Coastal Plain Rotasonic Boreholes acquired within the lower coastal plain of South Carolina's Grand Strand region (ROTASONIC, Point shapefile)

In 1999, the USGS, in partnership with the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, began a study to investigate processes affecting shoreline change along the northern coast of South Carolina, focusing on the Grand Strand region. Previous work along the U.S. Atlantic coast shows that the structure and composition of older geologic strata located seaward of the coast heavily influences the coastal behavior of areas with limited sediment supply, such as the Grand Strand. By defining this geologic framework and identifying the transport pathways and sinks of sediment, geoscientists are developing conceptual models of the present-day physical processes shaping the South Carolina coast. The primary objectives of this research effort are: 1) to provide a regional synthesis of the shallow geologic framework underlying the coastal upland, shoreface and inner continental shelf, and define its role in coastal evolution and modern beach behavior; 2) to identify and model the physical processes affecting coastal ocean circulation and sediment transport, and to define their role in shaping the modern shoreline; and 3) to identify sediment sources and transport pathways; leading to construction of a regional sediment budget.

1999年，美国地质调查局（USGS）与南卡罗来纳州海洋赠款联盟（South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium）联合启动一项研究，旨在探究影响南卡罗来纳州北部海岸海岸线变化的各类过程，研究重点聚焦于大斯特兰德海岸带（Grand Strand）区域。此前针对美国大西洋沿岸开展的相关研究显示，位于海岸向海一侧的古老地质地层的结构与组成，会对沉积物供给有限的区域（如大斯特兰德海岸带）的海岸动态产生显著调控作用。通过明确该区域的地质框架、识别沉积物输运路径与沉积汇点，地球科学家正逐步构建起塑造现今南卡罗来纳州海岸的现代物理过程的概念模型。本研究的核心目标共有三项：其一，对海岸高地、近岸带（shoreface）及内陆架下方的浅部地质框架开展区域综合研究，并阐明其在海岸演化与现代海滩动态中的作用；其二，识别并构建影响近岸海洋环流与沉积物输运的物理过程模型，明确其对现代海岸线形态塑造的贡献；其三，明确沉积物源与输运路径，以此建立区域沉积物收支平衡体系。