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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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at river's edge, a laptop displays graphs (foreground) while a hydrologist wades in the water with equipment (background)
Measuring Stream Discharge with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
Measuring Stream Discharge with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler
Measuring Stream Discharge with Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler

The USGS maintains and monitors hundreds of streamgages across California, as well as across the Nation. Nearly all data collected by the USGS is made public and most in near real-time. Cities can use the data for flood mitigation and water supply.

The USGS maintains and monitors hundreds of streamgages across California, as well as across the Nation. Nearly all data collected by the USGS is made public and most in near real-time. Cities can use the data for flood mitigation and water supply.

Sampling Big Sandy River below Farson, WY
Sampling Big Sandy River below Farson, WY
Sampling Big Sandy River below Farson, WY
Sampling Big Sandy River below Farson, WY

Sampling Big Sandy River below Farson, WY

Collecting water samples for eDNA analysis of foothill yellow-legged frog
Collecting water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow
Collecting water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow
Collecting water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow

USGS technicians collect water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) presence at historically occupied sites throughout Oregon. These data are important for assessing the species' status and conservation needs. 

USGS technicians collect water samples for eDNA analysis to estimate foothill yellow-legged frog (Rana boylii) presence at historically occupied sites throughout Oregon. These data are important for assessing the species' status and conservation needs. 

This image shows brown layered sedimentary rocks and the brown-colored Colorado River.
Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah
Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah
Dead Horse Point State Park, Utah

This image from a viewpoint at Dead Horse State Park in Utah shows horizontal Mesozoic sedimentary rocks characteristic of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado River can be seen from this vantage point and this state park is located between Canyonlands National Park to the southwest and Arches National Park to the northeast.

This image from a viewpoint at Dead Horse State Park in Utah shows horizontal Mesozoic sedimentary rocks characteristic of the Colorado Plateau. The Colorado River can be seen from this vantage point and this state park is located between Canyonlands National Park to the southwest and Arches National Park to the northeast.

Dellenbaugh Butte along Green River
Dellenbaugh Butte along Green River
Dellenbaugh Butte along Green River
Dellenbaugh Butte along Green River

At about Mile 102 you can see Dellenbaugh Butte, which is also known as The Anvil, or Inkwell Butte. Powell camped here July 14, 1869. The majority of the butte is composed of the Summerville Formation.

At about Mile 102 you can see Dellenbaugh Butte, which is also known as The Anvil, or Inkwell Butte. Powell camped here July 14, 1869. The majority of the butte is composed of the Summerville Formation.

Songbird showing colorful bands on its legs, held by a human hand
Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands
Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands
Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands

Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands in 2019 on the upper San Luis Rey River. The bird was originally banded as a nestling by USGS biologist Scarlett Howell on the upper San Luis Rey River in July 2017.

Female Southwestern Willow Flycatcher with colorful bands in 2019 on the upper San Luis Rey River. The bird was originally banded as a nestling by USGS biologist Scarlett Howell on the upper San Luis Rey River in July 2017.

Le Cycle de l'Eau - The Natural Water Cycle, French
Le Cycle de l'Eau - The Water Cycle, French
Le Cycle de l'Eau - The Water Cycle, French
Le Cycle de l'Eau - The Water Cycle, French

Qu'est-ce que le cycle de l'eau?

A view from in my tent looking out at the rocks
Morning view at Trin-Alcove Bend
Morning view at Trin-Alcove Bend
Morning view at Trin-Alcove Bend

This was the morning view from my tent at our camp (Mile 90) at Trin-Alcove Bend.

This was the morning view from my tent at our camp (Mile 90) at Trin-Alcove Bend.

Pesticides in groundwater can eventually contaminate well water.
Pesticides in groundwater can eventually contaminate well water.
Pesticides in groundwater can eventually contaminate well water.
Pesticides in groundwater can eventually contaminate well water.

Chemicals can take a long time to appear in groundwater

OH K-12 teachers Learning About Watersheds
Teaching the Teachers in Ohio
Teaching the Teachers in Ohio
Teaching the Teachers in Ohio

USGS worked with regional partners to provide Ohio K-12 teachers educational resources to teach about watersheds in their classrooms. 

USGS worked with regional partners to provide Ohio K-12 teachers educational resources to teach about watersheds in their classrooms. 

Colorful mineral deposits at Crystal Geyser
Colorful mineral deposits at Crystal Geyser
Colorful mineral deposits at Crystal Geyser
Colorful mineral deposits at Crystal Geyser

Details of Crystal Geyser can be found at https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/geosights/crystal-geyser/ Photo shows tufa deposits at the geyser deposited by disolved calcium carbonate.

Details of Crystal Geyser can be found at https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/geosights/crystal-geyser/ Photo shows tufa deposits at the geyser deposited by disolved calcium carbonate.

SCREE boat passing under I-70 at Green River, UT
Passing under I-70 at Green River, UT
Passing under I-70 at Green River, UT
Passing under I-70 at Green River, UT

SCREE film maker, Ben Kraushaar, passes under I-70 at Green River, UT. The next time he will see a bridge over his boat will be 166 river miles away, on the Colorado River, at Hite, UT.

SCREE film maker, Ben Kraushaar, passes under I-70 at Green River, UT. The next time he will see a bridge over his boat will be 166 river miles away, on the Colorado River, at Hite, UT.

Image shows two sea urchins with the ocean in the background
Red Sea Urchins
Red Sea Urchins
Red Sea Urchins

Two red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) sit on the deck of the R/V Falkor. These sea urchins were collected during the #HuntingBubbles research cruise led by the USGS and Schmidt Ocean Institute, which focused on exploring and understanding methane seeps and the communities that depend on them along the Cascadia Margin.

Two red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) sit on the deck of the R/V Falkor. These sea urchins were collected during the #HuntingBubbles research cruise led by the USGS and Schmidt Ocean Institute, which focused on exploring and understanding methane seeps and the communities that depend on them along the Cascadia Margin.

This image shows a large sandstone arc and a rain puddle in the foreground.
Delicate Arch after the rain
Delicate Arch after the rain
Delicate Arch after the rain

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. https://www.usgs.gov/nationalparks Photo by Annie Scott, USGS

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, Utah. https://www.usgs.gov/nationalparks Photo by Annie Scott, USGS

Bsal Swabbing demonstration
Brome McCreary demonstrates pathogen sampling methods for colleagues
Brome McCreary demonstrates pathogen sampling methods for colleagues
Brome McCreary demonstrates pathogen sampling methods for colleagues

BsalSwabbing - The rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) is a native western species susceptible to the salamander chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), in laboratory studies.

BsalSwabbing - The rough-skinned newt (Taricha granulosa) is a native western species susceptible to the salamander chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), in laboratory studies.

image related to volcanoes. See description
HVO geologist examine road cuts on Hwy 132
HVO geologist examine road cuts on Hwy 132
HVO geologist examine road cuts on Hwy 132

On August 7, HVO geologists measured temperatures and documented the rock layers exposed as sections of Highway 132 buried by lava during the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption are "ripped" (shown here) to reopen the road. USGS photo by C. Parcheta, 08-07-2019.

On August 7, HVO geologists measured temperatures and documented the rock layers exposed as sections of Highway 132 buried by lava during the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption are "ripped" (shown here) to reopen the road. USGS photo by C. Parcheta, 08-07-2019.

Color photograph showing scientist in Alaska
USGS scientist adjusts antenna
USGS scientist adjusts antenna
USGS scientist adjusts antenna

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist, while assisting Alaska Volcano Observatory colleagues this summer, mounted a radio antenna on an upgraded seismic station at Great Sitkin Volcano in the western Aleutian Islands. 

A USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientist, while assisting Alaska Volcano Observatory colleagues this summer, mounted a radio antenna on an upgraded seismic station at Great Sitkin Volcano in the western Aleutian Islands. 

Working records in 2019 using printout from 1935
Working records in 2019 using printout from 1935
Working records in 2019 using printout from 1935
Working records in 2019 using printout from 1935

Working records in 2019 using printout from 1935

A Bald Eagle disturbs Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Gull Island, Alaska
A Bald Eagle disturbs nesting Black-legged Kittiwakes
A Bald Eagle disturbs nesting Black-legged Kittiwakes
A Bald Eagle disturbs nesting Black-legged Kittiwakes

A Bald Eagle disturbs Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Gull Island, Alaska.

A Bald Eagle disturbs Black-legged Kittiwakes nesting on Gull Island, Alaska.

A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance, one of the most common prey items for murres, near its colony at Gull Island
A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance
A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance
A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance

A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance, one of the most common prey items for murres, near its colony at Gull Island, Alaska.

A Common Murre carries a Pacific sand lance, one of the most common prey items for murres, near its colony at Gull Island, Alaska.

A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island, Alaska
A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in Alaska
A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in Alaska
A Common Murre holds a Pacific sand lance near Gull Island in Alaska

Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.

Northern Fulmars, Black-legged Kittiwakes, and Common Murres have all been tested for and contained harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins. Since 2015, the USGS has worked with a variety of stakeholders to develop testing methods and research projects to better understand the geographic extent, timing and impacts of algal toxins in Alaska marine ecosystems.

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