Campus Directory

Pronouns he, him, his, his, himself

Division Physical & Biological Sciences Division

Department/College/Unit Institute of Marine Sciences

Title Assistant Project Scientist

Affiliation Staff

Web Site

Primary Office Location Long Marine Lab Ocean Health Building
209

Mail Stop Long Marine Lab

Biography, Education and Training

Dr. Benjamin Norris is a research oceanographer with a Ph.D. in Physical Oceanography from the University of Waikato, New Zealand, and a BSc in Earth Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz. In his Ph.D. thesis, he explored the linkages between tidal currents, waves, and sediment transport in a coastal mangrove forest to understand key bio-physical feedbacks that characterize mangrove ecosystems. Professionally, Benjamin has worked both in private industry as a Hydrologist and for the United States Geological Survey as a Research Oceanographer.

Summary of Expertise

Benjamin's expertise spans coastal, estuarine, and riverine settings, with a focus on nearshore processes and the hydrodynamics of aquatic ecosystems.

Research Interests

Benjamin's research interests include the development of "green infrastructure" or nature-based solutions for mitigating coastal hazards such as flooding and erosion.

Awards, Honors and Grants

• 2020 - 2022 USGS Mendenhall Fellowship, US Geological Survey
• 2014 - 2018 PhD Fellowship, University of Waikato
• 2016 Best PhD Student Presentation, University of Waikato

Selected Presentations

• Norris, B.K., 2022. “The Effect of Natural Coral Reef Roughness on Hydrodynamics and Implications for Reef Restoration Design”, Natural Hazards Mission Area Seminar Series, U.S. Geological Survey
• Norris, B.K., 2022. “The Role of Mangroves and Coral Reefs in Enhancing Coastal Resilience”, St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center Seminar Series, U.S. Geological Survey
• Norris, B.K., 2021. “Small-scale Turbulence and its Influence on Forest-scale Morphodynamics within a Coastal Mangrove Forest”, Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center Seminar Series, U.S. Geological Survey
• Norris, B.K., 2021. “The Effect of Natural Coral Reef Roughness on Hydrodynamics and Implications for Reef Restoration Design”, International Coral Reefs Symposium, Bremen, Germany

Selected Publications

• Norris, B.K., Storlazzi, C.D., Pomeroy, A.W.M., Rosenberger, K.J., Logan, J.B., Cheriton, O.M. “Combining field observations and high-resolution numerical modeling to demonstrate the effect of coral reef roughness on turbulence and its implications for reef restoration design”. Coastal Engineering. 2023. DOI: 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2023.104331

• Norris, B.K., Mullarney, J.C., Bryan, K.R., Henderson, S.M., “Relating Millimeter-scale Turbulence to Meter-scale Subtidal Erosion and Accretion across the Fringe of a Coastal Mangrove Forest.” 2021. Earth Surfaces Processes and Landforms. DOI: 10.1002/esp.5047
• Norris, B.K., Mullarney, J.C., Bryan, K.R., Henderson, S.M. “Turbulence within Natural Mangrove Pneumatophore Canopies”. 2019. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, 124, 2263–2288. DOI: 10.1029/2018JC014562
• Norris, B.K., Mullarney, J.C., Bryan, K.R., Henderson, S.M. “The effect of pneumatophore density on turbulence: a field study in a Sonneratia-dominated mangrove forest, Vietnam. 2017. Continental Shelf Research, 147, 114–127. DOI: 10.1016/j.csr.2017.06.002