To help study the biodiversity present in the deep sea, scientists collect sediment cores. These cores are about a foot long and provide a vertical profile of deep-sea sediment, or mud.
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.
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Scientists process sediment cores from the deep sea
To help study the biodiversity present in the deep sea, scientists collect sediment cores. These cores are about a foot long and provide a vertical profile of deep-sea sediment, or mud.
Wave animation
Waves are the motion of the water's surface, usually caused by the transfer of energy from wind. Wave energy causes the water to move in a circular motion. The height and length of these waves combined with the slope of the beach influence how high the water can reach up on the coast.
Waves are the motion of the water's surface, usually caused by the transfer of energy from wind. Wave energy causes the water to move in a circular motion. The height and length of these waves combined with the slope of the beach influence how high the water can reach up on the coast.
Yellowstone map with rhyolite eruptions highlighted
Map of Yellowstone National Park adapted from Christiansen and others (2007). The pink regions are rhyolite flows erupted within Yellowstone caldera; these flows contain 5% to 15% crystals by volume. The purple region is the Obsidian Cliff flow, which contains close to 0% crystals.
Map of Yellowstone National Park adapted from Christiansen and others (2007). The pink regions are rhyolite flows erupted within Yellowstone caldera; these flows contain 5% to 15% crystals by volume. The purple region is the Obsidian Cliff flow, which contains close to 0% crystals.
Confluence of the Deschutes and Columbia rivers
An enigmatic outcrop of 5 million year old basalt sits 300 meters above the Deschutes and Columbia rivers. USGS scientists are carefully studying this basalt flow to determine if it came all the way from central Oregon, 160 kilometers away.
An enigmatic outcrop of 5 million year old basalt sits 300 meters above the Deschutes and Columbia rivers. USGS scientists are carefully studying this basalt flow to determine if it came all the way from central Oregon, 160 kilometers away.
USGS boat ready to collect water samples
USGS boat used to collect water samples in a PFAS-impacted lake on Cape Cod.
USGS boat used to collect water samples in a PFAS-impacted lake on Cape Cod.
Ecomapper Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV)
The Ecomapper is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that is a specialized submersibile device that operates by propelling through a water body between points along a constant depth.
The Ecomapper is an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that is a specialized submersibile device that operates by propelling through a water body between points along a constant depth.
Angular unconformity atop Mount Everts, Yellowstone National Park
An unconformity at the top of Mount Everts is located where the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff, 2.1 million years old, lies directly on top of Cretaceous sediments that are ~60 million years old and greater. Right at the unconformity are conspicuous orange and black colors. The orange is oxidation of the sedimentary unit where it is in contact with the ash, whic
An unconformity at the top of Mount Everts is located where the Huckleberry Ridge Tuff, 2.1 million years old, lies directly on top of Cretaceous sediments that are ~60 million years old and greater. Right at the unconformity are conspicuous orange and black colors. The orange is oxidation of the sedimentary unit where it is in contact with the ash, whic
Highway 89 winding through Silver Gate in Yellowstone National Park
A few miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Highway 89 winds through the white/gray jumble of rocks known as the Hoodoos, or Silver Gate, that formed when travertine from Terrace Mountain collapsed in a landslide.
A few miles south of Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Highway 89 winds through the white/gray jumble of rocks known as the Hoodoos, or Silver Gate, that formed when travertine from Terrace Mountain collapsed in a landslide.
Kukpowruk Redwul
Faulted and folded petroleum source rocks in Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks (Kingak Shale, pebble shale unit, and gamma-ray zone of Hue Shale) in southern part of Western North Slope. Thermal maturity of these rocks are at the upper limit of oil preservations.
Faulted and folded petroleum source rocks in Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks (Kingak Shale, pebble shale unit, and gamma-ray zone of Hue Shale) in southern part of Western North Slope. Thermal maturity of these rocks are at the upper limit of oil preservations.
Silver Gate landslide complex in Yellowstone National Park
Silver Gate landslide complex in Yellowstone National Park. The jumbled nature of the calcium-carbonate rocks is evidence that the deposit was formed by collapse of a travertine hot-spring terrace that might once have looked like Mammoth Hot Springs does today.
Silver Gate landslide complex in Yellowstone National Park. The jumbled nature of the calcium-carbonate rocks is evidence that the deposit was formed by collapse of a travertine hot-spring terrace that might once have looked like Mammoth Hot Springs does today.
Avalanche debris on road
Avalanche debris covers a road in Glacier National Park at Red Rock point.
Avalanche debris covers a road in Glacier National Park at Red Rock point.
Flume Measurement on Littlefield Creek
Flume measurement on Littlefield Creek
Flume measurement on Littlefield Creek
Littlefield Creek Flume Measurement
Littlefield Creek flume measurement
Littlefield Creek flume measurement
Sediment Fingerprint Project Field Collection
Heading out to collect soil samples for our sediment fingerprinting project
Heading out to collect soil samples for our sediment fingerprinting project
Soil Sample Collection Materials
Soil sample collection for sediment fingerprinting on Littlefield Creek
Soil sample collection for sediment fingerprinting on Littlefield Creek
Well pump in a rural setting in North Dakota
A well pump in rural North Dakota.
A well pump in rural North Dakota.
White barn in a rural setting
White barn in a rural setting in North Dakota.
White barn in a rural setting in North Dakota.
I Am A Fire Ecologist - Coloring Page
This is a high resolution image for the whiteboard series I Am A Fire Ecologist - Coloring Page
By
This is a high resolution image for the whiteboard series I Am A Fire Ecologist - Coloring Page
By
Third Creek, NV
View of near shore Third Creek, NV
Scientists installing a lahar monitoring station.
Lahar monitoring equipment is housed in a secure box with multiple types of instruments to detect approaching lahars.
Lahar monitoring equipment is housed in a secure box with multiple types of instruments to detect approaching lahars.