Coastal Processes & Sediment Dynamics (CPSD) professor.
Biographical Profile
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
School of Earth, Ocean & Env.
Tenure Status
Tenured
International Activity
International Activities
Yes
Type of Activity
Research, Service
Countries
Germany, France, China, Colombia, United Kingdom, Greece, Belgium, Ireland
Institutional Focus Areas
Environmental Sciences, Science and Engineering (Other)
Extended Residence in Foreign Country
Yes
(United Kingdom, Greece)
Speaks Non-English Language
Yes
(Greek, Spanish)
Interest Background
Do you include students in your research?
Undergraduates and Graduates
Interest Keywords
Shoreline evolution; nearshore and beach processes; surf-zone and continental shelf sediment transport; wave-current interaction; sediment re-suspension; hydrodynamic and turbulence measurements in the field and laboratory; time-series analysis; tidal propagation in estuaries and lagoons; numerical model applications to coastal zone; operational oceanography; HFR Surface Radar measurements.
Institutional Focus Areas
Environmental Sciences, Science and Engineering (Other)
Associate Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans, AGU
Positions & Appointments
Dates
Description
Institution/Entity
1990 - 1991
Research Assistant, Department of Oceanography, University of Southampton, United Kingdom
1991 - 1995
Research Fellow, Department of Oceanography, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
10/1995 - 09/1997
Postdoctoral Scholar, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA
10/1997 - 08/1998
Senior Research Fellow, Southampton Oceanography Center, Dept. of Oceanography, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
08/1998 - 12/1998
Visiting Assistant Professor, Marine Science Program and Department of Geological Sciences, University of South Carolina
01/1999 - 12/2004
Assistant Professor, Marine Science Program & Department of Geological Sciences, University of South Carolina
04/1999 - 12/2016
Research Associate, Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research, University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
10/1999 - 10/2004
Visiting Fellow, School of Ocean & Earth Science, Southampton Oceanography Center, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
01/2000 - Present
Associate Faculty, School of the Environment, University of South Carolina
01/2000 - 12/2010
Visiting Scientist, Applied Physical Oceanography and Engineering. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
07/2002 - 12/2002
Interim Undergraduate Studies Director, Marine Science Program, University of South Carolina
01/2005 - 08/2008
Associate Professor, Marine Science Program & Department of Geological Sciences, USC
University of South Carolina
09/2006 - 08/2008
Graduate Studies Director, Dept. Geological Sciences, Univ. of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
07/2008 - Present
Professor
University of South Carolina
09/2014 - 08/2016
Chair, Dept. of Earth and Ocean Sciences
University of South Carolina
08/2016 - 12/2016
Associate Director, School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment
University of South Carolina
01/2017 - 08/2020
Program Director (IPA), Physical Oceanography
National Science Foundation
Recognition Awards, Honors, & Fellowships
Dates
Type
Description
Foundation/Entity
2014
Award
USC Educational Foundation Research Award for Science, Mathematics and Enginnering
University of South Carolina
The two sections below (Awards and Pending Proposals) are only viewable by PIs, business managers, chairs, and deans.
Facilities
Laboratory
http://www.geol.sc.edu/gvoulgar/resources.html
Animal
n/a
Clinical
n/a
Other
http://www.geol.sc.edu/gvoulgar/resources.html
Major Equipment
The ADCPs are used for measuring vertical 3D distribution of the 3-D current field in estuarine and coastal waters
The Aquadopp uses 3 acoustic beams to measure the current profile in water with Doppler technology. It can be deployed on the bottom, on a mooring rig, on a buoy or on any other fixed structure.
Acoustic Backscatter System (AQUAscat): transmits pulses of high frequency sound on up to four different transducers, each of which may operate at a different frequency. It measures the sound scattered by sediment or other suspended materials
Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters (ADVs): they are used in the field and lab to measure 3-D components of flow, and to measure the orbital velocities of waves and marine turbulence. Each unit is integrated with an accurate pressure, temperature, compass and tilt sensor, and a nephelometer (OBS, for suspended sediment concentration).
ADV Triton Directional Wave Gauge: This ADV is a smaller, light weight version of the ADV Hydra which also has an auto velocity-range adjustment feature.
Benthic Boundary Layer Tripod: used for the study of bottom turbulence due to combined action of waves and currents, and resulting sediment resuspension and transport process.
Digital Multi-Frequency Imaging Sonar: the sonar can image the sea bed by rotating either 180 or 360 degrees, using various frequencies.
Dual Frequency Echosounder DGPS Integrated System: it is used for measuring the distance from the sea surface to the ocean bottom, and can measure coastal ocean and lagoon bathymetry.
Electronic Total Station, GTS-700: an instrument used for measuring the 3-D coordinates of geomorhological features. Beach profiles and the other features can be accurately measured using this instrument.
LISST-100 (Laser In-Situ Scattering and Transmissometry) Particle Size Analyzer: used both in the field and the laboratory to obtain information on particle size spectra and concentration within each size fraction.
Conductivity, Temperature, Depth (CTD) Unit: The CTD is used in the field and lab to measure conductivity and temperature of the water as a function of depth. The water density can be estimated and different water masses identified (i.e., fresh vs. sea water). It is integrated with a nephelometer (OBS) for measurement of the sediment in suspension.