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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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UAS on beach
UAS flying on a beach
UAS flying on a beach
UAS over flux tower
UAS over flux tower
UAS over flux tower
UAS over flux tower

Looking up at a drone hovering near an open-path methane analyzer mounted on a flux tower. Instruments mounted on both the towers and on the drones are measuring gases emitted from the soil.

Looking up at a drone hovering near an open-path methane analyzer mounted on a flux tower. Instruments mounted on both the towers and on the drones are measuring gases emitted from the soil.

Photograph of 2 UNC mini landers surrounded by Sablefish
UNC mini landers surrounded by Sablefish
UNC mini landers surrounded by Sablefish
UNC mini landers surrounded by Sablefish

 Two UNC mini landers, surrounded by Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) and pink sea urchins, incubate seawater in situ to enable calculations of methane oxidation rates.

 Two UNC mini landers, surrounded by Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) and pink sea urchins, incubate seawater in situ to enable calculations of methane oxidation rates.

Under Ice Mount
Under Ice Mount
Under Ice Mount
Under Ice Mount

Temporary mount for installation of a horizontal ADVM under ice.  A large flange serves as a load bearing base plate with 2" pipe and pipe fittings being used to suspend the ADVM below.

Temporary mount for installation of a horizontal ADVM under ice.  A large flange serves as a load bearing base plate with 2" pipe and pipe fittings being used to suspend the ADVM below.

USA-NPN Pheno Forecast of emerald ash borer adult emergence.
USA-NPN Pheno Forecast of emerald ash borer adult emergence.
USA-NPN Pheno Forecast of emerald ash borer adult emergence.
USA-NPN Pheno Forecast of emerald ash borer adult emergence.

USA-NPN Pheno Forecast of emerald ash borer adult emergence. Yellow areas indicate locations that will have reached the accumulated temperature requirements for adult emergence as of April 1, 2019.

USA-NPN Pheno Forecast of emerald ash borer adult emergence. Yellow areas indicate locations that will have reached the accumulated temperature requirements for adult emergence as of April 1, 2019.

USGS employee prepares unmanned aerial vehicle for takeoff
USGS employee prepares unmanned aerial vehicle for takeoff
USGS employee prepares unmanned aerial vehicle for takeoff
USGS employee prepares unmanned aerial vehicle for takeoff

USGS employee John Fulton prepares an unmanned aerial vehicle for take off. This particular drone referred to as "Q-Cam" measures surface water stream velocity. Combined with a second drone, non-contact discharge measurements can be made.

USGS employee John Fulton prepares an unmanned aerial vehicle for take off. This particular drone referred to as "Q-Cam" measures surface water stream velocity. Combined with a second drone, non-contact discharge measurements can be made.

USGS employees on State Highway 104 near the Arkansas River
USGS employees on SH 104 near the Arkansas River near Haskell, OK
USGS employees on SH 104 near the Arkansas River near Haskell, OK
USGS employees on SH 104 near the Arkansas River near Haskell, OK

Photograph showing USGS employees on State Highway 104 near the Arkansas River near Haskell, Oklahoma, streamgage (07165570). Photograph by Kevin Smith, U.S. Geological Survey.

 U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1090

Photograph showing USGS employees on State Highway 104 near the Arkansas River near Haskell, Oklahoma, streamgage (07165570). Photograph by Kevin Smith, U.S. Geological Survey.

 U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2020–1090

USGS employees  point out the newly installed fixed-mount thermal infrared camera on a streamgage
USGS employees point out the newly installed thermal camera
USGS employees point out the newly installed thermal camera
USGS employees point out the newly installed thermal camera

USGS scientists Adam Baldwin and Chris Gazoorian (USGS New York Water Science Center) point out the newly installed fixed-mount thermal infrared camera installed on the USGS Platte Kill at Dunraven NY streamgage in t

USGS scientists Adam Baldwin and Chris Gazoorian (USGS New York Water Science Center) point out the newly installed fixed-mount thermal infrared camera installed on the USGS Platte Kill at Dunraven NY streamgage in t

USGS gage 05293000 YELLOW BANK RIVER NEAR ODESSA, MN with High River Water Level From Flood
USGS gage 05293000 YELLOW BANK RIVER NEAR ODESSA, MN
USGS gage 05293000 YELLOW BANK RIVER NEAR ODESSA, MN
USGS gage 05293000 YELLOW BANK RIVER NEAR ODESSA, MN

USGS gage 05293000 YELLOW BANK RIVER NEAR ODESSA, MN with High River Water Level From Flood.

USGS gage 05293000 YELLOW BANK RIVER NEAR ODESSA, MN with High River Water Level From Flood.

USGS Hydrologist at Work, Glacial Ridge Refuge
USGS Hydrologist at Work, Glacial Ridge Refuge
USGS Hydrologist at Work, Glacial Ridge Refuge
USGS Hydrologist at Work, Glacial Ridge Refuge

USGS hydrologist Tim Cowdery titrates water alkalinity in a mobile sampling van using an electronic field form.

USGS hydrologist Tim Cowdery titrates water alkalinity in a mobile sampling van using an electronic field form.

USGS Louisville KY Main Office
USGS Louisville KY Main Office
USGS Louisville KY Main Office
USGS Louisville KY Main Office

A frontal view of the USGS Water Science Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

A frontal view of the USGS Water Science Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

USGS scientists collect data from the surfaced Ecomapper underwater vehicle
USGS scientists collect data from the surfaced Ecomapper AUV
USGS scientists collect data from the surfaced Ecomapper AUV
USGS scientists collect data from the surfaced Ecomapper AUV

USGS scientists collect data from the surfaced Ecomapper after a mission to understand stream mixing near the Benjamin Franklin Bridge on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Penn. This technology is part of the

USGS scientists collect data from the surfaced Ecomapper after a mission to understand stream mixing near the Benjamin Franklin Bridge on the Delaware River in Philadelphia, Penn. This technology is part of the

Photo: USGS scientists install a double ring infiltrometer in a grassy field.
USGS scientists install a double ring infiltrometer
USGS scientists install a double ring infiltrometer
USGS scientists install a double ring infiltrometer

In this photo, USGS scientists Megan Haserodt (Hydrologist) and Jenelle Wempner (Student Intern) install a double ring infiltrometer along a recreated floodplain of Underwood Creek, a tributary to the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In this photo, USGS scientists Megan Haserodt (Hydrologist) and Jenelle Wempner (Student Intern) install a double ring infiltrometer along a recreated floodplain of Underwood Creek, a tributary to the Milwaukee River and Lake Michigan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

View of Half Dome from approximately 2,000’ up El Capitan (Mescalito)
View of Half Dome from approximately 2,000’ up El Capitan (Mescalito)
View of Half Dome from approximately 2,000’ up El Capitan (Mescalito)
View of Half Dome from approximately 2,000’ up El Capitan (Mescalito)

Northeast Region Photo Contest, August 2019, People
View of Half Dome from approximately 2,000’ up El Capitan (Mescalito)

Northeast Region Photo Contest, August 2019, People
View of Half Dome from approximately 2,000’ up El Capitan (Mescalito)

View of snow covered mountains in Alaska
View South from Wolverine Glacier
View South from Wolverine Glacier
View South from Wolverine Glacier

View South from Wolverine Glacier

Hue Shale and Kemik Sandstone
View to northeast from southwestern ANWR-1002 Area; ice in Camden Bay
View to northeast from southwestern ANWR-1002 Area; ice in Camden Bay
View to northeast from southwestern ANWR-1002 Area; ice in Camden Bay

View to northeast from southwestern Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay in distance. In foreground, red-weathering rocks are Hue Shale (oil-prone source rock with is present throughout 1002 Area) and dark gray rocks are Kemik Sandstone (lateral equivalent to Thomson sandstone, main reservoir in Pt. Thomson field).

View to northeast from southwestern Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay in distance. In foreground, red-weathering rocks are Hue Shale (oil-prone source rock with is present throughout 1002 Area) and dark gray rocks are Kemik Sandstone (lateral equivalent to Thomson sandstone, main reservoir in Pt. Thomson field).

near the Canning River Delta
View to the southeast from near the Canning River Delta
View to the southeast from near the Canning River Delta
View to the southeast from near the Canning River Delta

View to the southeast from near the Canning River Delta. Visible in foreground are permafrost polygons cut by caribou trails. 


Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

View to the southeast from near the Canning River Delta. Visible in foreground are permafrost polygons cut by caribou trails. 


Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Well head of Sourdough oil discovery
Well head of Sourdough oil discovery on Alaska state lease
Well head of Sourdough oil discovery on Alaska state lease
Well head of Sourdough oil discovery on Alaska state lease

Well head of Sourdough oil discovery on Alaska state lease less than one mile west of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area showing minimal disturbance of permafrost polygons.   

Well head of Sourdough oil discovery on Alaska state lease less than one mile west of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area showing minimal disturbance of permafrost polygons.   

Well on Restored Prairie
Well on Restored Prairie
Well on Restored Prairie
Well on Restored Prairie

A well at a restored prairie on Lake Agassiz beach ridge, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge

A well at a restored prairie on Lake Agassiz beach ridge, Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge

ANWR-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay
western ANWR-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay
western ANWR-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay
western ANWR-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay

Northward view in western Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay in distance. North sloping, tundra-covered surface is typical of coastal plain.

Northward view in western Arctic National Wildlife Refuge-1002 Area with ice in Camden Bay in distance. North sloping, tundra-covered surface is typical of coastal plain.

western Sadlerochit Mountains
western Sadlerochit Mountains near the Tamayariak River
western Sadlerochit Mountains near the Tamayariak River
western Sadlerochit Mountains near the Tamayariak River

View to northeast from western Sadlerochit Mountains near the Tamayariak River. This gently rolling topography is typical of the southern coastal plain.

View to northeast from western Sadlerochit Mountains near the Tamayariak River. This gently rolling topography is typical of the southern coastal plain.