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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program images.

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A man wearing cold-weather gear and standing on a high coastal bluff points to an instrument that is mounted on short a pole.
Installing ground-shaking detection instrument
Installing ground-shaking detection instrument
Installing ground-shaking detection instrument

USGS scientist Cordell Johnson points to the Raspberry Shake, a sensitive instrument used to detect ground shaking. Johnson mounted the Raspberry Shake to an aluminum pole which he will then drive into the ground to bury the instrument beneath the tundra. This process will help isolate it from the wind.

USGS scientist Cordell Johnson points to the Raspberry Shake, a sensitive instrument used to detect ground shaking. Johnson mounted the Raspberry Shake to an aluminum pole which he will then drive into the ground to bury the instrument beneath the tundra. This process will help isolate it from the wind.

A small instrument with a USGS logo sticker with wires coming out of it is in a hole in the ground.
Sensitive instrument used to detect ground shaking
Sensitive instrument used to detect ground shaking
Sensitive instrument used to detect ground shaking

This device, called a Raspberry Shake, is a sensitive instrument used to detect ground shaking. It is being carefully buried in this shallow hole in the tundra, to isolate it from wind.

View of muddy, eroding coastal bluffs with a visible permafrost layer and a tumbling tundra layer on top.
Eroding bluffs in Kaktovik
Eroding bluffs in Kaktovik
Eroding bluffs in Kaktovik

View looking east of the actively eroding coastal permafrost bluff on Barter Island, which is located on the northern coast of Alaska.

View looking east of the actively eroding coastal permafrost bluff on Barter Island, which is located on the northern coast of Alaska.

Two people stand atop a coastal cliff where the grassy edges are beginning to fall off onto the beach below.
Barter Island coastal bluff studies
Barter Island coastal bluff studies
Barter Island coastal bluff studies

Scientists Cordell Johnson, left, and Li Erikson stand atop the coastal bluff of Barter Island in northern Alaska, a coastal area that is experiencing very high rates of erosion.

Scientists Cordell Johnson, left, and Li Erikson stand atop the coastal bluff of Barter Island in northern Alaska, a coastal area that is experiencing very high rates of erosion.

View from the sky of a landscape with a river running through it, and the river is winding back and forth.
Mokelumne River Bathymetry
Mokelumne River Bathymetry
Mokelumne River Bathymetry

A winding strip of rainbow colors shows the bathymetry (depth) of the bed of the Mokelumne River just above its confluence with the San Joaquin in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta east of San Francisco Bay.

A winding strip of rainbow colors shows the bathymetry (depth) of the bed of the Mokelumne River just above its confluence with the San Joaquin in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta east of San Francisco Bay.

Photograph of USGS personnel in front of an active volcano
Night Shift
Night Shift
Night Shift

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center's Aerial Imaging and Mapping Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) pilots, Emily Sturdivant (left) and Elizabeth Pendleton (right) working the night shift in Hawaii at the Kileaua volcano site.  

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center's Aerial Imaging and Mapping Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) pilots, Emily Sturdivant (left) and Elizabeth Pendleton (right) working the night shift in Hawaii at the Kileaua volcano site.  

Camera system mounted to the ceiling
Samples Repository ceiling mounted camera system
Samples Repository ceiling mounted camera system
Samples Repository ceiling mounted camera system

The Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Samples Repository provides space and services for processing and sampling of materials and collections. Sample photography uses a Nikon1 D90 SLR camera mounted to the ceiling directly above the layout table in the sample preparation area.

The Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Samples Repository provides space and services for processing and sampling of materials and collections. Sample photography uses a Nikon1 D90 SLR camera mounted to the ceiling directly above the layout table in the sample preparation area.

Core splitter mounted on the layout table
Core Splitter
Core Splitter
Core Splitter

The Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Samples Repository provides space and services for processing and sampling of materials and collections.

The Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Samples Repository provides space and services for processing and sampling of materials and collections.

A turtle with a radio tag on its back swims through a shallow water environment with boat behind it.
Loggerhead sea turtle with radio tag
Loggerhead sea turtle with radio tag
Loggerhead sea turtle with radio tag

Underwater view of a loggerhead turtle being released with newly installed popoff ADL package (orange item on turtle’s back).

USGS personnel prepare for an unmanned aerial system take off
Woods Hole UAS Pilots in Hawaii
Woods Hole UAS Pilots in Hawaii
Woods Hole UAS Pilots in Hawaii

Providing situational awareness at night, Elizabeth Pendleton, Sandy Brosnahan, and Emily Sturdivant prepare for a UAS take-off

Sea turtle on the deck of a boat has a radio device on its shell.
Loggerhead ready for action
Loggerhead ready for action
Loggerhead ready for action

A loggerhead sea turtle is outfitted with a popoff ADL package (orange item affixed to turtle’s back) waiting in the boat to be released.

A loggerhead sea turtle is outfitted with a popoff ADL package (orange item affixed to turtle’s back) waiting in the boat to be released.

View from the air across a tidal march, mudflat, and channels with bay water to the right and a city in the background.
Bair Island, Redwood City
Bair Island, Redwood City
Bair Island, Redwood City

After 100 years of restricted tidal activity to support agricultural use and salt harvesting, the tidal marshes around San Francisco Bay, like this one at Bair Island, are steadily rebuilding, returning to a stunning mosaic of marsh, mudflat, and channels.

After 100 years of restricted tidal activity to support agricultural use and salt harvesting, the tidal marshes around San Francisco Bay, like this one at Bair Island, are steadily rebuilding, returning to a stunning mosaic of marsh, mudflat, and channels.

Tidal marsh or wetland area with little rivulets winding their way through the marshland.
Tidal marsh near San Pablo Bay
Tidal marsh near San Pablo Bay
Tidal marsh near San Pablo Bay

Lower Tubbs Island is a tidal marsh near Midshipman Point in northern San Pablo Bay, California, and is part of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Historically, Tubbs Island was used as a club for duck hunters, protected by levees that could be opened with the tides to release salt water into the sloughs. In 1969, it was purchased by the Natu

Lower Tubbs Island is a tidal marsh near Midshipman Point in northern San Pablo Bay, California, and is part of the San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Historically, Tubbs Island was used as a club for duck hunters, protected by levees that could be opened with the tides to release salt water into the sloughs. In 1969, it was purchased by the Natu

A coral worn smooth by erosion
Like many Keys corals, this one has no new growth
Like many Keys corals, this one has no new growth
Like many Keys corals, this one has no new growth

A modern coral reef in Dry Tortugas National Park. There is little living coral and high rates of bioerosion. Photo taken under research permit number DRTO-2018-SCI-0005. Credit: Lauren Toth, USGS

Photograph of USGS UAS pilot wearing an orange USGS shirt
Woods Hole's Aerial Imaging and Mapping pilots in Hawaii
Woods Hole's Aerial Imaging and Mapping pilots in Hawaii
Woods Hole's Aerial Imaging and Mapping pilots in Hawaii

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center's Aerial Imaging and Mapping rock stars preparing to fly Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) mission while a river of lava flows in the background

Relict Acropora palmata coral-reef framework in the Dry Tortugas National Park
Relict Acropora palmata coral-reef framework in the Dry Tortugas
Relict Acropora palmata coral-reef framework in the Dry Tortugas
Relict Acropora palmata coral-reef framework in the Dry Tortugas

Acropora palmata coral-reef framework in the Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida Keys built more than 3000 years ago. That framework, which serves as the foundation for all of the critical ecosystem services reefs provide to society, is now rapidly eroding away.

Acropora palmata coral-reef framework in the Dry Tortugas National Park, Florida Keys built more than 3000 years ago. That framework, which serves as the foundation for all of the critical ecosystem services reefs provide to society, is now rapidly eroding away.

Relict Holocene coral-reef framework in the Dry Tortugas National Park
Relict Holocene coral-reef framework in the Dry Tortugas National Park
Relict Holocene coral-reef framework in the Dry Tortugas National Park
Relict Holocene coral-reef framework in the Dry Tortugas National Park

Relict Holocene coral-reef framework in the Florida Keys. Like many reefs in the western Atlantic, reefs here were just a few coral species: primary Acropora palmata and Orbicella spp. Recent disturbances have led to declines in the populations of those corals and relative increases in the abundance of more weedy taxa.

Relict Holocene coral-reef framework in the Florida Keys. Like many reefs in the western Atlantic, reefs here were just a few coral species: primary Acropora palmata and Orbicella spp. Recent disturbances have led to declines in the populations of those corals and relative increases in the abundance of more weedy taxa.

Photo of Wilderness Breach at Fire Island, NY
Wilderness breach at Fire Island in 2018
Wilderness breach at Fire Island in 2018
Wilderness breach at Fire Island in 2018

Breaching of Fire Island, NY occurred during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 (Wilderness Breach). Wilderness Breach in 2018 as seen from a low angle, note the other side of breached island is in the distance.

Breaching of Fire Island, NY occurred during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 (Wilderness Breach). Wilderness Breach in 2018 as seen from a low angle, note the other side of breached island is in the distance.

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