane during a test deployment Free Ascent Tripod Test on the Santa Cruz Wharf
Free Ascent Tripod Test on the Santa Cruz Wharf
Free Ascent Tripod Test on the Santa Cruz Wharf

Staff from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility engineered a Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) for deployment in deep-sea environments along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

Staff from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility engineered a Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) for deployment in deep-sea environments along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

Aerial image shows rocky shoreline along Central California coast Tracking Coastal Change with Photogrammetry (AD)
Tracking Coastal Change with Photogrammetry (AD)
Tracking Coastal Change with Photogrammetry (AD)

Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.

Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.

Aerial image shows rocky shoreline along Central California coast Tracking Coastal Change with Photogrammetry
Tracking Coastal Change with Photogrammetry
Tracking Coastal Change with Photogrammetry

Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.

Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.

Image of early morning Sediment Transport Fieldwork in San Francisco Bay Sediment Transport in San Francisco Bay (AD)
Sediment Transport in San Francisco Bay (AD)
Sediment Transport in San Francisco Bay (AD)

The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.

The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.

Image of early morning Sediment Transport Fieldwork in San Francisco Bay Sediment Transport in San Francisco Bay
Sediment Transport in San Francisco Bay
Sediment Transport in San Francisco Bay

The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.

The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.

Historic Lows at Lake Powell - video thumbnail Image of the Week - Historic Lows at Lake Powell
Image of the Week - Historic Lows at Lake Powell
Image of the Week - Historic Lows at Lake Powell

Lake Powell on the border of Utah and Arizona supplies water to millions across the southwestern United States.

Lake Powell on the border of Utah and Arizona supplies water to millions across the southwestern United States.

Image of the Week - Caldor Fire Expands Toward Lake Tahoe
Image of the Week - Caldor Fire Expands Toward Lake Tahoe
Image of the Week - Caldor Fire Expands Toward Lake Tahoe

The Caldor fire in California started on August 14, 2021 and quickly spread in high winds.

The fire continues to expand toward the Lake Tahoe area as residents evacuate.

This image was captured on August 21, the 8th day.

Landsat 8's near infrared and shortwave infrared bands reveal active fire, burn scars, and smoke.

The Caldor fire in California started on August 14, 2021 and quickly spread in high winds.

The fire continues to expand toward the Lake Tahoe area as residents evacuate.

This image was captured on August 21, the 8th day.

Landsat 8's near infrared and shortwave infrared bands reveal active fire, burn scars, and smoke.

Image of the Week - Dixie Fire Ravages Northern California
Image of the Week - Dixie Fire Ravages Northern California
Image of the Week - Dixie Fire Ravages Northern California

The Dixie Fire has become the largest single fire in California's recorded history. State fire officials don't list it at the top, however. The record is held by the massive August Complex fire of 2020 which burned over one million acres. The term "complex" is used when multiple fires in the same area ignite separately.

The Dixie Fire has become the largest single fire in California's recorded history. State fire officials don't list it at the top, however. The record is held by the massive August Complex fire of 2020 which burned over one million acres. The term "complex" is used when multiple fires in the same area ignite separately.

Image of the Week - Dry Spell Depletes Northern California Reservoirs
Image of the Week - Dry Spell Depletes Northern California Reservoirs
Image of the Week - Dry Spell Depletes Northern California Reservoirs

A prolonged dry spell has sparked woes over water availability and wildfire in the western United States.

Close-up photograph showing a mechanical claw that is about to pick up a spherical rock off the seafloor. Ferromanganese Nodules—2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones Exped. (AD)
Ferromanganese Nodules—2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones Exped. (AD)
Ferromanganese Nodules—2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones Exped. (AD)

During a recent dive on the New England Seamount chain off the North Atlantic coast, researchers aboard the NOAA Ocean Exploration Expedition, North Atlantic Stepping Stones, discovered a marine geological feature known as a ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) nodule field in the saddle between two peaks of Gosnold Seamount.

During a recent dive on the New England Seamount chain off the North Atlantic coast, researchers aboard the NOAA Ocean Exploration Expedition, North Atlantic Stepping Stones, discovered a marine geological feature known as a ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) nodule field in the saddle between two peaks of Gosnold Seamount.

NOAA-USGS Stepping Stones 2021 Expedition - AD
NOAA-USGS Stepping Stones 2021 Expedition - AD
NOAA-USGS Stepping Stones 2021 Expedition - AD

Join USGS researchers Jason Chaytor and Kira Mizell as they virtually participate in a NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition to the depths of the North Atlantic.

Join USGS researchers Jason Chaytor and Kira Mizell as they virtually participate in a NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition to the depths of the North Atlantic.

B-Roll of Lees Ferry
B-Roll of Lees Ferry
B-Roll of Lees Ferry

A collection of video for use in products related to the USGS's streamgage at Lees Ferry. The USGS installed the Lees Ferry gauge 100 years ago, and the data collected since have become critical to monitoring water availability in the West.

Shot List:

A collection of video for use in products related to the USGS's streamgage at Lees Ferry. The USGS installed the Lees Ferry gauge 100 years ago, and the data collected since have become critical to monitoring water availability in the West.

Shot List: