Videos

Join USGS Research Geologist and lifelong surfer Jon Warrick at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Santa Cruz as he discusses how coastal and ocean geoscience contributes to a better understanding of how waves form and behave as they approach the shore—critical information with a broad range of applications, not least of which is surfing!

Join USGS Research Geologist and lifelong surfer Jon Warrick at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Santa Cruz as he discusses how coastal and ocean geoscience contribute to a better understanding of how waves form and behave as they approach the shore—critical information with a broad range of applications, not least of which is surfing!

The Coastal Science Navigator is intended to help users discover USGS Coastal Change Hazards information, products, and tools relevant to their scientific or decision-making needs.

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.

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 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. 

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.

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 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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.