Images

These photos show the kind of massive forest die-off that is projected to occur more frequently in the Southwest. Piñon pines, normally evergreen, have reddish-brown foliage in October 2002 (left). By May 2004 (right), the dead piñon pines have lost all their needles, exposing gray trunks and branches.

The images reveal significant erosion of the island, likely due to inundation by waves and surge.This erosion resulted in the disappearance of an oil-protection berm constructed follow the BP oil spill.  Due to this island's cumulative damage from previous storms like Hurricane Katrina, it remains in question whether this beach system will ever be able to fully

Sunset as seen through the smoke of a prescribed burn in the Jemez Mountains, New Mexico. The burn was conducted to restore fire as an ecosystem process and reduce hazardous tree densities and fuel loads due to more than 100 years of fire suppression. Foreground trees (Douglas-fir and aspen) were killed during the Cerro Grande fire in 2000.

A screenshot from the USGS film "Living with Fire".

A fire tornado swirls near a home in southern California. USGS is investigating the factors that dictate home loss from wildfires as part of the USGS Southern California Wildfire Risk Scenario Project.

Image courtesy of Tim Walton, Photo One Productions, CALFIRE. Shared with permission.

Cover-collapse sinkhole in limestone near Frederick, Maryland (September 2003). Many sinkholes occur along highways where rainwater runoff is concentrated into storm drains and ditches increasing the rate of sinkhole development (note the sewer drain pipe beneath roadway).

The May 12, 2008, Great Sichuan Earthquake, also called the Wenchuan Earthquake, occurred at 14:28 local time, in Sichuan Province, China. The earthquake magnitudes were Mw = 7.9 (USGS), Ms = 8.0 (Chinese Earthquake Administration). The epicenter was 80 km west-northwest of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province.

The tsunami generated by the M 8.8 earthquake carried many boats onto land - in some cases hundreds of meters inland. The tsunami wave height at this location in Concepcion Harbor (Talcahuano), Chile was about 4-5 meters (12-15 feet).

A fire burning over the wetlands in Duson, Louisiana

The May 12, 2008, Great Sichuan Earthquake, also called the Wenchuan Earthquake, occurred at 14:28 local time, in Sichuan Province, China. The earthquake magnitudes were Mw = 7.9 (USGS), Ms = 8.0 (Chinese Earthquake Administration). The epicenter was 80 km west-northwest of Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province.

 HVO scientist measures the episode 12 lava fountain height at Mauna Ulu from Puʻu Huluhulu on Dec 30, 1969. The Mauna Ulu eruption marks its 51^st anniversary on May 24, 1969.

Tilted slabs of welded spatter blanketed by pumice and spatter erupted on October 20 and, mainly December 30, 1969. Note the contrast between the chaotic terrain in the foreground and the undisturbed bedding in tephra in background. The chaotic area formed as moving lava upended the tephra beds. Photo taken in March 1970.

Viewing platform for visitors on rim of Mauna Ulu crater. March 22, 1973. This platform, established in 1972, was open to the public until late on the night of November 4, 1973. Then rising lava level prompted closure, and lava engulfed the platform early the next morning.

Fallout on flank of Pu'u Huluhulu from inclined fountain of October 20, 1969. The high vertical fountain was briefly diverted toward Pu'u Huluhulu when a blockage developed at the vent. Observers at the viewing platform (on the left-most peak on the skyline) scrambled to escape, but after several minutes the fountain righted itself.

Lava fountain of October 20, 1969 with viewing platform on top of Pu'u Huluhulu. The viewing platform has a stone wall facing the fountain; it can be reached by a national park trail. The platform was occupied by HVO geologists during fountaining episodes, from which the height of the fountains was measured and photos and movies taken.

Dome fountain of episode 10, October 10-13, 1969. Photo taken on October 11. This dome fountain is about 20 m (65 ft) high. Symmetrical dome fountains such as this are rare.

The graben that opened on August 4, 1969, is in lower left, near the spillover.

Tallest fountain of the eruption, 540 m (1770 ft) on September 6, 1969. Photo from '?lo'i Crater. Lava flows during this fountaining episode filled 'Alae Crater.

Photo taken on September 1, 1969. The mound was broken up and later buried by lava flows.

Same area as that shown in previous photo but a day later, showing how rapidly the vent configuration can change during active spattering. August 16, 1969.

Small spattering fountain about 8 m (25 ft) high at Mauna Ulu on August 15, 1969. Episodes of high fountains occurred on August 5 and 22, but low-level activity such as this, as well as that shown in the previous three images, was almost constant between the episodes of high fountaining in 1969.

Lava falls higher than American Falls at Niagara begin to fill 'Alae Crater on August 5, 1969 following the catastrophic draining on August 4. Renewed fountaining at Mauna Ulu sent lava shown in the photo into 'Alae, starting to refill the crater. Photo taken from same location as the preceding image.