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Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center images.

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A small boat sits on calm waters with trees in the distance, and a cloudy sky.
Mokelumne River survey
Mokelumne River survey
Mokelumne River survey

Mokelumne River near confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA, looking downstream, with Cordell Johnson (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Allen (USGS PCMSC) collecting data from the R/V Fast Eddy.

Mokelumne River near confluence with the San Joaquin River in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, CA, looking downstream, with Cordell Johnson (USGS PCMSC) and Rachel Allen (USGS PCMSC) collecting data from the R/V Fast Eddy.

View from the sky of a river surrounded by a heavily forested area and winding through a bare section that used to be a lake.
Former Elwha Dam and Lake Aldwell post dam removal
Former Elwha Dam and Lake Aldwell post dam removal
Former Elwha Dam and Lake Aldwell post dam removal

Orthophoto (GigaPan) of the former Elwha Dam and former Lake Aldwell, on the Elwha River, Washington, compiled from ultra high-resolution images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals, mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation and processed using Structure-from-Motion techniques.

Orthophoto (GigaPan) of the former Elwha Dam and former Lake Aldwell, on the Elwha River, Washington, compiled from ultra high-resolution images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals, mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation and processed using Structure-from-Motion techniques.

View from the sky of a river surrounded by a heavily forested area and winding through a bare section that used to be a lake.
Glines Canyon Dam and Lake Mills post dam removal
Glines Canyon Dam and Lake Mills post dam removal
Glines Canyon Dam and Lake Mills post dam removal

Orthophoto (GigaPan) of the former Glines Canyon Dam and former Lake Mills, on the Elwha River, Washington, compiled from ultra high-resolution images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals, mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation and processed using Structure-from-Motion techniques.

Orthophoto (GigaPan) of the former Glines Canyon Dam and former Lake Mills, on the Elwha River, Washington, compiled from ultra high-resolution images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals, mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation and processed using Structure-from-Motion techniques.

View from the air looking down on a river where it meets the ocean, with many small channels in the sediment deposited there.
Elwha River mouth
Elwha River mouth
Elwha River mouth

Orthophoto of the mouth of the Elwha River in Washington. The orthophoto was compiled from images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals and mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation.

Orthophoto of the mouth of the Elwha River in Washington. The orthophoto was compiled from images collected with a Ricoh GR camera operating at 2-second intervals and mounted on a Cessna 172 piloted by Rite Bros. Aviation.

Looks down on beach scene from roof top, with small waves, a pier that extends from beach on left, amusement park in background.
Camera 1, Main Beach Snapshot, Santa Cruz
Camera 1, Main Beach Snapshot, Santa Cruz
Camera 1, Main Beach Snapshot, Santa Cruz

The view from one of two video cameras atop the Dream Inn hotel in Santa Cruz, California, that overlook the coast in northern Monterey Bay. This view, from camera 1, looks eastward over Santa Cruz Main Beach and boardwalk.

The view from one of two video cameras atop the Dream Inn hotel in Santa Cruz, California, that overlook the coast in northern Monterey Bay. This view, from camera 1, looks eastward over Santa Cruz Main Beach and boardwalk.

Four scientists stand around a table in a lab with gray sediment core samples on the table, and they are examining the sediment.
Selecting sediment samples from cores
Selecting sediment samples from cores
Selecting sediment samples from cores

(Left to right) Danny Brothers (USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center [PCMSC]), Peter Haeussler (USGS Alaska Science Center), Maureen Walton (PCMSC), and Jamie Conrad (PCMSC) select seafloor sediment samples from cores collected along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault.

(Left to right) Danny Brothers (USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center [PCMSC]), Peter Haeussler (USGS Alaska Science Center), Maureen Walton (PCMSC), and Jamie Conrad (PCMSC) select seafloor sediment samples from cores collected along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault.

Four people around a table
Sampling sea floor sediment cores from along the Queen Charlotte Fault
Sampling sea floor sediment cores from along the Queen Charlotte Fault
Sampling sea floor sediment cores from along the Queen Charlotte Fault

USGS and Geological Survey of Canada scientists sample sediment cores collected from the sea floor along the Queen Charlotte Fault. This was taken while they were working with (or in) the Geological Survey of Canada.

USGS and Geological Survey of Canada scientists sample sediment cores collected from the sea floor along the Queen Charlotte Fault. This was taken while they were working with (or in) the Geological Survey of Canada.

Oil with a taffy-like consistency in a natural seep along a small creek, being poked with a stick to show its gooey nature.
Natural oil seep along Tarwater Creek, San Mateo County, California
Natural oil seep along Tarwater Creek, San Mateo County, California
Natural oil seep along Tarwater Creek, San Mateo County, California

The natural oil seep in this photo is located in Pescadero Creek County Park, where the Canyon Trail crosses Tarwater Creek. The oil is black, has a taffy-like consistency, and smells like motor oil.

In a pasture a white horse is standing in the foreground, in background is an apparatus that pumps oil from the ground.
Oil well pumping unit, Half Moon Bay oil field, California
Oil well pumping unit, Half Moon Bay oil field, California
Oil well pumping unit, Half Moon Bay oil field, California

The Half Moon Bay oil field is one of the oldest oil fields in California and was first developed during the 1880s. Since then, the field has produced an estimated 60,000 barrels of oil from about 19 wells.

Participants of workshop, about 30 adults, standing in two rows against a tropical backdrop.
UFORIC International Workshop
UFORIC International Workshop
UFORIC International Workshop

International participants from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Israel, and the U.S. attended a workshop on “Understanding Flooding on Reef-lined Island Coastlines”, February 5-7, 2018.

International participants from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Israel, and the U.S. attended a workshop on “Understanding Flooding on Reef-lined Island Coastlines”, February 5-7, 2018.

People working on the deck of a ship to collect and process samples dredged from the bottom of the ocean.
Dredging operations
Dredging operations
Dredging operations

Dredging operations aboard the research vessel Alpha Crucis. The first dredge with successful rock recovery is wrangled back on deck.

Dredging operations aboard the research vessel Alpha Crucis. The first dredge with successful rock recovery is wrangled back on deck.

Underwater photo of a vast area of dead corals on the seafloor at Buck Island, U.S. Virgin Islands
Some elkhorn corals in the U.S. Virgin Islands have died
Some elkhorn corals in the U.S. Virgin Islands have died
Some elkhorn corals in the U.S. Virgin Islands have died

Elkhorn corals (Acropora palmata) on the seafloor along the northeastern coast of Buck Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, have died and collapsed into rubble. As coral reef structure degrades, habitat for marine life is lost and nearby coastlines become more susceptible to storms, waves, and erosion.

Elkhorn corals (Acropora palmata) on the seafloor along the northeastern coast of Buck Island, U.S. Virgin Islands, have died and collapsed into rubble. As coral reef structure degrades, habitat for marine life is lost and nearby coastlines become more susceptible to storms, waves, and erosion.

A view of healthy elkhorn corals on the seafloor in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Healthy elkhorn coral on the seafloor in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Healthy elkhorn coral on the seafloor in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Healthy elkhorn coral on the seafloor in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Healthy elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) on the seafloor along the southeastern coast of Buck Island, U.S. Virgin Islands. Elkhorn coral is one of many important reef-building species that create 3D structure on the seafloor. Coral reef structure provides habitat for marine life and helps break up waves as they approach the coastline.

Healthy elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) on the seafloor along the southeastern coast of Buck Island, U.S. Virgin Islands. Elkhorn coral is one of many important reef-building species that create 3D structure on the seafloor. Coral reef structure provides habitat for marine life and helps break up waves as they approach the coastline.

3 different views created using multibeam bathymetry data show the fault in bright colors
Perspective views of multibeam bathymetry data acquired by the USGS
Perspective views of multibeam bathymetry data acquired by the USGS
Perspective views of multibeam bathymetry data acquired by the USGS

Perspective views of multibeam bathymetry data acquired by the USGS aboard the R/V Medeia. Shallower depths in red. Arrows point to the distinct line in the seafloor associated with the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault.

Two maps; the left hand one shows brown land, blue water, and red arrows. The right hand one shows colored survey tracklines
Maps with key features and shaded relief of the study area
Maps with key features and shaded relief of the study area
Maps with key features and shaded relief of the study area

Left: Key features in and around the Gulf of Alaska. A black rectangle outlines our 2016 study area along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault. Red arrows indicate relative tectonic plate motions. Right: A shaded relief map of the 2016 study area. Rainbow colors show seafloor depths acquired by the USGS in 2015 and 2016. Red indicates shallower depths.

Left: Key features in and around the Gulf of Alaska. A black rectangle outlines our 2016 study area along the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault. Red arrows indicate relative tectonic plate motions. Right: A shaded relief map of the 2016 study area. Rainbow colors show seafloor depths acquired by the USGS in 2015 and 2016. Red indicates shallower depths.

erry Hatcher with the system he designed to record the precise time and geographic location of each air photo Van Wagenen shoots
Scientist with the system he designed to record precise photo data
Scientist with the system he designed to record precise photo data
Air photo of Paul's slide (left); photo of repair equipment/construction (right)
Air photo, Paul's slide (left); repair equipment/construction (right)
Air photo, Paul's slide (left); repair equipment/construction (right)
Air photo, Paul's slide (left); repair equipment/construction (right)

Paul’s Slide. Left: Air photo taken May 27, 2017, one of many that Beth Haddon will analyze with structure-from-motion software to measure changes in ground elevation. Right: Caltrans employees and contractors use an excavator and bulldozer to remove Paul’s Slide debris from California State Highway 1.

Paul’s Slide. Left: Air photo taken May 27, 2017, one of many that Beth Haddon will analyze with structure-from-motion software to measure changes in ground elevation. Right: Caltrans employees and contractors use an excavator and bulldozer to remove Paul’s Slide debris from California State Highway 1.

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