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Brian Andrews

Brian Andrews is a Geographer with the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. 

Science and Products

land movement

Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Earthquakes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Terremotos

USGS provides real-time earthquake data, information on historic earthquakes, resources for the most significant earthquakes, and seismicity and ground motions to support future updates to the seismic hazard models for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our seismic research can help establish better building regulations that mitigate earthquake risks and improve public safety. The USGS...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Earthquakes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Terremotos

Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Earthquakes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Terremotos

USGS provides real-time earthquake data, information on historic earthquakes, resources for the most significant earthquakes, and seismicity and ground motions to support future updates to the seismic hazard models for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our seismic research can help establish better building regulations that mitigate earthquake risks and improve public safety. The USGS...
Learn More
Perspective view of the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Tsunamis | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Maremotos

Tsunamis are long waves formed from a sudden displacement of the sea floor due to a fault rupture, landslide, or volcanic activity. Given that Puerto Rico lies above a subduction zone in the Caribbean Sea, it is especially susceptible to large earthquakes and tsunamis. The greatest tsunami ever recorded in Puerto Rico occurred from an earthquake off the Mona Passage in 1918. The USGS Earthquake...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Tsunamis | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Maremotos

Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Tsunamis | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Maremotos

Tsunamis are long waves formed from a sudden displacement of the sea floor due to a fault rupture, landslide, or volcanic activity. Given that Puerto Rico lies above a subduction zone in the Caribbean Sea, it is especially susceptible to large earthquakes and tsunamis. The greatest tsunami ever recorded in Puerto Rico occurred from an earthquake off the Mona Passage in 1918. The USGS Earthquake...
Learn More
Image showing bathymetry of the southern Gulf of Maine with MA coastal zone boundary

Geologic Mapping of the Massachusetts Seafloor

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is conducting geologic mapping of the sea floor to characterize the surface and shallow subsurface geologic framework within the Massachusetts coastal zone. The long-term goal of this mapping effort is to produce high-resolution geologic maps and a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Geologic Mapping of the Massachusetts Seafloor

Geologic Mapping of the Massachusetts Seafloor

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is conducting geologic mapping of the sea floor to characterize the surface and shallow subsurface geologic framework within the Massachusetts coastal zone. The long-term goal of this mapping effort is to produce high-resolution geologic maps and a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will...
Learn More
Graphic showing the geophysical systems used to map the seafloor surface and underlying structure, and sampling instruments

Sea Floor Mapping Group

The Sea Floor Mapping Group (SFMG) is a core capability at the Woods Hole Coastal & Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) that provides support for coastal, lacustrine and marine geologic research. The staff has a wide-range of expertise and is responsible for geophysical and sampling data acquisition, processing, interpretation and publication, logistics, design, and research and development. SFMG has...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization, Hurricane Sandy
Sea Floor Mapping Group

Sea Floor Mapping Group

The Sea Floor Mapping Group (SFMG) is a core capability at the Woods Hole Coastal & Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) that provides support for coastal, lacustrine and marine geologic research. The staff has a wide-range of expertise and is responsible for geophysical and sampling data acquisition, processing, interpretation and publication, logistics, design, and research and development. SFMG has...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 20

Geospatial data in support of structured decision making for northeast coastal parks Geospatial data in support of structured decision making for northeast coastal parks

Salt marshes provide a range of ecosystem services, including storm protection, recreation, and commercial fishery habitat provision. The National Park Service (NPS) aims to preserve and protect salt marshes in order to achieve multiple objectives which address their mission: to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of their publicly held lands. Ongoing...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Chesapeake Bay marsh migration potential under sea-level rise Chesapeake Bay marsh migration potential under sea-level rise

Marsh migration potential in the Chesapeake Bay (CB) salt marshes is calculated in terms of available migration area for each marsh unit defined by Ackerman and others (2022). The space available for landward migration is based on the NOAA marsh migration predictions under 2.0 feet of local sea-level rise (SLR). The migration space is further divided by National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Oceanographic conditions at Richardson reef reveal new suitable habitat for cold-water corals Oceanographic conditions at Richardson reef reveal new suitable habitat for cold-water corals

Cold-water corals create complex structures, but our incomplete knowledge of their niche space limits our ability to understand their distribution and therefore the impact of the ecosystem services they provide in the ocean. The Richardson reef complex consists of over 150 km of linear reef tracts within an area of 75 km2 between 700-900 m depth. This reef experiences rapid shifts in...
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

High-resolution geophysical data collected in Nantucket Sound Massachusetts in the vicinity of Horseshoe Shoal, during USGS Field Activity 2022-001-FA High-resolution geophysical data collected in Nantucket Sound Massachusetts in the vicinity of Horseshoe Shoal, during USGS Field Activity 2022-001-FA

In June 2022, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, collected high-resolution geophysical data, in Nantucket Sound to understand the regional geology in the vicinity of Horseshoe Shoal. This effort is part of a long-term collaboration between the USGS and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to map the State’s waters, support...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

A bathymetric terrain model of multibeam sonar data collected between 2005 and 2018 along the Queen Charlotte Fault System in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska from Cross Sound, Alaska to Queen Charlotte Sound, Canada A bathymetric terrain model of multibeam sonar data collected between 2005 and 2018 along the Queen Charlotte Fault System in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska from Cross Sound, Alaska to Queen Charlotte Sound, Canada

This data publication is a compilation of six different multibeam surveys covering the previously unmapped Queen Charlotte Fault offshore southeast Alaska and Haida Gwaii, Canada. These data were collected between 2005 and 2018 under a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Geological Survey, Natural Resources Canada, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The six...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization

Multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data collected in 2017 and 2018 of Noyes Submarine Canyon and vicinity, southeast Alaska Multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data collected in 2017 and 2018 of Noyes Submarine Canyon and vicinity, southeast Alaska

This data release provides U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2017 and 2018 bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data collected on the Noyes Submarine Canyon and vicinity in southeast Alaska. In 2017 and 2018 the NOAA survey vessel Fairweather collected bathymetry and acoustic...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the Inner Continental Borderland, southern California Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the Inner Continental Borderland, southern California

In late 2013, Scripps Institution of Oceanography collected multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data of the Inner Continental Borderland Region, Southern California. The U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center processed these data, and this report provides the data in a number of different formats in addition to a set of map sheets. The data catalog...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Bathymetry of the waters surrounding the Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts Bathymetry of the waters surrounding the Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts

The Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts that separate Vineyard Sound from Buzzards Bay are the remnants of a moraine (unconsolidated glacial sediment deposited at an ice sheet margin; Oldale and O’Hara, 1984). The most recent glacial ice retreat in this region occurred between 25,000 and 20,000 years ago, and the subsequent rise in sea level that followed deglaciation caused differences...
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Map of the US east coast, displaying sea-floor mapping achievements from 2022
Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers
Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers
Map of the US east coast, displaying sea-floor mapping achievements from 2022

Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers

Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers

The year of 2022 was big for the Sea-Floor Mapping Group at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center! These data were collected as part of a collaborative research program and include data collected by USGS and our partners.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Map of the US east coast, displaying sea-floor mapping achievements from 2022

Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers

Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers

The year of 2022 was big for the Sea-Floor Mapping Group at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center! These data were collected as part of a collaborative research program and include data collected by USGS and our partners.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior.
Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior
Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior
Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior.

Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior

Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior

 Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior.  The 2018 data are shown in gray hillshade, with the combined 2021 data superimposed in color.  Index map at lower right shows the extent of each survey. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior.

Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior

Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior

 Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior.  The 2018 data are shown in gray hillshade, with the combined 2021 data superimposed in color.  Index map at lower right shows the extent of each survey. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef
Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef
Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef
Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef.  Improvements in grid resolution between the 2018 (left) and 2021 (right) surveys were facilitated by decreasing line spacing from 50 meters to 35 meters or less between adjacent lines.  

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef.  Improvements in grid resolution between the 2018 (left) and 2021 (right) surveys were facilitated by decreasing line spacing from 50 meters to 35 meters or less between adjacent lines.  

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
man standing on a boat deck surrounded by equipment
SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior
SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior
man standing on a boat deck surrounded by equipment

SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior

SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior

Patrick Berube of WHCMSC prepares the SEABOSS for deployment in Lake Superior. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
man standing on a boat deck surrounded by equipment

SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior

SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior

Patrick Berube of WHCMSC prepares the SEABOSS for deployment in Lake Superior. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
two men standing on two boats
Sampling operations on Lake Superior
Sampling operations on Lake Superior
two men standing on two boats

Sampling operations on Lake Superior

Sampling operations on Lake Superior

The RV Desmid (foreground) alongside the RV Rafael during sampling operations on Lake Superior.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
two men standing on two boats

Sampling operations on Lake Superior

Sampling operations on Lake Superior

The RV Desmid (foreground) alongside the RV Rafael during sampling operations on Lake Superior.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Color hillside image of terrain model of Barnegat Bay, NJ
Color hillside image of terrain model
Color hillside image of terrain model
Color hillside image of terrain model of Barnegat Bay, NJ

Color hillside image of terrain model

Color hillside image of terrain model

Color hillshade image of terrain model of Barnegat Bay, New Jersey

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Color hillside image of terrain model of Barnegat Bay, NJ

Color hillside image of terrain model

Color hillside image of terrain model

Color hillshade image of terrain model of Barnegat Bay, New Jersey

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Yellow seafloor surface overlain on a sub-bottom profile shows holes in the seafloor, with labels
3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry
3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry
Yellow seafloor surface overlain on a sub-bottom profile shows holes in the seafloor, with labels

3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry

3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry

A sub-bottom profile of CHIRP seismic data is draped over swath bathymetry showing the Gulf of Maine pockmark field stratigraphy common to the area. Seafloor mapping combined with sub-bottom geologic profiles shows that Holocene mud ranges in thickness between 5 and 10 meters but pockmarks in Belfast Bay do not penetrate below the geologic unconformity. Th

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Yellow seafloor surface overlain on a sub-bottom profile shows holes in the seafloor, with labels

3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry

3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry

A sub-bottom profile of CHIRP seismic data is draped over swath bathymetry showing the Gulf of Maine pockmark field stratigraphy common to the area. Seafloor mapping combined with sub-bottom geologic profiles shows that Holocene mud ranges in thickness between 5 and 10 meters but pockmarks in Belfast Bay do not penetrate below the geologic unconformity. Th

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Filter Total Items: 41

Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat

Coral reefs are iconic ecosystems that support diverse, productive communities in both shallow and deep waters. However, our incomplete knowledge of cold-water coral (CWC) niche space limits our understanding of their distribution and precludes a complete accounting of the ecosystem services they provide. Here, we present the results of recent surveys of the CWC mound province on the...
Authors
Erik E. Cordes, Amanda Demopoulos, Andrew J. Davies, Ryan Gasbarro, Alexandria C. Rhoads, Elizabeth Loebeker, Derek Sowers, Jason Chaytor, Cheryl Morrison, Alexis M. Weinnig, Sandra Brooke, Jay J. Lunden, Furu Mienis, Samantha B. Joye, Andrea M. Quattrini, Tracey T. Sutton, Catherine S. McFadden, Jill R. Bourque, Jennifer McClain Counts, Brian D. Andrews, Melissa J. Betters, Peter J. Etnoyer, Gary A. Wolff, Bernie B. Bernard, James M. Brooks, Michael K. Rasser, Caitlin Adams
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat

Coral reefs are iconic ecosystems that support diverse, productive communities in both shallow and deep waters. However, our incomplete knowledge of cold-water coral (CWC) niche space limits our understanding of their distribution and precludes a complete accounting of the ecosystem services they provide. Here, we present the results of recent surveys of the CWC mound province on the...
Authors
Erick E. Cordes, Amanda Demopoulos, Andrew Davies, Ryan Gasbarro, Alexandria Rhoads, Elizabeth Lobecker, Dereck Sowers, Jason Chaytor, Cheryl Morrison, Alexis Marie Weinnig, Sandra Brooke, Jay J. Lunden, Furu Mienis, Samantha B. Joye, Andrea M. Quattrini, Tracey Sutton, Catherine McFadden, Jill R. Bourque, Jennifer McClain Counts, Brian D. Andrews, Melissa Betters, Peter Etnoyer, Gary Wolff, Bernie Bernard, James Brooks, Michael Rasser, Caitlin Adams
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Eastern Ecological Science Center

Seafloor observations eliminate a landslide as the source of the 1918 Puerto Rico Tsunami Seafloor observations eliminate a landslide as the source of the 1918 Puerto Rico Tsunami

The 11 October 1918 devastating tsunami in northwest Puerto Rico had been used as an example for earthquake‐induced landslide tsunami hazard. Three pieces of evidence pointed to a landslide as the origin of the tsunami: the discovery of a large submarine landslide scar from bathymetry data collected by shipboard high‐resolution multibeam sonar, reported breaks of submarine cable within...
Authors
Uri S. ten Brink, Jason Chaytor, Claudia Flores, Yong Wei, Simon Detmer, Lilian Lucas, Brian D. Andrews, Aggeliki Georgiopoulou
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Systematic mapping of the ocean-continent transform plate boundary of the Queen Charlotte fault system, southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia—A preliminary bathymetric terrain model Systematic mapping of the ocean-continent transform plate boundary of the Queen Charlotte fault system, southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia—A preliminary bathymetric terrain model

In 2015, U.S. Geological Survey scientists in collaboration with scientists from other institutions began a study of the Queen Charlotte fault—the first systematic study of the fault in more than three decades. The primary goal of the study was to gain a better understanding of the earthquake, tsunami, and underwater-landslide hazards throughout southeastern Alaska, as well as gather...
Authors
Brian D. Andrews, Daniel S. Brothers, Peter Dartnell, J. Vaughn Barrie, Peter J. Haeussler, Kristen M. Green, H. Gary Greene, Nathaniel C. Miller, Jared W. Kluesner, Uri S. ten Brink
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization

Mature diffuse tectonic block boundary revealed by the 2020 southwestern Puerto Rico seismic sequence Mature diffuse tectonic block boundary revealed by the 2020 southwestern Puerto Rico seismic sequence

Distributed faulting typically tends to coalesce into one or a few faults with repeated deformation. The progression of clustered medium-sized (≥Mw4.5) earthquakes during the 2020 seismic sequence in southwestern Puerto Rico (SWPR), modeling shoreline subsidence from InSAR, and sub-seafloor mapping by high-resolution seismic reflection profiles, suggest that the 2020 SWPR seismic...
Authors
Uri S. ten Brink, L Vanacore, E. J. Fielding, Jason Chaytor, A.M. Lopez-Venegas, Wayne E. Baldwin, David S. Foster, Brian D. Andrews
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities

Focused fluid flow and methane venting along the Queen Charlotte fault, offshore Alaska (USA) and British Columbia (Canada) Focused fluid flow and methane venting along the Queen Charlotte fault, offshore Alaska (USA) and British Columbia (Canada)

Fluid seepage along obliquely deforming plate boundaries can be an important indicator of crustal permeability and influence on fault-zone mechanics and hydrocarbon migration. The ~850-km-long Queen Charlotte fault (QCF) is the dominant structure along the right-lateral transform boundary that separates the Pacific and North American tectonic plates offshore southeastern Alaska (USA) and...
Authors
Nancy G. Prouty, Daniel S. Brothers, Jared W. Kluesner, J. Vaughn Barrie, Brian D. Andrews, Rachel Lauer, Gary Greene, James E. Conrad, Thomas Lorenson, Michael D. Law, Diana Sahy, Kim Conway, Mary McGann, Peter Dartnell
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization
Mapping the Entire Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault System

Mapping the Entire Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault System

A recently completed series of data publications led by the U.S. Geological Survey represents the first time the fault has been mapped using...

Read Article
Mapping the Stamp Sands of Lake Superior

Mapping the Stamp Sands of Lake Superior

In September 2018, the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping to determine the...

Read Article
Striking New Seafloor Imagery of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault in the Gulf of Alaska

Striking New Seafloor Imagery of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault in the Gulf of Alaska

In 2016 the USGS led two geophysical surveys of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault off the coast of southeast Alaska, using multibeam sonar to map...

Read Article

Science and Products

land movement

Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Earthquakes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Terremotos

USGS provides real-time earthquake data, information on historic earthquakes, resources for the most significant earthquakes, and seismicity and ground motions to support future updates to the seismic hazard models for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our seismic research can help establish better building regulations that mitigate earthquake risks and improve public safety. The USGS...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Earthquakes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Terremotos

Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Earthquakes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Terremotos

USGS provides real-time earthquake data, information on historic earthquakes, resources for the most significant earthquakes, and seismicity and ground motions to support future updates to the seismic hazard models for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our seismic research can help establish better building regulations that mitigate earthquake risks and improve public safety. The USGS...
Learn More
Perspective view of the seafloor of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.

Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Tsunamis | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Maremotos

Tsunamis are long waves formed from a sudden displacement of the sea floor due to a fault rupture, landslide, or volcanic activity. Given that Puerto Rico lies above a subduction zone in the Caribbean Sea, it is especially susceptible to large earthquakes and tsunamis. The greatest tsunami ever recorded in Puerto Rico occurred from an earthquake off the Mona Passage in 1918. The USGS Earthquake...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Tsunamis | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Maremotos

Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Tsunamis | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Maremotos

Tsunamis are long waves formed from a sudden displacement of the sea floor due to a fault rupture, landslide, or volcanic activity. Given that Puerto Rico lies above a subduction zone in the Caribbean Sea, it is especially susceptible to large earthquakes and tsunamis. The greatest tsunami ever recorded in Puerto Rico occurred from an earthquake off the Mona Passage in 1918. The USGS Earthquake...
Learn More
Image showing bathymetry of the southern Gulf of Maine with MA coastal zone boundary

Geologic Mapping of the Massachusetts Seafloor

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is conducting geologic mapping of the sea floor to characterize the surface and shallow subsurface geologic framework within the Massachusetts coastal zone. The long-term goal of this mapping effort is to produce high-resolution geologic maps and a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Geologic Mapping of the Massachusetts Seafloor

Geologic Mapping of the Massachusetts Seafloor

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is conducting geologic mapping of the sea floor to characterize the surface and shallow subsurface geologic framework within the Massachusetts coastal zone. The long-term goal of this mapping effort is to produce high-resolution geologic maps and a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will...
Learn More
Graphic showing the geophysical systems used to map the seafloor surface and underlying structure, and sampling instruments

Sea Floor Mapping Group

The Sea Floor Mapping Group (SFMG) is a core capability at the Woods Hole Coastal & Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) that provides support for coastal, lacustrine and marine geologic research. The staff has a wide-range of expertise and is responsible for geophysical and sampling data acquisition, processing, interpretation and publication, logistics, design, and research and development. SFMG has...
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization, Hurricane Sandy
Sea Floor Mapping Group

Sea Floor Mapping Group

The Sea Floor Mapping Group (SFMG) is a core capability at the Woods Hole Coastal & Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) that provides support for coastal, lacustrine and marine geologic research. The staff has a wide-range of expertise and is responsible for geophysical and sampling data acquisition, processing, interpretation and publication, logistics, design, and research and development. SFMG has...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 20

Geospatial data in support of structured decision making for northeast coastal parks Geospatial data in support of structured decision making for northeast coastal parks

Salt marshes provide a range of ecosystem services, including storm protection, recreation, and commercial fishery habitat provision. The National Park Service (NPS) aims to preserve and protect salt marshes in order to achieve multiple objectives which address their mission: to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of their publicly held lands. Ongoing...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Chesapeake Bay marsh migration potential under sea-level rise Chesapeake Bay marsh migration potential under sea-level rise

Marsh migration potential in the Chesapeake Bay (CB) salt marshes is calculated in terms of available migration area for each marsh unit defined by Ackerman and others (2022). The space available for landward migration is based on the NOAA marsh migration predictions under 2.0 feet of local sea-level rise (SLR). The migration space is further divided by National Hydrography Dataset (NHD)...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Oceanographic conditions at Richardson reef reveal new suitable habitat for cold-water corals Oceanographic conditions at Richardson reef reveal new suitable habitat for cold-water corals

Cold-water corals create complex structures, but our incomplete knowledge of their niche space limits our ability to understand their distribution and therefore the impact of the ecosystem services they provide in the ocean. The Richardson reef complex consists of over 150 km of linear reef tracts within an area of 75 km2 between 700-900 m depth. This reef experiences rapid shifts in...
By
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

High-resolution geophysical data collected in Nantucket Sound Massachusetts in the vicinity of Horseshoe Shoal, during USGS Field Activity 2022-001-FA High-resolution geophysical data collected in Nantucket Sound Massachusetts in the vicinity of Horseshoe Shoal, during USGS Field Activity 2022-001-FA

In June 2022, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, collected high-resolution geophysical data, in Nantucket Sound to understand the regional geology in the vicinity of Horseshoe Shoal. This effort is part of a long-term collaboration between the USGS and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to map the State’s waters, support...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

A bathymetric terrain model of multibeam sonar data collected between 2005 and 2018 along the Queen Charlotte Fault System in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska from Cross Sound, Alaska to Queen Charlotte Sound, Canada A bathymetric terrain model of multibeam sonar data collected between 2005 and 2018 along the Queen Charlotte Fault System in the Eastern Gulf of Alaska from Cross Sound, Alaska to Queen Charlotte Sound, Canada

This data publication is a compilation of six different multibeam surveys covering the previously unmapped Queen Charlotte Fault offshore southeast Alaska and Haida Gwaii, Canada. These data were collected between 2005 and 2018 under a cooperative agreement between the U.S. Geological Survey, Natural Resources Canada, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The six...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization

Multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data collected in 2017 and 2018 of Noyes Submarine Canyon and vicinity, southeast Alaska Multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data collected in 2017 and 2018 of Noyes Submarine Canyon and vicinity, southeast Alaska

This data release provides U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 2017 and 2018 bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data collected on the Noyes Submarine Canyon and vicinity in southeast Alaska. In 2017 and 2018 the NOAA survey vessel Fairweather collected bathymetry and acoustic...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the Inner Continental Borderland, southern California Colored shaded-relief bathymetry, acoustic backscatter, and selected perspective views of the Inner Continental Borderland, southern California

In late 2013, Scripps Institution of Oceanography collected multibeam bathymetry and acoustic-backscatter data of the Inner Continental Borderland Region, Southern California. The U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center processed these data, and this report provides the data in a number of different formats in addition to a set of map sheets. The data catalog...
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Bathymetry of the waters surrounding the Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts Bathymetry of the waters surrounding the Elizabeth Islands, Massachusetts

The Elizabeth Islands in Massachusetts that separate Vineyard Sound from Buzzards Bay are the remnants of a moraine (unconsolidated glacial sediment deposited at an ice sheet margin; Oldale and O’Hara, 1984). The most recent glacial ice retreat in this region occurred between 25,000 and 20,000 years ago, and the subsequent rise in sea level that followed deglaciation caused differences...
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Map of the US east coast, displaying sea-floor mapping achievements from 2022
Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers
Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers
Map of the US east coast, displaying sea-floor mapping achievements from 2022

Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers

Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers

The year of 2022 was big for the Sea-Floor Mapping Group at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center! These data were collected as part of a collaborative research program and include data collected by USGS and our partners.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Map of the US east coast, displaying sea-floor mapping achievements from 2022

Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers

Sea-Floor Mapping: 2022 by the numbers

The year of 2022 was big for the Sea-Floor Mapping Group at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center! These data were collected as part of a collaborative research program and include data collected by USGS and our partners.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior.
Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior
Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior
Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior.

Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior

Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior

 Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior.  The 2018 data are shown in gray hillshade, with the combined 2021 data superimposed in color.  Index map at lower right shows the extent of each survey. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior.

Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior

Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior

 Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior.  The 2018 data are shown in gray hillshade, with the combined 2021 data superimposed in color.  Index map at lower right shows the extent of each survey. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef
Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef
Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef
Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef.  Improvements in grid resolution between the 2018 (left) and 2021 (right) surveys were facilitated by decreasing line spacing from 50 meters to 35 meters or less between adjacent lines.  

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef

Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef.  Improvements in grid resolution between the 2018 (left) and 2021 (right) surveys were facilitated by decreasing line spacing from 50 meters to 35 meters or less between adjacent lines.  

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
man standing on a boat deck surrounded by equipment
SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior
SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior
man standing on a boat deck surrounded by equipment

SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior

SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior

Patrick Berube of WHCMSC prepares the SEABOSS for deployment in Lake Superior. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
man standing on a boat deck surrounded by equipment

SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior

SeaBOSS deployment in Lake Superior

Patrick Berube of WHCMSC prepares the SEABOSS for deployment in Lake Superior. 

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
two men standing on two boats
Sampling operations on Lake Superior
Sampling operations on Lake Superior
two men standing on two boats

Sampling operations on Lake Superior

Sampling operations on Lake Superior

The RV Desmid (foreground) alongside the RV Rafael during sampling operations on Lake Superior.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
two men standing on two boats

Sampling operations on Lake Superior

Sampling operations on Lake Superior

The RV Desmid (foreground) alongside the RV Rafael during sampling operations on Lake Superior.

By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Color hillside image of terrain model of Barnegat Bay, NJ
Color hillside image of terrain model
Color hillside image of terrain model
Color hillside image of terrain model of Barnegat Bay, NJ

Color hillside image of terrain model

Color hillside image of terrain model

Color hillshade image of terrain model of Barnegat Bay, New Jersey

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Color hillside image of terrain model of Barnegat Bay, NJ

Color hillside image of terrain model

Color hillside image of terrain model

Color hillshade image of terrain model of Barnegat Bay, New Jersey

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Yellow seafloor surface overlain on a sub-bottom profile shows holes in the seafloor, with labels
3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry
3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry
Yellow seafloor surface overlain on a sub-bottom profile shows holes in the seafloor, with labels

3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry

3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry

A sub-bottom profile of CHIRP seismic data is draped over swath bathymetry showing the Gulf of Maine pockmark field stratigraphy common to the area. Seafloor mapping combined with sub-bottom geologic profiles shows that Holocene mud ranges in thickness between 5 and 10 meters but pockmarks in Belfast Bay do not penetrate below the geologic unconformity. Th

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Yellow seafloor surface overlain on a sub-bottom profile shows holes in the seafloor, with labels

3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry

3D view of a seismic profile draped under bathymetry

A sub-bottom profile of CHIRP seismic data is draped over swath bathymetry showing the Gulf of Maine pockmark field stratigraphy common to the area. Seafloor mapping combined with sub-bottom geologic profiles shows that Holocene mud ranges in thickness between 5 and 10 meters but pockmarks in Belfast Bay do not penetrate below the geologic unconformity. Th

By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Filter Total Items: 41

Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat

Coral reefs are iconic ecosystems that support diverse, productive communities in both shallow and deep waters. However, our incomplete knowledge of cold-water coral (CWC) niche space limits our understanding of their distribution and precludes a complete accounting of the ecosystem services they provide. Here, we present the results of recent surveys of the CWC mound province on the...
Authors
Erik E. Cordes, Amanda Demopoulos, Andrew J. Davies, Ryan Gasbarro, Alexandria C. Rhoads, Elizabeth Loebeker, Derek Sowers, Jason Chaytor, Cheryl Morrison, Alexis M. Weinnig, Sandra Brooke, Jay J. Lunden, Furu Mienis, Samantha B. Joye, Andrea M. Quattrini, Tracey T. Sutton, Catherine S. McFadden, Jill R. Bourque, Jennifer McClain Counts, Brian D. Andrews, Melissa J. Betters, Peter J. Etnoyer, Gary A. Wolff, Bernie B. Bernard, James M. Brooks, Michael K. Rasser, Caitlin Adams
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat Expanding our view of the cold-water coral niche and accounting of the ecosystem services of the reef habitat

Coral reefs are iconic ecosystems that support diverse, productive communities in both shallow and deep waters. However, our incomplete knowledge of cold-water coral (CWC) niche space limits our understanding of their distribution and precludes a complete accounting of the ecosystem services they provide. Here, we present the results of recent surveys of the CWC mound province on the...
Authors
Erick E. Cordes, Amanda Demopoulos, Andrew Davies, Ryan Gasbarro, Alexandria Rhoads, Elizabeth Lobecker, Dereck Sowers, Jason Chaytor, Cheryl Morrison, Alexis Marie Weinnig, Sandra Brooke, Jay J. Lunden, Furu Mienis, Samantha B. Joye, Andrea M. Quattrini, Tracey Sutton, Catherine McFadden, Jill R. Bourque, Jennifer McClain Counts, Brian D. Andrews, Melissa Betters, Peter Etnoyer, Gary Wolff, Bernie Bernard, James Brooks, Michael Rasser, Caitlin Adams
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center , Eastern Ecological Science Center

Seafloor observations eliminate a landslide as the source of the 1918 Puerto Rico Tsunami Seafloor observations eliminate a landslide as the source of the 1918 Puerto Rico Tsunami

The 11 October 1918 devastating tsunami in northwest Puerto Rico had been used as an example for earthquake‐induced landslide tsunami hazard. Three pieces of evidence pointed to a landslide as the origin of the tsunami: the discovery of a large submarine landslide scar from bathymetry data collected by shipboard high‐resolution multibeam sonar, reported breaks of submarine cable within...
Authors
Uri S. ten Brink, Jason Chaytor, Claudia Flores, Yong Wei, Simon Detmer, Lilian Lucas, Brian D. Andrews, Aggeliki Georgiopoulou
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Systematic mapping of the ocean-continent transform plate boundary of the Queen Charlotte fault system, southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia—A preliminary bathymetric terrain model Systematic mapping of the ocean-continent transform plate boundary of the Queen Charlotte fault system, southeastern Alaska and western British Columbia—A preliminary bathymetric terrain model

In 2015, U.S. Geological Survey scientists in collaboration with scientists from other institutions began a study of the Queen Charlotte fault—the first systematic study of the fault in more than three decades. The primary goal of the study was to gain a better understanding of the earthquake, tsunami, and underwater-landslide hazards throughout southeastern Alaska, as well as gather...
Authors
Brian D. Andrews, Daniel S. Brothers, Peter Dartnell, J. Vaughn Barrie, Peter J. Haeussler, Kristen M. Green, H. Gary Greene, Nathaniel C. Miller, Jared W. Kluesner, Uri S. ten Brink
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization

Mature diffuse tectonic block boundary revealed by the 2020 southwestern Puerto Rico seismic sequence Mature diffuse tectonic block boundary revealed by the 2020 southwestern Puerto Rico seismic sequence

Distributed faulting typically tends to coalesce into one or a few faults with repeated deformation. The progression of clustered medium-sized (≥Mw4.5) earthquakes during the 2020 seismic sequence in southwestern Puerto Rico (SWPR), modeling shoreline subsidence from InSAR, and sub-seafloor mapping by high-resolution seismic reflection profiles, suggest that the 2020 SWPR seismic...
Authors
Uri S. ten Brink, L Vanacore, E. J. Fielding, Jason Chaytor, A.M. Lopez-Venegas, Wayne E. Baldwin, David S. Foster, Brian D. Andrews
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities

Focused fluid flow and methane venting along the Queen Charlotte fault, offshore Alaska (USA) and British Columbia (Canada) Focused fluid flow and methane venting along the Queen Charlotte fault, offshore Alaska (USA) and British Columbia (Canada)

Fluid seepage along obliquely deforming plate boundaries can be an important indicator of crustal permeability and influence on fault-zone mechanics and hydrocarbon migration. The ~850-km-long Queen Charlotte fault (QCF) is the dominant structure along the right-lateral transform boundary that separates the Pacific and North American tectonic plates offshore southeastern Alaska (USA) and...
Authors
Nancy G. Prouty, Daniel S. Brothers, Jared W. Kluesner, J. Vaughn Barrie, Brian D. Andrews, Rachel Lauer, Gary Greene, James E. Conrad, Thomas Lorenson, Michael D. Law, Diana Sahy, Kim Conway, Mary McGann, Peter Dartnell
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, Deep Sea Exploration, Mapping and Characterization
Mapping the Entire Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault System

Mapping the Entire Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault System

A recently completed series of data publications led by the U.S. Geological Survey represents the first time the fault has been mapped using...

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Mapping the Stamp Sands of Lake Superior

Mapping the Stamp Sands of Lake Superior

In September 2018, the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping to determine the...

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Striking New Seafloor Imagery of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault in the Gulf of Alaska

Striking New Seafloor Imagery of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault in the Gulf of Alaska

In 2016 the USGS led two geophysical surveys of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault off the coast of southeast Alaska, using multibeam sonar to map...

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