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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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Sluggish breakout on Kīlauea Volcano's coastal plain remains active...
Sluggish breakout on Kīlauea's coastal plain remains active
Sluggish breakout on Kīlauea's coastal plain remains active
Sluggish breakout on Kīlauea's coastal plain remains active

The surface breakout that started on February 10 remains active on the coastal plain just east of the main episode 61g lava flow field. The flow front, pictured here, advanced to about 300 m (0.2 miles) from the emergency access road in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, but appeared to be stalled this afternoon.

The surface breakout that started on February 10 remains active on the coastal plain just east of the main episode 61g lava flow field. The flow front, pictured here, advanced to about 300 m (0.2 miles) from the emergency access road in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, but appeared to be stalled this afternoon.

Sumner Dam
Sumner Dam
Sumner Dam
Sumner Dam

Sunset after installing an Acoustic Doppler Velocity Meter at Fort Sumner Main Canal near Fort Sumner, NM

Sunset after installing an Acoustic Doppler Velocity Meter at Fort Sumner Main Canal near Fort Sumner, NM

Hydro techs check water quality sensor calibration prior to redeployment
Hydro techs check water quality sensor calibration prior to redeployme
Hydro techs check water quality sensor calibration prior to redeployme
Hydro techs check water quality sensor calibration prior to redeployme

Hydro tech Kate Allison demonstrates how to check a water quality sensor for calibration before being deployed at the Cochiti Dam in New Mexico. 

Hydro tech Kate Allison demonstrates how to check a water quality sensor for calibration before being deployed at the Cochiti Dam in New Mexico. 

Hydro techs clean a water quality sensor prior to deployment
Hydro techs clean a water quality sensor prior to deployment
Hydro techs clean a water quality sensor prior to deployment
Hydro techs clean a water quality sensor prior to deployment

 Hydrologic technicians Joe Beman, Hal Nelson, and Kate Allison, and course instructor Mike Nyman clean a water quality sensor prior to redeployment at a Water Quality Field Course put on by the New Mexico Water Science Center.

 Hydrologic technicians Joe Beman, Hal Nelson, and Kate Allison, and course instructor Mike Nyman clean a water quality sensor prior to redeployment at a Water Quality Field Course put on by the New Mexico Water Science Center.

Hydro techs inspecting water quality sensors at Cochiti Dam
Hydro techs inspect water quality sensors
Hydro techs inspect water quality sensors
Hydro techs inspect water quality sensors

Hydrologic technicians Joe Beman and Hal Nelson remove a deployed sensor for cleaning and recalibration, as needed.  This sensor is left in place to continuously log water quality parameters.

Hydrologic technicians Joe Beman and Hal Nelson remove a deployed sensor for cleaning and recalibration, as needed.  This sensor is left in place to continuously log water quality parameters.

Hydro techs record initial sensor reading prior to sensor cleaning and recalibration.
Hydro techs inspecting water quality sensor
Hydro techs inspecting water quality sensor
Hydro techs inspecting water quality sensor

Several New Mexico Water Science Center staff attended Continuous Water Quality Training, taught by Mike Nyman of the Texas Water Science Center and Lauren Sherson of the New Mexico Water Science Center.  The course covered rationale for collecting continuous water quality data; field techniques for in

Several New Mexico Water Science Center staff attended Continuous Water Quality Training, taught by Mike Nyman of the Texas Water Science Center and Lauren Sherson of the New Mexico Water Science Center.  The course covered rationale for collecting continuous water quality data; field techniques for in

USGS hydrologic technician stands in waist-high waters of a flooded Santa Maria River while taking streamflow measurements
Santa Maria River Flooding
Santa Maria River Flooding
Santa Maria River Flooding

A USGS hydrologic technician takes streamflow measurements during flooding of the Sisquoc River, a tributary of the Santa Maria River, near the town of Garey in Santa Barbara County. 

A USGS hydrologic technician takes streamflow measurements during flooding of the Sisquoc River, a tributary of the Santa Maria River, near the town of Garey in Santa Barbara County. 

USGS WERC scientist Emily (Emma) Kelsey doing seabird monitoring research on Prisoner Rock
USGS WERC scientist Emma Kelsey doing seabird monitoring research
USGS WERC scientist Emma Kelsey doing seabird monitoring research
USGS WERC scientist Emma Kelsey doing seabird monitoring research

USGS WERC scientist Emily (Emma) Kelsey doing seabird monitoring research on Prisoner Rock.

Buras water tank
Buras water tank, eye of Hurricane Katrina made its strongest landfall
Buras water tank, eye of Hurricane Katrina made its strongest landfall
Buras water tank, eye of Hurricane Katrina made its strongest landfall

New Orleans, La., July 29, 2008 -- Buras has become famous as the location where, on August 29, 2005, at 6:10 AM CDT, the eye of Hurricane Katrina, made its strongest landfall. The town's freshing painted water tower stands as a symbol of recovery for the state and the community. Jacinta Quesada/FEMA

New Orleans, La., July 29, 2008 -- Buras has become famous as the location where, on August 29, 2005, at 6:10 AM CDT, the eye of Hurricane Katrina, made its strongest landfall. The town's freshing painted water tower stands as a symbol of recovery for the state and the community. Jacinta Quesada/FEMA

Photo of cracked mud flats with raindrop impressions
Cracked mud flats in a small retention basin, near Jericho, West Bank
Cracked mud flats in a small retention basin, near Jericho, West Bank
Cracked mud flats in a small retention basin, near Jericho, West Bank

Cracked mud flats in retention basin, near Jericho, West Bank, showing raindrop impressions

Photo of equipment sitting on the deck of a boat which is docked, and it's sleeting or snowing.
R/V Barnes with USGS seismic system
R/V Barnes with USGS seismic system
R/V Barnes with USGS seismic system

University of Washington's research vessel R/V Barnes is loaded with the USGS multichannel seismic system components GeoEel, Chirp, and boom plates.

University of Washington's research vessel R/V Barnes is loaded with the USGS multichannel seismic system components GeoEel, Chirp, and boom plates.

Map showing depth of a very intricate bay and delta system color-coded to enhance central bay channels and tidal channels.
San Francisco Bay and Delta DEM
San Francisco Bay and Delta DEM
San Francisco Bay and Delta DEM

High-resolution (10-meter per pixel) digital elevation model (DEM) of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, using both bathymetry and topography data relative to current modern datum of North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88). This DEM is the result of collaborative efforts of the U.S.

High-resolution (10-meter per pixel) digital elevation model (DEM) of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, using both bathymetry and topography data relative to current modern datum of North American Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD88). This DEM is the result of collaborative efforts of the U.S.

A dry forest in Guanica, Puerto Rico
Dry Forest in Guanica
Dry Forest in Guanica
Dry Forest in Guanica

Dry Forest in southern Puerto Rico (Guánica municipality). Climate change is projected to make dry landscapes such as these even drier.

Dry Forest in southern Puerto Rico (Guánica municipality). Climate change is projected to make dry landscapes such as these even drier.

Kolobeh Vody pre školy, The Water Cycle for Schools, Slovak
Kolobeh Vody pre Keti, The Water Cycle for Schools, Slovak
Kolobeh Vody pre Keti, The Water Cycle for Schools, Slovak
Kolobeh Vody pre Keti, The Water Cycle for Schools, Slovak

Kolobeh Vody pre školy, The Water Cycle for Schools, Slovakian

Geologická služba Spojených štátov (USGS) a Organizácia OSN pre vý živu a poĺnohospodárstvo (FAO) vytvorili pre deti a žiakov základných škôl schému kolobehu vody.

Kolobeh Vody pre školy, The Water Cycle for Schools, Slovakian

Geologická služba Spojených štátov (USGS) a Organizácia OSN pre vý živu a poĺnohospodárstvo (FAO) vytvorili pre deti a žiakov základných škôl schému kolobehu vody.

Vodni krog za otroke, The water cycle for kids, Slovenian
Vodni krog za otroke, The water cycle for kids, Slovenian
Vodni krog za otroke, The water cycle for kids, Slovenian
Vodni krog za otroke, The water cycle for kids, Slovenian

Vodni krog za otroke, The water cycle for kids, Slovene

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) ter Organizacija Združenih narodov za prehrano in kmetijstvo (FAO) sta oblikovali diagram vodnega kroga za otroke ter za osnovne in srednje šole.

Vodni krog za otroke, The water cycle for kids, Slovene

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) ter Organizacija Združenih narodov za prehrano in kmetijstvo (FAO) sta oblikovali diagram vodnega kroga za otroke ter za osnovne in srednje šole.

Photo of a USGS field scientist using telemetry to search for predators
WERC Scientist Searches for Waterfowl Predators
WERC Scientist Searches for Waterfowl Predators
WERC Scientist Searches for Waterfowl Predators

USGS field scientist uses radio telemetry to search for skunks and raccoons tagged with lightweight radio collars. USGS is monitoring skunk and raccoon movements across California's inland marshes to understand how they are using different features of the landscape, like levee roads, to navigate to waterfowl nests.

USGS field scientist uses radio telemetry to search for skunks and raccoons tagged with lightweight radio collars. USGS is monitoring skunk and raccoon movements across California's inland marshes to understand how they are using different features of the landscape, like levee roads, to navigate to waterfowl nests.

ວັດທະຈັກ ນໍ້າ ສໍາລັບ ໂຮງຮຽນ - The Water Cycle, Lao
ວັດທະຈັກ ນໍ້າ ສໍາລັບ ໂຮງຮຽນ - The Water Cycle, Lao
ວັດທະຈັກ ນໍ້າ ສໍາລັບ ໂຮງຮຽນ - The Water Cycle, Lao
ວັດທະຈັກ ນໍ້າ ສໍາລັບ ໂຮງຮຽນ - The Water Cycle, Lao

ວັດທະຈັກ ນໍ້າ ສໍາລັບ ໂຮງຮຽນ - The Water Cycle, Lao

ການສໍາຫຼວດ ພູມສັນຖານ (USGS) ແລະ ອົງການອາຫານ ແລະ ການກະເສດ ຂອງ ສະຫະປະຊາຊາດ (FAO) ໄດ້ສ້າງ ຮູບພາບກ່ຽວກັບ ວັດທະຈັກ ນໍ້າ ສໍາລັບ ໂຮງຮຽນ

ວັດທະຈັກ ນໍ້າ ສໍາລັບ ໂຮງຮຽນ - The Water Cycle, Lao

ການສໍາຫຼວດ ພູມສັນຖານ (USGS) ແລະ ອົງການອາຫານ ແລະ ການກະເສດ ຂອງ ສະຫະປະຊາຊາດ (FAO) ໄດ້ສ້າງ ຮູບພາບກ່ຽວກັບ ວັດທະຈັກ ນໍ້າ ສໍາລັບ ໂຮງຮຽນ

A hillside showing landslides with debris from one landslide impacting a house at the bottom of the slope.
Rainfall and Landslides in Northern CA
Rainfall and Landslides in Northern CA
Rainfall and Landslides in Northern CA

Shallow landslides damaged homes and closed many roads in the San Francisco East Bay region as a result of storms in January and February, 2017.

Shallow landslides damaged homes and closed many roads in the San Francisco East Bay region as a result of storms in January and February, 2017.

A USGS Hydrologic Technician installs a new streamgage
A USGS Hydrologic Technician installs a new streamgage
A USGS Hydrologic Technician installs a new streamgage
A USGS Hydrologic Technician installs a new streamgage

U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Technician Patrick Anzman installs a new streamgage February 23 over the Schuylkill River in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Manayunk. Photo by Mason Manis, USGS. 

U.S. Geological Survey Hydrologic Technician Patrick Anzman installs a new streamgage February 23 over the Schuylkill River in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Manayunk. Photo by Mason Manis, USGS. 

Chopping several feet of ice to access Black Canyon Creek
Chopping several feet of ice to access Black Canyon Creek, Feb 2017
Chopping several feet of ice to access Black Canyon Creek, Feb 2017
Chopping several feet of ice to access Black Canyon Creek, Feb 2017

Chopping several feet of ice to access Black Canyon Creek

Remotely measuring the temperature of Kīlauea lava...
Remotely measuring the temperature of Kīlauea lava
Remotely measuring the temperature of Kīlauea lava
Remotely measuring the temperature of Kīlauea lava

A U.S. Geological Survey scientist used a custom-built, high-speed camera to remotely measure the temperature of spattering lava on the surface of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake (background). This particular experiment, conducted from the Jaggar Museum overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on December 10, 2016, was part of a NASA-funded research project.

A U.S. Geological Survey scientist used a custom-built, high-speed camera to remotely measure the temperature of spattering lava on the surface of Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake (background). This particular experiment, conducted from the Jaggar Museum overlook in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on December 10, 2016, was part of a NASA-funded research project.

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