Topographer Jim Tennant making measurements with a Wild T-2 theodolite on Mount Trumball in Arizona.
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Explore our planet through photography and imagery, including climate change and water all the way back to the 1800s when the USGS was surveying the country by horse and buggy.
Topographer Jim Tennant making measurements with a Wild T-2 theodolite on Mount Trumball in Arizona.
This orthophoto of Pocket Basin, a hydrothermal explosion crater in Yellowstone National Park's Lower Geyser Basin, was created from aerial photos taken in 1965 that were corrected to have uniform scale for use in geologic mapping.
This orthophoto of Pocket Basin, a hydrothermal explosion crater in Yellowstone National Park's Lower Geyser Basin, was created from aerial photos taken in 1965 that were corrected to have uniform scale for use in geologic mapping.
Seismic Geyser on the east bank of the Firehole River in the Upper Geyser Basin.
Seismic Geyser on the east bank of the Firehole River in the Upper Geyser Basin.
Shoestring Glacier on Mount St. Helens, viewed from the southeast. Photo from May, 1965.
Shoestring Glacier on Mount St. Helens, viewed from the southeast. Photo from May, 1965.
Three pioneers of USGS geological studies, in 1965, from left to right: Parke D. Snavely, Jr., Robert E. Wallace, and Thomas W. Dibblee, in front of a 1964 Cessna 182G Skylane.
Three pioneers of USGS geological studies, in 1965, from left to right: Parke D. Snavely, Jr., Robert E. Wallace, and Thomas W. Dibblee, in front of a 1964 Cessna 182G Skylane.
Calvin Hazlewood works with a 48-inch Robertson copy camera.
Calvin Hazlewood works with a 48-inch Robertson copy camera.
Jay Prendergast adjusts the lens on a Robertson 48-inch, 4.5 ton camera. Installed in 1959, the camera was used for precise scale transformation of mapping separates and composites.
Jay Prendergast adjusts the lens on a Robertson 48-inch, 4.5 ton camera. Installed in 1959, the camera was used for precise scale transformation of mapping separates and composites.
Working with a small copy camera.
Photograph taken in 1964 of the main part of the Chenega village site in Alaska. Pilings in the ground mark the former locations of homes swept away by tsunami waves. The schoolhouse on high ground was undamaged.
Photograph taken in 1964 of the main part of the Chenega village site in Alaska. Pilings in the ground mark the former locations of homes swept away by tsunami waves. The schoolhouse on high ground was undamaged.
Aerial photo of Mount St. Helens taken from the northeast in September 1964.
Aerial photo of Mount St. Helens taken from the northeast in September 1964.
U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08098290 Brazos River near Highbank, Texas, looking upstream from FM 413 bridge, March 31, 1964.
SIR 2009–5174
U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08098290 Brazos River near Highbank, Texas, looking upstream from FM 413 bridge, March 31, 1964.
SIR 2009–5174
U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08098290 Brazos River near Highbank, Texas, looking downstream from FM 413 bridge, March 31, 1964.
SIR 2009–5174
U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station 08098290 Brazos River near Highbank, Texas, looking downstream from FM 413 bridge, March 31, 1964.
SIR 2009–5174
Although large streamgage structures are no longer necessary, the USGS still uses some of them to contain modern streamgage equipment.
Although large streamgage structures are no longer necessary, the USGS still uses some of them to contain modern streamgage equipment.
USGS topographer Yukio Yamamoto in Littlefield, Texas with a theodolite and an Electrotape distance measuring unit.
USGS topographer Yukio Yamamoto in Littlefield, Texas with a theodolite and an Electrotape distance measuring unit.
Aftermath of the 1960 Chilean tsunami in Hilo, Hawaii, where the tsunami caused 61 deaths.
Aftermath of the 1960 Chilean tsunami in Hilo, Hawaii, where the tsunami caused 61 deaths.
View westward along the Kapoho fault scarp in the village of Kapoho following a swarm of earthquakes in the area. The ground cracking was caused by subsidence of a graben (down-dropped block) that spanned the community.
View westward along the Kapoho fault scarp in the village of Kapoho following a swarm of earthquakes in the area. The ground cracking was caused by subsidence of a graben (down-dropped block) that spanned the community.
This house fell into Hebgen Lake during the 1959 earthquake and floated along the shore until it came to rest here. The owner of the house, then-70-year-old Mrs. Grace Miller, escaped only after kicking out her front door and leaping a 5-foot-wide ground crack as her house dropped into the lake.
This house fell into Hebgen Lake during the 1959 earthquake and floated along the shore until it came to rest here. The owner of the house, then-70-year-old Mrs. Grace Miller, escaped only after kicking out her front door and leaping a 5-foot-wide ground crack as her house dropped into the lake.
Rockslide damage to the Golden Gate area near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, as a result of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake.
Rockslide damage to the Golden Gate area near Mammoth Hot Springs, Yellowstone National Park, as a result of the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake.
Sapphire Pool, in the Upper Geyser Basin, erupting after the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake.
Sapphire Pool, in the Upper Geyser Basin, erupting after the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake.
Great quantities of lava pour from the base of a 480-m-tall (1,575 ft) fountain about 65 minutes after the start of episode 16. Lava discharge at this time was about 1.3 million cubic meters per hour (1.7 million cubic yards), which sent lava over the entire lake by 4:05 a.m.
Great quantities of lava pour from the base of a 480-m-tall (1,575 ft) fountain about 65 minutes after the start of episode 16. Lava discharge at this time was about 1.3 million cubic meters per hour (1.7 million cubic yards), which sent lava over the entire lake by 4:05 a.m.
Low-level oblique aerial view of Fairweather fault. Photo taken east of North Dome, looking northwest, August 26, 1958.
Low-level oblique aerial view of Fairweather fault. Photo taken east of North Dome, looking northwest, August 26, 1958.