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  Curt Storlazzi

Curt Storlazzi

Adjunct Professor

 

Physical & Biological Sciences Division

Institute of Marine Sciences

Adjunct Professor

Faculty

Adjunct Faculty

Long Marine Lab Ocean Health Building

USGS Pacific Coastal & Marine Science Center

Long Marine Lab

 

EDUCATION:

 

2000 Ph.D. University of California at Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA. Earth Sciences Department, Concentrations: Coastal Geology and Oceanography          

 

1996 B.Sc. University of Delaware, Newark, DE. Geology Department, Concentrations: Geomorphology and Sedimentology

 

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:

 

2023-present    Adjunct Professor. Ocean Sciences Department, University of California at Santa Cruz

 

2002-present    Research Associate. Institute for Marine Sciences, University of California at Santa Cruz

 

2020-present    Research Geologist, GS-15. Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, US Geological Survey

 

2012-2020        Research Geologist, GS-14. Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, US Geological Survey

 

2002-2012        Research Geologist, GS-13. Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, US Geological Survey

 

2000-2002        Post-doctoral Researcher. Institute for Marine Sciences, University of California at Santa Cruz

 

·       Coral reef morphology, hydrodynamics, and sediment, nutrient, contaminant, and larval transport

·       The role of coral reefs and other coastal ecosystems in coastal hazard risk reduction

·       The interplay between geologic structure, climatic fluctuations, and coastal processes

·       High-resolution oceanographic instrumentation and coastal mapping techniques

The influence of physical processes on coral reef ecosystems

Many 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.

The influence of climate change and sea-level rise on coral reef-lined coasts

Observations 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.

AWARDS:

• US Coral Reef Task Force, Award for significant contributions to the advancement of science, willingness to collaborate with managers, and exceptional communications of research to make findings actionable. Voted on by 12 federal agencies, 2 states, and 5 territories, 2022

• USGS Star Award, for service on ELT’s BASIS+ Consistency Team, 2021

• Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, recognition for 13 years of scientific guidance serving on the Research Activities Panel, 2018

• USGS Star Award, for outstanding performance managing the DOD-SERDP RC-2334 Program, 2018

• Department of Defense, Pentagon, recognition for scientific leadership of the DOD-SERDP RC-2334 Program, 2016

• Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, recognition for scientific guidance for the emergency restoration of McAbee Beach, CA, following an oil spill, 2016

• Department of Defense, Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site, recognition for operations associated with the DOD-SERDP RC-2334 Program, 2015

• USGS Star Award, for service, leadership, and team citizenship, 2008

 

HONORS:

• Research on coastal hazard risk reduction provided by coral reefs highlighted in State of Hawaii’s Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR-41 to declare coral reefs as essential natural infrastructure for the protection of coastlines, 2023

• Department of Defense, research on coastal hazard risk reduction provided by coral reefs noted (Restoring Resilient Reefs Act and Coral Reef Sustainability Through Innovation Act of 2022) in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act, 2022

• American Samoan Government, Division of Marine and Wildlife Resources, recognition for scientific contribution to the successful restoration of the Faga’alu watershed-reef system and graduation from the US Coral Reef Task Force’s Watershed Partnership Initiative Program, 2022.

• Research on modeling the global influence of internal tidal cooling on offsetting thermally-induced bleaching of coral reefs for inclusion in Nature-Scientific Report’s 2021 Editor's Choice: Corals and Reefs collection

• New coral restoration design and planning tool highlighted by the International Coral Reef Initiative, 2022

• Research on quantifying flood risk and reef risk reduction benefits in Florida and Puerto Rico highlighted by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2021

• Research on quantifying flood risk and reef risk reduction benefits in Florida and Puerto Rico highlighted by the International Coral Reef Initiative, 2021

• Research on coastal hazard risk reduction provided by coral reef restoration highlighted by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2021

• Research on coastal hazard risk reduction provided by coral reefs highlighted in State of Hawaii’s Senate Concurrent Resolution SCR-159 to pursue insurance for coral reefs because of their coastal protection benefits, 2021

• Research on development of coastal hazard risk reduction provided by US coral reefs highlighted by the US Federal Emergency Management Agency in a case study, 2021

• Research on flood risk reduction benefits provided by coral reefs highlighted by the International Guidelines on Natural and Nature-based Features for Flood Risk Management, 2021

• Research on development of coastal hazard risk reduction provided by coral reefs highlighted by the State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources, 2021

• Research on development of coastal hazard risk reduction provided by coral reefs highlighted by the State of Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection, 2021

• Research on coastal hazard risk reduction provided by coral reefs used by Guam government to justify Guam Legislature Bill No. 372-35 (COR) to pursue insurance for coral reefs because of their coastal protection benefits, 2020

• Research on coastal hazard risk reduction provided by coral reefs used by Puerto Rico government to justify Puerto Rico Law 72-2020 (Law to Declare Coral Reefs as an Essential Structure for the Protection of the Coasts of Puerto Rico), 2020

• Research on development of early warning systems and future scenarios of storm wave-driven flooding along coral reef-lined coasts highlighted by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2020

• Research on development of coastal hazard risk reduction provided by US coral reefs highlighted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineering with Nature Program, 2020

• Research on forecasting the sustainability of atoll islands highlighted by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, 2018

• Research sustainability of atoll islands highlighted by the UN’s Climate Action Programme, 2018

• Department of Defense, scientific findings from SERDP RC-2334 Project specifically noted in Section 335 (Report on the Effects of Climate Change on Department of Defense) of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act, 2017

 

GRANTS (only when PI listed):

• 2024-2026: Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs. “Rigorously Valuing the Coastal Hazard Risks Reduction Provided by Potential Coral Reef Restoration in the Territory of Guam, the Territory of American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands” $649,900

• 2023-2026: Department of Defense, Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP). Defense Regional Sea Level (DRSL) Database Update $291,200

• 2022-2026: US Department of Defense, Defense Advanced Projects Agency. Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) of DARPA Reefense TA-1 Wave Energy Attenuation Metrics at the Hawaii and Florida Field Sites $2,698,910

• 2021-2023: US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey, Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center. “The Impact of Sea-Level Rise on Coral Reef/Mangrove Interactions and the Resulting Coastal Flooding Hazards” $383,620

• 2021-2023: Department of Defense, Office of Naval Research (ONR). “Assessment of Psuedobathymetric Data Generation for the Probabilistic Surge and Inundation Prediction System (PSIPS)” $310,000

• 2021-2023: US Department of the Interior, National Park Service. “Updating Benthic Habitat Maps for Kaloko-Honokohau NHP, Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau NHP, and Puʻukohola Heiau NHS, Hawaiʻi” $79,000

• 2020-2022: US Department of the Interior, National Park Service/USGS Water Quality Partnership. “Identifying Historical Trends and Current Patterns of Anthropogenic Nutrient Loading to NPSA’s Ofu Pools and Its Impacts on Coral Health” $182,400

• 2019-2021: US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey, Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center. “The Impact of Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise on Future Flooding of Coastal NPS Parks and FWS Refuges in Hawai’i, Guam, CNMI, and American Samoa” $352,700

• 2018-2021: US Department of the Interior, US Geological Survey, 2017 Hurricane and Wildfire Supplemental. “Assessing Coastal Impacts and Enhancing Tools to Forecast Vulnerability to Coastal Flooding and Erosion in Florida and Puerto Rico after the 2017 Hurricanes” $1,245,000

• 2018-2019: US Army Corps of Engineers’ Honolulu District. “Coastal Circulation and Terrestrial Sediment Dispersal off Northwest Maui, Hawaii” $154,000

• 2014-2017: Department of Defense, Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP). “The Impact of Sea-Level Rise and Climate Change on Department of Defense Installations on Atolls in the Pacific Ocean” $2,657,400

• 2014-2016: US National Park Service, Inventory & Monitoring (I&M) Program. “Coastal circulation and water-column properties in the National Park of American Samoa” $150,000

• 2013-2014: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative. “Future Wind and Wave Projections for NPS- and USFWS-managed Islands in the Pacific Ocean” $75,500

• 2011-2013: US National Park Service, Inventory & Monitoring (I&M) Program. “Coastal circulation and water-column properties at War-in-the-Pacific National Historical Park (WAPA)” $188,

• 2011-2013: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Inventory & Monitoring (I&M) Program. “Predicting the impact of storm waves and sea-level rise within the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM)” $89,500

• 2010-2011: US National Park Service, Kalaupapa National Historical Park.“Hydrography of Kalaupapa National Historical Park’s (KALA) coastal waters” $33,400

• 2009-2010: US Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineer Research and Development Center. “Studyof the fate of fine-grain sediment dredged from the Santa Cruz Harbor” $130,000

• 2007-2008: US National Park Service, War in the Pacific National Historical Park. “Circulation and sediment dynamics in War in the Pacific National Historical Park’s (WAPA) coastal waters” $78,900

• 2005-2007: California Department of Boating and Waterways and Santa Cruz County Redevelopment Agency. “Pleasure Point geologic and oceanographic processes study” $155,100

• 2004-2005: US National Park Service, Pacific Islands Coral Reef Program. “Coastal circulation and water column properties at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park (KAHO)” $98,700

• 2002-2005: US National Park Service, Submerged Cultural Resources Center. “Dynamics of the physical environment at the USS Arizona Memorial (USAR)” $28,900

See Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=fFOaP0QAAAAJ&hl=en

See USGS webpage: https://www.usgs.gov/staff-profiles/curt-storlazzi#publications

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