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Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center videos.

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Cover image for Climate Science Champions series Cover image for Climate Science Champions series
Climate Science Champions: Introduction (AD)
Climate Science Champions: Introduction (AD)

From volcanologists to oceanographers, biologists to paleontologists, the U.S. Geological Survey employs thousands of scientists across the Earth sciences. Each has a unique role in supporting the bureau’s mission of providing “science that matters” to the American people.

From volcanologists to oceanographers, biologists to paleontologists, the U.S. Geological Survey employs thousands of scientists across the Earth sciences. Each has a unique role in supporting the bureau’s mission of providing “science that matters” to the American people.

Background shows coral reefs beneath waves. Overlaid photo shows smiling white woman with short hair. Background shows coral reefs beneath waves. Overlaid photo shows smiling white woman with short hair.
Climate Science Champions Season 3: Jessica Lacy, Research Oceanographer
Climate Science Champions Season 3: Jessica Lacy, Research Oceanographer

Research Oceanographer Jessica Lacy investigates the influence of tides, waves, and water levels on wave-exposed tidal salt marshes, helping to understand how these important ecosystems will respond to sea level rise. 

Research Oceanographer Jessica Lacy investigates the influence of tides, waves, and water levels on wave-exposed tidal salt marshes, helping to understand how these important ecosystems will respond to sea level rise. 

Background of coral reefs beneath the waves. Overlaid photo shows a smiling woman with short hair. AD icon in corner. Background of coral reefs beneath the waves. Overlaid photo shows a smiling woman with short hair. AD icon in corner.
Climate Science Champions Season 3: Jessica Lacy, Research Oceanographer (AD)
Climate Science Champions Season 3: Jessica Lacy, Research Oceanographer (AD)

Research Oceanographer Jessica Lacy investigates the influence of tides, waves, and water levels on wave-exposed tidal salt marshes, helping to understand how these important ecosystems will respond to sea level rise. 

Climate Science Champions Season 3: Renee Takesue, Research Geochemist

Research Geochemist Renee Takesue combines geology and chemistry to shed light on how chemical components from natural and human-made sources make their way into coastal environments. 

Climate Science Champions Season 3: Renee Takesue, Research Geochemist (AD)

Research Geochemist Renee Takesue combines geology and chemistry to shed light on how chemical components from natural and human-made sources make their way into coastal environments. 

Cover image for Climate Science Champions series Cover image for Climate Science Champions series
Climate Science Champions: Introduction
Climate Science Champions: Introduction

From volcanologists to oceanographers, biologists to paleontologists, the U.S. Geological Survey employs thousands of scientists across the Earth sciences. Each has a unique role in supporting the bureau’s mission of providing “science that matters” to the American people.

From volcanologists to oceanographers, biologists to paleontologists, the U.S. Geological Survey employs thousands of scientists across the Earth sciences. Each has a unique role in supporting the bureau’s mission of providing “science that matters” to the American people.

Jet Ski Bathymetric Surveying (AD)

The USGS uses a variety of survey tools—including personal watercraft (jet skis) equipped with GPS and sonar—to measure how sandy coastlines change over time. Sandy coastlines are a valuable resource that protect human-made structures from waves, serve as habitat for important species, and provide a variety of recreational opportunities.

The USGS uses a variety of survey tools—including personal watercraft (jet skis) equipped with GPS and sonar—to measure how sandy coastlines change over time. Sandy coastlines are a valuable resource that protect human-made structures from waves, serve as habitat for important species, and provide a variety of recreational opportunities.

Jet Ski Bathymetric Surveying

The USGS uses a variety of survey tools—including personal watercraft (jet skis) equipped with GPS and sonar—to measure how sandy coastlines change over time. Sandy coastlines are a valuable resource that protect human-made structures from waves, serve as habitat for important species, and provide a variety of recreational opportunities.

The USGS uses a variety of survey tools—including personal watercraft (jet skis) equipped with GPS and sonar—to measure how sandy coastlines change over time. Sandy coastlines are a valuable resource that protect human-made structures from waves, serve as habitat for important species, and provide a variety of recreational opportunities.

Image shows Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) lifted by a crane during a test deployment Image shows Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) lifted by a crane during a test deployment
Free Ascent Tripod Test on the Santa Cruz Wharf (AD)
Free Ascent Tripod Test on the Santa Cruz Wharf (AD)

Staff from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility engineered a Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) for deployment in deep-sea environments along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

Free Ascent Tripod Test on the Santa Cruz Wharf

Staff from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility engineered a Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) for deployment in deep-sea environments along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

Staff from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility engineered a Free Ascent Tripod (FAT) for deployment in deep-sea environments along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.

Aerial image shows rocky shoreline along Central California coast Aerial image shows rocky shoreline along Central California coast
Tracking Coastal Change with Photogrammetry (AD)
Tracking Coastal Change with Photogrammetry (AD)

Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.

Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.

Aerial image shows rocky shoreline along Central California coast Aerial image shows rocky shoreline along Central California coast
Tracking Coastal Change with Photogrammetry
Tracking Coastal Change with Photogrammetry

Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.

Monitoring coastal changes is important for the millions of people that live along coasts in the United States, particularly as climate change hastens coastal erosion by raising sea levels and fueling powerful storms.

Sediment Transport in San Francisco Bay (AD)

The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.

The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.

Sediment Transport in San Francisco Bay

The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.

The Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers deliver half the amount of sediment they did 50 years ago to San Francisco Bay. Just as sea-level rise is accelerating, the demand for sediment is growing.

Flyover of the U.S. Coastline

Our Nation’s coastlines are almost 100,000 miles long. These extensive coastal areas stretch from Maine’s Atlantic shores in the northeast, south along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and insular areas in the Caribbean.

Our Nation’s coastlines are almost 100,000 miles long. These extensive coastal areas stretch from Maine’s Atlantic shores in the northeast, south along the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and insular areas in the Caribbean.

Image of researchers labeling a sediment core aboard a research vessel Image of researchers labeling a sediment core aboard a research vessel
Collecting Sediment Cores from the Cascadia Subduction Zone (AD)
Collecting Sediment Cores from the Cascadia Subduction Zone (AD)

To better understand the geophysical characteristics and seismic history of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, USGS researchers conduct fieldwork at sea to collect evidence of turbidity currents from underwater landslides likely caused by earthquake shaking. 

To better understand the geophysical characteristics and seismic history of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, USGS researchers conduct fieldwork at sea to collect evidence of turbidity currents from underwater landslides likely caused by earthquake shaking. 

Image of researchers labeling a sediment core aboard a research vessel Image of researchers labeling a sediment core aboard a research vessel
Collecting Sediment Cores from the Cascadia Subduction Zone
Collecting Sediment Cores from the Cascadia Subduction Zone

To better understand the geophysical characteristics and seismic history of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, USGS researchers conduct fieldwork at sea to collect evidence of turbidity currents from underwater landslides likely caused by earthquake shaking. 

To better understand the geophysical characteristics and seismic history of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, USGS researchers conduct fieldwork at sea to collect evidence of turbidity currents from underwater landslides likely caused by earthquake shaking. 

Fly Over the Seafloor of Northern Channel Islands

A virtual “flight” over seafloor features in Southern California as if the water has been drained away. The flight travels around the features Footprint and Piggy Bank, just south of the northern Channel Islands in southern California.

A virtual “flight” over seafloor features in Southern California as if the water has been drained away. The flight travels around the features Footprint and Piggy Bank, just south of the northern Channel Islands in southern California.

A pale lavender deep-sea octopus found at Escanaba Trough A pale lavender deep-sea octopus found at Escanaba Trough
Escanaba Trough Expedition: Biological Communities (AD)
Escanaba Trough Expedition: Biological Communities (AD)

The familiar saying “good things come in small packages” holds especially true for deep-sea biological communities at hydrothermal vents, including those at Escanaba Trough, a seafloor spreading center located almost 200 miles off the northern California coast. 

The familiar saying “good things come in small packages” holds especially true for deep-sea biological communities at hydrothermal vents, including those at Escanaba Trough, a seafloor spreading center located almost 200 miles off the northern California coast. 

A pale lavender deep-sea octopus found at Escanaba Trough A pale lavender deep-sea octopus found at Escanaba Trough
Escanaba Trough Expedition: Biological Communities
Escanaba Trough Expedition: Biological Communities

The familiar saying “good things come in small packages” holds especially true for deep-sea biological communities at hydrothermal vents, including those at Escanaba Trough, a seafloor spreading center located almost 200 miles off the northern California coast. 

The familiar saying “good things come in small packages” holds especially true for deep-sea biological communities at hydrothermal vents, including those at Escanaba Trough, a seafloor spreading center located almost 200 miles off the northern California coast. 

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