Skip Links

USGS - science for a changing world

Fact Sheet 2011–3031

Coastal and Marine Geology Program

Early Results from the Northern Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Change and Hazard Susceptibility Project

By John C. Brock,1 Dawn L. Lavoie,2 and Richard Z. Poore3

1Coastal and Marine Geology Program, USGS National Center, Mail Stop 915-B, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, Reston, VA 20192
2USGS Science Coordinator – Gulf of Mexico, Bldg. 1100, Room 108, Stennis Space Center, MS 39529
3U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, 600 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33702

Thumbnail image of fact sheet

Summary

The northern Gulf of Mexico coastal region and its diverse ecosystems are threatened by population and development pressure and by the impacts of rising sea level and severe storms such as the series of hurricanes that has impacted the northern Gulf in recent years. In response to the complex management issues facing the region, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) organized a multidisciplinary research program to coordinate the activities of USGS and other scientists working in the northern Gulf of Mexico region. The Northern Gulf of Mexico (NGOM) Ecosystem Change and Hazard Susceptibility Project aims to develop a thorough understanding of the dynamic coastal ecosystems on the northern Gulf coast, the impact of human activities on these ecosystems, and the vulnerability of ecosystems and human communities to more frequent and more intense hurricanes in the future. A special issue of Geo-Marine Letters published in December 2009 is devoted to early results of studies completed as part of this project. These studies, which have been conducted at sites throughout the northern Gulf region, from the Chandeleur Islands to Apalachicola Bay, have focused on three themes: (1) the underlying geologic framework that exerts controls over coastal processes, (2) the impact of human activities on nearshore water quality, and (3) hurricanes and associated effects.

First posted March 29, 2011

For additional information contact:
John C. Brock
Coastal and Marine Geology Program
USGS National Center, Mail Stop 915-B
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192

http://ngom.usgs.gov/

Part or all of this report is presented in Portable Document Format (PDF); the latest version of Adobe Reader or similar software is required to view it. Download the latest version of Adobe Reader, free of charge.


Suggested citation:

Brock, J.C., Lavoie, D.L., and Poore, R.Z., 2011, Early results from the Northern Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Change and Hazard Susceptibility Project: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2011–3031, 4 p.




Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://pubsdata.usgs.gov/pubs/fs/2011/3031/index.html
Page Contact Information: USGS Publications Team
Page Last Modified: Tuesday, 29-Nov-2016 17:45:39 EST