The Value of Our Coral Reefs
Cost-benefit study confirms coral reef restoration could be a cost-effective way to save lives and money
Cost-benefit study confirms coral reef restoration could be a cost-effective way to save lives and money
Satellite-Derived Shoreline Change Along Western Long Island, New York
New USGS study tracks shoreline evolution from 1984 to 2022
New USGS study tracks shoreline evolution from 1984 to 2022
Rising Seas and Stronger Storms Threaten Barrier Island Systems
New study models projected overland flooding, groundwater depth, shoreline change, and vertical land motion at Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina
New study models projected overland flooding, groundwater depth, shoreline change, and vertical land motion at Cape Lookout National Seashore, North Carolina
Intensified Coastal Hazards from Climate Change on U.S. Southeast Coast
New study highlights increased flooding, coastal erosion, subsidence, and rising groundwater hazards
New study highlights increased flooding, coastal erosion, subsidence, and rising groundwater hazards
Marine Mineral Formations in the Arctic Ocean Challenge Existing Geologic Theories
Haunted Seismic Data, Ghostbusted by Science
USGS-designed tools remove “ghost reflections” from seismic data
USGS-designed tools remove “ghost reflections” from seismic data
Remote-Sensing Large-Wood Storage Downstream from Reservoirs After Dam Removal
USGS-developed AI model tracks distribution of woody debris along Elwha River
USGS-developed AI model tracks distribution of woody debris along Elwha River
Investigating Relationships Between Deep-Sea Invertebrate Communities and Marine Minerals to Inform Resource Considerations
Effects of Climate Variability on Coastal Erosion in the Pacific Northwest
The Role of Coral Reefs in Coastal Erosion
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
We conduct multidisciplinary scientific research in the coastal and offshore areas of California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and other US Pacific Islands; and in other waterways of the United States.
News
News Briefs: October 2024-January 2025
News Briefs: October 2024-January 2025
Sound Waves Newsletter: October 2024-January 2025
Sound Waves Newsletter: October 2024-January 2025
Photo Roundup: October 2024-January 2025
Photo Roundup: October 2024-January 2025
Publications
Shoreline seasonality of California’s beaches
We report on remote sensing techniques developed to characterize seasonal shoreline cycles from satellite-derived shoreline measurements. These techniques are applied to 22-yr of shoreline measurements for over 777 km of beach along California's 1,700-km coast, for which the general understanding is that shorelines exhibit winter-narrow and summer-recovery seasonality. We find that...
Coral reef restoration can reduce coastal contamination and pollution hazards
Coral reef restoration can reduce the wave-driven flooding for coastal communities. However, this protection has yet to be assessed in terms of the reduced risk of flood-driven environmental contamination. Here we provide the first high-resolution valuation of the reduction of flood-related land-based environmental pollution provided by potential coral reef restoration. Along Florida’s...
Hybrid coral reef restoration can be a cost-effective nature-based solution to provide protection to vulnerable coastal populations
Coral reefs can mitigate flood damages by providing protection to tropical coastal communities whose populations are dense, growing fast, and have predominantly lower-middle income. This study provides the first fine-scale, regionally modeled valuations of how flood risk reductions associated with hybrid coral reef restoration could benefit people, property, and economic activity along...
Science
Marine Mineral Resources and USGS Studies
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides science and data on offshore mineral resources and ecosystems, as well as any potential hazards associated with extraction. Society relies on minerals for infrastructure, technology, manufacturing, and energy production; critical minerals are essential to the economic or national security of the United States and have a supply chain vulnerable to...
Coastal Wetland Vulnerability to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: Understanding Ecological Thresholds and Ecosystem Transformations
Eighteen USGS coastal scientists from all four coasts of the conterminous United States are working together to advance the understanding of climate change and sea-level rise impacts to coastal wetlands.
By
California Water Science Center, Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Western Geographic Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Habitat Vulnerability to Climate Change: Identifying Climate Change Induced Mass Mortality Events Across Large Landscapes of the United States
USGS researchers will characterize extreme climatic events across U.S. following a review of case studies of mass mortality events associated with climate extremes including drought, precipitation, freeze, heat waves, and storm events.