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Hurricane Ian expected to cause significant coastal change along Florida's Gulf Coast

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USGS Prepares for Hurricane Ian

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A Changing Marsh

We're celebrating almost a decade of research in Grand Bay

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We're hiring!

Explore employment opportunities at SPCMSC

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Check out the latest Sound Waves Newsletter

Learn about recent research on the Florida Keys Reef Tract and beyond in this issue of Sound Waves.

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Coral Reef "Oases"

New study provides clues to locate resilient reef communities

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Lidar Derived Cross-Shore Profiles for U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Coasts

New paper describes the generation of this database, latest available profile elevations, and associated morphologic characteristics

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Can coral restoration reverse long-term declines in coral reef growth?

New USGS-led research shows restoration could bring reef growth back to historic levels

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Featured Video: Gulf of Mexico Groundwater Wells

A team heads out into the Gulf to check on a set of recently installed groundwater wells

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USGS collaborates with local colleges, inspiring students to pursue marine science by taking them to sea

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Top 10 Things You Didn't Know About the Ocean

For ocean month, explore some fun facts you might not know about the ocean!

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Get to know the science of the USGS St. Petersburg

New booklet provides a glimpse into the research conducted at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

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St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Research programs have a primary focus of investigating processes related to coastal and marine environments and societal implications related to natural hazards, resource sustainability, and environmental change.

 

The center will be closed due to Hurricane Ian September 28-30.

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Science

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Read about our science projects, find out where we are working, and why it matters.

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Peer-reviewed research results and conclusions, authored by Center scientists.

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Hurricane Ian expected to cause significant coastal change along Florida’s Gulf Coast

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USGS Scientist Co-authored Paper on Predicting ripple wavelength

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SPCMSC Scientists Partner in Collaborative Effort to Identify Cause of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD)

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Publications

Integrated modeling of dynamic marsh feedbacks and evolution under sea-level rise in a mesotidal estuary (Plum Island, MA, USA)

Around the world, wetland vulnerability to sea-level rise (SLR) depends on different factors including tidal regimes, topography, creeks and estuary geometry, sediment availability, vegetation type, etc. The Plum Island estuary (PIE) is a mesotidal wetland system on the east coast of the United States. This research applied a newly updated Hydro-MEM (integrated hydrodynamic-marsh) model to assess
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

A machine learning approach to predicting equilibrium ripple wavelength

Sand ripples are geomorphic features on the seafloor that affect bottom boundary layer dynamics including wave attenuation and sediment transport. We present a new equilibrium ripple predictor using a machine learning approach that outputs a probability distribution of wave-generated equilibrium wavelengths and statistics including an estimate of ripple height, the most probable ripple wavelength,
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

The influence of submerged coastal structures on nearshore flows and wave runup

Engineered and natural submerged coastal structures (e.g., submerged breakwaters and reefs) modify incident wave fields and thus can alter hydrodynamic processes adjacent to coastlines. Although submerged structures are generally assumed to promote beach protection by dissipating waves offshore and creating sheltered conditions in their lee, their interaction with waves can result in mean wave-dri
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Equipment attached to a metal frame floats in the water on two buoys while dolphins frolic nearby.

SQUID-5 camera system

The SQUID-5 is a Structure-from-Motion Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras.
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
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SQUID-5 camera system

The SQUID-5 is a Structure-from-Motion Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras.
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Perspective view of the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico

The island of Puerto Rico is subject to numerous threats from natural hazards, including hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, coastal and inland flooding, environmental contaminants, and freshwater scarcity, among others. USGS science can help citizens better prepare for, mitigate, and adapt to these hazards. This website compiles USGS resources available for Puerto Rico to provide...
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Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico

The island of Puerto Rico is subject to numerous threats from natural hazards, including hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, coastal and inland flooding, environmental contaminants, and freshwater scarcity, among others. USGS science can help citizens better prepare for, mitigate, and adapt to these hazards. This website compiles USGS resources available for Puerto Rico to provide...
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Coral reef and Loggerhead Key in Dry Tortugas National Park

Understanding Ecosystem Response and Infrastructure Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise for Several National Parks and Preserves in the South Atlantic-Gulf Region

USGS Researchers at the Wetland and Aquatic Research Center and the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center will provide valuable information to natural resource managers on how important coastal ecosystems in the National Park Service South Atlantic-Gulf Region may change over time. This information could assist with future-focused land management and stewardship.
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St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
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Understanding Ecosystem Response and Infrastructure Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise for Several National Parks and Preserves in the South Atlantic-Gulf Region

USGS Researchers at the Wetland and Aquatic Research Center and the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center will provide valuable information to natural resource managers on how important coastal ecosystems in the National Park Service South Atlantic-Gulf Region may change over time. This information could assist with future-focused land management and stewardship.
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