Charles Flagg

Charles Flagg is a Research Professor at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University. His research spans continental shelf dynamics, bio-physical interactions, and climate change impacts on coastal systems, with significant work on acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) applications for oceanographic and ecological studies.

• Ph.D., 1977 (MIT & Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Flagg's research focuses on coastal ocean kinematics, particularly in the Middle Atlantic Bight, Gulf of Maine, and Georges Bank. Key contributions include:

• Quantifying Gulf Stream transport variability (1986–2010)
• Developing ADCP techniques for zooplankton biomass estimation (1989)
• Long-term upper-ocean current monitoring via the Oleander VOS program (1997–2010)
• Investigating climate-scale processes in shelf systems (2006)

Recent collaborations with Professor Robert Wilson examine Long Island coastal lagoon circulation, integrating numerical modeling and observations to assess human impacts on Fire Island breaches and Jamaica Bay bathymetry changes. His work connects physical oceanography with ecological consequences through programs like GLOBEC and SEEP.

Flagg employs shipboard ADCPs on commercial vessels for cost-effective large-scale monitoring, extending methods to study the meridional overturning circulation across the Iceland-Scotland Ridge. His lab maintains a dedicated research website for project details.