John Warner, PhD
John Warner is a research oceanographer with the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center Coastal and Estuarine Dynamics Group in the US Geological Survey. He has worked for the USGS for over 20 years and focuses on coastal ocean processes with an emphasis on sediment transport using field observations and numerical modeling. He is the lead developer of an open-source and community developed Coupled-Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport (COAWST) numerical modeling system, which has evolved over two decades to combine publicly developed ocean, wave, atmosphere, and sediment models.
I have been working in the field of numerical modeling for estuarine, coastal, and sediment transport processes for over 25 years. I specialize in the development of coupled modeling systems that allow interaction between individual earth system model components. These advancements have led to greater understanding of physical connections between the ocean, waves, and the atmosphere.
Professional Experience
US Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA Research Oceanographer 2003-present
US Geological Survey, Woods Hole, MA Postdoctoral Scholar 2001-2003
University of California, Davis, CA Graduate Research Assistant 1996 – 2000
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Civil & Environmental Engineering, Minor in Numerical Methods, December 2000
University of California, Davis
Dissertation: Barotropic and Baroclinic Convergence Zones in Tidal Channels
Comm
Science and Products
Change in morphology and modern sediment thickness on the inner continental shelf offshore of Fire Island, New York between 2011 and 2014: Analysis of hurricane impact
Rip currents and alongshore flows in single channels dredged in the surf zone
Observations and 3D hydrodynamics-based modeling of decadal-scale shoreline change along the Outer Banks, North Carolina
Inner-shelf ocean dynamics and seafloor morphologic changes during Hurricane Sandy
Development of a coupled wave-flow-vegetation interaction model
Barrier island breach evolution: Alongshore transport and bay-ocean pressure gradient interactions
Coastal Change Processes Project data report for oceanographic observations near Fire Island, New York, February through May 2014
Coastal Change Processes Project data report for observations near Fire Island, New York, January to April 2012
Inner-shelf circulation and sediment dynamics on a series of shoreface connected ridges offshore of Fire Island, NY
Formation of fine sediment deposit from a flash flood river in the Mediterranean Sea
Investigation of hurricane Ivan using the coupled ocean-atmosphere-wave-sediment transport (COAWST) model
Modification of the Quaternary stratigraphic framework of the inner-continental shelf by Holocene marine transgression: An example offshore of Fire Island, New York
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Change in morphology and modern sediment thickness on the inner continental shelf offshore of Fire Island, New York between 2011 and 2014: Analysis of hurricane impact
Seafloor mapping investigations conducted on the lower shoreface and inner continental shelf offshore of Fire Island, New York in 2011 and 2014, the period encompassing the impacts of Hurricanes Irene and Sandy, provide an unprecedented perspective regarding regional inner continental shelf sediment dynamics during large storm events. Analyses of these studies demonstrate that storm-induced eroAuthorsWilliam C. Schwab, Wayne E. Baldwin, John C. Warner, Jeffrey H. List, Jane F. Denny, Maria Liste Munoz, Ilgar SafakRip currents and alongshore flows in single channels dredged in the surf zone
To investigate the dynamics of flows near nonuniform bathymetry, single channels (on average 30 m wide and 1.5 m deep) were dredged across the surf zone at five different times, and the subsequent evolution of currents and morphology was observed for a range of wave and tidal conditions. In addition, circulation was simulated with the numerical modeling system COAWST, initialized with the observedAuthorsMelissa Moulton, Steve Elgar, Britt Raubenheimer, John C. Warner, Nirnimesh KumarObservations and 3D hydrodynamics-based modeling of decadal-scale shoreline change along the Outer Banks, North Carolina
Long-term decadal-scale shoreline change is an important parameter for quantifying the stability of coastal systems. The decadal-scale coastal change is controlled by processes that occur on short time scales (such as storms) and long-term processes (such as prevailing waves). The ability to predict decadal-scale shoreline change is not well established and the fundamental physical processes contrAuthorsIlgar Safak, Jeffrey H. List, John C. Warner, Nirnimesh KumarInner-shelf ocean dynamics and seafloor morphologic changes during Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy was one of the most destructive hurricanes in US history, making landfall on the New Jersey coast on Oct 30, 2012. Storm impacts included several barrier island breaches, massive coastal erosion, and flooding. While changes to the subaerial landscape are relatively easily observed, storm-induced changes to the adjacent shoreface and inner continental shelf are more difficult to evaAuthorsJohn C. Warner, William C. Schwab, Jeffrey H. List, Ilgar Safak, Maria Liste, Wayne E. BaldwinDevelopment of a coupled wave-flow-vegetation interaction model
Emergent and submerged vegetation can significantly affect coastal hydrodynamics. However, most deterministic numerical models do not take into account their influence on currents, waves, and turbulence. In this paper, we describe the implementation of a wave-flow-vegetation module into a Coupled-Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport (COAWST) modeling system that includes a flow model (ROMS) anAuthorsAlexis Beudin, Tarandeep S. Kalra, Neil K. Ganju, John C. WarnerBarrier island breach evolution: Alongshore transport and bay-ocean pressure gradient interactions
Physical processes controlling repeated openings and closures of a barrier island breach between a bay and the open ocean are studied using aerial photographs and atmospheric and hydrodynamic observations. The breach site is located on Pea Island along the Outer Banks, separating Pamlico Sound from the Atlantic Ocean. Wind direction was a major control on the pressure gradients between the bay andAuthorsIlgar Safak, John C. Warner, Jeffrey H. ListCoastal Change Processes Project data report for oceanographic observations near Fire Island, New York, February through May 2014
An oceanographic field study during February through May 2014 investigated processes that control the sediment-transport dynamics along the western part of Fire Island, New York. This report describes the project background, field program, instrumentation configuration, and locations of the sensors deployed. The data collected, including meteorological observations, are presented as time-series plAuthorsBrandy N. Armstrong, John C. Warner, Jeffrey H. List, Marinna A. Martini, Ellyn T. Montgomery, Peter A. Traykovski, George VoulgarisCoastal Change Processes Project data report for observations near Fire Island, New York, January to April 2012
An oceanographic field study during January through April 2012 investigated processes that control the sediment-transport dynamics near Fire Island, New York. This report describes the project background, field program, instrumentation configuration, and locations of the sensors deploymed. The data collected and supporting meteorological observations are presented as time series plots for data visAuthorsBrandy N. Armstrong, John C. Warner, Jeffrey H. List, Marinna A. Martini, Ellyn T. Montgomery, George Voulgaris, Peter A. TraykovskiInner-shelf circulation and sediment dynamics on a series of shoreface connected ridges offshore of Fire Island, NY
Locations along the inner-continental shelf offshore of Fire Island, NY, are characterized by a series of shoreface-connected ridges (SFCRs). These sand ridges have approximate dimensions of 10 km in length, 3 km spacing, and up to ∼8 m ridge to trough relief and are oriented obliquely at approximately 30° clockwise from the coastline. Stability analysis from previous studies explains how sand ridAuthorsJohn C. Warner, Jeffrey H. List, William C. Schwab, George Voulgaris, Brandy N. Armstrong, N MarshallFormation of fine sediment deposit from a flash flood river in the Mediterranean Sea
We identify the mechanisms controlling fine deposits on the inner-shelf in front of the Besòs River, in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. This river is characterized by a flash flood regime discharging large amounts of water (more than 20 times the mean water discharge) and sediment in very short periods lasting from hours to few days. Numerical model output was compared with bottom sediment obsAuthorsManel Grifoll, Vicenç Gracia, Alfredo L. Aretxabaleta, Jorge Guillén, Manuel Espino, John C. WarnerInvestigation of hurricane Ivan using the coupled ocean-atmosphere-wave-sediment transport (COAWST) model
The coupled ocean–atmosphere–wave–sediment transport (COAWST) model is used to hindcast Hurricane Ivan (2004), an extremely intense tropical cyclone (TC) translating through the Gulf of Mexico. Sensitivity experiments with increasing complexity in ocean–atmosphere–wave coupled exchange processes are performed to assess the impacts of coupling on the predictions of the atmosphere, ocean, and wave eAuthorsJoseph B. Zambon, Ruoying He, John C. WarnerModification of the Quaternary stratigraphic framework of the inner-continental shelf by Holocene marine transgression: An example offshore of Fire Island, New York
The inner-continental shelf off Fire Island, New York was mapped in 2011 using interferometric sonar and high-resolution chirp seismic-reflection systems. The area mapped is approximately 50 km long by 8 km wide, extending from Moriches Inlet to Fire Island Inlet in water depths ranging from 8 to 32 m. The morphology of this inner-continental shelf region and modern sediment distribution patternsAuthorsWilliam C. Schwab, Wayne E. Baldwin, Jane F. Denny, Cheryl J. Hapke, Paul T. Gayes, Jeffrey H. List, John C. Warner - Web Tools
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