Research Professor
Coastal regions throughout the world are experiencing the impacts of sea-level rise and increased coastal hazards from inundation, storms, and erosion. Detailed knowledge of coastal processes and evolution are critical for understanding vulnerabilities to the various hazards in both natural and built systems. Coastal communities have a growing need for coastal science experts to aid in the development of sound sea-level rise adaptation plans. My research focuses on the geomorphic evolution of coastal systems ranging from barrier islands to rocky coasts and estuarine systems – understanding how coasts are changing now and have changed in the past is critical towards understanding what may happen in the future. Potential future coastal response can be modeled in the context of probabilistic frameworks and the models very dependent on high-resolution elevation data of both the coastline and the adjacent seafloor. I am the coordinator of the Florida Coastal Mapping Program, an initiative to coordinate across federal and state partners to realize the vision of having high-resolution data available for all of Florida’s coastal waters in a decade. Data collected as part of this initiative has application across numerous sectors including research, navigation, restoration, storm surge modeling, fisheries management, and community resilience planning.
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About Cheryl J. Hapke
Coastal regions throughout the world are experiencing the impacts of sea-level rise and increased coastal hazards from inundation, storms, and erosion. Detailed knowledge of coastal processes and evolution are critical for understanding vulnerabilities to the various hazards in both natural and built systems. Coastal communities have a growing need for coastal science experts to aid in the development of sound sea-level rise adaptation plans. My research focuses on the geomorphic evolution of coastal systems ranging from barrier islands to rocky coasts and estuarine systems – understanding how coasts are changing now and have changed in the past is critical towards understanding what may happen in the future. Potential future coastal response can be modeled in the context of probabilistic frameworks and the models very dependent on high-resolution elevation data of both the coastline and the adjacent seafloor. I am the coordinator of the Florida Coastal Mapping Program, an initiative to coordinate across federal and state partners to realize the vision of having high-resolution data available for all of Florida’s coastal waters in a decade. Data collected as part of this initiative has application across numerous sectors including research, navigation, restoration, storm surge modeling, fisheries management, and community resilience planning.
| Present | Research Professor, University of South Florida ‐ College of Marine Science | |
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Disciplines
Research Interests
Grants
| 2018 | Big Bend Demonstration Study |
| NOAA Hurricane Irma Supplemental Funding | |
| $50,000 | |
| 2014 | Investigating Coastal Vulnerability and Processes |
| Hurricane Sandy Supplemental Funding | |
| $4,100,000 | |
| 2011 | Investigating Morphologic Change in Response to Environmental Forcings and Anthropogenic Modifications on Fire Island Beaches |
| USGS National Park Research | |
| $359,000 | |
| 2010 | Coastal Processes Program Development at the University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana |
| Office of Naval Research Coastal Geosciences Program | |
| $76,000 |
Professional Service and Affiliations
| Present | Member, American Geophysical Union | Present | Member, American Shore and Beach Preservation Association | Present | Member, Association of Environmental and Engineering Geologists |
Honors and Awards
- Invited Expert Reviewer, UN 2nd World Ocean Assessment 2020, Chapter 13: Changes in Erosion and Sedimentation
- 2020 Jahns Distinguished Lecturer Award, Geological Society of America and Association of Engineering Geologists
- 2007-2017 yearly USGS Superior or Exceptional Performance Awards
| 2002 | Ph.D., University of California | |
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| 1992 | M.S., University of Maryland | |
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| 1985 | B.S., University of Pittsburgh | |
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Links
Contact Information
Phone: (727) 553-1184
Email:
