Kara Doran
Kara Doran is an oceanographer with the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. Her area of expertise is understanding and forecasting storm impacts to sandy coastlines.
For the last decade, she has been part of the National Assessment of Storm-Induced Coastal Change Hazards project. Her work in this project includes:
- Producing real-time forecasts and scenario-based predictions of coastal total water level and geomorphic change during storms
- Analysis of lidar-derived measures of coastal change
Since 2018 she has acted as the coastal change hazards liaison to the USGS Storm Team and has worked in partnership with other federal agencies such as US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide the nation scientifically rigorous information to assess national vulnerability to coastal change hazards.
Professional Experience
Physical Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal & Marine Geology Science Center, 2010 to present
Researcher, Jacobs Technologies contracted to the U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal & Marine Science Center, 2007-2010
Education and Certifications
M.S. Marine Science, University of South Florida
B.S. Physics, Grove City College
Science and Products
Hurricane Nate - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Operational Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecasts
Scenario-Based Assessments for Coastal Change Hazard Forecasts
Forecasting Coastal Change
Hurricane Irene - Pre- and Post-Storm Photo Comparisons - Cape Lookout, NC to Oregon Inlet, NC
Beach Slopes of New Jersey
Beach Slopes of Massachusetts
National Assessment of Hurricane-Induced Coastal Erosion Hazards: South Carolina to New Hampshire update
EAARL Coastal Topography-Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, March 2006
EAARL Coastal Topography-Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, 2008: First Return Elevation Data
EAARL Coastal Topography-Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, September 2006: First and Last Return Elevation Data
National Assessment of Hurricane-Induced Coastal Erosion Hazards: Gulf of Mexico Update
Cape Canaveral, Florida 2010 Single-beam Bathymetry Data
Beach Slopes of Florida: Miami to Jupiter
Beach Slopes of Florida: Bradenton Beach to Clearwater Beach
Beach Slopes of North Carolina: Salvo to Duck
National assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards: Northeast Atlantic Coast
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
Baseline coastal oblique aerial photographs collected from Pensacola, Florida, to Breton Islands, Louisiana, February 7, 2012
National assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards: Southeast Atlantic Coast
National assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards: Mid-Atlantic Coast
Coastal topography–Northeast Atlantic coast, post-hurricane Sandy, 2012
Hurricane Isaac: observations and analysis of coastal change
Hotspot of accelerated sea-level rise on the Atlantic coast of North America
National assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards--Gulf of Mexico
Accuracy of EAARL lidar ground elevations using a bare-earth algorithm in marsh and beach grasses on the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana
Coastal Change on Gulf Islands National Seashore during Hurricane Gustav: West Ship, East Ship, Horn, and Petit Bois Islands
Science and Products
- Science
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Hurricane Nate - Forecast and Documentation of Coastal Change
Hurricane Nate coastal change forecast and pre- and post-storm photos documenting coastal change.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.Scenario-Based Assessments for Coastal Change Hazard Forecasts
A decade of USGS research on storm-driven coastal change hazards has provided the data and modeling capabilities needed to identify areas of our coastline that are likely to experience extreme and potentially hazardous erosion during an extreme storm.Forecasting Coastal Change
This project focuses on understanding the magnitude and variability of extreme storm impacts on sandy beaches. The overall objective is to improve real-time and scenario-based predictions of coastal change to support management of coastal infrastructure, resources, and safety.ByNatural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Hurricane Dorian, Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma, Hurricane Jose, Hurricane Maria, Hurricane Matthew, Hurricane Michael, Hurricane Nate, Hurricane SandyHurricane Irene - Pre- and Post-Storm Photo Comparisons - Cape Lookout, NC to Oregon Inlet, NC
Before and after photo pairs show examples of coastal change resulting from Hurricane Irene. - Data
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Beach Slopes of New Jersey
The National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards project derives features of beach morphology from lidar elevation data for the purpose of understanding and predicting storm impacts to our nation's coastlines. This dataset defines mean beach slopes along the United States Northeast Atlantic Ocean for New Jersey for data collected at various times between 2007 and 2014. For further information regBeach Slopes of Massachusetts
The National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards project derives features of beach morphology from lidar elevation data for the purpose of understanding and predicting storm impacts to our nation's coastlines. This dataset defines mean beach slopes along the United States Northeast Atlantic Ocean for Massachusetts for data collected at various times between 2000 and 2013. For further informationNational Assessment of Hurricane-Induced Coastal Erosion Hazards: South Carolina to New Hampshire update
These data sets contain information on the probabilities of hurricane-induced erosion (collision, inundation and overwash) for each 1-km section of the U.S. coast for category 1-5 hurricanes. The analysis is based on a storm-impact scaling model that uses observations of beach morphology combined with sophisticated hydrodynamic models to predict how the coast will respond to the direct landfall ofEAARL Coastal Topography-Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, March 2006
This dataset, prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, provides first and last return elevation data collected during a March 14-15, 2006 airborne lidar survey for the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, and Ship Island, Mississippi through Orange Beach, Alabama. Elevation measurements were collected over the area using the National Aeronautics and SpaceEAARL Coastal Topography-Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida, 2008: First Return Elevation Data
This dataset, prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, provides first and last return elevation data collected during a June 24, 2008 airborne lidar survey for the Chandeleur Islands, LA, Dauphin Island, AL, Santa Rosa Island, FL, and Bon Secour, AL. Elevation measurements were collected over the area using the National Aeronautics and Space AdministEAARL Coastal Topography-Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, September 2006: First and Last Return Elevation Data
This dataset, prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, provides first and last return elevation data collected during a September 20-22, 2006 airborne lidar survey for the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, and Cat Island, Mississippi, through Dauphin Island, Alabama. Elevation measurements were collected over the area using the National Aeronautics andNational Assessment of Hurricane-Induced Coastal Erosion Hazards: Gulf of Mexico Update
These data sets contain information on the probabilities of hurricane-induced erosion (collision, inundation and overwash) for each 1-km section of the Gulf of Mexico coast for category 1-5 hurricanes. The analysis is based on a storm-impact scaling model that uses observations of beach morphology combined with sophisticated hydrodynamic models to predict how the coast will respond to the direct lCape Canaveral, Florida 2010 Single-beam Bathymetry Data
Single-beam bathymetric surveys were conducted on July 27-29, 2010 along 37 cross-shore transects offshore from Cape Canaveral, Fla. The transects were spaced 500 m apart in the alongshore direction and each was approximately 5 km long in the cross-shore.Beach Slopes of Florida: Miami to Jupiter
The National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards project derives features of beach morphology from lidar elevation data for the purpose of understanding and predicting storm impacts to our nation\'s coastlines. This dataset defines mean beach slopes along the United States Southeast Atlantic Ocean from Miami to Jupiter, Florida for data collected at various times between 1999 and 2009. For furtheBeach Slopes of Florida: Bradenton Beach to Clearwater Beach
The National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards project derives features of beach morphology from lidar elevation data for the purpose of understanding and predicting storm impacts to our nation's coastlines. This dataset defines mean beach slopes along the United States Southeast Gulf of Mexico from Bradenton Beach to Clearwater Beach, Florida for data collected at various times between 1998 anBeach Slopes of North Carolina: Salvo to Duck
The National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards project derives features of beach morphology from lidar elevation data for the purpose of understanding and predicting storm impacts to our nation\'s coastlines. This dataset defines mean beach slopes along the United States Southeast Atlantic Ocean from Salvo to Duck, North Carolina for data collected at various times between 1996 and 2012. For fu - Multimedia
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National 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. ThompsonTopographic 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. SmithBaseline coastal oblique aerial photographs collected from Pensacola, Florida, to Breton Islands, Louisiana, February 7, 2012
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducts baseline and storm response photography missions to document and understand the changes in vulnerability of the Nation's coasts to extreme storms (Morgan, 2009). On February 7, 2012, the USGS conducted an oblique aerial photographic survey from Pensacola, Fla., to Breton Islands, La., aboard a Piper Navajo Chieftain at an altitude of 500 feet (ft) and appAuthorsKaren L.M. Morgan, M. Dennis Krohn, Kara Doran, Kristy K. GuyNational 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. PlantNational assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards: Mid-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 large, and the results are sometimes catastrophic. Lives may be lost, communities destroyed, and millions of dollars spent on rebuilding. DuringAuthorsKara S. Doran, Hilary F. Stockdon, Kristin L. Sopkin, David M. Thompson, Nathaniel G. PlantCoastal topography–Northeast Atlantic coast, post-hurricane Sandy, 2012
This Data Series contains lidar-derived bare-earth (BE) topography, dune elevations, and mean-high-water shoreline position datasets for most sandy beaches for Fire Island, New York, and from Cape Henlopen, Delaware to Cape Lookout, North Carolina. The data were acquired post-Hurricane Sandy, which made landfall as an extratropical cyclone on October 29, 2012.AuthorsHilary F. Stockdon, Kara S. Doran, Kristin L. Sopkin, Kathryn E. L. Smith, Xan FredericksHurricane Isaac: observations and analysis of coastal change
Understanding storm-induced coastal change and forecasting these changes require knowledge of the physical processes associated with a storm and the geomorphology of the impacted coastline. The primary physical process of interest is sediment transport that is driven by waves, currents, and storm surge associated with storms. Storm surge, which is the rise in water level due to the wind, barometriAuthorsKristy K. Guy, Hilary F. Stockdon, Nathaniel G. Plant, Kara S. Doran, Karen L.M. MorganHotspot of accelerated sea-level rise on the Atlantic coast of North America
Climate warming does not force sea-level rise (SLR) at the same rate everywhere. Rather, there are spatial variations of SLR superimposed on a global average rise. These variations are forced by dynamic processes, arising from circulation and variations in temperature and/or salinity, and by static equilibrium processes, arising from mass redistributions changing gravity and the Earth's rotation aAuthorsAsbury H. Sallenger,, Kara S. Doran, Peter A. HowdNational assessment of hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards--Gulf of Mexico
Sandy beaches provide a natural barrier between the ocean and inland communities, ecosystems, and resources. However, these dynamic environments move and change in response to winds, waves, and currents. During a hurricane, these changes can be large and sometimes catastrophic. High waves and storm surge act together to erode beaches and inundate low-lying lands, putting inland communities at riskAuthorsHilary F. Stockdon, Kara S. Doran, David M. Thompson, Kristin L. Sopkin, Nathaniel G. Plant, Asbury H. SallengerAccuracy of EAARL lidar ground elevations using a bare-earth algorithm in marsh and beach grasses on the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana
The NASA Experimental Advanced Airborne Lidar (EAARL) is an airborne lidar (light detection and ranging) instrument designed to map coastal topography and bathymetry. The EAARL system has the capability to capture each laser-pulse return over a large signal range and can digitize the full waveform of the backscattered energy. Because of this ability to capture the full waveform, the EAARL system cAuthorsKara S. Doran, Asbury H. Sallenger, Billy J. Reynolds, C. Wayne WrightCoastal Change on Gulf Islands National Seashore during Hurricane Gustav: West Ship, East Ship, Horn, and Petit Bois Islands
INTRODUCTION Hurricane Gustav made landfall on September 1, 2008, near Cocodrie, Louisiana, as a category 2 storm, with maximum sustained winds near 170 km/hr. Hurricane-force winds, with speeds in excess of 119 km/hr, extended along 270 km of the Louisiana coastline, from Marsh Island to the central barrier islands. Tropical-storm-force winds (speeds > 63 km/hr) were felt across the coasts of MiAuthorsHilary F. Stockdon, Kara S. Doran, Katherine A. Serafin - News
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