Science Explorer

Learn more about the science of conducting research and monitoring to understand freshwater, terrestrial and marine ecosystems and the fish and wildlife within them.

This science includes the long-term alteration in the characteristic weather conditions of a region, such as changes in precipitation and temperature.

Science and information to better understand coastal-change processes in order to restore and protect coastal resources as well as manage the natural hazards and impacts of climate and land-use change on coastal communities and ecosystems. We provide relevant tools and information needed to make our Nation’s coasts healthy and resilient.

These resources include aerial photography, data management, elevation data, geospatial datasets, satellite imagery, risk assessments, and more.

This science includes the processes critical to the formation, accumulation, occurrence, and alteration of geologically based energy resources, robust assessments of those resources, and the study of the impact of energy resource occurrence and/or production and use on both environmental and human health.

Environmental health science focuses on the interface between health and the environment, where interactions among people, the environment, and other living organisms affect the risk of toxicologic and infectious disease.

USGS Geology efforts address major societal issues that involve geologic hazards and disasters, climate variability and change, energy and mineral resources, ecosystem and human health, and ground-water availability.

Remote Sensing is the acquiring of information about a natural feature or phenomenon, such as the Earth's surface, without actually being in contact with it. USGS remote sensing is usually carried out with airborne or space-borne sensors or cameras. Geospatial analysis is the detailed study of information such as measurements, counts, and computations as a function of geographical location.

The study of minerals includes all natural occurrences of useful inorganic elements or compounds. Learn more about the occurrences, quality, quantity, and availability of mineral resources with links to projects, publications, spatial data, teams, issues, and news.

Natural hazard science is the study of coastal and marine geology, earthquake hazards, geomagnetism, landslides, volcanoes, seismological and geophysical sensors, floods, droughts, tsunamis, hurricanes, and storms.

USGS coastal and marine geologic research supports understanding of coastal and marine environments, through technology, tools, data and mapping products.

Scientific study of the solid bodies of the solar system, including planets, moons, asteroids, meteorites, and interplanetary materials.

Explore real-time and historical data, including surface water, groundwater, water quality, water use data, flood and drought conditions, and much more. View our tools to find, understand, and work with our data and information.