Research

MODIS Image of Mississippi River Deltaic Plain

NOAA MODIS Image, April 7, 2009

Research Interests

  • Geological oceanography
  • Coastal morphodynamics
  • Observation and numerical modeling of sediment transport
  • Sediment dynamics of bottom boundary layer
  • Sedimentary geology
  • Coastal processes

Selected Research Grants

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine,  GRP Program (2023-2028). "Mississippi River Delta Transition Initiative (MissDelta)", Bentley, S., Xu, K., Xue, Z., Quirk, T., Mariotti, G., Wilson, C., Hiatt, M., and many others.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2023-2028). "A Real-time System to Track Louisiana Coastal Hazards:  High Frequency Radar Ocean Observing Network", PI, Xu, K.,  Co-PI: Li, C., Bentley, S., Miller, P., Xue, Z., Dimarco, S., Brenner, J. 

US Department of Interior-BOEM (2022-2027). "University-Led Offshore Analysis of Seafloor Instability and Sediments (OASIS Partnership) with Applications to Offshore Safety and Marine Archaeology", PI: Bentley, S., Co-PI: Xu, K., Jafari, N., Xue, Z., Glaspie, C.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, (2019-2026), "Responses of Ecological Function of the Ship Shoal Biological Communities Subjected to Dredging", PI, Nelson, J., Co-PI, Xu, K.H., Roberts, B., Rieucau, G.

National Science Foundation (2021-2023), "RAPID: Hurricane-induced Shelf Sediment Transport and Deposition after Hurricane Ida in 2021", PI: Xu, K., Co-PIs: Jafari, N., Wilson, C.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2021-2024), "Coupled Ocean Modeling Testbed (COMT) Platform for Physics and Contaminant Exchange through the River - Estuary - Ocean Continuum", PI: Xu, K., Co-PI: Xue, Z., Harris, C., DiMarco, S., Brenner, J., Gayanilo, F.

The Water Institute of Gulf (2021-2023), "Louisiana Sediment Management Plan (LASMP): Central Coast Regional Sediment Inventory and Sediment Budget Program", PI, Bentley, S., Co-PI, Xu, K.H., Peele, R. H.

Louisiana Center of Excellence, through The Water Institute of Gulf (2021-2023), "Subsidence related to subsurface stratigraphy in diversion receiving basins", PI, Wilson, C., Co-PI: Xu, K., Tornqvist, T., Chamberlain, E., Peele, R. H.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, (2019-2022), "Impact of Non-linear sedimentation on Dredge Area Benthic Ecosystem on Louisiana Shelf ",PI, Xue, Z., Co-PI, Xu, K.H., Maiti, K., Glaspie, C.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, (2019-2022), "Investigation of an Ancient Bald Cypress Forest in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, Phase 2",PI, DeLong, K., Co-PI, Harley, G., Bentley, S., Xu, K.H., Reese, C, Obelcz, J.

U.S. Coastal Research Program, (2019-2021), "Evaluation the Distribution and Geotechnical Properties of Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Sand Resources and Coupled Environmental Responses to Dredging", PI, Jafari, N., Co-PI, Xu, K.H.,

Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, Coastal Science Assistantship Program (2019-2022), "Quantifying Erosional Process in Sediment Diversion Receiving Basins". PI, Xu, K.H.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2017-2021), "Development of a Monitoring Program for Water Quality and Biogeochemical Processes of Louisiana Sediment Borrow Areas", PI, Xu, K.H., Co-PI, Maiti, K., Bargu, S., Bentley, S., White, J., Wilson, C., Xue, Z.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2016-2020), "Assessment of Ship Shoal Borrow Areas for Coastal Restoration of Louisiana Barrier Islands", PI, Xu, K.H., Co-PI, Bentley, S., Li, C, Shaw, R., Wilson, C.

Louisiana Center of Excellence, through The Water Institute of Gulf (2017-2020), "Integrating High-Fidelity Models with New Remote Sensing Techniques to Predict Storm Impacts on Louisiana Coastal and Deltaic Systems", PI, Xu, K.H., Co-PI, Chen, Q., Couvillion, B., Jeuken C.

Louisiana Center of Excellence, through The Water Institute of Gulf (2017-2020), "Enhancing Sediment Retention Rates of Receiving Basins of Louisiana Sediment Diversions", PI, Xu, K.H., Co-PI, Bentley, S., Ma, Y., Xue, Z.

Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (2019), 2019 Survey of Mississippi River near Middle Breton Diversion, PI, Bentley, S., Co-PI, Xu, K.H.,Hiatt, M.

National Science Foundation (2017-2018), "Collaborative Research: Continuous vs. episodic fluviodeltaic sedimentation: Implications for carbon sequestration and coastal restoration", PI, Xu, K.H., subcontract with Coastal Carolina University.

Louisiana Board of Regents, Traditional Enhancement Program (2016-2017), "Acquisition of Acoustic and Optical Sensors to Enhance the Research and Teaching of Sediment Diversion and Coastal Restoration", PI, Xu, K.H.

Louisiana Sea Grant, (2016-2019), "From Physics to Oysters: An Integrated Modeling Study of the Potential Impacts of Future Large Sediment Diversions on Louisiana Eastern Oyster". PI, Huang, H., Co-PI, Justic, D., Xu, K.H., LaPeyre, M., LaPeyre, J.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, (2015-2018), "Investigation of an Ancient Bald Cypress Forest in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, U.S.A.",PI, DeLong, K., Co-PI, Harley, G., Bentley, S., Xu, K.H., Reese, C.

Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, (2015-2016), "Reducing Uncertainty on Nutrient Removal for Sediment Diversions", PI, White, J., Co-PI, Xu, K.H.

National Science Foundation (2014-2018), "Coastal SEES Collaborative Research: Changes in actual and perceived coastal flood risks due to river management strategies", PI, Twilley, R., Co-PI, Xu, K.H., Bentley, S., Chen, Q., Lam, N.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2014-2017), "Assessment of Mud-Capped Dredge Pit Evolution on the Outer Continental Shelf of northern Gulf of Mexico", PI, Xu, K.H., Co-PI, Bentley, S., Li, C.

Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (2014-2015), Applied Research Program, "Characterization and Modeling of Sediment Settling, Consolidation, and Suspension to Optimize the Retention Rate of Sediment Diversions for Coastal Restoration", PI, Xu, K.H., Co-PI, Bentley, S.

National Science Foundation and the Louisiana Board of Regents, EPSCoR Pfund Program (2014-2015), "A Study of Sediment-Plant Interaction to Benefit Coastal Protection and Restoration",PI, Xu, K.H.

The Water Institute of Gulf (2014-2015), "Geological and Geotechnical Characterization of Middle Barataria Bay and Middle Breton Sound Diversion Receiving Basins", PI, Bentley, S., Co-PI, Xu, K.H., Chen, Q.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (2013-2016), "Mass Wasting Processes and Products of the Mississippi Delta Front: Data Synthesis and Observation", PI, Bentley, S., Co-PI, Xu, K.H., Georgiou, I.

The Water Institute of Gulf (2013-2014), "Geological and Geotechnical Characterization of Lower Barataria Bay and Lower Breton Sound Diversion Receiving Basins", PI, Bentley, S., Co-PI, Xu, K.H., Chen, Q.

South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium (2012-2014), "Observational and modeling studies to benefit the management and selection of borrow sites for beach nourishment in South Carolina", PI, Xu, K.H., Co-PI, Wren, P.A., Van Dolah, R.F., Ma, Y.

National Science Foundation (2011-2012), "RAPID: Collaborative Research: Signature of the 2011 Flooding on the Mississippi Subaqueous Delta". PI, Xu, K.H.

National Science Foundation (2010-2013), MRI-R2, "Acquisition of a Small Computing Cluster for Geophysical Research". PI, Limpasuvan, V., Co-PI, Xu, K.H.

National Science Foundation (2010-2012), EAR-IF, "Acquisition of instrumentation for the sediment analysis laboratory at Coastal Carolina University", PI, Hill, J., Co-PI, Xu, K.H., Wright, E.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (2009-2014), NGOMEX Program, "Mechanisms Controlling Hypoxia: Integrated Casual Modeling". PI, DiMarco, S., Co-PI, Hetland, R., Harris, C., Fennel, K., Xu, K.H. and others.

Research Equipment

  • Beckman-Coulter laser particle size analyzer (Model LS 13 320)
  • Duel-Core Gust Erosion Microcosm System
  • Edgetech DSS 2000 system: Combined Sidescan Sonar & Sub-bottom Profiler
  • Teledyne RD Instruments Pulse-Coherent Acoustic Doppler Profiler (PC-ADP)
  • ThermoFisher Isotemp Drying Oven
  • Mettler Toledo XS64 Analytical Balance
  • Ohaus Scout Pro SP602 Portable Balance
  • WS Tyler RX-812 Coarse Sieve Shaker
  • Sorvall ST 8 centrifuge
  • Thermo Scientific Furnace