Nancy Prouty
Research Oceanographer with the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
As a Research Oceanographer, Nancy is the Lead Principal Investigator (PI) on federally funded studies evaluating the impact of groundwater and land-based pollution on coral reef ecosystems, ensuring the protection of critical marine resources that support American fisheries, tourism, and coastal economies. She has designed and implemented field experiments to assess geochemical factors affecting coral reefs, delivering actionable data to support sustainable coastal management and economic growth.
Nancy is also lead PI on a multi-agency deep-sea coral paleo-ecology project, advancing knowledge with potential applications for marine resource management.
Past Professional Experience:
Science Program Coordinator Advisor, Schmidt Ocean Institute, Palo Alto, CA (July 2010–Nov. 2010)
- Served as liaison between scientists and the Institute to ensure research priorities aligned with technological advancements and national interests.
- Participated in complex planning efforts integrating marine science, engineering, and operations to enhance U.S. leadership in ocean research and innovation.
Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellow, United States Geological Survey, Santa Cruz, CA (2007–2009)
- Led a two-year federally funded research initiative investigating sedimentation impacts on coral reef health, contributing to efforts that protect vital U.S. marine assets and economic sectors.
- Partnered with multiple federal agencies and research institutions to generate data that supports practical, science-based decision-making.
Cooperative Institute for Climate and Ocean Research Postdoctoral Scholar, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA (2004–2007)
- Spearheaded a multidisciplinary initiative to develop advanced tools for assessing coral reef resilience, providing insights beneficial to fisheries management and coastal industries.
- Conducted research on environmental stressors affecting marine ecosystems, supporting efforts that prioritize both conservation and economic prosperity.
University Instructor, University of California, Berkeley, CA (Summer 2004)
- Designed and taught an innovative, student-focused curriculum on oceanography, equipping future scientists and industry leaders with critical knowledge in marine sciences.
Graduate Research Environmental Fellow, Department of Energy (DOE), Stanford University (2000–2004)
- Led an international coral reef research project, supporting U.S. scientific leadership and global partnerships in marine research.
Education and Certifications
2004: Ph.D., Oceanography, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
1997: M.S., Earth Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
1993: B.A., Geology, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA
Science and Products
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Deepwater Program: Lophelia II, continuing ecological research on deep-sea corals and deep-reef habitats in the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Program: Lophelia II, continuing ecological research on deep-sea corals and deep-reef habitats in the Gulf of Mexico
The deep sea is a rich environment composed of diverse habitat types. While deep-sea coral habitats have been discovered within each ocean basin, knowledge about the ecology of these habitats and associated inhabitants continues to grow. This report presents information and results from the Lophelia II project that examined deep-sea coral habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. The Lophelia II...
Authors
Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, Steve W. Ross, Christina A. Kellogg, Cheryl L. Morrison, Martha S. Nizinski, Nancy G. Prouty, Jill R. Bourque, Julie P. Galkiewicz, Michael A. Gray, Marcus J. Springmann, D. Katharine Coykendall, Andrew Miller, Mike Rhode, Andrea Quattrini, Cheryl L. Ames, Sandra D. Brooke, Jennifer P. McClain-Counts, E. Brendan Roark, Noreen A. Buster, Ryan M. Phillips, Janessy Frometa
Vulnerability of coral reefs to bioerosion from land-based sources of pollution Vulnerability of coral reefs to bioerosion from land-based sources of pollution
Ocean acidification (OA), the gradual decline in ocean pH and [ ] caused by rising levels of atmospheric CO2, poses a significant threat to coral reef ecosystems, depressing rates of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) production, and enhancing rates of bioerosion and dissolution. As ocean pH and [ ] decline globally, there is increasing emphasis on managing local stressors that can exacerbate the
Authors
Nancy G. Prouty, Anne Cohen, Kimberly K. Yates, Curt D. Storlazzi, Peter W. Swarzenski, Darla White
Seafloor fluid seeps on Kimki Ridge, offshore southern California: Links to active strike-slip faulting Seafloor fluid seeps on Kimki Ridge, offshore southern California: Links to active strike-slip faulting
The Kimki Ridge fluid seeps are located in western Catalina Basin about 60 km southwest of the southern California mainland and at a water depth of approximately 1100 m. Multichannel seismic reflection profiles collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 2014 show acoustic transparency within the Kimki Ridge, suggesting the possibility of fluid seeps and possible sub-seafloor fluid...
Authors
James E. Conrad, Nancy G. Prouty, Maureen A. L. Walton, Jared W. Kluesner, Katherine L. Maier, Mary McGann, Daniel S. Brothers, Emily C. Roland, Peter Dartnell
Seasonal variability in particulate matter source and composition to the depositional zone of Baltimore Canyon, U.S. Mid-Atlantic Bight Seasonal variability in particulate matter source and composition to the depositional zone of Baltimore Canyon, U.S. Mid-Atlantic Bight
Submarine canyons are often hotspots of biomass and productivity in the deep sea. However, the majority of deep-sea canyons remain poorly sampled. Using a multi-tracer approach, results from a detailed geochemical investigation from a year-long sediment trap deployment reveals details concerning the source, transport, and fate of particulate matter to the depositional zone (1318 m) of...
Authors
Nancy G. Prouty, Furu Mienis, P. Campbell, E. Brendan Roark, Andrew Davies, Craig M. Robertson, Gerard Duineveld, Steve W. Ross, M. Rhodes, Amanda W.J. Demopoulos
The use of passive membrane samplers to assess organic contaminant inputs at five coastal sites in west Maui, Hawaii The use of passive membrane samplers to assess organic contaminant inputs at five coastal sites in west Maui, Hawaii
Five passive membrane samplers were deployed for 28 continuous days at select sites along and near the west Maui coastline to assess organic compounds and contaminant inputs to diverse, shallow coral reef ecosystems. Daily and weekly fluctuations in such inputs were captured on the membranes using integrative sampling. The distribution of organic compounds observed at these five coastal...
Authors
Pamela L. Campbell, Nancy G. Prouty, Curt D. Storlazzi, Nicole D’antonio
Rare earth element behavior during groundwater – seawater mixing along the Kona Coast of Hawaii Rare earth element behavior during groundwater – seawater mixing along the Kona Coast of Hawaii
Groundwater and seawater samples were collected from nearshore wells and offshore along the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii to investigate rare earth element (REE) behavior in local subterranean estuaries. Previous investigations showed that submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is the predominant flux of terrestrial waters to the coastal ocean along the arid Kona Coast of Hawaii
Authors
Karen H. Johannesson, C. Dianne Palmore, Joseph Fackrell, Nancy G. Prouty, Peter W. Swarzenski, Darren A. Chevis, Katherine Telfeyan, Christopher D. White, David J. Burdige
Non-USGS Publications**
Lamborg, C.H., Swarr, G., Hughen, K., Jones, R., Birdwhistell, S., Fuby, K., Murty, S.A., Prouty, N., and Tseng, C-M., 2013 Determination of low-level mercury in coralline aragonite by calcination-isotope dilution-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and its application to Diploria specimens from Castle Harbour, Bermuda: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 109, pp. 27-37, doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2013.01.026.
Prouty NG, Roark EB, Andrews A, Robinson L, Hill T, Sherwood O, Willams B, Guilderson T, Fallon S, 2015, Age, Growth Rates, and Paleoclimate Studies of Deep Sea Corals, In: Hourigan TF, Etnoyer PJ, Cairns SD, eds., The State of Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems of the United States: 2015: NOAA Technical Memorandum X, NOAA, Silver Spring, Maryland, p 10-1 – 10-21
Carilli, J., Prouty, N.G., Hughen, K.A., and Norris, R.D., 2009, Century-scale records of land-based activities recorded in Mesoamerican coral cores: Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 58, i. 12, pp. 1835-1842, doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.07.024.
**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.
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Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 53
Deepwater Program: Lophelia II, continuing ecological research on deep-sea corals and deep-reef habitats in the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Program: Lophelia II, continuing ecological research on deep-sea corals and deep-reef habitats in the Gulf of Mexico
The deep sea is a rich environment composed of diverse habitat types. While deep-sea coral habitats have been discovered within each ocean basin, knowledge about the ecology of these habitats and associated inhabitants continues to grow. This report presents information and results from the Lophelia II project that examined deep-sea coral habitats in the Gulf of Mexico. The Lophelia II...
Authors
Amanda W.J. Demopoulos, Steve W. Ross, Christina A. Kellogg, Cheryl L. Morrison, Martha S. Nizinski, Nancy G. Prouty, Jill R. Bourque, Julie P. Galkiewicz, Michael A. Gray, Marcus J. Springmann, D. Katharine Coykendall, Andrew Miller, Mike Rhode, Andrea Quattrini, Cheryl L. Ames, Sandra D. Brooke, Jennifer P. McClain-Counts, E. Brendan Roark, Noreen A. Buster, Ryan M. Phillips, Janessy Frometa
Vulnerability of coral reefs to bioerosion from land-based sources of pollution Vulnerability of coral reefs to bioerosion from land-based sources of pollution
Ocean acidification (OA), the gradual decline in ocean pH and [ ] caused by rising levels of atmospheric CO2, poses a significant threat to coral reef ecosystems, depressing rates of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) production, and enhancing rates of bioerosion and dissolution. As ocean pH and [ ] decline globally, there is increasing emphasis on managing local stressors that can exacerbate the
Authors
Nancy G. Prouty, Anne Cohen, Kimberly K. Yates, Curt D. Storlazzi, Peter W. Swarzenski, Darla White
Seafloor fluid seeps on Kimki Ridge, offshore southern California: Links to active strike-slip faulting Seafloor fluid seeps on Kimki Ridge, offshore southern California: Links to active strike-slip faulting
The Kimki Ridge fluid seeps are located in western Catalina Basin about 60 km southwest of the southern California mainland and at a water depth of approximately 1100 m. Multichannel seismic reflection profiles collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 2014 show acoustic transparency within the Kimki Ridge, suggesting the possibility of fluid seeps and possible sub-seafloor fluid...
Authors
James E. Conrad, Nancy G. Prouty, Maureen A. L. Walton, Jared W. Kluesner, Katherine L. Maier, Mary McGann, Daniel S. Brothers, Emily C. Roland, Peter Dartnell
Seasonal variability in particulate matter source and composition to the depositional zone of Baltimore Canyon, U.S. Mid-Atlantic Bight Seasonal variability in particulate matter source and composition to the depositional zone of Baltimore Canyon, U.S. Mid-Atlantic Bight
Submarine canyons are often hotspots of biomass and productivity in the deep sea. However, the majority of deep-sea canyons remain poorly sampled. Using a multi-tracer approach, results from a detailed geochemical investigation from a year-long sediment trap deployment reveals details concerning the source, transport, and fate of particulate matter to the depositional zone (1318 m) of...
Authors
Nancy G. Prouty, Furu Mienis, P. Campbell, E. Brendan Roark, Andrew Davies, Craig M. Robertson, Gerard Duineveld, Steve W. Ross, M. Rhodes, Amanda W.J. Demopoulos
The use of passive membrane samplers to assess organic contaminant inputs at five coastal sites in west Maui, Hawaii The use of passive membrane samplers to assess organic contaminant inputs at five coastal sites in west Maui, Hawaii
Five passive membrane samplers were deployed for 28 continuous days at select sites along and near the west Maui coastline to assess organic compounds and contaminant inputs to diverse, shallow coral reef ecosystems. Daily and weekly fluctuations in such inputs were captured on the membranes using integrative sampling. The distribution of organic compounds observed at these five coastal...
Authors
Pamela L. Campbell, Nancy G. Prouty, Curt D. Storlazzi, Nicole D’antonio
Rare earth element behavior during groundwater – seawater mixing along the Kona Coast of Hawaii Rare earth element behavior during groundwater – seawater mixing along the Kona Coast of Hawaii
Groundwater and seawater samples were collected from nearshore wells and offshore along the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii to investigate rare earth element (REE) behavior in local subterranean estuaries. Previous investigations showed that submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is the predominant flux of terrestrial waters to the coastal ocean along the arid Kona Coast of Hawaii
Authors
Karen H. Johannesson, C. Dianne Palmore, Joseph Fackrell, Nancy G. Prouty, Peter W. Swarzenski, Darren A. Chevis, Katherine Telfeyan, Christopher D. White, David J. Burdige
Non-USGS Publications**
Lamborg, C.H., Swarr, G., Hughen, K., Jones, R., Birdwhistell, S., Fuby, K., Murty, S.A., Prouty, N., and Tseng, C-M., 2013 Determination of low-level mercury in coralline aragonite by calcination-isotope dilution-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and its application to Diploria specimens from Castle Harbour, Bermuda: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, v. 109, pp. 27-37, doi: 10.1016/j.gca.2013.01.026.
Prouty NG, Roark EB, Andrews A, Robinson L, Hill T, Sherwood O, Willams B, Guilderson T, Fallon S, 2015, Age, Growth Rates, and Paleoclimate Studies of Deep Sea Corals, In: Hourigan TF, Etnoyer PJ, Cairns SD, eds., The State of Deep-Sea Coral and Sponge Ecosystems of the United States: 2015: NOAA Technical Memorandum X, NOAA, Silver Spring, Maryland, p 10-1 – 10-21
Carilli, J., Prouty, N.G., Hughen, K.A., and Norris, R.D., 2009, Century-scale records of land-based activities recorded in Mesoamerican coral cores: Marine Pollution Bulletin, v. 58, i. 12, pp. 1835-1842, doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.07.024.
**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.
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