The Beginning of US Coastal Research
Prior to the 1980s: A Small but Dedicated Community
Prior to the 1980s: A Small but Dedicated Community
Prior to the 1980s: A Small but Dedicated Community
In the years leading up to the 1980s, coastal research in the United States was a niche field with a close-knit community of scientists.
The International Conference on Coastal Engineering (ICCE) was the only major venue for sharing ideas, and there were no dedicated sessions at AGU for nearshore processes. The Office of Naval Research (ON
In the years leading up to the 1980s, coastal research in the United States was a niche field with a close-knit community of scientists.
The International Conference on Coastal Engineering (ICCE) was the only major venue for sharing ideas, and there were no dedicated sessions at AGU for nearshore processes. The Office of Naval Research (ONR) maintained a Coastal Geography program, while Sea Grant supported coastal interests through efforts like the Nearshore Sediment Transport Study (NSTS). Meanwhile, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and its Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC) were active in laboratory-based studies. This period laid the foundation for what would become a rapidly evolving discipline.
The 1980s: Expansion and Experimentation
Prior to the 1980s: A Small but Dedicated Community
Prior to the 1980s: A Small but Dedicated Community
The 1980s marked a turning point for coastal research.
A series of groundbreaking field experiments at Duck, North Carolina—conducted in 1981, 1982, 1985, and 1986—provided unprecedented insights into nearshore dynamics. These studies coincided with the introduction of nearshore sessions at AGU, signaling growing recognition of the field.
The 1980s marked a turning point for coastal research.
A series of groundbreaking field experiments at Duck, North Carolina—conducted in 1981, 1982, 1985, and 1986—provided unprecedented insights into nearshore dynamics. These studies coincided with the introduction of nearshore sessions at AGU, signaling growing recognition of the field. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) began expanding its interest in coastal processes, while ONR’s involvement narrowed to just four principal investigators. Despite this reduction, the decade was characterized by innovation and collaboration, setting the stage for a more organized research community.
Major Field Experiments and Lasting Impact
Prior to the 1980s: A Small but Dedicated Community
Major Field Experiments and Lasting Impact
Field experiments have been the backbone of coastal research progress.
- The NSTS experiment at Torrey Pines and Santa Barbara (1979–1980) explored random wave hydrodynamics and infragravity waves.
- The Duck series (1982–1997) advanced knowledge of barred beach hydrodynamics and morphodynamics, while NCEX (2003) extended these studies to new e
Field experiments have been the backbone of coastal research progress.
- The NSTS experiment at Torrey Pines and Santa Barbara (1979–1980) explored random wave hydrodynamics and infragravity waves.
- The Duck series (1982–1997) advanced knowledge of barred beach hydrodynamics and morphodynamics, while NCEX (2003) extended these studies to new environments.
- Long-term monitoring at Duck, ongoing since 1979, continues to provide invaluable insights into interannual variability and large-scale coastal behavior.
These efforts collectively transformed nearshore science from a small community into a robust, interdisciplinary field addressing both fundamental physics and pressing societal needs.
Evolution of the US Coastal Research Program
1989: The First Community Vision
In April 1989, the first nearshore research vision meeting convened in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Supported by ONR, Sea Grant, USACE, USGS, and NSF, the meeting brought together scientists to assess the state of the science and chart a course for the future. The goal was clear: define priorities without tying them to specific funding agendas. The resulting report became a cornerstone for the next 15 years of research. It emphasized fundamental physics and identified five priority areas: wave breaking, infragravity wave dynamics, swash zone processes, bottom boundary layers, and small-scale sediment transport. This vision galvanized federal agencies and led to a decade of large-scale field experiments.
1998: Refining the Vision
Nearly a decade later, the community reconvened in St. Petersburg for a second vision meeting.
Supported by NOAA-Sea Grant, NSF, ONR, USGS, and USACE, the 1998 report reflected a changing world - post-Cold War shifts in defense priorities, growing concerns about sea level rise, and rapid advances in technology. GPS, sonar systems, turbulence sensors, and remote sensing transformed observational capabilities. The updated priorities included swash zone dynamics, breaking wave turbulence, wave-driven currents, sediment transport, and coastal morphology. Recommendations called for developing community models (leading to NOPP), expanding observations across diverse beaches, and improving infrastructure through long-term data programs and better instrumentation. This meeting also marked the birth of the Large-Scale Coastal Behavior (LSCB) initiative and the USGS National Assessment program.
2002: A Forward Perspective
By 2002, the community recognized the need for a new vision beyond the Nearshore Canyon Experiment (NCEX).
A self-supported workshop at Duck, North Carolina, addressed evolving federal priorities and societal challenges such as coastal erosion, flooding, storm hazards, and even defense-related needs like mine burial and trafficability.
Discussions revealed critical gaps: limited understanding of physics on reflective or highly dissipative beaches and uncertainty about whether predictive limitations stemmed from physics or boundary conditions.
The group proposed model-data comparison frameworks and observatories at sites of combined scientific and political interest, laying the groundwork for future integrated research strategies.
2014: A Vision Takes Shape
Leading coastal researchers and practitioners from academia, industry, and government met at the 2014 “Past and Future of Nearshore Processes Research: Reflections on the Sallenger Years and a New Vision for the Future” workshop to develop a coastal research vision where societal needs and science challenges intersect.
Attendees discussed the current coastal challenges to be addressed, identified exciting new areas of research, and built collaborations required to meet stakeholder needs.
Forming the USCRP
The 2014 workshop marked a turning point for the coastal research community. Building on decades of collaboration, participants recognized the need for a sustained, coordinated effort to address evolving coastal challenges.
From this meeting, the U.S. Coastal Research Program (USCRP) was established as a multi-agency partnership to align research priorities with societal needs and foster collaboration across federal, academic, and stakeholder communities.
2016: Strengthening Commitment
To facilitate interagency coordination and collaboration on federal coastal research, the USCRP hosted a Federal Agency Leadership meeting in which top leadership from each agency were invited to provide organization-specific guidance, oversight, and input.
These federal leaders represented their organization’s coastal mission, priorities, and resources, and helped define the priorities and steer upcoming activities. They provided the high-level commitments from their agency that are required to sustain the momentum of the USCRP as a respected, multi-agency group. These leaders seek to dovetail their agency’s highest federal priority coastal needs with the broader USCRP federal, academic, and stakeholder teams.
2024: Re-Adressing Needs
Coastal challenges continue to evolve with changing climate, development pressures, and emerging science. In 2024, USCRP convened another visioning workshop to revisit priorities, assess progress, and identify new research directions. This ongoing process ensures that USCRP remains responsive to developing needs and works collectively to advance coastal resilience and science for the benefit of communities nationwide.