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Steven J. Lentz

Seward Johnson Chair
Physical Oceanographer
Senior Scientist
Department of Physical Oceanography
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MS 21
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543
slentz@whoi.edu

Professional Experience:

2000-present   Senior Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

1991-2000       Associate Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (tenure granted 1995)

1987-1991       Assistant Scientist, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

1985-1987       Visiting Investigator, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

1984-1985       Research Assistant, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

1978-1984       Graduate Research Assistant, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Graduated summa cum laude, Mathematics and Applied Mechanics & Engineering Science, 1977

AGU Fellow, 2009

Member, American Geophysical Union
Member, American Meteorological Society


Educational Activities:
Education Coordinator Physical Oceanography (2006 – 2012).

Courses taught (MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography):
Dynamics of Shelf Circulation (1986, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2004)

Guest lecturer:
Estuarine and coastal fluid dynamics summer school Friday Harbor 2003, 2009, 2012.
WHOI summer Geophysical Fluid Dynamics summer program 2007.
Alpine Summer School on Buoyant Flows (Italy) 2010.
Lecture, Palau undergrads, September 2011

Advising:
Ph.D. Students MIT/WHOI: E. Dever (1991-1995), J. Austin (1994 -1998), M. Bowen (1995-1999, with W. R. Geyer), M. Fewings (2003 - 2007), R. Horwitz (2006 – 2012)

Post-Doctoral Scholars: K. Shearman (2001 - 2002), Anthony Kirincich (2007-2009), Kristen Davis (2009-2010)   

Ph.D. dissertation committees: MIT/WHOI Joint program - J. LaCase (1992-1996), D. Fong (1994-1998), J. Pringle (1994-1998), S. Werner (1996-1999), L. Garland  (1994-1999),  J. Thompson (2003-2007), C. Moffat (2003 – 2007), A. Apostos (2004 – 2007), J. Benthuysen (2006 – 2010), E. Logvinov (2008 – 2010), V. Pavel (2008 – 2012); R. Chen (2009 - present); N. Woods (2009 - present); W. Bernstein (Biology 2010 - present); M. Oltmanns (2011 - present); S. Rennie (1994-1997), Virginia Institute of Marine Science; C. Janzen  (1997-2000), University of Delaware, H. Deese (2008 – 2009), University of Maine. 

Summer Student Fellows: S. Patch (1989 and 1990), M. Carr (1996), T. Connolly (2002), K. Silverthorne (2003), Orianna DeMasi (2007), Liam O'Suilleabhain (2009)

Selected Professional Activities:

• Coastal Ocean Institute Rep for PO Department, 2011 –
• Chaired Promotion Committee, 2011-
• Gordon Research Conference on Coastal Ocean Circulation:  Vice Chair, 2003; Chair 2005
• Gender Equity Program Advisory Committee, 1990-2005
• Mentoring Physical Oceanography Women to Increase Retention (MPOWIR); Workshop participant (October, 2005); Pattullo Conference (May, 2008)
• Editorial Board, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 2007-
• Physical Oceanography Education coordinator (WHOI):  January, 2006 - present

• CODE (Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment)
• SMILE (Shelf Mixed Layer Experiment)
• AMASSEDS (A Multidisciplinary Amazon Shelf Sediment Study)
• CoOP Duck (Coastal Ocean Processes Study off Duck, N.C.)
• GLOBEC Georges Bank (Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics)
• CM&O (Coastal Mixing and Optics)

Author or co-author of more than 70 refereed scientific publications (list below) 

Refereed Publications

Cowles, G. W., S. J. Lentz, C. Chen, Q. Xu, and R. C. Beardsley, 2008. Comparison of observed and model-computed low frequency circulation and hydrography on the New England shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research, 113, C09015, doi:10.1029/2007JC004394.

Lentz, S. J., M. Fewings, P. Howd, J. Fredericks, and K. Hathaway, 2008. Observations and a model of undertow over the inner continental shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 38, 2341 – 2357.

Fewings, M., S. J. Lentz, and J. Fredericks, 2008. Observations of cross-shore flow driven by cross-shore winds on the inner continental shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 38, 2358 -2378.

Lentz, S. J., 2008. Seasonal variations in the circulation of the Middle Atlantic Bight continental shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 38, 1486-1500.

Lentz, S. J., 2008. Observations and a model of the mean circulation over the Middle Atlantic Bight continental shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 38, 1203-1221.

Sobarzo, M., Shearman, R. K., and S. J. Lentz, 2007. Near-inertial motions over the continental shelf off Concepcion, Central Chile.  Progress in Oceanography, 75, 348-362.

Lentz, S. J., and J. Largier, 2006. The influence of wind forcing on the Chesapeake Bay buoyant coastal current. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 36(7),  1305-1316.

Chapman, D. C., and S. J. Lentz, 2005. Acceleration of a stratified current over a sloping bottom, driven by an alongshelf pressure gradient. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 35(8), 1305-1317.

Lentz, S. J., 2004. The response of buoyant coastal plumes to upwelling-favorable winds. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 34(11), 2458-2469.

Lentz, S. J., and D. C. Chapman, 2004. The importance of non-linear cross-shelf momentum flux during wind-driven coastal upwelling. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 34(11), 2444-2457.

Plueddemann, Albert J., Steven J. Lentz, and Eugene A. Terray, 2003. Comparison of five current meters in a tidally dominated flow.  Current Measurement Technology, 2003,  Proceedings of the IEEE/OES Seventh Working Conference on Current Measurement Technology, 13-15 March 2003 Page(s): 176 – 181. 

Shearman, R. K., and S. J. Lentz, 2004. Observations of tidal variability on the New England Shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research, 109, C06010,doi:10.1029/2003JC001972.

Shearman, R. K., and S. J. Lentz, 2003. Dynamics of mean and subtidal flow on the New England Shelf, Journal of Geophysical Research, 108(C8), 3281, doi:10.1029/2002 HC991416.

Beardsley, R. C., S. J. Lentz, R. A. Weller, R. Limeburner, J. D. Irish, and J. B. Edson, 2003. Surface forcing on the southern flank of Georges Bank February–August 1995. Journal of Geophysical Research, (GLOBEC special section), 108(C11), 8007, doi:10.1029/2002 JC001359.

Werner, S. R., R. C. Beardsley, S. J. Lentz, D. Hebert, and N. Oakey, 2003. Observations and modeling of the tidal bottom boundary layer on the southern flank of Georges Bank. Journal of Geophysical Research, (GLOBEC Special Issue), 108(C11), 8005, doi:10.1029/ 2001JC001271.

Lentz, S. J., R. C. Beardsley, J. D. Irish, J. Manning, P. C. Smith, and R. A. Weller, 2003. Temperature and salt balances on Georges Bank February-August 1995. Journal of Geophysical Research, 108(C11), doi:10.1029/2001JC001220.

Lentz, S. J., 2003. A climatology of salty intrusions over the continental shelf from Georges Bank to Cape Hatteras. Journal of Geophysical Research, 108(C10), 3326, doi: 10.1029/ 2003JC001859.

Lentz, S. J., S. Elgar, and R. T. Guza, 2003. Observations of the flow field near the nose of a buoyant coastal current. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 33, 933-943.

Lentz, S., K Shearman, S. Anderson, A. Plueddemann, and J. Edson, 2003. Evolution of stratification over the New England shelf during the Coastal Mixing and Optics study, August 1996-June 1997. Journal of Geophysical Research, 108(C1), 3008, doi:10.1029/ 2001JC001121.

Pawlowicz, R., R. Beardsley, and S. Lentz, 2002. Classical tidal harmonic analysis with errors in MATLAB using T_TIDE. Computers and Geosciences, 28(8), 929-937.

Lentz, S. J., and K. R. Helfrich, 2002. Buoyant gravity currents along a sloping bottom in a rotating fluid. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 464, 251-278.

Garland, E. D., C. A. Zimmer, and S. J. Lentz, 2002. Larval distributions in inner-shelf waters: The roles of wind-driven cross-shelf currents and diel vertical migrations. Limnology and Oceanography, 47(3), 803-817.

Austin, J. A., and S. J. Lentz, 2002. The inner shelf response to wind-driven upwelling and downwelling. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 32(7), 2171-2193.

Lentz, S. J., 2001. The influence of stratification on the wind-driven cross-shelf circulation over the North Carolina shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 31(9), 2749-2760.

Lentz, S., and J. Trowbridge, 2001. A dynamical description of fall and winter mean current profiles over the northern California Shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 31(4), 914-931.

Lentz, S., M. Carr, and T. H. C. Herbers, 2001. Barotropic tides on the North Carolina shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 31(7), 1843-1859.

Trowbridge, J. H., and S. J. Lentz, 1998. Dynamics of the bottom boundary layer on the northern California shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanograpy, 28(10), 2075-2093.

Shay, L. K., S. J. Lentz, H. C. Graber, and B. K. Haus, 1999. Current structure variations detected by high frequency radar and vector measuring current meters. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 15(1), Part 2, 237-256.

Lentz, S., and B. Raubenheimer, 1999. Field observations of wave setup. Journal of Geophysical Research, 104(C11), 25,867-25,875.

Rennie, S. E., J. L. Largier, and S. J. Lentz, 1999. Observations of a pulsed buoyancy current downstream of Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Geophysical Research, 104(C8), 18,227-18,240.

Lentz, S., R. T. Guza, S. Elgar, F. Feddersen, and T. H. C. Herbers, 1999. Momentum balances on the North Carolina inner shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research, 104(C8), 18,205-18,226.

Austin, J. A., and S. J. Lentz, 1999. The relationship between synoptic weather systems and meteorological forcing on the North Carolina inner shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research, 104(C8), 18,159-18,185.

Beardsley, R. C., E. P. Dever, S. J. Lentz, and J. P. Dean, 1998. Surface heat flux variability over the northern California shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research, 103(C10), 21,553-21,586.

Chapman, D. C., and S. J. Lentz, 1997. Adjustment of stratified flow over a sloping bottom. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 27(2), 340-356.

Geyer, W. R., R. C. Beardsley, S. J. Lentz, J. Candela, R. Limeburner, W. E. Johns, B. M. Castro, and I. D. Soares, 1996. Physical oceanography of the Amazon Shelf. Continental Shelf Research, 16 (AMASSEDS Special Issue), 575-616.

Limeburner, R., R. C. Beardsley, I. D. Soares, S. J. Lentz, and J. Candela, 1995. Lagrangian flow observations of the Amazon River discharge in the North Atlantic. Journal of Geophysical Research, 100(C2), 2401-2415.

Lentz, S. J., B. Butman, and A. J. Williams, III., 1995. A comparison of BASS and VACM current observations during STRESS. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 12(6), 1328-1337.

Lentz, S. J., and R. Limeburner, 1995. The Amazon River Plume during AMASSEDS: Spatial characteristics and salinity variability. Journal of Geophysical Research, 100(C2), 2355-2375.

Lentz, S. J., 1995. U.S. contributions to the physical oceanography of continental shelves in the early 1990's. Reviews of Geophysics, Supplement 33(2), 1225-1236.

Lentz, S. J., 1995. The Amazon River Plume during AMASSEDS: Subtidal current variability and the importance of wind forcing. Journal of Geophysical Research, 100(C2), 2377-2390.

Lentz, S. J., 1995. Sensitivity of the inner-shelf circulation to the form of the eddy viscosity profile. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 25(1), 19-28.

Lentz, S. J., 1995. Seasonal variations in the horizontal structure of the Amazon Plume inferred from historical hydrographic data. Journal of Geophysical Research, 100(C2), 2391-2400.

Beardsley, R. C., J. Candela, R. Limeburner, W. R. Geyer, S. J. Lentz, B. M. Castro, D. Cacchione, and N. Carneiro, 1995. The M₂ tide on the Amazon Shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research, 100(C2), 2283-2319.

Samelson, R. M., and S. J. Lentz, 1994. The horizontal momentum balance in the marine atmospheric boundary layer during CODE-2. Journal of Atmospheric Sciences, 51(24), 3745-3757.

Lentz, S. J., 1994. Current dynamics over the northern California inner shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 24(12), 2461-2478.

Dever, E. P., and S. J. Lentz, 1994. Heat and salt balances over the northern California shelf in winter and spring. Journal of Geophysical Research, 99(C8), 16,001-16,017.

Chapman, D. C., and S. J. Lentz, 1994. Trapping of a coastal density front by the bottom boundary layer. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 24(7), 1464-1479.

Lentz, S. J., 1993. The accuracy of tide-gauge measurements at subtidal frequencies. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 10(2), 238-245.

Patch, S. K., E. P. Dever, R. C. Beardsley, and S. J. Lentz, 1992. Response characteristics of the VACM compass and vane follower. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 9(4), 459-469.

Lentz, S. J., 1992. The surface boundary layer in coastal upwelling regions. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 22(12), 1517-1539.

Trowbridge, J. H., and S. J. Lentz, 1991. Asymmetric behavior of an oceanic boundary layer above a sloping bottom. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 21(8), 1171-1185.

Lentz, S. J., and J. H. Trowbridge, 1991. The bottom boundary layer over the northern California shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 21(8), 1186-1201.

Lentz, S. J., and D. C. Chapman, 1989. Seasonal differences in the current and temperature variability over the northern California shelf during the Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment (CODE). Journal of Geophysical Research, 94(C9), 12,571-12,572.

Huyer, A., P. M. Kosro, S. J. Lentz, and R. C. Beardsley, 1989. Poleward flow in the California Current System. In: Poleward Flows Along Eastern Ocean Boundaries, S. J. Neshyba, Christopher N. K. Mooers, R. L. Smith and R. T. Barber (editors), Coastal and Estuarine Studies, 34, 142-159.

Chapman, D. C., S. J. Lentz, and K. H. Brink, 1988. A comparison of empirical and dynamical hindcasts of low-frequency, wind-driven motions over a continental shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research, 93(C10), 12,409-12,422.

Lentz, S. J., 1987. A heat budget for the northern California Shelf during CODE-2. Journal of Geophysical Research, 92(C13), 14,491-14,509.

Lentz, S. J., 1987. A description of the 1981 and 1982 spring transitions over the northern California Shelf. Journal of Geophysical Research, 92(C2), 1545-1568.

Beardsley, R. C., and S. J. Lentz, 1987. The Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment (CODE) collection: An Introduction. Journal of Geophysical Research, 92(C2), 1455-1463.

Lentz, S. J., and C. D. Winant, 1986. Subinertial currents on the southern California Shelf. Journal of Physical Oceanography, 16, 1737-1750.

Books

Lentz, S., 2012.  Buoyant coastal currents. Buoyancy-Driven Flows, Eric P. Chassignet, Claudia Cenedese, and Jacques Verron, Eds., Cambridge University Press, 164-202.

Lentz, S. J., editor, 1990. CODE (Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment): A Collection of Reprints. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 817 + vii pp.

Non-refereed Publications

Irish, J., A. Plueddemann, and S. J. Lentz, 1995. A comparison of ADCP and VMCM/VACM current observations. Proceedings of the IEEE Fifth Working Conference on Current Measurements, February 7-9, 1995, St. Petersburg, FL., Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York; pp. 59-64.

Geyer, Wayne R., Robert C. Beardsley, Julio Candela, B. Castro, R. Legeckis, Steven J. Lentz, Richard Limeburner, L. Miranda, and John H. Trowbridge, 1991. The physical oceanography of the Amazon outflow. Oceanography, 4, 8-14.

Patch, Sarah K., Robert C. Beardsley, and Steven J. Lentz, 1990. A note on the response characteristics of the VACM compass. In: Proceedings of the IEEE Fourth Working Conference on Current Measurements, G. F. Appell and T. B. Curtin, editors; Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York; pp. 129-133.

AmasSeds Research Group, 1990. A multidisciplinary Amazon Shelf Sediment Study. Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union, 71(45), 1771, 1776-1777.

Lentz, Steven J., 1988. The surface boundary layer over the continental shelf. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 1988 Annual Report, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, pp. 23-25.

Lentz, Steven J., 1986. The spatial coherence of motions in the ocean offshore of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station during the winter. Final Report to the Marine Review Committee, Solana Beach, California, 47 pp.

Thesis

Lentz, Steven J., 1984. Subinertial motions on the southern California Continental Shelf. Ph.D. dissertation, University of California, San Diego, 145 pp.

Technical Reports

Galbraith, N., A. Plueddemann, S. Lentz, S. Anderson, M. Baumgartner, and J. Edson, 1999. Coastal mixing and optics experiment moored array data report. Woods Hole Oceana-graphic Institution Technical Report WHOI-99-15, 162 pp.

Galbraith, Nancy, William Ostrom, Bryan Way, Steve Lentz, Steve Anderson, Mark Baumgartner, Al Plueddemann, and Jim Edson, 1997. Coastal mixing and optics experiment: Mooring deployment cruise report, R/V Oceanus Cruise Number 284, July 31-August 11, 1996. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Technical Report WHOI-97-13, 92 pp.

Beardsley, R. C., S. J. Lentz, R. A. Weller, J. D. Irish, K. H. Brink, and R. Limeburner, 1997. A preliminary description of the heat budget, southern flank of Georges Bank, spring-summer, 1996. ICES Council Meeting Papers, International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), Copenhagen (Denmark), 4 pp.

Marquette, C., and S. J. Lentz, 1996. Evaluation and modification of SeaBird's Seagauge pressure recorder. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Upper Ocean Processes Group, Technical Note 16, 2 pp.

Alessi, C., S. J. Lentz, and J. Austin, 1996. Coastal ocean processes inner-shelf study: Coastal and moored physical oceanographic measurements. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Technical Report WHOI-96-06, 142 pp.

Lentz, Steve, William Ostrom, and Richard Pieper, 1995. GLOBEC stratification process study mooring recovery, R/V Endeavor Cruise No.271 to Georges Bank, August22-27, 1995. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Mass., 54 pp.

Fredericks, J. J., J. H. Trowbridge, A. J. Williams III, S. J. Lentz, B. Butman, and T. F. Gross, 1993. Fluid mechanical measurements within the bottom boundary layer over the northern California continental shelf during STRESS. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Technical Report WHOI-93-32, 116 pp.

Alessi, C. A., S. J. Lentz, R. C. Beardsley, B. Castro, and W. R. Geyer, 1992. A Multi-disciplinary Amazon Shelf SEDiment Study (AmasSeds): Physical oceanography, moored array component, and data presentation. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Technical Report WHOI-92-36, 100 pp.

Alessi, C. A., S. J. Lentz, and R. C. Beardsley, 1991. Shelf Mixed Layer Experiment (SMILE) Program Description and Coastal and Moored Array Data Report. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Technical Report WHOI-91-39, 221 pp.

Winant, D. Clinton, U. Send, and Steven J. Lentz, 1985. CODE-2: Moored current observations. In: CODE-2: Moored array and large-scale data report, Richard Limeburner, editor; Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Technical Report WHOI-85-35, pp. 73-107.

Lentz, Steven J., and Clinton D. Winant, 1979. Ocean Station Del Mar current meter campaign 1978-1979 data report. SIO Reference No.79-27, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 77 pp.