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Johnathan Woodruff, Ph.D.

Johnathan Woodruff is a Research Oceanographer at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center.

Johnathan specializes in coastal hazards research, specifically the numerical modeling of flooding caused by tropical cyclones. In his PhD, Johnathan incorporated subgrid corrections into the ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) hydrodynamic model and demonstrated their accuracy and efficiency for ocean-scale simulations of storm driven coastal flooding. At USGS, Johnathan is a part of the Total Water Level and Coastal Change (TWL&CC) team, and researches ways to improve the predictions of coastal hazards with numerical models and field data.

Professional Experience

  • Research Oceanographer, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, FL 2023 -- Present

  • Research Assistant, North Carolina State University, Department of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering 2018-2023

Education and Certifications

  • North Carolina State University, Civil Engineering, Ph.D., 2023

  • Georgia Institute of Technology, Civil Engineering, M.S., 2018

  • University of Florida, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, B.S., 2016

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Johnathan L. Woodruff, J.C. Dietrich, D. Wirasaet, A.B. Kennedy, D. Bolster, Z. Silver, S.D. Medlin, and R.L. Kolar, 2021, Subgrid corrections in finite-element modeling of storm-driven coastal flooding: Ocean Modelling, v. 167, art. 101887, doi: 10.1016/j.ocemod.2021.101887.
Woodruff, J., Dietrich, J.C., Wirasaet, D., Kennedy, A.B., and Bolster,D., 2023, Storm surge predictions from ocean to subgrid scales: Natural Hazards, v. 117, p. 2989–3019, doi:10.1007/s11069-023-05975-2.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

link
Left: Map of Tampa Bay area and Gulf of Mexico. Colored balloons along shore. Right: total-water-level graph (top) and diagram.

Operational Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecasts

The viewer shows predictions of the timing and magnitude of water levels at the shoreline and potential impacts to coastal dunes.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Operational Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecasts

The viewer shows predictions of the timing and magnitude of water levels at the shoreline and potential impacts to coastal dunes.
Learn More

Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer

Total water level (TWL) at the shoreline is the combination of tides, surge, and wave runup. A forecast of TWL is an estimate of the elevation where the ocean will meet the coast and can provide guidance on potential coastal erosion and flooding hazards.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Isaias, Hurricane Jose, Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Marco, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Nate, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricanes

Science and Products

Non-USGS Publications**

Johnathan L. Woodruff, J.C. Dietrich, D. Wirasaet, A.B. Kennedy, D. Bolster, Z. Silver, S.D. Medlin, and R.L. Kolar, 2021, Subgrid corrections in finite-element modeling of storm-driven coastal flooding: Ocean Modelling, v. 167, art. 101887, doi: 10.1016/j.ocemod.2021.101887.
Woodruff, J., Dietrich, J.C., Wirasaet, D., Kennedy, A.B., and Bolster,D., 2023, Storm surge predictions from ocean to subgrid scales: Natural Hazards, v. 117, p. 2989–3019, doi:10.1007/s11069-023-05975-2.

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

link
Left: Map of Tampa Bay area and Gulf of Mexico. Colored balloons along shore. Right: total-water-level graph (top) and diagram.

Operational Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecasts

The viewer shows predictions of the timing and magnitude of water levels at the shoreline and potential impacts to coastal dunes.
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
link

Operational Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecasts

The viewer shows predictions of the timing and magnitude of water levels at the shoreline and potential impacts to coastal dunes.
Learn More

Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer

Total water level (TWL) at the shoreline is the combination of tides, surge, and wave runup. A forecast of TWL is an estimate of the elevation where the ocean will meet the coast and can provide guidance on potential coastal erosion and flooding hazards.

By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Water Resources Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Isaias, Hurricane Jose, Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Marco, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Nate, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricanes