Christopher Sherwood, PhD
Chris (he/him/his), is a coastal oceanographer with expertise in measuring and modeling sediment transport and coastal morphology changes.
Professional Experience
Research Oceanographer, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA and Woods Hole, MA, 1999 – present.
Affiliate Faculty, Ocean Engineering, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 2009 – present
Guest Investigator, Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, 2011 – present
Senior Research Scientist, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Division of Marine Research, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 1996 - 1999
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Geological Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 1995
M.S. Geological Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 1982
A.B., Economics and Environmental Studies, Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine, 1976
Science and Products
Advantages and limitations to the use of optical measurements to study sediment properties
Rapid, remote assessment of Hurricane Matthew impacts using four-dimensional structure-from-motion photogrammetry
Reductive dechlorination rates of 4,4′-DDE (1-chloro-4-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]benzene) in sediments of the Palos Verdes Shelf, CA
Cohesive and mixed sediment in the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS v3.6) implemented in the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere–Wave–Sediment Transport Modeling System (COAWST r1234)
Numerical model of geochronological tracers for deposition and reworking applied to the Mississippi subaqueous delta
Direct measurements of mean Reynolds stress and ripple roughness in the presence of energetic forcing by surface waves
Final data report for factors controlling DDE dechlorination rates on the Palos Verdes Shelf: A field and laboratory investigation
Water-level and wave measurements in the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, 2012 and 2013
Water-level measurements in Dauphin Island, Alabama, from the 2013 Hurricane Season
Bottom stress measurements on the inner shelf
Autonomous bed-sediment imaging-systems for revealing temporal variability of grain size
Inundation of a barrier island (Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, USA) during a hurricane: Observed water-level gradients and modeled seaward sand transport
Post-Hurricane Florence Aerial Imagery: Cape Fear to Duck, North Carolina, October 6-8, 2018
Aerial imagery and photogrammetric products from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) flights over the Lake Ontario shoreline at Chimney Bluffs, New York, July 14, 2017
Ground Control Point Locations, Elevations and Photographs From North Topsail Beach and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 2019
Geotagged Low-Altitude Aerial Imagery From Unmanned Aerial System Flights Over Town Neck Beach, in Sandwich, Massachusetts, With Associated Ground Control Points, and Transects Collected by the U.S. Geological Survey on January 22, January 25, February 11
Geotagged Low-Altitude Aerial Imagery from Unmanned Aerial Systems Flights over Town Neck Beach in Sandwich, Massachusetts, With Associated Ground Control Points, and Transects, Collected on January 9, January 25, February 14, March 16, April 28, May 4, a
Baseline Coastal Oblique Aerial Photographs Collected at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility, Duck, North Carolina, June 9, 2017
Sidescan sonar, single beam bathymetry, and navigation collected offshore of Sandwich Beach in 2016, U.S. Geological Field Activity 2016-030-FA
Reductive dechlorination rate data for 4,4'-DDE in sediments of the Palos Verdes Shelf, CA (1981-2010)
High-resolution geophysical and sampling data collected at the mouth of Connecticut River, Old Saybrook to Essex, 2012, USGS Field Activity 2012-024-FA
Water level measurements collected in West Falmouth Harbor, MA, 2016: U.S. Geological Survey data release
Water level measurements collected in West Falmouth Harbor, MA, 2017
Oceanographic measurements and hydrodynamic modeling of the mouth of the Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2013
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 66
Advantages and limitations to the use of optical measurements to study sediment properties
Measurements of optical properties have been used for decades to study particle distributions in the ocean. They are useful for estimating suspended mass concentration as well as particle-related properties such as size, composition, packing (particle porosity or density), and settling velocity. Measurements of optical properties are, however, biased, as certain particles, because of their size, cAuthorsEmmanuel Boss, Christopher R. Sherwood, Paul Hill, Tim MilliganRapid, remote assessment of Hurricane Matthew impacts using four-dimensional structure-from-motion photogrammetry
Timely assessment of coastal landforms and structures after storms is important for evaluating storm impacts, aiding emergency response and restoration, and initializing and assessing morphological models. Four-dimensional multiview photogrammetry, also known as structure from motion (4D SfM), provides a method for generating three-dimensional reconstructions of landscapes at two times (before andAuthorsChristopher R. Sherwood, Jonathan Warrick, Andrew D. Hill, Andrew C. Ritchie, Brian D. Andrews, Nathaniel G. PlantReductive dechlorination rates of 4,4′-DDE (1-chloro-4-[2,2-dichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethenyl]benzene) in sediments of the Palos Verdes Shelf, CA
Wastes from the world's largest manufacturer of DDT (1-chloro-4-[2,2,2-trichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]benzene) were released into the Los Angeles County municipal sewer system from 1947 to 1971. Following primary treatment, the effluent was discharged through a submarine outfall system whereupon a portion of the DDT and associated degradation products were deposited in sediments of the Palos VeAuthorsRobert P. Eganhouse, Christopher R. Sherwood, James Pontolillo, Brian Edwards, Patrick J. DickhudtCohesive and mixed sediment in the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS v3.6) implemented in the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere–Wave–Sediment Transport Modeling System (COAWST r1234)
No abstract available.AuthorsChristopher R. Sherwood, Alfredo Aretxabaleta, Courtney K. Harris, J. Paul Rinehimer, Romaric Verney, Bénédicte FerréNumerical model of geochronological tracers for deposition and reworking applied to the Mississippi subaqueous delta
Measurements of naturally occurring, short-lived radioisotopes from sediment cores on the Mississippi subaqueous delta have been used to infer event bed characteristics such as depositional thicknesses and accumulation rates. Specifically, the presence of Beryllium-7 (7Be) indicates recent riverine-derived terrestrial sediment deposition; while Thorium-234 (234Th) provides evidence of recent suspeAuthorsJustin J. Birchler, Courtney K. Harris, Tara A. Kniskern, Christopher R. SherwoodDirect measurements of mean Reynolds stress and ripple roughness in the presence of energetic forcing by surface waves
Direct covariance observations of the mean flow Reynolds stress and sonar images of the seafloor collected on a wave‐exposed inner continental shelf demonstrate that the drag exerted by the seabed on the overlying flow is consistent with boundary layer models for wave‐current interaction, provided that the orientation and anisotropy of the bed roughness are appropriately quantified. Large spatialAuthorsMalcolm Scully, John Trowbridge, Christopher R. Sherwood, Katie R. Jones, Peter A. TraykovskiFinal data report for factors controlling DDE dechlorination rates on the Palos Verdes Shelf: A field and laboratory investigation
This data report provides a compilation of information developed over the last 6+ years by a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional research team. The overall goal of this work has been to identify the biological, chemical, and physical factors that control rates of reductive dechlorination of DDE and DDMU in sediments of the Palos Verdes Shelf (PVS). More specific questions and objectives are deAuthorsRobert P. Eganhouse, James Pontolillo, William H. Orem, Daniel M. Webster, Paul C. Hackley, Brian D. Edwards, Kurt J. Rosenberger, Patrick Dickhudt, Christopher R. Sherwood, Martin Reinhard, Sujie Qin, Jennifer Dougherty, Gary Hopkins, Ian Marshall, Alfred SpormannWater-level and wave measurements in the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, 2012 and 2013
This report documents measurements of atmospheric pressure, water levels, and waves made by the U.S. Geological Survey in the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, during 2012 and 2013 as part of the Barrier Island Evolution Research project. Simple, inexpensive pressure sensors mounted in shallow wells were buried in the beach and left for one hurricane season and one winter-storm season. Gauges with raAuthorsPatrick J. Dickhudt, Christopher R. Sherwood, Nancy T. DeWittWater-level measurements in Dauphin Island, Alabama, from the 2013 Hurricane Season
This report describes the instrumentation, field measurements, and processing methods used by the U.S. Geological Survey to measure atmospheric pressure, water levels, and waves on Dauphin Island, Alabama, in 2013 at part of the Barrier Island Evolution Research project. Simple, inexpensive pressure sensors mounted in shallow wells were buried in the beach and left throughout the hurricane season.AuthorsPatrick J. Dickhudt, Christopher R. Sherwood, Nancy T. DeWittBottom stress measurements on the inner shelf
Bottom stress shapes the mean circulation patterns, controls sediment transport, and influences benthic habitat in the coastal ocean. Accurate and precise measurements of bottom stress have proved elusive, in part because of the difficulty in separating the turbulent eddies that transport momentum from inviscid wave-induced motions. Direct covariance measurements from a pair of acoustic Doppler veAuthorsChristopher R. Sherwood, Malcolm Scully, John TrowbridgeAutonomous bed-sediment imaging-systems for revealing temporal variability of grain size
We describe a remotely operated video microscope system, designed to provide high-resolution images of seabed sediments. Two versions were developed, which differ in how they raise the camera from the seabed. The first used hydraulics and the second used the energy associated with wave orbital motion. Images were analyzed using automated frequency-domain methods, which following a rigorous partialAuthorsDaniel Buscombe, David M. Rubin, Jessica R. Lacy, Curt D. Storlazzi, Gerald Hatcher, Henry Chezar, Robert Wyland, Christopher R. SherwoodInundation of a barrier island (Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, USA) during a hurricane: Observed water-level gradients and modeled seaward sand transport
Large geomorphic changes to barrier islands may occur during inundation, when storm surge exceeds island elevation. Inundation occurs episodically and under energetic conditions that make quantitative observations difficult. We measured water levels on both sides of a barrier island in the northern Chandeleur Islands during inundation by Hurricane Isaac. Wind patterns caused the water levels to slAuthorsChristopher R. Sherwood, Joseph W. Long, Patrick Dickhudt, P. Soupy Dalyander, David M. Thompson, Nathaniel G. Plant - Science
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Post-Hurricane Florence Aerial Imagery: Cape Fear to Duck, North Carolina, October 6-8, 2018
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Remote Sensing Coastal Change (RSCC) project collects aerial imagery along coastal swaths, in response to storm events, with optimized endlap/sidelap and precise position information to create high-resolution orthomosaics, three-dimensional (3D) point clouds, and digital elevation/surface models (DEMs/DSMs) using Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry methods.Aerial imagery and photogrammetric products from unmanned aerial systems (UAS) flights over the Lake Ontario shoreline at Chimney Bluffs, New York, July 14, 2017
Low-altitude (80-100 meters above ground level) digital images were obtained from a camera mounted on a 3DR Solo quadcopter, a small unmanned aerial system (UAS), in three locations along the Lake Ontario shoreline in New York during July 2017. These data were collected to document and monitor effects of high lake levels, including shoreline erosion, inundation, and property damage in the vicinityGround Control Point Locations, Elevations and Photographs From North Topsail Beach and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, June 2019
Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center collected location data (horizontal and vertical coordinates) for 53 Ground Control Points (GCP) in North Topsail Beach and within the Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, North Carolina, in June 2019. These GCPs were used to georectify aerial imagery taken post-Hurricane Florence (landfall September 14,Geotagged Low-Altitude Aerial Imagery From Unmanned Aerial System Flights Over Town Neck Beach, in Sandwich, Massachusetts, With Associated Ground Control Points, and Transects Collected by the U.S. Geological Survey on January 22, January 25, February 11
Low-altitude (30-120 meters above ground level) digital images of Town Neck Beach in Sandwich, Massachusetts, were obtained with a series of cameras mounted on small unmanned aerial systems (UAS, also known as a drone). Imagery was collected at close to low tide on five days to observe changes in beach and dune morphology. The images were geolocated by using the single-frequency geographic positioGeotagged Low-Altitude Aerial Imagery from Unmanned Aerial Systems Flights over Town Neck Beach in Sandwich, Massachusetts, With Associated Ground Control Points, and Transects, Collected on January 9, January 25, February 14, March 16, April 28, May 4, a
Low-altitude (80-100 meters above ground level) digital images of Town Neck Beach in Sandwich, Massachusetts, were obtained from a camera mounted on a small unmanned aerial system (UAS; also known as a drone). Imagery was collected at close to low tide on seven days bracketing coastal ocean storms to observe changes in beach and dune morphology. The images were geolocated by using the single-frequBaseline Coastal Oblique Aerial Photographs Collected at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility, Duck, North Carolina, June 9, 2017
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as part of the National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards conducts baseline and storm-response photography missions to document and understand the changes in the vulnerability of the Nation's coasts to extreme storms. On June 09, 2017, the USGS conducted an oblique aerial photographic survey of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility (USACE FRSidescan sonar, single beam bathymetry, and navigation collected offshore of Sandwich Beach in 2016, U.S. Geological Field Activity 2016-030-FA
The objectives of the survey were to provide bathymetric and sidescan sonar data for sediment transport studies and coastal change model development for ongoing studies of nearshore coastal dynamics along Sandwich Town Neck Beach, MA. Data collection equipment used for this investigation are mounted on an unmanned surface vehicle (USV) uniquely adapted from a commercially sold gas-powered kayak anReductive dechlorination rate data for 4,4'-DDE in sediments of the Palos Verdes Shelf, CA (1981-2010)
Wastes from the worlds largest manufacturer of DDT were released into the Los Angeles County municipal sewer system from 1947 to 1971. Following primary treatment, the effluent was discharged from a submarine outfall system whereupon a portion of the DDT and associated degradation products were deposited in sediments of the Palos Verdes Shelf (PVS). Parent DDT is present only in trace amounts in tHigh-resolution geophysical and sampling data collected at the mouth of Connecticut River, Old Saybrook to Essex, 2012, USGS Field Activity 2012-024-FA
A geophysical and geological survey was conducted at the mouth of Connecticut River from Old Saybrook to Essex, CT in September 2012. Approximately 227 linear-km of digital Chirp sub bottom (seismic-reflection) and 234-kHz interferometric sonar (bathymetric and backscatter) data were collected along with sediment samples, river-bed photographs and/or video at eighty-seven sites within the geophysWater level measurements collected in West Falmouth Harbor, MA, 2016: U.S. Geological Survey data release
Water-level gauges were deployed at two sites in West Falmouth Harbor between May and October 2016. Two sequential deployments were required to provide measurements for the entire period. One gauge was mounted under the town-owned West Falmouth boat dock and the other on the private Associates dock near the mouth of the Harbor. Each gauge supported two pressure sensors mounted in a stilling weWater level measurements collected in West Falmouth Harbor, MA, 2017
Water-level gauges were deployed at two sites in West Falmouth Harbor between April and June 2017. One gauge was mounted under the town-owned West Falmouth boat dock and the other on the private Associates dock near the mouth of the Harbor. The gauge at Associates dock supported two pressure sensors mounted in a stilling well to damp wave motions. The stilling wells were 4-inch diameter PVC tubesOceanographic measurements and hydrodynamic modeling of the mouth of the Columbia River, Oregon and Washington, 2013
During May and June of 2013, the U.S. Geological Survey in collaboration with Naval Post-Graduate School, the University of Miami, and Deltares USA, participated in the Office of Naval Research-funded River and Inlets Dynamics (RIVET II) experiment to investigate the hydrodynamics of the mouth of the Columbia River (MCR). The field experiment consisted of the collection of continuous oceanographic - Multimedia
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