Environmental Resources for roundtable discussion and press event on climate adaptation science and partnerships at the University of Puerto Rico
USGS scientist conducts biosurveillance for sea urchin killer in the Florida Keys
SPCMSC scientists to assess heat-stress impacts to corals in St. Croix, Virgin Islands, with the National Park Service
Sea urchin killer spreads to new species and new region
SPCMSC Updated Geologic Core and Sample Database now available
Sound Waves Newsletter: January-February 2024
Explore coastal and marine science from across the USGS
Explore coastal and marine science from across the USGS
Diadema antillarum Mass Mortality
How coral restoration could help mitigate the effects of sea-level rise
How coral restoration could help mitigate the effects of sea-level rise
USGS Participates in Unlearning Racism in Geoscience (URGE)
Scientists Present Recommendations for Improving Diversity in the USGS Workforce
Scientists Present Recommendations for Improving Diversity in the USGS Workforce
USGS scientists shade corals in emergency rescue effort
Discover Coastal and Marine Science of the USGS St. Petersburg
A new interactive geonarrative will take you on a guided journey to explore the research, capabilities, and history of the center
A new interactive geonarrative will take you on a guided journey to explore the research, capabilities, and history of the center
Explore the history of the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Research programs have a primary focus of investigating processes related to coastal and marine environments and societal implications related to natural hazards, resource sustainability, and environmental change.
Science
Science
Read about our science projects, find out where we are working, and why it matters.
Publications
Publications
Peer-reviewed research results and conclusions, authored by Center scientists.
News
Research article on hurricane impacts to Looe Key Reef, Florida selected as a highlight article in the journal ‘Ocean Science’
Research article on hurricane impacts to Looe Key Reef, Florida selected as a highlight article in the journal ‘Ocean Science’
SPCMSC staff to participate in Tampa Bay Watch’s summer camps
SPCMSC staff to participate in Tampa Bay Watch’s summer camps
Photo Roundup: March-May 2024
Photo Roundup: March-May 2024
Publications
Projected sea-level rise and high tide flooding at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, Florida
IntroductionNational parks and preserves in the South Atlantic-Gulf Region contain valuable coastal habitats such as tidal wetlands and mangrove forests, as well as irreplaceable historic buildings and archeological sites located in low-lying areas. These natural and cultural resources are vulnerable to accelerated sea-level rise and escalating high tide flooding events. Through a Natural Resource
Impact of Hurricane Irma on coral reef sediment redistribution at Looe Key Reef, Florida, USA
Understanding event-driven sediment transport in coral reef environments is essential to assessing impacts on reef species, habitats, restoration, and mitigation, yet a global knowledge gap remains due to limited quantitative studies. Hurricane Irma made landfall in the Lower Florida Keys with sustained 209 km h−1 winds and waves greater than 8 m on 10 September 2017, directly impacting the Florid
NEWTS1.0: Numerical model of coastal Erosion by Waves and Transgressive Scarps
Models of rocky-coast erosion help us understand the physical phenomena that control coastal morphology and evolution, infer the processes shaping coasts in remote environments, and evaluate risk from natural hazards and future climate change. Existing models, however, are highly complex, are computationally expensive, and depend on many input parameters; this limits our ability to explore planfor
Science
Developing a USGS Digital Coral Growth Archive using Rotating X-Ray Computerized Tomography - The ACTS Project
The Archival Computed Tomography Scanning Project (ACTS) currently develops the USGS Coral Core Archive, housed at the Pacific and St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Centers, that contains approximately 500 coral reef cores from U.S. jurisdictions worldwide. This archive, is one of the largest coral archives in the world and provides historical context for coral-reef science studies...
Diadema antillarum Mass Mortality
Diadema antillarum scuticociliatosis (DaSc) is an emerging infectious disease affecting sea urchins of the genus Diadema . Caused by a ciliate most closely related to Philaster apodigitiformis , the infection caused mass mortalities of urchins in the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas in 2022-2023.
Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities: Coral Propagation Technique (CPT) Development Project
Through a collaborative effort with other federal agencies and academic and research institutions, the USGS is working to inform and enhance the protection and management of coral communities in mesophotic and deep benthic areas of the Gulf of Mexico.