Coral atolls develop from reefs fringing volcanic islands. As first hypothesized by Charles Darwin, and confirmed by ocean drilling done by British scientists a century ago, reefs fringing volcanic islands build vertically to sea level, forming steep-walled barrier reefs.
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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Atoll development
Coral atolls develop from reefs fringing volcanic islands. As first hypothesized by Charles Darwin, and confirmed by ocean drilling done by British scientists a century ago, reefs fringing volcanic islands build vertically to sea level, forming steep-walled barrier reefs.
Bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake
Bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake showing hydrothermal features in the north part of the lake, including Elliott's Crater, Mary Bay, and Deep Hole. Colors correspond to lake depth, with cooler colors indicating greater depths.
Bathymetric map of Yellowstone Lake showing hydrothermal features in the north part of the lake, including Elliott's Crater, Mary Bay, and Deep Hole. Colors correspond to lake depth, with cooler colors indicating greater depths.
Black Buttes and Mount Baker in WA.
Black Buttes stratovolcano and south side of ice-mantled Mount Baker. Aerial view northeastward. For Black Buttes, strata of the two highest crags (Lincoln Peak, left, and Colfax Peak) display opposing 308 dips that frame the gutted edifice.
Black Buttes stratovolcano and south side of ice-mantled Mount Baker. Aerial view northeastward. For Black Buttes, strata of the two highest crags (Lincoln Peak, left, and Colfax Peak) display opposing 308 dips that frame the gutted edifice.
Black-Crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned night-heron on the grassy turf of a wetland.
Black-crowned night-heron on the grassy turf of a wetland.
Black-Necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)
Two Black-necked stilts wading in a wetland.
Two Black-necked stilts wading in a wetland.
Example output from VolatileCalc
Isobars (gray) represent locus of values for dissolved H2O andCO2 in rhyolitic melt in equilibrium with H2O–CO2 vapor at 800°C and selected pressures. Isopleths represent locus of rhyolitic melt compositions in equilibrium with the given vapor compositions (20, 50 and80 mol% H2
Isobars (gray) represent locus of values for dissolved H2O andCO2 in rhyolitic melt in equilibrium with H2O–CO2 vapor at 800°C and selected pressures. Isopleths represent locus of rhyolitic melt compositions in equilibrium with the given vapor compositions (20, 50 and80 mol% H2
Gas Hydrate Drill Rig at the Mallik Test Site in Canada
A drill rig at the Mallik test site in Canada's Mckenzie Delta. USGS joined the Geological Survey of Canada, JAPEX, and the Japanese National Oil Company to drill test wells for natural gas production from gas hydrate deposits.
A drill rig at the Mallik test site in Canada's Mckenzie Delta. USGS joined the Geological Survey of Canada, JAPEX, and the Japanese National Oil Company to drill test wells for natural gas production from gas hydrate deposits.
Gas Hydrates in Marine Sediments off the Oregon Coast
During Ocean Drilling Program Leg 204, nine sites were cored and wireline logged on the Oregon continental margin to determine the distribution and concentration of gas hydrates in an accretionary ridge setting, investigate the mechanisms that transport methane and other gases into the gas hydrate stability zone, and obtain constraints on physical properties of
During Ocean Drilling Program Leg 204, nine sites were cored and wireline logged on the Oregon continental margin to determine the distribution and concentration of gas hydrates in an accretionary ridge setting, investigate the mechanisms that transport methane and other gases into the gas hydrate stability zone, and obtain constraints on physical properties of
Inukshuk at the Mallik Gas Hydrate Test Site in Canada
This image shows an inukshuk, a stone cairn used by indigenous peoples in northern latitudes, particularly in places like northern Canada.
This image shows an inukshuk, a stone cairn used by indigenous peoples in northern latitudes, particularly in places like northern Canada.
Los Angeles Margin and Basin
Overall perspective view of the Los Angeles Margin and Basin looking northeast. The distance across the bottom of the image is about 100 kilometers with a vertical exaggeration of 6 times. The margin is bisected by a series of large underwater canyons, channels, and gullies.
Overall perspective view of the Los Angeles Margin and Basin looking northeast. The distance across the bottom of the image is about 100 kilometers with a vertical exaggeration of 6 times. The margin is bisected by a series of large underwater canyons, channels, and gullies.
Sunrise Over Haleakala National Park
Sunrise over Haleakala National Park.
Sunrise over Haleakala National Park.
Sunrise Over Haleakala National Park
Sunrise over Haleakala National Park.
Sunrise over Haleakala National Park.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls. Coolecting frog calls allows scientists to determine distribution of species.
USGS Scientist Mark Roth listening to frog calls. Coolecting frog calls allows scientists to determine distribution of species.
USGS scientists collecting water-quality samples for the analysis
USGS scientists collecting water-quality samples for the analysis of wastewater related contaminants, Boulder Creek, Colorado.
USGS scientists collecting water-quality samples for the analysis of wastewater related contaminants, Boulder Creek, Colorado.
Village man showing signs of arsenic poisoning
Village man showing signs of arsenic poisoning. Bangladesh
Village man showing signs of arsenic poisoning. Bangladesh
Tadpole with organ failure
This tadpole shows signs of severe Perkinsea infection, which causes organ failure.
This tadpole shows signs of severe Perkinsea infection, which causes organ failure.
Tadpole with SPI
This tadpole shows signs of a severe Perkinsea infection.
This tadpole shows signs of a severe Perkinsea infection.
Moose (Alces alces)
Moose lying in the snow amongst the trees.
Moose lying in the snow amongst the trees.
Public Wells
Example of wellhead plumbing typical of public wells sampled in a USGS study of 932 public wells nationwide. About 105 million peopleor more than one-third of the Nation's populationreceive their drinking water from one of the 140,000 public water systems across the United States that rely on groundwater pumped from public wells.
Example of wellhead plumbing typical of public wells sampled in a USGS study of 932 public wells nationwide. About 105 million peopleor more than one-third of the Nation's populationreceive their drinking water from one of the 140,000 public water systems across the United States that rely on groundwater pumped from public wells.
Denali Fault: Canwell Glacier
The Denali fault offset crevasses on the Canwell Glacier.
The Denali fault offset crevasses on the Canwell Glacier.
Denali Fault: Canwell Glacier
Right steps in the Denali fault trace on the Canwell Glacier caused large rhombehedral chasms to form. Patty Craw in background. This photo was on the front page of the Anchorage Daily News.
Right steps in the Denali fault trace on the Canwell Glacier caused large rhombehedral chasms to form. Patty Craw in background. This photo was on the front page of the Anchorage Daily News.