Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

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
Image shows a USGS scientist in a PFD taking a high-water mark
Taking a High-Water Mark after Hurricane Harvey
Taking a High-Water Mark after Hurricane Harvey
Taking a High-Water Mark after Hurricane Harvey

USGS scientist Steve Hannes marks high water marks along the Colorado River after flooding from Harvey in Matagorda County, Texas.

USGS scientist Steve Hannes marks high water marks along the Colorado River after flooding from Harvey in Matagorda County, Texas.

Cleaning the trench
Teton Fault
Teton Fault
Teton Fault

Mark, Nicole, Rich, Ryan, Dean taking out the "trash" from the base of the trench.

Mark, Nicole, Rich, Ryan, Dean taking out the "trash" from the base of the trench.

A small boat with scientific equipment loaded onboard resting near shore of a lake.
"Miss Q" Ready to Go
"Miss Q" Ready to Go
"Miss Q" Ready to Go

The Maine Office boat, "Miss Q", is parked next to the boat launch on Verona Island, ready to begin data collection on the Penobscot River. The crew was preparing to collect ADCP data (depth and velocity) as well as conductivity, temperature and depth profiles at various locations. In the background is the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Fort Knox.

The Maine Office boat, "Miss Q", is parked next to the boat launch on Verona Island, ready to begin data collection on the Penobscot River. The crew was preparing to collect ADCP data (depth and velocity) as well as conductivity, temperature and depth profiles at various locations. In the background is the Penobscot Narrows Bridge and Fort Knox.

Photograph of the edge of a tall brick building with nearby trees and a large sign.
McKelvey Building on the Menlo Park USGS campus
McKelvey Building on the Menlo Park USGS campus
McKelvey Building on the Menlo Park USGS campus

Construction of the McKelvey Building, or Building 15, was completed in the mid-1990s on the USGS Western Region campus in Menlo Park, California. It houses many different USGS teams, such as Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Water Science Center, and Volcano Science Center, and features many state-of-the-art laboratories.

Construction of the McKelvey Building, or Building 15, was completed in the mid-1990s on the USGS Western Region campus in Menlo Park, California. It houses many different USGS teams, such as Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Water Science Center, and Volcano Science Center, and features many state-of-the-art laboratories.

USGS scientist David Rodriguez records high water marks from storm surge near Corpus Christi, Texas. 
Recording high water marks after Harvey
Recording high water marks after Harvey
Recording high water marks after Harvey

USGS scientist David Rodriguez records high water marks from storm surge near Corpus Christi, Texas. 

USGS scientist David Rodriguez records high water marks from storm surge near Corpus Christi, Texas. 

USGS scientist David Rodriguez records high water marks from storm surge following Harvey near Corpus Christi, Texas. 
Recording high water marks following Harvey
Recording high water marks following Harvey
Recording high water marks following Harvey

USGS scientist David Rodriguez records high water marks from storm surge following Harvey near Corpus Christi, Texas. 

USGS scientist David Rodriguez records high water marks from storm surge following Harvey near Corpus Christi, Texas. 

USGS scientist surveying high water marks from storm surge from Hurricane Harvey at Packery Channel near Corpus Christi, TX.
High Water Mark Surveying
High Water Mark Surveying
High Water Mark Surveying

USGS scientist Alec McDonald surveying high water marks from storm surge from Hurricane Harvey at Packery Channel near Corpus Christi, Texas.

USGS scientist Alec McDonald surveying high water marks from storm surge from Hurricane Harvey at Packery Channel near Corpus Christi, Texas.

Satellite image showing the flooding in Texas from Hurricane Harvey.
Hurricane Harvey Flooding
Hurricane Harvey Flooding
Hurricane Harvey Flooding

Extensive flooding inundated the Gulf Coast of Texas after Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on August 25, 2017. Among the many waterways in southeastern Texas that exceeded flood stage was the Brazos River, which flows past Houston to its west and to the Gulf of Mexico at Freeport.

Extensive flooding inundated the Gulf Coast of Texas after Hurricane Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane on August 25, 2017. Among the many waterways in southeastern Texas that exceeded flood stage was the Brazos River, which flows past Houston to its west and to the Gulf of Mexico at Freeport.

Algal bloom off the coast of Brazil, Landsat 2017 image
Landsat 8 reveals algal bloom off Brazil's coast near Sao Paulo, 2017
Landsat 8 reveals algal bloom off Brazil's coast near Sao Paulo, 2017
Landsat 8 reveals algal bloom off Brazil's coast near Sao Paulo, 2017

In early September 2017, Landsat 8 captured this image of what looked like an oil spill off the coast of Brazil, near Sao Paulo. The "oil" turned out to be a vast algal bloom that covered more than 100 km. This bloom was the result of a species of tiny dinoflagellate that multiplied quickly to produce astronomical numbers -- enough to color the ocean water.

In early September 2017, Landsat 8 captured this image of what looked like an oil spill off the coast of Brazil, near Sao Paulo. The "oil" turned out to be a vast algal bloom that covered more than 100 km. This bloom was the result of a species of tiny dinoflagellate that multiplied quickly to produce astronomical numbers -- enough to color the ocean water.

Pre- and post-Harvey photos for Sargent, Texas
Pre- and post-Harvey photos for Sargent, Texas
Pre- and post-Harvey photos for Sargent, Texas
Pre- and post-Harvey photos for Sargent, Texas

Location 4. Sand dunes along this stretch of coast in Sargent, Texas, were overwashed by large waves during the storm. Sand from the beach and dunes is covering the roadway behind the dunes and which may be impassable. The predicted probability of overwash in this area was 94%.

Location 4. Sand dunes along this stretch of coast in Sargent, Texas, were overwashed by large waves during the storm. Sand from the beach and dunes is covering the roadway behind the dunes and which may be impassable. The predicted probability of overwash in this area was 94%.

USGS scientist Vidal Mendoza surveying high water marks from storm surge from Hurricane Harvey near Port Aransas, Texas.
Surveying High Water Marks following Harvey
Surveying High Water Marks following Harvey
Surveying High Water Marks following Harvey

USGS scientist Vidal Mendoza surveying high water marks from storm surge from Hurricane Harvey near Port Aransas, Texas.

USGS scientist Vidal Mendoza surveying high water marks from storm surge from Hurricane Harvey near Port Aransas, Texas.

A USGS hydrologic technician installs a Rapid-Deployment Gauge on a bridge in Norfolk, Virginia.
A USGS hydrologic technician installs a Rapid-Deployment Gauge
A USGS hydrologic technician installs a Rapid-Deployment Gauge
A USGS hydrologic technician installs a Rapid-Deployment Gauge

Jim Duda, USGS hydrologic technician, installs a Rapid-Deployment Gauge near the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Virginia, to monitor elevated water levels caused by Hurricane Jose. An RDG is a fully functional streamgage designed to be quickly deployed for real-time data monitoring of a stream or river in emergency situations.

Jim Duda, USGS hydrologic technician, installs a Rapid-Deployment Gauge near the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Virginia, to monitor elevated water levels caused by Hurricane Jose. An RDG is a fully functional streamgage designed to be quickly deployed for real-time data monitoring of a stream or river in emergency situations.

Lake Erie algal bloom
Lake Erie algal bloom
Lake Erie algal bloom
Lake Erie algal bloom

Landsat satellites captured this image of Lake Erie during a harmful algal bloom event.

USGS scientists Lisa Ashmore and Lee Bodkin collect water-quality samples on Lake Houston in response to Harvey.
Collecting Water Quality Samples following Harvey
Collecting Water Quality Samples following Harvey
Collecting Water Quality Samples following Harvey

USGS scientists Lisa Ashmore and Lee Bodkin collect water-quality samples on Lake Houston in response to the high flow conditions that resulted from Harvey. 

USGS scientists Lisa Ashmore and Lee Bodkin collect water-quality samples on Lake Houston in response to the high flow conditions that resulted from Harvey. 

Mount Rainier, as viewed from Panhandle Gap....
Mount Rainier, as viewed from Panhandle Gap.
Mount Rainier, as viewed from Panhandle Gap.
Mount Rainier, as viewed from Panhandle Gap.

The east side of Mount Rainier, as viewed from Panhandle Gap.

Woman holds up a small bat in a gloved hand
Researcher Julia Ersan prepares to release hoary bat
Researcher Julia Ersan prepares to release hoary bat
Researcher Julia Ersan prepares to release hoary bat

USGS WERC researcher Julia Ersan gets prepared to release a hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) after capture and examination. USGS researchers are conducting multiple projects to learn about the ecology of Western bats, including long distance migrants like the hoary bat.

USGS WERC researcher Julia Ersan gets prepared to release a hoary bat (Lasiurus cinereus) after capture and examination. USGS researchers are conducting multiple projects to learn about the ecology of Western bats, including long distance migrants like the hoary bat.

Image shows a USGS scientist in a PFD servicing a streamgage
Servicing a Streamgage at Addicks Reservoir following Hurricane Harvey
Servicing a Streamgage at Addicks Reservoir following Hurricane Harvey
Servicing a Streamgage at Addicks Reservoir following Hurricane Harvey

USGS scientist Jimmy Hopkins repairs a streamgage downstream of Addicks reservoir at Buffalo Bayou after flooding from Hurricane Harvey. This gauge is normally accessed on land from a platform on the side of a bridge.

USGS scientist Jimmy Hopkins repairs a streamgage downstream of Addicks reservoir at Buffalo Bayou after flooding from Hurricane Harvey. This gauge is normally accessed on land from a platform on the side of a bridge.

USGS scientist Lisa Ashmore services a water-quality monitor on Lake Houston. These instruments stayed afloat throughout Harvey.
Servicing a water-quality monitor following Harvey
Servicing a water-quality monitor following Harvey
Servicing a water-quality monitor following Harvey

USGS scientist Lisa Ashmore services a water-quality monitor on Lake Houston. These instruments stayed afloat and collected data throughout Harvey. 

USGS scientist Lisa Ashmore services a water-quality monitor on Lake Houston. These instruments stayed afloat and collected data throughout Harvey. 

Photograph of hydrologists Lisa Ashmore and Lee Bodkin collecting water quality data on Lake Houston after Hurricane Harvey.
USGS collecting water-quality data after Hurricane Harvey.
USGS collecting water-quality data after Hurricane Harvey.
USGS collecting water-quality data after Hurricane Harvey.

Photograph of USGS hydrologists Lisa Ashmore and Lee Bodkin collecting water quality data on Lake Houston after Hurricane Harvey

Photograph of USGS hydrologists Lisa Ashmore and Lee Bodkin collecting water quality data on Lake Houston after Hurricane Harvey

Image shows USGS scientists in PFDs taking water quality samples from Lake Houston
Water Quality Sampling on Lake Houston Following Hurricane Harvey
Water Quality Sampling on Lake Houston Following Hurricane Harvey
Water Quality Sampling on Lake Houston Following Hurricane Harvey

A USGS field crew takes water-quality samples on Lake Houston following Harvey.

Image shows a USGS scientist in a PFD servicing a water quality monitor on a lake
Water Quality Sampling on Lake Houston Following Hurricane Harvey
Water Quality Sampling on Lake Houston Following Hurricane Harvey
Water Quality Sampling on Lake Houston Following Hurricane Harvey

USGS scientist Lisa Ashmore services a water-quality monitor on Lake Houston. These instruments stayed afloat and collected data throughout the storm.

USGS scientist Lisa Ashmore services a water-quality monitor on Lake Houston. These instruments stayed afloat and collected data throughout the storm.

Was this page helpful?