Christopher G. Smith, Ph.D.
As a coastal geologist, my research focuses on the transport, transformation, and deposition of particulate and dissolved constituents within the coastal realm and how system processes will respond to large-scale environmental forcings (e.g., climate change).
Coastal systems provide a dynamic interface between terrestrial and marine realms; anthropogenic activity and natural processes occurring within terrestrial ecosystems can have a significant impact to the coastal zone and adjacent marine system. Augmentation of coastal systems is inevitable from a human perspective as nearly half of the population of the United States reside within coastal counties. Understanding modern processes (sedimentologic, hydrologic, and geochemical) occurring along this terrestrial-marine continuum is critical in predicting the response associated with natural and anthropogenic perturbations.
My research interests generally fall into two categories: 1) fluid exchange (e.g., surface water – groundwater exchange, submarine and coastal groundwater discharge) and 2) fine-grained sediment dynamics, specifically in marsh and estuarine environments. Linking these two seemingly disparate research topics are naturally-occurring (e.g., U-Th series) and anthropogenically-introduced/spiked (e.g., 137Cs) radionuclides. Particle reactive radionuclides (e.g., 7Be, 234Th, 210Pb, 210Po, and 137Cs) provide excellent tracers to quantify sediment deposition and re-mobilization over time-scales of months to decades. Examining the final sedimentary product in the context of the temporal framework and associated transient changes also provide a breadth of knowledge to environmental conditions that persisted in recent past and the outcome that may be expected if similar conditions persist in the present or future. Alternatively, the more conservative behavior of radon and radium isotopes have proven these as excellent tracers to quantify groundwater discharge in both fresh and marine environments.
Over the last three decades, groundwater discharge to the coastal zone has received increasing recognition as a substantial material vector, influencing water quality and nutrient fluxes. Quantification of fresh and marine groundwater end-members and the processes that drive the exchange (e.g., seasonal recharge cycles, hurricanes and tropical cyclones) are critical to assess the overall importance of coastal groundwater and has been at the forefront of my research.
Professional Experience
2010-Present: Research Geologist, USGS, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
2008 - 2010: USGS Mendenhall Fellow, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Education and Certifications
PhD - Oceanography & Coastal Science (Geological conc) (2008) from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!)
MS - Geology (2004) from East Carolina University
BS - Geology (2001) from East Carolina University (NC)
Science and Products
Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From July 2018 to January 2020 (Version 2.0)
Benthic Foraminiferal Data from Surface Samples and Sedimentary Cores in the Grand Bay Estuary, Mississippi and Alabama
Effects of Late Holocene Climate and Coastal Change in Mobile Bay, Alabama: ADCIRC Model Input and Results
Sedimentary Data from Grand Bay, Alabama/Mississippi, 2014-2016
Sedimentary data from the lower Pascagoula River, Mississippi, USA
Multibeam Bathymetry Data Collected in 2018 from Grand Bay and Point Aux Chenes Bay Alabama/Mississippi
Radon-222 Time Series Data Related to Submarine Groundwater Discharge Along the Western Margin of Indian River Lagoon, Florida
Sedimentary data from the lower Pearl River, Louisiana, USA
Subbottom and Sidescan Sonar Data Acquired in 2015 From Grand Bay, Mississippi and Alabama
Continuous Resistivity Profiling, Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Hydrologic Data Collected in 2017 from Indian River Lagoon, Florida
Sedimentary Data Collected in April 2013 From Dauphin Island and Salt Marshes of Coastal Alabama
Foraminiferal Data for Chincoteague Bay and the Marsh Deposits of Assateague Island and the Adjacent Vicinity, Maryland and Virginia
Distribution of modern salt-marsh Foraminifera from the eastern Mississippi Sound, U.S.A.
Recent outer-shelf foraminiferal assemblages on the Carnarvon Ramp and Northwestern Shelf of Western Australia
Assessing the impact of open-ocean and back-barrier shoreline change on Dauphin Island, Alabama, at multiple time scales over the last 75 years
The effects of tropical cyclone-generated deposition on the sustainability of the Pearl River marsh, Louisiana: The importance of the geologic framework
The foraminifera of Chincoteague Bay, Assateague Island, and the surrounding areas: A regional distribution study
Benthic foraminifera from the Carnarvon Ramp reveal variability in Leeuwin Current activity (Western Australia) since the Pliocene
Barrier-island and estuarine-wetland physical-change assessment after Hurricane Sandy
The sedimentological characteristics and geochronology of the marshes of Dauphin Island, Alabama
How could a freshwater swamp produce a chemical signature characteristic of a saltmarsh?
Single-beam bathymetry data collected in 2015 from Grand Bay, Alabama-Mississippi
A seasonal and spatial comparison of metals, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, in Chincoteague Bay and the marsh deposits of Assateague Island and the adjacent vicinity, Maryland and Virginia
Distribution of foraminifera in Chincoteague Bay and the marshes of Assateague Island and the adjacent vicinity, Maryland and Virginia
Non-USGS Publications**
**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
Shore Proximal Marsh Sediment Deposition and Ancillary Data From Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mississippi, From July 2018 to January 2020 (Version 2.0)
Benthic Foraminiferal Data from Surface Samples and Sedimentary Cores in the Grand Bay Estuary, Mississippi and Alabama
Effects of Late Holocene Climate and Coastal Change in Mobile Bay, Alabama: ADCIRC Model Input and Results
Sedimentary Data from Grand Bay, Alabama/Mississippi, 2014-2016
Sedimentary data from the lower Pascagoula River, Mississippi, USA
Multibeam Bathymetry Data Collected in 2018 from Grand Bay and Point Aux Chenes Bay Alabama/Mississippi
Radon-222 Time Series Data Related to Submarine Groundwater Discharge Along the Western Margin of Indian River Lagoon, Florida
Sedimentary data from the lower Pearl River, Louisiana, USA
Subbottom and Sidescan Sonar Data Acquired in 2015 From Grand Bay, Mississippi and Alabama
Continuous Resistivity Profiling, Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Hydrologic Data Collected in 2017 from Indian River Lagoon, Florida
Sedimentary Data Collected in April 2013 From Dauphin Island and Salt Marshes of Coastal Alabama
Foraminiferal Data for Chincoteague Bay and the Marsh Deposits of Assateague Island and the Adjacent Vicinity, Maryland and Virginia
Distribution of modern salt-marsh Foraminifera from the eastern Mississippi Sound, U.S.A.
Recent outer-shelf foraminiferal assemblages on the Carnarvon Ramp and Northwestern Shelf of Western Australia
Assessing the impact of open-ocean and back-barrier shoreline change on Dauphin Island, Alabama, at multiple time scales over the last 75 years
The effects of tropical cyclone-generated deposition on the sustainability of the Pearl River marsh, Louisiana: The importance of the geologic framework
The foraminifera of Chincoteague Bay, Assateague Island, and the surrounding areas: A regional distribution study
Benthic foraminifera from the Carnarvon Ramp reveal variability in Leeuwin Current activity (Western Australia) since the Pliocene
Barrier-island and estuarine-wetland physical-change assessment after Hurricane Sandy
The sedimentological characteristics and geochronology of the marshes of Dauphin Island, Alabama
How could a freshwater swamp produce a chemical signature characteristic of a saltmarsh?
Single-beam bathymetry data collected in 2015 from Grand Bay, Alabama-Mississippi
A seasonal and spatial comparison of metals, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, in Chincoteague Bay and the marsh deposits of Assateague Island and the adjacent vicinity, Maryland and Virginia
Distribution of foraminifera in Chincoteague Bay and the marshes of Assateague Island and the adjacent vicinity, Maryland and Virginia
Non-USGS Publications**
**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.