Coral reefs are important for supporting biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection, but are in decline worldwide, primarily due to extreme heat waves and subsequent coral bleaching, in addition to other stressors.
Kimberly Yates, Ph.D.
Dr. Kimberly Yates is a senior research oceanographer at the U.S. Geological Survey, St. Petersburg Center for Coastal and Marine Science (SPCMSC).
Dr. Yates is also a member of the U.S. Interagency Work Group on Ocean Acidification (IWG-OA), the Executive and founding Steering Committees of the Southeast Ocean and Coastal Acidification Network (SOCAN), and served as Co-Chair of the Ocean Carbon & Biogeochemistry – Ocean Acidification Subcommittee (OCB-OA). She specializes in integrated science studies that examine how changes in coastal ecosystem processes may impact or mitigate risks from coastal hazards, using a whole system perspective that considers the interactions and linkages among chemistry, biology and the physical environment. Much of her recent work has focused on how coral reef seafloor erosion changes risks from sea level rise, waves and storms; impacts on coral reefs and estuaries from coastal and ocean acidification; and identifying and characterizing coastal climate change refuges.
Science and Products
Quantifying Flood Risk and Reef Risk Reduction Benefits in Florida and Puerto Rico: The Consequences of Hurricane Damage, Long-term Degradation, and Restoration Opportunities
Coastal flooding and erosion from extreme weather events affect thousands of vulnerable coastal communities; the impacts of coastal flooding are predicted to worsen during this century because of population growth and climate change. Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 were particularly devasting to humans and natural communities. The coral reefs off the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of...
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...
Coral Reef Seafloor Erosion and Coastal Hazards
Synchronized field work focused on geochemistry, geology, and metabolic processes overlaid on a habitat map of an entire reef to produce a synoptic overview of reef processes that contribute to carbonate precipitation and dissolution.
Coral Reef Community Calcification and Metabolism
This task focuses on forecasting and hind-casting the future and past response of coral reef calcification and growth to changes in seawater carbonate chemistry from pre-industrial time to the year 2100.
Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys (AD)
Coral reefs are important for supporting biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection, but are in decline worldwide, primarily due to extreme heat waves and subsequent coral bleaching, in addition to other stressors.
Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
Coral reefs are important for supporting biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection, but are in decline worldwide, primarily due to extreme heat waves and subsequent coral bleaching, in addition to other stressors.
Coral reefs are important for supporting biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection, but are in decline worldwide, primarily due to extreme heat waves and subsequent coral bleaching, in addition to other stressors.
R/V Sallenger Tows SQUID-5 for 3D Seafloor Mapping
The R/V Sallenger tows the structure-from-motion quantitative underwater imaging device with 5 cameras (SQUID-5) across the water over Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys.
The R/V Sallenger tows the structure-from-motion quantitative underwater imaging device with 5 cameras (SQUID-5) across the water over Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys.
R/V Sallenger tows SQUID-5 near Looe Key
The SQUID-5 system is pulled behind the USGS research vessel the R/V Sallenger near Looe Key. The SQUID-5 is taking images of the seafloor which will be made into 3-dimensional models.
The SQUID-5 system is pulled behind the USGS research vessel the R/V Sallenger near Looe Key. The SQUID-5 is taking images of the seafloor which will be made into 3-dimensional models.
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
The challenge:
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
The challenge:
Corals die, turn to rubble
These Elkhorn corals (Acropora palmata) near Buck Island, U.S. Virgin Islands have died and collapsed into rubble. As coral reef structure degrades, valuable habitat for marine life is lost and nearby coastlines become more susceptible to storms, waves and erosion.
These Elkhorn corals (Acropora palmata) near Buck Island, U.S. Virgin Islands have died and collapsed into rubble. As coral reef structure degrades, valuable habitat for marine life is lost and nearby coastlines become more susceptible to storms, waves and erosion.
Mangrove Coral Site
Data logger and underwater sensor deployed at a mangrove coral site in Otter Creek to measure light reaching corals under the mangroves.
Data logger and underwater sensor deployed at a mangrove coral site in Otter Creek to measure light reaching corals under the mangroves.
Light Meter near Mangrove Corals
Underwater light sensor deployed under the mangrove canopy where corals are growing.
Underwater light sensor deployed under the mangrove canopy where corals are growing.
Mangrove Coral Site
Above (top of picture) and below (bottom of picture) image of mangroves in Otter Creek where corals grow under and attached to mangrove prop roots.
Above (top of picture) and below (bottom of picture) image of mangroves in Otter Creek where corals grow under and attached to mangrove prop roots.
Science and Products
Quantifying Flood Risk and Reef Risk Reduction Benefits in Florida and Puerto Rico: The Consequences of Hurricane Damage, Long-term Degradation, and Restoration Opportunities
Coastal flooding and erosion from extreme weather events affect thousands of vulnerable coastal communities; the impacts of coastal flooding are predicted to worsen during this century because of population growth and climate change. Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 were particularly devasting to humans and natural communities. The coral reefs off the State of Florida and the Commonwealth of...
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...
Coral Reef Seafloor Erosion and Coastal Hazards
Synchronized field work focused on geochemistry, geology, and metabolic processes overlaid on a habitat map of an entire reef to produce a synoptic overview of reef processes that contribute to carbonate precipitation and dissolution.
Coral Reef Community Calcification and Metabolism
This task focuses on forecasting and hind-casting the future and past response of coral reef calcification and growth to changes in seawater carbonate chemistry from pre-industrial time to the year 2100.
Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys (AD)
Coral reefs are important for supporting biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection, but are in decline worldwide, primarily due to extreme heat waves and subsequent coral bleaching, in addition to other stressors.
Coral reefs are important for supporting biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection, but are in decline worldwide, primarily due to extreme heat waves and subsequent coral bleaching, in addition to other stressors.
Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
Coral reefs are important for supporting biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection, but are in decline worldwide, primarily due to extreme heat waves and subsequent coral bleaching, in addition to other stressors.
Coral reefs are important for supporting biodiversity, fisheries, tourism, and coastal protection, but are in decline worldwide, primarily due to extreme heat waves and subsequent coral bleaching, in addition to other stressors.
R/V Sallenger Tows SQUID-5 for 3D Seafloor Mapping
The R/V Sallenger tows the structure-from-motion quantitative underwater imaging device with 5 cameras (SQUID-5) across the water over Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys.
The R/V Sallenger tows the structure-from-motion quantitative underwater imaging device with 5 cameras (SQUID-5) across the water over Looe Key Reef in the Florida Keys.
R/V Sallenger tows SQUID-5 near Looe Key
The SQUID-5 system is pulled behind the USGS research vessel the R/V Sallenger near Looe Key. The SQUID-5 is taking images of the seafloor which will be made into 3-dimensional models.
The SQUID-5 system is pulled behind the USGS research vessel the R/V Sallenger near Looe Key. The SQUID-5 is taking images of the seafloor which will be made into 3-dimensional models.
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
The challenge:
Studying Seafloor Erosion in the Florida Keys
The challenge:
Corals die, turn to rubble
These Elkhorn corals (Acropora palmata) near Buck Island, U.S. Virgin Islands have died and collapsed into rubble. As coral reef structure degrades, valuable habitat for marine life is lost and nearby coastlines become more susceptible to storms, waves and erosion.
These Elkhorn corals (Acropora palmata) near Buck Island, U.S. Virgin Islands have died and collapsed into rubble. As coral reef structure degrades, valuable habitat for marine life is lost and nearby coastlines become more susceptible to storms, waves and erosion.
Mangrove Coral Site
Data logger and underwater sensor deployed at a mangrove coral site in Otter Creek to measure light reaching corals under the mangroves.
Data logger and underwater sensor deployed at a mangrove coral site in Otter Creek to measure light reaching corals under the mangroves.
Light Meter near Mangrove Corals
Underwater light sensor deployed under the mangrove canopy where corals are growing.
Underwater light sensor deployed under the mangrove canopy where corals are growing.
Mangrove Coral Site
Above (top of picture) and below (bottom of picture) image of mangroves in Otter Creek where corals grow under and attached to mangrove prop roots.
Above (top of picture) and below (bottom of picture) image of mangroves in Otter Creek where corals grow under and attached to mangrove prop roots.
USGS Location
*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