Explore Global Coastal Research Using the COAWST Applications Catalog
USGS Coastal Change Products Help the EPA Safeguard Long Island Sound Shorelines
Sound Waves Newsletter
Explore coastal and marine science from across the USGS in Sound Waves.
Explore coastal and marine science from across the USGS in Sound Waves.
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Newsletter: Spring 2026
Sharing science stories, popular social media posts, recent publications, fieldwork activities, and more center happenings.
Sharing science stories, popular social media posts, recent publications, fieldwork activities, and more center happenings.
A Path to National-Scale Coastal Change Projections
Your Favorite Software for Calculating Shoreline Change Just Got Better
Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 6.1 boasts improved functionality, reinstated features, and more
Digital Shoreline Analysis System version 6.1 boasts improved functionality, reinstated features, and more
GeoPackage of Seabed Hazards: A Resource for Safeguarding Offshore Infrastructure
We Make Treasure Maps: USGS Charts the Seafloor to Help Locate Critical Minerals, Precious Metals, and Other Vital Resources
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Our center is one of three facilities serving the mission of the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program.
We study extreme events and physical, biological, and chemical processes that shape our coastal and marine environments. Using this information, we identify hazards and provide critical information on our Nation’s resources. Our research and science-based products provide the strong scientific foundation needed by decisions makers, scientists, and state and federal agencies to address public safety, national security, and resource management across our Nation’s coastal and submerged lands.
Research
Research
Read about our science projects, find out where we are working and why it matters
Highlights
Highlights
- Sound Waves: Coastal and Marine Research News from Across the USGS
- Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Newsletter
- Annual Reports and General Information Product
- Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Field Activities
- Employment Opportunities
- Featured USGS Series Report
- Decadal Science Strategy
News
USGS Scientists at the 2026 Long Island Sound Research Conference
USGS Scientists at the 2026 Long Island Sound Research Conference
SEABOSS 3.0 Reaches New Milestone with Successful Testing
SEABOSS 3.0 Reaches New Milestone with Successful Testing
Explore Global Coastal Research Using the COAWST Applications Catalog
Explore Global Coastal Research Using the COAWST Applications Catalog
Publications
Ecogeomorphologic response of a tidally restricted salt marsh to tidal restoration and sea-level rise Ecogeomorphologic response of a tidally restricted salt marsh to tidal restoration and sea-level rise
Diked marshes with decades of restricted tidal flow exhibit fundamentally altered hydrologic and ecologic dynamics that result in limited vertical accretion, land subsidence, and underdeveloped tidal channels. These changes complicate marsh restoration efforts and constrain the marsh's ability to build elevation in response to future sea levels. In this study, we developed an integrated
Loss and transformation of coastal wetlands due to global change in the conterminous United States: Past, present, and future Loss and transformation of coastal wetlands due to global change in the conterminous United States: Past, present, and future
Coastal wetlands are being transformed by global change, impacting the ecological and societal benefits provided by these ecosystems. Synthesizing knowledge of historical and expected future transformations in coastal wetlands can help inform forward-looking planning and stewardship efforts. Here, we review anticipated future ecological transformations in coastal wetlands of the...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, California Water Science Center, Eastern Ecological Science Center, Great Lakes Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Western Ecological Research Center (WERC), Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Improving offshore 3D splay fault geometries and slip histories using seismic data reprocessing and structural modeling Improving offshore 3D splay fault geometries and slip histories using seismic data reprocessing and structural modeling
The goal of this project as written in the CRESCENT seed grant proposal was as follows: 1) reprocess selected profiles along strike from 45° to 48°N from the CASIE21 crustal-scale seismic data to obtain higher-resolution and higher-quality imaging of the uppermost 1-2 km of the accretionary wedge; 2) convert high-resolution USGS sparker seismic data from the time to depth domain to...
Science
COAWST: A Coupled-Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport Modeling System
Understanding the processes responsible for coastal change is important for managing both our natural and economic coastal resources. Storms are one of the primary driving forces causing coastal change from a coupling of wave- and wind-driven flows. To better understand storm impacts and their effects on our coastlines, there is an international need to better predict storm paths and intensities...
Coastal and Marine Science in Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is a highly productive estuary and vital natural resource bordering New York and Connecticut. It’s essential for its massive economic impact, generating billions annually by supporting recreation, fisheries, and transportation, as well as its biodiversity, serving as a critical habitat for thousands of marine species. USGS research in Long Island Sound helps protect these...
National Shoreline Change Data Publication Catalog
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) maintains shoreline positions for the United States from older sources, such as aerial photos and topographic surveys, and contemporary sources like digital elevation models (DEMs) and lidar elevation point cloud data. It's important to maintain, and make available, records of historical shoreline positions to allow monitoring of change over time, and to identify...