Nathaniel Plant, Ph.D.
I am the Center Director for the Saint Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, where I support scientists working on coastal research topics such as coastal hazards due to storms and sea-level rise; sediment availability and distribution; and response of coastal communities, wetlands, corals, and microbial ecosystems to extreme events and persistent changes to our coastal environment.
I have served in this capacity since October 2018, initially in an acting capacity and permanently since April 2019.
Prior to becoming Center Director, my role with the USGS was as an oceanographer. Past research projects included scientific applications to coastal management, such as assessing storm-induced and long-term coastal erosion or identification of future nesting habitat for endangered shore bird species. Throughout my research career, I have lived in a range of coastal communities in California, Mississippi, and Florida, as well as the Netherlands, and the Washington, DC area. I received my Ph.D. in Marine Geology from Oregon State University’s Oceanography program in 1998.
Science and Products
A cross-validation package driving Netica with python
Probabilistic estimation of dune retreat on the Gold Coast, Australia
Inundation of a barrier island (Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, USA) during a hurricane: Observed water-level gradients and modeled seaward sand transport
Using a Bayesian Network to predict shore-line change vulnerability to sea-level rise for the coasts of the United States
Topographic lidar survey of the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, February 6, 2012
Topographic lidar survey of the Alabama, Mississippi, and Southeast Louisiana Barrier Islands, from September 5 to October 11, 2012
Topographic lidar survey of Dauphin Island, Alabama and Chandeleur, Stake, Grand Gosier and Breton Islands, Louisiana, July 12-14, 2013
Hurricane Sandy: observations and analysis of coastal change
A probabilistic method for constructing wave time-series at inshore locations using model scenarios
Scaling coastal dune elevation changes across storm-impact regimes
A Bayesian network approach to predicting nest presence of thefederally-threatened piping plover (Charadrius melodus) using barrier island features
Predictions of barrier island berm evolution in a time-varying storm climatology
Science and Products
- Science
Filter Total Items: 20
- Data
Filter Total Items: 17No Result Found
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 91
A cross-validation package driving Netica with python
Bayesian networks (BNs) are powerful tools for probabilistically simulating natural systems and emulating process models. Cross validation is a technique to avoid overfitting resulting from overly complex BNs. Overfitting reduces predictive skill. Cross-validation for BNs is known but rarely implemented due partly to a lack of software tools designed to work with available BN packages. CVNetica isAuthorsMichael N. Fienen, Nathaniel G. PlantProbabilistic estimation of dune retreat on the Gold Coast, Australia
Sand dunes are an important natural buffer between storm impacts and development backing the beach on the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia. The ability to forecast dune erosion at a prediction horizon of days to a week would allow efficient and timely response to dune erosion in this highly populated area. Towards this goal, we modified an existing probabilistic dune erosion model for use on thAuthorsMargaret L. Palmsten, Kristen D. Splinter, Nathaniel G. Plant, Hilary F. StockdonInundation of a barrier island (Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, USA) during a hurricane: Observed water-level gradients and modeled seaward sand transport
Large geomorphic changes to barrier islands may occur during inundation, when storm surge exceeds island elevation. Inundation occurs episodically and under energetic conditions that make quantitative observations difficult. We measured water levels on both sides of a barrier island in the northern Chandeleur Islands during inundation by Hurricane Isaac. Wind patterns caused the water levels to slAuthorsChristopher R. Sherwood, Joseph W. Long, Patrick Dickhudt, P. Soupy Dalyander, David M. Thompson, Nathaniel G. PlantUsing a Bayesian Network to predict shore-line change vulnerability to sea-level rise for the coasts of the United States
Sea-level rise is an ongoing phenomenon that is expected to continue and is projected to have a wide range of effects on coastal environments and infrastructure during the 21st century and beyond. Consequently, there is a need to assemble relevant datasets and to develop modeling or other analytical approaches to evaluate the likelihood of particular sea-level rise impacts, such as coastal erosionAuthorsBenjamin T. Gutierrez, Nathaniel G. Plant, Elizabeth A. Pendleton, E. Robert ThielerTopographic lidar survey of the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana, February 6, 2012
This Data Series Report contains lidar elevation data collected February 6, 2012, for Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana. Point cloud data in lidar data exchange format (LAS) and bare earth digital elevation models (DEMs) in ERDAS Imagine raster format (IMG) are available as downloadable files. The point cloud data—data points described in three dimensions—were processed to extract bare earth data; theAuthorsKristy K. Guy, Nathaniel G. Plant, Jamie M. Bonisteel-CormierTopographic 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. PlantTopographic lidar survey of Dauphin Island, Alabama and Chandeleur, Stake, Grand Gosier and Breton Islands, Louisiana, July 12-14, 2013
This Data Series Report contains lidar elevation data collected on July 12 and 14, 2013, for Dauphin Island, Alabama, and Chandeleur, Stake, Grand Gosier and Breton Islands, Louisiana. Classified point cloud data—data points described in three dimensions—in lidar data exchange format (LAS) and bare earth digital elevation models (DEMs) in ERDAS Imagine raster format (IMG) are available as downloadAuthorsKristy K. Guy, 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. SmithA probabilistic method for constructing wave time-series at inshore locations using model scenarios
Continuous time-series of wave characteristics (height, period, and direction) are constructed using a base set of model scenarios and simple probabilistic methods. This approach utilizes an archive of computationally intensive, highly spatially resolved numerical wave model output to develop time-series of historical or future wave conditions without performing additional, continuous numerical siAuthorsJoseph W. Long, Nathaniel G. Plant, P. Soupy Dalyander, David M. ThompsonScaling coastal dune elevation changes across storm-impact regimes
Extreme storms drive change in coastal areas, including destruction of dune systems that protect coastal populations. Data from four extreme storms impacting four geomorphically diverse barrier islands are used to quantify dune elevation change. This change is compared to storm characteristics to identify variability in dune response, improve understanding of morphological interactions, and providAuthorsJoseph W. Long, Anouk T. M. de Bakker, Nathaniel G. PlantA Bayesian network approach to predicting nest presence of thefederally-threatened piping plover (Charadrius melodus) using barrier island features
Sea-level rise and human development pose significant threats to shorebirds, particularly for species that utilize barrier island habitat. The piping plover (Charadrius melodus) is a federally-listed shorebird that nests on barrier islands and rapidly responds to changes in its physical environment, making it an excellent species with which to model how shorebird species may respond to habitat chAuthorsKatherina D. Gieder, Sarah M. Karpanty, James D. Fraser, Daniel H. Catlin, Benjamin T. Gutierrez, Nathaniel G. Plant, Aaron M. Turecek, E. Robert ThielerPredictions of barrier island berm evolution in a time-varying storm climatology
Low-lying barrier islands are ubiquitous features of the world's coastlines, and the processes responsible for their formation, maintenance, and destruction are related to the evolution of smaller, superimposed features including sand dunes, beach berms, and sandbars. The barrier island and its superimposed features interact with oceanographic forces (e.g., overwash) and exchange sediment with eacAuthorsNathaniel G. Plant, James Flocks, Hilary F. Stockdon, Joseph W. Long, Kristy K. Guy, David M. Thompson, Jamie M. Cormier, Christopher G. Smith, Jennifer L. Miselis, P. Soupy Dalyander - Software
- News