Images

The timelapse imagery provided here shows the lower half of Wolverine Glacier from 2012 to 2022. This imagery gives an intuitive view of the scale of change happening at glaciers across Alaska.

RV Norseman II ship track for the Pacific walrus research cruise in 2023. In collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USGS conducted a research cruise to study Pacific walrus population dynamics. The ship departed Nome, AK on June 5, 2023, and returned to Nome on July 2, 2023. 

Scientist sieving a sample of tin placer tailings in Cassiterite Creek on the western Seward Peninsula.

A view of the old Lost River tin mine located on the Seward Peninsula, Alaska. The mine produced tin and tungsten from the early 20th century and ceased around 1955. The site is currently being studied by USGS for lithium potential. 

Antimicrobial resistance of clinical relevance may have important implications to human and animal health. In this photo, Laura Scott and Christina Ahlstrom (USGS – Alaska Science Center) are sampling surface waters for antimicrobial resistant bacteria at Exit Creek in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska.

Antimicrobial resistance of clinical relevance may have important implications to human and animal health. In this photo, Laura Scott and Christina Ahlstrom (USGS – Alaska Science Center) are sampling surface waters for antimicrobial resistant bacteria at Exit Creek in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska.

Antimicrobial resistance of clinical relevance may have important implications to human and animal health. In this photo, Laura Scott and Christina Ahlstrom (USGS – Alaska Science Center) are sampling surface waters for antimicrobial resistant bacteria at Exit Creek in Kenai Fjords National Park in Alaska.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Orange streams are increasingly common in the Brooks Range of northern Alaska. The orange stream color reflects oxidized iron, but also often indicates elevated heavy metal concentrations. Our ongoing study aims to document these occurrences and the timing of their onset.

Kougarok River at the confluence with Taylor Creek, Alaska. Large volume of gold placer tailings that contain critical minerals on the Kougarok River on the western Seward Peninsula.

Historic dredge and large volume of gold placer tailings that contain platinum group and chromium critical minerals on the Salmon River near Goodnews Bay, Alaska. Dragline-sluice tailings are in the foreground, stacked dredge tailings are in the background near the dredge.

Large volume of gold placer tailings that contain platinum group and chromium critical minerals on the Salmon River south of Goodnews Bay, Alaska.

The dominant plant in the photo is Arctic sweet coltsfoot (Petasides frigidus), a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou during the summer in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Summer photo of Salix reticulata in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou. The bright red bulbs on the right leaf are not berries, but galls, likely caused by bacteria, fungi, or insects.

Summer photo of diamond-leaf willow (Salix pulchra) in the USFWS Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a forage species commonly consumed by barren-ground caribou. 

Pacific walrus group hauled-out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea. The photo was captured during a survey of the age structure of the population to evaluate population status. Observers assign each animal in a group to an age/sex category according to published criteria. USFWS Permit No. 33776D. 

Pacific walrus group hauled-out on sea ice in the Chukchi Sea. The photo was captured during a survey of the age structure of the population to evaluate population status. Observers assign each animal in a group to an age/sex category according to published criteria.  USFWS Permit No. 33776D.

Scientists collecting a 1/5 yard composite sample in blue 5-gallon buckets from gold placer tailings to analyze for critical mineral contents in Clear Creek, in the Zane Hills north central Alaska.

Amanda Herbert (foreground) and Ami Everett onboard the R/V Norseman II. Amanda and Ami are on top of the wheelhouse of the ship to observe groups of Pacific walrus hauled-out on sea ice. Observers assign each animal in a group to an age/sex category according to published criteria.

From left:  Joshua Carpenter (USGS volunteer), Ami Everett (USGS biological science technician), Amanda Herbert (USGS biological science technician), and Caroline Cummings (USGS volunteer) conducting Pacific walrus age structure surveys from the RV Norseman II.

From left: Joshua Carpenter (USGS volunteer), William Beatty (USGS research wildlife biologist), Caroline Cummings (USGS volunteer), Amanda Herbert (USGS biological science technician), and Ami Everett (USGS biological science technician) conducting Pacific walrus age structure surveys from the RV Norseman II.  The team observed walruses hau