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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.

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Photo of dead trees and forest at Point Reyes National Seashore
Trees at Point Reyes National Seashore
Trees at Point Reyes National Seashore
Trees at Point Reyes National Seashore

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

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

A fish trap set in the ocean along the shore near Kaktovik, AK
A fyke net set to catch nearshore fish near Kaktovik, Alaska
A fyke net set to catch nearshore fish near Kaktovik, Alaska
A fyke net set to catch nearshore fish near Kaktovik, Alaska

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.

Satellite image showing Munich.
A World of Hops
A World of Hops
A World of Hops

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.

Underwater view of fish inside a fyke net
Underwater image of fish captured by a fyke net
Underwater image of fish captured by a fyke net
Underwater image of fish captured by a fyke net

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).

USGS, Las Cruces Field Office
USGS, Las Cruces Field Office
USGS, Las Cruces Field Office
USGS, Las Cruces Field Office

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

Continuous water-quality monitor at the Salmon River, Connecticut
Continuous water-quality monitor
Continuous water-quality monitor
Continuous water-quality monitor

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.

What was happening at Kīlauea Volcano ten years ago?...
What was happening at Kīlauea ten years ago?
What was happening at Kīlauea ten years ago?
What was happening at Kīlauea ten years ago?

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.

Color photograph of charcoal and overlying lava flow, rock hammer for scale
Charcoal collected from under the base of a pāhoehoe flow, Hawaii
Charcoal collected from under the base of a pāhoehoe flow, Hawaii
Charcoal collected from under the base of a pāhoehoe flow, Hawaii

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. 

scytonema
Cyanobacteria - Scytonema (blue green algae)
Cyanobacteria - Scytonema (blue green algae)
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)

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)

Group of girls look at river
GeoGirls_Sediment1
GeoGirls_Sediment1
GeoGirls_Sediment1

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
Measuring cross-sectional depth and water surface of Gallatin River
Measuring cross-sectional depth and water surface of Gallatin River
Measuring cross-sectional depth and water surface of Gallatin River

Using kayak to measure cross-sectional depth and water surface of Gallatin River

Photomicrograph of a pale green lace-like desmid alga
A glimpse of the microbial world's hidden beauty
A glimpse of the microbial world's hidden beauty
A glimpse of the microbial world's hidden beauty

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.

Photomicrograph of a green desmid alga resembling a holiday ornament
A natural marvel in a single cell
A natural marvel in a single cell
A natural marvel in a single cell

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.

Scientist walking up the Akilik River with a minnow trap to catch fish
Akilik River stream sampling
Akilik River stream sampling
Akilik River stream sampling

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
Beaufort Sea coastline on Arey Island with eroding cliff near Kaktovik
Beaufort Sea coastline on Arey Island with eroding cliff near Kaktovik
Beaufort Sea coastline on Arey Island with eroding cliff 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
Beaufort Sea coastline on Arey Island with flock of birds
Beaufort Sea coastline on Arey Island with flock of birds
Beaufort Sea coastline on Arey Island with flock of birds

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 captured near Kaktovik, Alaska
Fourhorn sculpin captured near Kaktovik, Alaska
Fourhorn sculpin captured near Kaktovik, Alaska
Fourhorn sculpin captured near Kaktovik, Alaska

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 Kaktovik, AK in the background
Fyke net set in Kaktovik Lagoon with Kaktovik, AK in the background
Fyke net set in Kaktovik Lagoon with Kaktovik, AK in the background

Fyke net set in Kaktovik Lagoon with the town of Kaktovik, Alaska in the background

Man measuring a little red bird.
Iiwi banding 2
Iiwi banding 2
Iiwi banding 2

Measuring the wing length of a banded Iiwi

Measuring the wing length of a banded Iiwi

Man holding red bird.
Iiwi with transmitter
Iiwi with transmitter
Iiwi with transmitter

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 in the mist in the Akilik River drainage
Sampling a stream from the Akilik River drainage
Sampling a stream from the Akilik River drainage
Sampling a stream from the Akilik River drainage

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.

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