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Browse images from a wide range of science topics covered by USGS. All items in this gallery are considered public domain unless otherwise noted.

Filter Total Items: 1458
Scientists measuring discharge and collecting water chemistry in small tributary to the Cutler River, Alaska
Scientists measuring discharge and collecting water chemistry samples
Scientists measuring discharge and collecting water chemistry samples
Scientists measuring discharge and collecting water chemistry samples

USGS and NPS scientists measuring discharge and collecting water chemistry in small tributary to the Cutler River in the early summer. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Netwo

USGS and NPS scientists measuring discharge and collecting water chemistry in small tributary to the Cutler River in the early summer. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Netwo

Scientists setting up a weatherport for shelter on St. Matthew Island, Alaska
Setting up a weatherport on St. Matthew Island, Alaska
Setting up a weatherport on St. Matthew Island, Alaska
Setting up a weatherport on St. Matthew Island, Alaska

Scientists setting up a weatherport for shelter while conducting research on St. Matthew Island Alaska.

Scientists setting up a weatherport for shelter while conducting research on St. Matthew Island Alaska.

Shorebird with yellow legs and thin bill foraging in shallow water. Brown short vegetation and tall green plant to left.
Lesser Yellowlegs foraging for aquatic insects
Lesser Yellowlegs foraging for aquatic insects
Lesser Yellowlegs foraging for aquatic insects

Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies, small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey. 

Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies, small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey. 

Large instruments waiting to loaded on a boat
Loading ocean bottom seismometers for deployment in the Gulf of Alaska
Loading ocean bottom seismometers for deployment in the Gulf of Alaska
Loading ocean bottom seismometers for deployment in the Gulf of Alaska

Ocean bottom seismometers being loaded onto the R/V Sikuliaq to be deployed on the sea floor in the Gulf of Alaska.

Ocean bottom seismometers being loaded onto the R/V Sikuliaq to be deployed on the sea floor in the Gulf of Alaska.

Man pointing to ground
Stratigraphic contact marking 1964 uplift of Montague Island, Alaska
Stratigraphic contact marking 1964 uplift of Montague Island, Alaska
Stratigraphic contact marking 1964 uplift of Montague Island, Alaska

Stratigraphic contact marking uplift of Montague Island, caused by slip on the Patton Bay fault system during the 1964 M9.2 Great ALaska Earthquake. 

Stratigraphic contact marking uplift of Montague Island, caused by slip on the Patton Bay fault system during the 1964 M9.2 Great ALaska Earthquake. 

Approaching the Taku River via helicopter to perform fieldwork.
Approaching the Taku River via helicopter to perform fieldwork
Approaching the Taku River via helicopter to perform fieldwork
Approaching the Taku River via helicopter to perform fieldwork

Approaching the Taku River via helicopter to perform fieldwork.

Common Murre colony on cliffs at Gull Island, Alaska
Common Murre colony on rock cliffs
Common Murre colony on rock cliffs
Common Murre colony on rock cliffs

Brielle Heflin noosing Common Murres off their colony at Gull Island, Alaksa.

Brielle Heflin noosing Common Murres off their colony at Gull Island, Alaksa.

Shorebird with yellow legs and thin bill in water. Green leg band "AK" on left leg, color bands and metal band on right leg.
Lesser Yellowlegs “AK” foraging for aquatic insects
Lesser Yellowlegs “AK” foraging for aquatic insects
Lesser Yellowlegs “AK” foraging for aquatic insects

Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies), small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.

Lesser Yellowlegs typically consume insects, such as flies, beetles, and mayflies), small fish, crustaceans, aquatic worms, mollusks, spiders, and seeds. Lesser Yellowlegs are active foragers and are commonly observed walking rapidly through shallow wetlands while pursuing prey.

Four people around a table
Sampling sea floor sediment cores from along the Queen Charlotte Fault
Sampling sea floor sediment cores from along the Queen Charlotte Fault
Sampling sea floor sediment cores from along the Queen Charlotte Fault

USGS and Geological Survey of Canada scientists sample sediment cores collected from the sea floor along the Queen Charlotte Fault. This was taken while they were working with (or in) the Geological Survey of Canada.

USGS and Geological Survey of Canada scientists sample sediment cores collected from the sea floor along the Queen Charlotte Fault. This was taken while they were working with (or in) the Geological Survey of Canada.

Four scientists stand around a table in a lab with gray sediment core samples on the table, and they are examining the sediment.
Selecting sediment samples from cores
Selecting sediment samples from cores
Selecting sediment samples from cores

(Left to right) Danny Brothers (USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center [PCMSC]), Peter Haeussler (USGS Alaska Science Center), Maureen Walton (PCMSC), and Jamie Conrad (PCMSC) select seafloor sediment samples from cores collected along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault.

(Left to right) Danny Brothers (USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center [PCMSC]), Peter Haeussler (USGS Alaska Science Center), Maureen Walton (PCMSC), and Jamie Conrad (PCMSC) select seafloor sediment samples from cores collected along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault.

Three USGS researchers use ground penetrating radar to determine the depth of the snow on Wolverine Glacier, AK
Scientists use ground penetrating radar on Wolverine Glacier, AK
Scientists use ground penetrating radar on Wolverine Glacier, AK
Scientists use ground penetrating radar on Wolverine Glacier, AK

Researchers use ground penetrating radar to determine the depth of the snow on Wolverine Glacier. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. In 1966 scientists with the USGS began making direct measurements of surface mass balance at Wolverine Glacier, one of the "benchmark glaciers" in Alaska.

Researchers use ground penetrating radar to determine the depth of the snow on Wolverine Glacier. Wolverine Glacier is in the Kenai Mountains on the coast of south-central Alaska. In 1966 scientists with the USGS began making direct measurements of surface mass balance at Wolverine Glacier, one of the "benchmark glaciers" in Alaska.

USGS scientist in boat collection water samples on the Unuk River, Alaska
Water Quality Monitoring and Sampling on the Unuk River, Alaska
Water Quality Monitoring and Sampling on the Unuk River, Alaska
Water Quality Monitoring and Sampling on the Unuk River, Alaska

USGS hydrologist monitoring water quality and collecting samples at USGS Station15015595 on the Unuk River, Alaska. In 2019, the USGS began studying the baseline water-quality of selected transboundary rivers in Alaska.

USGS hydrologist monitoring water quality and collecting samples at USGS Station15015595 on the Unuk River, Alaska. In 2019, the USGS began studying the baseline water-quality of selected transboundary rivers in Alaska.

Emperor geese standing near the shoreline on Kodiak Island
Emperor geese near Kodiak.
Emperor geese near Kodiak.
Emperor geese near Kodiak.

Emperor geese gathered near the shoreline on Kodiak Island.

Emperor geese gathered near the shoreline on Kodiak Island.

Scientist reviews genomic sequencing results for antibiotic resistant bacteria
Reviewing sequencing results for antibiotic resistant bacteria
Reviewing sequencing results for antibiotic resistant bacteria
Reviewing sequencing results for antibiotic resistant bacteria

Christina Ahlstrom, USGS Alaska Science Center, reviews genomic sequencing results for antibiotic resistant bacteria recovered from wild bird samples collected at a landfill in southcentral Alaska. The USGS uses genomic information on antibiotic resistant bacteria in wild birds to understand transmission pathways and to identify potential threats to human, dome

Christina Ahlstrom, USGS Alaska Science Center, reviews genomic sequencing results for antibiotic resistant bacteria recovered from wild bird samples collected at a landfill in southcentral Alaska. The USGS uses genomic information on antibiotic resistant bacteria in wild birds to understand transmission pathways and to identify potential threats to human, dome

Christina Ahlstrom reviews genomic sequencing results
Christina Ahlstrom reviews genomic sequencing results
Christina Ahlstrom reviews genomic sequencing results
Christina Ahlstrom reviews genomic sequencing results

Christina Ahlstrom, USGS Alaska Science Center, reviews genomic sequencing results for antibiotic resistant bacteria recovered from wild bird samples collected at a landfill in southcentral Alaska. The USGS uses genomic information on antibiotic resistant bacteria in wild birds to understand transmission pathways and to identify potential threats to human, dome

Christina Ahlstrom, USGS Alaska Science Center, reviews genomic sequencing results for antibiotic resistant bacteria recovered from wild bird samples collected at a landfill in southcentral Alaska. The USGS uses genomic information on antibiotic resistant bacteria in wild birds to understand transmission pathways and to identify potential threats to human, dome

Scientist uses molecular techniques to screen for avian malarial parasites
Scientist screens for avian malarial parasites
Scientist screens for avian malarial parasites
Scientist screens for avian malarial parasites

John Reed, in the USGS Alaska Science Center Molecular Ecology Laboratory, uses molecular techniques to screen blood samples collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska for avian malarial parasites. The USGS uses genetic screening and sequencing techniques to understand how parasites may affect wildlife populations within the United States.

John Reed, in the USGS Alaska Science Center Molecular Ecology Laboratory, uses molecular techniques to screen blood samples collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska for avian malarial parasites. The USGS uses genetic screening and sequencing techniques to understand how parasites may affect wildlife populations within the United States.

Scientist screens for avian malarial parasites
Scientist screens blood samples for avian malarial parasites
Scientist screens blood samples for avian malarial parasites
Scientist screens blood samples for avian malarial parasites

John Reed, USGS Alaska Science Center, uses molecular techniques to screen blood samples collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska for avian malarial parasites. The USGS uses genetic screening and sequencing techniques to understand how parasites may affect wildlife populations within the United States.

John Reed, USGS Alaska Science Center, uses molecular techniques to screen blood samples collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska for avian malarial parasites. The USGS uses genetic screening and sequencing techniques to understand how parasites may affect wildlife populations within the United States.

Scientist reviews genetic screening results
Scientist reviews genetic screening results
Scientist reviews genetic screening results
Scientist reviews genetic screening results

John Reed, USGS Alaska Science Center, reviews genetic screening results to detect avian malarial parasites in wild birds sampled in Alaska.  The USGS uses genetic screening and sequencing techniques to understand how parasites may affect wildlife populations within the United States.

John Reed, USGS Alaska Science Center, reviews genetic screening results to detect avian malarial parasites in wild birds sampled in Alaska.  The USGS uses genetic screening and sequencing techniques to understand how parasites may affect wildlife populations within the United States.

Scientist preparing Influenza A virus samples for Sequencing
Scientist preparing Influenza A virus samples for Sequencing
Scientist preparing Influenza A virus samples for Sequencing
Scientist preparing Influenza A virus samples for Sequencing

Andy Reeves, in the USGS Alaska Science Center Molecular Ecology Laboratory, preparing to sequence influenza A viruses collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska.

Andy Reeves, in the USGS Alaska Science Center Molecular Ecology Laboratory, preparing to sequence influenza A viruses collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska.

Andrew Reeves preparing samples for Next Generation Sequencing
Andrew Reeves preparing samples for Next Generation Sequencing
Andrew Reeves preparing samples for Next Generation Sequencing
Andrew Reeves preparing samples for Next Generation Sequencing

Andy Reeves, in the USGS Alaska Science Center Molecular Ecology Laboratory, preparing to sequence influenza A viruses collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska.

Andy Reeves, in the USGS Alaska Science Center Molecular Ecology Laboratory, preparing to sequence influenza A viruses collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska.

Scientist preparing wild bird samples for Next Generation Sequencing
Scientist preparing wild bird samples for Next Generation Sequencing
Scientist preparing wild bird samples for Next Generation Sequencing
Scientist preparing wild bird samples for Next Generation Sequencing

Andy Reeves, in the USGS Alaska Science Center Molecular Ecology Laboratory, preparing to sequence influenza A viruses collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska.

Andy Reeves, in the USGS Alaska Science Center Molecular Ecology Laboratory, preparing to sequence influenza A viruses collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska.