Coastal Processes and Geomorphology Lab

 

Research Focus

Interested in studying coastal geomorphology? Our lab studies the geomorphic evolution of coastal environments, such as beaches, dunes, barrier islands, and wetlands. Our research is field-based and aimed at documenting how coastal environments are changing, what processes are driving change, and what the implications of change are for humans and ecological systems. Emphasis is placed on understanding how coastal systems might evolve in the future and aiding in coastal management decisions. If you have questions or want to discuss potential projects reach out directly to Dr. Theuerkauf at theuerk5@msu.edu

 
 
Empty sandy beach with small green bushes, gentle waves, and a clear blue sky.

Empty sandy beach with small green bushes, gentle waves, and a clear blue sky.

Two men on a boat, one wearing sunglasses and a gray shirt, looking at his phone, and another in a green hoodie handling equipment at the stern of the boat. The boat is on a body of water with a distant shoreline and greenery.

Two men on a boat, one wearing sunglasses and a gray shirt, looking at his phone, and another in a green hoodie handling equipment at the stern of the boat. The boat is on a body of water with a distant shoreline and greenery.

View of a large, calm lake with a clear blue sky above. The lake is surrounded by green trees and foliage, with a wooden viewing platform or walkway on the left side.

View of a large, calm lake with a clear blue sky above. The lake is surrounded by green trees and foliage, with a wooden viewing platform or walkway on the left side.

Person in waders and hat standing in marshy area, holding a drone controller with a drone flying above, surrounded by tall green grass under clear blue sky.

Person in waders and hat standing in marshy area, holding a drone controller with a drone flying above, surrounded by tall green grass under clear blue sky.

Cliffside along a beach with snow, sparse grass, and trees in the background, overcast sky.

Cliffside along a beach with snow, sparse grass, and trees in the background, overcast sky.

A man sitting on a boat, wearing a gray cap and green Michigan State lacrosse hoodie, looking at a device in his hands, with a yellow pole with a mounted sensor and black ropes attached, on a blue ocean under a partly cloudy sky.

A man sitting on a boat, wearing a gray cap and green Michigan State lacrosse hoodie, looking at a device in his hands, with a yellow pole with a mounted sensor and black ropes attached, on a blue ocean under a partly cloudy sky.

Calm lake with clear water, sandy shoreline, and wooden docks extending from the beach. A grassy hill with some trees and a blue sky with scattered clouds in the background.

Calm lake with clear water, sandy shoreline, and wooden docks extending from the beach. A grassy hill with some trees and a blue sky with scattered clouds in the background.

A person standing at the water's edge, operating a yellow autonomous surface vehicle with electronic equipment and sensors.

A person standing at the water's edge, operating a yellow autonomous surface vehicle with electronic equipment and sensors.

A winter scene on a beach with ice-covered rocks along the shoreline, cloudy sky, and calm waves.

A winter scene on a beach with ice-covered rocks along the shoreline, cloudy sky, and calm waves.

A man stands in a grassy, wooded area during fall, holding a metal detector over the ground. Bright yellow and orange foliage cover the trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

A man stands in a grassy, wooded area during fall, holding a metal detector over the ground. Bright yellow and orange foliage cover the trees in the background under a clear blue sky.

Two people standing in front of a white pickup truck with a boat on a trailer, holding surveying equipment, on a grassy roadside under a bright blue sky.

Two people standing in front of a white pickup truck with a boat on a trailer, holding surveying equipment, on a grassy roadside under a bright blue sky.