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St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center images.

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Corals on a USGS calcification-assessment station in Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Corals on a USGS calcification assessment station in Buck Island Reef National Monument
Corals on a USGS calcification assessment station in Buck Island Reef National Monument
Corals on a USGS calcification assessment station in Buck Island Reef National Monument

Established in 2009, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Coral Assessment Network (USGS-CAN) provides data on coral-growth (calcification) rates throughout the Florida Keys and St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Pictured here is one of 30 stations located in Buck Island Reef National Monument.

Established in 2009, the U.S. Geological Survey’s Coral Assessment Network (USGS-CAN) provides data on coral-growth (calcification) rates throughout the Florida Keys and St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Pictured here is one of 30 stations located in Buck Island Reef National Monument.

Two scientists use a cylinder to collect mud in a grassy marsh
USGS geologists study sediment exchange in estuary and marshes
USGS geologists study sediment exchange in estuary and marshes
USGS geologists study sediment exchange in estuary and marshes

Sediments in estuarine and marsh environments contain organic peat, or material derived from life, that plays an important role in ecosystem health. Here, USGS geologist Chris Smith of the St.

a photograph of multiple long steel poles on the beach going into the water with a pier in the background and a bright blue sky
Cross Shore Array Deployment at the FRF
Cross Shore Array Deployment at the FRF
Cross Shore Array Deployment at the FRF

The USGS Coastal and Estuarine Dynamics Group will be deploying a cross shore array at Pea Island, various intruments will be connected to the poles to measure oceanographic conditions

A man stands in front of a group of people with cameras and audio equipment in a laboratory.
Dale Griffin is interviewed about dust and harmful algal blooms
Dale Griffin is interviewed about dust and harmful algal blooms
A scientist deploys a sound velocity cast during a geophysical survey
Scientist deploys instrument during geophysical survey
Scientist deploys instrument during geophysical survey
Scientist deploys instrument during geophysical survey

A scientist deploys a sound velocity cast from a boat while conducting a chirp geophysical survey offshore of the Rockaway Peninsula, New York. These geophysical data were used to quantify volumes of available shoreface sediment on this margin.

A scientist deploys a sound velocity cast from a boat while conducting a chirp geophysical survey offshore of the Rockaway Peninsula, New York. These geophysical data were used to quantify volumes of available shoreface sediment on this margin.

Two scientists on board a research vessel at sea pull a marine coring device onboard.
Acquiring marine sediment vibracores in Mississippi Sound
Acquiring marine sediment vibracores in Mississippi Sound
Acquiring marine sediment vibracores in Mississippi Sound

Scientists collected marine vibracores from a research vessel in Mississippi Sound to study shelf geology as part of a collaboration between Mississippi State University and the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center.

Photo of Fire Island showing back barrier, dunes, beach, and nearshore environments
Fire Island barrier island environments
Fire Island barrier island environments
Fire Island barrier island environments

Photo of Fire Island, New York showing back barrier, dunes, beach, and nearshore environments.

Explore coastal change at Fire Island in this interactive Story Map.

A great white heron standing atop the mangrove roots of Boggy Key, Florida
A great white heron standing atop the mangrove roots in Florida
A great white heron standing atop the mangrove roots in Florida
A great white heron standing atop the mangrove roots in Florida

A great white heron standing atop the mangrove roots of Boggy Key, in the upper Florida Keys. This heron has a limited range, which includes the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park. It is rarely seen outside of these areas. 

A great white heron standing atop the mangrove roots of Boggy Key, in the upper Florida Keys. This heron has a limited range, which includes the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park. It is rarely seen outside of these areas. 

A vegetated sandy shoreline with a pathway extending towards calm water under a cloudy sky
Ocean view from Fire Island, NY
Ocean view from Fire Island, NY
Ocean view from Fire Island, NY

Fire Island is a barrier island off the coast of Long Island, New York that hosts several protected areas, nesting habitat for shorebirds, and beachgoers looking for a relaxing place for recreation. USGS studies how the island changes over time - in both the past and present - to better understand how the island may evolve in the future. 

Fire Island is a barrier island off the coast of Long Island, New York that hosts several protected areas, nesting habitat for shorebirds, and beachgoers looking for a relaxing place for recreation. USGS studies how the island changes over time - in both the past and present - to better understand how the island may evolve in the future. 

Screenshot of the Coastal Change Hazards Portal with probability bands and example photographs for Hurricane Dorian
Screenshot of the Coastal Change Hazards Portal with probability bands
Screenshot of the Coastal Change Hazards Portal with probability bands
Screenshot of the Coastal Change Hazards Portal with probability bands

Predicted probabilities of dune erosion (inner band), overwash (middle band), and inundation (outer band) for Hurricane Dorian. Photographs are representative of coastal change observed during past storm events.

A scientist stands on a sled with two pontoons next to a vessel, operating scientific instruments.
Seismic sled used for sub-bottom surveying
Seismic sled used for sub-bottom surveying
Seismic sled used for sub-bottom surveying

USGS scientist Chelsea Stalk stands on a floating sled that enables sub‐bottom surveying in shallow water, nearshore, and shore‐face environments. The sled is equipped with an EdgeTech SB‐512i CHIRP system and single‐beam sonar. This equipment is used to collect seismic sub‐bottom profiles and single‐beam bathymetry.

USGS scientist Chelsea Stalk stands on a floating sled that enables sub‐bottom surveying in shallow water, nearshore, and shore‐face environments. The sled is equipped with an EdgeTech SB‐512i CHIRP system and single‐beam sonar. This equipment is used to collect seismic sub‐bottom profiles and single‐beam bathymetry.

Two-panel image. Top: scientists stand by a personal watercraft on beach. Bottom: woman pulls an instrument across the water.
Using unique methods to measure nearshore and coastal geology
Using unique methods to measure nearshore and coastal geology
Using unique methods to measure nearshore and coastal geology

USGS scientists use specialized equipment to measure sediment dynamics in nearshore and coastal systems. Access by boat is limited in these areas, so personal watercraft are equipped with GPS and echosounders to collect bathymetric data. Seismic sleds are pulled along transects from the beach across the water to measure changes in sediment type below the water.

USGS scientists use specialized equipment to measure sediment dynamics in nearshore and coastal systems. Access by boat is limited in these areas, so personal watercraft are equipped with GPS and echosounders to collect bathymetric data. Seismic sleds are pulled along transects from the beach across the water to measure changes in sediment type below the water.

a colorful sunrise over a calm ocean
Sunrise in Melbourne, FL
Sunrise in Melbourne, FL
Sunrise in Melbourne, FL

A colorful sunrise appears over the horizon of a calm ocean offshore of Melbourne, Florida. USGS Scientist RC Mickey collects data for location and elevation of sea turtle crawls and associated beach profiles this stretch of coastline.

A colorful sunrise appears over the horizon of a calm ocean offshore of Melbourne, Florida. USGS Scientist RC Mickey collects data for location and elevation of sea turtle crawls and associated beach profiles this stretch of coastline.

Scientific equipment mounted on two yellow pontoons floating on the surface of green water under a blue sky
SQUID-5 - Structure-from-Motion Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device
SQUID-5 - Structure-from-Motion Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device
SQUID-5 - Structure-from-Motion Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device

The SQUID-5, or a Structure-from-Motion (SfM) Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras is a towed surface vehicle with an onboard Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and 5 downward-looking cameras with overlapping views of the seafloor.

The SQUID-5, or a Structure-from-Motion (SfM) Quantitative Underwater Imaging Device with 5 cameras is a towed surface vehicle with an onboard Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) and 5 downward-looking cameras with overlapping views of the seafloor.

Image shows two sea urchins with the ocean in the background
Red Sea Urchins
Red Sea Urchins
Red Sea Urchins

Two red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) sit on the deck of the R/V Falkor. These sea urchins were collected during the #HuntingBubbles research cruise led by the USGS and Schmidt Ocean Institute, which focused on exploring and understanding methane seeps and the communities that depend on them along the Cascadia Margin.

Two red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) sit on the deck of the R/V Falkor. These sea urchins were collected during the #HuntingBubbles research cruise led by the USGS and Schmidt Ocean Institute, which focused on exploring and understanding methane seeps and the communities that depend on them along the Cascadia Margin.

A woman wearing a life vest holds a small coral sample on a boat near a tropical island
Ilsa Kuffner studying brain coral in USVI
Ilsa Kuffner studying brain coral in USVI
Ilsa Kuffner studying brain coral in USVI

USGS Research Marine Biologist Dr. Ilsa Kuffner holds a brain coral on board a research vessel while research on coral growth in Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, VI.

USGS Research Marine Biologist Dr. Ilsa Kuffner holds a brain coral on board a research vessel while research on coral growth in Buck Island Reef National Monument, St. Croix, VI.

Photos before and after Hurricane Sandy opened a breach on Fire Island
Photos before and after Hurricane Sandy opened a breach on Fire Island
Photos before and after Hurricane Sandy opened a breach on Fire Island
A wide sandy beach in AL with hotels in the distance, and a label saying, "berm" indicating that area of the beach.
A beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with "berm" labeled
A beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with "berm" labeled
A beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with "berm" labeled

Image 3A. A beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with the "berm" area of the beach labeled. The wide berm (the flat, dry part of the beach) has little to no dune behind it for storm protection.

Image 3A. A beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama, with the "berm" area of the beach labeled. The wide berm (the flat, dry part of the beach) has little to no dune behind it for storm protection.

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