Davina L Passeri, PhD
My research is focused on developing integrated modeling approaches to assess the dynamic effects of sea level rise on coastal environments and to inform management decision-making.
Biography
Davina Passeri is a Research Oceanographer at the U.S. Geological Survey. Her research is concentrated in numerical modeling of tides, waves, hurricane storm surge and barrier island morphology to understand how the coast may evolve in the future under drivers such as extreme storms and sea level rise. She is involved in research projects focused on:
- Dynamic effects of sea level rise on coastal hydrodynamics and morphology
- Short- and long-term barrier island evolution
- Estuarine and marsh evolution
- Transdisciplinary biogeophysical assessments
- Restoration assessments to enhance coastal resilience
The results from her work are used to improve the scientific knowledge on the effects of short- and long-term drivers in coastal evolution and to inform coastal management decision-making.
Education
B.S. Civil Engineering, University of Notre Dame, 2010
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, University of Central Florida, 2015
Mendenhall Post-Doctoral Fellow, U.S. Geological Survey, 2015-2017
Science and Products
Coastal Resource Evaluation for Management Application (CREMA)
Coastal environments are dynamic systems that provide high ecological, economical, recreational, and cultural value. Managing coastal systems requires a comprehensive understanding of the complex interactions between geological and ecological processes, as well as the ability to predict both the near-term and long-term impacts of storms and sea-level rise. The Coastal Resource Evaluation for...
Estuarine and MaRsh Geology Research Project
The goal of the Estuarine and MaRsh Geology (EMRG) Research Project is to study how and where short- and long-term marsh and estuarine coastal processes interact, how they influence coastal accretion or erosion, and how they pre-condition a marsh’s resiliency to storms, sea-level change, and human alterations along the northern Gulf of Mexico (Grand Bay and Point aux Chenes, Mississippi and St...
Alabama Barrier Island Restoration Assessment
This project is a collaborative effort between the USGS, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the State of Alabama funded by National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) to investigate viable, sustainable restoration options that protect and restore the natural resources of Dauphin Island, Alabama. The project is focused on restoration options that protect and restore habitat and living...
Impacts of sediment removal from and placement in coastal barrier island systems
Executive SummaryOn 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...
Miselis, Jennifer L.; Flocks, James G.; Zeigler, Sara; Passeri, Davina; Smith, David R.; Bourque, Jill; Sherwood, Christopher R.; Smith, Christopher G.; Ciarletta, Daniel J.; Smith, Kathryn; Hart, Kristen; Kazyak, David; Berlin, Alicia; Prohaska, Bianca; Calleson, Teresa; Yanchis, Kristi
Assessing the effectiveness of nourishment in decadal barrier island morphological resilience
Nourishment has shown to be an effective method for short-term storm protection along barrier islands and sandy beaches by reducing flooding, wave attack and erosion. However, the ability of nourishment to mitigate the effects of storms and sea level rise (SLR) and improve coastal resilience over decadal time scales is not well understood. This...
Passeri, Davina; Bilskie, Matthew V.; Hagen, Scott C.; Mickey, Rangley C.; Dalyander, P Soupy; Gonzalez, Victor Development and application of an empirical dune growth model for evaluating barrier island recovery from storms
Coastal zone managers require models that predict barrier island change on decadal time scales to estimate coastal vulnerability, and plan habitat restoration and coastal protection projects. To meet these needs, methods must be available for predicting dune recovery as well as dune erosion. In the present study, an empirical dune growth model (...
Dalyander, Patricia (Soupy); Mickey, Rangley C.; Passeri, Davina; Plant, Nathaniel G. Sensitivity of storm response to antecedent topography in the XBeach model
Antecedent topography is an important aspect of coastal morphology when studying and forecasting coastal change hazards. The uncertainty in morphologic response of storm-impact models and their use in short-term hazard forecasting and decadal forecasting is important to account for when considering a coupled model framework. This study provided a...
Mickey, Rangley C.; Dalyander, P. Soupy; McCall, Robert T.; Passeri, Davina The roles of storminess and sea level rise in decadal barrier island evolution
Models of alongshore sediment transport during quiescent conditions, storm‐driven barrier island morphology, and poststorm dune recovery are integrated to assess decadal barrier island evolution under scenarios of increased sea levels and variability in storminess (intensity and frequency). Model results indicate barrier island response regimes of...
Passeri, Davina; Dalyander, P. Soupy; Long, Joseph W.; Mickey, Rangley C.; Jenkins, Robert L.; Thompson, David M.; Plant, Nathaniel G.; Godsey, Elizabeth; Gonzalez, Victor Using multiple environmental proxies and hydrodynamic modeling to investigate Late Holocene climate and coastal change within a large Gulf of Mexico estuarine system (Mobile Bay, Alabama, USA)
A high degree of uncertainty exists for understanding and predicting coastal estuarine response to changing climate, land-use, and sea-level conditions, leaving geologic records as a best-proxy for constraining potential outcomes. With the majority of the world's population focused in coastal regions, understanding how local systems respond to...
Smith, Christopher; Jones, Miriam C.; Osterman, Lisa; Passeri, Davina
Development of a modeling framework for predicting decadal barrier island evolution
Predicting the decadal evolution of barrier island systems is important for coastal managers who propose restoration or preservation alternatives aimed at increasing the resiliency of the island and its associated habitats or communities. Existing numerical models for simulating morphologic changes typically include either long-term (for example,...
Mickey, Rangley C.; Long, Joseph W.; Dalyander, P. Soupy ; Jenkins, Robert L.; Thompson, David M.; Passeri, Davina; Plant, Nathaniel G. Combining numerical and statistical models to predict storm-induced dune erosion
Dune erosion is an important aspect to consider when assessing coastal flood risk, as dune elevation loss makes the protected areas more susceptible to flooding. However, most advanced dune erosion numerical models are computationally expensive, which hinders their application in early-warning systems. Based on a combination of probabilistic and...
Malagon-Santos, Victor; Wahl, Thomas; Long, Joseph W; Passeri, Davina; Plant, Nathaniel G. Surrogate model development for coastal dune erosion under storm conditions
Early coastal dune erosion predictions are essential to avoid potential flood consequences but most dune erosion numerical models are computationally expensive, hence their application in Early Warning Systems is limited. Here, based on a combination of optimally sampled synthetic sea storms with a calibrated and validated XBeach model, we develop...
Malagon-Santos, Victor; Wahl, Thomas; Long, Joseph W; Passeri, Davina; Plant, Nathaniel G.
Effects of proposed navigation channel improvements on sediment transport in Mobile Harbor, Alabama
A Delft3D model was developed to evaluate the potential effects of proposed navigationchannel deepening and widening in Mobile Harbor, Alabama. The model performance wasassessed through comparisons of modeled and observed data of water levels, velocities, and bedlevel changes; the model captured hydrodynamic and sediment transport patterns in the...
Passeri, Davina; Long, Joseph W.; Jenkins, Robert L.; Thompson, David M. Dynamic modeling of barrier island response to hurricane storm surge under future sea level rise
Sea level rise (SLR) has the potential to exacerbate the impacts of extreme storm events on the coastal landscape. This study examines the coupled interactions of SLR on storm-driven hydrodynamics and barrier island morphology. A numerical model is used to simulate the hydrodynamic and morphodynamic impacts of two Gulf of Mexico hurricanes under...
Passeri, Davina; Bilskie, Matthew V.; Plant, Nathaniel G.; Long, Joseph W.; Hagen, Scott C.
Coastal estuaries and lagoons: The delicate balance at the edge of the sea
Coastal communities are increasingly concerned about the dynamic balance between freshwater and saltwater because of its implications for societal, economic, and ecological resources. While the mixing of freshwater and saltwater sources defines coastal estuaries and lagoons, sudden changes in this balance can have a large effect on critical...
Conrads, Paul A.; Rodgers, Kirk D.; Passeri, Davina; Prinos, Scott T.; Smith, Christopher; Swarzenski, Christopher M.; Middleton, Beth A.
USGS participates in Coastal Solutions Workshop for the Gulf Coast Keynote Focused on Science for Stakeholders
The USGS was a co-organizer with Ocean Visions for the virtual Coastal Solutions Workshop, “Coastal Flood Modeling, Prediction and Observations for the U.S. Gulf Coast,” held in April 2021. The workshop focused on resiliency challenges and opportunities facing the Gulf of Mexico.
Study shows how beach and dune nourishment can mitigate the long-term impacts of storms and sea-level rise on barrier islands
Research conducted by USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program (CMHRP) and NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) assesses the effectiveness of beach and dune nourishment on barrier island morphological resilience.
Davina Passeri invited to co-present on engineering challenges in a coastal environment at University of Central Florida
Davina Passeri of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC) co-presents a talk titled, “Engineering challenges in a coastal environment,” with structural engineer David Fusco of Thornton Tomasetti for University of Central Florida (UCF).
SPCMSC scientists represent USGS at the Coastal Solutions Workshop for the Gulf Coast
Scientists from the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center will participate in the virtual Ocean Visions Coastal Solutions Workshop: “Coastal Flood Modeling, Prediction and Observations for the U.S. Gulf Coast.”
Davina Passeri will participate in virtual science panel for art exhibit on “Expanding Waters”
Davina Passeri, Research Oceanographer at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, has been invited to participate in a virtual panel discussion as part of an art exhibit in Pinellas County called “Expanding Waters” which describes the current state of our waters.
Davina Passeri invited to present on barrier island evolution at Deford Lecture Series
Davina Passeri of the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center has been invited to present a talk titled, “Modeling decadal barrier island evolution under future storms and sea level rise” at the University of Texas DeFord Lecture Series on February 25.
Alabama Barrier Island Restoration Assessment Project public presentation
Scientists from the St. Petersburg Coastal Marine Science Center and the Wetland and Aquatic Research Center copresent the Alabama Barrier Island Restoration Assessment on the DOI Internal Gulf Restoration weekly meeting.
“The roles of storminess and sea level rise in decadal barrier island evolution” published
A new manuscript published in Geophysical Research Letters by Davina Passeri (Research Oceanographer, SPCMSC) with USGS, USACE and academic collaborators illustrates how barrier islands will respond to changes in sea level and storminess over decadal time scales.
Oceanographer Davina Passeri participates in a virtual panel discussion on coastal resilience
Davina Passeri, Research Oceanographer at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, was invited to participate in a virtual panel discussion entitled “Closing the Resiliency Gap: What Will it Take?” hosted by St. Petersburg College on April 15.
SPCMSC researcher invited to speak at Queen’s University Beaty Water Research Centre Seminar Series in Canada
SPCMSC researcher Davina Passeri presented her research on integrated modeling of coastal processes in a changing environment at the Queen’s University Beaty Water Research Centre Seminar Series in Kingston, Canada.
New report recommends sea level rise projections for use in the Tampa Bay area
The Tampa Bay Climate Science Advisory Panel (a group of local scientists and resource managers; including Davina Passeri, Research Civil Engineer, SPCMSC) released a new report recommending a set of sea level rise projections for use throughout the Tampa Bay region.