Huckleberry Ridge Tuff deposit exposed on Mt. Everts, near the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park. The deposit was created by ash falling from the plume early in the eruption sequence, 2.08 million years ago. Photo by Madison Myers, Montana State University.
Images
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.
Filter Total Items: 21545
Huckleberry Ridge Tuff deposit exposed on Mt. Everts, Yellowstone National Park
Huckleberry Ridge Tuff deposit exposed on Mt. Everts, near the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park. The deposit was created by ash falling from the plume early in the eruption sequence, 2.08 million years ago. Photo by Madison Myers, Montana State University.
Lindsay Carlson swabbing hunter harvested ducks in western Alaska
Lindsay Carlson swabbing hunter-harvested ducks in western Alaska as part of USGS research to investigate the persistence of avian influenza viruses in North American wetlands. USGS scientists and colleagues found that influenza A viruses may remain infectious in surface waters of northern wetlands for more than seven months.
Lindsay Carlson swabbing hunter-harvested ducks in western Alaska as part of USGS research to investigate the persistence of avian influenza viruses in North American wetlands. USGS scientists and colleagues found that influenza A viruses may remain infectious in surface waters of northern wetlands for more than seven months.
An egret walks in the surf of Dauphin Island beach
An egret walks in the shallow surf of an undeveloped beach on Dauphin Island, Alabama, with buildings viewed in the background from a different area on the island.
An egret walks in the shallow surf of an undeveloped beach on Dauphin Island, Alabama, with buildings viewed in the background from a different area on the island.
Collecting larval fish for the Dragonfly Mercury Project
Between 2009 and 2018, scientists conducted a national scale assessment of mercury accumulation in the National Park System using dragonfly larvae as biosentinels (species that accumulate a pollutant in their tissues as an index of exposure to other organisms without significant adverse effects to the biosentinel) through a citizen science network called the Dragonf
Between 2009 and 2018, scientists conducted a national scale assessment of mercury accumulation in the National Park System using dragonfly larvae as biosentinels (species that accumulate a pollutant in their tissues as an index of exposure to other organisms without significant adverse effects to the biosentinel) through a citizen science network called the Dragonf
Photograph of the entrance to Grand Traverse Bay Harbor
Photograph of the entrance to Grand Traverse Bay Harbor, located 8 kilometers downdrift of the spoils pile. Migration of the dark-colored stamp sands (moving from left to right) has buried the original beach, overtopped the wall, and partially blocked the channel.
Photograph of the entrance to Grand Traverse Bay Harbor, located 8 kilometers downdrift of the spoils pile. Migration of the dark-colored stamp sands (moving from left to right) has buried the original beach, overtopped the wall, and partially blocked the channel.
Photograph of the R/V Rafael alongside dock near the survey site
Photograph of the R/V Rafael alongside dock near the survey site on Lake Superior.
Photograph of the R/V Rafael alongside dock near the survey site on Lake Superior.
Photograph showing a high scarp cut into the large pile of stamp sands
Photograph showing a high scarp cut into the large pile of stamp sands at the town of Gay, Michigan. Nearly a century of erosion by waves and currents has transported millions of cubic yards of mine tailings along the coast and spread them across the adjacent lake floor.
Photograph showing a high scarp cut into the large pile of stamp sands at the town of Gay, Michigan. Nearly a century of erosion by waves and currents has transported millions of cubic yards of mine tailings along the coast and spread them across the adjacent lake floor.
Intern Learning Streamflow Measurement
Streamflow training at Blackrock Creek below Split Rock Creek near Moran, Wyoming. A new student intern learns how to measure streamflows upon arriving in Riverton just in time for high water.
Streamflow training at Blackrock Creek below Split Rock Creek near Moran, Wyoming. A new student intern learns how to measure streamflows upon arriving in Riverton just in time for high water.
A misty morning in the headwaters of the Akillik River, Alaska
A misty morning in the headwaters of the Akillik River, Alaska. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Network Parks because they lie in a region that is rapidly warming.
A misty morning in the headwaters of the Akillik River, Alaska. This work is part of the Hydro-Ecology of Arctic Thawing (HEAT): Hydrology project that takes place in the Arctic Network Parks because they lie in a region that is rapidly warming.
Fire Danger Expected Number of Fires per PSA
This map takes into account both probability of ignition and conditional probability of spread (to 500+ acres in East and 1000+ acres in West*) given ignition.
This map takes into account both probability of ignition and conditional probability of spread (to 500+ acres in East and 1000+ acres in West*) given ignition.
Fire Potential Index (FPI) forecast
The FPI is most similar to the Energy Release Component of the National Fire Danger Rating System in that both are moisture related indexes and neither indicates the effect of wind on fire potential.
The FPI is most similar to the Energy Release Component of the National Fire Danger Rating System in that both are moisture related indexes and neither indicates the effect of wind on fire potential.
How do lava flows cool and how long does it take?
This ‘a‘ā flow erupted from fissure 8 on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on June 1, 2018, shows how the interior of a lava flow remains incandescently hot even though surface cooling forms a crust of solid rubble.
This ‘a‘ā flow erupted from fissure 8 on Kīlauea Volcano's lower East Rift Zone on June 1, 2018, shows how the interior of a lava flow remains incandescently hot even though surface cooling forms a crust of solid rubble.
Large Fire Probability
This map takes into account both probability of ignition and conditional probability of spread (to 500+ acres in East and 1000+ acres in West*) given ignition.
This map takes into account both probability of ignition and conditional probability of spread (to 500+ acres in East and 1000+ acres in West*) given ignition.
USGS Fire Danger Forecast Large Fire Probability
Large Fire Probability for August 30, 2018. Percent change estimate, given a source for ignition that a fire will grow to 100+ acres.
Large Fire Probability for August 30, 2018. Percent change estimate, given a source for ignition that a fire will grow to 100+ acres.
Historic Distribution of 100+ acres Fires per Forthcoming Week
Summary of Fires by GACC Units: For the week of 08/29/2018
Summary of Fires by GACC Units: For the week of 08/29/2018
Low sulfur emissions mean a new focus on a different volcanic gas
A USGS pilot and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas geochemist prepare to conduct a test flight of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) on Kīlauea Volcano in November 2018. This UAS was outfitted with a prototype miniaturized multi-gas sensor for the detection of volcanic gases emitted by Kīlauea, including sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.
A USGS pilot and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas geochemist prepare to conduct a test flight of an unmanned aerial system (UAS) on Kīlauea Volcano in November 2018. This UAS was outfitted with a prototype miniaturized multi-gas sensor for the detection of volcanic gases emitted by Kīlauea, including sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.
Science cover_2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea
Science cover_2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea
Science cover_2018 rift eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea
Array of photovoltaic cells and a wind energy facility
Photovoltaic, or solar, cells array at the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in the Mojave Desert and a wind energy facility in the Northeastern United States.
Photovoltaic, or solar, cells array at the Ivanpah Solar Power Facility in the Mojave Desert and a wind energy facility in the Northeastern United States.
Erosion has taken a toll on this Keys coral
A reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary with little living coral and extensive bioerosion. Photo taken under research permit number FKNMS-2016-085-A1. Credit: USGS, Ilsa Kuffner.
A reef in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary with little living coral and extensive bioerosion. Photo taken under research permit number FKNMS-2016-085-A1. Credit: USGS, Ilsa Kuffner.
Salamander sampling crew
Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | October 2018 | People
Salamander sampling crew
Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | October 2018 | People
Salamander sampling crew
Atlantic Spotted Dolphins
Atlantic spotted dolphins photographed near the R/V Hugh R. Sharp on August 27, 2018 by the protected species visual observers.
Atlantic spotted dolphins photographed near the R/V Hugh R. Sharp on August 27, 2018 by the protected species visual observers.