Chris Kelble

Chris Kelble has moved to National Marine Fisheries and no longer works with The Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory

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Research Highlights

Research Interests

Understanding how humans alter coastal marine ecosystems and in turn how these coastal ecosystems help to support coastal communities.

Investigating climate change with coupled climate, physics, and ecosystem models.

Researching the effects of red tide on the Southwest Florida ecosystem.

Chris Kelble, Ph.D.

Former Acting Deputy Director, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory

305.361.4330

Chris_Kelble

4301 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, Florida 33149

“Ecosystem‐based management is an integrated management approach that recognizes the full array of interactions within an ecosystem, including humans, rather than considering single issues, species or ecosystem services in isolation.”

Dr Kelble joined the National Marine Fisheries’ Office of Science and Technology as their Marine Ecosystems Division Director in June of 2024

Prior to assuming the role of Acting Deputy Director of NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), Dr. Chris Kelble served as the Director of the Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division of AOML. He was also the principal investigator for the Ecosystem Assessment and Modeling Laboratory within the Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystems Division at AOML. Dr. Kelble’s primary research interest is to holistically understand how humans alter coastal marine ecosystems and in turn how these coastal ecosystems help to support coastal communities. His research has a heavy emphasis on research to applications by working closely with the resource managers most likely to use these research results. Dr. Kelble’s research has ranged from understanding how altered watersheds affect salinity variability and thus habitat suitability to understanding how natural and anthropogenic drivers of change affect the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. He currently serves on leadership committees for NOAA’s Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program, NOAA’s Ecosystem Indicators Working Group, NOAA’s Biscayne Bay Habitat Blueprint Focus Area, NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico Regional Collaboration Team, the US Interagency Blue Carbon Working Group, and the Science Coordination Group of the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force.

Current Work

Former Acting Deputy Director, NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory

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1998, B.S. Marine Science Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL

2003, M.S. Marine Biology & Fisheries, RSMAS, U. Miami, Virginia Key, FL

2010, Ph.D. Marine Biology & Fisheries, RSMAS, U. Miami, Virginia Key, FL

  1. Alarcon, V.J., A.C. Linhoss, C.R. Kelble, P.F. Mickle, A. Fine, and E. Montes. Potential challenges for the restoration of Biscayne Bay (Florida, USA) in the face of climate change effects revealed with predictive models. Oceans & Coastal Management, 247:106929, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2023.106929 2024
    Ref. 4355
  2. Julian, P., J.W. Fourqurean, S.E. Davis, D. Surratt, E.E. Gaiser, J.S. Kominoski, T.G. Troxler, J.N. Boyer, S. Thomas, H.O. Briceño, C.J. Madden, E. Montes, and C.R. Kelble. Long-term patterns and trends in water column biogeochemistry in a changing environment. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 306:108896, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2024.108896 2024
    Ref. 4442
  3. Raju, M., A. Linhoss, J. Linhoss, P.F. Mickle, V.J. Alarcon, A. Fine, and C.R. Kelble. Seasonal salinity trends in central and southern Biscayne Bay, Florida. Journal of Hydrologic Engineering, 29(3), https://doi.org/10.1061/JHYEFF.HEENG-6087 2024
    Ref. 4395

Department of Commerce Bronze Medal 2022

For providing ready access to NOAA information and data on the status of ecosystems that support valuable U.S. marine fisheries, species, and services.

National Oceanographic Partnership Program Excellence in Partnering Award 2017

For contributions to the project entitled National Marine Sanctuaries at Sentinel Sites for a Demonstration Marine Biodiversity Observation Network.

Department of Commerce Bronze Medal 2015

For advancing ecosystem-based management via the first comprehensive Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Status Report that includes more than 140 ecological indicators.

Department of Commerce Silver Medal 2006

For conducting field operations immediately following Hurricane Katrina’s Gulf of Mexico passage that were vital to ensuring seafood was safe for public consumption, saving millions in potential fishery losses.