Theo Gerkema

Theo Gerkema is a Senior Scientist at the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), specializing in physical oceanography and coastal dynamics. Affiliated with the Department of Estuarine & Delta Systems since 2016, his research focuses on wind-driven sea level variability, internal tides, sediment transport, and climate change impacts on coastal ecosystems.

• Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ-Yerseke), 2016–present
• NIOZ-Texel (Coastal Systems Department), Senior Researcher

His work investigates the role of wind in shaping the Wadden Sea’s hydrodynamics, including sediment and nutrient exchange between tidal basins and the North Sea. He has authored a textbook on tides (Cambridge University Press, 2019) and contributes to understanding long-term climate trends through century-scale sea level measurements.

Recent publications address:

• Impact of lunar nodal cycles on steric sea level
• Storm resilience in mussel beds
• Deep learning for coastal particle transport
• Internal tide beam structures
• Coral ecosystem engineering in deep-sea environments

Gerkema leads projects like ENW LOCO-EX (2023–present), exploring wind-driven event-based dynamics in the Wadden Sea, and has participated in grants from NWO and STW. His research bridges physical oceanography with ecological and policy applications for coastal protection.