Nancy Prouty
Research Oceanographer with the USGS Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Professional Experience
Oct. 2009-present - Research Oceanographer, United States Geological Survey, Santa Cruz, CA. Lead PI on groundwater and land-based pollution coral reef ecosystem studies. Design and implement field experiments on geochemical impacts of groundwater and land-based pollution on coral reefs. Lead PI on deep-sea coral paleo-ecology multi-agency project.
July ‘10-Nov.’10 - Science Program Coordinator Advisor, Schmidt Ocean Institute, Palo Alto, CA Served as liaison between the individual scientific researchers and the Institute to implement and execute a scientific strategy. Managed complex, scientific planning efforts involving scientists, engineers, marine operations personnel, technicians, and other support staff.
2007-2009 - Mendenhall Postdoctoral Research Fellow, United States Geological Survey, Santa Cruz, CA. Lead investigator on 2-year Federal scientific research program to investigate the link between sedimentation and coral reef ecosystem health. Collaborated with investigators at multiple Federal agencies and academic institutions.
2004-2007 - Cooperative Institute for Climate and Ocean Research Postdoctoral Scholar, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA. Lead investigator on multidisciplinary initiative to develop new tools to assess coral response to environmental stressors from both anthropogenic and natural perturbations.
Summer 2004 - University Instructor, University of California, Berkeley, CA. Developed innovative student centered curriculum for an 8-week intensive summer course on oceanography.
2000-2004 - Graduate Research Environmental Fellow, Department of Energy (DOE), Stanford University. Lead investigator of international coral reef project in Kenya and Sumatra.
Education and Certifications
2004: Ph.D., Oceanography, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
1997: M.S., Climate Change Research Center, Earth Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
1993: B.A., Geology, Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA
Science and Products
Ocean circulation and biogeochemistry moderate interannual and decadal surface water pH changes in the Sargasso Sea
Historic impact of watershed change and sedimentation to reefs along west-central Guam
Deep-sea coral record of human impact on watershed quality in the Mississippi River Basin
The geochemistry of deep-sea coral skeletons: a review of vital effects and applications for palaeoceanography
Environmental assessment of metal exposure to corals living in Castle Harbour, Bermuda
Determination of low-level mercury in coralline aragonite by calcination-isotope dilution-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and its application to Diploria specimens from Castle Harbour, Bermuda
Growth rate and age distribution of deep-sea black corals in the Gulf of Mexico
Coral Ba/Ca records of sediment input to the fringing reef of the southshore of Moloka'i, Hawai'i over the last several decades
Coral proxy record of decadal-scale reduction in base flow from Moloka'i, Hawaii
Geochemical signature of land-based activities in Caribbean coral surface samples
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
Ocean circulation and biogeochemistry moderate interannual and decadal surface water pH changes in the Sargasso Sea
Historic impact of watershed change and sedimentation to reefs along west-central Guam
Deep-sea coral record of human impact on watershed quality in the Mississippi River Basin
The geochemistry of deep-sea coral skeletons: a review of vital effects and applications for palaeoceanography
Environmental assessment of metal exposure to corals living in Castle Harbour, Bermuda
Determination of low-level mercury in coralline aragonite by calcination-isotope dilution-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and its application to Diploria specimens from Castle Harbour, Bermuda
Growth rate and age distribution of deep-sea black corals in the Gulf of Mexico
Coral Ba/Ca records of sediment input to the fringing reef of the southshore of Moloka'i, Hawai'i over the last several decades
Coral proxy record of decadal-scale reduction in base flow from Moloka'i, Hawaii
Geochemical signature of land-based activities in Caribbean coral surface samples
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.