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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.

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Photograph of scientist analyzing sediment carbon
Analyzing Sediment Carbon
Analyzing Sediment Carbon
Analyzing Sediment Carbon

WHOI/MIT PhD. Student, Sheron Luk, analyses sediment carbon on an Elemental Analyzer at Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center.

WHOI/MIT PhD. Student, Sheron Luk, analyses sediment carbon on an Elemental Analyzer at Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center.

A dark-colored albatross with pale wingtips takes off from the water, wings spread and white splashes in the water behin
Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) taking off
Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) taking off
Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) taking off

Zoomed aerial image of a Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) taking off from the water.

Zoomed aerial image of a Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) taking off from the water.

Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner
Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner
Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner
Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner

Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey. The boat is equipped with a flow-through system that pumps water onto the boat while underway and directs sample water to a multiparameter water quality sonde, thermosalinograph, fluorometers, nitrate and ammonium analyzers.

Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey. The boat is equipped with a flow-through system that pumps water onto the boat while underway and directs sample water to a multiparameter water quality sonde, thermosalinograph, fluorometers, nitrate and ammonium analyzers.

Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey.
Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner
Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner
Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner

Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey. The boat is equipped with a flow-through system that pumps water onto the boat while underway and directs sample water to a multiparameter water quality sonde, thermosalinograph, fluorometers, nitrate and ammonium analyzers.

Brian Bergamaschi and Katy O’Donnell onboard the RV Landsteiner during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey. The boat is equipped with a flow-through system that pumps water onto the boat while underway and directs sample water to a multiparameter water quality sonde, thermosalinograph, fluorometers, nitrate and ammonium analyzers.

Brian Bergamaschi, Katy O’Donnell, Emily Richardson, and Jeniffer Soto Perez onboard the RV Landsteiner
Brian Bergamaschi, Katy O’Donnell, Emily Richardson, and Jeniffer Soto
Brian Bergamaschi, Katy O’Donnell, Emily Richardson, and Jeniffer Soto
Brian Bergamaschi, Katy O’Donnell, Emily Richardson, and Jeniffer Soto

(From left to right) Brian Bergamaschi, Katy O’Donnell, Emily Richardson, and Jeniffer Soto Perez onboard the RV Landsteiner during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey.

(From left to right) Brian Bergamaschi, Katy O’Donnell, Emily Richardson, and Jeniffer Soto Perez onboard the RV Landsteiner during a high-resolution water quality mapping survey.

Photograph of USGS scientist collecting water samples in a marsh
Collecting Water Samples
Collecting Water Samples
Collecting Water Samples

USGS samples water within wetlands to understand which environmental drivers impact carbon cycle and sediment accretion. Here USGS staff (Jennifer O'Keefe Suttles) pumps water from at Phragmites wetland, Mashpee, MA, to analyze at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Environmental Geochemistry lab.

USGS samples water within wetlands to understand which environmental drivers impact carbon cycle and sediment accretion. Here USGS staff (Jennifer O'Keefe Suttles) pumps water from at Phragmites wetland, Mashpee, MA, to analyze at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Environmental Geochemistry lab.

Long, skinny Cuvier's Beaked Whale swimming just below the ocean surface, viewed from above
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris)
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris)
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris)

Zoomed image of a Cuvier’s Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris) below the surface.

Zoomed image of a Cuvier’s Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris) below the surface.

Dave Brower (left) and Taylor Nagleri (right) working on logging data that was being collected by Rob Lorens in the stream
Dave Brower (left) and Taylor Nagleri (right) working on logging data
Dave Brower (left) and Taylor Nagleri (right) working on logging data
Dave Brower (left) and Taylor Nagleri (right) working on logging data

Dave Brower (left) and Taylor Nagleri (right) working on logging data that was being collected by Rob Lorens in the stream (not pictured).

Dave Brower (left) and Taylor Nagleri (right) working on logging data that was being collected by Rob Lorens in the stream (not pictured).

Color photograph of lava lake crust
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

Kīlauea's summit lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu is continually re-surfacing. HVO geologists monitoring the activity in the field have observed crustal foundering, in which pieces of solidified lava crust on the surface of the lava lake break and sink back into the liquid portion. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Kīlauea's summit lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu is continually re-surfacing. HVO geologists monitoring the activity in the field have observed crustal foundering, in which pieces of solidified lava crust on the surface of the lava lake break and sink back into the liquid portion. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color photograph of lava lake crust
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

Kīlauea's summit lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu is continually re-surfacing. HVO geologists monitoring the activity in the field have observed crustal foundering, in which pieces of solidified lava crust on the surface of the lava lake break and sink back into the liquid portion. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Kīlauea's summit lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu is continually re-surfacing. HVO geologists monitoring the activity in the field have observed crustal foundering, in which pieces of solidified lava crust on the surface of the lava lake break and sink back into the liquid portion. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color photograph of volcanic vent
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

The western fissure in Halemaʻumaʻu wall remains active. Glowing vents and a prominent spatter cone are visible in this photo. This view looks steeply down from Kīlauea's west caldera rim, and the lava lake surface is visible in the background. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

The western fissure in Halemaʻumaʻu wall remains active. Glowing vents and a prominent spatter cone are visible in this photo. This view looks steeply down from Kīlauea's west caldera rim, and the lava lake surface is visible in the background. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color photograph of lava lake crust
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

The view from Kīlauea Volcano's western caldera rim shows the eastern portion of the lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The main island is visible in the bottom of the photograph, and smaller islands can be seen above it (to the east). USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

The view from Kīlauea Volcano's western caldera rim shows the eastern portion of the lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu crater. The main island is visible in the bottom of the photograph, and smaller islands can be seen above it (to the east). USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color photograph of lava lake crust
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

A channel-like feature is visible on the lava lake surface within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. This feature originates from the influx of lava from the western fissure, just out of view on the bottom of the photograph. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

A channel-like feature is visible on the lava lake surface within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. This feature originates from the influx of lava from the western fissure, just out of view on the bottom of the photograph. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color photograph of lava lake crust
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

View of the northern portion of the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Smaller islands present in the northeastern portion of the lava lake are visible. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

View of the northern portion of the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Smaller islands present in the northeastern portion of the lava lake are visible. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color photograph of lava lake crust
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption

View of the northern portion of the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Smaller islands present in the northeastern portion of the lava lake are visible. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

View of the northern portion of the lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at Kīlauea Volcano's summit. Smaller islands present in the northeastern portion of the lava lake are visible. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. USGS photo by M. Patrick on 12/31/2020. 

Color map of volcano
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption contour map
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption contour map
December 31, 2020—Kīlauea summit eruption contour map

This map of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea shows 20 m (66 ft) contour lines (dark gray) that mark locations of equal elevation above sea level (asl).

This map of Halema‘uma‘u at the summit of Kīlauea shows 20 m (66 ft) contour lines (dark gray) that mark locations of equal elevation above sea level (asl).

Determining the height of a geyser eruption with trigonometry
Determining the height of a geyser eruption with trigonometry
Determining the height of a geyser eruption with trigonometry
Determining the height of a geyser eruption with trigonometry

Yellowstone rangers -- and tourists, too! -- can determine the height of a geyser eruption with some simple trigonometry.

Yellowstone rangers -- and tourists, too! -- can determine the height of a geyser eruption with some simple trigonometry.

Devin McGinty collecting measurements in the field

Devin McGinty collecting measurements in the field including surveying and installing a new staff gage. 

Devin McGinty collecting measurements in the field including surveying and installing a new staff gage. 

Dr. Graham Sextone downloading weather station data in Rocky Mountain National Park
Dr. Graham Sextone downloading weather station data in Rocky Mountains
Dr. Graham Sextone downloading weather station data in Rocky Mountains
Dr. Graham Sextone downloading weather station data in Rocky Mountains

Dr. Graham Sextone downloading weather station data in Rocky Mountain National Park. Station ID 401719105394311

Photograph of USGS staff collecting data in a marsh
Field Collections at Head of the Meadow Bay, MA
Field Collections at Head of the Meadow Bay, MA
Field Collections at Head of the Meadow Bay, MA

Remote-Sensing Coastal Change project field collections at the Head of the Meadow Bay in Massachusetts.

Fin whale just breaking the surface of the water, viewed from above
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) breaking the surface
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) breaking the surface
Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) breaking the surface

Zoomed image of a Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus) breaking the surface.