Maitane Olabarrieta received her doctorate in marine science and technology from the University of Cantabria in Spain in 2006. Her research interests cover diverse oceanographic and long-term morphodynamic evolution problems that affect our coasts. She studies processes such as atmosphere and ocean momentum exchange processes during hurricanes and extreme storms, the generation mechanisms of meteotsunamis, storm impacts and longer-term evolution of estuaries and coastal areas.

Research in Dr. Olabarrieta’s Coastal Morphodynamics Lab focuses on the processes that drive coastal erosion and flooding under extreme storms and longer-term (seasonal to decadal) inlet and estuarine morphodynamics. One of the main goal is to improve numerical models used to predict coastal change, erosion and flooding. Within the Coastal Morphodynamics Lab, undergraduate and graduate students combine advanced numerical modeling, field surveys and remote sensing.

Primary Research Area

Coastal & Oceanographic Engineering

Other Research Areas

Coastal Ecosystem Dynamics

Research Interests

Coastal hazards and morphodynamics, numerical models and data analysis

Education

B.S., Marine Science, 1999
M.S., Marine Science, 2003
Ph.D., Marine Science, 2006