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Nathan A Smiley, CSP

I oversee the Occupational Safety and Health program for the the USGS Southeast Region (SER) (DOI Regions 2, 4, 6).  

Responsibilities:

I work with science center management and safety staff throughout 14 states and 2 US territories on interpretation and application of and compliance with OSHA, DOI, and USGS safety policy; emergency management; accident prevention, response and investigation; and conduct safety assistance visits and audits. I work with a staff of more than 30 full-time and part-time safety staff at centers around the SER.

 

Biography:

I attended the US Naval Academy (Annapolis, MD) as an Oceanography major and the University of South Florida (Tampa and St. Petersburg, FL) in the Environmental Science and Marine Science programs.

I began working for the USGS in 2000 at what is now the Caribbean Florida Water Science Center as a Hydrologic Aid working out of the Tampa office studies section. In 2002, I transferred to St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center to work with Kim Yates and Bob Halley on coral reef and seagrass calcification studies. My primary duties were lead diver, operations and logistical specialist, and designing, constructing and deploying seafloor-based monitoring and experimental equipment focusing on carbonate chemistry and water quality parameters. During this period, I spent extensive time in the field on both foreign and domestic travel trips that ranged from 1 to 6 weeks and we were often on 40-65 ft vessels for the duration of the trip. At the time, I was certified by the Coast Guard as an Operator Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) or “6-pack” boat captain.

In 2013, after 12 years in the dive program, I became the SER Dive Safety Officer overseeing 40+ divers in 6 offices and am a member of the Dive Safety Board. In 2016-2017, I served as Assistant Marine Operations and Facility Manager at the St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC). From 2017-2020, I served as the Collateral Duty Safety Program Coordinator (CDSPC) at SPCMSC, during that time I received a certificate as Certified Safety Professional (CSP) from the Board of Certified Safety Professionals.

I began a detail with the SER as a Safety and Occupational Health Manager in January 2020 and it became a permanent position in April 2020.

Science and Products

link
Image: Flat Cays, U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Reef

Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies (CREST)

The specific objectives of this project are to identify and describe the processes that are important in determining rates of coral-reef construction. How quickly the skeletons of calcifying organisms accumulate to form massive barrier-reef structure is determined by processes of both construction (how fast organisms grow and reproduce) and destruction (how fast reefs break down by mechanical...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Coral Microbial Ecology Laboratory
link

Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies (CREST)

The specific objectives of this project are to identify and describe the processes that are important in determining rates of coral-reef construction. How quickly the skeletons of calcifying organisms accumulate to form massive barrier-reef structure is determined by processes of both construction (how fast organisms grow and reproduce) and destruction (how fast reefs break down by mechanical...
Learn More

Time Series of Autonomous Carbonate System Parameter Measurements from Crocker Reef, Florida, USA

This dataset contains carbonate system data collected by scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center to investigate the effects of carbon cycling, coastal and ocean acidification at Crocker Reef located along the Florida Keys Reef Tract, in Southeast Florida, USA. These data were collected using an autonomous instrument called the Ocean Carbon
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Ocean Currents and Pressure Time Series at the Upper Florida Keys: Crocker Reef, FL

Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) and Pressure loggers were deployed at Crocker Reef, a senile (dead) barrier reef located in the northern portion of the Florida Reef Tract during December 12, 2014 to January 30, 2015. A pressure logger was deployed in the deepest part of the fore reef at a water depth of 14 m. This logger configured to measure pressure at a rate of 2 Hz to obtain wave st
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Coral growth parameters and seawater chemistry from Kahekili, west Maui, Hawaii

This data release contains time-series of seawater carbonate chemistry variables, including salinity, dissolved inorganic nutrients, pH, total alkalinity, and dissolved inorganic carbon, from sites along Kahekili Beach Park, Kaanapali, west Maui. It also contains data from coral cores collected from the shallow reef at Kahekili in July 2013 and analyzed for coral growth parameters (tissue thicknes
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Seafloor elevation change in Maui, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and the Florida Keys

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center conducted research to quantify the combined effect of all constructive and destructive processes on modern coral reef ecosystems by measuring regional-scale changes in seafloor elevation. USGS staff assessed five coral reef ecosystems in the Atlantic Ocean (Upper and Lower Florida Keys), Caribbean Sea (U.S. Virgin I
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Microbial and environmental dataset from Crocker Reef, Florida Keys, 2014-2015

Crocker Reef was the site of an integrated reefscape characterization effort focused on calcification and related biogeochemical processes as part of the USGS Coral Reef Ecosystem Study (CREST) project. This effort included two intensive seasonal sampling trips to capture summer (July 8 to 17, 2014) and winter (January 29 to February 5, 2015) conditions. This data release represents water column m
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Carbonate 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 nutri
Authors
Nancy G. Prouty, Kimberly K. Yates, Nathan A. Smiley, Christopher Gallagher, Olivia Cheriton, Curt D. Storlazzi
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Divergence of seafloor elevation and sea level rise in coral reef ecosystems

Coral reefs serve as natural barriers that protect adjacent shorelines from coastal hazards such as storms, waves, and erosion. Projections indicate global degradation of coral reefs due to anthropogenic impacts and climate change will cause a transition to net erosion by mid-century. Here, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the combined effect of all of the processes affecting seafloor accr
Authors
Kimberly K. Yates, David G. Zawada, Nathan A. Smiley, Ginger Tiling-Range
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities

Ocean acidification buffering effects of seagrass in Tampa Bay

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has identified ocean acidification as a critical threat to marine and estuarine species in ocean and coastal ecosystems around the world. However, seagrasses are projected to benefit from elevated atmospheric pCO2, are capable of increasing seawater pH and carbonate mineral saturation states through photosynthesis, and may help buffer against the chemi
Authors
Kimberly K. Yates, Ryan P. Moyer, Christopher Moore, David A. Tomasko, Nathan A. Smiley, Legna Torres-Garcia, Christina E. Powell, Amanda R. Chappel, Ioana Bociu
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Seasonal microbial and environmental parameters at Crocker Reef, Florida Keys, 2014–2015

Crocker Reef, located on the outer reef tract of the Florida Keys (fig. 1), was the site of an integrated “reefscape characterization” effort focused on calcification and related biogeochemical processes as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coral Reef Ecosystem STudies (CREST) project. It is characterized as a senile or dead reef, with only scattered stony coral colonies and areas of sand
Authors
Christina A. Kellogg, Kimberly K. Yates, Stephanie N. Lawler, Christopher S. Moore, Nathan A. Smiley
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Diverse coral communities in mangrove habitats suggest a novel refuge from climate change

Risk analyses indicate that more than 90% of the world's reefs will be threatened by climate change and local anthropogenic impacts by the year 2030 under "business-as-usual" climate scenarios. Increasing temperatures and solar radiation cause coral bleaching that has resulted in extensive coral mortality. Increasing carbon dioxide reduces seawater pH, slows coral growth, and may cause loss of ree
Authors
Kimberly K. Yates, Caroline S. Rogers, James J. Herlan, Gregg R. Brooks, Nathan A. Smiley, Rebekka A. Larson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Diurnal variation of oxygen and carbonate system parameters in Tampa Bay and Florida Bay

Oxygen and carbonate system parameters were measured, in situ, over diurnal cycles in Tampa Bay and Florida Bay, Florida. All system parameters showed distinct diurnal trends in Tampa Bay with an average range of diurnal variation of 39.1 μmol kg− 1 for total alkalinity, 165.1 μmol kg− 1 for total CO2, 0.22 for pH, 0.093 mmol L− 1 for dissolved oxygen, and 218.1 μatm for pCO2. Average range of diu
Authors
K. K. Yates, C. Dufore, N. Smiley, C. Jackson, R. B. Halley
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program

Science and Products

link
Image: Flat Cays, U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Reef

Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies (CREST)

The specific objectives of this project are to identify and describe the processes that are important in determining rates of coral-reef construction. How quickly the skeletons of calcifying organisms accumulate to form massive barrier-reef structure is determined by processes of both construction (how fast organisms grow and reproduce) and destruction (how fast reefs break down by mechanical...
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Coral Microbial Ecology Laboratory
link

Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies (CREST)

The specific objectives of this project are to identify and describe the processes that are important in determining rates of coral-reef construction. How quickly the skeletons of calcifying organisms accumulate to form massive barrier-reef structure is determined by processes of both construction (how fast organisms grow and reproduce) and destruction (how fast reefs break down by mechanical...
Learn More

Time Series of Autonomous Carbonate System Parameter Measurements from Crocker Reef, Florida, USA

This dataset contains carbonate system data collected by scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center to investigate the effects of carbon cycling, coastal and ocean acidification at Crocker Reef located along the Florida Keys Reef Tract, in Southeast Florida, USA. These data were collected using an autonomous instrument called the Ocean Carbon
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Ocean Currents and Pressure Time Series at the Upper Florida Keys: Crocker Reef, FL

Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCPs) and Pressure loggers were deployed at Crocker Reef, a senile (dead) barrier reef located in the northern portion of the Florida Reef Tract during December 12, 2014 to January 30, 2015. A pressure logger was deployed in the deepest part of the fore reef at a water depth of 14 m. This logger configured to measure pressure at a rate of 2 Hz to obtain wave st
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Coral growth parameters and seawater chemistry from Kahekili, west Maui, Hawaii

This data release contains time-series of seawater carbonate chemistry variables, including salinity, dissolved inorganic nutrients, pH, total alkalinity, and dissolved inorganic carbon, from sites along Kahekili Beach Park, Kaanapali, west Maui. It also contains data from coral cores collected from the shallow reef at Kahekili in July 2013 and analyzed for coral growth parameters (tissue thicknes
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Seafloor elevation change in Maui, St. Croix, St. Thomas, and the Florida Keys

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center conducted research to quantify the combined effect of all constructive and destructive processes on modern coral reef ecosystems by measuring regional-scale changes in seafloor elevation. USGS staff assessed five coral reef ecosystems in the Atlantic Ocean (Upper and Lower Florida Keys), Caribbean Sea (U.S. Virgin I
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Microbial and environmental dataset from Crocker Reef, Florida Keys, 2014-2015

Crocker Reef was the site of an integrated reefscape characterization effort focused on calcification and related biogeochemical processes as part of the USGS Coral Reef Ecosystem Study (CREST) project. This effort included two intensive seasonal sampling trips to capture summer (July 8 to 17, 2014) and winter (January 29 to February 5, 2015) conditions. This data release represents water column m
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Carbonate 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 nutri
Authors
Nancy G. Prouty, Kimberly K. Yates, Nathan A. Smiley, Christopher Gallagher, Olivia Cheriton, Curt D. Storlazzi
By
Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center

Divergence of seafloor elevation and sea level rise in coral reef ecosystems

Coral reefs serve as natural barriers that protect adjacent shorelines from coastal hazards such as storms, waves, and erosion. Projections indicate global degradation of coral reefs due to anthropogenic impacts and climate change will cause a transition to net erosion by mid-century. Here, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the combined effect of all of the processes affecting seafloor accr
Authors
Kimberly K. Yates, David G. Zawada, Nathan A. Smiley, Ginger Tiling-Range
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Recovery Activities

Ocean acidification buffering effects of seagrass in Tampa Bay

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has identified ocean acidification as a critical threat to marine and estuarine species in ocean and coastal ecosystems around the world. However, seagrasses are projected to benefit from elevated atmospheric pCO2, are capable of increasing seawater pH and carbonate mineral saturation states through photosynthesis, and may help buffer against the chemi
Authors
Kimberly K. Yates, Ryan P. Moyer, Christopher Moore, David A. Tomasko, Nathan A. Smiley, Legna Torres-Garcia, Christina E. Powell, Amanda R. Chappel, Ioana Bociu
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Seasonal microbial and environmental parameters at Crocker Reef, Florida Keys, 2014–2015

Crocker Reef, located on the outer reef tract of the Florida Keys (fig. 1), was the site of an integrated “reefscape characterization” effort focused on calcification and related biogeochemical processes as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coral Reef Ecosystem STudies (CREST) project. It is characterized as a senile or dead reef, with only scattered stony coral colonies and areas of sand
Authors
Christina A. Kellogg, Kimberly K. Yates, Stephanie N. Lawler, Christopher S. Moore, Nathan A. Smiley
By
Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center

Diverse coral communities in mangrove habitats suggest a novel refuge from climate change

Risk analyses indicate that more than 90% of the world's reefs will be threatened by climate change and local anthropogenic impacts by the year 2030 under "business-as-usual" climate scenarios. Increasing temperatures and solar radiation cause coral bleaching that has resulted in extensive coral mortality. Increasing carbon dioxide reduces seawater pH, slows coral growth, and may cause loss of ree
Authors
Kimberly K. Yates, Caroline S. Rogers, James J. Herlan, Gregg R. Brooks, Nathan A. Smiley, Rebekka A. Larson
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center

Diurnal variation of oxygen and carbonate system parameters in Tampa Bay and Florida Bay

Oxygen and carbonate system parameters were measured, in situ, over diurnal cycles in Tampa Bay and Florida Bay, Florida. All system parameters showed distinct diurnal trends in Tampa Bay with an average range of diurnal variation of 39.1 μmol kg− 1 for total alkalinity, 165.1 μmol kg− 1 for total CO2, 0.22 for pH, 0.093 mmol L− 1 for dissolved oxygen, and 218.1 μatm for pCO2. Average range of diu
Authors
K. K. Yates, C. Dufore, N. Smiley, C. Jackson, R. B. Halley
By
Natural Hazards Mission Area, Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program
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