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
Coastal and Marine Science in Long Island Sound
Prioritizing marsh restoration needs throughout Chesapeake Bay
Coastal Wetland Vulnerability to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: Understanding Ecological Thresholds and Ecosystem Transformations
Science to Support Marsh Conservation and Management Decisions in the Northeastern United States
Effects of Urban Coastal Armoring on Salt Marsh Sediment Supplies and Resilience to Climate Change
Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Back-barrier and Estuarine - Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems
Hurricane Sandy Response- Linking the Delmarva Peninsula's Geologic Framework to Coastal Vulnerability
Coastal Model Applications and Field Measurements
Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands
Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands
Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin, Maryland, 2026 Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin, Maryland, 2026
Marsh migration potential in response to sea-level rise in the northeastern United States Marsh migration potential in response to sea-level rise in the northeastern United States
Geospatial characterization of New Hampshire salt marshes Geospatial characterization of New Hampshire salt marshes
Wave power, erosion rates, and areal loss of marshes in Chesapeake Bay Wave power, erosion rates, and areal loss of marshes in Chesapeake Bay
Geospatial characterization of Delaware Bay-facing New Jersey salt marshes Geospatial characterization of Delaware Bay-facing New Jersey salt marshes
Oceanographic and Water-Quality Measurements--Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland, 2011 (ver. 1.1, September 2015) Oceanographic and Water-Quality Measurements--Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland, 2011 (ver. 1.1, September 2015)
Geospatial data in support of structured decision making for northeast coastal parks Geospatial data in support of structured decision making for northeast coastal parks
Projections of vegetated area and vegetated plain elevation in Chesapeake Bay salt marsh units Projections of vegetated area and vegetated plain elevation in Chesapeake Bay salt marsh units
Lifespan of marsh units in E.B. Forsythe NWR and Atlantic-facing New Jersey salt marshes Lifespan of marsh units in E.B. Forsythe NWR and Atlantic-facing New Jersey salt marshes
Chesapeake Bay marsh migration potential under sea-level rise (ver. 2.0, May 2026) Chesapeake Bay marsh migration potential under sea-level rise (ver. 2.0, May 2026)
Topographic, multispectral, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Marsh Island, New Bedford, Massachusetts (ver. 2.0, May 2026) Topographic, multispectral, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Marsh Island, New Bedford, Massachusetts (ver. 2.0, May 2026)
Geospatial characterization of Atlantic-facing New Jersey salt marshes Geospatial characterization of Atlantic-facing New Jersey salt marshes
A multidecadal metric of coastal wetland stability: Development of the Landsat-based UnVegetated-to-Vegetated Ratio (UVVR) version 2 spanning 1985-2022 A multidecadal metric of coastal wetland stability: Development of the Landsat-based UnVegetated-to-Vegetated Ratio (UVVR) version 2 spanning 1985-2022
Loss and transformation of coastal wetlands due to global change in the conterminous United States: Past, present, and future Loss and transformation of coastal wetlands due to global change in the conterminous United States: Past, present, and future
Salt marsh establishment controlled by sediment availability, landscape position, and anthropogenic history Salt marsh establishment controlled by sediment availability, landscape position, and anthropogenic history
Spatial heterogeneity of salt marsh vulnerability to sea-level rise: Dual controls of hydrological setting and salinity regime Spatial heterogeneity of salt marsh vulnerability to sea-level rise: Dual controls of hydrological setting and salinity regime
Pre-restoration sediment budget of a tidally restricted estuary reveals potential for landward transport Pre-restoration sediment budget of a tidally restricted estuary reveals potential for landward transport
Challenges and opportunities for national-scale projections of future coastal landscape change Challenges and opportunities for national-scale projections of future coastal landscape change
Marine-sourced sediment supply supports salt marsh resilience to sea level rise in the Northeastern US Marine-sourced sediment supply supports salt marsh resilience to sea level rise in the Northeastern US
Wind pumping dominates landward salt transport in a weakly tidal estuary Wind pumping dominates landward salt transport in a weakly tidal estuary
A simple predictive model for salt marsh internal deterioration under sea-level rise and sediment deficits: Application to Chesapeake Bay A simple predictive model for salt marsh internal deterioration under sea-level rise and sediment deficits: Application to Chesapeake Bay
Multi-model comparison of salt marsh longevity under relative sea-level rise Multi-model comparison of salt marsh longevity under relative sea-level rise
Ecological thresholds and transformations due to climate change: The role of abiotic stress Ecological thresholds and transformations due to climate change: The role of abiotic stress
Distribution and disturbances of ditches across salt marshes of the Northeast U.S. with implications for management and restoration Distribution and disturbances of ditches across salt marshes of the Northeast U.S. with implications for management and restoration
Non-USGS Publications**
(2016), Estimating time-dependent
connectivity in marine systems, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 43, doi:10.1002/2015GL066888.
**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.
U.S. Coastal Wetland Synthesis Applications Geonarrative U.S. Coastal Wetland Synthesis Applications Geonarrative
National UVVR Map National UVVR Map
Science and Products
Coastal and Marine Science in Long Island Sound
Prioritizing marsh restoration needs throughout Chesapeake Bay
Coastal Wetland Vulnerability to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: Understanding Ecological Thresholds and Ecosystem Transformations
Science to Support Marsh Conservation and Management Decisions in the Northeastern United States
Effects of Urban Coastal Armoring on Salt Marsh Sediment Supplies and Resilience to Climate Change
Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Back-barrier and Estuarine - Coastal System Change at Fire Island, New York
Estuarine Processes, Hazards, and Ecosystems
Hurricane Sandy Response- Linking the Delmarva Peninsula's Geologic Framework to Coastal Vulnerability
Coastal Model Applications and Field Measurements
Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands
Estuarine Processes Tidal Wetlands
Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin, Maryland, 2026 Topographic data, aerial imagery, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Assateague Island National Seashore, Berlin, Maryland, 2026
Marsh migration potential in response to sea-level rise in the northeastern United States Marsh migration potential in response to sea-level rise in the northeastern United States
Geospatial characterization of New Hampshire salt marshes Geospatial characterization of New Hampshire salt marshes
Wave power, erosion rates, and areal loss of marshes in Chesapeake Bay Wave power, erosion rates, and areal loss of marshes in Chesapeake Bay
Geospatial characterization of Delaware Bay-facing New Jersey salt marshes Geospatial characterization of Delaware Bay-facing New Jersey salt marshes
Oceanographic and Water-Quality Measurements--Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland, 2011 (ver. 1.1, September 2015) Oceanographic and Water-Quality Measurements--Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, Maryland, 2011 (ver. 1.1, September 2015)
Geospatial data in support of structured decision making for northeast coastal parks Geospatial data in support of structured decision making for northeast coastal parks
Projections of vegetated area and vegetated plain elevation in Chesapeake Bay salt marsh units Projections of vegetated area and vegetated plain elevation in Chesapeake Bay salt marsh units
Lifespan of marsh units in E.B. Forsythe NWR and Atlantic-facing New Jersey salt marshes Lifespan of marsh units in E.B. Forsythe NWR and Atlantic-facing New Jersey salt marshes
Chesapeake Bay marsh migration potential under sea-level rise (ver. 2.0, May 2026) Chesapeake Bay marsh migration potential under sea-level rise (ver. 2.0, May 2026)
Topographic, multispectral, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Marsh Island, New Bedford, Massachusetts (ver. 2.0, May 2026) Topographic, multispectral, and GPS data collected during uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) operations at Marsh Island, New Bedford, Massachusetts (ver. 2.0, May 2026)
Geospatial characterization of Atlantic-facing New Jersey salt marshes Geospatial characterization of Atlantic-facing New Jersey salt marshes
A multidecadal metric of coastal wetland stability: Development of the Landsat-based UnVegetated-to-Vegetated Ratio (UVVR) version 2 spanning 1985-2022 A multidecadal metric of coastal wetland stability: Development of the Landsat-based UnVegetated-to-Vegetated Ratio (UVVR) version 2 spanning 1985-2022
Loss and transformation of coastal wetlands due to global change in the conterminous United States: Past, present, and future Loss and transformation of coastal wetlands due to global change in the conterminous United States: Past, present, and future
Salt marsh establishment controlled by sediment availability, landscape position, and anthropogenic history Salt marsh establishment controlled by sediment availability, landscape position, and anthropogenic history
Spatial heterogeneity of salt marsh vulnerability to sea-level rise: Dual controls of hydrological setting and salinity regime Spatial heterogeneity of salt marsh vulnerability to sea-level rise: Dual controls of hydrological setting and salinity regime
Pre-restoration sediment budget of a tidally restricted estuary reveals potential for landward transport Pre-restoration sediment budget of a tidally restricted estuary reveals potential for landward transport
Challenges and opportunities for national-scale projections of future coastal landscape change Challenges and opportunities for national-scale projections of future coastal landscape change
Marine-sourced sediment supply supports salt marsh resilience to sea level rise in the Northeastern US Marine-sourced sediment supply supports salt marsh resilience to sea level rise in the Northeastern US
Wind pumping dominates landward salt transport in a weakly tidal estuary Wind pumping dominates landward salt transport in a weakly tidal estuary
A simple predictive model for salt marsh internal deterioration under sea-level rise and sediment deficits: Application to Chesapeake Bay A simple predictive model for salt marsh internal deterioration under sea-level rise and sediment deficits: Application to Chesapeake Bay
Multi-model comparison of salt marsh longevity under relative sea-level rise Multi-model comparison of salt marsh longevity under relative sea-level rise
Ecological thresholds and transformations due to climate change: The role of abiotic stress Ecological thresholds and transformations due to climate change: The role of abiotic stress
Distribution and disturbances of ditches across salt marshes of the Northeast U.S. with implications for management and restoration Distribution and disturbances of ditches across salt marshes of the Northeast U.S. with implications for management and restoration
Non-USGS Publications**
(2016), Estimating time-dependent
connectivity in marine systems, Geophys.
Res. Lett., 43, doi:10.1002/2015GL066888.
**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.