[Coral-List] USGS Post-doc opportunity: fluvial impacts on nearshore ecosystems
Curt Storlazzi
cstorlazzi at usgs.gov
Tue Jul 25 15:16:04 EDT 2006
The US Geological Survey has established a Mendenhall Postdoctoral
Research Fellowship investigating the Processes of Fluvial Delivery
to and Deposition in the Coastal Ocean. A complete description of
the position is provided below. Students interested in advancing the
science of linking changes in watersheds to nearshore ecosystems, and
that will have completed their Ph.D work by March 15 2008, are
strongly encouraged to apply. Guidelines for how to apply, as well as
a complete listing of USGS Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research
Fellowships beginning fall of 2007 can be viewed at:
http://geology.usgs.gov/postdoc
Questions can be directed to the three advisors:
Curt Storlazzi, (831) 427-4721, cstorlazzi at usgs.gov
Jonathan Warrick, (831) 427-4793, jwarrick at usgs.gov
David Rubin, (831) 427-4736, drubin at usgs.gov
***********************************************************************
Research Opportunity #24:
Processes of Fluvial Delivery to and Deposition in the Coastal Ocean
Sediment, nutrients, and pollutants from a variety of land-based
activities adversely impact many nearshore ecosystems in the United
States and around the world. These contaminants are transported by
surface water runoff into coastal waters, and there is compelling
evidence that the sources have increased globally as a result of
human-induced changes to watersheds. The small, steep rivers such as
those found along the U.S. west coast and on high islands in the
Pacific Ocean are recognized to generate high sediment discharge,
which can be effectively modified by alterations in land use.
Significant anthropogenic modifications have been made to many
drainage basins, including agriculture, feral grazing, urbanization
and both dam construction and decommissioning that have, in turn,
altered the character and volume of land-based pollution released to
the coastal ocean. Terrigenous run-off and deposition in the coastal
ocean has potential impact on nearshore ecosystems by blocking light
and inhibiting photosynthesis, directly smothering benthic fauna, and
causing nutrification that triggers macro algae blooms. Studies that
combine information on watershed, surface flow, transport and fate of
sediment and other pollutants in the nearshore environment, and their
impact on marine ecosystem health are essential. These different
components form the framework of the developing source-to-sink
research programs around the world. For example, USGS watershed and
hydrologic data could be assimilated with geologic and oceanographic
processes data and compared to nearshore benthic habitat surveys to
develop an ecological model to predict the impacts of watershed
modification on a critical nearshore species. USGS science
capabilities are particularly well suited to provide science for
making informed decisions on land-based pollution threats to
nearshore ecosystems.
The goal of this research is to evaluate the impacts of land-use
changes on the mechanisms of sediment delivery to the shoreline and
its dispersal in coastal ocean. The postdoctoral fellow will develop
and test innovative means for measuring and predicting rates,
pathways and processes of material export from terrestrial to coastal
systems using state-of-the-art process-response models and
assimilations of disparate data types such as LIDAR- and
satellite-derived high-resolution topography and bathymetry, coastal
geomorphology, and historic and real-time oceanographic and
meteorologic measurements. Specific tools that could be employed
include high-resolution acoustic and optical profilers to measure
flow and water column properties, sediment and coral coring units,
DELFT-3D numerical modeling and both side-scan and multibeam mapping
systems. The research results will provide an important step in the
longer-term goal of predicting how future climate change and human
population growth may impact marine ecosystems. Potential study sites
include offshore regions flanking mountainous small drainages in
central California, Washington's Olympic Peninsula, and U.S. National
Parks on islands in the Pacific Ocean.
The postdoctoral fellow will have ample opportunities for
interdisciplinary collaborations in hydrology, ecology, geology,
oceanography, physics, statistics, spatial data analyses, numerical
modeling, remote sensing and engineering. She/he will be a member of
a team that includes researchers from the USGS, academia (University
of California at Santa Cruz, University of Hawaii, University of
Washington), and other federal agencies (National Park Service,
Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration). The postdoctoral researcher will be at the forefront
of interdisciplinary research in the United States and will
participate in significantly improving our understanding of the
delivery of land-based pollution to the coastal oceans and its impact
on their long-term health.
Proposed Duty Station: Santa Cruz, CA
Areas of Ph.D.: Oceanography, geology, hydrology, geography, coastal
engineering
Qualifications: Applicants must meet one of the following
qualifications: Research Oceanographer, Research Geologist, Research
Engineer
(This type of research is performed by those who have backgrounds for
the occupations stated above. However, other titles may be applicable
depending on the applicant's background, education, and research
proposal. The final classification of the position will be made by
the Personnel specialist.)
Research Advisor(s): Curt Storlazzi, (831) 427-4721,
cstorlazzi at usgs.gov; Jonathan Warrick, (831) 427-4793,
jwarrick at usgs.gov; David Rubin, (831) 427-4736, drubin at usgs.gov
Personnel Office contact: Cathy Shahan, (703) 648-7468, cshahan at usgs.gov
--
ciao.....
_______________________
Curt Storlazzi, Ph.D.
Research Oceanographer
U.S. Geological Survey
Pacific Science Center
400 Natural Bridges Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 427-4721 phone
(831) 427-4748 fax
Staff web page:
http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/staff/cstorlazzi/
Coral Reef Project:
http://coralreefs.wr.usgs.gov
Pleasure Point Project:
http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/research/projects/pleasurept.html
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