Olivia Cheriton
Oceanographer, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
I am a physical oceanographer who studies waves, hydrodynamics, and transport processes in coral reef environments. I also have expertise in internal waves and water-column dynamics. I use direct measurements to answer questions about how physical processes -across a range of temporal and spatial scales- affect coastal ecosystems, and to investigate how these patterns might alter with climate change.
Research Interests
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Waves, hydrodynamics, and transport processes in coral reef environments
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Effects of climate change on coastal physical and biological processes
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Coastal ocean physical processes and effects on nearshore ecosystems
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Internal tides and nonlinear internal waves over continental shelves
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Fine-scale gradients in biological and suspended particulate material
Professional Experience
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2012-present: Oceanographer, USGS Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program
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2011-2012: Postdoctoral Researcher, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
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2010-2011: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California at Santa Cruz
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2008-2012: Postdoctoral Researcher, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), University of California at Santa Cruz
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2008: Teaching Assistant & Lecturer, Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO) Summer Course “Coastal Physical Oceanography and Marine Ecosystems,” University of California Santa Cruz
Education and Certifications
PhD: 2008, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
BA: 2002, Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA
Science and Products
Rapid observations of ocean dynamics and stratification along a steep island coast during Hurricane María
Hurricanes are extreme storms that affect coastal communities, but the linkages between hurricane forcing and ocean dynamics remain poorly understood. Here, we present full water column observations at unprecedented resolution from the southwest Puerto Rico insular shelf and slope during Hurricane María, representing a rare set of high-frequency, subsurface, oceanographic observations collected al
Spectral wave-driven bedload transport across a coral reef flat/lagoon complex
Sea‐level rise will drive divergent sediment transport patterns on fore reefs and reef flats, potentially causing erosion on atoll islands
Internal tides can provide thermal refugia that will buffer some coral reefs from future global warming
In situ observations of wave transformation and infragravity bore development across reef flats of varying geomorphology
Physicochemical controls on zones of higher coral stress where Black Band Disease occurs at Mākua Reef, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
The influence of sea level on incident and infragravity wave-driven sediment dynamics across a fringing coral reef
Controls on sediment transport over coral reefs off southwest Puerto Rico: Seasonal patterns and Hurricane Maria
Guánica Bay in southwest Puerto Rico is highly turbid and has some of the highest PCB concentrations in the USA. To investigate how and to what extent the bay waters influence coral reef ecosystem health along the coastline, 6 months of hydrodynamic data were collected at 8 sites on the insular shelf. Bed shear stresses were primarily driven by waves and were weakest at the site closest to La Parg
Spatial and temporal variability in ripple formation and migration across a coral reef flat and lagoon
Meteorologic, oceanographic, and geomorphic controls on circulation and residence time in a coral reef-lined embayment: Faga’alu Bay, American Samoa
Most atolls will be uninhabitable by the mid-21st century because of sea-level rise exacerbating wave-driven flooding
Carbonate system parameters of an algal-dominated reef along west Maui
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 34
Rapid observations of ocean dynamics and stratification along a steep island coast during Hurricane María
Hurricanes are extreme storms that affect coastal communities, but the linkages between hurricane forcing and ocean dynamics remain poorly understood. Here, we present full water column observations at unprecedented resolution from the southwest Puerto Rico insular shelf and slope during Hurricane María, representing a rare set of high-frequency, subsurface, oceanographic observations collected al
AuthorsOlivia Cheriton, Curt Storlazzi, Kurt J. Rosenberger, Clark E Sherman, Wilford SchmidtSpectral wave-driven bedload transport across a coral reef flat/lagoon complex
Coral reefs are an important source of sediment for reef-lined coasts by helping to maintain beaches while also providing protection in the form of wave energy dissipation. Understanding the mechanisms by which sediment is delivered to the coast as well as better constraining the total volumes generated are critical for projecting future coastal change. A month-long hydrodynamics and sediment tranAuthorsKurt J. Rosenberger, Curt D. Storlazzi, Olivia Cheriton, Andrew Pomeroy, Jeff E. Hansen, Ryan Lowe, Mark BuckleySea‐level rise will drive divergent sediment transport patterns on fore reefs and reef flats, potentially causing erosion on atoll islands
Atoll reef islands primarily consist of unconsolidated sediment, and their ocean‐facing shorelines are maintained by sediment produced and transported across their reefs. Changes in incident waves can alter cross‐shore sediment exchange and, thus, affect the sediment budget and morphology of atoll reef islands. Here we investigate the influence of sea level rise and projected wave climate change oAuthorsJames F Bramante, Andrew D Ashton, Curt D. Storlazzi, Olivia Cheriton, Jeffrey P. DonnellyInternal tides can provide thermal refugia that will buffer some coral reefs from future global warming
Observations show ocean temperatures are rising due to climate change, resulting in a fivefold increase in the incidence of regional-scale coral bleaching events since the 1980s; analyses based on global climate models forecast bleaching will become an annual event for most of the world’s coral reefs within 30–50 yr. Internal waves at tidal frequencies can regularly flush reefs with cooler waters,AuthorsCurt D. Storlazzi, Olivia Cheriton, Ruben Van Hooidonk, Zhongxiang Zhao, Russell E. BrainardIn situ observations of wave transformation and infragravity bore development across reef flats of varying geomorphology
The character and energetics of infragravity (IG, 25 s < period < 250 s) and very-low frequency (VLF, period > 250 s) waves over coral reef flats can enhance shoreline erosion or accretion, and also govern extreme shoreline events such as runup, overwash, and flooding on coral reef-lined coasts. Here we use in situ wave measurements collected along cross-reef transects at 7 sites on Pacific islandAuthorsOlivia Cheriton, Curt D. Storlazzi, Kurt J. RosenbergerPhysicochemical controls on zones of higher coral stress where Black Band Disease occurs at Mākua Reef, Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi
Pervasive and sustained coral diseases contribute to the systemic degradation of reef ecosystems, however, to date an understanding of the physicochemical controls on a coral disease event is still largely lacking. Water circulation and residence times and submarine groundwater discharge all determine the degree to which reef organisms are exposed to the variable chemistry of overlying waters; undAuthorsFerdinand Oberle, Curt D. Storlazzi, Olivia Cheriton, Renee K. Takesue, Daniel J. Hoover, Joshua B. Logan, Christina M. Runyon, Christina A. Kellogg, Cordell Johnson, Peter W. SwarzenskiThe influence of sea level on incident and infragravity wave-driven sediment dynamics across a fringing coral reef
Coral reefs generate significant volumes of carbonate sediment that becomes the primary source of beach material along many low-latitude shorelines that protect hundreds of millions of people globally. Despite this fact, there is little understanding of the specific processes that transport the carbonate sediment produced on the outer portions of coral reefs to the shoreline, let alone how those pAuthorsCurt D. Storlazzi, Olivia Cheriton, Kurt J. Rosenberger, Andrew Pomeroy, Ryan J. LoweControls on sediment transport over coral reefs off southwest Puerto Rico: Seasonal patterns and Hurricane Maria
Guánica Bay in southwest Puerto Rico is highly turbid and has some of the highest PCB concentrations in the USA. To investigate how and to what extent the bay waters influence coral reef ecosystem health along the coastline, 6 months of hydrodynamic data were collected at 8 sites on the insular shelf. Bed shear stresses were primarily driven by waves and were weakest at the site closest to La Parg
AuthorsOlivia Cheriton, Curt D. Storlazzi, Kurt J. Rosenberger, Clark ShermanSpatial and temporal variability in ripple formation and migration across a coral reef flat and lagoon
The transport of carbonate sediment across reefs to the shoreline is of great interest to the research community and coastal managers alike. This sediment is generated by the breakdown of reef skeletal structure and a critical source for beach nourishment that provides a buffer to coastal flooding as sea levels rise. Understanding the physical processes that are responsible for this flux of sedimeAuthorsKurt J. Rosenberger, Curt D. Storlazzi, Andrew Pomeroy, Olivia Cheriton, Ryan J. Lowe, Jeff HansenMeteorologic, oceanographic, and geomorphic controls on circulation and residence time in a coral reef-lined embayment: Faga’alu Bay, American Samoa
Water circulation over coral reefs can determine the degree to which reef organisms are exposed to the overlying waters, so understanding circulation is necessary to interpret spatial patterns in coral health. Because coral reefs often have high geomorphic complexity, circulation patterns and the duration of exposure, or “local residence time” of a water parcel, can vary substantially over small dAuthorsCurt D. Storlazzi, Olivia M. Cheriton, A. M. Messina, Trent W. BiggsMost atolls will be uninhabitable by the mid-21st century because of sea-level rise exacerbating wave-driven flooding
Sea levels are rising, with the highest rates in the tropics, where thousands of low-lying coral atoll islands are located. Most studies on the resilience of these islands to sea-level rise have projected that they will experience minimal inundation impacts until at least the end of the 21st century. However, these have not taken into account the additional hazard of wave-driven overwash or its imAuthorsCurt D. Storlazzi, Stephen B. Gingerich, Ap van Dongeren, Olivia Cheriton, Peter W. Swarzenski, Ellen Quataert, Clifford I. Voss, Donald W. Field, Hariharasubramanian Annamalai, Greg A. Piniak, Robert T. McCallCarbonate system parameters of an algal-dominated reef along west Maui
Constraining coral reef metabolism and carbon chemistry dynamics are fundamental for understanding and predicting reef vulnerability to rising coastal CO2 concentrations and decreasing seawater pH. However, few studies exist along reefs occupying densely inhabited shorelines with known input from land-based sources of pollution. The shallow coral reefs off Kahekili, West Maui, are exposed to nutriAuthorsNancy G. Prouty, Kimberly K. Yates, Nathan A. Smiley, Christopher Gallagher, Olivia Cheriton, Curt D. Storlazzi - News