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Emily Wei, Ph.D.

Emily's research aims to understand how sediment availability, hydrodynamics, geology, and human modifications influence barrier island and coastal response to sea-level rise and storms. 

Research

Emily investigates these processes on the mid-Atlantic margin as part of the Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux group. In nearshore settings, Emily uses chirp seismic reflection, multibeam bathymetry, and sediment sampling to study the shoreface, a transition zone between the beach and continental shelf. This area is important, as sediment eroded from the shoreface can be transported to the beach, or vice versa. 

Education

Ph.D. Earth Sciences (2019): Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego

M.S. Earth Sciences (2014): Scripps Institution of Oceanography

B.A. Geology (2013): Middlebury College

Science and Products

link
Scientists operate scientific sediment coring equipment with a tall metal barrel and tripod on a sandy beach near the water.

Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux (CSAF) Capabilities

As part of the Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux project, we use innovative technology and integrate a variety of techniques to characterize barrier island environments, reconstruct their past history, and predict their future vulnerability.
By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux (CSAF) Capabilities

As part of the Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux project, we use innovative technology and integrate a variety of techniques to characterize barrier island environments, reconstruct their past history, and predict their future vulnerability.
Learn More
link
Sandy barrier island with dunes near a sandy beach on one side, low vegetation in the middle, and a bay of water on the other.

Modeling Barrier Island Evolution, Shoreface Morphology, and Overwash

Barrier island field observations provide information about past and current environmental conditions and changes over time; however, they can’t tell us about the future. Models can predict possible future behaviors but are only as good as their input data. By integrating both observations and models, we can extend observations and arrive at more realistic predictions of barrier island behavior...
By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Modeling Barrier Island Evolution, Shoreface Morphology, and Overwash

Barrier island field observations provide information about past and current environmental conditions and changes over time; however, they can’t tell us about the future. Models can predict possible future behaviors but are only as good as their input data. By integrating both observations and models, we can extend observations and arrive at more realistic predictions of barrier island behavior...
Learn More
link
A boat operated by USGS staff tows an instrument that collects geophysical data in in the shallow shoreface near the beach

Shoreface Morphology and Geology

Exchanges of sediment between the shoreface and barrier islands allow barrier islands to adjust to changes in water level, such as those associated with storms or sea-level rise. Characterizing shoreface morphology and geology allows us to explore how past and present processes have impacted modern barrier island sediment transport and what that means for future barrier island evolution.
By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Shoreface Morphology and Geology

Exchanges of sediment between the shoreface and barrier islands allow barrier islands to adjust to changes in water level, such as those associated with storms or sea-level rise. Characterizing shoreface morphology and geology allows us to explore how past and present processes have impacted modern barrier island sediment transport and what that means for future barrier island evolution.
Learn More
link
A long barrier island, mainly sandy with some vegetation, has a sediment berm placed along the shoreface.

Barrier Island Sensitivity to Changes in Sediment Supply

Observations and models show that maintaining barrier islands requires a balance between sea-level rise and sediment supply. However, most estimates of sediment supply are not based on modern conditions, which could result in less accurate predictions of sediment fluxes. We explore how natural and human alterations impact modern sediment fluxes, or changes, on barrier islands – research that has...
By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Barrier Island Sensitivity to Changes in Sediment Supply

Observations and models show that maintaining barrier islands requires a balance between sea-level rise and sediment supply. However, most estimates of sediment supply are not based on modern conditions, which could result in less accurate predictions of sediment fluxes. We explore how natural and human alterations impact modern sediment fluxes, or changes, on barrier islands – research that has...
Learn More
link
An island with sections of short grasses has been covered by a large sand fan that was washed landward by waves.

Storm-Related Barrier Island Morphological Evolution

Storms quickly and dramatically alter barrier island environments by changing adjacent seafloor morphology, eroding beaches, scarping or leveling dunes, and sometimes creating new inlets. Measuring the magnitude of barrier island sediment movement during and after storms allows us to track rates of beach recovery, dune growth, and inlet-related alterations to barrier island sediment supply.
By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Storm-Related Barrier Island Morphological Evolution

Storms quickly and dramatically alter barrier island environments by changing adjacent seafloor morphology, eroding beaches, scarping or leveling dunes, and sometimes creating new inlets. Measuring the magnitude of barrier island sediment movement during and after storms allows us to track rates of beach recovery, dune growth, and inlet-related alterations to barrier island sediment supply.
Learn More
link
Photo of Fire Island showing back barrier, dunes, beach, and nearshore environments

Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux (CSAF)

Sediments are the foundation of coastal systems, including barrier islands. Their behavior is driven by not only sediment availability, but also sediment exchanges between barrier island environments. We collect geophysical, remote sensing, and sediment data to estimate these parameters, which are integrated with models to improve prediction of coastal response to extreme storms and sea-level rise...
By
Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux (CSAF)

Sediments are the foundation of coastal systems, including barrier islands. Their behavior is driven by not only sediment availability, but also sediment exchanges between barrier island environments. We collect geophysical, remote sensing, and sediment data to estimate these parameters, which are integrated with models to improve prediction of coastal response to extreme storms and sea-level rise...
Learn More

Archive of Chirp Subbottom Profile Data Collected in 2019 From Rockaway Peninsula, New York

As part of the Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux Project, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center conducted a nearshore geophysical survey to map the shoreface of Rockaway, New York (NY) between September and October of 2019. The objective of the project is to improve the understanding of barrier island geomorphic evolution and the se
By
St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Shoreface and Holocene sediment thickness offshore of Rockaway Peninsula, New York

During September and October 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey mapped the shoreface and inner continental shelf offshore of the Rockaway Peninsula in New York using high-resolution chirp seismic reflection and single-beam bathymetry geophysical techniques. The results from this study are important for assessing the Quaternary evolution of the Rockaway Peninsula and determining coastal sediment avai
By
St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

SPCMSC Scientists Investigate Shoreface and Shelf Change Offshore of Mid-Atlantic Barrier Islands

SPCMSC scientist Emily Wei and operations personnel Andrew Farmer, BJ Reynolds, and Chelsea Stalk will be collecting high-resolution bathymetric data...

Read Article

Science and Products

  • Science
    link
    Scientists operate scientific sediment coring equipment with a tall metal barrel and tripod on a sandy beach near the water.

    Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux (CSAF) Capabilities

    As part of the Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux project, we use innovative technology and integrate a variety of techniques to characterize barrier island environments, reconstruct their past history, and predict their future vulnerability.
    By
    Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    link

    Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux (CSAF) Capabilities

    As part of the Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux project, we use innovative technology and integrate a variety of techniques to characterize barrier island environments, reconstruct their past history, and predict their future vulnerability.
    Learn More
    link
    Sandy barrier island with dunes near a sandy beach on one side, low vegetation in the middle, and a bay of water on the other.

    Modeling Barrier Island Evolution, Shoreface Morphology, and Overwash

    Barrier island field observations provide information about past and current environmental conditions and changes over time; however, they can’t tell us about the future. Models can predict possible future behaviors but are only as good as their input data. By integrating both observations and models, we can extend observations and arrive at more realistic predictions of barrier island behavior...
    By
    Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    link

    Modeling Barrier Island Evolution, Shoreface Morphology, and Overwash

    Barrier island field observations provide information about past and current environmental conditions and changes over time; however, they can’t tell us about the future. Models can predict possible future behaviors but are only as good as their input data. By integrating both observations and models, we can extend observations and arrive at more realistic predictions of barrier island behavior...
    Learn More
    link
    A boat operated by USGS staff tows an instrument that collects geophysical data in in the shallow shoreface near the beach

    Shoreface Morphology and Geology

    Exchanges of sediment between the shoreface and barrier islands allow barrier islands to adjust to changes in water level, such as those associated with storms or sea-level rise. Characterizing shoreface morphology and geology allows us to explore how past and present processes have impacted modern barrier island sediment transport and what that means for future barrier island evolution.
    By
    Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    link

    Shoreface Morphology and Geology

    Exchanges of sediment between the shoreface and barrier islands allow barrier islands to adjust to changes in water level, such as those associated with storms or sea-level rise. Characterizing shoreface morphology and geology allows us to explore how past and present processes have impacted modern barrier island sediment transport and what that means for future barrier island evolution.
    Learn More
    link
    A long barrier island, mainly sandy with some vegetation, has a sediment berm placed along the shoreface.

    Barrier Island Sensitivity to Changes in Sediment Supply

    Observations and models show that maintaining barrier islands requires a balance between sea-level rise and sediment supply. However, most estimates of sediment supply are not based on modern conditions, which could result in less accurate predictions of sediment fluxes. We explore how natural and human alterations impact modern sediment fluxes, or changes, on barrier islands – research that has...
    By
    Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    link

    Barrier Island Sensitivity to Changes in Sediment Supply

    Observations and models show that maintaining barrier islands requires a balance between sea-level rise and sediment supply. However, most estimates of sediment supply are not based on modern conditions, which could result in less accurate predictions of sediment fluxes. We explore how natural and human alterations impact modern sediment fluxes, or changes, on barrier islands – research that has...
    Learn More
    link
    An island with sections of short grasses has been covered by a large sand fan that was washed landward by waves.

    Storm-Related Barrier Island Morphological Evolution

    Storms quickly and dramatically alter barrier island environments by changing adjacent seafloor morphology, eroding beaches, scarping or leveling dunes, and sometimes creating new inlets. Measuring the magnitude of barrier island sediment movement during and after storms allows us to track rates of beach recovery, dune growth, and inlet-related alterations to barrier island sediment supply.
    By
    Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    link

    Storm-Related Barrier Island Morphological Evolution

    Storms quickly and dramatically alter barrier island environments by changing adjacent seafloor morphology, eroding beaches, scarping or leveling dunes, and sometimes creating new inlets. Measuring the magnitude of barrier island sediment movement during and after storms allows us to track rates of beach recovery, dune growth, and inlet-related alterations to barrier island sediment supply.
    Learn More
    link
    Photo of Fire Island showing back barrier, dunes, beach, and nearshore environments

    Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux (CSAF)

    Sediments are the foundation of coastal systems, including barrier islands. Their behavior is driven by not only sediment availability, but also sediment exchanges between barrier island environments. We collect geophysical, remote sensing, and sediment data to estimate these parameters, which are integrated with models to improve prediction of coastal response to extreme storms and sea-level rise...
    By
    Natural Hazards, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
    link

    Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux (CSAF)

    Sediments are the foundation of coastal systems, including barrier islands. Their behavior is driven by not only sediment availability, but also sediment exchanges between barrier island environments. We collect geophysical, remote sensing, and sediment data to estimate these parameters, which are integrated with models to improve prediction of coastal response to extreme storms and sea-level rise...
    Learn More
  • Data

    Archive of Chirp Subbottom Profile Data Collected in 2019 From Rockaway Peninsula, New York

    As part of the Coastal Sediment Availability and Flux Project, scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center conducted a nearshore geophysical survey to map the shoreface of Rockaway, New York (NY) between September and October of 2019. The objective of the project is to improve the understanding of barrier island geomorphic evolution and the se
    By
    St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
  • Publications

    Shoreface and Holocene sediment thickness offshore of Rockaway Peninsula, New York

    During September and October 2019, the U.S. Geological Survey mapped the shoreface and inner continental shelf offshore of the Rockaway Peninsula in New York using high-resolution chirp seismic reflection and single-beam bathymetry geophysical techniques. The results from this study are important for assessing the Quaternary evolution of the Rockaway Peninsula and determining coastal sediment avai
    By
    St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
  • News
    link

    SPCMSC Scientists Investigate Shoreface and Shelf Change Offshore of Mid-Atlantic Barrier Islands

    SPCMSC scientist Emily Wei and operations personnel Andrew Farmer, BJ Reynolds, and Chelsea Stalk will be collecting high-resolution bathymetric data...

    Read Article