This website is now outdated— Please visit our new website here

(Due to technical difficulties this site isn't automatically redirecting to the new one. Thank you for your patience while we get that fixed. The URL of the new website is https://www.umass.edu/earth-geography-climate)

Findings reveal how New England beaches are shaped

A cobble strewn beach on the New England shore.

Researchers discover the relationship between grain size of sand and beach slope.

New research by Dr John Woodruff, alum Dr Nicholas Venti, state geologist Dr Steve Mabee, and alums Alycia DiTroia and Doug Beach, reveals, with unprecedented detail, how the grain size of beach sand relates to the slope of the beach itself. These new findings are critical to understanding how New England’s beaches will respond to both rising sea levels and increased storm activity.  Read more...