Images

As powerful hurricanes approach the coast, they generate elevated water levels and dangerous wave conditions that can cause extensive flooding, significant landscape changes, and destruction of property.

Dr. Donya Frank-Gilchrist visited the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine during the Science and Innovation Diplomacy Workshop, organized by the US Global Change Research and the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research.

Cascadia sparker data with ghosts removed, with annotation identifying geologic contacts, offset layers, and a submarine landslide deposit.

On October 16 and 17, Ben Gutierrez visited Tennessee State University (TSU) to give guest lecture in Environmental Science and Water Resource classes taught by Tom Byl of the USGS Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center.

On October 16 and 17, Ben Gutierrez visited Tennessee State University (TSU) to give guest lecture in Environmental Science and Water Resource classes taught by Tom Byl of the USGS Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center.

On October 16 and 17, Ben Gutierrez visited Tennessee State University (TSU) to give guest lecture in Environmental Science and Water Resource classes taught by Tom Byl of the USGS Lower Mississippi Gulf Water Science Center.

Diagram shows the paths that the sound travels away from the sparker source (black oval). The ghost reflections are shown in green and orange. PP= Primary Pulse, BP = Bubble Pulse. From the study Practical approaches to maximizing the resolution of sparker seismic reflection data.

Animated GIF of fault zone outcrop from late Miocene–Pliocene period, Western Macedonia, Greece. Subsequent images are overlays that are offset with colors inverted, to simulate ghost reflections found in sparker seismic data.

Diagram of system designed to record signature of outgoing sparker source, from the study Practical approaches to maximizing the resolution of sparker seismic reflection data.

Example imagery revealing the sub-seafloor structure below a submarine landslide in the Santa Barbara Channel, offshore California. The base of the slide is traced in blue, and the near vertical black lines highlight shallow faults cutting through a zone of uplift located below the slide headscarp.   

Example sparker data from Cascadia Subduction Zone showing multiple ghost reflections that reduce the overall resolution of the image.

Prior to landfall on the Florida coast on October 9, 2024, the Coastal Change Hazards Team predicted that 86 percent of beaches along the west coast of the Florida peninsula were very likely to erode at the dunes’ base, 82 percent of dunes were very likely to be overwashed by storm waves, and 75 percent of dunes were expected to be very likely to be inundated (

CoastCam on Madeira Beach in Florida on October 8, 2024 before Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 9, 2024.

The Flood Event Viewer showing 12 meter high wave height data recorded by a SOFAR buoy during Hurricane Milton.

The Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer reflecting inundation data on the Gulf coast of Florida during Hurricane Milton.

Coastal Change Hazards Portal showing the trajectory of Hurricane Milton and the various data users could explore on the map.

The Flood Event Viewer showing map data layers available during Hurricane Milton.

Coastal Change Hazards Portal showing maximum wave height and storm surge via the COAWST modeling system during Hurricane Milton.

Coastal Change Hazards Portal showing the trajectory of Hurricane Milton and the various data users could explore on the map.

Coastal Change Hazards Portal showing the trajectory of Hurricane Milton and the various data users could explore on the map.

CoastCam on Madeira Beach in Florida showing coastal conditions during the approach of Hurricane Helene on September 26, 2024.