Daniel Ciarletta, Ph.D.
Daniel Ciarletta is a Research Physical Scientist at the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. He investigates the evolution of coastal morphology to understand how beach, dune, and marsh landscapes are connected over different timescales. To accomplish this, he combines field approaches with numerical modeling to quantify geomorphological change through time.
Daniel's work includes efforts to understand how dune morphology can be used as a proxy to quantify rates of sediment input and loss in coastal barrier islands, as well as how lags in sediment transfer and rates of sand partitioning within barrier islands influence long-term landscape evolution. He has created and modified several reduced-complexity model frameworks to explore these dynamics.
More recently, his work includes efforts to (1) understand the resilience of coastal systems to variations in inlet-, storm-, and engineering-induced variations in sediment availability, and (2) explore couplings between different coastal landscapes over varying timescales.
Professional Experience
Research Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, 2023-present
Research Geologist (Mendenhall), U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, 2019-2023
Marine Scientist / Project Manager, Alpine Ocean Seismic Survey, Inc., 2008-2012
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Environmental Science and Management, Montclair State University, 2019
M.S. Geoscience, Montclair State University, 2014
B.S. Oceanography - Coastal Zone Management, Florida Institute of Technology, 2008
Science and Products
Python-based Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (pySBSP) model (ver. 1.0, February 2024) Python-based Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (pySBSP) model (ver. 1.0, February 2024)
The Python-based Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (pySBSP) model is a framework to simulate the morphological development of an idealized barrier coast in the cross-shore domain. It is based off the original framework of the same name, which is coded in in MATLAB. pySBSP consists of two scripts; one includes a basic graphical user interface (GUI) to simplify parameter input, while...
Sediment Data From Vibracores and Sand Augers Collected in 2021 and 2022 From Fire Island, New York Sediment Data From Vibracores and Sand Augers Collected in 2021 and 2022 From Fire Island, New York
In 2021 and 2022, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC) and the USGS New York Water Science Center (NYWSC), on behalf of SPCMSC, conducted sediment sampling and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys at Point O' Woods and Ho-Hum Beach (NYWSC, 2021) and Watch Hill, Long Cove, and Smith Point (SPCMSC, 2022), Fire Island...
Ground Penetrating Radar and Global Positioning System Data Collected in 2021 From Fire Island, New York Ground Penetrating Radar and Global Positioning System Data Collected in 2021 From Fire Island, New York
In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys and sediment sampling at Fire Island, New York to characterize and quantify spatial variability in the subaerial geology (Forde and others, 2018). These surveys, in combination with historical data, allowed for a preliminary reconstruction of the barriers long-term evolution. In 2021, scientists...
Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (SBSP) Model Version 1.0 Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (SBSP) Model Version 1.0
The Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (SBSP) model is a framework to simulate the morphological development of an idealized barrier coast in the cross-shore domain. The model code, built in MATLAB, consists of two scripts which must reside within the same folder when executed. The first, SBSP_InputControl.m, contains the user-defined input variables to run the simulation. The...
Undeveloped and developed phases in the centennial evolution of a barrier-marsh-lagoon system: The case of Long Beach Island, New Jersey Undeveloped and developed phases in the centennial evolution of a barrier-marsh-lagoon system: The case of Long Beach Island, New Jersey
Barrier islands and their associated backbarrier environments protect mainland population centers and infrastructure from storm impacts, support biodiversity, and provide long-term carbon storage, among other ecosystem services. Despite their socio-economic and ecological importance, the response of coupled barrier-marsh-lagoon environments to sea-level rise is poorly understood...
Authors
Christopher Tenebruso, Shane Nichols-O’Neill, Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba, Daniel J. Ciarletta, Jennifer L. Miselis
Impacts of sediment removal from and placement in coastal barrier island systems Impacts of sediment removal from and placement in coastal barrier island systems
Executive Summary On June 24, 2019, Congressman Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, sent a letter to the directors of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey to request their assistance in answering questions regarding coastal sediment resource management within the Coastal Barrier Resources System as defined by the...
Authors
Jennifer L. Miselis, James G. Flocks, Sara Zeigler, Davina Passeri, David R. Smith, Jill R. Bourque, Christopher R. Sherwood, Christopher G. Smith, Daniel J. Ciarletta, Kathryn Smith, Kristen Hart, David C. Kazyak, Alicia Berlin, Bianca Prohaska, Teresa Calleson, Kristi Yanchis
Quantifying thresholds of barrier geomorphic change in a cross-shore sediment-partitioning model Quantifying thresholds of barrier geomorphic change in a cross-shore sediment-partitioning model
Barrier coasts, including barrier islands, beach-ridge plains, and associated landforms, can assume a broad spectrum of morphologies over multi-decadal scales that reflect conditions of sediment availability, accommodation, and relative sea-level rise. However, the quantitative thresholds of these controls on barrier-system behavior remain largely unexplored, even as modern sea-level...
Authors
Daniel J. Ciarletta, Jennifer L. Miselis, Justin L. Shawler, Christopher J. Hein
Relative influence of antecedent topography and sea-level rise on barrier-island migration Relative influence of antecedent topography and sea-level rise on barrier-island migration
The response of barrier islands to sea-level rise is modulated by combinations of coastal processes, eco-geomorphic feedbacks, and structural controls, such as antecedent topography. Interactions among these drivers can lead to complex and non-linear changes in island morphology and transitions between migrational, erosional, or progradational states. This study seeks to constrain the...
Authors
Justin L. Shawler, Daniel J. Ciarletta, Jennifer E. Connell, Bianca Q. Boggs, Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba, Christopher J. Hein
Science and Products
Python-based Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (pySBSP) model (ver. 1.0, February 2024) Python-based Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (pySBSP) model (ver. 1.0, February 2024)
The Python-based Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (pySBSP) model is a framework to simulate the morphological development of an idealized barrier coast in the cross-shore domain. It is based off the original framework of the same name, which is coded in in MATLAB. pySBSP consists of two scripts; one includes a basic graphical user interface (GUI) to simplify parameter input, while...
Sediment Data From Vibracores and Sand Augers Collected in 2021 and 2022 From Fire Island, New York Sediment Data From Vibracores and Sand Augers Collected in 2021 and 2022 From Fire Island, New York
In 2021 and 2022, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC) and the USGS New York Water Science Center (NYWSC), on behalf of SPCMSC, conducted sediment sampling and ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys at Point O' Woods and Ho-Hum Beach (NYWSC, 2021) and Watch Hill, Long Cove, and Smith Point (SPCMSC, 2022), Fire Island...
Ground Penetrating Radar and Global Positioning System Data Collected in 2021 From Fire Island, New York Ground Penetrating Radar and Global Positioning System Data Collected in 2021 From Fire Island, New York
In 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys and sediment sampling at Fire Island, New York to characterize and quantify spatial variability in the subaerial geology (Forde and others, 2018). These surveys, in combination with historical data, allowed for a preliminary reconstruction of the barriers long-term evolution. In 2021, scientists...
Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (SBSP) Model Version 1.0 Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (SBSP) Model Version 1.0
The Subaerial Barrier Sediment Partitioning (SBSP) model is a framework to simulate the morphological development of an idealized barrier coast in the cross-shore domain. The model code, built in MATLAB, consists of two scripts which must reside within the same folder when executed. The first, SBSP_InputControl.m, contains the user-defined input variables to run the simulation. The...
Undeveloped and developed phases in the centennial evolution of a barrier-marsh-lagoon system: The case of Long Beach Island, New Jersey Undeveloped and developed phases in the centennial evolution of a barrier-marsh-lagoon system: The case of Long Beach Island, New Jersey
Barrier islands and their associated backbarrier environments protect mainland population centers and infrastructure from storm impacts, support biodiversity, and provide long-term carbon storage, among other ecosystem services. Despite their socio-economic and ecological importance, the response of coupled barrier-marsh-lagoon environments to sea-level rise is poorly understood...
Authors
Christopher Tenebruso, Shane Nichols-O’Neill, Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba, Daniel J. Ciarletta, Jennifer L. Miselis
Impacts of sediment removal from and placement in coastal barrier island systems Impacts of sediment removal from and placement in coastal barrier island systems
Executive Summary On June 24, 2019, Congressman Raul Grijalva of Arizona, Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, sent a letter to the directors of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey to request their assistance in answering questions regarding coastal sediment resource management within the Coastal Barrier Resources System as defined by the...
Authors
Jennifer L. Miselis, James G. Flocks, Sara Zeigler, Davina Passeri, David R. Smith, Jill R. Bourque, Christopher R. Sherwood, Christopher G. Smith, Daniel J. Ciarletta, Kathryn Smith, Kristen Hart, David C. Kazyak, Alicia Berlin, Bianca Prohaska, Teresa Calleson, Kristi Yanchis
Quantifying thresholds of barrier geomorphic change in a cross-shore sediment-partitioning model Quantifying thresholds of barrier geomorphic change in a cross-shore sediment-partitioning model
Barrier coasts, including barrier islands, beach-ridge plains, and associated landforms, can assume a broad spectrum of morphologies over multi-decadal scales that reflect conditions of sediment availability, accommodation, and relative sea-level rise. However, the quantitative thresholds of these controls on barrier-system behavior remain largely unexplored, even as modern sea-level...
Authors
Daniel J. Ciarletta, Jennifer L. Miselis, Justin L. Shawler, Christopher J. Hein
Relative influence of antecedent topography and sea-level rise on barrier-island migration Relative influence of antecedent topography and sea-level rise on barrier-island migration
The response of barrier islands to sea-level rise is modulated by combinations of coastal processes, eco-geomorphic feedbacks, and structural controls, such as antecedent topography. Interactions among these drivers can lead to complex and non-linear changes in island morphology and transitions between migrational, erosional, or progradational states. This study seeks to constrain the...
Authors
Justin L. Shawler, Daniel J. Ciarletta, Jennifer E. Connell, Bianca Q. Boggs, Jorge Lorenzo-Trueba, Christopher J. Hein