Dead trees like the ones featured in this photo still provide valuable habitat for wildlife, including birds.
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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.
Dead trees like the ones featured in this photo still provide valuable habitat for wildlife, including birds.

A fyke net or fish trap used for continuous sampling of nearshore fish in shallow waters. Fish swimming along the beach are stopped by a small-mesh net that guides them in to one of these two underwater fish traps that are set side by side. Researchers visit nets at least once a day to identify, count, and release fish.
A fyke net or fish trap used for continuous sampling of nearshore fish in shallow waters. Fish swimming along the beach are stopped by a small-mesh net that guides them in to one of these two underwater fish traps that are set side by side. Researchers visit nets at least once a day to identify, count, and release fish.
The world's largest continuous hops-growing region by area is Hallertau, just north of Munich. More than 80 percent of Germany's hops come from this 42,000-acre stretch of fertile loess soil.
The world's largest continuous hops-growing region by area is Hallertau, just north of Munich. More than 80 percent of Germany's hops come from this 42,000-acre stretch of fertile loess soil.
An underwater image of fish captured by a fyke net near Kaktovik, Alaska, Beaufort Sea, USA. The small silver fish with dark backs are young-of-year (age-0) Arctic cisco (Coregonus autumnalis) and the flatfish are Arctic flounder (Liopsetta glacialis).
An underwater image of fish captured by a fyke net near Kaktovik, Alaska, Beaufort Sea, USA. The small silver fish with dark backs are young-of-year (age-0) Arctic cisco (Coregonus autumnalis) and the flatfish are Arctic flounder (Liopsetta glacialis).
U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center - Las Cruces Field Office location
U.S. Geological Survey, New Mexico Water Science Center - Las Cruces Field Office location
Photograph showing a continuous water-quality monitor at the Salmon River near East Hampton, Connecticut.
Photograph showing a continuous water-quality monitor at the Salmon River near East Hampton, Connecticut.
This perched lava channel, which was as much as 150 feet (45 meters) above the ground, carried lava downslope from the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Fissure D vent during episode 58 of Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing East Rift Zone eruption. The channel was the main path for lava between July and November 2007. Episode 58 continued until early March 2011.
This perched lava channel, which was as much as 150 feet (45 meters) above the ground, carried lava downslope from the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Fissure D vent during episode 58 of Kīlauea Volcano's ongoing East Rift Zone eruption. The channel was the main path for lava between July and November 2007. Episode 58 continued until early March 2011.
Charcoal collected from under the base of a pāhoehoe flow in a black sooty zone over orange ash. The black sooty zone represents the region where the vegetation was converted to charcoal. The hammer is approximately 13 inches long. USGS photo by F. Trusdell.
Charcoal collected from under the base of a pāhoehoe flow in a black sooty zone over orange ash. The black sooty zone represents the region where the vegetation was converted to charcoal. The hammer is approximately 13 inches long. USGS photo by F. Trusdell.
Microscopic view of blue green algae sample. Some algae produce toxins that threaten the health and safety of living things that come in direct contact. Cyanobacteria - Scytonema (blue green algae)
Microscopic view of blue green algae sample. Some algae produce toxins that threaten the health and safety of living things that come in direct contact. Cyanobacteria - Scytonema (blue green algae)
GeoGirls collect water samples and flow measurements to model the transport of volcanic sediments.
GeoGirls collect water samples and flow measurements to model the transport of volcanic sediments.

Using kayak to measure cross-sectional depth and water surface of Gallatin River
Using kayak to measure cross-sectional depth and water surface of Gallatin River
To collect, identify and document these single-celled algae called desmids, USGS biologist Barry H. Rosen has traveled by airboat into the interior of Florida’s Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, where decaying marsh grasses created a mosaic of peat soils and the soft, slightly acidic water where desmids grow.
To collect, identify and document these single-celled algae called desmids, USGS biologist Barry H. Rosen has traveled by airboat into the interior of Florida’s Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, where decaying marsh grasses created a mosaic of peat soils and the soft, slightly acidic water where desmids grow.
This single-celled freshwater algae wasa collected as part of the first-ever study of the green algae family called desmids in Florida’s Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, in the northern Everglades. USGS biologist Barry H.
This single-celled freshwater algae wasa collected as part of the first-ever study of the green algae family called desmids in Florida’s Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, in the northern Everglades. USGS biologist Barry H.
Hiking up a stream from the Akilik River drainage to set minnow traps for fish sampling. This is a stream type at the Boreal-Arctic transition of the Brooks Range, Noatak National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park.
Hiking up a stream from the Akilik River drainage to set minnow traps for fish sampling. This is a stream type at the Boreal-Arctic transition of the Brooks Range, Noatak National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park.
Eroding coastline of the Beaufort Sea on Arey Island near Kaktovik.
Eroding coastline of the Beaufort Sea on Arey Island near Kaktovik.
Flock of birds over Arey Island near Kaktovik on the coastline of the Beaufort Sea.
Flock of birds over Arey Island near Kaktovik on the coastline of the Beaufort Sea.
Fourhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus quadricornis) captured near Kaktovik, Alaska
Fourhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus quadricornis) captured near Kaktovik, Alaska
Fyke net set in Kaktovik Lagoon with the town of Kaktovik, Alaska in the background
Fyke net set in Kaktovik Lagoon with the town of Kaktovik, Alaska in the background
Measuring the wing length of a banded Iiwi
Measuring the wing length of a banded Iiwi
Iiwi with small radio transmitter attached to help track the bird's movement through the forest
Iiwi with small radio transmitter attached to help track the bird's movement through the forest
Sampling a stream from the Akilik River drainage in the Boreal-Arctic transition of the Brooks Range in Noatak National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park. This is part of the Hydro-Ecoloy of Arctic Thawing (HEAT) project.
Sampling a stream from the Akilik River drainage in the Boreal-Arctic transition of the Brooks Range in Noatak National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park. This is part of the Hydro-Ecoloy of Arctic Thawing (HEAT) project.