SPSCSC will be closed Tuesday through Friday, October 8-11 due to Hurricane Milton
USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center Scientists Present at the International Conference on Coastal Engineering in Rome, Italy
Event: Explore USGS Careers in the Southeast 2024
Coastal Change Hazards Team Forecasted Hurricane Beryl Beach Impacts
Environmental Resources for roundtable discussion and press event on climate adaptation science and partnerships at the University of Puerto Rico
Sound Waves Newsletter: Ocean Month 2024 Special Issue
Explore coastal and marine science from across the USGS
Explore coastal and marine science from across the USGS
USGS scientist conducts biosurveillance for sea urchin killer in the Florida Keys
SPCMSC scientists to assess heat-stress impacts to corals in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, with the National Park Service
Sea urchin killer spreads to new species and new region
SPCMSC Updated Geologic Core and Sample Database now available
Diadema antillarum Mass Mortality
How coral restoration could help mitigate the effects of sea-level rise
How coral restoration could help mitigate the effects of sea-level rise
USGS Participates in Unlearning Racism in Geoscience (URGE)
Scientists Present Recommendations for Improving Diversity in the USGS Workforce
Scientists Present Recommendations for Improving Diversity in the USGS Workforce
USGS scientists shade corals in emergency rescue effort
Discover Coastal and Marine Science of the USGS St. Petersburg
A new interactive geonarrative will take you on a guided journey to explore the research, capabilities, and history of the center
A new interactive geonarrative will take you on a guided journey to explore the research, capabilities, and history of the center
Explore the history of the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
SPSCSC will be closed Tuesday through Thursday, October 8-10 due to Hurricane Milton.
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.
Science
Science
Read about our science projects, find out where we are working, and why it matters.
Publications
Publications
Peer-reviewed research results and conclusions, authored by Center scientists.
News
USGS experts responding simultaneously to two major natural hazards
USGS experts responding simultaneously to two major natural hazards
Sound Waves Newsletter: July-September 2024
Sound Waves Newsletter: July-September 2024
News Briefs: July-September 2024
News Briefs: July-September 2024
Publications
Predicting characteristic length scales of barrier island segmentation in microtidal environments
Segmented barrier islands can be found in regions with small tidal ranges. In contrast to tidally dominated barriers, where inlet dynamics are thought to control island length scales, the controls on barrier island length scales in wave-dominated environments have not been quantified. These microtidal barriers typically have a curved shoreline, suggesting the influence of wave-driven alongshore se
Projected sea-level rise and high tide flooding at San Juan National Historic Site, Puerto Rico
IntroductionNational parks and preserves in the South Atlantic-Gulf Region contain valuable coastal habitats such as tidal wetlands and mangrove forests, as well as irreplaceable historic buildings and archeological sites located in low-lying areas. These natural and cultural resources are vulnerable to accelerated sea-level rise and escalating high tide flooding events. Through a Natural Resource
Large eddy simulation of cross-shore hydrodynamics under random waves in the inner surf and swash zones
A 3D large eddy simulation coupled with a free surface tracking scheme was used to simulate cross-shore hydrodynamics as observed in a large wave flume experiment. The primary objective was to enhance the understanding of wave-backwash interactions and the implications for observed morphodynamics. Two simulation cases were carried out to elucidate key processes of wave-backwash interactions across
Science
Cultural Heritage at Risk Tool (CHART) Project
Coastal erosion threatens the loss of Native American cultural heritage and archaeological sites located along our coastlines, reducing opportunities to increase knowledge of past communities and environments. This project leverages an advisory team of ancestral Tribes, coastal managers, and archaeologists to strengthen the effectiveness of coastal hazard data, focusing on assessing the...
Antibiotic-Resistance Gene (ARG) Baselines
On Florida and Caribbean coral reefs, stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has caused widespread destruction and loss of coral cover since its first appearance off the coast of Miami in 2014. So far, the only intervention found to be effective at halting progression of this disease and saving the lives of infected coral colonies is applying an amoxicillin paste , a type of antibiotic, to the...
Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease – Investigating Possible Pathogens and Transmission Mechanisms
Coral disease was first documented on Florida reefs in the 1970s. Since then, outbreaks of diseases have increased, and disease is now one major reason why coral reefs worldwide are in decline. Although what causes most coral diseases is not known, the few with known causes have been linked to microorganisms, highlighting the need for studies of microbes associated with diseased corals.