Sea Turtle Nest on Madeira Beach

The USGS Coastal Change Hazards team collects data to monitor coastal change – including how storms and waves shape and reshape our beaches. It’s important to keep track of how beaches change over time because they provide habitat for many creatures including birds and sea turtles, and they are beautiful locations where people love to live and vacation. This sea turtle nest located at our field site in Madeira Beach is vulnerable to erosion from storms and high water levels, and illustrates a prime example of why this research is so important. 

Learn more about Coastal Change Hazards research.