Coastal dynamics & erosion
How shorelines, dunes, and estuaries move under waves, storms, and rising seas.
Research
Research areas
Six connected research areas, from shoreline dynamics to open data infrastructure.
Ocean observation & sensing
Sensor networks, floats, and satellite records that measure temperature, salinity, and currents.
Sea-level rise & flooding
Local projections and flood-exposure mapping for planning and emergency management.
Marine heat & ecosystems
Marine heatwaves and their effects on fisheries, habitats, and coastal livelihoods.
Adaptation & planning
Decision tools that help communities weigh coastal-protection and managed-retreat options.
Data & modeling infrastructure
Shared pipelines, models, and reproducible workflows underpinning all of our programs.
Centers & labs
Where the work happens
Our centers convene researchers, fellows, and practitioners around shared methods and long-term questions.
Coastal Systems Lab
Field measurement and modeling of shoreline, dune, and estuary change.
Ocean Observation Program
Sensor networks, data quality, and long-term monitoring partnerships.
Climate Adaptation Studio
Planning tools, scenario workshops, and guidance for coastal decision-makers.
Marine Data Commons
Open datasets, documentation, and reproducible analysis infrastructure.
Our approach
Our work starts from long-term measurement. Because coastal and climate change unfolds over years, we invest in continuous observation and careful documentation rather than one-off studies.
We then translate that evidence into tools and guidance that decision-makers can actually use, and we test those tools with the communities who will rely on them.
External references
Public datasets, standards, and organizations relevant to our fields.
NOAA — National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Authoritative U.S. data on oceans, weather, and coasts.
www.noaa.gov
IPCC — Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Global scientific assessments of climate change.
www.ipcc.ch
IOC-UNESCO
International coordination for ocean science and observation.
www.ioc.unesco.org
Copernicus Marine Service
European open ocean-monitoring data products.
marine.copernicus.eu
Argo Global Float Array
Open profiling-float dataset for the global ocean.
argo.ucsd.edu
NASA Sea Level Change
Satellite records and tools on sea-level rise.
sealevel.nasa.gov
These are independent, third-party resources provided for context and further reading. Links do not imply any affiliation, partnership, or endorsement.
Collaborate with us
We partner with researchers, practitioners, and civic organizations on applied projects.