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Sara Ernst

My passion lies in bridging the communication gap between scientists, stakeholders, decision makers, and the public – ensuring these entities have the information they need to make informed decisions, develop solutions to environmental issues, and become better environmental stewards.

Science and Products

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center — 2021 Annual Report

The 2021 annual report of the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center highlights accomplishments of 2021, includes a list of 2021 publications, and summarizes the work of the center, as well as the work of each of its science groups. This product allows readers to gain a general understanding of the focus areas of the center’s scientific research and learn more about sp
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center—2020 annual report

The 2020 annual report of the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center highlights accomplishments of 2020, includes a list of 2020 publications, and summarizes the work of the center, as well as the work of each of its science groups. This product allows readers to gain a general understanding of the focus areas of the center’s scientific research and learn more about sp
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center—2019 annual report

The 2019 annual report of the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center highlights accomplishments of 2019, includes a list of 2019 publications, and summarizes the work of the center, as well as the work of each of its science groups. This product allows readers to gain a general understanding of the focus areas of the center’s scientific research and learn more about sp
By
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center—2018 annual report

The 2018 annual report of the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center summarizes the work of the center, as well as the work of each of its science groups, highlights accomplishments of 2018, and includes a list of publications published in 2018. This product allows readers to gain a general understanding of the focus areas of the center’s scientific research and learn
By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Coastal and marine science of the U.S. Geological Survey in Woods Hole, Massachusetts

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, is one of three centers serving the mission of the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program (CMHRP). Since its authorization by Congress in 1962, the CMHRP has served as the primary Federal program for marine geology and physical science research and is responsible for the Nati
By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Inlet into Pleasant bay, looking north to Nauset Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Chatham, MA

State of Our Nation's Coast

The USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program (CMHRP) established a Coastal Change Hazards (CCH) programmatic focus to support the optimization of resources, improve the visibility of USGS coastal hazards science, and prioritize science, products, and tools that meet stakeholder needs. Important work by CMHRP scientists and staff within CCH supports hazard mitigation along our nation’s...
By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

State of Our Nation's Coast

The USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program (CMHRP) established a Coastal Change Hazards (CCH) programmatic focus to support the optimization of resources, improve the visibility of USGS coastal hazards science, and prioritize science, products, and tools that meet stakeholder needs. Important work by CMHRP scientists and staff within CCH supports hazard mitigation along our nation’s...
Learn More
link
Coastal Change Hazards Program Triangle Logo

Coastal Change Hazards

Natural processes such as waves, tides, and weather, continually change coastal landscapes. The integrity of coastal homes, businesses, and infrastructure can be threatened by hazards associated with event-driven changes, such as extreme storms and their impacts on beach and dune erosion, or longer-term, cumulative changes associated with coastal and marine processes, such as sea-level rise...
By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Coastal Change Hazards

Natural processes such as waves, tides, and weather, continually change coastal landscapes. The integrity of coastal homes, businesses, and infrastructure can be threatened by hazards associated with event-driven changes, such as extreme storms and their impacts on beach and dune erosion, or longer-term, cumulative changes associated with coastal and marine processes, such as sea-level rise...
Learn More
Filter Total Items: 35
link

Strengthening Our Skills: sUAS Lidar Training

The USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center hosted a small uncrewed aircraft system lidar training workshop from October 31 through November...

Read Article
link

Storms Help an Underwater Cave Breathe in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

New science shows that storms can provide an influx of oxygenated water into underwater caves, which supports the food web and enhances the biological...

Read Article
link

Hydrologic Restoration in Coastal Wetlands Enhances Climate Change Mitigation Benefits

A recent study shows that restoring tidal exchange in impounded coastal wetlands can enhance their elevation resilience and climate change mitigation...

Read Article
link

DECODE: A New Automatic Algorithm To Track Coastal Tidal Wetland Changes

Scientists from the USGS, University of Connecticut, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed an automatic algorithm for DEtection and...

Read Article
link

Data Collection to Assess Marsh Restoration Success in New Jersey After Hurricane Sandy

During the week of March 21, 2022, the Coastal and Estuarine Dynamics group of the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center deployed...

Read Article
link

Diving Assistance Provided to the New England Water Science Center

On March 29 and 30, USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center staff provided diving assistance to the USGS New England Water Science Center. 

...
Read Article
link

Native American Heritage Month: Spotlight on Troy Currence

November is Native American Heritage Month—a time to celebrate Native American heritage and pause in thankful reflection for our diverse community and...

Read Article
link

USGS Participation in the 2021 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Digital Conference

Diversity within the science community is essential to solving the world’s scientific problems. Different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives...

Read Article
link

National Hispanic American Heritage Month

National Hispanic American Heritage Month, September 15 through October 15, was established to recognize the achievements and contributions of...

Read Article
link

Exploring the Unknown in the Deep North Atlantic Ocean

Learning more about international waters, or the "high seas," and other unexplored deepwater areas through exploration is critical to ensuring they...

Read Article
link

Celebrating the 5,000th Sample in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary!

On Friday, July 23rd, Page Valentine, a Research Geologist with the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, collected his 5,000th sample in...

Read Article
link

Why the Ocean?

To celebrate Ocean Month 2021, we asked staff from across the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program why they study the ocean, why they...

Read Article
Stats about USGS coastal science over a blue tinted aerial image of a mountainous coastline. Full text in caption.
link
Stats about USGS ocean science over a green tinted image of the deck of a research vessel at sea. Full text in caption.
link
Text: "The U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center" over photo of two buildings, grass and trees
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Text: "The U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center" over photo of two buildings, grass and trees link
Text: "The U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center" over photo of two buildings, grass and trees link
table of contents page of 2021 annual report with photo of five people standing on beach with helium-powered kite-balloon
link
page of 2021 annual report with person standing on beach with long pole shaped equipment
link
page with four highlights for coastal and shelf geology science
link
title page of 2021 annual report with two people carrying equipment walking towards the ocean on the beach
link
Two people on beach kneeling down with drone
link
aerial view of a marsh with the text 'coastal wetlands' link
aerial view of a marsh with the text 'coastal wetlands' link

Science and Products

  • Publications

    Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center — 2021 Annual Report

    The 2021 annual report of the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center highlights accomplishments of 2021, includes a list of 2021 publications, and summarizes the work of the center, as well as the work of each of its science groups. This product allows readers to gain a general understanding of the focus areas of the center’s scientific research and learn more about sp
    By
    Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

    Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center—2020 annual report

    The 2020 annual report of the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center highlights accomplishments of 2020, includes a list of 2020 publications, and summarizes the work of the center, as well as the work of each of its science groups. This product allows readers to gain a general understanding of the focus areas of the center’s scientific research and learn more about sp
    By
    Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

    Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center—2019 annual report

    The 2019 annual report of the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center highlights accomplishments of 2019, includes a list of 2019 publications, and summarizes the work of the center, as well as the work of each of its science groups. This product allows readers to gain a general understanding of the focus areas of the center’s scientific research and learn more about sp
    By
    Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

    Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center—2018 annual report

    The 2018 annual report of the U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center summarizes the work of the center, as well as the work of each of its science groups, highlights accomplishments of 2018, and includes a list of publications published in 2018. This product allows readers to gain a general understanding of the focus areas of the center’s scientific research and learn
    By
    Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

    Coastal and marine science of the U.S. Geological Survey in Woods Hole, Massachusetts

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, is one of three centers serving the mission of the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program (CMHRP). Since its authorization by Congress in 1962, the CMHRP has served as the primary Federal program for marine geology and physical science research and is responsible for the Nati
    By
    Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
  • Science
    link
    Inlet into Pleasant bay, looking north to Nauset Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Chatham, MA

    State of Our Nation's Coast

    The USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program (CMHRP) established a Coastal Change Hazards (CCH) programmatic focus to support the optimization of resources, improve the visibility of USGS coastal hazards science, and prioritize science, products, and tools that meet stakeholder needs. Important work by CMHRP scientists and staff within CCH supports hazard mitigation along our nation’s...
    By
    Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
    link

    State of Our Nation's Coast

    The USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program (CMHRP) established a Coastal Change Hazards (CCH) programmatic focus to support the optimization of resources, improve the visibility of USGS coastal hazards science, and prioritize science, products, and tools that meet stakeholder needs. Important work by CMHRP scientists and staff within CCH supports hazard mitigation along our nation’s...
    Learn More
    link
    Coastal Change Hazards Program Triangle Logo

    Coastal Change Hazards

    Natural processes such as waves, tides, and weather, continually change coastal landscapes. The integrity of coastal homes, businesses, and infrastructure can be threatened by hazards associated with event-driven changes, such as extreme storms and their impacts on beach and dune erosion, or longer-term, cumulative changes associated with coastal and marine processes, such as sea-level rise...
    By
    Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
    link

    Coastal Change Hazards

    Natural processes such as waves, tides, and weather, continually change coastal landscapes. The integrity of coastal homes, businesses, and infrastructure can be threatened by hazards associated with event-driven changes, such as extreme storms and their impacts on beach and dune erosion, or longer-term, cumulative changes associated with coastal and marine processes, such as sea-level rise...
    Learn More
  • News
    Filter Total Items: 35
    link

    Strengthening Our Skills: sUAS Lidar Training

    The USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center hosted a small uncrewed aircraft system lidar training workshop from October 31 through November...

    Read Article
    link

    Storms Help an Underwater Cave Breathe in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

    New science shows that storms can provide an influx of oxygenated water into underwater caves, which supports the food web and enhances the biological...

    Read Article
    link

    Hydrologic Restoration in Coastal Wetlands Enhances Climate Change Mitigation Benefits

    A recent study shows that restoring tidal exchange in impounded coastal wetlands can enhance their elevation resilience and climate change mitigation...

    Read Article
    link

    DECODE: A New Automatic Algorithm To Track Coastal Tidal Wetland Changes

    Scientists from the USGS, University of Connecticut, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service developed an automatic algorithm for DEtection and...

    Read Article
    link

    Data Collection to Assess Marsh Restoration Success in New Jersey After Hurricane Sandy

    During the week of March 21, 2022, the Coastal and Estuarine Dynamics group of the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center deployed...

    Read Article
    link

    Diving Assistance Provided to the New England Water Science Center

    On March 29 and 30, USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center staff provided diving assistance to the USGS New England Water Science Center. 

    ...
    Read Article
    link

    Native American Heritage Month: Spotlight on Troy Currence

    November is Native American Heritage Month—a time to celebrate Native American heritage and pause in thankful reflection for our diverse community and...

    Read Article
    link

    USGS Participation in the 2021 SACNAS National Diversity in STEM Digital Conference

    Diversity within the science community is essential to solving the world’s scientific problems. Different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives...

    Read Article
    link

    National Hispanic American Heritage Month

    National Hispanic American Heritage Month, September 15 through October 15, was established to recognize the achievements and contributions of...

    Read Article
    link

    Exploring the Unknown in the Deep North Atlantic Ocean

    Learning more about international waters, or the "high seas," and other unexplored deepwater areas through exploration is critical to ensuring they...

    Read Article
    link

    Celebrating the 5,000th Sample in the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary!

    On Friday, July 23rd, Page Valentine, a Research Geologist with the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, collected his 5,000th sample in...

    Read Article
    link

    Why the Ocean?

    To celebrate Ocean Month 2021, we asked staff from across the USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program why they study the ocean, why they...

    Read Article
  • Multimedia
    Stats about USGS coastal science over a blue tinted aerial image of a mountainous coastline. Full text in caption.
    link
    Stats about USGS ocean science over a green tinted image of the deck of a research vessel at sea. Full text in caption.
    link
    Text: "The U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center" over photo of two buildings, grass and trees
    link
    Text: "The U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center" over photo of two buildings, grass and trees link
    Text: "The U.S. Geological Survey Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center" over photo of two buildings, grass and trees link
    table of contents page of 2021 annual report with photo of five people standing on beach with helium-powered kite-balloon
    link
    page of 2021 annual report with person standing on beach with long pole shaped equipment
    link
    page with four highlights for coastal and shelf geology science
    link
    title page of 2021 annual report with two people carrying equipment walking towards the ocean on the beach
    link
    Two people on beach kneeling down with drone
    link
    aerial view of a marsh with the text 'coastal wetlands' link
    aerial view of a marsh with the text 'coastal wetlands' link