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Images

Peruse our selection of remote sensing and Earth science imagery below.

Filter Total Items: 663
color photograph
Degraded land in Senegal - 1994
Degraded land in Senegal - 1994
Degraded land in Senegal - 1994

An area of degraded land in the Ferlo region of Senegal, photographed in 1994 by U.S. Geological Survey Scientist G. Gray Tappan as part of his work on West African land cover. Tappan photographed the scene again in 2011.

An area of degraded land in the Ferlo region of Senegal, photographed in 1994 by U.S. Geological Survey Scientist G. Gray Tappan as part of his work on West African land cover. Tappan photographed the scene again in 2011.

color photograph
Degraded land in Senegal - 2011
Degraded land in Senegal - 2011
Degraded land in Senegal - 2011

An area of degraded land in the Ferlo region of Senegal, photographed in 2011 by U.S. Geological Survey Scientist G. Gray Tappan as part of his work on West African land cover. Tappan had previously photographed the scene in 1994.

An area of degraded land in the Ferlo region of Senegal, photographed in 2011 by U.S. Geological Survey Scientist G. Gray Tappan as part of his work on West African land cover. Tappan had previously photographed the scene in 1994.

Satellite image showing Wyoming Powder River Basin
Landsat Reveals Industrial Growth in Powder River Basin
Landsat Reveals Industrial Growth in Powder River Basin
Landsat Reveals Industrial Growth in Powder River Basin

The expanding coal fields in Wyoming's Powder River Basin serve as prime examples of Landsat's ability to monitor land cover change related to industrial growth across the American landscape.

The expanding coal fields in Wyoming's Powder River Basin serve as prime examples of Landsat's ability to monitor land cover change related to industrial growth across the American landscape.

Using Landsat imagery to record burn severity and recovery.
Fire and Rebirth: Landsat Tells Yellowstone's Story
Fire and Rebirth: Landsat Tells Yellowstone's Story
Fire and Rebirth: Landsat Tells Yellowstone's Story

In the summer of 1988, a wildfire ravaged the world's first national park, consuming 1.2 million acres in and around the Greater Yellowstone Park ecosystem.

In the summer of 1988, a wildfire ravaged the world's first national park, consuming 1.2 million acres in and around the Greater Yellowstone Park ecosystem.

Southern Tibetan Plateau, Sentinel 2A
Southern Tibetan Plateau, Sentinel 2A
Southern Tibetan Plateau, Sentinel 2A
Southern Tibetan Plateau, Sentinel 2A

Sentinel-2A image, acquired June 2016, of the Southern Tibetan Plateau

Sentinel-2A image, acquired June 2016, of the Southern Tibetan Plateau

Satellite image showing wildfire in Boreal Forest Russia
Large Wildfire Consumes Boreal Forest in Eastern Russia
Large Wildfire Consumes Boreal Forest in Eastern Russia
Large Wildfire Consumes Boreal Forest in Eastern Russia

A massive wildfire on the Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia has consumed nearly 600,000 acres of boreal forest and tundra since late May 2016.

A massive wildfire on the Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia has consumed nearly 600,000 acres of boreal forest and tundra since late May 2016.

Senegal savannah - 2010
Senegal savannah - 2010
Senegal savannah - 2010

A savannah south of Kaffrine in central Senegal, photographed in 2010 by U.S. Geological Survey Scientist G. Gray Tappan as part of his work on West African land cover. Tappan had previously photographed the scene in 1994.

A savannah south of Kaffrine in central Senegal, photographed in 2010 by U.S. Geological Survey Scientist G. Gray Tappan as part of his work on West African land cover. Tappan had previously photographed the scene in 1994.

color photograph
Senegal savannah - 1994
Senegal savannah - 1994
Senegal savannah - 1994

A savannah south of Kaffrine in central Senegal, photographed in 1994 by U.S. Geological Survey Scientist G. Gray Tappan as part of his work on West African land cover. Tappan photographed the scene again in 2013.

A savannah south of Kaffrine in central Senegal, photographed in 1994 by U.S. Geological Survey Scientist G. Gray Tappan as part of his work on West African land cover. Tappan photographed the scene again in 2013.

Scientist inspecting permafrost
Inspecting Permafrost
Inspecting Permafrost
Inspecting Permafrost

USGS scientist Neal Pastick inspects a permafrost plot in North Slope of Alaska near Galbraith Lake.

USGS scientist Neal Pastick inspects a permafrost plot in North Slope of Alaska near Galbraith Lake.

Satellite image showing the flooding in Houston, Texas
Rain-Swollen Brazos River Floods Suburban Houston
Rain-Swollen Brazos River Floods Suburban Houston
Rain-Swollen Brazos River Floods Suburban Houston

Heavy rains that began falling during Memorial Day weekend in late May 2016 pushed the Brazos River, 30 miles southwest of Houston, Texas, toward a near-record flooding stage that hasn’t been seen since 1913, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Heavy rains that began falling during Memorial Day weekend in late May 2016 pushed the Brazos River, 30 miles southwest of Houston, Texas, toward a near-record flooding stage that hasn’t been seen since 1913, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

Sentinel-2A satellite image showing the Crater Lake in Oregon.
Crater Lake Image Shows Potential of Sentinel-2A
Crater Lake Image Shows Potential of Sentinel-2A
Crater Lake Image Shows Potential of Sentinel-2A

This image from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2A satellite offers a breathtaking view of Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon. It offers something equally important to park managers, scientists, and anyone else interested in land cover change—a view that is highly similar and complementary to Landsat acquisitions.

This image from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2A satellite offers a breathtaking view of Crater Lake National Park in southern Oregon. It offers something equally important to park managers, scientists, and anyone else interested in land cover change—a view that is highly similar and complementary to Landsat acquisitions.

Satellite image showing Lake Mead low levels
Lake Mead Reaches Historic Low
Lake Mead Reaches Historic Low
Lake Mead Reaches Historic Low

The surface level of Lake Mead in Nevada and Arizona has fallen to a historic low as 16 years of ongoing drought in the American Southwest continue to impact the Colorado River Basin.

The surface level of Lake Mead in Nevada and Arizona has fallen to a historic low as 16 years of ongoing drought in the American Southwest continue to impact the Colorado River Basin.

Satellite image showing flooding in Sri Lanka
Heavy Flooding in Sri Lanka
Heavy Flooding in Sri Lanka
Heavy Flooding in Sri Lanka

On May 18, 2016, a Landsat 8 acquisition of flood-ravaged Sri Lanka produced impressive imagery of swollen waterways.

Satellit image showing fort McMurray fires
Fort McMurray Wildfire (Before and After)
Fort McMurray Wildfire (Before and After)
Fort McMurray Wildfire (Before and After)

Eleven days after a wildfire first sparked south of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Landsat 8’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) captured imagery of one of the most destructive infernos in Canadian history. The fire has burned an area approaching 600,000 acres.

Eleven days after a wildfire first sparked south of Fort McMurray in northern Alberta, Landsat 8’s Operational Land Imager (OLI) captured imagery of one of the most destructive infernos in Canadian history. The fire has burned an area approaching 600,000 acres.

Satellite image showing fires in Fort McMurray, Alberta Canada
Fort McMurray Wildfire
Fort McMurray Wildfire
Fort McMurray Wildfire

Image of the Week: A massive wildfire burning near Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada, fueled by dry conditions and high winds, has destroyed 1,600 structures and forced more than 88,000 people to evacuate the area so far.

Image of the Week: A massive wildfire burning near Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada, fueled by dry conditions and high winds, has destroyed 1,600 structures and forced more than 88,000 people to evacuate the area so far.

Satellite image comparison of Chernobyl then and now
Landsat Played Role in Confirming 1986 Chernobyl Disaster
Landsat Played Role in Confirming 1986 Chernobyl Disaster
Landsat Played Role in Confirming 1986 Chernobyl Disaster

When the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded 30 years ago, on April 26, 1986, Landsat 5 was the first civilian satellite to confirm the disaster near Pripyat, Ukraine, in the agricultural heartland of the Soviet Union.  

When the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded 30 years ago, on April 26, 1986, Landsat 5 was the first civilian satellite to confirm the disaster near Pripyat, Ukraine, in the agricultural heartland of the Soviet Union.  

Satellit image showing the path for the Boston marathon
Landsat's View of the Boston Marathon
Landsat's View of the Boston Marathon
Landsat's View of the Boston Marathon

The 122nd Boston Marathon, the oldest annual marathon in the world, takes place on April 16, 2018. This Landsat 8 image shows the April landscape of eastern Massachusetts, before vegetation has greened up. The yellow line indicates the point-to-point route that the marathon follows.

The 122nd Boston Marathon, the oldest annual marathon in the world, takes place on April 16, 2018. This Landsat 8 image shows the April landscape of eastern Massachusetts, before vegetation has greened up. The yellow line indicates the point-to-point route that the marathon follows.

Earth As Art image Shoal Comples
Shoal Complex
Shoal Complex
Shoal Complex

The main feature here, near Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, is the Schooner Cays shoal complex. The tidal sand ridges, parabolic bars, and intervening channels explode in a blue rhythm. The Bahamas have the third most extensive coral reef in the world.

The main feature here, near Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas, is the Schooner Cays shoal complex. The tidal sand ridges, parabolic bars, and intervening channels explode in a blue rhythm. The Bahamas have the third most extensive coral reef in the world.

IOW, LRS carousel
IOW, LRS carousel
IOW, LRS carousel
IOW, LRS carousel

Image of the Week, Land Resources carousel

Satellite image showing the breakup of ice in the Beaufort Sea
Beaufort Sea Ice Experiences Unusually Early Breakup
Beaufort Sea Ice Experiences Unusually Early Breakup
Beaufort Sea Ice Experiences Unusually Early Breakup

Ice covering Beaufort Sea near the Arctic Ocean typically reaches full-blown breakup by late May each year as air and water temperatures warm, and as daylight turns longer. But 2016 has been dramatically different.

Ice covering Beaufort Sea near the Arctic Ocean typically reaches full-blown breakup by late May each year as air and water temperatures warm, and as daylight turns longer. But 2016 has been dramatically different.

Satellite image showing the fires by Oklahoma and Kansas border
Wildfires Scorch Large Swaths Along Oklahoma-Kansas Border
Wildfires Scorch Large Swaths Along Oklahoma-Kansas Border
Wildfires Scorch Large Swaths Along Oklahoma-Kansas Border

Using shortwave infrared, near infrared, and visible bands, these Landsat images provide a before and after look at the 350 Complex and Anderson Creek fires.

Using shortwave infrared, near infrared, and visible bands, these Landsat images provide a before and after look at the 350 Complex and Anderson Creek fires.