Item talk:Q49599

usgs_staff_profile:

 meta:
   status_code: 200
   timestamp: '2023-09-30T17:19:09.750609'
   url: https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/curt-storlazzi
 profile:
   abstracts: []
   affiliations: []
   education:
   - '2002-2004: Research Fellow, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal
     Oceans Consortium'
   - '2000-2002: Post-doctoral Researcher, UCSC Institute for Marine Sciences'
   - '2000: Ph.D., UCSC, Earth Sciences Department'
   - '1996: B.Sc., University of Delaware, Geology Department'
   email: cstorlazzi@usgs.gov
   expertise_terms:
   - coastal ecosystems
   - marine ecosystems
   - marine geology
   - marine water quality
   - ocean characteristics
   - ocean circulation
   - ocean currents
   - ocean processes
   - ocean salinity
   - ocean temperature
   - tides (oceanic)
   - ocean waves
   - reef ecosystems
   - sea-floor characteristics
   honors: []
   intro_statements:
   - My interests span the coastal zone, from seacliff erosional processes to sediment
     dynamics in the shallow coastal ocean. My research focuses on the quantitative
     study of hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and geomorphology in coastal and
     marine environments.
   name: Curt Storlazzi, PhD
   name_qualifier: null
   orcid: 0000-0001-8057-4490
   organization_link: https://www.usgs.gov/centers/pcmsc
   organization_name: Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
   personal_statement: 'Research TopicsCoral reef morphology, hydrodynamics, and
     sediment, nutrient, contaminant, and larval transportThe role of coral reefs
     and other coastal ecosystems in coastal hazard risk reductionThe interplay between
     geologic structure, climatic fluctuations, and coastal processesHigh-resolution
     oceanographic instrumentation and coastal mapping techniquesThe influence of
     physical processes on coral reef ecosystemsMany tropical coastal environments
     have been impacted by infrastructure development, nutrient and contaminant delivery,
     and natural and human-induced sedimentation. The high geomorphic and hydrodynamic
     complexity both within and between coral reefs, in conjunction with past technical
     restrictions, has limited our understanding of the nature of flow and the resulting
     flux of physical, chemical, and biologic material in these ecosystems. Understanding
     the physical controls on the timing and magnitude of flow and sediment, larvae,
     nutrient, and contaminant transport, along with their impact on seafloor geomorphology,
     stability, and sedimentation in these refugia are essential to assessing modern
     anthropogenic impacts (climate change, etc.) on these ecosystems and help guide
     how restoration can increase the resiliency of coral reef-lined coastal communities.See:
     Coral Reef Project and The Value of U.S. Coral Reefs for Risk Reduction (links
     below)The influence of climate change and sea-level rise on coral reef-lined
     coastsObservations show that sea level is rising and recent projections indicate
     sea level will exceed 1.0 m, and may reach 2.0 m, above 2000 levels by the end
     of the 21st century. The amount of land and water available for human habitation,
     water and food sources, and ecosystems along coral reef-lined coasts is limited
     and vulnerable to wave-driven flooding during storms. Rising sea levels will
     further exacerbate the impacts of storms on coral reef-lined coasts by reducing
     wave breaking (and thus energy dissipation) over reefs and result in greater
     wave energy impacting the shoreline, causing increased flooding and changes
     to the coast such as erosion. Understanding the physical controls on the timing
     and magnitude of flooding, along with their impact on coastal geomorphology,
     are essential to assessing impacts on, and the future sustainability of, coastal
     infrastructure, agriculture, freshwater availability, and ecosystems.See: Low-lying
     areas of tropical Pacific islands (links below)'
   professional_experience:
   - '2002-present: Research Geologist and Oceanographer, USGS Coastal and Marine
     Hazards and Resources Program'
   - '2002-present: Research Associate, University of California at Santa Cruz (UCSC)
     Institute for Marine Sciences'
   title: Research Geologist