Publications
Scientific reports, journal articles, and information products produced by USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center scientists.
Filter Total Items: 1426
2008 Joint United States-Canadian program to explore the limits of the Extended Continental Shelf aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy--Cruise HLY0806 2008 Joint United States-Canadian program to explore the limits of the Extended Continental Shelf aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy--Cruise HLY0806
In September 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in cooperation with Natural Resources Canada, Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), conducted bathymetric and geophysical surveys in the Arctic Beaufort Sea aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter USCGC Healy. The principal objective of this mission to the high Arctic was to acquire data in support of delineation of the outer limits of the U...
Authors
Jonathan R. Childs, Peter J. Triezenberg, William W. Danforth
Synthesis study of an erosion hot spot, Ocean Beach, California Synthesis study of an erosion hot spot, Ocean Beach, California
A synthesis of multiple coastal morphodynamic research efforts is presented to identify the processes responsible for persistent erosion along a 1-km segment of 7-km-long Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California. The beach is situated adjacent to a major tidal inlet and in the shadow of the ebb-tidal delta at the mouth of San Francisco Bay. Ocean Beach is exposed to a high-energy wave...
Authors
Patrick L. Barnard, Jeff E. Hansen, Li H. Erikson
The FOBIMO (FOraminiferal BIo-MOnitoring) initiative—Towards a standardised protocol for soft-bottom benthic foraminiferal monitoring studies The FOBIMO (FOraminiferal BIo-MOnitoring) initiative—Towards a standardised protocol for soft-bottom benthic foraminiferal monitoring studies
The European Community Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) was established to provide guidelines for monitoring the quality of marine ecosystems. Monitoring the status of marine environments is traditionally based on macrofauna surveys, for which standardised methods have been established. Benthic foraminifera are also good indicators of environmental status because of their fast...
Authors
Joachim Schoenfeld, Elisabeth Alve, Emmanuelle Geslin, Frans Jorissen, Sergei Korsun, Silva Spezzaferri, Sigal Abramovich, Ahuva Almogi-Labin, Eric Armynot du Chatelet, Christine Barras, Luisa Bergamin, Erica Bicchi, Vincent Bouchet, Alejandro Cearreta, Letizia Di Bella, Noortje Dijkstra, Sibelle Trevisan Disaro, Luciana Ferraro, Fabrizio Frontalini, Giordana Gennari, Elena Golikova, Kristin Haynert, Silvia Hess, Katrine Husum, Virginia Martins, Mary McGann, Shai Oron, Elena Romano, Silvia Mello Sousa, Akira Tsujimoto
Validation of a coupled wave-flow model in a high-energy setting: the mouth of the Columbia River Validation of a coupled wave-flow model in a high-energy setting: the mouth of the Columbia River
A monthlong time series of wave, current, salinity, and suspended-sediment measurements was made at five sites on a transect across the Mouth of Columbia River (MCR). These data were used to calibrate and evaluate the performance of a coupled hydrodynamic and wave model for the MCR based on the Delft3D modeling system. The MCR is a dynamic estuary inlet in which tidal currents, river...
Authors
Edwin P.L. Elias, Guy R. Gelfenbaum, Andre J. van der Westhuysen
Beach response dynamics of a littoral cell using a 17-year single-point time series of sand thickness Beach response dynamics of a littoral cell using a 17-year single-point time series of sand thickness
A 17-year time series of near-daily sand thickness measurements at a single intertidal location was compared with 5 years of semi-annual 3-dimensional beach surveys at the same beach, and at two other beaches within the same littoral cell. The daily single point measurements correlated extremely well with the mean beach elevation and shoreline position of ten high-spatial resolution...
Authors
Patrick L. Barnard, D.M. Hubbard, J.E. Dugan
Time-dependent onshore tsunami response Time-dependent onshore tsunami response
While bulk measures of the onshore impact of a tsunami, including the maximum run-up elevation and inundation distance, are important for hazard planning, the temporal evolution of the onshore flow dynamics likely controls the extent of the onshore destruction and the erosion and deposition of sediment that occurs. However, the time-varying dynamics of actual tsunamis are even more...
Authors
Alex Apotsos, Guy R. Gelfenbaum, Bruce E. Jaffe
Nearshore bathymetric evolution on a high-energy beach during the 2009-10 El Nino winter Nearshore bathymetric evolution on a high-energy beach during the 2009-10 El Nino winter
The nearshore bathymetric evolution of a high-energy beach at the mouth of San Francisco Bay, California (USA), was tracked before, during, and after the powerful El Niño winter of 2009-10 to quantify alongshore bar formation and migration as well as the magnitude and alongshore variability of cross-shore transport. The observed deep-water winter wave energy was among the highest ever...
Authors
Patrick L. Barnard, Daniel J. Hoover, Jeffrey A. Hansen
Shallow stratigraphy of the Skagit River Delta, Washington, derived from sediment cores Shallow stratigraphy of the Skagit River Delta, Washington, derived from sediment cores
Sedimentologic analyses of 21 sediment cores, ranging from 0.4 to 9.6 m in length, reveal that the shallow geologic framework of the Skagit River Delta, western Washington, United States, has changed significantly since 1850. The cores collected from elevations of 3.94 to -2.41 m (relative to mean lower low water) along four cross-shore transects between the emergent marsh and delta...
Authors
Eric E. Grossman, Douglas A. George, Angela Lam
Palos Verdes Shelf oceanographic study; data report for observations December 2007–April 2008 Palos Verdes Shelf oceanographic study; data report for observations December 2007–April 2008
Beginning in 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defined a contaminated section of the Palos Verdes Shelf region in southern California as a Superfund Site, initiating a continuing investigation of this area. The investigation involved the EPA, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts...
Authors
Kurt J. Rosenberger, Marlene A. Noble, Christopher R. Sherwood, Marinna M. Martini, Joanne T. Ferreira, Ellyn T. Montgomery
Vegetation and substrate properties of aeolian dune fields in the Colorado River corridor, Grand Canyon, Arizona Vegetation and substrate properties of aeolian dune fields in the Colorado River corridor, Grand Canyon, Arizona
This report summarizes vegetation and substrate properties of aeolian landscapes in the Colorado River corridor through Grand Canyon, Arizona, in Grand Canyon National Park. Characterizing these parameters provides a basis from which to assess future changes in this ecosystem, including the spread of nonnative plant species. Differences are apparent between aeolian dune fields that are...
Authors
Amy E. Draut
2010 bathymetric survey and digital elevation model of Corte Madera Bay, California 2010 bathymetric survey and digital elevation model of Corte Madera Bay, California
A high-resolution bathymetric survey of Corte Madera Bay, California, was collected in early 2010 in support of a collaborative research project initiated by the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission and funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The primary objective of the Innovative Wetland Adaptation in the Lower Corte Madera Creek Watershed Project is to...
Authors
Amy C. Foxgrover, David P. Finlayson, Bruce E. Jaffe, John Y. Takekawa, Karen M. Thorne, Kyle A. Spragens
Book review: Extreme ocean waves Book review: Extreme ocean waves
‘‘Extreme Ocean Waves’’ is a collection of ten papers edited by Efim Pelinovsky and Christian Kharif that followed the April 2007 meeting of the General Assembly of the European Geosciences Union. A note on terminology: extreme waves in this volume broadly encompass different types of waves, includ- ing deep-water and shallow-water rogue waves (alternatively termed freak waves), storm...
Authors
Eric L. Geist