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Images related to natural hazards.

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Two images show the same cliff region, one has fewer data points by eliminating the frothy beach waves.
Fort Funston Structure-from-Motion point clouds
Fort Funston Structure-from-Motion point clouds
Fort Funston Structure-from-Motion point clouds

As part of the Remote Sensing of Coastal Change and Florence Supplemental projects we have been developing novel workflows for repeat-mapping of ­­­coastal environments at order decimeter resolution over up to hundreds of kilometers in a single day, using Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry or SfM, from crewed aerial platforms.

As part of the Remote Sensing of Coastal Change and Florence Supplemental projects we have been developing novel workflows for repeat-mapping of ­­­coastal environments at order decimeter resolution over up to hundreds of kilometers in a single day, using Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry or SfM, from crewed aerial platforms.

An illustration of a coastal cliff looking from the sky at an angle.
Fort Funston Structure-from-Motion point cloud, masked
Fort Funston Structure-from-Motion point cloud, masked
Fort Funston Structure-from-Motion point cloud, masked

Perspective view of large SfM point cloud of region of Fort Funston, CA., with automated data cleaning (masking). This cleaned data has 50% fewer points.

Photograph of USGS scientist collecting water samples in a marsh
Collecting Water Samples
Collecting Water Samples
Collecting Water Samples

USGS samples water within wetlands to understand which environmental drivers impact carbon cycle and sediment accretion. Here USGS staff (Jennifer O'Keefe Suttles) pumps water from at Phragmites wetland, Mashpee, MA, to analyze at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Environmental Geochemistry lab.

USGS samples water within wetlands to understand which environmental drivers impact carbon cycle and sediment accretion. Here USGS staff (Jennifer O'Keefe Suttles) pumps water from at Phragmites wetland, Mashpee, MA, to analyze at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Environmental Geochemistry lab.

Coral on a cinderblock and a scuba diver on a coral reef
USGS scuba diver on a coral reef in Dry Tortugas National Park
USGS scuba diver on a coral reef in Dry Tortugas National Park
USGS scuba diver on a coral reef in Dry Tortugas National Park

The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the recovery of the threatened Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic.

An orange branching coral grows on a cinderblock on a reef in clear water.
Experimental elkhorn coral in Dry Tortugas National Park
Experimental elkhorn coral in Dry Tortugas National Park
Experimental elkhorn coral in Dry Tortugas National Park

The U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center is conducting research to guide the restoration and recovery of the threatened elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic.

a small yellow boat on green brown water with waves breaking
Autonomous Surf Vehicle in Action
Autonomous Surf Vehicle in Action
Autonomous Surf Vehicle in Action

The autonomous surf vehicle, built and controlled remotely  by Peter Traykovski of WHOI, is used to map the bathymetry of the Pea Island DUNEX Experiment Site. 

a dune that has been eroded several feet
Erosion of dunes following Tropical Storm Eta
Erosion of dunes following Tropical Storm Eta
Erosion of dunes following Tropical Storm Eta

Tropical Storm Eta affected beaches along Florida's Gulf Coast in November 2020. Some dunes were eroded up to several feet due to the high water levels associated with the storm. Madeira Beach is home to many people and animals, and erosion events such as this can affect both habitat and infrastructure.

Tropical Storm Eta affected beaches along Florida's Gulf Coast in November 2020. Some dunes were eroded up to several feet due to the high water levels associated with the storm. Madeira Beach is home to many people and animals, and erosion events such as this can affect both habitat and infrastructure.

Aerial view of a beach under a stormy sky, the ocean with waves reaching all the way across the beach, pushing sand onto a patio
Tropical Storm Eta effects on Madeira Beach, Florida
Tropical Storm Eta effects on Madeira Beach, Florida
Tropical Storm Eta effects on Madeira Beach, Florida

Tropical Storm Eta had effects on Florida's Gulf Coast beaches, including dune erosion and overwash. This image from the coast cam at Madeira Beach, Florida captured high water levels and resulting overwash of sand onto the patio of the Shoreline Resort.

Tropical Storm Eta had effects on Florida's Gulf Coast beaches, including dune erosion and overwash. This image from the coast cam at Madeira Beach, Florida captured high water levels and resulting overwash of sand onto the patio of the Shoreline Resort.

USGS employee measures water chemistry underwater in Double Keyhole Cave, FL
Measuring water chemistry in Double Keyhole Cave, FL
Measuring water chemistry in Double Keyhole Cave, FL
Measuring water chemistry in Double Keyhole Cave, FL

Robert Scharping, a post-doctoral fellow jointly appointed by the USGS and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) measures water chemistry 40’ underwater and underground in Double Keyhole Cave near the coastline of Tampa Bay Florida.

Robert Scharping, a post-doctoral fellow jointly appointed by the USGS and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) measures water chemistry 40’ underwater and underground in Double Keyhole Cave near the coastline of Tampa Bay Florida.

a person sitting on a large boulder with other boulders around and a light snow
Rockfall boulders within the Mount Whitney Trailhead Campground
Rockfall boulders within the Mount Whitney Trailhead Campground
Rockfall boulders within the Mount Whitney Trailhead Campground

An image of 24 June 2020 (B4) and prehistoric (P2) outlier rockfall boulders within the Mount Whitney Trailhead Campground. Boulder P2 is approximately 3 m tall. The blue dashed line indicates one of several tent sites affected by the 2020 rockfalls.

An image of 24 June 2020 (B4) and prehistoric (P2) outlier rockfall boulders within the Mount Whitney Trailhead Campground. Boulder P2 is approximately 3 m tall. The blue dashed line indicates one of several tent sites affected by the 2020 rockfalls.

Elkhorn coral on a cinderblock with a label on a coral reef
Elkhorn coral at calcification assessment station in Dry Tortugas
Elkhorn coral at calcification assessment station in Dry Tortugas
Elkhorn coral at calcification assessment station in Dry Tortugas

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. Pictured here is one of 30 stations located in in Dry Tortugas National Park.

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. Pictured here is one of 30 stations located in in Dry Tortugas National Park.

A man walking on a beach with a backpack and a tablet, with the ocean behind him. Label says ‘Justin Birchler, geologist.’
Collecting beach profile data in Science Festival video
Collecting beach profile data in Science Festival video
Collecting beach profile data in Science Festival video

This screenshot was taken from a video created for the virtual 2020 St. Petersburg Science Festival that discussed Coastal Change Hazards research at the USGS. Justin Birchler is seen walking up the beach with GPS equipment to measure the elevation of the beach.

This screenshot was taken from a video created for the virtual 2020 St. Petersburg Science Festival that discussed Coastal Change Hazards research at the USGS. Justin Birchler is seen walking up the beach with GPS equipment to measure the elevation of the beach.

Cartoon animation of wind blowing by, shown by squiggly lines, pushing cartoon waves to move up a beach and break on shore.
Wave animation
Wave animation
Wave animation

Waves are the motion of the water's surface, usually caused by the transfer of energy from wind. Wave energy causes the water to move in a circular motion. The height and length of these waves combined with the slope of the beach influence how high the water can reach up on the coast.

Waves are the motion of the water's surface, usually caused by the transfer of energy from wind. Wave energy causes the water to move in a circular motion. The height and length of these waves combined with the slope of the beach influence how high the water can reach up on the coast.

Finishing the installation of seismic/GPS station YOCR, at Mount Hood
Finishing the installation of seismic/GPS station YOCR, at Mount Hood
Finishing the installation of seismic/GPS station YOCR, at Mount Hood
Finishing the installation of seismic/GPS station YOCR, at Mount Hood

A USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory field team finishes the installation of the combined seismic/GPS station, YOCR, at Mount Hood, Oregon.

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