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Walter A. Barnhardt, PhD

My scientific background is in marine geology and my passion is working on basic scientific problems that have societal and management implications. I focus on understanding how coasts have evolved through time and space, so we can better predict their future behavior and minimize losses due to storms, chronic erosion and sea-level rise.

I lead the Coastal and Shelf Geology Group at the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center. This internationally recognized team consists of about 25 scientists and technologists who apply state-of-the-art methods to map coastal/shelf environments and model the processes that shape them. Products and tools produced from our studies help resource managers to make sustainable, science-based decisions and mitigate the impacts of storms, sea-level rise, and human activities along the nation’s coasts. I have 30+ years of experience in New England, the Mid-Atlantic and Great Lakes, where I advise federal/state/local agencies, Tribal nations, and non-governmental organizations on coastal erosion strategies, environmental restoration projects, and offshore infrastructure development. I also oversee efforts to recruit students from under-represented groups to the USGS workforce through a speaker series and internship program with the City College of New York.

Professional Experience

  • 2017-Present Research Geologist U.S. Geological Survey - Woods Hole, MA

  • 2009-2017 Center Director U.S. Geological Survey - Woods Hole, MA

  • 2004-2009 Research Geologist U.S. Geological Survey - Woods Hole, MA

  • 2001-2004 Assistant Professor Univ. of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, NC

  • 1998-2001 Adjunct Lecturer Santa Clara University – Santa Clara, CA

  • 1996-2001 Research Geologist U.S. Geological Survey - Menlo Park, CA

  • 1994-1996 Postdoctoral Researcher University of Maine - Orono, ME

Education and Certifications

  • 1994 Ph.D., Geological Sciences University of Maine - Orono, ME

  • 1992 M.S., Geological Sciences University of Maine - Orono, ME

  • 1984 B.S. (with honors), Geology College of William & Mary - Williamsburg, VA

Science and Products

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Sunset in Cape Cod Bay

Massachusetts Integrated Coastal Studies (MICS)

Coastal erosion, intense storm events and sea-level rise pose threats to coastal communities and infrastructure. Managers and scientists often lack the high-resolution data needed to improve estimates of sediment abundance and movement, shoreline change, and seabed characteristics that influence coastal vulnerability. To address these and other needs the U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with...
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Massachusetts Integrated Coastal Studies (MICS)

Coastal erosion, intense storm events and sea-level rise pose threats to coastal communities and infrastructure. Managers and scientists often lack the high-resolution data needed to improve estimates of sediment abundance and movement, shoreline change, and seabed characteristics that influence coastal vulnerability. To address these and other needs the U.S. Geological Survey, in partnership with...
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Image showing bathymetry of the southern Gulf of Maine with MA coastal zone boundary

Geologic Mapping of the Massachusetts Seafloor

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is conducting geologic mapping of the sea floor to characterize the surface and shallow subsurface geologic framework within the Massachusetts coastal zone. The long-term goal of this mapping effort is to produce high-resolution geologic maps and a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will...
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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Geologic Mapping of the Massachusetts Seafloor

The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) is conducting geologic mapping of the sea floor to characterize the surface and shallow subsurface geologic framework within the Massachusetts coastal zone. The long-term goal of this mapping effort is to produce high-resolution geologic maps and a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will...
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High-resolution geophysical and sample data collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2021-005-FA

In August 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, collected high-resolution geophysical data, sediment samples, and bottom imagery to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as “stamp sands,” were dumped into the lake in the early 20th ce
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

High-resolution geophysical and geological data collected in Little Egg Inlet and offshore the southern end of Long Beach Island, NJ, during USGS Field Activities 2018-001-FA and 2018-049-FA

The natural resiliency of the New Jersey barrier island system, and the efficacy of management efforts to reduce vulnerability, depends on the ability of the system to recover and maintain equilibrium in response to storms and persistent coastal change. This resiliency is largely dependent on the availability of sand in the beach system. In an effort to better understand the system's sand budget a
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

High-resolution marine geophysical data collected by the USGS in the Belfast Bay, Maine pockmark field in 2006, 2008, and 2009.

The U.S. Geological Survey, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center in cooperation with the University of Maine mapped approximately 50 square kilometers of the seafloor within Belfast Bay, Maine. Three geophysical surveys conducted in 2006, 2008 and 2009 collected swath bathymetric (2006 and 2008) and chirp seismic reflection profile data (2006 and 2009). The project characterized the spatia
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

High-resolution geophysical data collected in the vicinity of Buffalo Reef, Michigan, within Lake Superior, U.S. Geological Survey Field Activity 2018-043-FA

In September 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey, in collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping and sediment sampling to determine the distribution of historical mine tailings on the floor of Lake Superior. Large amounts of waste material from copper mining, locally known as "stamp sands," were dumped into the lake in the early 20th century, wit
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Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
Bathymetric map of Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Superior.
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Detailed bathymetric maps of Buffalo Reef
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man standing on a boat deck surrounded by equipment
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two men standing on two boats
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Image: Massachusetts inner continental shelf
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Image: Massachusetts inner continental shelf
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Image: Massachusetts inner continental shelf
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Image: Massachusetts inner continental shelf
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Image: Massachusetts inner continental shelf
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Filter Total Items: 31

Toward a total water level forecast of the Great Lakes

The combined effect of storm surge and large waves is the main driving mechanism that erodes beaches, inundates low-lying areas, leading to millions of dollars in property damage, loss of natural resources, and lives. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) aims to expand the real-time total water level (TWL) forecast provided in the Operational Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecasts (TWL&CC) to
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Erdinc Sogut, Alfredo Aretxabaleta, Andrew Ashton, Walter Barnhardt, Kara S. Doran, Margaret Louise Palmsten
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St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Shallow geology, sea-floor texture, and physiographic zones of Vineyard and western Nantucket Sounds, Massachusetts

Geologic, sediment texture, and physiographic zone maps characterize the sea floor of Vineyard and western Nantucket Sounds, Massachusetts. These maps were derived from interpretations of seismic-reflection profiles, high-resolution bathymetry, acoustic-backscatter intensity, bottom photographs/video, and surficial sediment samples collected within the 494-square-kilometer study area. Interpretati
Authors
Wayne E. Baldwin, David S. Foster, Elizabeth A. Pendleton, Walter A. Barnhardt, William C. Schwab, Brian D. Andrews, Seth D. Ackerman
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Pockmarks in Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick, Canada

Pockmarks are seafloor depressions associated with fluid escape (Judd & Hovland 2007). They proliferate in the muddy seafloors of coastal Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy, where they are associated with shallow natural gas likely of biogenic origin (Ussler et al. 2003; Rogers et al. 2006; Wildish et al. 2008). In North America, shallow-water pockmark fields are not reported south of Long Island Soun
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Laura L. Brothers, Christine Legere, J.E. Hughes Clark, J.T. Kelley, Walter Barnhardt, Brian Andrews, D.F. Belknap
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Sea-floor texture and physiographic zones of the inner continental shelf from Salisbury to Nahant, Massachusetts, including the Merrimack Embayment and Western Massachusetts Bay

A series of maps that describe the distribution and texture of sea-floor sediments and physiographic zones of Massachusetts State waters from Nahant to Salisbury, Massachusetts, including western Massachusetts Bay, have been produced by using high-resolution geophysical data (interferometric and multibeam swath bathymetry, lidar bathymetry, backscatter intensity, and seismic reflection profiles),
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Elizabeth E. Pendleton, Walter A. Barnhardt, Wayne E. Baldwin, David S. Foster, William C. Schwab, Brian D. Andrews, Seth D. Ackerman
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Shallow geology, sea-floor texture, and physiographic zones of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

Geologic, sediment texture, and physiographic zone maps characterize the sea floor of Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. These maps were derived from interpretations of seismic-reflection profiles, high-resolution bathymetry, acoustic-backscatter intensity, bottom photographs, and surficial sediment samples. The interpretation of the seismic stratigraphy and mapping of glacial and Holocene marine units
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David S. Foster, Wayne E. Baldwin, Walter A. Barnhardt, William C. Schwab, Seth D. Ackerman, Brian D. Andrews, Elizabeth A. Pendleton
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Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Shallow geology, seafloor texture, and physiographic zones of the Inner Continental Shelf from Nahant to northern Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts

The Massachusetts inner continental shelf between Nahant and northern Cape Cod Bay has been profoundly affected by the occupation and retreat of glacial ice sheets and relative sea-level change during the Quaternary. Marine geologic mapping of this area is a component of a statewide cooperative effort involving the U.S. Geological Survey and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management. Int
Authors
Elizabeth A. Pendleton, Wayne E. Baldwin, Walter A. Barnhardt, Seth D. Ackerman, David S. Foster, Brian D. Andrews, William C. Schwab
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Holocene sediment distribution on the inner continental shelf of northeastern South Carolina: implications for the regional sediment budget and long-term shoreline response

High-resolution geophysical and sediment sampling surveys were conducted offshore of the Grand Strand, South Carolina to define the shallow geologic framework of the inner shelf. Results are used to identify and map Holocene sediment deposits, infer sediment transport pathways, and discuss implications for the regional coastal sediment budget. The thickest deposits of Holocene sediment observed on
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Jane F. Denny, William C. Schwab, Wayne E. Baldwin, Walter A. Barnhardt, Paul T. Gayes, R.A. Morton, John C. Warner, Neal W. Driscoll, George Voulgaris
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Shallow stratigraphic control on pockmark distribution in north temperate estuaries

Pockmark fields occur throughout northern North American temperate estuaries despite the absence of extensive thermogenic hydrocarbon deposits typically associated with pockmarks. In such settings, the origins of the gas and triggering mechanism(s) responsible for pockmark formation are not obvious. Nor is it known why pockmarks proliferate in this region but do not occur south of the glacial term
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Laura L. Brothers, Joseph T. Kelley, Daniel F. Belknap, Walter A. Barnhardt, Brian D. Andrews, Christine Legere, John E. Hughes-Clarke
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

High-resolution geophysical data collected within Red Brook Harbor, Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, in 2009

The U.S. Geological Survey conducted a high-resolution geophysical survey within Red Brook Harbor, Massachusetts, from September 28 through November 17, 2009. Red Brook Harbor is located on the eastern edge of Buzzards Bay, south of the Cape Cod Canal. The survey area was approximately 7 square kilometers, with depths ranging from 0 to approximately 10 meters. Data were collected aboard the U.S. G
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Aaron M. Turecek, William W. Danforth, Wayne E. Baldwin, Walter A. Barnhardt
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Refining the model of barrier island formation along a paraglacial coast in the Gulf of Maine

Details of the internal architecture and local geochronology of Plum Island, the longest barrier in the Gulf of Maine, have refined our understanding of barrier island formation in paraglacial settings. Ground-penetrating radar and shallow-seismic profiles coupled with sediment cores and radiocarbon dates provide an 8000-year evolutionary history of this barrier system in response to changes in se
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Christopher J. Hein, Duncan M. FitzGerald, Emily A. Carruthers, Byron D. Stone, Walter A. Barnhardt, Allen M. Gontz
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Pockmarks: Self-scouring seep features?

Pockmarks, or seafloor craters, occur worldwide in a variety of geologic settings and are often associated with fluid discharge. The mechanisms responsible for pockmark preservation, and pockmarks? relation to active methane venting are not well constrained. Simple numerical simulations run in 2-and 3-dimensions, and corroborated by flume tank experiments, indicate turbulence may play a role in po
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Laura L. Brothers, Joseph T. Kelley, Daniel F. Belknap, Walter A. Barnhardt, Peter O. Koons
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Geophysical and sampling data from the inner continental shelf: Northern Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) have cooperated to map approximately 480 km2 of the inner continental shelf in northern Cape Cod Bay, MA. This report contains geophysical and sampling data collected by the USGS during five research cruises between 2006 and 2008. The geophysical data include (1) swath bathymetry from interferometric so
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Brian D. Andrews, Seth D. Ackerman, Wayne E. Baldwin, Walter A. Barnhardt
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Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center
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USGS/CCNY Internship Program Celebrates 100th Lecture Series Speaker

The USGS internship program with the City College of New York offers students impactful internships with USGS in a variety of science fields. In...

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Hurricane Sandy Aftermath: Determining the Vulnerability and Resilience of the New Jersey Barrier Island System

Hurricane Sandy, one of the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history, significantly affected the mid Atlantic coast in 2012. In New Jersey, where...

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Marine geologic maps of the inner continental shelf of Massachusetts, where science meets art

Marine geologic maps of the inner continental shelf of Massachusetts, where science, scientists, and art come together to create visually appealing...

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Mapping the Stamp Sands of Lake Superior

In September 2018, the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) conducted high-resolution geophysical mapping to determine the...

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Massachusetts Senate Visits the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center

Members and staff of the Massachusetts State Senate visited the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center with specific requests to discuss...

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