Capabilities
Capabilities
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center conducts integrated mapping of the coastal and ocean environment to define hazards and sediment processes, to support habitat and resource management, and to monitor change. PCMSC is an innovator in mapping, laboratory analyses, and field techniques, whose expertise is sought by other governmental agencies, educational institutions, and private co
PCMSC Marine Facility
PCMSC Marine Facility
“MarFac” provides engineering, mechanical, and electronics expertise for our field operations.
Field Equipment
Field Equipment
Learn about the wide array of field equipment and capabilities at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Marine Facility.
Laboratories
Laboratories
Learn all about our state-of-the-art laboratories at the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center in Santa Cruz, California.
Filter Total Items: 51
Submarine Groundwater Discharge
We define submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) to consist either of fresh groundwater, re-circulated seawater, or a composite thereof. We evaluate and present SGD in terms of a vector for nutrient delivery to coastal waters.
Geometrics G-882 Magnetometer
In geophysical surveys from a ship, a magnetometer measures the fluctuations in the magnetic signature of the rocks and sediment below the ocean floor.
Geometrics GeoEel Multi-Channel Streamer
The GeoEel is a multichannel digital streamer system, with hydrophones in a long, green hose. The streamer is towed like a long snake in the water from a vessel, and the hydrophones "listen" for and record the signals from the seismic sound source.
Applied Acoustics AA201 Boomer Plate
The AA201 boomer plate is used with a high-resolution seismic system
GeoPulse Boomer Plates
GeoPulse boomer plates are used with a high-resolution seismic system
Seismic sound source power supply
Power supply for seismic reflection systems
Mini GI seismic source
Seismic source for marine reflection surveys
Streamer Depth Control Birds
The Geospace Navigator bird is a streamer depth control device, used with a high-resolution seismic system to regulate and record the depth of the streamer.
GI 210 Seismic Source
Seismic source for marine reflection surveys
High-Resolution Multichannel Seismic System
Description of the high-resolution multichannel seismic system at the Marine Facility (MarFac) of the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, for seafloor mapping
The Mud Creek Landslide May 20 2017
On May 20, 2017, the steep slopes at Mud Creek on California’s Big Sur coast, about 140 miles south of San Francisco, suffered a catastrophic collapse. USGS scientists from the Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center and the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center continue to monitor this section of the coastline, in collaboration with the California Department of Transportation...
Piston coring rig
The USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center’s Marine Facility recently acquired this floating coring rig that features a motorized piston coring unit and is capable of collecting 20-meter sediment cores in calm waters.