Research Themes: Understanding Coastal Change

Many ocean-front homes on Fire Island, New York, were damaged or destroyed during Hurricane Sandy. [larger version]

Coastal change poses potential risk to coastal communities across the nation. Powerful storms generate surge, waves and currents that can move large amounts of sediment, destroy roads, buildings and other critical infrastructure as well as alter natural habitats. The USGS performs a range of studies that document, assess and model coastal change, risk, and vulnerability including historical shoreline change and the geologic structure and history of coastal regions, sediment supply and transport, sea-level rise, and how extreme storm events affect rates and impacts of coastal change.

Use the tabs below to see current research related to Understanding Coastal Change or see all Research Themes.

Follow @USGSCoastChange

• National Studies
• Regional Studies
• Applied Science

Sea-Level Rise Hazards and Decision Support Using combined scientific expertise in geology, hydrology, geography, biology, and ecology to understand and address the effects of sea-level rise on the Nation's coasts. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study)

Coastal Model Applications and Field Measurements Field measurements, instrumentation and modeling applications for supporting coastal and marine research Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study, Applied Science)

Coastal Change Processes Investigating interactions between the shoreline, nearshore, and offshore sediment transport processes driving coastal change; and developing capabilities to predict impacts. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Regional Study)

Assessment of Physical Changes in Barrier Islands and Coastal Wetlands Associated with Hurricane Sandy Integrating wetland assessments with existing coastal-change hazard assessments for the adjacent dunes and beaches to create a more comprehensive look at coastal ecosystem vulnerability. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Regional Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study, Regional Study, Applied Science)

Carolina Coastal Change Processes Investigating how shoreline, near-shore, and offshore sediment transport processes drive coastal change in the Carolinas through combined use of geophysical surveys, oceanographic studies, and predictive models. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Regional Study, Applied Science)

National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards Assessing vulnerability of the Nation's coasts to storms, sea-level rise, and sediment transport processes by understanding and predicting the ways our coasts have changed and continue to change. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study)

National Assessment of Shoreline Change Creating a comprehensive, regionally-consistent analysis of shoreline movement over the short and long term, including historical and modern shorelines. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study)

Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems Quantifying estuarine processes through observations and numerical modeling Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Ocean Resources for America's Needs (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study, Applied Science)

Sea and Lake Floor Mapping Providing research programs with technical expertise and innovations in seafloor mapping production. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Ocean Resources for America's Needs (Regional Study)

Marine Aggregate Resources and Processes Providing information about offshore aggregate deposits such as grain size, composition, and extent, to support resource and habitat assessments, and sustainability. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Ocean Resources for America's Needs (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study)

National Seafloor Mapping and Benthic Habitat Studies: Atlantic Monitoring and assessing diverse marine habitats at Stellwagen and Georges Banks to preserve and support a large fishing industry. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study), Ocean Resources for America's Needs (Regional Study), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study)

Climate Change Impacts to the U.S. Pacific and Arctic Coasts Understanding local and regional coastal response to forecasted changes. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Regional Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (Regional Study)

Assessment of Physical Changes in Barrier Islands and Coastal Wetlands Associated with Hurricane Sandy Integrating wetland assessments with existing coastal-change hazard assessments for the adjacent dunes and beaches to create a more comprehensive look at coastal ecosystem vulnerability. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Regional Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study, Regional Study, Applied Science)

Estuarine Response Assessing the estuarine and adjacent wetland responses of three Atlantic lagoonal estuaries to major storm events such as Hurricane Sandy. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (Regional Study)

Geologic and Morphologic Evolution of Coastal Margins Understanding how and why coasts have changed in the past can provide insight into modern coastal behavior, future coastal evolution, the extent and quality of sediment resources, and spatial variability in the resilience of coastal ecosystems, all of which inform coastal resource management. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (Regional Study)

USGS Science to support the Elwha River Restoration Project Providing scientific monitoring and analyses of the fish, waters, and sediment before, during, and following the removal of the Elwha and the Glines Canyon Dams Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (Regional Study)

Linking Geologic Framework to Coastal Vulnerability along the Delmarva peninsula Understanding how storm events and longer-term changes control coastal vulnerability and evolution by linking the region's sediment sources, transport pathways, and sinks to its physical processes Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study)

Coastal Change Processes Investigating interactions between the shoreline, nearshore, and offshore sediment transport processes driving coastal change; and developing capabilities to predict impacts. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Regional Study)

The Impact of Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change on Pacific Ocean Atolls that House Department of Defense Installations Assessing the impacts of sea-level rise and storm-wave-induced overwash and inundation on Pacific atoll islets and their freshwater resources under various sea-level rise and climatic scenarios Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Regional Study, Applied Science)

Carolina Coastal Change Processes Investigating how shoreline, near-shore, and offshore sediment transport processes drive coastal change in the Carolinas through combined use of geophysical surveys, oceanographic studies, and predictive models. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Regional Study, Applied Science)

Fire Island Coastal Change Understanding the long- and short-term behavior of the Fire Island barrier island system to determine coastal resiliency based on sand availability and nearshore oceanographic processes. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (Regional Study)

Barrier Island Evolution Addressing the research gap between the short time scale of individual storms and the longer time scales associated with the historic and geologic evolution of coastal systems. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (Regional Study, Applied Science)

San Francisco Bay Coastal System Identifying the physical processes and human influences that have resulted in significant structural changes to San Francisco Bay. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (Regional Study)

Geologic Mapping Offshore of Rhode Island Mapping sea-floor geology and sedimentary environments is fundamental for managing activities along Rhode Island's inner continental shelf. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study)

High-Resolution Geologic Mapping Offshore of Massachusetts Mapping sea-floor geology and sedimentary environments that is fundamental for managing activities along Massachusetts' inner continental shelf. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study)

Coastal Change Hazards Portal Visualization tool for exploring coastal hazard risks at varied scales, from local areas of interest to national scope in a geospatial format. Information includes historic shorelines, coastal change rates, sea-level rise, the Coastal Vulnerability Index and more. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Applied Science)

Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems Quantifying estuarine processes through observations and numerical modeling Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Ocean Resources for America's Needs (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study, Applied Science)

Coastal Model Applications and Field Measurements Field measurements, instrumentation and modeling applications for supporting coastal and marine research Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study, Applied Science)

Sediment Transport in Coastal Environments Finding solutions to environmental problems caused by sediment erosion and movement. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Applied Science), Ocean Resources for America's Needs (Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study, Applied Science)

Hurricane Sandy Response - Storm Impacts and Vulnerability of Coastal Beaches Using post-Sandy lidar elevation data to update assessments of storm-induced coastal erosion hazards for Northeast beaches and to revise forecasts of coastal change that identify areas vulnerable to extreme erosion during future storms. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Regional Study)

The Impact of Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change on Pacific Ocean Atolls that House Department of Defense Installations Assessing the impacts of sea-level rise and storm-wave-induced overwash and inundation on Pacific atoll islets and their freshwater resources under various sea-level rise and climatic scenarios Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Regional Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (Regional Study, Applied Science)

Carolina Coastal Change Processes Investigating how shoreline, near-shore, and offshore sediment transport processes drive coastal change in the Carolinas through combined use of geophysical surveys, oceanographic studies, and predictive models. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Regional Study, Applied Science)

Assessment of Physical Changes in Barrier Islands and Coastal Wetlands Associated with Hurricane Sandy Integrating wetland assessments with existing coastal-change hazard assessments for the adjacent dunes and beaches to create a more comprehensive look at coastal ecosystem vulnerability. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Regional Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study, Regional Study, Applied Science)

Marine Aggregate Resources and Processes Providing information about offshore aggregate deposits such as grain size, composition, and extent, to support resource and habitat assessments, and sustainability. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Ocean Resources for America's Needs (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study)

Sea-Level Rise Hazards and Decision Support Using combined scientific expertise in geology, hydrology, geography, biology, and ecology to understand and address the effects of sea-level rise on the Nation's coasts. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Geologic Hazards and Catastrophic Events (National Study, Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (National Study)

Lidar for Science and Resource Management Utilizing multi-spectral remote sensing to study coastal-marine and terrestrial environments. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (Applied Science), Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Science (Applied Science)

Sea and Lake Floor Mapping Providing research programs with technical expertise and innovations in seafloor mapping production. Research Theme(s): Understanding Coastal Change (National Study, Applied Science), Ocean Resources for America's Needs (Regional Study)