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Alex Snyder

Oceanographer with the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Science and Products

Shoreline data for Ocean Beach, San Francisco, California, 2004 to 2021

Beach shoreline positions were derived from 221 approximately monthly beach topography surveys from 2004 through 2021 at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California. Shoreline shapefiles for local Mean High Water (1.619m NAVD88) and local Mean Sea Level (0.975m NAVD88) were created from each survey.
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Alaska coastal orthoimagery and elevation data: Icy Cape to Cape Prince of Wales, 2016

This data release presents orthoimagery and elevation data based on aerial imagery of the Alaska coastline between Icy Cape and Cape Prince of Wales. These data products and the source aerial imagery were generated by Fairbanks Fodar for the U.S. Geological Survey. Aerial imagery was collected in 2016 between August 29 and September 4 and extends from the shoreline to 400-4000 meters inland. Photo
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Observations of tsunami and runup heights in Santa Cruz Harbor and surrounding beaches from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai tsunami

The 14 January 2022 eruption of Tonga Hunga-Tonga Ha'apai volcano generated tsunamis that impacted the west coast of the United States on the morning of 15 January 2022. This data release presents runup heights and tsunami heights collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the California Geological Survey (CGS) during surveys at the Santa Cruz Harbor and beaches in Santa Cruz County, Calif
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Nearshore bathymetry data from the Unalakleet River mouth, Alaska, 2019

This data release presents nearshore bathymetry data collected at the mouth of the Unalakleet River in Alaska, near the city of Unalakleet. The data were collected in August 2019 by the U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center. Nearshore bathymetry was measured along survey lines from the shore to a depth of approximately -7.4 m NAVD88 and in a portion of the estuary close
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

National assessment of shoreline change: A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the north coast of Alaska, Icy Cape to Cape Prince of Wales

Beach erosion is a persistent problem along most open-ocean shores of the United States. Along the Arctic coast of Alaska, coastal erosion is widespread and threatens communities, defense and energy-related infrastructure, and coastal habitat. As coastal populations continue to expand and infrastructure and habitat are increasingly threatened by erosion, there is increased demand for accurate info
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Orthophotomosaics, elevation point clouds, digital surface elevation models and supporting data from the north coast of Barter Island, Alaska

Aerial photographs were collected from a small, fixed-wing aircraft over the coast of Barter Island, Alaska on three separate dates: July 01 2014, September 07 2014, and July 05 2015. Precise aircraft position information and structure-from-motion photogrammetric methods were combined to derive high-resolution orthophotomosaics and elevation point clouds. Ground control acquired using precise posi
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Beach topography and nearshore bathymetry of northern Monterey Bay, California

This data release presents beach topography and nearshore bathymetry data from repeated surveys in northern Monterey Bay, California to document changes in shoreline position and coastal morphology as they relate to episodic (storms), seasonal, and interannual and longer (e.g. El Ni?o) processes. The ongoing monitoring program was initiated in October 2014 with semi-annual surveys performed in lat
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital Elevation Model of Little Holland Tract, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, 2015

This USGS Data Release presents data collected from bathymetric and topographic surveys and the resulting digital elevation model for the Little Holland Tract in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, California. During May and June of 2015, a team of scientists from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC) conducted multiple surveys (USGS Field Activity 2015-642-FA) to collect
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Photo looks at a steep beach cliff with stairs built up it to allow access to the street level.
Isla Vista, California coastal bluff
Isla Vista, California coastal bluff
Photo looks at a steep beach cliff with stairs built up it to allow access to the street level.

Isla Vista, California coastal bluff

Isla Vista, California coastal bluff

Exposed bedrock on the beach during very low (negative) tide at Isla Vista, California.

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Photo looks at a steep beach cliff with stairs built up it to allow access to the street level.

Isla Vista, California coastal bluff

Isla Vista, California coastal bluff

Exposed bedrock on the beach during very low (negative) tide at Isla Vista, California.

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
long stretch of beach, with row of houses teetering on the edge of the cliff above beach. Bare rocks exposed & no sand on beach
Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach
Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach
long stretch of beach, with row of houses teetering on the edge of the cliff above beach. Bare rocks exposed & no sand on beach

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach

Bedrock exposed at low tide along the beach at Isla Vista, California

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Communications and Publishing
long stretch of beach, with row of houses teetering on the edge of the cliff above beach. Bare rocks exposed & no sand on beach

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach

Bedrock exposed at low tide along the beach at Isla Vista, California

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Communications and Publishing
house perched at the top of cliff edge above beach.
Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista
Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista
house perched at the top of cliff edge above beach.

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista

Exposed bedrock on the beach during very low (negative) tide at Isla Vista, California

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Communications and Publishing
house perched at the top of cliff edge above beach.

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista

Exposed bedrock on the beach during very low (negative) tide at Isla Vista, California

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Communications and Publishing

Diverse tsunamigenesis triggered by the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption

On the evening of 15 January 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano1 unleashed a violent underwater eruption, blanketing the surrounding land masses in ash and debris. The eruption generated tsunamis observed around the world. An event of this type last occurred in 1883 during the eruption of Krakatau, and thus we have the first observations of a tsunami from a large emergent volcanic eruptio
Authors
Patrick Lynett, Maile McCann, Zili Zhou, Willington Renteria, Jose Borrero, Dougal Greer, 'Ofa Fa'anunu, Cyprien Bosserelle, Bruce E. Jaffe, SeanPaul La Selle, Andrew C. Ritchie, Alexander G. Snyder, Brandon Nasr, Jaqueline Bott, Nicholas A Graehl, Costas Synolakis, Behzad Ebrahimi, Ezgi Cinar
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

National assessment of shoreline change — Historical shoreline change along the north coast of Alaska, Icy Cape to Cape Prince of Wales

Beach erosion is a persistent problem along most open-ocean shores of the United States. Along the Arctic coast of Alaska, coastal erosion is widespread and threatens communities, defense and energy-related infrastructure, and coastal habitat. As coastal populations continue to expand and infrastructure and habitat are increasingly threatened by erosion, there is increased demand for accurate info

Authors
Ann E. Gibbs, Alexander G. Snyder, Bruce M. Richmond
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Assessing patterns of annual change to permafrost bluffs along the North Slope coast of Alaska using high-resolution imagery and elevation models

Coastal permafrost bluffs at Barter Island, on the North Slope, Beaufort Sea Coast of Alaska are among the most rapidly eroding along Alaska’s coast, having retreated up to 132 m between 1955 and 2015. Here we quantify rates and patterns of change over a single year using very-high resolution orthophotomosaics and co-registered surface elevation models derived from a survey-grade form of structure

Authors
Ann E. Gibbs, Matt Nolan, Bruce M. Richmond, Alexander G. Snyder, Li Erikson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Extreme oceanographic forcing and coastal response due to the 2015–2016 El Niño

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation is the dominant mode of interannual climate variability across the Pacific Ocean basin, with influence on the global climate. The two end members of the cycle, El Niño and La Niña, force anomalous oceanographic conditions and coastal response along the Pacific margin, exposing many heavily populated regions to increased coastal flooding and erosion hazards. However
Authors
Patrick L. Barnard, Daniel J. Hoover, David M. Hubbard, Alexander G. Snyder, Bonnie C. Ludka, Jonathan Allan, George M. Kaminsky, Ruggiero, Timu W. Gallien, Laura Gabel, Diana McCandless, Heather M. Weiner, Nicholas Cohn, Dylan L. Anderson, Katherine A. Serafin
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Bathymetric survey and digital elevation model of Little Holland Tract, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California

The U.S. Geological Survey conducted a bathymetric survey in Little Holland Tract, a flooded agricultural tract, in the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (the “Delta”) during the summer of 2015. The new bathymetric data were combined with existing data to generate a digital elevation model (DEM) at 1-meter resolution. Little Holland Tract (LHT) was historically diked off for agricultural uses
Authors
Alexander G. Snyder, Jessica R. Lacy, Andrew W. Stevens, Emily M. Carlson
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
USGS aids storm response to Extratropical Typhoon Merbok in Alaska

USGS aids storm response to Extratropical Typhoon Merbok in Alaska

In September 2022, the west coast of Alaska was struck by Extratropical Typhoon Merbok, generating significant storm surge that caused severe flooding...

Read Article
USGS Coastal Change Research Highlighted in Short Film

USGS Coastal Change Research Highlighted in Short Film

A short film features USGS scientists from the Coastal Storm Monitoring System project, or CoSMoS.

Read Article

Science and Products

Shoreline data for Ocean Beach, San Francisco, California, 2004 to 2021

Beach shoreline positions were derived from 221 approximately monthly beach topography surveys from 2004 through 2021 at Ocean Beach in San Francisco, California. Shoreline shapefiles for local Mean High Water (1.619m NAVD88) and local Mean Sea Level (0.975m NAVD88) were created from each survey.
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Alaska coastal orthoimagery and elevation data: Icy Cape to Cape Prince of Wales, 2016

This data release presents orthoimagery and elevation data based on aerial imagery of the Alaska coastline between Icy Cape and Cape Prince of Wales. These data products and the source aerial imagery were generated by Fairbanks Fodar for the U.S. Geological Survey. Aerial imagery was collected in 2016 between August 29 and September 4 and extends from the shoreline to 400-4000 meters inland. Photo
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Observations of tsunami and runup heights in Santa Cruz Harbor and surrounding beaches from the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai tsunami

The 14 January 2022 eruption of Tonga Hunga-Tonga Ha'apai volcano generated tsunamis that impacted the west coast of the United States on the morning of 15 January 2022. This data release presents runup heights and tsunami heights collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the California Geological Survey (CGS) during surveys at the Santa Cruz Harbor and beaches in Santa Cruz County, Calif
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Nearshore bathymetry data from the Unalakleet River mouth, Alaska, 2019

This data release presents nearshore bathymetry data collected at the mouth of the Unalakleet River in Alaska, near the city of Unalakleet. The data were collected in August 2019 by the U.S. Geological Survey, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center. Nearshore bathymetry was measured along survey lines from the shore to a depth of approximately -7.4 m NAVD88 and in a portion of the estuary close
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

National assessment of shoreline change: A GIS compilation of vector shorelines and associated shoreline change data for the north coast of Alaska, Icy Cape to Cape Prince of Wales

Beach erosion is a persistent problem along most open-ocean shores of the United States. Along the Arctic coast of Alaska, coastal erosion is widespread and threatens communities, defense and energy-related infrastructure, and coastal habitat. As coastal populations continue to expand and infrastructure and habitat are increasingly threatened by erosion, there is increased demand for accurate info
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Orthophotomosaics, elevation point clouds, digital surface elevation models and supporting data from the north coast of Barter Island, Alaska

Aerial photographs were collected from a small, fixed-wing aircraft over the coast of Barter Island, Alaska on three separate dates: July 01 2014, September 07 2014, and July 05 2015. Precise aircraft position information and structure-from-motion photogrammetric methods were combined to derive high-resolution orthophotomosaics and elevation point clouds. Ground control acquired using precise posi
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Beach topography and nearshore bathymetry of northern Monterey Bay, California

This data release presents beach topography and nearshore bathymetry data from repeated surveys in northern Monterey Bay, California to document changes in shoreline position and coastal morphology as they relate to episodic (storms), seasonal, and interannual and longer (e.g. El Ni?o) processes. The ongoing monitoring program was initiated in October 2014 with semi-annual surveys performed in lat
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Digital Elevation Model of Little Holland Tract, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California, 2015

This USGS Data Release presents data collected from bathymetric and topographic surveys and the resulting digital elevation model for the Little Holland Tract in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, California. During May and June of 2015, a team of scientists from the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC) conducted multiple surveys (USGS Field Activity 2015-642-FA) to collect
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Photo looks at a steep beach cliff with stairs built up it to allow access to the street level.
Isla Vista, California coastal bluff
Isla Vista, California coastal bluff
Photo looks at a steep beach cliff with stairs built up it to allow access to the street level.

Isla Vista, California coastal bluff

Isla Vista, California coastal bluff

Exposed bedrock on the beach during very low (negative) tide at Isla Vista, California.

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Photo looks at a steep beach cliff with stairs built up it to allow access to the street level.

Isla Vista, California coastal bluff

Isla Vista, California coastal bluff

Exposed bedrock on the beach during very low (negative) tide at Isla Vista, California.

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
long stretch of beach, with row of houses teetering on the edge of the cliff above beach. Bare rocks exposed & no sand on beach
Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach
Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach
long stretch of beach, with row of houses teetering on the edge of the cliff above beach. Bare rocks exposed & no sand on beach

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach

Bedrock exposed at low tide along the beach at Isla Vista, California

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Communications and Publishing
long stretch of beach, with row of houses teetering on the edge of the cliff above beach. Bare rocks exposed & no sand on beach

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista beach

Bedrock exposed at low tide along the beach at Isla Vista, California

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Communications and Publishing
house perched at the top of cliff edge above beach.
Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista
Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista
house perched at the top of cliff edge above beach.

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista

Exposed bedrock on the beach during very low (negative) tide at Isla Vista, California

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Communications and Publishing
house perched at the top of cliff edge above beach.

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista

Exposed bedrock at Isla Vista

Exposed bedrock on the beach during very low (negative) tide at Isla Vista, California

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Communications and Publishing

Diverse tsunamigenesis triggered by the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption

On the evening of 15 January 2022, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcano1 unleashed a violent underwater eruption, blanketing the surrounding land masses in ash and debris. The eruption generated tsunamis observed around the world. An event of this type last occurred in 1883 during the eruption of Krakatau, and thus we have the first observations of a tsunami from a large emergent volcanic eruptio
Authors
Patrick Lynett, Maile McCann, Zili Zhou, Willington Renteria, Jose Borrero, Dougal Greer, 'Ofa Fa'anunu, Cyprien Bosserelle, Bruce E. Jaffe, SeanPaul La Selle, Andrew C. Ritchie, Alexander G. Snyder, Brandon Nasr, Jaqueline Bott, Nicholas A Graehl, Costas Synolakis, Behzad Ebrahimi, Ezgi Cinar
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

National assessment of shoreline change — Historical shoreline change along the north coast of Alaska, Icy Cape to Cape Prince of Wales

Beach erosion is a persistent problem along most open-ocean shores of the United States. Along the Arctic coast of Alaska, coastal erosion is widespread and threatens communities, defense and energy-related infrastructure, and coastal habitat. As coastal populations continue to expand and infrastructure and habitat are increasingly threatened by erosion, there is increased demand for accurate info

Authors
Ann E. Gibbs, Alexander G. Snyder, Bruce M. Richmond
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Assessing patterns of annual change to permafrost bluffs along the North Slope coast of Alaska using high-resolution imagery and elevation models

Coastal permafrost bluffs at Barter Island, on the North Slope, Beaufort Sea Coast of Alaska are among the most rapidly eroding along Alaska’s coast, having retreated up to 132 m between 1955 and 2015. Here we quantify rates and patterns of change over a single year using very-high resolution orthophotomosaics and co-registered surface elevation models derived from a survey-grade form of structure

Authors
Ann E. Gibbs, Matt Nolan, Bruce M. Richmond, Alexander G. Snyder, Li Erikson
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Extreme oceanographic forcing and coastal response due to the 2015–2016 El Niño

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation is the dominant mode of interannual climate variability across the Pacific Ocean basin, with influence on the global climate. The two end members of the cycle, El Niño and La Niña, force anomalous oceanographic conditions and coastal response along the Pacific margin, exposing many heavily populated regions to increased coastal flooding and erosion hazards. However
Authors
Patrick L. Barnard, Daniel J. Hoover, David M. Hubbard, Alexander G. Snyder, Bonnie C. Ludka, Jonathan Allan, George M. Kaminsky, Ruggiero, Timu W. Gallien, Laura Gabel, Diana McCandless, Heather M. Weiner, Nicholas Cohn, Dylan L. Anderson, Katherine A. Serafin
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Bathymetric survey and digital elevation model of Little Holland Tract, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California

The U.S. Geological Survey conducted a bathymetric survey in Little Holland Tract, a flooded agricultural tract, in the northern Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (the “Delta”) during the summer of 2015. The new bathymetric data were combined with existing data to generate a digital elevation model (DEM) at 1-meter resolution. Little Holland Tract (LHT) was historically diked off for agricultural uses
Authors
Alexander G. Snyder, Jessica R. Lacy, Andrew W. Stevens, Emily M. Carlson
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
USGS aids storm response to Extratropical Typhoon Merbok in Alaska

USGS aids storm response to Extratropical Typhoon Merbok in Alaska

In September 2022, the west coast of Alaska was struck by Extratropical Typhoon Merbok, generating significant storm surge that caused severe flooding...

Read Article
USGS Coastal Change Research Highlighted in Short Film

USGS Coastal Change Research Highlighted in Short Film

A short film features USGS scientists from the Coastal Storm Monitoring System project, or CoSMoS.

Read Article
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