John Haines introduced the efforts of USGS coastal geologists and oceanographers to understand the relationship of geology to coastal response with the goal of forecasting coastal change. Though USGS programs are broad, addressing many issues and many environments, the focus here was on the erosion and evolution of sandy beach systems. The talk had three primary sections:

1) describing the development of a conceptual (partly quantitative) "sediment budget" model for regional coastal systems by mapping (sidescan, ground penetrating radar, seismics) and interpreting the geology,
2) outlining efforts to monitor (LIDAR, GPS topography and bathymetry) and model the coastal response at and near the shoreline at a variety of time scales, and
3) based on the geologic framework and shoreline response apply field experiments and a variety of models to refine and test our understanding of coastal change.

The elements described above provide the science and information base needed to forecast coastal change given realistic scenarios for future natural and human influences. Finally the presentation indicated some of the many ways efforts to forecast coastal change in sedimentary systems supports broader environmental and resource management issues.

1) Efforts to understand the processes of sediment transport and sedimentation in the Abe river sediment cell. Significant changes in the rates of removal of gravel from the river were related to coastal response. The project sets the stage for providing scientific guidance to linked, and potentially conflicting, issues related to flood hazard control and coastal erosion.

2) Mouth area - where river and coastal processes interact. Research approaches to describe the sedimentary system and the processes by which it responds were described.

These projects provide a broad framework (the sediment cell) for research on coastal systems and identify a critical segment (the river mouth) and critical issues (storm processes, sediment availability) for research.

The particulars of Japanese and U.S. coastal systems have some similarities - and some differences. In striving to better understand coastal systems, as research colleagues, we can learn from efforts where systems are similar (processes at river mouths, storm impacts on sandy shores) and where systems differ (sediment starved versus sediment rich systems). There may be opportunities to share data that, for both agencies, enhance the data available to address fundamental research questions. There is, as with all scientific pursuits, much to be gained by sharing knowledge of capabilities and technologies that have application to shared interests.