Understanding the forces that influence major floods can help inform the design of more resilient infrastructure. Image shows a major flood on the St. John River on the border of Maine, United States and New Brunswick, Canada, April 29, 2008. This site was part of the study. USGS Public Domain.
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.
Understanding the forces that influence major floods can help inform the design of more resilient infrastructure. Image shows a major flood on the St. John River on the border of Maine, United States and New Brunswick, Canada, April 29, 2008. This site was part of the study. USGS Public Domain.
North Dakota Discovery Farms Underwood waterway site 3, located west of Underwood, ND.
North Dakota Discovery Farms Underwood waterway site 3, located west of Underwood, ND.
![Pre-moonrise, time-lapse view of Halema‘uma‘u Crater from the Hawai...](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/vhp_img5398.jpg?itok=dKS4haId)
Strong tradewinds blow the gas plume from the Overlook vent in Halema‘uma‘u Crater to the southwest. Photograph taken at 4:37 a.m. HST.
Strong tradewinds blow the gas plume from the Overlook vent in Halema‘uma‘u Crater to the southwest. Photograph taken at 4:37 a.m. HST.
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
USGS scientist Karyn Rode takes a blood sample from a polar bear to estimate the diets of wild bears.
A USGS hydrologist holds an electromagnetic induction borehole logging tool while the tool is calibrated. The hydrologist was participating in a USGS class on how to use electromagnetic induction geophysical methods for groundwater investigations, conducted by the USGS Office of Groundwater Branch of Geophysics in 2008.
A USGS hydrologist holds an electromagnetic induction borehole logging tool while the tool is calibrated. The hydrologist was participating in a USGS class on how to use electromagnetic induction geophysical methods for groundwater investigations, conducted by the USGS Office of Groundwater Branch of Geophysics in 2008.
USGS Hydrologist, Janet Carter, demonstrates an interactive groundwater-flow model to visitors at Water Fun Day, held on April 20, 2008, at the Journey Museum in Rapid City, SD.
USGS Hydrologist, Janet Carter, demonstrates an interactive groundwater-flow model to visitors at Water Fun Day, held on April 20, 2008, at the Journey Museum in Rapid City, SD.
A Fence Lizard (tentative identification) on the side of a tree trunk near the Potomac River.
A Fence Lizard (tentative identification) on the side of a tree trunk near the Potomac River.
Townsend's Warbler held in the hand of a scientist in Anchorage, Alaska. Townsend's Warbler is a landbird.
Townsend's Warbler held in the hand of a scientist in Anchorage, Alaska. Townsend's Warbler is a landbird.
Rocks uncovered by a drought and a lower level of the Potomac River on Olmsted Island at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland. The holes in the center rock are caused by circulating water holding a smaller rock or pebble up against the large rock, and the resulting friction eroding a "pothole," into the larger rock.
Rocks uncovered by a drought and a lower level of the Potomac River on Olmsted Island at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland. The holes in the center rock are caused by circulating water holding a smaller rock or pebble up against the large rock, and the resulting friction eroding a "pothole," into the larger rock.
Rocks uncovered by a drought and a lower level of the Potamac River, at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland. The holes in the center rock are caused by circulating water holding a smaller rock or pebble up against the large rock, and the resulting friction eroding a "pothole," into the larger rock.
Rocks uncovered by a drought and a lower level of the Potamac River, at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, Maryland. The holes in the center rock are caused by circulating water holding a smaller rock or pebble up against the large rock, and the resulting friction eroding a "pothole," into the larger rock.
Mark Anderson, Director of the USGS South Dakota Water Science Center, with Dr. John H. Marburger, III, Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President. Dr. Marburger was the keynote speaker for the 2008 Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference, held on April 17, 2008, in Rapid City, SD.
Mark Anderson, Director of the USGS South Dakota Water Science Center, with Dr. John H. Marburger, III, Director, Office of Science and Technology Policy, Executive Office of the President. Dr. Marburger was the keynote speaker for the 2008 Western South Dakota Hydrology Conference, held on April 17, 2008, in Rapid City, SD.
![HVO geologist collects ash downwind of Halema‘uma‘u Crater, Kīlauea...](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/vhp_img2990.jpg?itok=tIDy9I31)
Ash and other lava fragments erupted from the new vent in HALE‘Ama‘uMAU Crater were collected almost daily from several wooden "tear catchers" located near the crater rim and from many more plastic buckets nearby. Six years later, ash collections are still made several times a week.
Ash and other lava fragments erupted from the new vent in HALE‘Ama‘uMAU Crater were collected almost daily from several wooden "tear catchers" located near the crater rim and from many more plastic buckets nearby. Six years later, ash collections are still made several times a week.
![Image: Halema'uma'u Crater, Kilauea Volcano Summit Eruption 2008](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/2008April16_Poland8366.jpg?itok=wGaavDOQ)
Kīlauea Volcano's summit vent within Halema‘uma‘u Crater was about 115 feet in diameter in April 2008, a month after it opened.
Kīlauea Volcano's summit vent within Halema‘uma‘u Crater was about 115 feet in diameter in April 2008, a month after it opened.
Birds found in and around the Salton Sea, California.
Birds found in and around the Salton Sea, California.
Looking downstream at the gage and Gorge.
Looking downstream at the gage and Gorge.
Birds found in and around the Salton Sea, California.
Birds found in and around the Salton Sea, California.
Birds found in and around the Salton Sea, California.
Birds found in and around the Salton Sea, California.
A view across the ice in the Arctic
A view across the ice in the Arctic