USGS Coastal and Ocean Science

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USGS Coastal and Ocean Science

The USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program studies extreme events and processes that shape our coastal and marine environments.

Using this information, we identify hazards and provide critical information on our Nation’s resources.

06/16/2026

🌱🧪 We studied two coastal wetlands in Gulf Shores, Alabama to learn how changes in water flow over the past century affected these ecosystems.

Our scientists collected sediment cores to track how these wetlands have built up soil and stored carbon over time—comparing a naturally connected marsh with a wetland cut off from tides by construction and storms.

These findings help us better understand how coastal wetlands respond when water movement changes, and how that response affects flooding, habitat, and carbon storage.

🌊Learn more and download the data: https://ow.ly/lZZV50Z7Hv8.

📸1: USGS scientists working in a marsh in Alabama.
📸2: Scientist processing a sediment core.

06/13/2026

🗺️Mapping the seafloor one area at a time.🗺️

In May–June 2023, the U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management, collected high‑resolution seafloor data in Nantucket Sound near Horseshoe Shoal.

Using swath bathymetry, backscatter, seismic‑reflection profiles, sediment samples, underwater video, and seafloor photos, this work helps reveal:

✅the geologic framework of the region
✅coastal hazards and habitat distribution
✅how sea‑level change and sediment supply have shaped coastal Massachusetts over time

This long-term USGS–Massachusetts collaboration continues to produce high‑quality geologic maps and data to support research, management, and the public.

Learn more and download the data: https://ow.ly/96e450Z7eug

📸: (Top) Seismic profile. (Bottom left) Nantucket Sound seafloor. (Bottom right) Bathymetry of the area.

06/12/2026

It’s hurricane season!😯🌀

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30.

Throughout the season, we provide critical, real‑time information that helps communities prepare, respond, and recover from storms.

From forecasting coastal change to mapping flood impacts after landfall, our data gives emergency managers and the public the tools they need to make informed decisions—helping to protect lives, property, and infrastructure along the coast.

👉 Read the featured story to learn more: https://ow.ly/yvk450Z7O54.

📸: USGS scientist installs a pressure sensor to measure water level during Hurricane Lee in Sandwich, MA.

06/11/2026

🌱📊New USGS data are now available for the Delaware Bay–facing New Jersey salt marshes.

This release brings together key metrics, such as the unvegetated‑to‑vegetated ratio (UVVR), marsh elevation, tidal range, and estimated lifespan, that help us understand the resilience of these wetlands. By breaking the landscape into smaller marsh units, the dataset shows how wetland conditions vary across the region.

These insights support federal, state, and local partners as they assess wetland vulnerability and the ecosystem services they provide, from habitat to flood protection.

Download the data: https://doi.org/10.5066/P13IBTSL.

📸: USGS scientist measuring water and sediment movement at Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey.

06/09/2026

🏙️Coastal cities are exploring storm‑surge barriers to help protect people and infrastructure from extreme storms. But how do these structures affect the natural systems they sit within?

A new study in Jamaica Bay, New York, shows that even when a proposed barrier would remain mostly open, its presence could change how water and sediment move through the inlet. Faster tidal currents caused by the narrowed channel would reduce the amount of fine sand entering the bay by about 20%.

Many of the bay’s salt marshes, which act as natural defenses against storms, depend on a steady supply of sediment to keep pace with sea‑level rise. Reduced sediment delivery could make these marshes more vulnerable over time.

🌊Read the study to learn more: https://ow.ly/OijW50Z5hF1.

📸: Coastal wetland ecosystems in Jamaica Bay, New York.

06/06/2026

🌊🪨New USGS‑supported research is revealing what lies beneath the summit of the Atlantis II Seamount.

Scientists used sound waves to “see” below the seabed, revealing layers of sediment, limestone, and volcanic rock. By comparing these acoustic signals with computer models, the team uncovered clues about how these layers formed and how they’ve changed over time.

One big finding: the limestone appears highly eroded and full of tiny pores—important details for understanding the geology of this undersea mountain.

Read the paper to learn more: https://ow.ly/ZL9p50Z6m5e.

📸: Subbottom profiler being brought back on deck.

06/04/2026

Long Island Sound is one of the Nation’s most valuable estuaries—home to rich ecosystems, vibrant coastal communities, and a busy working waterfront. 🌱🏘️🎣

USGS scientists provide the data needed for decision makers in the region to manage resources, support sustainable communities, and prepare for future coastal challenges—helping to ensure Long Island Sound remains healthy, resilient, and thriving for generations to come.

🌊Visit the web page to learn more about coastal and marine science in Long Island Sound: https://ow.ly/CNIF50Z4Myy

📸: SEABed Observation and Sampling System (SEABOSS) on the fantail of the R/V Connecticut in Long Island Sound.

06/03/2026

✨Five steps to bring a national coastal landscape change framework to life ✨

Predicting coastal change is critical to our Nation’s coastal communities, infrastructure, local economies, national security, and important ecosystems, however generating projections on a national scale is complex and challenging.

A new USGS-led study reviews the current information and products available to inform what, when, and where coastal change may occur in the future and recommends taking five clear steps to create a national-scale coastal landscape change framework.

🌊Read the story to learn more: https://ow.ly/VjY450Z4Lj3

📸: California coastal erosion.

05/27/2026

🏖️ We maintain historical shoreline position records for the United States.

This information allows coastal practitioners to monitor change over time and identify areas most susceptible to erosion or accretion.

Visit the National Shoreline Change Data Publication Catalog web page to access published shoreline change materials for coastal states. https://ow.ly/OEuV50Z2nGK

📸: Aerial shot of Nauset Beach in Orleans, Massachusetts.

05/26/2026

🍇 Up close, these polymetallic nodules from the abyssal seafloor offshore of American Samoa may look like clusters of tiny grapes—and there’s a scientific reason why.

Their rounded, bumpy texture owes to what’s called a botryoidal mineral habit, from the Ancient Greek bótrus, meaning “a bunch of grapes.” Over millions of years, minerals slowly accreted around tiny particles on the deep-ocean floor, building layer upon layer into the nodules seen today.

These deep-sea nodules contain minerals such as manganese, nickel, cobalt, and copper—elements important for modern technologies and infrastructure.

Learn more about the American Samoa Mapping Project: https://ow.ly/UlRA50Z1R5J

📷1-3: Polymetallic nodules collected from the Samoan Basin by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists

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12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA
20192

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https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/coastal-marine-hazards-and-resources

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