Images

USGS studies the growth rates of corals at a network of coral growth assessment stations throughout Buck Island National Monument in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. These data provide resource managers with information needed to understand how coral populations are doing in the park.

As part of the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) Hurricane Coastal Impacts Project, the USGS developed a new oceanographic radar instrument package to measure storm waves and water levels in the nearshore.

Coral reefs at Ofu, American Samoa, where USGS researchers are studying coral resilience to rising sea-surface temperatures, as well as the influence that submarine groundwater discharge may have on coral reef health.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) recently installed camera systems and wave buoys in Dorado and Isla Verde, Puerto Rico to assist scientists with monitoring and predicting coastal change. The cameras provide near-real time images that can be viewed online.

The SQUID-5 system sits on the deck of the R/V Sallenger USGS research vessel. It is being used to image the seafloor off of Looe Key, FL.

The R/V Sallenger tows the structure-from-motion quantitative underwater imaging device with 5 cameras (SQUID-5) across the water over Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys.

Two divers from the CREST research team float underwater near Looe Key, FL to survey fish, urchins, and sponges. 

The SQUID-5 system is pulled behind the USGS research vessel the R/V Sallenger near Looe Key. The SQUID-5 is taking images of the seafloor which will be made into 3-dimensional models.

Scientists from the CREST project plan field work from the back of a boat in the Florida Keys.

Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys

The challenge:

Coverage area for the topo-bathy profiles and their morphologic characteristics across the Atlantic and Gulf coastlines.

Cover image for video featuring Curt Storlazzi, USGS titled, "Coral Reefs as National, Natural Infrastructure"

Hurricane tracks for Hugo (1989), Georges (1998), Irma (2017) and Maria (2017). Data provided by NOAA. Base image is intellectual property of Esri and is used herein under license. Copyright Esri and its creator. 

Dr. Christopher G. Smith pumps water from a submarine groundwater well on the seafloor through tubing to the R/V Halimeda and uses an instrument called a YSI to measure salinity and ensure the wells are working properly and producing groundwater.

Dr. Christopher G. Smith pumps water from a submarine groundwater well on the seafloor through tubing to the R/V Halimeda and uses an instrument called a YSI to measure salinity and ensure the wells are working properly and producing groundwater.

Dr. Christopher G. Smith pumps water from a submarine groundwater well on the seafloor through tubing to the R/V Halimeda and uses an instrument called a YSI to measure salinity and ensure the wells are working properly and producing groundwater.

USGS scientific diver BJ Reynolds next to a submarine groundwater well on the seafloor. Tubing was hooked up the well to pump groundwater to the surface to ensure the wells are working properly and producing groundwater.

Image showing NOAA research vessel with logos of NOAA, BOEM, USGS and MBARI. EXPRESS is a multi-year, multi-institution cooperative research campaign in deep sea areas of California, Oregon, and Washington, including the continental shelf and slope.

Illustration of NOAA research vessel conducting multibeam sonar survey of seafloor, courtesy of EXPRESS, or Expanding Pacific Research and Exploration of Submerged Systems.

Restored staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) at Looe Key reef in the lower Florida Keys outplanted by Mote Marine Laboratory's coral restoration program.

The Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sea Floor Mapping Group is mapping the seafloor and subseafloor of Nantucket Sound as part of a long-term collaboration with the State of Massachusetts. This is an image of Nantucket Sound's seafloor. It is dominated by sand waves.