(Left) Sample of the Pitchstone Plateau rhyolite flow, which erupted about 72,000 years ago, making it is the youngest rhyolite at Yellowstone. The blocky white crystals in this sample are the mineral sanidine, whereas the rounded crystals are quartz.
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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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Pitchstone Plateau, Yellowstone, rhyolite with sanidine
(Left) Sample of the Pitchstone Plateau rhyolite flow, which erupted about 72,000 years ago, making it is the youngest rhyolite at Yellowstone. The blocky white crystals in this sample are the mineral sanidine, whereas the rounded crystals are quartz.
Predicted concentrations of nitrate in U.S. groundwater
Nitrate concentrations greater than the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 mg/L as N are predicted to occur primarily in the High Plains, northern Midwest, and areas of intense agriculture in the eastern and western United States.
Nitrate concentrations greater than the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 10 mg/L as N are predicted to occur primarily in the High Plains, northern Midwest, and areas of intense agriculture in the eastern and western United States.
PWC bathymetric survey
Engineering technician Tim Elfers of the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center navigates a personal watercraft (PWC) through waves offshore of central California. The PWC is equipped with sonar and GPS in order to map the nearshore seafloor.
Engineering technician Tim Elfers of the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center navigates a personal watercraft (PWC) through waves offshore of central California. The PWC is equipped with sonar and GPS in order to map the nearshore seafloor.
Red-tailed Tropicbird chick
Red-Tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) chick.
Red-Tailed tropicbird (Phaethon rubricauda) chick.
Remote Boat
USGS remote boat measures streamflow on the river. In the background the opposite shore is seen lined with leafless trees.
USGS remote boat measures streamflow on the river. In the background the opposite shore is seen lined with leafless trees.
Researcher takes winter water chemistry samples on the Yukon River
Researcher Carol Hasburgh taking winter water chemistry samples on the Yukon River for a permafrost loss study.
Researcher Carol Hasburgh taking winter water chemistry samples on the Yukon River for a permafrost loss study.
RESOLVE Bird Flying over Corn Field Collecting Airborne EM Data
Airborne electromagnetic data collection a corn field near Sioux Falls, SD. The bird is suspended from a helicopter as it transmits and receives electromagnetic signals to the ground, which are used to interpret characteristics of the aquifer.
Airborne electromagnetic data collection a corn field near Sioux Falls, SD. The bird is suspended from a helicopter as it transmits and receives electromagnetic signals to the ground, which are used to interpret characteristics of the aquifer.
RESOLVE bird flying to collect airborne electromagnetic data
Power lines present challenges in data collection and analyses of airborne electromagnetic data near Sioux Falls, SD. The bird is suspended from a helicopter as it transmits and receives electromagnetic signals to the ground, which are used to interpret characteristics of the aquifer.
Power lines present challenges in data collection and analyses of airborne electromagnetic data near Sioux Falls, SD. The bird is suspended from a helicopter as it transmits and receives electromagnetic signals to the ground, which are used to interpret characteristics of the aquifer.
RESOLVE Bird Used for Collection of Airborne Electromagnetic Data
A low-flying helicopter will carry this large cylindrical sensor, called a bird, to measure physical properties of the Big Sioux aquifer below the Earth's surface. More information on the airborne electromagnetic method is available at https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20163075.
A low-flying helicopter will carry this large cylindrical sensor, called a bird, to measure physical properties of the Big Sioux aquifer below the Earth's surface. More information on the airborne electromagnetic method is available at https://doi.org/10.3133/fs20163075.
RESOLVE Helicopter's Airborne Electromagnetic “Bird"
Left to right: Greg Delzer, David Smith and Mark Anderson (South Dakota Water Science Center and Denver Crustal Geophysics Group) standing with the RESOLVE helicopter's airborne electromagnetic “bird.” The bird is suspended from a helicopter as it transmits and receives electromagnetic signals to the ground, which are used to interpret characteristics of the aquifer
Left to right: Greg Delzer, David Smith and Mark Anderson (South Dakota Water Science Center and Denver Crustal Geophysics Group) standing with the RESOLVE helicopter's airborne electromagnetic “bird.” The bird is suspended from a helicopter as it transmits and receives electromagnetic signals to the ground, which are used to interpret characteristics of the aquifer
Routine Measurement
Photo taken from a bridge above a USGS Hydrologist taking a routine streamflow measurement. In the center of the stream suspended sediment can be seen flowing downstream.
Photo taken from a bridge above a USGS Hydrologist taking a routine streamflow measurement. In the center of the stream suspended sediment can be seen flowing downstream.
Sampling gas released by gas hydrate breakdown
Pamela Swarzenski from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center sampling gas released by gas hydrate breakdown during a quantitative degassing aboard the drilling vessel Chikyu during the Indian Government’s National Gas Hydrates Program (NGHP-02) drilling expedition offshore from eastern India.
Pamela Swarzenski from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center sampling gas released by gas hydrate breakdown during a quantitative degassing aboard the drilling vessel Chikyu during the Indian Government’s National Gas Hydrates Program (NGHP-02) drilling expedition offshore from eastern India.
Scanning Electron Microscope Image of Finchite
A scanning electron microscope image of the newly discovered mineral finchite. The Denver Microbeam Lab provided this scan of finchite in order to help describe and identify the mineral as a new one. Finchite is a uranium mineral first observed in Martin County, Texas.
A scanning electron microscope image of the newly discovered mineral finchite. The Denver Microbeam Lab provided this scan of finchite in order to help describe and identify the mineral as a new one. Finchite is a uranium mineral first observed in Martin County, Texas.
Scientist Gathering Data
Karen Nelson (USFWS) acquiring geophysical data amidst a naturally occurring plant (Salicornia rubra) in northeastern Montana.
Karen Nelson (USFWS) acquiring geophysical data amidst a naturally occurring plant (Salicornia rubra) in northeastern Montana.
Scientists Collect Arctic Sediments
Scientists aboard USCGC Healy prepare to collect sediments from the Chukchi that will be used to reconstruct sea-ice history in the Arctic. USGS Image (L. Gemery).
Scientists aboard USCGC Healy prepare to collect sediments from the Chukchi that will be used to reconstruct sea-ice history in the Arctic. USGS Image (L. Gemery).
SCUBA Diver Collects Corals for Paleoclimate
A USGS SCUBA Diver Collects a Core from a Coral Using a Hydraulic Drilling System in the U.S. Virgin Islands. USGS Image (I. Kuffner).
A USGS SCUBA Diver Collects a Core from a Coral Using a Hydraulic Drilling System in the U.S. Virgin Islands. USGS Image (I. Kuffner).
Sea-level rise effects vary in geomorphology and ecology
The effects of sea-level rise will vary by differences in the geomorphology and ecology of the landscape. Images show marsh (top left) rocky coast (top right), barrier beach (bottom left), and coastal bluff (bottom right)
The effects of sea-level rise will vary by differences in the geomorphology and ecology of the landscape. Images show marsh (top left) rocky coast (top right), barrier beach (bottom left), and coastal bluff (bottom right)
Sediment Sampling for Gas Hydrate
USGS scientists collect sediment samples in a gas hydrates area during a cruise on the U.S. Atlantic margin in 2015.
USGS scientists collect sediment samples in a gas hydrates area during a cruise on the U.S. Atlantic margin in 2015.
Setting up a science base in a barrier island wilderness
USGS scientist BJ Reynolds sets up a solar-powered, satellite-uplinked GPS base station in the Fire Island Wilderness Area to support detailed elevation surveys.
USGS scientist BJ Reynolds sets up a solar-powered, satellite-uplinked GPS base station in the Fire Island Wilderness Area to support detailed elevation surveys.
Shearing of the Melozitna Granite
Geologist and cataclastic shear zones in the Melozitna granite in the Ruby batholith. This granite contains abundant monazite and high levels of thorium and rare earth elements.
Geologist and cataclastic shear zones in the Melozitna granite in the Ruby batholith. This granite contains abundant monazite and high levels of thorium and rare earth elements.
Slope failures along the San Andreas Fault, Fort Ross
Geology and geomorphology offshore of Fort Ross, California, showing location of the San Andreas Fault and slope failures in the fault zone.
Geology and geomorphology offshore of Fort Ross, California, showing location of the San Andreas Fault and slope failures in the fault zone.