Images

When wetland plants in the northeast emerged this spring, USGS scientists were working from home and unable to start many planned research activities. However, many instruments were already deployed and continued to collect information critical to USGS research.

Section of a sediment core collected from the deepest basin of Lake Enriquillo in the Dominican Republic. USGS scientists are analyzing cores from the lake to reconstruct past changes in rainfall.

Cedar Island, Virginia is an uninhabited barrier that has migrated landward approximately 15-30 meters per year since 1984 due to its low sediment supply. The shoreface slope is gradual but almost entirely devoid of island sediment - both responses to its recent, rapid retreat. USGS scientists collect geologic and morphologic data from this island’s shoreface.

Rockaway Beach, New York is heavily developed, has seawalls and groins and is regularly nourished. It hasn’t changed much over 20 years. The shoreface is steep and sediment cover doesn’t extend far from shore—likely the result of being fixed in place for decades. USGS scientists collect geologic and morphologic data from this island’s shoreface.

Animation displays modeled beach profile elevation as it has evolved at Parramore Island, Virginia. These data are based on geomorphic investigation and measure distance (in kilometers) of cross-shore accretion. Q_S is the flux of sand to the beach, and Q_D is the flux of sand from the beach to the active dune.

Fire Island, New York is sparsely populated and regularly nourished, but has few modifications that impede natural sediment exchanges. Shoreface geomorphology reflects past periods of seaward progradation and alongshore extension resulting in a relatively sediment-rich shoreface. USGS scientists collect geologic and morphologic data from this island’s shoreface.

Animation displays modeled beach profile elevation as it has evolved at Fishing Point, Virginia. These data are based on historical charts and images and measure distance (in kilometers) of cross-shore accretion. Q_S is the flux of sand to the beach, and Q_D is the flux of sand from the beach to the active dune.

Overview of Taan Fiord. Inset showing location of Taan Fiord, Alaska in Wrangell St. Elias National Park and Preserve. Taan Fiord is about 100 km from the nearest town, Yakutat, AK. Landsat 8 image of Taan Fiord acquired in 2016. Vegetation loss is clear near the water line.

A USGS scientist navigates a personal watercraft (PWC) slowly through Elkhorn Slough. The PWC is equipped with an echosounder and GPS, to record accurate depth and location. This mapping effort is part of recurring surveys in the Monterey Bay area.

A USGS scientist navigates a personal watercraft equipped with sonar and GPS to collect depth information (bathymetry) of the nearshore. This mapping effort is part of recurring surveys in the Monterey Bay area.

A USGS scientist walks along Santa Cruz Main Beach at the edge of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz, California, wearing a backpack with GPS equipment. She is collecting elevation data that will be used to create a topographic map of the beach. This mapping effort is part of recurring surveys in the Monterey Bay area.

Collapsed arch in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico.

Iguana in the marine science laboratory at the university of Puerto Rico Isla Magueyes in La Parguera, Puerto Rico.

Regional map of Puerto Rico. Less than two months after the largest earthquake in the seismic sequence, the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center organized a rapid response seismic survey.

Alex Nichols, Wayne Baldwin, and Eric Moore deploying a streamer in Puerto Rico.

Map of seismic activity in Southwestern Puerto Rico.

From left to right – Uri ten Brink, Eric Moore, Wayne Baldwin, Alex Nichols, Jason Chaytor, and Captain Orlando Espinoza. Less than two months after the largest earthquake in the seismic sequence, the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center organized a rapid response seismic survey.

Permanently flooded shore in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico.

R/V Sultana. Less than two months after the largest earthquake in the seismic sequence, the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center organized a rapid response seismic survey.

View inside the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Analysis Laboratory showing the laboratory computer workstation, precision balances, and interior of the oven and sieving room.

View inside the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Sediment Analysis Laboratory showing the Beckman Coulter Multisizer 3 and Horiba LA-960 laser diffraction unit.