White-nose syndrome has been detected in Washington. USGS scientist are helping the NPS design and evaluate bat sampling protocols for their Pacific Northwest parks.
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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Setting up a bat acoustic monitoring station
White-nose syndrome has been detected in Washington. USGS scientist are helping the NPS design and evaluate bat sampling protocols for their Pacific Northwest parks.
Brad Huffman at the historic Cataloochee Creek near Cataloochee, NC
Brad Huffman (SAWSC) holds the level rod during an annual set of levels at the historic Cataloochee Creek near Cataloochee, NC Stream gage 03460000 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Brad Huffman (SAWSC) holds the level rod during an annual set of levels at the historic Cataloochee Creek near Cataloochee, NC Stream gage 03460000 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Geologists from Montana State University study an outcrop of diorite
Geologists from Montana State University study an outcrop of diorite (a silicic igneous rock that cooled slowly beneath the ground). An outcrop of this size is important because it is easier to see any structural relations along with rock composition.
Geologists from Montana State University study an outcrop of diorite (a silicic igneous rock that cooled slowly beneath the ground). An outcrop of this size is important because it is easier to see any structural relations along with rock composition.
In the eastern portion of the lake, the dark brown zone had a slightly mottled a
In the eastern portion of the lake, the dark brown zone had a slightly mottled appearance, but this pattern was transient and gone within about ten minutes.
In the eastern portion of the lake, the dark brown zone had a slightly mottled appearance, but this pattern was transient and gone within about ten minutes.
Map and stratigraphy of ashflow sheets from Yellowstone Hotspot
Newly identified ash flow sheets within the Yellowstone–Snake River Plain volcanic province (Y-SRP). The small inset in the center shows the track of the Yellowstone hotspot and its associated eruptive centers in light gray (M—McDermitt; OH—Owyhee-Humboldt; BJ—Bruneau-Jarbidge; TF—Twin Falls; P—Picabo; H—Heise; Y—Yellowstone).
Newly identified ash flow sheets within the Yellowstone–Snake River Plain volcanic province (Y-SRP). The small inset in the center shows the track of the Yellowstone hotspot and its associated eruptive centers in light gray (M—McDermitt; OH—Owyhee-Humboldt; BJ—Bruneau-Jarbidge; TF—Twin Falls; P—Picabo; H—Heise; Y—Yellowstone).
Collecting sediment samples from Hoyt Lake in Buffalo, NY
A field crew collects sediment samples from Hoyt Lake in Buffalo, NY
A field crew collects sediment samples from Hoyt Lake in Buffalo, NY
Borehole Geophysics
Mitch McAdoo prepares an acoustic televiewer for borehole geophysical logging in Monroe County, WV.
Mitch McAdoo prepares an acoustic televiewer for borehole geophysical logging in Monroe County, WV.
Collecting western bumble bee samples in eastern Montana
USGS scientist Tabitha Graves collects western bumble bee samples in eastern Montana.
USGS scientist Tabitha Graves collects western bumble bee samples in eastern Montana.
Continued slow rise of water in Halema‘uma‘u
The water lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, continues to slowly rise, with no significant changes in recent weeks. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
The water lake within Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea, continues to slowly rise, with no significant changes in recent weeks. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
The eastern end of the lake, shown here, is slightly warmer than the lake center
The eastern end of the lake, shown here, is slightly warmer than the lake center, and commonly has steam rising from the water surface. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
The eastern end of the lake, shown here, is slightly warmer than the lake center, and commonly has steam rising from the water surface. USGS photo by M. Patrick.
A Conceptual Model of Ecosystem Services of Nisqually River Delta.
A conceptual model of ecosystem services for the wetland habitats of Nisqually River Delta. Exogenous factors influence the quality and quantity of wetland habitat. This, in turn, controls the many functions that occur within wetlands. Ecosystem services, or benefits to people, are derived from the ability of wetlands to perform critical ecological functions.
A conceptual model of ecosystem services for the wetland habitats of Nisqually River Delta. Exogenous factors influence the quality and quantity of wetland habitat. This, in turn, controls the many functions that occur within wetlands. Ecosystem services, or benefits to people, are derived from the ability of wetlands to perform critical ecological functions.
A botanist collects vegetation data near the summit of Pitamakin Mt
A botanist collects vegetation data near the summit Pitamakin Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana.
A botanist collects vegetation data near the summit Pitamakin Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana.
Alpine summits often support a great variety of vegetation species
Alpine summits often support a great variety of vegetation species despite harsh environmental conditions. Bison Mountain GLORIA plot, Glacier National Park, Montana.
Alpine summits often support a great variety of vegetation species despite harsh environmental conditions. Bison Mountain GLORIA plot, Glacier National Park, Montana.
Buoy Validation
Hydrologists Jonathan Cohl and Bradley Bjorklund take field comparison readings while preparing for sampling at two depths of the Spruce Run Reservoir to collect discrete water quality samples.
Hydrologists Jonathan Cohl and Bradley Bjorklund take field comparison readings while preparing for sampling at two depths of the Spruce Run Reservoir to collect discrete water quality samples.
Liam Schenk (USGS Oregon) holding a sediment core
Liam Schenk (USGS Oregon) holding a sediment core collected from the bottom of Iron Gate Reservoir, Klamath River, CA.
Liam Schenk (USGS Oregon) holding a sediment core collected from the bottom of Iron Gate Reservoir, Klamath River, CA.
Researcher evaluates vegetation during a GLORIA alpine plant survey
Researcher evaluates vegetation during a GLORIA alpine plant survey near the summit of Dancing Lady Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana.
Researcher evaluates vegetation during a GLORIA alpine plant survey near the summit of Dancing Lady Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana.
Scientists collect alpine plant species in Glacier NP
Scientists collect alpine plant species and distribution data to complete a GLORIA site inventory on the summit of Seward Mountain, Glacier National Park, Montana.
Scientists collect alpine plant species and distribution data to complete a GLORIA site inventory on the summit of Seward Mountain, Glacier National Park, Montana.
Aerial Map of Modeling Area in the Nisqually River Delta
Aerial map of modeling area in the Nisqually River Delta. Managed freshwater marsh at the southern end of the refuge is excluded. Inset: Black point on terrain map shows the location of Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge within Washington State (grey outline).
Aerial map of modeling area in the Nisqually River Delta. Managed freshwater marsh at the southern end of the refuge is excluded. Inset: Black point on terrain map shows the location of Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge within Washington State (grey outline).
Vegetated dunes on Cocoa Beach, Florida
A view looking north on Cocoa beach towards Kennedy Space Station. Coastal infrastructure and natural resources such as sediment and beach vegetation can all be affected by coastal change processes.
A view looking north on Cocoa beach towards Kennedy Space Station. Coastal infrastructure and natural resources such as sediment and beach vegetation can all be affected by coastal change processes.
Active and Reclaimed Well Pads
An active oil and gas well pad and an abandoned pad being reclaimed (top left inset).
An active oil and gas well pad and an abandoned pad being reclaimed (top left inset).
Well Pads in the Colorado Plateau
Density of oil and gas well pads per km2 in the Colorado Plateau ecoregion (including parts of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico) as counted in 2016. Oil/gas wells are particularly concentrated in this region with ~100,000 abandoned and current wells spanning 60 years of activity. These numbers are dramatically increasing with time.
Density of oil and gas well pads per km2 in the Colorado Plateau ecoregion (including parts of Utah, Colorado and New Mexico) as counted in 2016. Oil/gas wells are particularly concentrated in this region with ~100,000 abandoned and current wells spanning 60 years of activity. These numbers are dramatically increasing with time.