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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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USGS - Water quality sampling in the western Plains of San Agustin
Water quality sampling in the western Plains of San Agustin
Water quality sampling in the western Plains of San Agustin
Water quality sampling in the western Plains of San Agustin

USGS scientist Mike Carlson works to collect a water quality sample from a windmill in the western Plains of San Agustin. Photo taken by Jeff Pepin on April 10th, 2019.

USGS scientist Mike Carlson works to collect a water quality sample from a windmill in the western Plains of San Agustin. Photo taken by Jeff Pepin on April 10th, 2019.

image related to volcanoes. See description
A close-up of the active fumarole field on the north wall of the pit.
A close-up of the active fumarole field on the north wall of the pit.
A close-up of the active fumarole field on the north wall of the pit.

A close-up of the active fumarole field on the north wall of the pit.

Thermal map of Kīlauea Caldera
Thermal map of Kīlauea Caldera
Thermal map of Kīlauea Caldera
Thermal map of Kīlauea Caldera

Thermal map of Kīlauea Caldera

Thermal map of Kīlauea Caldera

Measuring flooding in downtown Fargo, ND
Measuring flooding in downtown Fargo, ND
Measuring flooding in downtown Fargo, ND
Measuring flooding in downtown Fargo, ND

USGS hydrologist Dan Thomas prepares to measure record flows on the Red River of the North in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. The orange instrument is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow as it's pulled across the water.

USGS hydrologist Dan Thomas prepares to measure record flows on the Red River of the North in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. The orange instrument is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow as it's pulled across the water.

Measuring floodwater in Fargo, ND
Measuring floodwater in Fargo, ND
Measuring floodwater in Fargo, ND
Measuring floodwater in Fargo, ND

A USGS crew measures flooding on the Red River in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. The orange instrument is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow as it's pulled across the water.

A USGS crew measures flooding on the Red River in downtown Fargo, North Dakota. The orange instrument is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow as it's pulled across the water.

Measuring high flows in Fargo, ND
Measuring high flows in Fargo, ND
Measuring high flows in Fargo, ND
Measuring high flows in Fargo, ND

 

An instrument called an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) takes streamflow measurements during flooding. The ADCP is attached to a buoy that is dragged in the water either alongside a boat or by hand. USGS hydrologist Dan Thomas points to the ADCP sensor on the Red River of the North during flooding in downtown Fargo, ND.

 

An instrument called an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) takes streamflow measurements during flooding. The ADCP is attached to a buoy that is dragged in the water either alongside a boat or by hand. USGS hydrologist Dan Thomas points to the ADCP sensor on the Red River of the North during flooding in downtown Fargo, ND.

A woman wearing a headset looks at equipment in a small plane.
Adjusting camera settings during an aerial survey
Adjusting camera settings during an aerial survey
Adjusting camera settings during an aerial survey

Biological Technician Laura (Laney) White adjusts camera settings during a survey.

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.

Biological Technician Laura (Laney) White adjusts camera settings during a survey.

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.

Measuring flooding on the Maple River, ND
Measuring flooding on the Maple River, ND
Measuring flooding on the Maple River, ND
Measuring flooding on the Maple River, ND

A USGS crew measures high flow during flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, North Dakota. The yellow instrument is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow as it's pulled across the water. The crew is standing on a road that had been overtaken by the river. 

A USGS crew measures high flow during flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, North Dakota. The yellow instrument is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow as it's pulled across the water. The crew is standing on a road that had been overtaken by the river. 

Measuring high flows, Maple River, ND
Measuring high flows, Maple River, ND
Measuring high flows, Maple River, ND
Measuring high flows, Maple River, ND

A USGS crew measures high flow during flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, North Dakota. The instrument being pulled across the water is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow. The truck is parked on a road that had been overtaken by the river. 

A USGS crew measures high flow during flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, North Dakota. The instrument being pulled across the water is an acoustic Doppler current profiler, which is used to measure streamflow. The truck is parked on a road that had been overtaken by the river. 

Measuring high water flow on the Maple River, ND
Measuring high water flow on the Maple River, ND
Measuring high water flow on the Maple River, ND
Measuring high water flow on the Maple River, ND

This is not a lake! A USGS crew measures high flow during flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, North Dakota. The instrument being pulled across the water is an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), which is used to measure streamflow.

This is not a lake! A USGS crew measures high flow during flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, North Dakota. The instrument being pulled across the water is an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), which is used to measure streamflow.

Two USGS technicians observe water measurements from a boat with flooding in the background
Spring 2019 Flooding - Red River of the North in North Dakota
Spring 2019 Flooding - Red River of the North in North Dakota
Spring 2019 Flooding - Red River of the North in North Dakota

Two USGS technicians observe water measurements from a boat with flooding in the background during record Midwest flooding in spring 2019.

Two USGS technicians observe water measurements from a boat with flooding in the background during record Midwest flooding in spring 2019.

A USGS technician steers a watercraft with floodwaters in the background
Spring 2019 Flooding - Red River of the North in North Dakota
Spring 2019 Flooding - Red River of the North in North Dakota
Spring 2019 Flooding - Red River of the North in North Dakota

A USGS technician steers a watercraft with floodwaters in the background during record Midwest flooding in spring 2019.

A USGS technician steers a watercraft with floodwaters in the background during record Midwest flooding in spring 2019.

Taking streamflow measurements during flooding in ND
Taking streamflow measurements during flooding in ND
Taking streamflow measurements during flooding in ND
Taking streamflow measurements during flooding in ND

A USGS crew prepares to measure streamflow during record flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, ND, on April 6, 2019. The instrument pictured is an acoustic Doppler current profiler which measures streamflow as it's dragged across the water.

A USGS crew prepares to measure streamflow during record flooding on the Maple River near Mapleton, ND, on April 6, 2019. The instrument pictured is an acoustic Doppler current profiler which measures streamflow as it's dragged across the water.

Taking streamflow measurements in ND
Taking streamflow measurements in ND
Taking streamflow measurements in ND
Taking streamflow measurements in ND

 

A USGS crew measures streamflow during record flooding on the Red River of the North near Georgetown, ND, on April 6, 2019. The apparatus in the middle of the image is a USGS temporary streamgage installed to monitor flooding, and the orange instrument pictured is an acoustic Doppler current profiler that measures streamflow.

 

A USGS crew measures streamflow during record flooding on the Red River of the North near Georgetown, ND, on April 6, 2019. The apparatus in the middle of the image is a USGS temporary streamgage installed to monitor flooding, and the orange instrument pictured is an acoustic Doppler current profiler that measures streamflow.

Cameras, boxes, and bags in the back of a small plane, with a pilot in the background
Up in the air for aerial photographic surveys
Up in the air for aerial photographic surveys
Up in the air for aerial photographic surveys

Pilot Barry expertly flies the plane at the correct survey speed and altitude to obtain crisp, clear images.

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.

Pilot Barry expertly flies the plane at the correct survey speed and altitude to obtain crisp, clear images.

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.

The ocean, and a section of coast with buildings, viewed from an airplane.
View of the ocean and coast from above
View of the ocean and coast from above
View of the ocean and coast from above

View of the ocean off the central California coast at the start of a flight.

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.

 

View of the ocean off the central California coast at the start of a flight.

The Seabird Studies Team at the USGS Western Ecological Research Center is conducting aerial photographic surveys of the ocean off central and southern California to create comprehensive maps of seabird and marine mammal distributions.

 

A woman in a small airplane wearing a headset, sitting behind a large screen.
Viewing data during an aerial photographic survey
Viewing data during an aerial photographic survey
Viewing data during an aerial photographic survey

Biological Technician Amelia DuVall views data in real time during an aerial photographic survey.

Biological Technician Amelia DuVall views data in real time during an aerial photographic survey.

A dense field of wildflowers with coastal hills and the ocean in the background
Wildflowers in the Channel Islands
Wildflowers in the Channel Islands
Wildflowers in the Channel Islands

Spring wildflowers captured on California's Channel Islands.

The USGS Western Ecological Research Center's Dr. Kathryn McEachern studies plant ecology and restoration on the Channel Islands. Learn more here.

Spring wildflowers captured on California's Channel Islands.

The USGS Western Ecological Research Center's Dr. Kathryn McEachern studies plant ecology and restoration on the Channel Islands. Learn more here.

USGS - stock tank in the western Plains of San Agustin
Stock tank in the western Plains of San Agustin
Stock tank in the western Plains of San Agustin
Stock tank in the western Plains of San Agustin

USGS scientist Hal Nelson wades in a stock tank to install a fitting on the discharge pipe of a groundwater well to facilitate water quality sampling in the western Plains of San Agustin. Photo taken by Jeff Pepin on April 4th, 2019. 

USGS scientist Hal Nelson wades in a stock tank to install a fitting on the discharge pipe of a groundwater well to facilitate water quality sampling in the western Plains of San Agustin. Photo taken by Jeff Pepin on April 4th, 2019. 

image related to volcanoes. See description
Sunny weather at Kīlauea summit, no significant changes
Sunny weather at Kīlauea summit, no significant changes
Sunny weather at Kīlauea summit, no significant changes

The weather was warm and sunny during a routine visit to the Halema‘uma‘u webcam. No significant changes were observed, and no rockfalls were heard.

The weather was warm and sunny during a routine visit to the Halema‘uma‘u webcam. No significant changes were observed, and no rockfalls were heard.

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