This image shows the perimeter of Chaney Glacier in Glacier National Park in 1966, 1998, 2005, and 2015.
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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.
This image shows the perimeter of Chaney Glacier in Glacier National Park in 1966, 1998, 2005, and 2015.
Changes in snow conditions at a gravity station in Yellowstone National Park in 2017. Each photo is taken from about the same location in May, July, August, and October of that year. The red circle in the May photograph shows the location of the gravity station in this area, which is near Craig Pass, a few miles southeast of Old Faithful.
Changes in snow conditions at a gravity station in Yellowstone National Park in 2017. Each photo is taken from about the same location in May, July, August, and October of that year. The red circle in the May photograph shows the location of the gravity station in this area, which is near Craig Pass, a few miles southeast of Old Faithful.
This microscopic image shows a sun-shaped area within turtle skin cells where chelonid herpesvirus 5 replicates. The virus capsids, or protein shells, are arrayed like a corona around the circle. ChHV5 is associated with fibropapillomatosisa tumor disease affecting endangered green turtles.
This microscopic image shows a sun-shaped area within turtle skin cells where chelonid herpesvirus 5 replicates. The virus capsids, or protein shells, are arrayed like a corona around the circle. ChHV5 is associated with fibropapillomatosisa tumor disease affecting endangered green turtles.
Seafloor methane seep with chemosynthetic mussels at ~1000 m (~3300 ft) water depth offshore Virginia. Image taken by the Global Explorer ROV during a USGS-led cruise sponsored by the NOAA Office of Exploration and Research in 2017. Green dots are 10 cm apart.
Seafloor methane seep with chemosynthetic mussels at ~1000 m (~3300 ft) water depth offshore Virginia. Image taken by the Global Explorer ROV during a USGS-led cruise sponsored by the NOAA Office of Exploration and Research in 2017. Green dots are 10 cm apart.
Microbial Biogeochemistry Laboratory — Menlo Park, California. USGS scientist collecting samples of aquatic species from the Pike River, Wis., for later analysis of mercury contamination.
Microbial Biogeochemistry Laboratory — Menlo Park, California. USGS scientist collecting samples of aquatic species from the Pike River, Wis., for later analysis of mercury contamination.
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Using the computer-driven triaxial micro-milling machine to subsample a coral slab.
Using the computer-driven triaxial micro-milling machine to subsample a coral slab.
Coral reefs are prone to phase shifts where they quickly transition from coral-dominated to a uniformity of other organisms, typically algae. The Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Central Pacific is a unique case where a transition from corals to corallimorphs occurred.
Coral reefs are prone to phase shifts where they quickly transition from coral-dominated to a uniformity of other organisms, typically algae. The Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Central Pacific is a unique case where a transition from corals to corallimorphs occurred.
Coral reefs are prone to phase shifts where they quickly transition from coral-dominated to a uniformity of other organisms, typically algae. The Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Central Pacific is a unique case where a transition from corals to corallimorphs occurred.
Coral reefs are prone to phase shifts where they quickly transition from coral-dominated to a uniformity of other organisms, typically algae. The Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Central Pacific is a unique case where a transition from corals to corallimorphs occurred.
Coral reefs are prone to phase shifts where they quickly transition from coral-dominated to a uniformity of other organisms, typically algae. The Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Central Pacific is a unique case where a transition from corals to corallimorphs occurred.
Coral reefs are prone to phase shifts where they quickly transition from coral-dominated to a uniformity of other organisms, typically algae. The Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge in the Central Pacific is a unique case where a transition from corals to corallimorphs occurred.
The arrows in this image point to mouths of individual corallimorphs, which are a type of invasive anemone that typically thrives in coral reefs that have been degraded by environmental or man-made disturbances. Each corallimorph mouth is surrounded by a corona of tentacles.
The arrows in this image point to mouths of individual corallimorphs, which are a type of invasive anemone that typically thrives in coral reefs that have been degraded by environmental or man-made disturbances. Each corallimorph mouth is surrounded by a corona of tentacles.
Example of CoSMoS projection displayed in the Our Coast, Our Future (OCOF) online tool.
Example of CoSMoS projection displayed in the Our Coast, Our Future (OCOF) online tool.
Example of CoSMoS projected flooding extents for a 1.5 meter sea level rise in combination with possible 100 year return period coastal storms.
Example of CoSMoS projected flooding extents for a 1.5 meter sea level rise in combination with possible 100 year return period coastal storms.
We use a Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) to determine the Sr/Ca in coral aragonite samples in the laboratory at the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center.
We use a Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometer (ICP-OES) to determine the Sr/Ca in coral aragonite samples in the laboratory at the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center.
Looking downstream along the cowpasture river.
Looking downstream along the cowpasture river.
Cowpasture river monitoring at Route 627 near Williamsville, VA
Cowpasture river monitoring at Route 627 near Williamsville, VA
For the first time, high-resolution images show the three-dimensional structure of massive ice deposits on Mars.
This high-resolution NASA HiRISE image shows a detailed subsection of an icy scarp on Mars in enhanced color.
For the first time, high-resolution images show the three-dimensional structure of massive ice deposits on Mars.
This high-resolution NASA HiRISE image shows a detailed subsection of an icy scarp on Mars in enhanced color.
National Wildlife Health Center — Madison, Wisconsin. Digestive gland from a freshwater snail (Lymnaea stagnalis)
National Wildlife Health Center — Madison, Wisconsin. Digestive gland from a freshwater snail (Lymnaea stagnalis)
This digital elevation model was created using structure from motion software mounted to an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to analyze bridge scour. Studies using UAS have included stream temperature analyses, bird and mammal surveys, coastal change mapping, sandbar habitat surveys, fluvial erosion rates, microclimate mapping, air quality analysis, plant stress as
This digital elevation model was created using structure from motion software mounted to an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to analyze bridge scour. Studies using UAS have included stream temperature analyses, bird and mammal surveys, coastal change mapping, sandbar habitat surveys, fluvial erosion rates, microclimate mapping, air quality analysis, plant stress as
David Brankovits collecting water samples in Molnar Janos Cave in Budapest, Hungary.
David Brankovits collecting water samples in Molnar Janos Cave in Budapest, Hungary.