Biofilms are mats of microorganisms that stick together and form a layer, or “film,” on and within objects in the water—including ships—which could represent one possible mechanism for the spread of microbes (and potentially SCTLD’s unknown causative agent) from one region to another. To test this theory, scientists at the St.
Images
![a coral fragment in a bucket, half white and half darkened](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/SMS_2021_%20-%2032e.jpg?itok=usL1HbBQ)
Biofilms are mats of microorganisms that stick together and form a layer, or “film,” on and within objects in the water—including ships—which could represent one possible mechanism for the spread of microbes (and potentially SCTLD’s unknown causative agent) from one region to another. To test this theory, scientists at the St.
Jin-Si Over conducting an elevation survey at Head of the Meadow Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts.
Jin-Si Over conducting an elevation survey at Head of the Meadow Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts.
![Two gray cylinders with chemical symbols next to a large metal cylinder labeled 'Nitrogen'](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Marci-Gamma-Detectors.jpg?itok=LfyJDCUn)
Radioactive isotopes are common in nature and emit particles that can be detected, quantified, and used to characterize environmental processes.
Radioactive isotopes are common in nature and emit particles that can be detected, quantified, and used to characterize environmental processes.
![Motion aerial view of several thin, sandy barrier islands lining a populated coastline behind an embayment](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/media/images/Pinellas%20Barrier%20Islands%20Aerial%20small.gif?itok=lRKkmeoA)
Barrier islands off the coast of northern Pinellas County, Florida including Anclote Key, Three Rooker Island, and the northern tip of Honeymoon Island. These barriers protect a highly populated coastline.
Barrier islands off the coast of northern Pinellas County, Florida including Anclote Key, Three Rooker Island, and the northern tip of Honeymoon Island. These barriers protect a highly populated coastline.
![An aerial view of several thin, sandy barrier islands lining a populated coastline behind an embayment](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/20210307_134640_0.jpg?itok=hSGi8P4u)
Barrier islands off the coast of northern Pinellas County, Florida including Anclote Key, Three Rooker Island, and the northern tip of Honeymoon Island. These barriers protect a highly populated coastline.
Barrier islands off the coast of northern Pinellas County, Florida including Anclote Key, Three Rooker Island, and the northern tip of Honeymoon Island. These barriers protect a highly populated coastline.
![Beach ridges at Caladesi Island, FL](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/CaledesiIsland_beachridges_DCiarletta_2021.jpg?itok=F3fZjotm)
Mendenhall postdoctoral fellow Daniel Ciarletta captured this view of the modern beach ridge system at Caladesi Island, along the Gulf coast of central Florida. Ciarletta and colleagues are studying the island as part of a project to explore barrier island response to long-term changes in sediment availability.
Mendenhall postdoctoral fellow Daniel Ciarletta captured this view of the modern beach ridge system at Caladesi Island, along the Gulf coast of central Florida. Ciarletta and colleagues are studying the island as part of a project to explore barrier island response to long-term changes in sediment availability.
![A scientist sits on a personal watercraft near a vegetated, marsh shoreline.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%281%29_4.png?itok=tMH6fwQl)
A USGS scientist sits on a personal watercraft (PWC) equipped with scientific equipment to collect bathymetry data - or the depth of the water - at locations of interest in Point Aux Chenes Bay, Mississippi.
A USGS scientist sits on a personal watercraft (PWC) equipped with scientific equipment to collect bathymetry data - or the depth of the water - at locations of interest in Point Aux Chenes Bay, Mississippi.
Two video cameras are mounted on a bluff above Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, MA. Every half hour during daylight hours, the video camera collects imagery for 10 minutes and processes it. This is the snapshot image, like a photo, taken at the beginning of the 10-minute window and looking northeast.
Two video cameras are mounted on a bluff above Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore, Wellfleet, MA. Every half hour during daylight hours, the video camera collects imagery for 10 minutes and processes it. This is the snapshot image, like a photo, taken at the beginning of the 10-minute window and looking northeast.
Photograph of the Lake Tahoe lakebed near Dollar Point, in March 2021.
Photograph of the Lake Tahoe lakebed near Dollar Point, in March 2021.
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center technicians programming remote field camera installations on Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore.
Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center technicians programming remote field camera installations on Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore.
![Seafloor tripod equipped with oceanographic equipment](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/IMG_3550.jpg?itok=yjz2TZ30)
Seafloor tripod equipped with oceanographic equipment to be deployed offshore of Sandwich, MA , March 2021
Seafloor tripod equipped with oceanographic equipment to be deployed offshore of Sandwich, MA , March 2021
![A man holds a round, yellow object with a cord in front of a brick building](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/mark-buckley-buoy-5-portrait.jpg?itok=n9inkw-R)
Dr. Mark Buckley of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center holds a new Sofar Smart Mooring and Spotter Buoy that will be used to deliver high-fidelity, real-time wave, water level, and wind data.
Dr. Mark Buckley of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center holds a new Sofar Smart Mooring and Spotter Buoy that will be used to deliver high-fidelity, real-time wave, water level, and wind data.
Adrian Garcia with the effective stress cell in the USGS Hydrate Pressure Core Analysis Laboratory in Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Adrian Garcia with the effective stress cell in the USGS Hydrate Pressure Core Analysis Laboratory in Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
![Imagery shows an aerial view of a coastal region, one is a photograph and one shows elevation data.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/PostPoint_2019-06-06_browse.jpg?itok=PJWKdGuO)
Examples of orthomosaic imagery and a high-resolution digital surface model of Post Point, Bellingham Bay, WA.
Examples of orthomosaic imagery and a high-resolution digital surface model of Post Point, Bellingham Bay, WA.
Daniel Ciarletta, Ph.D. holds a chunk of sand from the bottom of a core collected at Fort de Soto Park in Pinellas County, Florida. Learn more about what barrier island cores tell us: https://www.usgs.gov/media/videos/secrets-sediment-barrier-islands.
Daniel Ciarletta, Ph.D. holds a chunk of sand from the bottom of a core collected at Fort de Soto Park in Pinellas County, Florida. Learn more about what barrier island cores tell us: https://www.usgs.gov/media/videos/secrets-sediment-barrier-islands.
Dan Ciarletta (right) working alongside Julie Bernier (left) to collect a sediment core on Mullet Key, an island within Fort de Soto Park in Pinellas County, Florida. The core will be used to reconstruct the geologic history of the island.
Dan Ciarletta (right) working alongside Julie Bernier (left) to collect a sediment core on Mullet Key, an island within Fort de Soto Park in Pinellas County, Florida. The core will be used to reconstruct the geologic history of the island.
![A man writes on a long metal cyllinder in a marsh environment](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/20210219_161017%280%29_0.jpg?itok=nPUkf59P)
![Three scientists operate a vibracore - a metal cylinder that is pushed into the sediment on a barrier island](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/GOPR0166-2%20-%20Copy.jpg?itok=7MXr6qmh)
The GeoEel is a multichannel digital streamer system, with hydrophones in a long, green hose. The streamer is towed in the water from a vessel like a long snake, and the hydrophones "listen" for and record the signals from the seismic sound source.
The GeoEel is a multichannel digital streamer system, with hydrophones in a long, green hose. The streamer is towed in the water from a vessel like a long snake, and the hydrophones "listen" for and record the signals from the seismic sound source.
The Helikite in action, being walked by USGS scientist Chris Sherwood and WHOI scientist Peter Traykovski, the helium powered balloon kite will be used to survey the DUNEX experiment site.
The Helikite in action, being walked by USGS scientist Chris Sherwood and WHOI scientist Peter Traykovski, the helium powered balloon kite will be used to survey the DUNEX experiment site.
Scientists from the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center using a helium powered kite-balloon at Head of the Meadow Beach and Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts.
Scientists from the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center using a helium powered kite-balloon at Head of the Meadow Beach and Marconi Beach, Cape Cod National Seashore in Massachusetts.