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Illustration helps visualize the seafloor character showing canyons and and the rivers that form them.
Southern Cascadia topography and bathymetry
Southern Cascadia topography and bathymetry
Southern Cascadia topography and bathymetry

Topography and bathymetry of southern Cascadia, which includes southern Oregon and northern California (seafloor depths between 200 and 3000 m are shown in the spectrum color scale from red (shallower) to purple (deeper). The land and continental shelf are shown in grayscale slope shading where darker colors represent steeper slopes.

Topography and bathymetry of southern Cascadia, which includes southern Oregon and northern California (seafloor depths between 200 and 3000 m are shown in the spectrum color scale from red (shallower) to purple (deeper). The land and continental shelf are shown in grayscale slope shading where darker colors represent steeper slopes.

A series of panels, looking down at a river delta, show how the delta changed, growing larger as more sediment flowed downriver.
Evolution of shoreline around Elwha River mouth
Evolution of shoreline around Elwha River mouth
Evolution of shoreline around Elwha River mouth

Evolution of the shoreline around the Elwha River mouth, Washington, before, during and after dam removal, 2011–2017. Two large dams were removed from the Elwha River between 2011 and 2014 in the largest dam removal worldwide thus far, releasing more than 20 million tons of sediment downstream.

Evolution of the shoreline around the Elwha River mouth, Washington, before, during and after dam removal, 2011–2017. Two large dams were removed from the Elwha River between 2011 and 2014 in the largest dam removal worldwide thus far, releasing more than 20 million tons of sediment downstream.

Two men work on a boat pulling up a long cable from the water.
Retrieving a core sampler
Retrieving a core sampler
Retrieving a core sampler

USGS scientists Dan Powers (left) and Andy Ritchie retrieving a core sample from beneath Lake Ozette aboard research vessel Hadai.

USGS scientists Dan Powers (left) and Andy Ritchie retrieving a core sample from beneath Lake Ozette aboard research vessel Hadai.

An illustrated map shows seafloor features and is labeled with dots to show where samples were collected.
Lake Ozette bathymetry
Lake Ozette bathymetry
Lake Ozette bathymetry

Bathymetric map of Lake Ozette, showing locations of core samples (red circles).

Bathymetric map of Lake Ozette, showing locations of core samples (red circles).

Photograph of 2 UNC mini landers surrounded by Sablefish
UNC mini landers surrounded by Sablefish
UNC mini landers surrounded by Sablefish
UNC mini landers surrounded by Sablefish

 Two UNC mini landers, surrounded by Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) and pink sea urchins, incubate seawater in situ to enable calculations of methane oxidation rates.

 Two UNC mini landers, surrounded by Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) and pink sea urchins, incubate seawater in situ to enable calculations of methane oxidation rates.

Photograph of SuBastian’s manipulator jaw stabilizes GEOMAR’s glowing bubble box
SuBastian’s manipulator jaw stabilizes GEOMAR’s glowing bubble box
SuBastian’s manipulator jaw stabilizes GEOMAR’s glowing bubble box
SuBastian’s manipulator jaw stabilizes GEOMAR’s glowing bubble box

ROV SuBastian’s manipulator jaw stabilizes GEOMAR’s glowing bubble box that is capturing high-resolution images of methane bubbles rising from the seafloor.

Photograph of Red plumes burst out from the tops of these chemosynthetic tubeworms
Red plumes burst out from the tops of these chemosynthetic tubeworms
Red plumes burst out from the tops of these chemosynthetic tubeworms
Red plumes burst out from the tops of these chemosynthetic tubeworms

Red plumes burst out from the tops of these chemosynthetic tubeworms, capturing hydrogen sulfide and oxygen from the surrounding water to feed their bacterial endosymbionts. The tubeworm tubes provide a habitat for several benthic animals, including the pale pink branching octocorals seen here

Red plumes burst out from the tops of these chemosynthetic tubeworms, capturing hydrogen sulfide and oxygen from the surrounding water to feed their bacterial endosymbionts. The tubeworm tubes provide a habitat for several benthic animals, including the pale pink branching octocorals seen here

Photograph of a building in the distance with a flagpole in front of it, trees, cars parked, and grassy lawn in the foreground.
USGS Menlo Park campus
USGS Menlo Park campus
USGS Menlo Park campus

Building 3 on the USGS Western Region campus in Menlo Park, California.

Building 3 on the USGS Western Region campus in Menlo Park, California.

Two men walk along a path near one building towards another building with trees and a grassy lawn.
Building 1 and Credit Union on USGS Menlo Park campus
Building 1 and Credit Union on USGS Menlo Park campus
Building 1 and Credit Union on USGS Menlo Park campus

Building 1 formerly housed many different USGS groups, including the Western Coastal and Marine Geology team, but slowly has been leased out to other federal agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Veterans Affairs (VA). At the right is the Menlo Survey Federal Credit Union.

Building 1 formerly housed many different USGS groups, including the Western Coastal and Marine Geology team, but slowly has been leased out to other federal agencies like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Veterans Affairs (VA). At the right is the Menlo Survey Federal Credit Union.

Map showing rates of shoreline change on the north coast of Alaska
Map showing rates of shoreline change on the north coast of Alaska
Map showing rates of shoreline change on the north coast of Alaska
Map showing rates of shoreline change on the north coast of Alaska

Map showing rates of shoreline change on the north coast of Alaska. Rates range from -15 meters per year to +11 meters per year.

Dr. Barnard
Dr. Barnard
Dr. Barnard
Dr. Barnard

As one of four panelists at a briefing held by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Coastal States Organization, Dr.

As one of four panelists at a briefing held by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and the Coastal States Organization, Dr.

A coil of green hose on the deck of a ship at sea.
Geometrics GeoEel Multichannel Streamer
Geometrics GeoEel Multichannel Streamer
Geometrics GeoEel Multichannel Streamer

PCMSC's Geometrics GeoEel Multichannel Streamer sits on the deck of R/V Bold Horizon

PCMSC's Geometrics GeoEel Multichannel Streamer sits on the deck of R/V Bold Horizon

An instrument rests on the deck of a ship, its cables suspended above it, while a scientist looks on.
Chirp rests on the deck of R/V Bold Horizon
Chirp rests on the deck of R/V Bold Horizon
Chirp rests on the deck of R/V Bold Horizon

This instrument, the Edgetech SB-516 or "chirp", emits acoustic signals that penetrate the sediment on the seafloor. The reflected sound is recorded and is used to create a cross-section image, or profile, of the sub-bottom.

This instrument, the Edgetech SB-516 or "chirp", emits acoustic signals that penetrate the sediment on the seafloor. The reflected sound is recorded and is used to create a cross-section image, or profile, of the sub-bottom.

Photo of the side of a ship docked at a pier with a bridge far off in the distance.
NOAA ship Reuben Lasker
NOAA ship Reuben Lasker
NOAA ship Reuben Lasker

NOAA ship Reuben Lasker docked in San Francisco with the Bay Bridge in the distance. On October 21, leadership from NOAA, USGS, and BOEM met with the scientists and crew of the EXPRESS expedition to learn about the multi-agency cooperative research campaign.

NOAA ship Reuben Lasker docked in San Francisco with the Bay Bridge in the distance. On October 21, leadership from NOAA, USGS, and BOEM met with the scientists and crew of the EXPRESS expedition to learn about the multi-agency cooperative research campaign.

View from up high on a coastal cliff looking down along a beach where a river meets the ocean.
Klamath River mouth
Klamath River mouth
Klamath River mouth

A view of the mouth of the Klamath River where it meets the Pacific Ocean in northern California. The river runs from Oregon to California. Four dams along the Klamath are pending removal. USGS is studying coastal watershed response to dam removal, including long-term before-after/control-impact (BACI) studies.

A view of the mouth of the Klamath River where it meets the Pacific Ocean in northern California. The river runs from Oregon to California. Four dams along the Klamath are pending removal. USGS is studying coastal watershed response to dam removal, including long-term before-after/control-impact (BACI) studies.

People standing on the stern of a boat out in open, calm water, sun low in the sky behind clouds.
Retrieving gear from off the coast
Retrieving gear from off the coast
Retrieving gear from off the coast

A science crew on M/V (marine vessel) Bold Horizon retrieve gear from offshore San Francisco.

A science crew on M/V (marine vessel) Bold Horizon retrieve gear from offshore San Francisco.

A group of people stand, smiling for the camera, on the deck of a ship at sea with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background
Science crew on research cruise
Science crew on research cruise
Science crew on research cruise

USGS scientists on the back deck of M/V Bold Horizon in San Francisco Bay: (back row, standing: left to right) Brandon Nasr, Danny Brothers, Travis Alonghi (USGS student contractor), Gerry Hatcher, Jenna Hill, Pete Dal Ferro, and Jenny McKee; (front row, kneeling: left to right) USGS scientists Janet Watt and Nora Nieminski.

USGS scientists on the back deck of M/V Bold Horizon in San Francisco Bay: (back row, standing: left to right) Brandon Nasr, Danny Brothers, Travis Alonghi (USGS student contractor), Gerry Hatcher, Jenna Hill, Pete Dal Ferro, and Jenny McKee; (front row, kneeling: left to right) USGS scientists Janet Watt and Nora Nieminski.

People stand on the deck of a ship while guiding a large seafloor coring device off the stern, mountains in background.
Rossfelder P-5 Vibracorer
Rossfelder P-5 Vibracorer
Rossfelder P-5 Vibracorer

USGS science crew from Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center work together to get the vibracorer coring device in position to collect sediment core samples off San Francisco, California.

USGS science crew from Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center work together to get the vibracorer coring device in position to collect sediment core samples off San Francisco, California.

Photo of the stern of a ship on the water with equipment tied down to the deck and coastal cliffs in the background.
Vibracorer on deck
Vibracorer on deck
Vibracorer on deck

The Rossfelder P-5 vibracorer, with its polybuterate liner visible, is secured on the deck of the research vessel Bold Horizon, awaiting deployment off the coast of California just north of San Francisco. More liners are stored in a cage off to the side.

The Rossfelder P-5 vibracorer, with its polybuterate liner visible, is secured on the deck of the research vessel Bold Horizon, awaiting deployment off the coast of California just north of San Francisco. More liners are stored in a cage off to the side.

View from the stern of a ship with a large A-frame boom with pullies and ropes attached to a coring device sitting on deck.
Vibracorer on deck in San Francisco
Vibracorer on deck in San Francisco
Vibracorer on deck in San Francisco

The USGS uses the Rossfelder P-5 vibracorer to collect deep-water sediment samples from the seafloor. Here, they are heading out offshore of San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

The USGS uses the Rossfelder P-5 vibracorer to collect deep-water sediment samples from the seafloor. Here, they are heading out offshore of San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background.

Four people stand around a coring device on the deck of a ship.
Removal of sediment-filled core liner
Removal of sediment-filled core liner
Removal of sediment-filled core liner

USGS scientists Brandon Nasr, Jenna Hill, Nora Nieminski, and Jenny McKee removing a sediment-filled core liner from the jumbo piston core barrel with the picturesque northern California coastline in the background.

USGS scientists Brandon Nasr, Jenna Hill, Nora Nieminski, and Jenny McKee removing a sediment-filled core liner from the jumbo piston core barrel with the picturesque northern California coastline in the background.