Alexander Yankovsky

Dr. Alexander Yankovsky is a Professor in the School of the Earth, Ocean & Environment at the University of South Carolina, affiliated with the McCausland College of Arts and Sciences. His research focuses on coastal and oceanographic processes, particularly the dynamics of continental shelf flows, river plumes, and estuarine hydrodynamics. He employs numerical modeling and observational data analysis to study wind- and buoyancy-driven currents, mesoscale variability, and wave-current interactions.

Key areas of expertise include:

• Coastal plume dynamics under varying wind and tidal conditions
• Supercritical plume behavior and offshore spreading mechanisms
• Hybrid Kelvin-edge wave propagation and scattering phenomena
• Impact of dams and infrastructure on tidal and storm surge dynamics
• Shelf-slope interactions and internal wave generation

His work spans field observations in locations like Winyah Bay (SC, USA), the Black Sea, and Patagonian Shelf, alongside numerical simulations to advance understanding of coastal-ocean systems. Dr. Yankovsky collaborates on projects funded by NSF and other agencies, with publications in journals like Journal of Physical Oceanography and Frontiers in Marine Science.

His research also addresses climate change impacts through studies of biogeochemical boundary conditions and historical/current ocean dynamics in systems like the California Current.