San Francisco Bight Coastal Processes Study

Researcher Biographies

Patrick Barnard
USGS, Coastal Geologist

Pacific Coastal & Marine Science Center
400 Natural Bridges Drive
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
(831) 460-7556
pbarnard@usgs.gov

Role: Principal Investigator, beach, nearshore and multibeam mapping and analysis, numerical modeling, and coastal evolution
Background: Patrick Barnard joined the USGS and initiated the Ocean Beach Coastal Processes study in October 2003. The study has since morphed into the much broader scope of the San Francisco Bight Coastal Processes Study. Along with Dan Hanes, Patrick manages this project, and leads field operations and research in beach, nearshore and multibeam mapping, sediment transport, and numerical modeling. Patrick received his B.A. in Geology from Williams College (1995), his M.S. in Coastal Geology from University of South Florida (1998), and his Ph.D. from UC Riverside (2003), where he studied landscape evolution in the High Himalayas. Patrick returned to the coast after completing his dissertation to work for the USGS and build on his background in coastal geology, geomorphology and sediment transport.

Li Erikson
USGS, Coastal Engineer

Role: Video and instrument data analysis, numerical modeling
Background: Li Erikson is investigating the nearshore processes at Ocean Beach and is primarily responsible for extracting quantitative information from the still and video cameras located on the roof of the nearby Cliff House Restaurant. Li has been working at the USGS since May 2005 and comes with a rather broad background in environmental and coastal engineering.  Her early work focused on contaminated soils and pollutant transport in ground- and surface water.  For her M.S. (University of Rhode Island, 1998), she studied the flushing times of an embayment in the upper reaches of Narragansett Bay.  Her more recent interests, as exemplified in her doctoral dissertation (Lund Institute of Technology, Lund, Sweden, 2005), include surf and swash zone hydrodynamics in addition to dune erosion and beach changes.

Thomas Reiss
USGS, Research Oceanographer

Role: GPS survey specialist

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Ann Gibbs
USGS, Coastal Geologist

Role: Video camera operations and analysis