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, NorthCarolina
New study models projected overland flooding, groundwater depth, shoreline change, and vertical land motion at Cape Lookout National Seashore, NorthCarolina
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
Wildfire and Extreme Rain Intensify Erosion and Sediment Flow, USGS-led Study Shows
Uncovering 14,000 Years of Seismic Activity in Northern Cascadia
Restoring Coral Reefs for Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction in the U.S. Virgin Islands
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.
What We Do: Coastal and Marine Science at USGS Santa Cruz
What We Do: Coastal and Marine Science at USGS Santa Cruz
Get an overview of the coastal and marine research conducted by the USGS in Santa Cruz, California in our downloadable booklet.
Research Projects
Research Projects
Read about our science projects, find out where we are working, and discover the reasons why our research matters.
News
Perspective: California’s Coastal Challenges Amid Climate Change
Perspective: California’s Coastal Challenges Amid Climate Change
Rising Seas and Stronger Storms Threaten Barrier Island Systems
Rising Seas and Stronger Storms Threaten Barrier Island Systems
Intensified Coastal Hazards from Climate Change on U.S. Southeast Coast
Intensified Coastal Hazards from Climate Change on U.S. Southeast Coast
Publications
California State Waters Map Series—Benthic habitat characterization in the region offshore Humboldt Bay, California
Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS) geoform, substrate, and biotic component geographic information system (GIS) products were developed for the California State Waters of northern California in the region offshore of Humboldt Bay. The study was motivated by interest in development of offshore wind-energy capacity and infrastructure in Federal waters offshore. This projec
Projections of multiple climate-related coastal hazards for the US Southeast Atlantic
Faced with accelerating sea level rise and changing ocean storm conditions, coastal communities require comprehensive assessments of climate-driven hazard impacts to inform adaptation measures. Previous studies have focused on flooding but rarely on other climate-related coastal hazards, such as subsidence, beach erosion and groundwater. Here, we project societal exposure to multiple hazards along
Neogene hydrothermal Fe- and Mn-oxide mineralization of Paleozoic continental rocks, Amerasia Basin, Arctic Ocean
Rocks dredged from water depths of 1,605, 2,500, 3,300, and 3,400 m in the Arctic Ocean included Paleozoic continental rocks pervasively mineralized during the Neogene by hydrothermal Fe and Mn oxides. Samples were recovered in three dredge hauls from the Chukchi Borderland and one from Mendeleev Ridge north of Alaska and eastern Siberia, respectively. Many of the rocks were so pervasively altered
Science
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.
Eyes on Earth Episode 120 – Mapping the California Coastline
Coastline erosion can change your favorite beach. But it can also affect highways and buildings. Landsat, along with high-resolution data, can be used to model the past and predict the future of changes caused by sea level rise and coastal erosion.