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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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Scientist preparing wild bird samples for Next Generation Sequencing
Scientist preparing wild bird samples for Next Generation Sequencing
Scientist preparing wild bird samples for Next Generation Sequencing
Scientist preparing wild bird samples for Next Generation Sequencing

Andy Reeves, in the USGS Alaska Science Center Molecular Ecology Laboratory, preparing to sequence influenza A viruses collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska.

Andy Reeves, in the USGS Alaska Science Center Molecular Ecology Laboratory, preparing to sequence influenza A viruses collected from wild birds sampled in Alaska.

woman standing in stream holding an pole with instrument attached next to yellow measuring tape
Stream Discharge Measurement at Peconic River
Stream Discharge Measurement at Peconic River
Stream Discharge Measurement at Peconic River

USGS scientist Amy Simonson making a stream flow measurement in the Peconic River on Long Island, New York

USGS scientist Amy Simonson making a stream flow measurement in the Peconic River on Long Island, New York

stream water flowing over low head dam
Weir at the Peconic River
Weir at the Peconic River
Weir at the Peconic River

Weir  or low dam at the Peconic River

Weir  or low dam at the Peconic River

Weir on the Millstone River in Autumn
Weir on the Millstone
Weir on the Millstone
Weir on the Millstone

Standard design broad crested weir control for streamgage on the Millstone River in NJ.

Standard design broad crested weir control for streamgage on the Millstone River in NJ.

A Cuban treefrog on a green leaf
Cuban treefrogs have leaped into Louisiana
Cuban treefrogs have leaped into Louisiana
Cuban treefrogs have leaped into Louisiana

Non-native Cuban treefrogs have established a breeding population in New Orleans, Louisiana, the first such population on the U.S. mainland outside Florida. The treefrogs were discovered at the Audubon Zoo shortly after a shipment of palm trees from Florida were planted in the zoo's elephant enclosure in 2016.

Non-native Cuban treefrogs have established a breeding population in New Orleans, Louisiana, the first such population on the U.S. mainland outside Florida. The treefrogs were discovered at the Audubon Zoo shortly after a shipment of palm trees from Florida were planted in the zoo's elephant enclosure in 2016.

Epoxy-mounted shell cross sections
Cross sections of Arctica islandica embedded in epoxy
Cross sections of Arctica islandica embedded in epoxy
Cross sections of Arctica islandica embedded in epoxy

Arctica islandica shells have been sectioned with a saw and embedded in epoxy for further analysis.

View of a beach from up high on a roof with a pier, gentle waves, and an amusement park far off in the distance.
Santa Cruz Main Beach
Santa Cruz Main Beach
Santa Cruz Main Beach

Still-image from video camera atop the Dream Inn looks eastward over Main Beach and boardwalk in Santa Cruz, CA.

Still-image from video camera atop the Dream Inn looks eastward over Main Beach and boardwalk in Santa Cruz, CA.

qPCR for the detection of Rs
WFRC qPCR for detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum Image 1
WFRC qPCR for detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum Image 1
WFRC qPCR for detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum Image 1

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) assay for the detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum DNA. A nucleic acid sequence detection system is shown.

Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) assay for the detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum DNA. A nucleic acid sequence detection system is shown.

qPCR for the detection of Rs
WFRC qPCR for detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum Image 2
WFRC qPCR for detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum Image 2
WFRC qPCR for detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum Image 2

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for the detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum DNA. Observation of qPCR results on the screen of a sequence detection system.

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assay for the detection of Renibacterium salmoninarum DNA. Observation of qPCR results on the screen of a sequence detection system.

high water measurement, floods
Biologist John Tertuliani making a high water measurement
Biologist John Tertuliani making a high water measurement
Biologist John Tertuliani making a high water measurement

Biologist, John T. makes a high water measurement at stream gage 03145484 Raccoon Creek near Granville, OH. High water measurements ensure accurate flood forecasting by NOAA for downstream citizens and property owners. These forecasts can help people prepare for the rising waters, help reduce property damages, and most importantly save lives. 

Biologist, John T. makes a high water measurement at stream gage 03145484 Raccoon Creek near Granville, OH. High water measurements ensure accurate flood forecasting by NOAA for downstream citizens and property owners. These forecasts can help people prepare for the rising waters, help reduce property damages, and most importantly save lives. 

Jemez Falls
Jemez Falls
Jemez Falls
Jemez Falls

Jemez Falls located in the Jemez Mountains near Santa Fe, New Mexico

Jemez Falls located in the Jemez Mountains near Santa Fe, New Mexico

Figure 1. Photographs of commercial, expanded vermiculite ore from the four major historical sources.
Photographs of commercial, expanded vermiculite ore.
Photographs of commercial, expanded vermiculite ore.
Photographs of commercial, expanded vermiculite ore.

Figure 1. Photographs of commercial, expanded vermiculite ore from the four major historical sources: Libby, Montana; Palabora, South Africa; Louisa, Virginia; and Enoree, South Carolina. Scale of the rightmost image in each set is the same as the left image unless otherwise labeled.

Figure 1. Photographs of commercial, expanded vermiculite ore from the four major historical sources: Libby, Montana; Palabora, South Africa; Louisa, Virginia; and Enoree, South Carolina. Scale of the rightmost image in each set is the same as the left image unless otherwise labeled.

USGS Station 011058798 Herring River at Chequessett Neck Road gage house
USGS Station 011058798 Herring River at Chequessett Neck Rd gage house
USGS Station 011058798 Herring River at Chequessett Neck Rd gage house
USGS Station 011058798 Herring River at Chequessett Neck Rd gage house

This is a downstream view of the Herring River from the Chequessett Neck Road dike. The site was visited on November 6, 2017 to collect water-quality samples. An automated sampler inside the gage house was used to collect samples over an approximately 24-hour period and combine them into two bottles.

This is a downstream view of the Herring River from the Chequessett Neck Road dike. The site was visited on November 6, 2017 to collect water-quality samples. An automated sampler inside the gage house was used to collect samples over an approximately 24-hour period and combine them into two bottles.

Water quality sampling on the Delaware River
Water quality sampling on the Delaware River
Water quality sampling on the Delaware River
Water quality sampling on the Delaware River

Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | Oct. 2019 | USGS at Work
Water quality sampling on the Delaware River at Montague, NJ (01438500)

Northeast Region Photo Contest Winner | Oct. 2019 | USGS at Work
Water quality sampling on the Delaware River at Montague, NJ (01438500)

greenish waterbody by bank of fall colored leaves
A harmful algal bloom in a New York lake
A harmful algal bloom in a New York lake
A harmful algal bloom in a New York lake

A harmful algal bloom in a New York lake

man in fields in chair reading data from instrument on table
Saltwater Interface Mapping- Long Island
Saltwater Interface Mapping- Long Island
Saltwater Interface Mapping- Long Island

Saltwater Interface Mapping using electromagnetic sounding - Long Island

Saltwater Interface Mapping using electromagnetic sounding - Long Island

Spider crab and rocks on the seafloor in Long Island Sound
Feeling crabby
Feeling crabby
Feeling crabby

Seafloor photograph of a spider crab, sediment, rocks, taken by the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center SeaBOSS during a deployment off the R/V Connecticut in Long Island Sound

Seafloor photograph of a spider crab, sediment, rocks, taken by the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center SeaBOSS during a deployment off the R/V Connecticut in Long Island Sound

Long Island Sound Survey team
Long Island Sound Survey Team
Long Island Sound Survey Team
Long Island Sound Survey Team

Long Island Sound Survey mapping team.  This project is a collaboration of several agencies and institutions including Univ of Connecticut, Univ of New Haven, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, NOAA, LDEO, USGS

Long Island Sound Survey mapping team.  This project is a collaboration of several agencies and institutions including Univ of Connecticut, Univ of New Haven, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, NOAA, LDEO, USGS

This HiRISE image cutout shows Recurring Slope Lineae in Tivat crater on Mars in enhanced color.
Previous Evidence of Water on Mars Now Identified as Grainflows
Previous Evidence of Water on Mars Now Identified as Grainflows
Previous Evidence of Water on Mars Now Identified as Grainflows

This HiRISE image cutout shows Recurring Slope Lineae in Tivat crater on Mars in enhanced color. The narrow, dark flows descend downhill (towards the upper left). Analysis shows that the flows all end at approximately the same slope, which is similar to the angle of repose for sand.

This HiRISE image cutout shows Recurring Slope Lineae in Tivat crater on Mars in enhanced color. The narrow, dark flows descend downhill (towards the upper left). Analysis shows that the flows all end at approximately the same slope, which is similar to the angle of repose for sand.

SeaBOSS on the fantail of the R/V Connecticut
SeaBOSS on the fantail of the R/V Connecticut on Long Island Sound
SeaBOSS on the fantail of the R/V Connecticut on Long Island Sound
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