Joseph Terrano collects field notes in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi marsh.
Joseph F. Terrano
Joseph Terrano is a physical scientist (coastal geomorphologist) with the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. His research focuses on the impact of coastal erosion hazards on wetland and estuarine ecosystems.
Joseph Terrano’s research focuses on using field and geospatial data to assess environmental change in coastal wetlands, estuaries, and barrier islands. His present work is split into two main categories: 1) collecting and analyzing field data (net sedimentation tiles, sensors, Global Positioning System [GPS]) and 2) extracting shorelines from historical and modern sources (topographic sheets, aerial imagery, GPS, light detection and ranging [lidar], and satellite imagery) to complete shoreline change assessments for vegetated shorelines along the U.S. Gulf and East coasts. He currently completes work as part of the following projects:
- Estuarine and Marsh Geology (EMrG) project
- Estuarine Shoreline Change Research project
- Coastal Change Hazards project
Professional Experience
2022-Present: Physical Scientist, USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
2018-2022: Researcher, Cherokee Nation Technology Solutions contracted to the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
2016-2018: University of South Florida graduate research assistant, contracted to the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
2015-2016: Researcher, Cherokee Nation Technology Solutions contracted to the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
2014-2015: University of South Florida (College of Marine Science) undergraduate research assistant, contracted to the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Education and Certifications
M.S. - Geology (2018), University of South Florida
B.S. - Environmental Science and Policy (2015), University of South Florida (St. Petersburg campus)
Science and Products
Estuarine Shoreline Change Research Project
Estuarine and MaRsh Geology Research Project
Satellite-derived shorelines from CoastSeg in multiple U.S. locations (1984-2023) Satellite-derived shorelines from CoastSeg in multiple U.S. locations (1984-2023)
Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From October 2020 to January 2023 Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From October 2020 to January 2023
Estuarine Shoreline, Upland Boundary, and Marsh Habitat Change Analyses for the Point Aux Chenes and Grand Bay Estuary Systems, Mississippi and Alabama Estuarine Shoreline, Upland Boundary, and Marsh Habitat Change Analyses for the Point Aux Chenes and Grand Bay Estuary Systems, Mississippi and Alabama
Single-beam Bathymetry Data Collected in 2022 From Point Aux Chenes Bay, Mississippi Single-beam Bathymetry Data Collected in 2022 From Point Aux Chenes Bay, Mississippi
Historical Bathymetry in the Mississippi-Alabama Coastal Region: Bathymetric Soundings, Gridded Digital Elevation Model, and Hydrographic Sheets (Ver. 2.0) Historical Bathymetry in the Mississippi-Alabama Coastal Region: Bathymetric Soundings, Gridded Digital Elevation Model, and Hydrographic Sheets (Ver. 2.0)
Single-Beam Bathymetry Data Collected in March 2021 from Grand Bay and Point Aux Chenes Bay, Mississippi/Alabama Single-Beam Bathymetry Data Collected in March 2021 from Grand Bay and Point Aux Chenes Bay, Mississippi/Alabama
Shorelines from High-resolution WorldView Satellite Imagery, Real-time Kinematic Global Positioning Data, and Aerial Imagery for 2013 to 2020 for Study Sites Within Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi Shorelines from High-resolution WorldView Satellite Imagery, Real-time Kinematic Global Positioning Data, and Aerial Imagery for 2013 to 2020 for Study Sites Within Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi
Sedimentologic Data from Point aux Chenes Marsh and Estuary, Mississippi Sedimentologic Data from Point aux Chenes Marsh and Estuary, Mississippi
Historical Bathymetry in the Mississippi-Alabama Coastal Region: Bathymetric Soundings, Gridded Digital Elevation Model, and Hydrographic Sheets Historical Bathymetry in the Mississippi-Alabama Coastal Region: Bathymetric Soundings, Gridded Digital Elevation Model, and Hydrographic Sheets
Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From July 2018 to January 2020 (Version 2.0) Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From July 2018 to January 2020 (Version 2.0)
Historical Shorelines for Fire Island and Great South Bay, New York (1834 to 1875): Georeferenced Topographic Sheets and Vector Digital Data Historical Shorelines for Fire Island and Great South Bay, New York (1834 to 1875): Georeferenced Topographic Sheets and Vector Digital Data
Shore Proximal Sediment Deposition, Elevation, Turbidity, and Water Level Data for Four Sites in the Coastal Marsh at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From October 2016 Through October 2017 Shore Proximal Sediment Deposition, Elevation, Turbidity, and Water Level Data for Four Sites in the Coastal Marsh at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From October 2016 Through October 2017

Joseph Terrano collects field notes in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi marsh.
A net sedimentation tile (NST) is used by scientists to measure surface sediment deposition in wetlands over short time scales. Scientists installed several NSTs on the surface of the marsh to measure sediment deposition. The samples are retrieved and measured in the lab to identify short-term sediment deposition rates on the marsh surface.
A net sedimentation tile (NST) is used by scientists to measure surface sediment deposition in wetlands over short time scales. Scientists installed several NSTs on the surface of the marsh to measure sediment deposition. The samples are retrieved and measured in the lab to identify short-term sediment deposition rates on the marsh surface.

Kathryn Smith of the USGS St.
Evaluating the influence of constructed subtidal reefs on marsh shoreline erosion, sediment deposition, and wave energy Evaluating the influence of constructed subtidal reefs on marsh shoreline erosion, sediment deposition, and wave energy
Shifts in marsh erosion, migration, and wave exposure over nearly two centuries of sea-level rise in the Gulf of Mexico Shifts in marsh erosion, migration, and wave exposure over nearly two centuries of sea-level rise in the Gulf of Mexico
Coastal wetland shoreline change monitoring: A comparison of shorelines from high-resolution WorldView satellite imagery, aerial imagery, and field surveys Coastal wetland shoreline change monitoring: A comparison of shorelines from high-resolution WorldView satellite imagery, aerial imagery, and field surveys
Lateral shoreline erosion and shore-proximal sediment deposition on a coastal marsh from seasonal, storm and decadal measurements Lateral shoreline erosion and shore-proximal sediment deposition on a coastal marsh from seasonal, storm and decadal measurements
Analysis of seafloor change at Breton Island, Gosier Shoals, and surrounding waters, 1869–2014, Breton National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana Analysis of seafloor change at Breton Island, Gosier Shoals, and surrounding waters, 1869–2014, Breton National Wildlife Refuge, Louisiana
Analysis of shoreline and geomorphic change for Breton Island, Louisiana, from 1869 to 2014 Analysis of shoreline and geomorphic change for Breton Island, Louisiana, from 1869 to 2014
Land-cover types, shoreline positions, and sand extents derived From Landsat satellite imagery, Assateague Island to Metompkin Island, Maryland and Virginia, 1984 to 2014 Land-cover types, shoreline positions, and sand extents derived From Landsat satellite imagery, Assateague Island to Metompkin Island, Maryland and Virginia, 1984 to 2014
Barnegat Bay, NJ Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change Barnegat Bay, NJ Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change
Breton Island, LA Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change Breton Island, LA Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change
Grand Bay, MS/AL Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change Grand Bay, MS/AL Estuarine Shorelines and Rates of Change
Science and Products
Estuarine Shoreline Change Research Project
Estuarine and MaRsh Geology Research Project
Satellite-derived shorelines from CoastSeg in multiple U.S. locations (1984-2023) Satellite-derived shorelines from CoastSeg in multiple U.S. locations (1984-2023)
Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From October 2020 to January 2023 Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From October 2020 to January 2023
Estuarine Shoreline, Upland Boundary, and Marsh Habitat Change Analyses for the Point Aux Chenes and Grand Bay Estuary Systems, Mississippi and Alabama Estuarine Shoreline, Upland Boundary, and Marsh Habitat Change Analyses for the Point Aux Chenes and Grand Bay Estuary Systems, Mississippi and Alabama
Single-beam Bathymetry Data Collected in 2022 From Point Aux Chenes Bay, Mississippi Single-beam Bathymetry Data Collected in 2022 From Point Aux Chenes Bay, Mississippi
Historical Bathymetry in the Mississippi-Alabama Coastal Region: Bathymetric Soundings, Gridded Digital Elevation Model, and Hydrographic Sheets (Ver. 2.0) Historical Bathymetry in the Mississippi-Alabama Coastal Region: Bathymetric Soundings, Gridded Digital Elevation Model, and Hydrographic Sheets (Ver. 2.0)
Single-Beam Bathymetry Data Collected in March 2021 from Grand Bay and Point Aux Chenes Bay, Mississippi/Alabama Single-Beam Bathymetry Data Collected in March 2021 from Grand Bay and Point Aux Chenes Bay, Mississippi/Alabama
Shorelines from High-resolution WorldView Satellite Imagery, Real-time Kinematic Global Positioning Data, and Aerial Imagery for 2013 to 2020 for Study Sites Within Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi Shorelines from High-resolution WorldView Satellite Imagery, Real-time Kinematic Global Positioning Data, and Aerial Imagery for 2013 to 2020 for Study Sites Within Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi
Sedimentologic Data from Point aux Chenes Marsh and Estuary, Mississippi Sedimentologic Data from Point aux Chenes Marsh and Estuary, Mississippi
Historical Bathymetry in the Mississippi-Alabama Coastal Region: Bathymetric Soundings, Gridded Digital Elevation Model, and Hydrographic Sheets Historical Bathymetry in the Mississippi-Alabama Coastal Region: Bathymetric Soundings, Gridded Digital Elevation Model, and Hydrographic Sheets
Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From July 2018 to January 2020 (Version 2.0) Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From July 2018 to January 2020 (Version 2.0)
Historical Shorelines for Fire Island and Great South Bay, New York (1834 to 1875): Georeferenced Topographic Sheets and Vector Digital Data Historical Shorelines for Fire Island and Great South Bay, New York (1834 to 1875): Georeferenced Topographic Sheets and Vector Digital Data
Shore Proximal Sediment Deposition, Elevation, Turbidity, and Water Level Data for Four Sites in the Coastal Marsh at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From October 2016 Through October 2017 Shore Proximal Sediment Deposition, Elevation, Turbidity, and Water Level Data for Four Sites in the Coastal Marsh at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From October 2016 Through October 2017

Joseph Terrano collects field notes in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi marsh.
Joseph Terrano collects field notes in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi marsh.
A net sedimentation tile (NST) is used by scientists to measure surface sediment deposition in wetlands over short time scales. Scientists installed several NSTs on the surface of the marsh to measure sediment deposition. The samples are retrieved and measured in the lab to identify short-term sediment deposition rates on the marsh surface.
A net sedimentation tile (NST) is used by scientists to measure surface sediment deposition in wetlands over short time scales. Scientists installed several NSTs on the surface of the marsh to measure sediment deposition. The samples are retrieved and measured in the lab to identify short-term sediment deposition rates on the marsh surface.

Kathryn Smith of the USGS St.