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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program images.

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A cross-section of earth's crust reveals the layered sediment and features of earthquake faults.
Seismic reflection profile
Seismic reflection profile
Seismic reflection profile

Example of a deep-penetration multichannel seismic-reflection profile collected offshore of San Mateo County, from the USGS National Archive of Marine Seismic Surveys (NAMSS). The profile shows a cross-section of the earth's crust from the surface down to a depth of about 3 kilometers.

Example of a deep-penetration multichannel seismic-reflection profile collected offshore of San Mateo County, from the USGS National Archive of Marine Seismic Surveys (NAMSS). The profile shows a cross-section of the earth's crust from the surface down to a depth of about 3 kilometers.

Computer-generated diagram made using lidar data shows beach, amusement park, river, and cliff with houses in a stippled pattern
Lidar image from point cloud
Lidar image from point cloud
Lidar image from point cloud

This is an example of a lidar image created from the “point cloud” that shows objects’ reflectivity near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the mouth of the San Lorenzo River.

This is an example of a lidar image created from the “point cloud” that shows objects’ reflectivity near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and the mouth of the San Lorenzo River.

River water mixes with ocean water on the beach, seagulls sitting on a sand bar, amusement park rides visible in background.
December 13, 2014, just after "Super Soaker" storm
December 13, 2014, just after "Super Soaker" storm
December 13, 2014, just after "Super Soaker" storm

Santa Cruz Main Beach and Boardwalk two days after a "Super Soaker" winter storm hit with 2.5 inches of rain in just a few hours' time.

Foamy ocean and river water mix on a beach near an amusement park.
December 10, 2014, Day before "Super Soaker" storm
December 10, 2014, Day before "Super Soaker" storm
December 10, 2014, Day before "Super Soaker" storm

Santa Cruz Main Beach and Boardwalk just before a "Super Soaker" winter storm hit with 2.5 inches of rain in just a few hours' time.

Computer-generated diagram from lidar data shows beach, amusement park, river, and cliff with houses in a stippled pattern.
Lidar point cloud with digital still image overlay
Lidar point cloud with digital still image overlay
Man stands near and holds onto a large tripod with a lidar instrument mounted on top.
Lidar
Lidar
Lidar

USGS Geographer Josh Logan sets up the lidar scanner near Capitola before the December 11, 2014 "Super Soaker" storm.

USGS Geographer Josh Logan sets up the lidar scanner near Capitola before the December 11, 2014 "Super Soaker" storm.

Image of an instrumented bottom lander deployed south of Martha's Vineyard, MA
Bottom lander deployed south of Martha's Vineyard, MA
Bottom lander deployed south of Martha's Vineyard, MA
Bottom lander deployed south of Martha's Vineyard, MA

 An instrumented bottom lander is deployed south of Martha's Vineyard, MA in 2014 as part of the “Bottom Stress and the Generation of Vertical Vorticity Over the Inner Shelf” project.

 An instrumented bottom lander is deployed south of Martha's Vineyard, MA in 2014 as part of the “Bottom Stress and the Generation of Vertical Vorticity Over the Inner Shelf” project.

Three men working on the back of a small boat operating gear and moving equipment.
Working on R/V Parke Snavely
Working on R/V Parke Snavely
Working on R/V Parke Snavely

PCMSC scientists maneuver the camera sled for deployment off R/V Parke Snavely in Monterey Bay. They will navigate the camera sled just above the seafloor to get a close-up view. Video, photographs, and real-time observations of seafloor geology and biological cover help develop and verify the maps created from sonar data.

PCMSC scientists maneuver the camera sled for deployment off R/V Parke Snavely in Monterey Bay. They will navigate the camera sled just above the seafloor to get a close-up view. Video, photographs, and real-time observations of seafloor geology and biological cover help develop and verify the maps created from sonar data.

A boat motors along a waterway with a jetty in the background, waters are calm and there's a lighthouse at the end of the jetty.
PCMSC research vessel Parke Snavely enters Santa Cruz Harbor
PCMSC research vessel Parke Snavely enters Santa Cruz Harbor
PCMSC research vessel Parke Snavely enters Santa Cruz Harbor

USGS Pacific Ocastal and Marine Science Center's research vessel R/V Parke Snavely motors into Santa Cruz Harbor. The lighthouse, also known as the Santa Cruz Breakwater Lighthouse, was remodeled and renamed the Walton Lighthouse on June 9, 2002.

USGS Pacific Ocastal and Marine Science Center's research vessel R/V Parke Snavely motors into Santa Cruz Harbor. The lighthouse, also known as the Santa Cruz Breakwater Lighthouse, was remodeled and renamed the Walton Lighthouse on June 9, 2002.

A small boat motors in a calm waterway with a rocky jetty behind, where a lighthouse sits in the distance.
Motoring Snavely into Santa Cruz Harbor
Motoring Snavely into Santa Cruz Harbor
Motoring Snavely into Santa Cruz Harbor

Jenny White driving the USGS research vessel (R/V) Parke Snavely in November 2014 near the entrance to the Santa Cruz Harbor in Santa Cruz, California.

View looking down from a bridge and onto a boat's stern and cabin top as it passes under the bridge.
View of top of R/V Parke Snavely
View of top of R/V Parke Snavely
View of top of R/V Parke Snavely

View looks down from a bridge as USGS research vessel R/V Parke Snavely passes beneath.

Photograph of a metal research boat as it motors slowly through a yacht harbor and is about to pass under a bridge.
R/V Parke Snavely in Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor
R/V Parke Snavely in Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor
R/V Parke Snavely in Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor

USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center's research vessel Parke Snavely motors slowly up into the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor where she docks.

Photo looks down on top of a research vessel's pilot house roof and the deck, as the boat passes under a bridge
R/V Parke Snavely with swath system
R/V Parke Snavely with swath system
R/V Parke Snavely with swath system

The USGS research vessel, R/V Parke Snavely, passes under a bridge near the Santa Cruz Harbor where she docks. Snavely is owned and operated by the USGS Pacific Coastal and Mairne Science Center in Santa Cruz, California.

The USGS research vessel, R/V Parke Snavely, passes under a bridge near the Santa Cruz Harbor where she docks. Snavely is owned and operated by the USGS Pacific Coastal and Mairne Science Center in Santa Cruz, California.

USGS all-terrain vehicle is equipped with GPS and collects beach topography on Rio Del Mar State Beach, Aptos, CA
USGS ATV Collecting Topographic Data
USGS ATV Collecting Topographic Data
USGS ATV Collecting Topographic Data

Photograph shows a USGS scientist navigating an all-terrain vehicle equipped with GPS, collecting topographic data on Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos, California. Gathering this type of information helps USGS scientists to document the changes in beach and nearshore morphology (or form and structure), caused by seasonal variations and storms.

Photograph shows a USGS scientist navigating an all-terrain vehicle equipped with GPS, collecting topographic data on Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos, California. Gathering this type of information helps USGS scientists to document the changes in beach and nearshore morphology (or form and structure), caused by seasonal variations and storms.

Man jogs on beach, little to no waves are present, man rides personal watercraft offshore, lighthouse sits on jetty at harbor.
Mapping the nearshore in Santa Cruz
Mapping the nearshore in Santa Cruz
Mapping the nearshore in Santa Cruz

A USGS scientist guides a personal watercraft toward Seabright Beach near the Santa Cruz Harbor entrance during bathymetric surveys.

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