Hilary Stockdon, Ph.D.
My work at USGS is aimed at improving our understanding of coastal change processes, developing innovative methods for forecasting coastal change, applying these methods to identify potential hazards along our Nation’s coastlines, and then sharing the information with coastal stakeholders.
Hilary Stockdon is the Program Coordinator for the Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program with the U.S. Geological Survey. For almost 20 years, she has been part of a multifaceted project that quantifies how sea level rise, storms and long-term erosion are shaping our shorelines. Her research contributions include advances in:
- Real-time forecasts and scenario-based predictions of coastal total water level and geomorphic change during storms
- Use of wave runup parameterization in coastal hazard assessments
- Barrier island response to extreme storms and hurricanes
- Modeling wave swash, setup, and runup
- Lidar-derived measures of coastal change
Her work is both fundamental and applied: rigorous science on coastal processes is used to create tools for decision makers who are responsible for preparedness, response, and resilience along our coastlines. Her work on the effects of storms on the coastal communities of our Nation has raised public awareness about the value of scientific information on coastal vulnerability, helping residents prepare for future events. Most recently, she served as a Science Advisor for the Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, helping to develop a National initiative for coastal change hazards research and applications.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Oceanography Oregon State University
M.S. Oceanography Oregon State University
B.S. Geology Duke University
Science and Products
Dune management challenges on developed coasts
National assessment of nor’easter-induced coastal erosion hazards: mid- and northeast Atlantic coast
How well can wave runup be predicted? comment on Laudier et al. (2011) and Stockdon et al. (2006)
Enhancing evaluation of post-storm morphologic response using aerial orthoimagery from Hurricane Sandy
National assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards: Northeast Atlantic Coast
Probabilistic estimation of dune retreat on the Gold Coast, Australia
Topographic lidar survey of the Alabama, Mississippi, and Southeast Louisiana Barrier Islands, from September 5 to October 11, 2012
Hurricane Sandy: observations and analysis of coastal change
Predictions of barrier island berm evolution in a time-varying storm climatology
Evaluation of wave runup predictions from numerical and parametric models
Assessing hazards along our Nation's coasts
National assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards: Southeast Atlantic Coast
Science and Products
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 54
Dune management challenges on developed coasts
From October 26-28, 2015, nearly 100 members of the coastal management and research communities met in Kitty Hawk, NC, USA to bridge the apparent gap between the coastal dune research of scientists and engineers and the needs of coastal management practitioners. The workshop aimed to identify the challenges involved in building and managing dunes on developed coasts, assess the extent to which sciAuthorsNicole A. Elko, Kate Brodie, Hilary F. Stockdon, Karl F. Nordstrom, Chris Houser, Kim McKenna, Laura Moore, Julie D. Rosati, Peter Ruggiero, Roberta Thuman, Ian J. WalkerNational assessment of nor’easter-induced coastal erosion hazards: mid- and northeast Atlantic coast
Beaches serve as a natural buffer between the ocean and inland communities, ecosystems, and natural resources. However, these dynamic environments move and change in response to winds, waves, and currents. During extreme storms, changes to beaches can be great, and the results are sometimes catastrophic. Lives may be lost, communities destroyed, and millions of dollars spent on rebuilding. DuringAuthorsJustin J. Birchler, P. Soupy Dalyander, Hilary F. Stockdon, Kara S. DoranHow well can wave runup be predicted? comment on Laudier et al. (2011) and Stockdon et al. (2006)
Laudier et al. (2011) suggested that there may be a systematic bias error in runup predictions using a model developed by Stockdon et al. (2006). Laudier et al. tested cases that sampled beach and wave conditions that differed from those used to develop the Stockdon et al. model. Based on our re-analysis, we found that in two of the three Laudier et al. cases observed overtopping was actually consAuthorsNathaniel G. Plant, Hilary F. StockdonEnhancing evaluation of post-storm morphologic response using aerial orthoimagery from Hurricane Sandy
Improved identification of morphological responses to storms is necessary for developing and maintaining predictive models of coastal change. Morphological responses to Hurricane Sandy were measured using lidar and orthophotos taken before and after the storm. Changes to dune features measured from lidar were compared to the occurrence of overwash deposits measured using orthophotos. Thresholds onAuthorsJacquelyn Rose Smith, Joseph W. Long, Hilary F. Stockdon, Justin J. BirchlerNational assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards: Northeast Atlantic Coast
Beaches serve as a natural buffer between the ocean and inland communities, ecosystems, and natural resources. However, these dynamic environments move and change in response to winds, waves, and currents. During extreme storms, changes to beaches can be great, and the results are sometimes catastrophic. Lives may be lost, communities destroyed, and millions of dollars spent on rebuilding. DurinAuthorsJustin J. Birchler, Hilary F. Stockdon, Kara S. Doran, David M. ThompsonProbabilistic estimation of dune retreat on the Gold Coast, Australia
Sand dunes are an important natural buffer between storm impacts and development backing the beach on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia. The ability to forecast dune erosion at a prediction horizon of days to a week would allow efficient and timely response to dune erosion in this highly populated area. Towards this goal, we modified an existing probabilistic dune erosion model for use on thAuthorsMargaret L. Palmsten, Kristen D. Splinter, Nathaniel G. Plant, Hilary F. StockdonTopographic lidar survey of the Alabama, Mississippi, and Southeast Louisiana Barrier Islands, from September 5 to October 11, 2012
This Data Series Report contains lidar elevation data collected from September 5 to October 11, 2012, for the barrier islands of Alabama, Mississippi and southeast Louisiana, including the coast near Port Fourchon. Most of the data were collected September 5–10, 2012, with a reflight conducted on October 11, 2012, to increase point density in some areas. Point cloud data—data points described in tAuthorsKristy K. Guy, Kara S. Doran, Hilary F. Stockdon, Nathaniel G. PlantHurricane Sandy: observations and analysis of coastal change
Hurricane Sandy, the largest Atlantic hurricane on record, made landfall on October 29, 2012, and impacted a long swath of the U.S. Atlantic coastline. The barrier islands were breached in a number of places and beach and dune erosion occurred along most of the Mid-Atlantic coast. As a part of the National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards project, the U.S. Geological Survey collected post-HurrAuthorsKristin L. Sopkin, Hilary F. Stockdon, Kara S. Doran, Nathaniel G. Plant, Karen L.M. Morgan, Kristy K. Guy, Kathryn E. L. SmithPredictions of barrier island berm evolution in a time-varying storm climatology
Low-lying barrier islands are ubiquitous features of the world's coastlines, and the processes responsible for their formation, maintenance, and destruction are related to the evolution of smaller, superimposed features including sand dunes, beach berms, and sandbars. The barrier island and its superimposed features interact with oceanographic forces (e.g., overwash) and exchange sediment with eacAuthorsNathaniel G. Plant, James Flocks, Hilary F. Stockdon, Joseph W. Long, Kristy K. Guy, David M. Thompson, Jamie M. Cormier, Christopher G. Smith, Jennifer L. Miselis, P. Soupy DalyanderEvaluation of wave runup predictions from numerical and parametric models
Wave runup during storms is a primary driver of coastal evolution, including shoreline and dune erosion and barrier island overwash. Runup and its components, setup and swash, can be predicted from a parameterized model that was developed by comparing runup observations to offshore wave height, wave period, and local beach slope. Because observations during extreme storms are often unavailable, aAuthorsHilary F. Stockdon, David M. Thompson, Nathaniel G. Plant, Joseph W. LongAssessing hazards along our Nation's coasts
Coastal areas are essential to the economic, cultural, and environmental health of the Nation, yet by nature coastal areas are constantly changing due to a variety of events and processes. Extreme storms can cause dramatic changes to our shorelines in a matter of hours, while sea-level rise can profoundly alter coastal environments over decades. These changes can have a devastating impact on coastAuthorsHilary F. Stockdon, Cheryl J. Hapke, E. Robert Thieler, Nathaniel G. PlantNational assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards: Southeast Atlantic Coast
Beaches serve as a natural barrier between the ocean and inland communities, ecosystems, and natural resources. However, these dynamic environments move and change in response to winds, waves, and currents. During extreme storms, changes to beaches can be large, and the results are sometimes catastrophic. Lives may be lost, communities destroyed, and millions of dollars spent on rebuilding. DurinAuthorsHilary F. Stockdon, Kara S. Doran, David M. Thompson, Kristin L. Sopkin, Nathaniel G. Plant - Science
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