Sound Waves Newsletter: November-December 2023
USGS-Designed Tool Revolutionizes Seafloor Mapping
Researchers at the USGS Pacific and St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Centers have developed new technology that provides imagery of complex three-dimensional seafloor features with unprecedented accuracy and geolocation.
Why we have better maps of Mars than of the seafloor—and what USGS is doing to change that
The ocean covers 71% of Earth’s surface. We know only a small fraction of what the land beneath the waves looks like.
Seafloor Mapping, Machine Learning Uncover Historical Ocean Dumping Grounds
In the 20th century, the disposal of industrial and hazardous waste in the deep ocean near coastlines was a widespread global practice, leaving a legacy of uncertainty about the quantity, location, and contents of dumped materials. The consequences of this historical practice continue to pose risks to marine ecosystems and human health.
U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Recognizes Coral Reefs as National Infrastructure, Paving the Way for Critical Funding
Methane Seep Distribution in the Cascadia Subduction Zone
Beneath the seafloor lie vast stores of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—produced by the degradation of organic material, either by the earth’s heat or by deep-sea microorganisms. This methane is sometimes released in seeps that occur along active tectonic boundaries such as the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ).
Habitat Preferences of Seabeach Amaranth, A Threatened Beach Dependent Plant Species
The USGS evaluated the habitat preferences of seabeach amaranth to better understand factors contributing to the species’ significant decline at Assateague Island National Seashore. The National Park Service can use this information to make management decisions that can help increase seabeach amaranth population size.
USGS Researchers Return to Eastern Galapágos Spreading Center
A research team including USGS scientists returned to the Eastern Galapágos Spreading Center to investigate its deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where formations of massive sulfide deposits may contain critical marine minerals.
Monitoring Change at the Lower Darby Creek Area Superfund Site
Partnering with the EPA, FAA, and the FWS, USGS scientists conducted the first of a series of small uncrewed aircraft system data collections documenting the changes in the Lower Darby Creek Area Superfund Site. This is a subset of a larger ongoing project led by the EPA to remediate contaminated areas and monitor changes throughout the Lower Darby Creek Area Superfund Site.
Shifting Practices of Dam Management and Dam Removal in a Changing World
The era of large dam construction, which peaked in the U.S. six decades ago, is now giving way to an evolved paradigm. Climate change, population growth, reservoir sedimentation, aging dams, and evolving environmental priorities are reshaping the narrative of dam management.
Mashpee Wampanoag Preserving Our Homeland Summer Science Camp
USGS scientists participate in the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Preserving Our Homeland summer science camp annually. The camp teaches Mashpee students about Cape Cod land and seascapes through the lenses of tribal knowledge, history, and Western science.
USGS-Led Study Reassesses Earthquake Hazard Potential for Central California’s Hosgri Fault
Assessing earthquake hazards demands a comprehensive understanding of active faults, including their location, length, connectivity, slip rate, and rupture history. For densely populated areas like the central California coast, this knowledge can help safeguard both lives and critical infrastructure.
News Briefs: November-December 2023
News Briefs - featuring coastal and ocean science from across the USGS.
Photo Roundup: November-December 2023
A selection of coastal and ocean videos and photographs from across the USGS.