Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
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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.
Research Projects
Read about our science projects, find out where we are working, and why it matters
Explore Our ScienceSeminar Series
Join us for public seminars at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, CA
Upcoming SeminarsNews
USGS Scientists Participate in a Gulf of Mexico Gas Hydrate Pressure Coring Project
In summer 2019, scientists from the USGS Gas Hydrates Project travelled from Woods Hole to the University of Texas (UT) to lead a deep-biosphere study of the microbiological communities associated with gas hydrate.
Sound Waves Newsletter - August-September 2019
USGS leads study of microbiological communities associated with gas hydrate, presents coastal change forecast and pre- and post-storm photos of areas affected by Hurricane Dorian, provides foundation for emergency preparedness wherever and whenever disaster strikes, estimates trillions of cubic feet of natural gas hydrate in Alaska, and more in this August-September 2019 issue of Sound...
Recent Coastal and Marine Fieldwork - August-September 2019
This was a busy field season for USGS scientists! We visited numerous locations to collect seawater and sediment samples, and to map beaches, rivers, marshes, and offshore areas. Here’s a quick overview of some fieldwork by our scientists.
Publications
Managing sand along the Colorado River to protect cultural sites downstream of Glen Canyon Dam
The construction of Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona has greatly reduced the supply of sand to the Colorado River corridor through Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Grand Canyon National Park, hereafter referred to as Glen Canyon and Grand Canyon, respectively. This deficit has strongly affected the natural sediment cycle in this iconic...
Cook, Terri; East, Amy; Fairley, Helen; Sankey, Joel B.
A multidisciplinary coastal vulnerability assessment for local government focused on ecosystems, Santa Barbara area, California
Incorporating coastal ecosystems in climate adaptation planning is needed to maintain the well-being of both natural and human systems. Our vulnerability study uses a multidisciplinary approach to evaluate climate change vulnerability of an urbanized coastal community that could serve as a model approach for communities worldwide, particularly in...
Myers, Monique; Barnard, Patrick L.; Beighley, Edward; Cayan, Daniel R.; Dugan, Jenifer E.; Feng, Dongmei; Iacobellis, Samuel F.; Melack, John M.; Page, Henry M. Modeling sediment bypassing around idealized rocky headlands
Alongshore sediment bypassing rocky headlands remains understudied despite the importance of characterizing littoral processes for erosion abatement, beach management, and climate change adaptation. To address this gap, a numerical model sediment transport study was developed to identify controlling factors and mechanisms for sediment headland...
Douglas A. George; John L. Largier; Greg B. Pasternack; Barnard, Patrick L.; Storlazzi, Curt D.; Erikson, Li H.