Diane Bennett Fribance

Diane Fribance is a Professor and Associate Chair of Undergraduate Programs in the Department of Marine Science at Coastal Carolina University. As a coastal observational physical oceanographer, her research spans tidal creeks, estuaries, and shelf-wide systems, focusing on physical transport, mixing dynamics, and their ecological impacts on temperate reefs and coastal environments.

• Ph.D., University of Connecticut, Oceanography, 2010
• M.S., University of Connecticut, Oceanography, 2008
• B.A., Williams College, Computer Science, 2003

Her work integrates observational field studies and technology to analyze coastal ocean physics. Key research areas include tidal and residual circulation patterns, river plume effects on nearshore productivity, and environmental health monitoring of estuarine systems. She teaches foundational marine science, physical oceanography, and an instrumentation course emphasizing software tools like MATLAB for data processing and scientific communication.

Recent publications reflect her expertise in coastal dynamics. The 2022 study examines supercritical plume mixing under upwelling winds, the 2019 paper investigates dissolved oxygen variability in tidal creeks, and the 2017 article reviews long-term hypoxia in temperate embayments. These works underscore her focus on circulation, stratification, and ecological linkages in coastal zones.

Professor Fribance’s methodological skills include hydrographic techniques, field instrumentation, and computational analysis. As Associate Chair, she contributes to undergraduate program development, blending hands-on fieldwork with advanced data analysis to enhance marine science education.