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  Gary B Griggs

Gary B Griggs

Distinguished Professor of Earth Sciences

831-459-5006

831-459-4882 (Fax)

 

he, him, his, his, himself

Physical & Biological Sciences Division

Earth & Planetary Sciences Department
Institute of Marine Sciences

Distinguished Professor of Earth Sciences

Faculty

Environmental Studies Department
Coastal Science & Policy Program

Regular Faculty

Climate Change
Earth Sciences
Geology
Hydrology
Marine Sciences
Ocean Studies
Oceanography
Water

Earth & Marine Sciences
A-361

Earth & Marine Sciences A361

Earth and Planetary Sciences

B.A., Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara (1965)
Ph.D., Oceanography, Oregon State University (1968)

Coastal Processes and Hazards, Coastal Engineering, Impacts and Adaptation to Sea Level Rise

Gary Griggs' research is focused on the coastal zone and ranges from coastal evolution and development, through shoreline processes, coastal hazards, coastal engineering, and sea level rise. Recent research projects have focused on documenting and understanding coastal erosion processes including temporal and spatial variations in rates of retreat; evaluating the effectiveness of coastal protection structures and the impacts of coastal engineering projects (seawalls, jetties, breakwaters) on coastal processes and beaches; evaluating beach processes and quantifying littoral cell budgets and human impacts on these budgets; impacts of extreme events such as El Ninos) on coastlines; the impacts of sea-level rise on California's beaches and coastline; and coastal policies to reduce the impacts of hazards and sea level rise.

Coastal Geology, Oceanography

 

1974-75: Fulbright Fellow- Institute of Oceanographic Research, Athens, Greece

1998: University of California, Santa Cruz, Division of Natural Sciences- Outstanding Faculty Award (teaching-research-service)

2001: Distinguished Alumnus Award- Geological Sciences Department, University of California Santa Barbara

2003: American Shore and Beach Preservation Association: Joe Johnson Coastal Research Award

2006: University of California Santa Cruz: Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award

2006: University of California: Santa Cruz Pioneer Faculty Award

2007: Ed Ricketts Award for Sustained Research in Marine Science- Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.

2009: California Coastal Commission/Sunset Magazine California Coastal Hero award.

2010: Elected to California Academy of Sciences.

2012: Appointed to the California Ocean Sciences Trust

2016: Laura Hecox Naturalist of the Year Award, Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History

2018: Global Oceans Hero - Seymour Marine Discovery Center, University of California Santa Cruz

2018: Lifetime Achievement Award - Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce

2022: American Shore and Beach Preservation Association - Robert Dean Coastal Academic Award

 

 

 

Lester, C., Griggs, G., Patsch, K. and Anderson, R. 2022. Shoreline retreat in California: Taking a step back. Journal of Coastal Research 38:5:1207-1230.

 

Griggs, G.B. 2022. The Ominous Ocean: Rogue Waves, Rip Currents and other Dangers Along the Shoreline and at Sea. Sheridan House 184p. Book

 

Mercaldi, B., Brideau, L., Tait, J. and Griggs, G. 2022. Seasonal morphological variability on estuarine beaches and implications for low energy beach management. Journal of Coastal Research 38(6): 1135-1147.

 

Griggs, Gary. 2022. Sea Level is Rising and We’re in the Way. Catamaran Literary Reader. June 2022: pp 15-21. 

 

Griggs, G. 2022. For flood prone cities, sea walls raise as many questions as they answer. The Conversation: https://theconversation.com/for-flood-prone-cities-seawalls-raise-as-many-questions-as-they-answer-162587

 

Griggs, G.B., 2021. The importance of geologic structure and stratigraphy to cliff morphology along the northern Monterey Bay coastline, central California. Physical Geography: Special Issue in Honor of Antony Orme. https://doi.org/10.1080/02723646.2020.1868126

 

Griggs, G. 2021. Rising Seas in California – An Update on Sea-Level Rise Science (A Summary Report), Encyclopedia of Climate Change, Chapter 16, pp. 105-11;  https://doi.org/10.1142/9789811213960_0016

 

Reguero, B. and Griggs, G. 2021 (Editors). Adaptation to Coastal Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise. Water, Special Issue. Climate Change & Sea-Level Rise

 

Reguero, B. and Griggs, G. 2021. Editorial: Adaptation to Coastal Climate and Sea-Level Rise. Water: Special Issue 13 - Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise, pp.1-6.

 

Anderson, R., Patsch K., Lester, C. and Griggs, G. 2020. Adapting to Shoreline Retreat: Finding a Path Forward. Shore and Beach 88(4) 13-33.

 

Patsch, K. and Griggs, G. 2021. California harbor dredging: history and trends. Shore and Beach 89(3) 13-25. http://doi.org/10.34237/1008932

 

Griggs, G. and Reguero, B. 2021. Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: An Introduction to the Special of Water. Water 2021/13, pp.1-25. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13162151

 

Davar. L., Griggs, G.B., Danehkar, A., Salmanmahiny, A., Azarnivand, H., Naimi, B. 2021. A Spatial Integrated SLR Adaptive Management Plan Framework (SISAMP) Toward Sustainable Coasts. Water: Special Issue- Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise. Water 2021, 13, 2263. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13162263

 

Davar, L., Danehkar, A., Salmanmahini, A., Azarnivand, H., Naimi, B., Griggs, G. (2021). Coastal Exposure to Sea-Level Rise under Climate Change Scenarios A Case Study: Southern Coast of Iran along the Sea of Oman. Journal of Natural Environment, 74(1), 55-68. https://doi: 10.22059/jne.2021.295179.1883

Griggs, G.B. 2021. Is Building Walls around our Threatened Coastal Cities the Best Long-Term Solution to Extreme Events and Rising Sea Level? Coastal Management. 50(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/08920753.2022.2006872

 

Reguero, B. and Griggs, G. 2021. Editorial: Adaptation to Coastal Climate and Sea-Level Rise. Water: Special Issue 13 - Coastal Adaptation to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise, pp.1-6

  

Griggs, G.B., 2020. Coastal airports and rising sea levels. Journal of Coastal Research. https://doi.org/10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-20A-00004.1

 

Griggs, G., Patsch, K., Lester, C., and Anderson, R. 2020. Groins, Sand Retention, and the Future of Southern California’s Beaches. Shore and Beach: 88(2): 14-36.  

 

Griggs, G. and Patsch, K. 2019. California’s coastal development: Sea-level rise and extreme events – where do we go from here? Shore and Beach 87:2: 15-28.

 

Griggs, G. and Patsch, K. 2019. The Protection/Hardening of California’s Coast- Times are Changing. Journal of Coastal Research: 35:5:1051-1061.

 

Griggs, G.B. 2019. Our Ocean Backyard- Collected Essays Volume II (book). Creative Space. 331p.

 

Griggs, G., Divar, L., and Reguero, B. 2019. Documenting a Century of Coastline Change along Central California and Associated Challenges from the Qualitative to the Quantitative. Water 2019, 11(12), 2648; https://doi.org/10.3390/w11122648

 

Griggs, G.B. 2018. Between Paradise and Peril: The Natural Disaster History of the Monterey Bay Region (book). Monterey Bay Press, 198pp.

Griggs, G.B. and Patsch, K. 2018. Natural changes and human impacts on the sand budgets and beach widths of the Zuma and Santa Monica Littoral Cells, Southern California, Shore and Beach 86(1): 1-14.

 

Griggs, G.B. & others. 2018.  California’s Ocean and Coast Summary Report: Advancing Climate Change Adaptation for California’s Coast and Ocean Communities. California’s 4th Climate Assessment.

 

Griggs, G.B. 2018. Between Paradise and Peril: The Natural Disaster History of the Monterey Bay Region (book). Monterey Bay Press, 198 pp.

 

Griggs, G.B., 2017. The Yorkshire coast of England: Resilient development along a rapidly eroding coastline, Shore and Beach 85(1): 1-11.

 

Griggs, G.B., 2017. Coasts in Crisis- A Global Challenge (book). University of California Press, 338p.

 

Steinhardt, Kim and Griggs, Gary, 2017. The Edge - The Pressured Past and Precarious Future of California’s Coast (book), Craven Street Books, 299p.

 

Griggs, G., Cayan, D., Tebaldi, C., Fricker, H.A., Arvai, J., DeConto, R., Kopp, R.E., and Whiteman, E.A. (California Ocean Science Protection Council Advisory Team Working Group) 2017. Rising Seas in California: An update on sea-level rise science. California Ocean Sciences Trust, 71p.

 

Griggs, G.B. and Kinsman, N., 2016. Beach widths, cliff slopes, and artificial nourishment along the California Coast, Shore and Beach 84(1): 1-12.

 

Griggs, G. B., 2015. Lost Neighborhoods of the California Coast, Journal of Coastal Research 30(1): 129-147.

 

Griggs, G.B. 2015. The California Coastal Records Project: A globally accessible record of coastal change, Shore and Beach 83(2): 1-14.

 

Griggs, G.B. and Ross, D.S., 2014. The California Coast from the Air- Images of a Changing Landscape(book). Mountain Press, Missoula, Mt. 176p.

 

Hapke, C.J. Adams, P.N., Allan, J. Ashton, A. Griggs, G.B., Hampton, M.A., Kelly, J., and Young, A. 2014. The rock coast of the USA. Chapter 9, In: Geological Society of London Memoir: Rocky Coast Geomorphology: A Global Synthesis, 40: 137-154.

 

Atwater, B.F., Carson, B., Griggs, G.B., Johnson, H.P., and Salmi, M.S. 2014. Rethinking turbidite paleoseismology along the Cascadia subduction zone. Geology: 42(9): 827-830.

 

Griggs, G.B. 2014. Our Ocean Backyard- Collected Essays (book). Creative Space. 542p. 

Russell, N.L. and Griggs, G.B. 2013. California sea-level rise vulnerability and adaptation guidance document: A summary report. Shore and Beach 81(1): 1-7.

 

Caldwell, M. R., Hartge, E. H., Ewing, L. C., Griggs, G., Kelly, R. P., Moser, S. C., Newkirk, S. G., Smyth, R. A., & Woodson, C. B. 2013. Coastal Issues. In: Garfin, G., Jardine, A., Merideth, R., Black, M., & LeRoy, S. (Eds.), Assessment of Climate Change in the Southwest United States: a Report Prepared for the National Climate Assessment. A report by the Southwest Climate Alliance. Washington, DC: Island Press: Chapter 9: 168-196.

 

Russell, N.L. and Griggs, G.B., 2013. City of Santa Barbara sea-level rise vulnerability assessment: A summary report. Shore and Beach 81(4): 38-51.

Andeson, J., Griggs, G., & Nichols, R.J. and Uhlenbrock, K. 2013. Adapting to Shifting Tides: Science and the Policy Implications of Coastal Change. EOS: 94(47): 435.

Russell, N.L. and Griggs, G.B. 2012. Adapting to Sea Level Rise- A Guide for California’s Coastal Communities. California Energy Commission-Public Interest Environmental Research Program and California Ocean Sciences Trust: 52p.

 

Atwater, B.F., and Griggs, G.B., 2012, Deep-sea turbidites as guides to Holocene earthquake history at the Cascadia Subduction  Zone; Alternative views for a seismic-hazard workshop: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012-1043, 58 p., available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2012/1043/.

 

Griggs, G.B. and Russell, N.L., 2012. City of Santa Barbara: Sea-level rise vulnerability study. California Energy Commission Public Interest Energy Research Program, 87p.

 

National Research Council, 2012. Sea-Level Rise for the Coasts of California, Oregon and Washington: Past, Present and Future. The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C., 274pp.

Griggs, G.B., 2011. 1965: The recovery of the first ocean floor evidence of great Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquakes. EOS, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union v. 92(39): 325-326.

 

Orme, A.R., Griggs, G.B., Revell, D.L., Zoulas, J.G., Grandy, C.C., and Koo, J. 2011. Beach changes along the Southern California coast during the twentieth century: A comparison of natural and human forcing factors. Shore and Beach 79(4): 38-50.

Griggs, G.B. 2010. Introduction to California’s Beaches and Coast. (book). University of California Press, 311p.

 

 

Oceanography
Coastal Geology
Coasts in Crisis
Earth Sciences Mentorship

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