Detail of levee on an active channelized aa flow. Note the pahoehoe overflows in the levees and the level of the active flow below the tops of the levees. This lower flow level is not allowed in the commonly used "Bingham" model of lava flows.
Images
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.
Detail of levee on an active channelized aa flow. Note the pahoehoe overflows in the levees and the level of the active flow below the tops of the levees. This lower flow level is not allowed in the commonly used "Bingham" model of lava flows.
A section of burst tumulus that has fallen away from the larger structure. Tumuli can burst when the influx of lava is rapid compared to the rate at which the crust is thickening by cooling. In these cases the pressure driving the lava is significantly greater than the weight of the overlying crust.
A section of burst tumulus that has fallen away from the larger structure. Tumuli can burst when the influx of lava is rapid compared to the rate at which the crust is thickening by cooling. In these cases the pressure driving the lava is significantly greater than the weight of the overlying crust.
Pu’u ‘Ō’ō is a cinder and spatter cone in Kilauea’s east rift zone. It began erupting on January 3, 1983; a summary of its eruption can be found here. This image shows the result of the largest of the collapse pits that began to appear around 1993.
Pu’u ‘Ō’ō is a cinder and spatter cone in Kilauea’s east rift zone. It began erupting on January 3, 1983; a summary of its eruption can be found here. This image shows the result of the largest of the collapse pits that began to appear around 1993.
Burned-out buildings in downtown Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Burned-out buildings in downtown Grand Forks, North Dakota.
An inundated building in Grand Forks, North Dakota durring the Red River of the North Flood.
An inundated building in Grand Forks, North Dakota durring the Red River of the North Flood.
Grand Forks flooding on Highway 2.
Grand Forks flooding on Highway 2.
Boats on city streets of Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota during the 1997 Red River of the North flood.
Boats on city streets of Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota during the 1997 Red River of the North flood.
Flooding of homes in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1997.
Flooding of homes in Grand Forks, North Dakota in 1997.
Downtown Grand Forks, North Dakota flooded by the Red River of the North in 1997.
Downtown Grand Forks, North Dakota flooded by the Red River of the North in 1997.
The Sorlie Bridge between Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, during the 1997 Red River of the North flood.
The Sorlie Bridge between Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota, during the 1997 Red River of the North flood.
The Holiday Mall in East Grand Forks, Minnesota, during the Red River of the North flood.
The Holiday Mall in East Grand Forks, Minnesota, during the Red River of the North flood.
U.S. Geological Survey employees being transported to sites by National Guard personnel.
U.S. Geological Survey employees being transported to sites by National Guard personnel.
Fire consumes an building on a farmstead near the Red River of the North in northeastern North Dakota.
Fire consumes an building on a farmstead near the Red River of the North in northeastern North Dakota.
The flag of the United States of American flies over flood water in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
The flag of the United States of American flies over flood water in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
Flood waters inundated Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota.The picture is looking west to Grand Forks, North Dakota and the USGS gage house is the small white square in the center of the picture.
Flood waters inundated Grand Forks, North Dakota and East Grand Forks, Minnesota.The picture is looking west to Grand Forks, North Dakota and the USGS gage house is the small white square in the center of the picture.
Dr. Suzanne Nicholson in Isle Royale, 1996
Dr. Suzanne Nicholson in Isle Royale, 1996
Dr. Suzanne Nicholson in Isle Royale, 1996
Dr. Suzanne Nicholson in Isle Royale, 1996
![Mount Konocti, a 1,312 m (4,305 ft) mountain on the eastern shore o...](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/vhp_img273.jpg?itok=br1Rqfkd)
Mt. Konocti erupted during the most recent stage of volcanism (01. Ma to 10,000 years ago), and a future eruption from the same site would be devastating to the nearby inhabitants.
Mt. Konocti erupted during the most recent stage of volcanism (01. Ma to 10,000 years ago), and a future eruption from the same site would be devastating to the nearby inhabitants.
Photograph of the large jökulhlaup that spread out across Skeiðarársandur (glacial outwash plain) from the terminus of Skeiðarárjökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull.
Photograph of the large jökulhlaup that spread out across Skeiðarársandur (glacial outwash plain) from the terminus of Skeiðarárjökull, an outlet glacier of Vatnajökull.
A crystallized dacite flow in northern Chile. Dacite is extrusive and the volcanic equivalent of granodiorite.
A crystallized dacite flow in northern Chile. Dacite is extrusive and the volcanic equivalent of granodiorite.
Channelized flows on Socompa. Socompa is a large stratovolcano on the border between Chile and Argentina, the youngest of a chain of volcanoes that runs northeast to southwest.
Channelized flows on Socompa. Socompa is a large stratovolcano on the border between Chile and Argentina, the youngest of a chain of volcanoes that runs northeast to southwest.