The U.S. Government is closed. This site will not be updated; however NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit www.commerce.gov. For the latest forecast and critical weather information, visit www.weather.gov. 

The U.S. government is closed. This site will not be updated; however, NOAA websites and social media channels necessary to protect lives and property will be maintained. To learn more, visit commerce.gov. 

For the latest forecasts and critical weather information, visit weather.gov.

Tomma Barnes smiling

Tomma K Barnes, PhD

  • Coastal Resilience, Restoration and Assessment Branch Chief
  • Beaufort Laboratory
  • / Coastal Resilience, Restoration and Assessment

Barnes’ Branch is diverse and includes research scientists investigating the use of natural and nature based infrastructure (wetlands and coral reefs) as a means to enhance coastal resilience, and also to mitigate the potential impacts of storms and inundation to coastal communities; aquaculture siting and sustainability, and development of spatial products, models and other services that inform sustainable aquaculture siting and management.

Before coming to NOAA in December 2018, Dr. Barnes worked for the United States Geological Survey (USGS) where she was doing similar work as a Branch Chief in Lafayette, Louisiana. Prior to that, she worked for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) as a Civil Works Planner in New Orleans, LA and Wilmington, NC, then as the Chief of the Planning and Environmental Branch at the Pittsburgh District. She holds a Ph.D. in Oceanography from Nova Southeastern University, an M.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology with a Specialty in Coastal Zone Studies from the University of West Florida and a B.S. in Marine Science from Coastal Carolina University.