Neil Kamal Ganju, PhD
My research spans the multiple disciplines that converge in estuarine systems. Research projects include numerical model development, field observations of hydrodynamics and water quality, wetland and coastal vulnerability assessments, geomorphic change, and eutrophication.
In 2001, I began working for the USGS at the California Water Science Center, on the San Francisco Bay Sediment Transport Project with Dr. David Schoellhamer. In 2008 I moved to the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center and began multiple projects throughout the northeast US. The Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems project, started in 2015, details the past and ongoing studies we are involved with.
Professional Experience
2010-present: Research Oceanographer, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
2008-2010: Hydraulic Engineer, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
2001-2008: Hydraulic Engineer, California Water Science Center
Education and Certifications
I studied civil engineering at the University of Michigan (BSCE), the University of Florida (MSCE), and the University of California-Davis (Ph.D.).
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 19
Filter Total Items: 76
Slope Values Across Marsh-Forest Boundary in Chesapeake Bay Region, USA Slope Values Across Marsh-Forest Boundary in Chesapeake Bay Region, USA
The marsh-forest boundary in the Chesapeake Bay was determined by geoprocessing high-resolution (1 square meter) land use and land cover data sets. Perpendicular transects were cast at standard intervals (30 meters) along the boundary within a GIS by repurposing the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) Version 5.0, an ArcGIS extension developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Average...
Coastal wetlands of eastern Long Island, New York (ver. 3.0, May 2026) Coastal wetlands of eastern Long Island, New York (ver. 3.0, May 2026)
This data release contains coastal wetland synthesis products for the geographic region of eastern Long Island, New York, including the north and south forks, Gardiners Island, and Fishers Island. Metrics for resiliency, including unvegetated to vegetated ratio (UVVR), marsh elevation, and mean tidal range, are calculated for smaller units delineated from a Digital Elevation Model...
Suspended-sediment concentration data from water samples collected in 2016-17 in Grand Bay, Alabama and Mississippi Suspended-sediment concentration data from water samples collected in 2016-17 in Grand Bay, Alabama and Mississippi
Suspended-sediment transport is a critical element governing the geomorphology of tidal marshes and estuaries. Marsh elevation, relative to sea level, is maintained by both organic material and the deposition of inorganic sediment. Additionally, horizontal marsh extent is altered by lateral erosion and accretion. In wetlands within and near Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve...
U.S. Geological Survey hydrodynamic model simulations for Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, during Hurricane Sandy, 2012 U.S. Geological Survey hydrodynamic model simulations for Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, during Hurricane Sandy, 2012
We used the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport (COAWST; Warner and others, 2010) model to simulate ocean circulation, waves, and sediment transport in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, during Hurricane Sandy. The simulation period was from October 27 to November 4, 2012. Initial conditions for the salinity and temperature fields in the domain were acquired from a 7-month simulation...
Idealized numerical model for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth dynamics Idealized numerical model for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth dynamics
An idealized domain is setup to test the development of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth model within the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport (COAWST) model. The change in SAV biomass is computed from temperature, nutrient loading and light predictions obtained from coupled hydrodynamics (temperature), bio-geochemistry (nutrients) and bio-optical (light) models. In...
Numerical model of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth dynamics in West Falmouth Harbor Numerical model of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth dynamics in West Falmouth Harbor
The development of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth model within the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport (COAWST) model leads to a change in SAV biomass. The SAV biomass is computed from temperature, nutrient loading and light predictions obtained from coupled hydrodynamics (temperature), bio-geochemistry (nutrients) and bio-optical (light) models. In exchange, the...
Filter Total Items: 121
Estimating connectivity of hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) and eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) larvae in Barnegat Bay Estimating connectivity of hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) and eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) larvae in Barnegat Bay
Many marine organisms have a well-known adult sessile stage. Unfortunately, our lack of knowledge regarding their larval transient stage hinders our understanding of their basic ecology and connectivity. Larvae can have swimming behavior that influences their transport within the marine environment. Understanding the larval stage provides insight into population connectivity that can...
Authors
J.D. Goodwin, D.M. Munroe, Zafer Defne, Neil K. Ganju, James Vasslides
Role of tidal wetland stability in lateral fluxes of particulate organic matter and carbon Role of tidal wetland stability in lateral fluxes of particulate organic matter and carbon
Tidal wetland fluxes of particulate organic matter and carbon (POM, POC) are important terms in global budgets but remain poorly constrained. Given the link between sediment fluxes and wetland stability, POM and POC fluxes should also be related to stability. We measured POM and POC fluxes in eight microtidal salt marsh channels, with net POM fluxes ranging between −121 ± 33 (export) and...
Authors
Neil Kamal Ganju, Zafer Defne, Tracy Elsey Quirk, Julia M. Moriarty
Marshes are the new beaches: Integrating sediment transport into restoration planning Marshes are the new beaches: Integrating sediment transport into restoration planning
Recent coastal storms and associated recovery efforts have led to increased investment in nature-based coastal protection, including restoration of salt marshes and construction of living shorelines. In particular, many of these efforts focus on increasing vertical elevation through sediment nourishment, where sediment is removed from the tidal channel and placed on the marsh plain, or...
Authors
Neil K. Ganju
Hydrologic controls of methane dynamics in karst subterranean estuaries Hydrologic controls of methane dynamics in karst subterranean estuaries
Karst subterranean estuaries (KSEs) extend into carbonate platforms along 12% of all coastlines. A recent study has shown that microbial methane (CH4) consumption is an important component of the carbon cycle and food web dynamics within flooded caves that permeate KSEs. In this study, we obtained high‐resolution (~2.5‐day) temporal records of dissolved methane concentrations and its...
Authors
David Brankovits, John W. Pohlman, Neil K. Ganju, T.M. Iliffe, N. Lowell, E. Roth, S.P. Sylva, J.A. Emmert, L. L. Lapham
Salt marsh loss affects tides and sediment budget in shallow bays Salt marsh loss affects tides and sediment budget in shallow bays
The current paradigm is that salt marshes and their important ecosystem services are threatened by global climate change; indeed, large marsh losses have been documented worldwide. Morphological changes associated with salt marsh erosion are expected to influence the hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics of coastal systems. Here the influence of salt marsh erosion on the tidal...
Authors
Carmine Donatelli, Neil K. Ganju, Xiaohe Zhang, Sergio Fagherazzi, Nicoletta Leonardi
Deciphering the dynamics of inorganic carbon export from intertidal salt marshes using high-frequency measurements Deciphering the dynamics of inorganic carbon export from intertidal salt marshes using high-frequency measurements
The lateral export of carbon from coastal marshes via tidal exchange is a key component of the marsh carbon budget and coastal carbon cycles. However, the magnitude of this export has been difficult to accurately quantify due to complex tidal dynamics and seasonal cycling of carbon. In this study, we use in situ, high-frequency measurements of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and water...
Authors
Sophie N. Chu, Zhaohui Aleck Wang, Meagan Gonneea Eagle, Kevin D. Kroeger, Neil K. Ganju
Non-USGS Publications**
Defne, Z., N. K. Ganju, and A. Aretxabaleta
(2016), Estimating time-dependent
connectivity in marine systems, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 43, doi:10.1002/2015GL066888.
(2016), Estimating time-dependent
connectivity in marine systems, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 43, doi:10.1002/2015GL066888.
Ganju, N. K., Brush, M. J., Rashleigh, B., Aretxabaleta, A. L., del Barrio, P., Grear, J. S., ... & Vaudrey, J. M., 2015, Progress and challenges in coupled hydrodynamic-ecological estuarine modeling, Estuaries and Coasts, 1-22.
Ganju, N.K., Jaffe, B.E., and Schoellhamer, D.H., 2011, Discontinuous hindcast simulations of estuarine bathymetric change: a case study from Suisun Bay, California. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 93, 142-150.
Ganju, N.K., and Schoellhamer, D.H., 2006, Annual sediment flux estimates in a tidal strait using surrogate measurements. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 69, 165-178.
Ganju, N.K., Schoellhamer, D.H., and Jaffe, B.E., 2009, Hindcasting of decadal-timescale estuarine bathymetric change with a tidal-timescale model. Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface, 114, F04019, doi:10.1029/2008JF001191.
Ganju, N.K., Schoellhamer, D.H., Warner, J.C., Barad, M.F., and Schladow, S.G., 2004, Tidal oscillation of sediment between a river and a bay: a conceptual model. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 60(1), 81-90.
Ganju, N.K., and Sherwood, C.R., 2010, Effect of roughness formulation on the performance of a coupled wave, hydrodynamic, and sediment transport model. Ocean Modelling, 33, 299-313.
Gartner, J.W., and Ganju, N.K., 2007, Correcting acoustic Doppler current profiler discharge measurement bias from moving-bed conditions without global positioning during the 2004 Glen Canyon Dam controlled flood on the Colorado River. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 5, 156-162.
Leonardi, N., Ganju, N.K. and Fagherazzi, S., 2016. A linear relationship between wave power and erosion determines salt-marsh resilience to violent storms and hurricanes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(1), pp.64-68.
Kirincich, A. R., Lentz, S. J., Farrar, J. T., and Ganju, N. K., 2013, The Spatial Structure of Tidal and Mean Circulation over the Inner Shelf South of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 43(9).
Miselis, J.L., Andrews, B.D., Nicholson, R.S., Defne, Z., Ganju, N.K. and Navoy, A., 2015. Evolution of mid-Atlantic coastal and back-barrier estuary environments in response to a hurricane: Implications for barrier-estuary connectivity. Estuaries and Coasts, pp.1-19.
Oestreich, W. K., Ganju, N. K., Pohlman, J. W., and Suttles, S. E., 2016. Colored dissolved organic matter in shallow estuaries: relationships between carbon sources and light attenuation, Biogeosciences, 13, 583-595, doi:10.5194/bg-13-583-2016.
Rosencranz, J.A., Ganju, N.K., Ambrose, R.F., Brosnahan, S.M., Dickhudt, P.J., Guntenspergen, G.R., MacDonald, G.M., Takekawa, J.Y, and Thorne, K.M., 2015, Balanced sediment fluxes in southern California’s Mediterranean-climate zone salt marshes, Estuaries and Coasts, DOI 10.1007/s12237-015-0056-y.
**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.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 19
Filter Total Items: 76
Slope Values Across Marsh-Forest Boundary in Chesapeake Bay Region, USA Slope Values Across Marsh-Forest Boundary in Chesapeake Bay Region, USA
The marsh-forest boundary in the Chesapeake Bay was determined by geoprocessing high-resolution (1 square meter) land use and land cover data sets. Perpendicular transects were cast at standard intervals (30 meters) along the boundary within a GIS by repurposing the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) Version 5.0, an ArcGIS extension developed by the U.S. Geological Survey. Average...
Coastal wetlands of eastern Long Island, New York (ver. 3.0, May 2026) Coastal wetlands of eastern Long Island, New York (ver. 3.0, May 2026)
This data release contains coastal wetland synthesis products for the geographic region of eastern Long Island, New York, including the north and south forks, Gardiners Island, and Fishers Island. Metrics for resiliency, including unvegetated to vegetated ratio (UVVR), marsh elevation, and mean tidal range, are calculated for smaller units delineated from a Digital Elevation Model...
Suspended-sediment concentration data from water samples collected in 2016-17 in Grand Bay, Alabama and Mississippi Suspended-sediment concentration data from water samples collected in 2016-17 in Grand Bay, Alabama and Mississippi
Suspended-sediment transport is a critical element governing the geomorphology of tidal marshes and estuaries. Marsh elevation, relative to sea level, is maintained by both organic material and the deposition of inorganic sediment. Additionally, horizontal marsh extent is altered by lateral erosion and accretion. In wetlands within and near Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve...
U.S. Geological Survey hydrodynamic model simulations for Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, during Hurricane Sandy, 2012 U.S. Geological Survey hydrodynamic model simulations for Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, during Hurricane Sandy, 2012
We used the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport (COAWST; Warner and others, 2010) model to simulate ocean circulation, waves, and sediment transport in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, during Hurricane Sandy. The simulation period was from October 27 to November 4, 2012. Initial conditions for the salinity and temperature fields in the domain were acquired from a 7-month simulation...
Idealized numerical model for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth dynamics Idealized numerical model for Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth dynamics
An idealized domain is setup to test the development of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth model within the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport (COAWST) model. The change in SAV biomass is computed from temperature, nutrient loading and light predictions obtained from coupled hydrodynamics (temperature), bio-geochemistry (nutrients) and bio-optical (light) models. In...
Numerical model of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth dynamics in West Falmouth Harbor Numerical model of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth dynamics in West Falmouth Harbor
The development of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) growth model within the Coupled Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave-Sediment Transport (COAWST) model leads to a change in SAV biomass. The SAV biomass is computed from temperature, nutrient loading and light predictions obtained from coupled hydrodynamics (temperature), bio-geochemistry (nutrients) and bio-optical (light) models. In exchange, the...
Filter Total Items: 121
Estimating connectivity of hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) and eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) larvae in Barnegat Bay Estimating connectivity of hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) and eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) larvae in Barnegat Bay
Many marine organisms have a well-known adult sessile stage. Unfortunately, our lack of knowledge regarding their larval transient stage hinders our understanding of their basic ecology and connectivity. Larvae can have swimming behavior that influences their transport within the marine environment. Understanding the larval stage provides insight into population connectivity that can...
Authors
J.D. Goodwin, D.M. Munroe, Zafer Defne, Neil K. Ganju, James Vasslides
Role of tidal wetland stability in lateral fluxes of particulate organic matter and carbon Role of tidal wetland stability in lateral fluxes of particulate organic matter and carbon
Tidal wetland fluxes of particulate organic matter and carbon (POM, POC) are important terms in global budgets but remain poorly constrained. Given the link between sediment fluxes and wetland stability, POM and POC fluxes should also be related to stability. We measured POM and POC fluxes in eight microtidal salt marsh channels, with net POM fluxes ranging between −121 ± 33 (export) and...
Authors
Neil Kamal Ganju, Zafer Defne, Tracy Elsey Quirk, Julia M. Moriarty
Marshes are the new beaches: Integrating sediment transport into restoration planning Marshes are the new beaches: Integrating sediment transport into restoration planning
Recent coastal storms and associated recovery efforts have led to increased investment in nature-based coastal protection, including restoration of salt marshes and construction of living shorelines. In particular, many of these efforts focus on increasing vertical elevation through sediment nourishment, where sediment is removed from the tidal channel and placed on the marsh plain, or...
Authors
Neil K. Ganju
Hydrologic controls of methane dynamics in karst subterranean estuaries Hydrologic controls of methane dynamics in karst subterranean estuaries
Karst subterranean estuaries (KSEs) extend into carbonate platforms along 12% of all coastlines. A recent study has shown that microbial methane (CH4) consumption is an important component of the carbon cycle and food web dynamics within flooded caves that permeate KSEs. In this study, we obtained high‐resolution (~2.5‐day) temporal records of dissolved methane concentrations and its...
Authors
David Brankovits, John W. Pohlman, Neil K. Ganju, T.M. Iliffe, N. Lowell, E. Roth, S.P. Sylva, J.A. Emmert, L. L. Lapham
Salt marsh loss affects tides and sediment budget in shallow bays Salt marsh loss affects tides and sediment budget in shallow bays
The current paradigm is that salt marshes and their important ecosystem services are threatened by global climate change; indeed, large marsh losses have been documented worldwide. Morphological changes associated with salt marsh erosion are expected to influence the hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics of coastal systems. Here the influence of salt marsh erosion on the tidal...
Authors
Carmine Donatelli, Neil K. Ganju, Xiaohe Zhang, Sergio Fagherazzi, Nicoletta Leonardi
Deciphering the dynamics of inorganic carbon export from intertidal salt marshes using high-frequency measurements Deciphering the dynamics of inorganic carbon export from intertidal salt marshes using high-frequency measurements
The lateral export of carbon from coastal marshes via tidal exchange is a key component of the marsh carbon budget and coastal carbon cycles. However, the magnitude of this export has been difficult to accurately quantify due to complex tidal dynamics and seasonal cycling of carbon. In this study, we use in situ, high-frequency measurements of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and water...
Authors
Sophie N. Chu, Zhaohui Aleck Wang, Meagan Gonneea Eagle, Kevin D. Kroeger, Neil K. Ganju
Non-USGS Publications**
Defne, Z., N. K. Ganju, and A. Aretxabaleta
(2016), Estimating time-dependent
connectivity in marine systems, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 43, doi:10.1002/2015GL066888.
(2016), Estimating time-dependent
connectivity in marine systems, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 43, doi:10.1002/2015GL066888.
Ganju, N. K., Brush, M. J., Rashleigh, B., Aretxabaleta, A. L., del Barrio, P., Grear, J. S., ... & Vaudrey, J. M., 2015, Progress and challenges in coupled hydrodynamic-ecological estuarine modeling, Estuaries and Coasts, 1-22.
Ganju, N.K., Jaffe, B.E., and Schoellhamer, D.H., 2011, Discontinuous hindcast simulations of estuarine bathymetric change: a case study from Suisun Bay, California. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 93, 142-150.
Ganju, N.K., and Schoellhamer, D.H., 2006, Annual sediment flux estimates in a tidal strait using surrogate measurements. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 69, 165-178.
Ganju, N.K., Schoellhamer, D.H., and Jaffe, B.E., 2009, Hindcasting of decadal-timescale estuarine bathymetric change with a tidal-timescale model. Journal of Geophysical Research-Earth Surface, 114, F04019, doi:10.1029/2008JF001191.
Ganju, N.K., Schoellhamer, D.H., Warner, J.C., Barad, M.F., and Schladow, S.G., 2004, Tidal oscillation of sediment between a river and a bay: a conceptual model. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 60(1), 81-90.
Ganju, N.K., and Sherwood, C.R., 2010, Effect of roughness formulation on the performance of a coupled wave, hydrodynamic, and sediment transport model. Ocean Modelling, 33, 299-313.
Gartner, J.W., and Ganju, N.K., 2007, Correcting acoustic Doppler current profiler discharge measurement bias from moving-bed conditions without global positioning during the 2004 Glen Canyon Dam controlled flood on the Colorado River. Limnology and Oceanography: Methods, 5, 156-162.
Leonardi, N., Ganju, N.K. and Fagherazzi, S., 2016. A linear relationship between wave power and erosion determines salt-marsh resilience to violent storms and hurricanes. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 113(1), pp.64-68.
Kirincich, A. R., Lentz, S. J., Farrar, J. T., and Ganju, N. K., 2013, The Spatial Structure of Tidal and Mean Circulation over the Inner Shelf South of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 43(9).
Miselis, J.L., Andrews, B.D., Nicholson, R.S., Defne, Z., Ganju, N.K. and Navoy, A., 2015. Evolution of mid-Atlantic coastal and back-barrier estuary environments in response to a hurricane: Implications for barrier-estuary connectivity. Estuaries and Coasts, pp.1-19.
Oestreich, W. K., Ganju, N. K., Pohlman, J. W., and Suttles, S. E., 2016. Colored dissolved organic matter in shallow estuaries: relationships between carbon sources and light attenuation, Biogeosciences, 13, 583-595, doi:10.5194/bg-13-583-2016.
Rosencranz, J.A., Ganju, N.K., Ambrose, R.F., Brosnahan, S.M., Dickhudt, P.J., Guntenspergen, G.R., MacDonald, G.M., Takekawa, J.Y, and Thorne, K.M., 2015, Balanced sediment fluxes in southern California’s Mediterranean-climate zone salt marshes, Estuaries and Coasts, DOI 10.1007/s12237-015-0056-y.
**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.