Karen Thorne, Ph.D.
Dr. Karen Thorne is a Research Ecologist with the USGS Western Ecological Research Center,
Her research focus is on climate change impacts to coastal ecosystems. In particular, her work has included assessing sea-level rise and storm impacts to coastal ecosystems, wetland ecology, restoration, and blue carbon. She received her Ph.D. and MS from the University of California, Davis.
Dr. Thorne's interests lie in conservation and management issues surrounding climate-related research that assess changes to ecosystems. Her current focus is assessing how sea-level rise and storms impact tidal wetland ecosystems in the U.S. and island habitats. She conducts research to inform climate adaptation and planning to help managers mitigate impacts and conduct restoration. Her research is based on field data collection methods that can be developed into climate change impact models using ArcGIS and other remote sensing tools.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Global Change Biology
- Coastal Ecosystems
- Wetland Ecology
- Restoration
- Threatened & Endangered Species
- Blue Carbon
- Landscape Ecology
- Ecological Response Modeling
- Storm Monitoring
- Sea-level Rise Planning & Decision Support
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 36
Arrowhead Marsh
Arrowhead Marsh is located in central San Francisco Bay and covers 17 hectares. We surveyed 274 elevation points and 50 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores at China Camp State Park were extrapolated to Arrowhead and...
Colma Marsh
Colma marsh is located on the western side of south San Francisco Bay and covers 25 hectares. We surveyed 537 elevation points to determine baseline conditions of the marsh; no vegetation surveys were conducted. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores near Laumeister marsh were...
Coon Island Marsh
Coon Island marsh is located along the Napa River and covers 99 hectares. We surveyed 799 elevation points and 364 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores were used as input for the WARMER sea-level rise response model...
Fagan Marsh
Fagan marsh is located along the Napa River and covers 68 hectares. We surveyed 481 elevation points and 241 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores at Coon Island marsh were extrapolated to Fagan marsh and used as input...
China Camp Marsh
The marsh in China Camp State Park is located on the western side of San Pablo Bay and covers 97 hectares. We surveyed 753 elevation points and 423 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores were used as input for the WARMER...
Corte Madera
Corte Madera marsh is located on the western side of San Pablo Bay and covers 77 hectares. We surveyed 744 elevation points and 361 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores at China Camp State Park marsh were extrapolated...
Laumeister Marsh
Laumeister marsh is located on the western side of south San Francisco Bay and covers 37 hectares. We surveyed 717 elevation points and 72 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores at a nearby marsh (Whale’s Tail) were used...
Coastal Ecosystem Response to Sea-level Rise
USGS WERC’s Dr. Karen Thorne, her team of reseachers, and her partners are currently taking a local site network approach to describe current and future conditions and projected responses of coastal ecosystems to sea-level rise and other stressors. The Coastal Ecosystem Response to Climate Change (CERCC) program’s goal is to understand how ecosystems vary in their ability to keep up with sea-level...
Cogswell Marsh
Cogswell marsh is located on the eastern side of south San Francisco Bay and covers 60 hectares. We surveyed 523 elevation points and 228 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores near Laumeister marsh were extrapolated to...
Modeling Sea-Level Rise in San Francisco Bay Estuary
With sea level rise, how will the coastal habitats of the San Francisco Bay Estuary change over the next 100 years? Mapping and modeling studies by Dr. Karen Thorne, WERC scientists, and partners have produced scenarios for this important coastal ecosystem.
Ecological Stressors - Rocky Coastlines, Mangroves, Marshes, Droughts, and Storms
Coastal estuaries that contain marshes and mangroves are currently being reshaped by changing ocean and atmospheric conditions through prolong drought, sea-level rise and increased extreme storm events. Many projected increases in sea-level are expected to result in loss of tidal wetlands and their component species. In addition, changing sediment loads, extreme tide and storm events, and shifting...
Supporting Informed Responses to Sea-Level Rise
To facilitate communication and outreach of sea level rise research results and implications, Dr. Karen Thorne and members of USGS WERC are hosting in-person workshops along the Pacific coast at different sites in Washington, Oregon, and California.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 36
Arrowhead Marsh
Arrowhead Marsh is located in central San Francisco Bay and covers 17 hectares. We surveyed 274 elevation points and 50 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores at China Camp State Park were extrapolated to Arrowhead and...
Colma Marsh
Colma marsh is located on the western side of south San Francisco Bay and covers 25 hectares. We surveyed 537 elevation points to determine baseline conditions of the marsh; no vegetation surveys were conducted. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores near Laumeister marsh were...
Coon Island Marsh
Coon Island marsh is located along the Napa River and covers 99 hectares. We surveyed 799 elevation points and 364 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores were used as input for the WARMER sea-level rise response model...
Fagan Marsh
Fagan marsh is located along the Napa River and covers 68 hectares. We surveyed 481 elevation points and 241 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores at Coon Island marsh were extrapolated to Fagan marsh and used as input...
China Camp Marsh
The marsh in China Camp State Park is located on the western side of San Pablo Bay and covers 97 hectares. We surveyed 753 elevation points and 423 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores were used as input for the WARMER...
Corte Madera
Corte Madera marsh is located on the western side of San Pablo Bay and covers 77 hectares. We surveyed 744 elevation points and 361 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores at China Camp State Park marsh were extrapolated...
Laumeister Marsh
Laumeister marsh is located on the western side of south San Francisco Bay and covers 37 hectares. We surveyed 717 elevation points and 72 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores at a nearby marsh (Whale’s Tail) were used...
Coastal Ecosystem Response to Sea-level Rise
USGS WERC’s Dr. Karen Thorne, her team of reseachers, and her partners are currently taking a local site network approach to describe current and future conditions and projected responses of coastal ecosystems to sea-level rise and other stressors. The Coastal Ecosystem Response to Climate Change (CERCC) program’s goal is to understand how ecosystems vary in their ability to keep up with sea-level...
Cogswell Marsh
Cogswell marsh is located on the eastern side of south San Francisco Bay and covers 60 hectares. We surveyed 523 elevation points and 228 vegetation plots to determine baseline conditions of the marsh. Water level loggers deployed in 2010 were used to characterize the tidal inundation patterns throughout the year. Sediment accretion rates from soil cores near Laumeister marsh were extrapolated to...
Modeling Sea-Level Rise in San Francisco Bay Estuary
With sea level rise, how will the coastal habitats of the San Francisco Bay Estuary change over the next 100 years? Mapping and modeling studies by Dr. Karen Thorne, WERC scientists, and partners have produced scenarios for this important coastal ecosystem.
Ecological Stressors - Rocky Coastlines, Mangroves, Marshes, Droughts, and Storms
Coastal estuaries that contain marshes and mangroves are currently being reshaped by changing ocean and atmospheric conditions through prolong drought, sea-level rise and increased extreme storm events. Many projected increases in sea-level are expected to result in loss of tidal wetlands and their component species. In addition, changing sediment loads, extreme tide and storm events, and shifting...
Supporting Informed Responses to Sea-Level Rise
To facilitate communication and outreach of sea level rise research results and implications, Dr. Karen Thorne and members of USGS WERC are hosting in-person workshops along the Pacific coast at different sites in Washington, Oregon, and California.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government