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COASTAL HAZARDS - GEO 577
Fall 2025
Grads & Upper-Level Undergrads
Department: Geosciences
Instructor: Chris Russoniello
Location: URI Kingston Campus
Course Overview:
Coastal zones are home to over 40% of the global population—and face escalating risks from climate change, sea-level rise, storms, and human development. This course offers a deep dive into the hazards facing our coastal regions through hands-on fieldwork and lab activities.
This graduate-level course explores the physical processes along global coastlines and the dynamic interactions between coastal hazards and hydrological processes. Students will develop a deep understanding of coastal flooding, sea-level rise, storm surge, and hydrodynamic modeling, along with mitigation strategies for coastal resilience. All will be presented in the context of our changing climate.
Who Should Enroll?
Upper-level undergrads and graduate students in geosciences, civil and ocean engineering, natural resources, and all environment-related fields interested in understanding and addressing coastal hazards through science and engineering solutions.
Key Topics Covered:
Coastal processes
Climate change impacts on coastal systems
Coastal hydrology fundamentals
Groundwater-surface water interactions
Salinization of coastal waters
Storm surge and extreme weather events
Flood risk assessment and mitigation
Numerical modeling of coastal processes
Case studies of major coastal disasters
Policy and management strategies
Hands-on Learning Opportunities:
Fieldwork to characterize coastal morphology, coastal groundwater, surface waters, and impacts on Rhode Island Communities
Data analysis of real-world datasets
Modeling to characterize Groundwater and surface water hazards
Interactive discussions with experts in science and policy
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