Images

Pre- and post-Hurricane Dorian aerial imagery showing extreme sediment transport, overwash and breaches along the barrier islands of the North Carolina coast.

The marshes of Plum Island Estuary are among those predicted by scientists to submerge during the next century under conservative projections of sea-level rise.

Grain density results obtained using a pycnometer inform other geotechnical testing, such as the consolidation results from the laboratory’s oedometers.

 The USGS Gas Hydrates Project develops and tests new tools to address the critical knowledge gaps identified as scientists analyze hydrate-bearing pressure cores recovered during field programs. HyPrCal Laboratory analysis using Pressure Core Characterization Tools.

The USGS, including scientists from the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, participated in the multiagency DUNEX (During Nearshore Event Experiment) project in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, September through October 2021. Maps of the beach were made at regular intervals.

Example from development of an atmospheric model for Hurricane Florence. The images display a comparison between the control case, WRF-ROMS-SWAN modeling system and the multi-sensor (radar and rain) precipitation observations during the calibration of the model.

Hurricane Florence numerical modeling: Cape Fear River basin boundaries, topography, river streams and measurement locations. USGS streamflow and rain gages, and Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) gages are shown. Stream order increases going from branches to the main channel indicating merging surface water flow.

Hurricane Florence numerical modeling: The Weather Research and Forecasting Model Hydrological modeling system (WRF-Hydro) is used to simulate surface and subsurface flows on land.

Example from development of an atmospheric model for Hurricane Florence. The animation shows the changing atmospheric pressure and wind fields during the storm as simulated by the model. Arrows display wind direction, colors indicate atmospheric pressure ranging from 97,500 pascals (red) to 102,460 pascals (blue).

Land surface elevation and modeled water level changes at Pamlico Sound during Hurricane Dorian. Small red box shows where the breaches to barrier islands were modeled.

Model animation showing land elevation, current speed and direction and the formation of breaches over the North Core Banks barrier islands.

Model animation showing land elevation, current speed and direction and the formation of breaches over the North Core Banks barrier islands.

Sample of mixed sediment shown under a microscope at 7.5x magnification.  Dark-colored, coarse-grained stamp sands are readily distinguishable from light-colored, finer-grained native sand.  Scale bar at bottom right for reference.

Patrick Berube of WHCMSC prepares the SEABOSS for deployment in Lake Superior. 

The AIM group collaborated with the National Uncrewed Systems Office in fieldwork at the South Cape Beach Marsh in Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts to test our newly acquired Ocean HDX Miniature Spectrometer, a modified laboratory spectroradiometer, against the much costlier industry standard product.

The AIM group collaborated with the National Uncrewed Systems Office to test the newly acquired Ocean HDX Miniature Spectrometer, a modified laboratory spectroradiometer, against the much costlier industry standard product, at the South Cape Beach Marsh in Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts.

The USGS, including scientists from the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, participated in the multiagency DUNEX (During Nearshore Event Experiment) project in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, September through October 2021. Maps of the beach were made at regular intervals.

Shorebirds on the Outer Banks of North Carolina during DUNEX Pea Island experiement.

Shorebirds on the Outer Banks of North Carolina during the DUNEX Pea Island Experiment. 

Scientist standing on the beach holding a fish

October 2021 Region 1 Photo Contest Winner People

Two video cameras are temporarily mounted on a dune at Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The cameras are imaging the southern DUNEX experiment site and are designed to have a stereo view of the beach and potential overwash path until late October. Instruments from the U.S.