Legna M. Torres-García is a Research Oceanographer at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Legna Torres García's work focuses on using multi-scale observational and numerical model data to understand circulation, waves, sediment transport, and coastal vulnerability. Her research includes simulations of hydrodynamics and coastal change in Puerto Rico and the Florida Keys. In addition, she is a principal investigator on a project on assessing the coastal vulnerability of communities in Puerto Rico through a focused stakeholder engagement approach. Her focus on both numerical model development and stakeholder engagement enables her to address community needs with the best available science.
Professional Experience
Research Oceanographer, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal & Marine Geology Science Center, 2022 to present
Postdoctoral Research Oceanographer, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal & Marine Geology Science Center, 2020 to 2022
Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Coastal & Marine Geology Science Center, 2014 to 2016
Teaching Assistant, University of South Carolina, Geology Laboratory Coordinator
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., (2020), University of Florida, Major in Oceanographic and Coastal Engineering, Dissertation: Hydrodynamics and sediment mobility in degraded barrier coral reefs
M.S., (2014), University of South Carolina, Major in Geology; Earth and Ocean Sciences Department, Thesis: Flow Dynamics in the Transition Zone from Estuarine Tidal to Fluvial Regime
M.S., (2009), University of South Carolina, Major in Physics, Physics and Astronomy Department, Thesis: Search for Interstellar Silicate Dust in Four Quasar Absorber Galaxies
B.S., (2006), University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, Major in Physics, Physics Department
Science and Products
Hydrodynamics and sediment mobility processes over a degraded senile coral reef
Coral reefs can influence hydrodynamics and morphodynamics by dissipating and refracting incident wave energy, modifying circulation patterns, and altering sediment transport pathways. In this study, the sediment and hydrodynamic response of a senile (dead) barrier reef (Crocker Reef, located in the upper portion of the Florida Reef Tract) to storms and quiescent conditions was evaluated using fie
Ocean acidification buffering effects of seagrass in Tampa Bay
Investigación del USGS sobre el ecosistema de arrecifes de coral en el Atlántico
SENHIC Project Milestones and Meetings
Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC)
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Coastal | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Costas
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Ecosystems and Environmental Contaminants | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Ecosistemas y contaminantes ambientales
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Hurricanes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Huracanes
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Landslides | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Deslizamientos de tierra
Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Water Resources | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Recursos de agua
National Assessment of Hurricane-Induced Coastal Erosion Hazards: Puerto Rico
Grain-Size Data from Upper Florida Keys: Crocker Reef, FL
Ocean Currents and Pressure Time Series at the Upper Florida Keys: Crocker Reef, FL
Los Cambios Costeros en Puerto Rico
El Servicio Geológico de los Estados Unidos (USGS, por sus siglas en inglés) ha desarrollado una geonarrativa en español e inglés sobre los cambios en la costa de Puerto Rico que explica las tendencias históricas de la línea costera de la isla, los impactos de los huracanes en la costa y las posibles soluciones para proteger a las comunidades y mitigar los peligros costeros.
Shoreline Changes in Puerto Rico
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has developed a Spanish and English geonarrative that displays shoreline changes in Puerto Rico and covers topics on the island’s historical shoreline trends, hurricane impacts on the coast, and possible solutions that could help protect communities and mitigate coastal hazards.
Science and Products
- Publications
Hydrodynamics and sediment mobility processes over a degraded senile coral reef
Coral reefs can influence hydrodynamics and morphodynamics by dissipating and refracting incident wave energy, modifying circulation patterns, and altering sediment transport pathways. In this study, the sediment and hydrodynamic response of a senile (dead) barrier reef (Crocker Reef, located in the upper portion of the Florida Reef Tract) to storms and quiescent conditions was evaluated using fie
AuthorsLegna M. Torres-Garcia, P. Soupy Dalyander, Joseph W. Long, David G. Zawada, Kimberly K. Yates, Christopher Moore, Maitane OlabarrietaOcean acidification buffering effects of seagrass in Tampa Bay
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has identified ocean acidification as a critical threat to marine and estuarine species in ocean and coastal ecosystems around the world. However, seagrasses are projected to benefit from elevated atmospheric pCO2, are capable of increasing seawater pH and carbonate mineral saturation states through photosynthesis, and may help buffer against the chemiAuthorsKimberly K. Yates, Ryan P. Moyer, Christopher Moore, David A. Tomasko, Nathan A. Smiley, Legna Torres-Garcia, Christina E. Powell, Amanda R. Chappel, Ioana BociuInvestigación del USGS sobre el ecosistema de arrecifes de coral en el Atlántico
Información General Los arrecifes de coral son estructuras sólidas, biomineralizadas que protegen comunidades costeras actuando como barreras protectoras de peligros tales como los huracanes y los tsunamis. Estos proveen arena a las playas a través de procesos naturales de erosión, fomentan la industria del turismo, las actividades recreacionales y proveen hábitats pesqueros esenciales. La conti-nAuthorsIlsa B. Kuffner, Kimberly K. Yates, David G. Zawada, Julie N. Richey, Christina A. Kellogg, Lauren T. Toth, Legna M. Torres-Garcia - Science
SENHIC Project Milestones and Meetings
As part of the Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC) project, the USGS team aims to connect with scientists who are conducting natural hazards research in the Caribbean, build relationships with natural hazards researchers based in the Caribbean and those specializing in the region, and develop a framework for collaborating with international partners.Stakeholder Engagement for Natural Hazards Investigations in the Caribbean (SENHIC)
USGS staff are connecting with natural hazards researchers based in the Caribbean and those specializing in the region to find out which natural hazards are of primary concern, learn about their mitigation efforts, and explore the potential for research collaboration.Puerto Rico Natural Hazards | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico
The island of Puerto Rico is subject to numerous threats from natural hazards, including hurricanes, landslides, earthquakes, tsunamis, coastal and inland flooding, environmental contaminants, and freshwater scarcity, among others. USGS science can help citizens better prepare for, mitigate, and adapt to these hazards. This website compiles USGS resources available for Puerto Rico to provide...Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Coastal | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Costas
This page is a collection of USGS coastal hazard research in Puerto Rico, including shoreline changes, coral reef assessments, and coastal flooding. A brief description of highlighted projects can be found below. All coastal hazard publications, data releases, and news for Puerto Rico can be accessed on this page. Esta página es una recopilación de investigaciones del USGS sobre los riesgos...Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Ecosystems and Environmental Contaminants | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Ecosistemas y contaminantes ambientales
USGS researchers have studied environmental contaminants and pathogens to address questions involving exposure pathways and human-health implications. They also study climate change impacts and ecosystem health. On this page, read about ecosystems and environmental health research in Puerto Rico, including contaminants in tap water, and possible human exposures. Investigadores del USGS han...Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Hurricanes | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Huracanes
Hurricanes are one of the most frequent natural hazards that Caribbean islands are prone to encounter. The frequency of storms and their intensity could increase with climate change. This page contains a variety of USGS research on hurricane impacts to Puerto Rico, dating back to 1989, when Hurricane Hugo impacted the island. Research topics include storm-induced landslides, as well as impacts on...Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Landslides | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Deslizamientos de tierra
The Landslide Hazards Program from USGS works to help reduce the impact of landslides to people and infrastructure by furthering our understanding of causes of ground failure and by recommending strategies for risk mitigation. In Puerto Rico, USGS researchers have rigorously studied rainfall-induced landslides to provide maps that depict landslide susceptibility. Educational materials that...Puerto Rico Natural Hazards: Water Resources | Peligros naturales de Puerto Rico: Recursos de agua
The USGS monitors and studies water resources to deliver a wide range of data including streamflow conditions, groundwater information, lake and reservoir elevation, water quality, water use, and water availability, which can be accessed through the USGS National Water Dashboard. As of 2022, the USGS real-time water data network is comprised of 109 streamflow observation stations, 20 groundwater... - Data
National Assessment of Hurricane-Induced Coastal Erosion Hazards: Puerto Rico
These datasets contain information on the probabilities of hurricane-induced erosion (collision, inundation, and overwash) for each 100-meter (m) section of the Puerto Rico open-ocean coastline for category 1-5 hurricanes. The analysis is based on a storm-impact scaling model (Sallenger, 2000; https://www.jstor.org/stable/4300099) that uses observations of beach morphology combined with sophisticaGrain-Size Data from Upper Florida Keys: Crocker Reef, FL
Sediment samples were collected from undisturbed sections of the seafloor around Crocker Reef, Florida which is a senile, degrading barrier reef located in the northern portion of the Florida Reef Tract (Figure 1). Samples were collected from November 2017 to April 2019. The sediment sample locations were near instruments deployed during the same period to record time series of ocean currents, wavOcean Currents and Pressure Time Series at the Upper Florida Keys: Crocker Reef, FL
Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) and Pressure loggers were deployed at Crocker Reef, a senile (dead) barrier reef located in the northern portion of the Florida Reef Tract during December 12, 2014 to January 30, 2015. A pressure logger was deployed in the deepest part of the fore reef at a water depth of 14 m. This logger configured to measure pressure at a rate of 2 Hz to obtain wave st - Multimedia
- Web Tools
Los Cambios Costeros en Puerto Rico
El Servicio Geológico de los Estados Unidos (USGS, por sus siglas en inglés) ha desarrollado una geonarrativa en español e inglés sobre los cambios en la costa de Puerto Rico que explica las tendencias históricas de la línea costera de la isla, los impactos de los huracanes en la costa y las posibles soluciones para proteger a las comunidades y mitigar los peligros costeros.
Shoreline Changes in Puerto Rico
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has developed a Spanish and English geonarrative that displays shoreline changes in Puerto Rico and covers topics on the island’s historical shoreline trends, hurricane impacts on the coast, and possible solutions that could help protect communities and mitigate coastal hazards.
- News
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