About Us
The Coastal Geology Group is an affiliation of researchers, technicians, and graduate students within the Department of Geology and Geophysics that conduct investigations of shoreline change, carbonate geology, reef geology, sedimentology and coastal morphodynamics. In the belief that many minds are better than one, we make it a goal to assist one another in our research projects. In so doing we expand our horizons, acquire new skills and life becomes more interesting with a diversity of field and laboratory experiences. In general, we seek to improve our understanding of coastal change through time. This requires research investigation on a range of spatial and temporal scales.
The Team
Current members of the group and their research focus include:
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Chip Fletcher leads the Coastal Geology Group, advising the research efforts of six students and four technical assistants. Chip maintains important professional ties with federal, state, and county agencies and continues his research in coastal hazards and shoreline evolution. He is also active in the national and international scientific community where he collaborates on investigations of coastal sedimentology and stratigraphy, Quaternary geology of carbonate systems, and sea-level studies. He is currently missing field research very very much. e-mail: fletcher@soest.hawaii.edu phone: 808-956-2582 Faculty Profile |
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Matthew Barbee, research technician currently manages an update to the soft-copy photogrammatry study of the historical shoreline changes along the coast of Maui, creates maps and products visualizing and quantifying sea level rise scenarios and potential impacts to the coastal zone of Hawaii, and refining techniques to derive bathymetry from satellite sensor data. He is also a graduate student in Geography focusing on remote sensing, GIS and cartographic representation. e-mail: mbarbee@hawaii.edu phone: 808-956-6754 |
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Brad Romine, is a Phd candidate in Coastal Geology at the University of Hawaii. e-mail: romine@hawaii.edu phone: 808-956-3605
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Tiffany Anderson, is a Phd candidate in Coastal Geology at the University of Hawaii. e-mail: tranders@hawaii.edu phone: 808-956-3605
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Haunane Kane is an MS candidate in Coastal Geology at the University of Hawaii. Haunani is currently assisting the Coastal Geology group by investigating the spatial and temporal effects that sea-level rise may have upon wetlands and other coastal ecosystems. This analysis is done through DEM building, inundation mapping, and the use of a local relative model of SLR. As an undergraduate, Haunani assessed the vulnerability of cultural assets due to erosion using shoreline trend techniques. e-mail: hkane@hawaii.edu phone: 808-956-3605 |
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Hannah Cooper is a Research Assistant and Master's candidate in Geography at the University of Hawaii. She is currently working on projects within the Hawaiian Islands by building DEMs, mapping the impacts of sea-level rise on coastal communities, and producing advanced cartographic products that integrate geographic information systems, LiDAR datasets, shoreline change analysis, and aerial photogrammetry. e-mail: hannahco@hawaii.edu phone: 808-956-6754 |
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Laura Corley is a student researcher, working on her B.S. in Geology and Geophysics at the University of Hawaii. She is currently working on the orthorectification and mosaicing of aerial photography of the West Maui coastline, as part of the study of historical shoreline changes. During her internship for the McNair Student Achievement Program, she completed a study of West Maui reef-top sand fields for the Army Corps of Engineers' regional sediment management project. |