Curt Storlazzi, PhD

Current Research Topics 

• Coral reef morphology, hydrodynamics, and sediment, nutrient, contaminant, and larval transport 
• The role of coral reefs and other coastal ecosystems in coastal hazard risk reduction 
• The interplay between geologic structure, climatic fluctuations, and coastal processes 
• High-resolution oceanographic instrumentation and coastal mapping techniques 

The role of coral reefs in tropical coastal hazard risk reduction 

The restoration of coastal habitats, particularly coral reefs, decreases the exposure of coastal communities to flooding hazards. We developed an integrated modeling system composed of oceanographic, coastal engineering, ecologic, geospatial, social, and economic tools and data to provide a rigorous valuation of where coral reef restoration could decrease the coastal flooding hazards faced in reef-fronted coastal communities. We follow risk-based valuation approaches to quantify the coastal flood risk reduction using information from the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency, and U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. These data provide stakeholders and decision-makers with spatially explicit, rigorous valuation of how, where, when, and to whom coral reef restoration will increase critical coastal storm flood reduction benefits and has led to federal, state, and territorial actions to declare their coral reefs as natural infrastructure worthy of pre-disaster mitigation or post-disaster recovery funding. The overall goal is to ultimately reduce the risk to, and increase the resiliency of, the Nation’s tropical coastal communities while boosting their economies through tourism, fisheries, and recreational activities.

See: The Value of U.S. Coral Reefs for Risk Reduction (links below) 
 

The influence of geophysical processes on coral reef ecosystems 

Many tropical coastal environments have been impacted by development, nutrient and contaminant delivery, and natural and human-induced sedimentation. The high geomorphic and hydrodynamic complexity both within and between coral reefs, in conjunction with past technical restrictions, has limited our understanding of the nature of flow and the resulting flux of physical, chemical, and biologic material in these ecosystems. Understanding the physical controls on the timing and magnitude of flow and sediment, larvae, nutrient, and contaminant transport, along with their impact on seafloor geomorphology, stability, and sedimentation in these refugia are essential to assessing modern anthropogenic impacts on these ecosystems and help guide how to best protect and preserve these valuable ecosystems that provide billions of dollars per year to the Nation’s economy.

See: Coral Reef Project (links below)