Haunted Seismic Data, Ghostbusted by Science
USGS-designed tools remove “ghost reflections” from seismic data
USGS-designed tools remove “ghost reflections” from seismic data
Remote-Sensing Large-Wood Storage Downstream from Reservoirs After Dam Removal
USGS-developed AI model tracks distribution of woody debris along Elwha River
USGS-developed AI model tracks distribution of woody debris along Elwha River
Investigating Relationships Between Deep-Sea Invertebrate Communities and Marine Minerals to Inform Resource Considerations
Effects of Climate Variability on Coastal Erosion in the Pacific Northwest
The Role of Coral Reefs in Coastal Erosion
Wildfire and Extreme Rain Intensify Erosion and Sediment Flow, USGS-led Study Shows
Uncovering 14,000 Years of Seismic Activity in Northern Cascadia
Restoring Coral Reefs for Coastal Hazard Risk Reduction in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Shifting Sand-Supply Dynamics in San Francisco Bay
In New Study, Scientists Identify Key Markers of the Anthropocene Epoch
Study Finds Seasonal Differences in Marshland Erosion in South San Francisco Bay
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
We conduct multidisciplinary scientific research in the coastal and offshore areas of California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, and other US Pacific Islands; and in other waterways of the United States.
What We Do: Coastal and Marine Science at USGS Santa Cruz
What We Do: Coastal and Marine Science at USGS Santa Cruz
Get an overview of the coastal and marine research conducted by the USGS in Santa Cruz, California in our downloadable booklet.
Research Projects
Research Projects
Read about our science projects, find out where we are working, and discover the reasons why our research matters.
News
Remote-Sensing Large-Wood Storage Downstream from Reservoirs After Dam Removal
Remote-Sensing Large-Wood Storage Downstream from Reservoirs After Dam Removal
Haunted Seismic Data, Ghostbusted by Science
Haunted Seismic Data, Ghostbusted by Science
Sound Waves Newsletter: July-September 2024
Sound Waves Newsletter: July-September 2024
Publications
The projected exposure and response of a natural barrier island system to climate-driven coastal hazards
Accelerating sea level rise (SLR) and changing storm patterns will increasingly expose barrier islands to coastal hazards, including flooding, erosion, and rising groundwater tables. We assess the exposure of Cape Lookout National Seashore, a barrier island system in North Carolina (USA), to projected SLR and storm hazards over the twenty-first century. We estimate that with 0.5 m of SLR, 47% of c
Rapid simulation of wave runup on morphologically diverse, reef-lined coasts with the BEWARE-2 (Broad-range Estimator of Wave Attack in Reef Environments) meta-process model
Low-lying, tropical, coral-reef-lined coastlines are becoming increasingly vulnerable to wave-driven flooding due to population growth, coral reef degradation, and sea-level rise. Early-warning systems (EWSs) are needed to enable coastal authorities to issue timely alerts and coordinate preparedness and evacuation measures for their coastal communities. At longer timescales, risk management and ad
A dataset of two-dimensional XBeach model set-up files for northern California
Here, we describe a dataset of two-dimensional (2D) XBeach model files that were developed for the Coastal Storm Modeling System (CoSMoS) in northern California as an update to an earlier CoSMoS implementation that relied on one-dimensional (1D) modeling methods. We provide details on the data and their application, such that they might be useful to end-users for other coastal studies. Modeling me
Science
Habitat Vulnerability to Climate Change: Identifying Climate Change Induced Mass Mortality Events Across Large Landscapes of the United States
USGS researchers will characterize extreme climatic events across U.S. following a review of case studies of mass mortality events associated with climate extremes including drought, precipitation, freeze, heat waves, and storm events.
Eyes on Earth Episode 120 – Mapping the California Coastline
Coastline erosion can change your favorite beach. But it can also affect highways and buildings. Landsat, along with high-resolution data, can be used to model the past and predict the future of changes caused by sea level rise and coastal erosion.
Post-Fire Sediment Research at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center (PCMSC) in Santa Cruz, California, has been growing our post-fire research contributions since 2017, through studies of post-fire sediment movement that address the Natural Hazards Mission Area objectives for understanding wildfire hazards.