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
A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines Derived from Aerial Imagery for the Grand Bay Region of Mississippi and Alabama: 2010 and 2012
Benthic Foraminiferal Data from Sedimentary Cores Collected in the Grand Bay (Mississippi) and Dauphin Island (Alabama) Salt Marshes
Benthic Foraminiferal Data from the Eastern Mississippi Sound Salt Marshes and Estuaries
Single-Beam Bathymetry Data Collected in 2015 from Grand Bay, Mississippi/Alabama
Radon-222 and Physical Water Column Parameter Data Concerning Submarine Groundwater Discharge Along the Western Margin of Indian River Lagoon, East-Central Florida-September 2016 to July 2017
Radon-222 and Water Column Data Related to Submarine Groundwater Discharge Along the Western Margin of Indian River Lagoon, Florida-September 2017 and November 2017
The Sedimentological Characteristics and Radiochemistry Data for the Marshes on Dauphin Island, Alabama
Sedimentary Data from the Coastal Marshes Fringing the Lower Waccasassa River, Northwest Florida
Seasonal Sedimentary Data Collected from Old Tampa Bay, Florida, 2015-2016
Archive of Sediment Physical Properties and Grain-Size Data for Sediment Samples Collected Offshore of Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia
Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Rates Derived from Lidar and Aerial Imagery for Dauphin Island, Alabama: 1940-2015
Hydrological Data Concerning Submarine Groundwater Discharge along the Western Margin of Indian River Lagoon, East-central Florida - December 2016 and January 2017
The magnitude and origin of groundwater discharge to eastern U.S. and Gulf of Mexico coastal waters
Sediment lithology and radiochemistry from the back-barrier environments along the northern Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana—March 2012
Application of ground penetrating radar for identification of washover deposits and other stratigraphic features: Assateague Island, MD
Observations of nearshore groundwater discharge: Kahekili Beach Park submarine springs, Maui, Hawaii
Ground-penetrating radar and differential global positioning system data collected from Long Beach Island, New Jersey, April 2015
The role of ocean tides on groundwater-surface water exchange in a mangrove-dominated estuary: Shark River Slough, Florida Coastal Everglades, USA
Evaluating the potential effects of hurricanes on long-term sediment accumulation in two micro-tidal sub-estuaries: Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Raw and processed ground-penetrating radar and postprocessed differential global positioning system data collected from Assateague Island, Maryland, October 2014
Sedimentologic characteristics of recent washover deposits from Assateague Island, Maryland
Archive of ground penetrating radar data collected during USGS field activity 13BIM01—Dauphin Island, Alabama, April 2013
A seasonal comparison of surface sediment characteristics in Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia, USA
Land-cover types, shoreline positions, and sand extents derived From Landsat satellite imagery, Assateague Island to Metompkin Island, Maryland and Virginia, 1984 to 2014
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
A GIS Compilation of Vector Shorelines Derived from Aerial Imagery for the Grand Bay Region of Mississippi and Alabama: 2010 and 2012
Benthic Foraminiferal Data from Sedimentary Cores Collected in the Grand Bay (Mississippi) and Dauphin Island (Alabama) Salt Marshes
Benthic Foraminiferal Data from the Eastern Mississippi Sound Salt Marshes and Estuaries
Single-Beam Bathymetry Data Collected in 2015 from Grand Bay, Mississippi/Alabama
Radon-222 and Physical Water Column Parameter Data Concerning Submarine Groundwater Discharge Along the Western Margin of Indian River Lagoon, East-Central Florida-September 2016 to July 2017
Radon-222 and Water Column Data Related to Submarine Groundwater Discharge Along the Western Margin of Indian River Lagoon, Florida-September 2017 and November 2017
The Sedimentological Characteristics and Radiochemistry Data for the Marshes on Dauphin Island, Alabama
Sedimentary Data from the Coastal Marshes Fringing the Lower Waccasassa River, Northwest Florida
Seasonal Sedimentary Data Collected from Old Tampa Bay, Florida, 2015-2016
Archive of Sediment Physical Properties and Grain-Size Data for Sediment Samples Collected Offshore of Assateague Island, Maryland and Virginia
Vector Shorelines and Associated Shoreline Change Rates Derived from Lidar and Aerial Imagery for Dauphin Island, Alabama: 1940-2015
Hydrological Data Concerning Submarine Groundwater Discharge along the Western Margin of Indian River Lagoon, East-central Florida - December 2016 and January 2017
The magnitude and origin of groundwater discharge to eastern U.S. and Gulf of Mexico coastal waters
Sediment lithology and radiochemistry from the back-barrier environments along the northern Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana—March 2012
Application of ground penetrating radar for identification of washover deposits and other stratigraphic features: Assateague Island, MD
Observations of nearshore groundwater discharge: Kahekili Beach Park submarine springs, Maui, Hawaii
Ground-penetrating radar and differential global positioning system data collected from Long Beach Island, New Jersey, April 2015
The role of ocean tides on groundwater-surface water exchange in a mangrove-dominated estuary: Shark River Slough, Florida Coastal Everglades, USA
Evaluating the potential effects of hurricanes on long-term sediment accumulation in two micro-tidal sub-estuaries: Barnegat Bay and Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey, U.S.A.
Raw and processed ground-penetrating radar and postprocessed differential global positioning system data collected from Assateague Island, Maryland, October 2014
Sedimentologic characteristics of recent washover deposits from Assateague Island, Maryland
Archive of ground penetrating radar data collected during USGS field activity 13BIM01—Dauphin Island, Alabama, April 2013
A seasonal comparison of surface sediment characteristics in Chincoteague Bay, Maryland and Virginia, USA
Land-cover types, shoreline positions, and sand extents derived From Landsat satellite imagery, Assateague Island to Metompkin Island, Maryland and Virginia, 1984 to 2014
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.