Coral reef in La Parguera, Lajas Puerto Rico shows various types and conditions of corals, including sea fan corals (Gorgonia) in the center.
Mapping the Seafloor
The seafloor has distinct features and characteristics that help us better understand Earth’s current and past conditions, potential resources, and natural hazards. However, less than 10% of the seafloor has been mapped globally. The USGS conducts high-resolution mapping to describe the physical features of the ocean floor, as well as the geologic layers and structure beneath it.
What's on the seafloor?
The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’ surface, yet only a small part of the seafloor has been mapped with enough detail to understand the basic structure, risks, and living and mineral resources that exist there. Characterizing the ocean floor expands our ability to better understand large scale Earth processes along with improved knowledge about the seafloor, deep sea minerals and associated ecosystems. Through this process we can build a more complete view of Earth history, begin to recognize changes, and provide predictions about how the seafloor, underwater environments, and marine geohazards may change in the future.
Technology and Innovation in Seafloor Mapping
Just like the Earth’s land surface, the seafloor contains significant geological and biological features. Geological features include mountains, canyons, plateaus, ledges, and submarine volcanoes, all of which have variable substrate that can range from rocky outcrops to extensive muddy plains, sand ripples, and giant sediment fans along with chemical seeps. Visit the Ocean 101 page to learn more. View a slideshow featuring thickets of coral reefs, sponges, mussels, and the many wondrous creatures that live and move among them.
The USGS designs mapping research programs to address a wide range of topics, and to expand our understanding of deep sea minerals, offshore energy, marine biological habitats, hazards, and more. The USGS uses acoustic techniques to collect detailed information about the seafloor, such as its shape, sediment composition and distribution, and underlying geologic structure and sediment type. Seafloor video, photographs, sediment cores, and other samples are also collected to validate the acoustics and provide a comprehensive foundation for studies of sediment and contaminant transport, landslide and tsunami hazards, gas hydrates, methane and carbon flux, benthic habitat quality, and sediment availability. Managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders use the map products derived from these studies to make informed decisions regarding the Nation’s safety and economic prosperity.
USGS Role in Seafloor Mapping
From habitats to hazards, here are some examples of USGS seafloor mapping efforts.
![Map illustration of the seafloor off the continental coastline, that reveals seafloor features like submarine canyons.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/washington_website_banner.jpg?itok=wbm8Uh0o)
![Photograph-like image looks straight down onto the seafloor to show the precise textures of a coral reef and surrounding area](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/CheecaRocks-DEM.png?itok=MqUqT22s)
![3D computer image shows corrugations beneath the seafloor where tectonic plates move past each other.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/Grooves2.jpg?itok=x8wnubxR)
Mapping the Continental Shelf
The USGS maps continental shelf areas to understand coastal system evolution, from sediment transport to habitat use. Through marine geologic mapping and characterization of inner continental shelf areas, USGS science expands understanding of coastal vulnerability, sediment sources, transport pathways, habitat type and ecosystem characteristics. These activities advance the research and technology essential to coastal evolution and environmental change science while also supporting state and national partners in managing coastal and marine resources and related decisions.
![Map of the Delmarva Peninsula showing collection sites (dots), paleochannels and offshore](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/delmarva_paleovalleys.jpg?itok=j6D82sBp)
![Image showing a study area from Boston Harbor to the mouth of Cape Cod](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/coverart.jpg?itok=AZodYhHW)
![An oblique illustration of the floor of a bay as if all the water has been drained out.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/final_eastviewcmyk.jpg?itok=CFfhRqX2)
Mapping Beyond the Continental Shelf
Mapping of seafloor and geologic structure beyond the continental shelf is foundational to enhancing stewardship of natural resources, promoting economic prosperity, and strengthening the nation’s security.
![Illustration shows zones of the ocean and how far out the sovereign rights extend.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/media/images/zones-hires.jpg?itok=Yfkcp7lq)
![Computer illustration looking at the land and ocean with all of the water drained away, to show the undersea features.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/ContinentalSlopeDeepSea.jpg?itok=95r2q7VT)
Publications
California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG) I, volume 3 — Benthic habitat characterization offshore Morro Bay, California
Submarine landslide susceptibility mapping in recently deglaciated terrain, Glacier Bay, Alaska
A characterization of deep-sea coral and sponge communities along the California and Oregon coast using a remotely operated vehicle on the EXPRESS 2018 expedition
Mapping, exploration, and characterization of the California continental margin and associated features from the California-Oregon border to Ensenada, Mexico
A federal-state partnership for mapping Florida's coast and seafloor
Science
Delineating the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf
USGS Law of the Sea
SQUID-5 camera system
Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards
PCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities
Multimedia
Coral reef in La Parguera, Lajas Puerto Rico shows various types and conditions of corals, including sea fan corals (Gorgonia) in the center.
Coral reef in La Parguera, Lajas Puerto Rico shows a sea fan coral (Gorgonia) in the center, surrounded other corals and fishes.
Coral reef in La Parguera, Lajas Puerto Rico shows a sea fan coral (Gorgonia) in the center, surrounded other corals and fishes.
Bathymetry is the science of measuring the depth of water in ocean, river and lake environments. Learn how USGS measures bathymetry in this video by the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, originally created for the 2021 virtual St. Petersburg Science Festival.
Bathymetry is the science of measuring the depth of water in ocean, river and lake environments. Learn how USGS measures bathymetry in this video by the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, originally created for the 2021 virtual St. Petersburg Science Festival.
The R/V Sallenger tows the SQUID-5 over Looe Key reef with a NOAA Sanctuary boat in the background patrolling the Looe Key area to warn recreational vessels of the ongoing research activity.
The R/V Sallenger tows the SQUID-5 over Looe Key reef with a NOAA Sanctuary boat in the background patrolling the Looe Key area to warn recreational vessels of the ongoing research activity.
![Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer surveys a large boulder covered in bamboo corals](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/boulder-coral-hires.jpg?itok=tTVkpJ0C)
Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer surveys a large boulder covered in bamboo corals during the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. Bamboo corals were locally abundant on these large boulders and more spread out throughout different hard-bottom habitats.
Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer surveys a large boulder covered in bamboo corals during the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. Bamboo corals were locally abundant on these large boulders and more spread out throughout different hard-bottom habitats.
Join USGS researchers Jason Chaytor and Kira Mizell as they virtually participate in a NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition to the depths of the North Atlantic.
Join USGS researchers Jason Chaytor and Kira Mizell as they virtually participate in a NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition to the depths of the North Atlantic.
![Map of Florida Keys with sites highlighted in the Dry Tortugas, middle and upper keys.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Kuffner_Palmata_growth_FL-DR.jpg?itok=zQEbJ_x_)
The USGS Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies project provides science that helps resource managers tasked with the stewardship of coral reef resources.
The USGS Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies project provides science that helps resource managers tasked with the stewardship of coral reef resources.
![Coral on a cinderblock and a scuba diver on a coral reef](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Elkhorn%20experiment%20in%20DRTO_2-edited.jpg?itok=QMry6cNW)
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the recovery of the threatened Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic.
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the recovery of the threatened Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic.
![Scuba diver on a coral reef with tools to measure coral](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Kuffner%20working-edited.jpg?itok=pAlS6bGI)
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the restoration and recovery of the threatened elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic. In this photograph, research marine biologist Ilsa Kuffner is doing maintenance on a USGS “calcification station”.
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the restoration and recovery of the threatened elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic. In this photograph, research marine biologist Ilsa Kuffner is doing maintenance on a USGS “calcification station”.
News
California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing
From the Seafloor to Outer Space, USGS is on the Case
New USGS technology provides three dimensional benefits: assessing coastal hazards, seafloor stability, and coral restoration efforts
Explore our science
Geologic and Morphologic Evolution of Coastal Margins
SEABed Observation and Sampling System (SeaBOSS) operations were conducted north of Nantucket, MA as part of an agreement with Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management to map the geology of Massachusetts waters .
SEABed Observation and Sampling System (SeaBOSS) operations were conducted north of Nantucket, MA as part of an agreement with Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management to map the geology of Massachusetts waters .
![Map of seabed geology and sun-illuminated topography, Stellwagen Bank](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/SeabedGeology.jpg?itok=Sk1Q0_O2)
Map of seabed geology and sun-illuminated topography, Stellwagen Bank Blue and purple = boulder ridges. Redlines = leading edges of sand sheets
Map of seabed geology and sun-illuminated topography, Stellwagen Bank Blue and purple = boulder ridges. Redlines = leading edges of sand sheets
Map view. Colored shaded-relief bathymetry map of Monterey Canyon and Vicinity map area, generated from multibeam-echosounder and bathymetric-sidescan data. Colors show depth: reds and oranges indicate shallower areas; purples, deeper areas. Illumination azimuth is 300°, from 45° above horizon.
Map view. Colored shaded-relief bathymetry map of Monterey Canyon and Vicinity map area, generated from multibeam-echosounder and bathymetric-sidescan data. Colors show depth: reds and oranges indicate shallower areas; purples, deeper areas. Illumination azimuth is 300°, from 45° above horizon.
![Schematic showing how sediment on the seafloor moves in response to multiple forces](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/v18-3-sedmob_fig1_stresscartoon_ja.jpg?itok=qFXcOhDS)
Schematic showing how sediment on the seafloor moves in response to a force created by the combined action of tides, ocean waves, and wind-driven currents.
Schematic showing how sediment on the seafloor moves in response to a force created by the combined action of tides, ocean waves, and wind-driven currents.
Mount Crillon in the backdrop during a multibeam bathymetry survey of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault, offshore southeastern Alaska.
Mount Crillon in the backdrop during a multibeam bathymetry survey of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault, offshore southeastern Alaska.
Underwater image of wave breaking over a coral reef.
Underwater image of wave breaking over a coral reef.
![Seafloor map with many different colors and shading to give a 3D effect and to display data with a color scheme.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/ofr20161072_sheet5.jpg?itok=HlCfbDxc)
The map on sheet 7 shows “potential” marine benthic habitats in the Monterey Canyon and Vicinity map area, representing a substrate type, geomorphology, seafloor process, or any other attribute that may provide a habitat for a specific species or assemblage of organisms.
The map on sheet 7 shows “potential” marine benthic habitats in the Monterey Canyon and Vicinity map area, representing a substrate type, geomorphology, seafloor process, or any other attribute that may provide a habitat for a specific species or assemblage of organisms.
Tripod holding instruments and cameras used to measure and study aspects of sediment movement in and around the reef.
Tripod holding instruments and cameras used to measure and study aspects of sediment movement in and around the reef.
![ROV/submersible used to sample the deep-sea canyon](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/IP-072479_Demopoulos3.jpg?itok=WTQgVTib)
ROV/submersible used to sample the deep-sea canyon
ROV/submersible used to sample the deep-sea canyon
Diverse deep sea coral species
Diverse deep sea coral species
“Seafloor Character” map of the Santa Cruz Region — This is a type of habitat map that classifies the seafloor based on surface hardness and roughness.
“Seafloor Character” map of the Santa Cruz Region — This is a type of habitat map that classifies the seafloor based on surface hardness and roughness.
![](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Tsunami5SummMap1.jpg?itok=3DbdeThT)
Perspective view of the seafloor offshore Chenega village. Light-blue patches in the intermediate basin outline sites of sediment loss between 1957 and 2014; the light-tan patch in the distal (lowermost) basin is a site of sediment deposition. Black arrows are interpreted sediment-flow pathways.
Perspective view of the seafloor offshore Chenega village. Light-blue patches in the intermediate basin outline sites of sediment loss between 1957 and 2014; the light-tan patch in the distal (lowermost) basin is a site of sediment deposition. Black arrows are interpreted sediment-flow pathways.
Remotely operated underwater vehicle
Remotely operated underwater vehicle
A diver uses an underwater drill to take a core sample from a massive brain coral (Diploria strigosa) in Dry Tortugas National Park.
A diver uses an underwater drill to take a core sample from a massive brain coral (Diploria strigosa) in Dry Tortugas National Park.
Scientists aboard USCGC Healy prepare to collect sediments from the Chukchi that will be used to reconstruct sea-ice history in the Arctic. USGS Image (L. Gemery).
Scientists aboard USCGC Healy prepare to collect sediments from the Chukchi that will be used to reconstruct sea-ice history in the Arctic. USGS Image (L. Gemery).
![Computer-generated illustration of colored, high-resolution seafloor map clearly shows a fault and where the seafloor is offset.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Alaska3EnlargedMapZoom.jpg?itok=vwnwXnIR)
Seafloor trace of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault (from top left to bottom right) offsets the edge of the Yakobi Sea Valley off southeast Alaska. This 700-mile-long fault has generated large earthquakes in the past. Future shocks—and tsunamis—could threaten coastal communities in the U.S. and Canada. (Color-coded depths, in meters, were mapped in 2015.)
Seafloor trace of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault (from top left to bottom right) offsets the edge of the Yakobi Sea Valley off southeast Alaska. This 700-mile-long fault has generated large earthquakes in the past. Future shocks—and tsunamis—could threaten coastal communities in the U.S. and Canada. (Color-coded depths, in meters, were mapped in 2015.)
USGS research geologist Curt Storlazzi free dives in order to set an instrument on the reef off Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi in March 2015.
USGS research geologist Curt Storlazzi free dives in order to set an instrument on the reef off Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi in March 2015.
Underwater photo of a healthy coral reef.
Underwater photo of a healthy coral reef.
![vast field of mussels on Atlantic seafloor](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/mussels-hires.jpg?itok=ObJehKpy)
A field of deep-sea mussels (Bathymodiolus sp.) on the Atlantic margin seafloor near a cold methane seep.
A field of deep-sea mussels (Bathymodiolus sp.) on the Atlantic margin seafloor near a cold methane seep.
A wall of Desmophyllum dianthus cup corals with bonus octopus neighbor.
A wall of Desmophyllum dianthus cup corals with bonus octopus neighbor.
The seafloor has distinct features and characteristics that help us better understand Earth’s current and past conditions, potential resources, and natural hazards. However, less than 10% of the seafloor has been mapped globally. The USGS conducts high-resolution mapping to describe the physical features of the ocean floor, as well as the geologic layers and structure beneath it.
What's on the seafloor?
The ocean covers more than 70% of the Earth’ surface, yet only a small part of the seafloor has been mapped with enough detail to understand the basic structure, risks, and living and mineral resources that exist there. Characterizing the ocean floor expands our ability to better understand large scale Earth processes along with improved knowledge about the seafloor, deep sea minerals and associated ecosystems. Through this process we can build a more complete view of Earth history, begin to recognize changes, and provide predictions about how the seafloor, underwater environments, and marine geohazards may change in the future.
Technology and Innovation in Seafloor Mapping
Just like the Earth’s land surface, the seafloor contains significant geological and biological features. Geological features include mountains, canyons, plateaus, ledges, and submarine volcanoes, all of which have variable substrate that can range from rocky outcrops to extensive muddy plains, sand ripples, and giant sediment fans along with chemical seeps. Visit the Ocean 101 page to learn more. View a slideshow featuring thickets of coral reefs, sponges, mussels, and the many wondrous creatures that live and move among them.
The USGS designs mapping research programs to address a wide range of topics, and to expand our understanding of deep sea minerals, offshore energy, marine biological habitats, hazards, and more. The USGS uses acoustic techniques to collect detailed information about the seafloor, such as its shape, sediment composition and distribution, and underlying geologic structure and sediment type. Seafloor video, photographs, sediment cores, and other samples are also collected to validate the acoustics and provide a comprehensive foundation for studies of sediment and contaminant transport, landslide and tsunami hazards, gas hydrates, methane and carbon flux, benthic habitat quality, and sediment availability. Managers, policymakers, and other stakeholders use the map products derived from these studies to make informed decisions regarding the Nation’s safety and economic prosperity.
USGS Role in Seafloor Mapping
From habitats to hazards, here are some examples of USGS seafloor mapping efforts.
![Map illustration of the seafloor off the continental coastline, that reveals seafloor features like submarine canyons.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/washington_website_banner.jpg?itok=wbm8Uh0o)
![Photograph-like image looks straight down onto the seafloor to show the precise textures of a coral reef and surrounding area](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/CheecaRocks-DEM.png?itok=MqUqT22s)
![3D computer image shows corrugations beneath the seafloor where tectonic plates move past each other.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/Grooves2.jpg?itok=x8wnubxR)
Mapping the Continental Shelf
The USGS maps continental shelf areas to understand coastal system evolution, from sediment transport to habitat use. Through marine geologic mapping and characterization of inner continental shelf areas, USGS science expands understanding of coastal vulnerability, sediment sources, transport pathways, habitat type and ecosystem characteristics. These activities advance the research and technology essential to coastal evolution and environmental change science while also supporting state and national partners in managing coastal and marine resources and related decisions.
![Map of the Delmarva Peninsula showing collection sites (dots), paleochannels and offshore](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/delmarva_paleovalleys.jpg?itok=j6D82sBp)
![Image showing a study area from Boston Harbor to the mouth of Cape Cod](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/coverart.jpg?itok=AZodYhHW)
![An oblique illustration of the floor of a bay as if all the water has been drained out.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/final_eastviewcmyk.jpg?itok=CFfhRqX2)
Mapping Beyond the Continental Shelf
Mapping of seafloor and geologic structure beyond the continental shelf is foundational to enhancing stewardship of natural resources, promoting economic prosperity, and strengthening the nation’s security.
![Illustration shows zones of the ocean and how far out the sovereign rights extend.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/media/images/zones-hires.jpg?itok=Yfkcp7lq)
![Computer illustration looking at the land and ocean with all of the water drained away, to show the undersea features.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/half_width/public/thumbnails/image/ContinentalSlopeDeepSea.jpg?itok=95r2q7VT)
Publications
California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing (Cal DIG) I, volume 3 — Benthic habitat characterization offshore Morro Bay, California
Submarine landslide susceptibility mapping in recently deglaciated terrain, Glacier Bay, Alaska
A characterization of deep-sea coral and sponge communities along the California and Oregon coast using a remotely operated vehicle on the EXPRESS 2018 expedition
Mapping, exploration, and characterization of the California continental margin and associated features from the California-Oregon border to Ensenada, Mexico
A federal-state partnership for mapping Florida's coast and seafloor
Science
Delineating the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf
USGS Law of the Sea
SQUID-5 camera system
Cascadia Subduction Zone Marine Geohazards
PCMSC MarFac Field Equipment and Capabilities
Multimedia
Coral reef in La Parguera, Lajas Puerto Rico shows various types and conditions of corals, including sea fan corals (Gorgonia) in the center.
Coral reef in La Parguera, Lajas Puerto Rico shows various types and conditions of corals, including sea fan corals (Gorgonia) in the center.
Coral reef in La Parguera, Lajas Puerto Rico shows a sea fan coral (Gorgonia) in the center, surrounded other corals and fishes.
Coral reef in La Parguera, Lajas Puerto Rico shows a sea fan coral (Gorgonia) in the center, surrounded other corals and fishes.
Bathymetry is the science of measuring the depth of water in ocean, river and lake environments. Learn how USGS measures bathymetry in this video by the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, originally created for the 2021 virtual St. Petersburg Science Festival.
Bathymetry is the science of measuring the depth of water in ocean, river and lake environments. Learn how USGS measures bathymetry in this video by the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, originally created for the 2021 virtual St. Petersburg Science Festival.
The R/V Sallenger tows the SQUID-5 over Looe Key reef with a NOAA Sanctuary boat in the background patrolling the Looe Key area to warn recreational vessels of the ongoing research activity.
The R/V Sallenger tows the SQUID-5 over Looe Key reef with a NOAA Sanctuary boat in the background patrolling the Looe Key area to warn recreational vessels of the ongoing research activity.
![Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer surveys a large boulder covered in bamboo corals](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/boulder-coral-hires.jpg?itok=tTVkpJ0C)
Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer surveys a large boulder covered in bamboo corals during the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. Bamboo corals were locally abundant on these large boulders and more spread out throughout different hard-bottom habitats.
Remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer surveys a large boulder covered in bamboo corals during the 2021 North Atlantic Stepping Stones expedition. Bamboo corals were locally abundant on these large boulders and more spread out throughout different hard-bottom habitats.
Join USGS researchers Jason Chaytor and Kira Mizell as they virtually participate in a NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition to the depths of the North Atlantic.
Join USGS researchers Jason Chaytor and Kira Mizell as they virtually participate in a NOAA Ocean Exploration expedition to the depths of the North Atlantic.
![Map of Florida Keys with sites highlighted in the Dry Tortugas, middle and upper keys.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Kuffner_Palmata_growth_FL-DR.jpg?itok=zQEbJ_x_)
The USGS Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies project provides science that helps resource managers tasked with the stewardship of coral reef resources.
The USGS Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies project provides science that helps resource managers tasked with the stewardship of coral reef resources.
![Coral on a cinderblock and a scuba diver on a coral reef](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Elkhorn%20experiment%20in%20DRTO_2-edited.jpg?itok=QMry6cNW)
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the recovery of the threatened Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic.
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the recovery of the threatened Elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic.
![Scuba diver on a coral reef with tools to measure coral](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Kuffner%20working-edited.jpg?itok=pAlS6bGI)
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the restoration and recovery of the threatened elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic. In this photograph, research marine biologist Ilsa Kuffner is doing maintenance on a USGS “calcification station”.
The U.S. Geological Survey is conducting research to guide the restoration and recovery of the threatened elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, in Dry Tortugas National Park and throughout the western Atlantic. In this photograph, research marine biologist Ilsa Kuffner is doing maintenance on a USGS “calcification station”.
News
California Deepwater Investigations and Groundtruthing
From the Seafloor to Outer Space, USGS is on the Case
New USGS technology provides three dimensional benefits: assessing coastal hazards, seafloor stability, and coral restoration efforts
Explore our science
Geologic and Morphologic Evolution of Coastal Margins
SEABed Observation and Sampling System (SeaBOSS) operations were conducted north of Nantucket, MA as part of an agreement with Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management to map the geology of Massachusetts waters .
SEABed Observation and Sampling System (SeaBOSS) operations were conducted north of Nantucket, MA as part of an agreement with Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management to map the geology of Massachusetts waters .
![Map of seabed geology and sun-illuminated topography, Stellwagen Bank](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/SeabedGeology.jpg?itok=Sk1Q0_O2)
Map of seabed geology and sun-illuminated topography, Stellwagen Bank Blue and purple = boulder ridges. Redlines = leading edges of sand sheets
Map of seabed geology and sun-illuminated topography, Stellwagen Bank Blue and purple = boulder ridges. Redlines = leading edges of sand sheets
Map view. Colored shaded-relief bathymetry map of Monterey Canyon and Vicinity map area, generated from multibeam-echosounder and bathymetric-sidescan data. Colors show depth: reds and oranges indicate shallower areas; purples, deeper areas. Illumination azimuth is 300°, from 45° above horizon.
Map view. Colored shaded-relief bathymetry map of Monterey Canyon and Vicinity map area, generated from multibeam-echosounder and bathymetric-sidescan data. Colors show depth: reds and oranges indicate shallower areas; purples, deeper areas. Illumination azimuth is 300°, from 45° above horizon.
![Schematic showing how sediment on the seafloor moves in response to multiple forces](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/v18-3-sedmob_fig1_stresscartoon_ja.jpg?itok=qFXcOhDS)
Schematic showing how sediment on the seafloor moves in response to a force created by the combined action of tides, ocean waves, and wind-driven currents.
Schematic showing how sediment on the seafloor moves in response to a force created by the combined action of tides, ocean waves, and wind-driven currents.
Mount Crillon in the backdrop during a multibeam bathymetry survey of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault, offshore southeastern Alaska.
Mount Crillon in the backdrop during a multibeam bathymetry survey of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather Fault, offshore southeastern Alaska.
Underwater image of wave breaking over a coral reef.
Underwater image of wave breaking over a coral reef.
![Seafloor map with many different colors and shading to give a 3D effect and to display data with a color scheme.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/ofr20161072_sheet5.jpg?itok=HlCfbDxc)
The map on sheet 7 shows “potential” marine benthic habitats in the Monterey Canyon and Vicinity map area, representing a substrate type, geomorphology, seafloor process, or any other attribute that may provide a habitat for a specific species or assemblage of organisms.
The map on sheet 7 shows “potential” marine benthic habitats in the Monterey Canyon and Vicinity map area, representing a substrate type, geomorphology, seafloor process, or any other attribute that may provide a habitat for a specific species or assemblage of organisms.
Tripod holding instruments and cameras used to measure and study aspects of sediment movement in and around the reef.
Tripod holding instruments and cameras used to measure and study aspects of sediment movement in and around the reef.
![ROV/submersible used to sample the deep-sea canyon](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/IP-072479_Demopoulos3.jpg?itok=WTQgVTib)
ROV/submersible used to sample the deep-sea canyon
ROV/submersible used to sample the deep-sea canyon
Diverse deep sea coral species
Diverse deep sea coral species
“Seafloor Character” map of the Santa Cruz Region — This is a type of habitat map that classifies the seafloor based on surface hardness and roughness.
“Seafloor Character” map of the Santa Cruz Region — This is a type of habitat map that classifies the seafloor based on surface hardness and roughness.
![](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Tsunami5SummMap1.jpg?itok=3DbdeThT)
Perspective view of the seafloor offshore Chenega village. Light-blue patches in the intermediate basin outline sites of sediment loss between 1957 and 2014; the light-tan patch in the distal (lowermost) basin is a site of sediment deposition. Black arrows are interpreted sediment-flow pathways.
Perspective view of the seafloor offshore Chenega village. Light-blue patches in the intermediate basin outline sites of sediment loss between 1957 and 2014; the light-tan patch in the distal (lowermost) basin is a site of sediment deposition. Black arrows are interpreted sediment-flow pathways.
Remotely operated underwater vehicle
Remotely operated underwater vehicle
A diver uses an underwater drill to take a core sample from a massive brain coral (Diploria strigosa) in Dry Tortugas National Park.
A diver uses an underwater drill to take a core sample from a massive brain coral (Diploria strigosa) in Dry Tortugas National Park.
Scientists aboard USCGC Healy prepare to collect sediments from the Chukchi that will be used to reconstruct sea-ice history in the Arctic. USGS Image (L. Gemery).
Scientists aboard USCGC Healy prepare to collect sediments from the Chukchi that will be used to reconstruct sea-ice history in the Arctic. USGS Image (L. Gemery).
![Computer-generated illustration of colored, high-resolution seafloor map clearly shows a fault and where the seafloor is offset.](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/Alaska3EnlargedMapZoom.jpg?itok=vwnwXnIR)
Seafloor trace of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault (from top left to bottom right) offsets the edge of the Yakobi Sea Valley off southeast Alaska. This 700-mile-long fault has generated large earthquakes in the past. Future shocks—and tsunamis—could threaten coastal communities in the U.S. and Canada. (Color-coded depths, in meters, were mapped in 2015.)
Seafloor trace of the Queen Charlotte-Fairweather fault (from top left to bottom right) offsets the edge of the Yakobi Sea Valley off southeast Alaska. This 700-mile-long fault has generated large earthquakes in the past. Future shocks—and tsunamis—could threaten coastal communities in the U.S. and Canada. (Color-coded depths, in meters, were mapped in 2015.)
USGS research geologist Curt Storlazzi free dives in order to set an instrument on the reef off Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi in March 2015.
USGS research geologist Curt Storlazzi free dives in order to set an instrument on the reef off Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi in March 2015.
Underwater photo of a healthy coral reef.
Underwater photo of a healthy coral reef.
![vast field of mussels on Atlantic seafloor](https://d9-wret.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets/palladium/production/s3fs-public/styles/masonry/public/thumbnails/image/mussels-hires.jpg?itok=ObJehKpy)
A field of deep-sea mussels (Bathymodiolus sp.) on the Atlantic margin seafloor near a cold methane seep.
A field of deep-sea mussels (Bathymodiolus sp.) on the Atlantic margin seafloor near a cold methane seep.
A wall of Desmophyllum dianthus cup corals with bonus octopus neighbor.
A wall of Desmophyllum dianthus cup corals with bonus octopus neighbor.