Images

Cars damaged by the tsunami in Fagasa, American Samoa. The tsunami hit the island on Sept. 29, 2009.

USGS oceanographer Bruce Jaffe standing next to a boat thrown ashore in Pago Pago, American Samoa by the tsunami that hit the island on Sept. 29, 2009.

The water from the tsunami that hit American Samoa on September 29, 2009 was strong enough to destroy homes and move large objects, such as the boulder pictured here.

Roof moved into the ocean in Fagasa, American Samoa following the tsunami that hit the island on Sept. 29, 2009.

Only the foundation of a house in Fagasa, American Samoa remains after the tsunami hit on Sept. 29, 2009.

Zeiss Jena 010B Theodolite for making absolute measurements at Boulder magnetic observatory.

Zeiss Jena 010B Theodolite for making absolute measurements at Boulder magnetic observatory.

Collected from more than 1000 feet below the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, this fragile brittle star clings to a soft coral.  These deep-sea coral ecosystems ar biodiversity hot-spots in the deep ocean, but they are also vulnerable to climate change issues such as increased temperature and ocean acidification.

A myriad of plants can be seen from above in this photograph taken at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Acquired in 2009, the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has been an area that multiple USGS PIERC researchers study in, including Dr. Steven C.

Fire Island, NY sand dunes with protective sand fencing

Fire Island, New York shoreline

Shorebirds on the shoreline on a Fire Island, NY beach

Ocean side homes on Fire Island, New York

Paul Ankcorn (GaWSC) inspecting the streamgage 02207120 Yellow River at GA 124, near Lithonia, GA.

Jon Evans (GaWSC) making a bridge board streamflow measurement at 02207335 Yellow River at Gees Mill Road, near Milstead, GA.

Jeff Fox using a theodolite at the Boulder geomagnetic observatory.

Shishaldin Volcano at sunset. Shishaldin is on Unimak Island, part of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska.

Bubbling Spring, a feature of Hot Creek in the Long Valley Caldera, California, occasionally "boils" due to high water temperature.

Soil-temperature measurement at Hot Creek in Long Valley Caldera, California.

Seismic Lab aboard CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent

Protected Species Observer aboard CCGS Louis S. St-Laurent