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For nearly a decade, the USGS has conducted blue carbon research to support the Herring River restoration in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, and determine the carbon cycle response to rising sea levels under both restored and diked wetland scenarios.  

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Caitlin Reynolds stands by two sediment traps that collect sediment from the water column in the Gulf of Mexico aboard the R/V Weatherbird. Scientists collect and redeploy the mooring every 6-9 months. 

This cruise is part of a long-term study of paleoclimate records in the Gulf of Mexico. The sediment traps are used to collect foraminifera, or “forams”—tiny, shelled organisms whose chemistry reflects the temperature and environmental conditions of the water around them—to define relationships between foram shell chemistry and sea surface temperature. 

The USGS uses a variety of survey tools—including personal watercraft (jet skis) equipped with GPS and sonar—to measure how sandy coastlines change over time. Sandy coastlines are a valuable resource that protect human-made structures from waves, serve as habitat for important species, and provide a variety of recreational opportunities.

Missed our feature story for this issue of Sound Waves? Check out these ten ocean field sites you've got to "sea" to believe!

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USGS at Coastal Sediments 2023

Staff from four science centers represented USGS at the 2023 Coastal Sediments conference and exhibited how current bureau initiatives are addressing this year’s theme of, "Inclusive coastal science and engineering for resilient communities." The USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center was a diamond sponsor of the event and hosted an exhibit booth to engage with stakeholders and potential partners, expand knowledge of the role of USGS science in coastal resilience, explore ways to increase our contributions towards environmental justice, and expand our diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) initiatives.

Campers from Oceanography Camp for Girls visited the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center to learn about coastal and marine research being conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey, including coastal hazards research and storm impact assessments, collection and analysis of sediment cores from barrier islands, and studying proxies like foraminifera and bivalves to study Earth’s climate history.