Dylan McNamara

Professor · Physics & Physical Oceanography · UNCW

About

I am a physicist and physical oceanographer at UNC Wilmington. My research utilizes tools from nonlinear dynamics to study environmental systems. Recent research has focused on problems in coastal dynamics, coral reefs, and climate tipping points.

Funding for my research has come from NSF, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and NOAA, with PI grants totaling more than $2.5 million.

Education
  • 2006
    Ph.D. Oceanography Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego
  • 1999
    M.S. Physics San Diego State University
  • 1996
    B.S. Physics Salisbury University — Phi Beta Kappa, Summa Cum Laude
Publications

43 publications · 2,100+ citations
Full list with citation counts on Google Scholar.

View on Scholar ↗
  • 1.
    Self-organized pattern formation of a common tropical alga In Review
    McNamara, D. E., Lester, C. W., Edwards, C. B., Smith, J. E., Sandin, S. A. — The American Naturalist
  • 2.
    Using a decision-support model to map the efficacy of coral interventions in the Maldives In Review
    Akiona, A. K., McNamara, D. E., et al. — Oecologia
  • 3.
    Quantifying the relationship between inequality and stability of the coupled societal-environmental system in New Orleans In Review
    Singh, S., Werner, B. T., McNamara, D. E. — Communications Sustainability
  • 4.
    A model of near-sea ice phytoplankton blooms
    Lester, C. W., Wagner, T. J. W., & McNamara, D. E. (2025) — Limnology and Oceanography Letters, 10(2), 245–253
  • 5.
    Slowed response of Atlantic meridional overturning circulation not a robust signal of collapse
    Zimmerman, C., Wagner, T., Maroon, E., & McNamara, D. E. (2025) — Geophysical Research Letters, 52(2)
  • 6.
    Policy and market forces delay real estate price declines on the US coast
    McNamara, D. E., Smith, M. D., Williams, Z., Gopalakrishnan, S., & Landry, C. E. (2024) — Nature Communications, 15(1), 2209
  • 7.
    Human-coastal coupled systems: Ten Questions
    McNamara, D. E., Lazarus, E. D., Goldstein, E. B. (2023) — Cambridge Prisms: Coastal Futures, 1(e20)
  • 8.
    Evidence of biological self-organization in spatial patterns of a common tropical alga
    Sandin, S. A., Edwards, C. B., et al. & McNamara, D. E. (2022) — The American Naturalist, 200(5)
  • 9.
    Buyouts with rentbacks: a policy proposal for managing coastal retreat
    Keeler, A. G., Mullin, M., McNamara, D. E., & Smith, M. D. (2022) — Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, 12(3)
  • 10.
    Variations in stability revealed by temporal asymmetries in contraction of phase space flow
    Williams, Z. W. & McNamara, D. E. (2021) — Scientific Reports, 11(1)
  • 11.
    The influence of meltwater on phytoplankton blooms near the sea-ice edge
    Lester, C. W., Wagner, T. J. W., McNamara, D. E., & Cape, M. R. (2021) — Geophysical Research Letters, 48(2)
  • 12.
    Modeling the linkage between coral assemblage structure and pattern of environmental forcing
    Sandin, S., Eynaud, Y., Williams, G. J., Edwards, C., & McNamara, D. E. (2020) — Royal Society Open Science, 7(10)
  • 13.
    Influence of aggregation on benthic coral reef spatio-temporal dynamics
    Brito-Millan, M., Werner, B. T., Sandin, S., & McNamara, D. E. (2019) — Royal Society Open Science, 6(2)
  • 14.
    Insights into coral reef benthic dynamics from nonlinear spatial forecasting
    McNamara, D. E., Cortale, N., Edwards, C., Eynaud, Y., & Sandin, S. (2019) — Journal of the Royal Society: Interface, 16(153)
  • 15.
    Paying to save the beach: effects of local finance decisions on coastal management
    Mullin, M., Smith, M. D., & McNamara, D. E. (2019) — Climatic Change
  • 16.
    Anti-diffusion in continuous opinion dynamics
    Alexanian, M. A. & McNamara, D. E. (2018) — Physica A, 503, 1256–1262
  • 17.
    Responding to sea level rise: Does short-term risk reduction inhibit successful long-term adaptation?
    Keeler, A. G., McNamara, D. E., & Irish, J. L. (2018) — Earth's Future, 6(4), 618–621
  • 18.
    Barrier islands as coupled human–landscape systems
    McNamara, D. E., & Lazarus, E. D. (2018) — In Barrier Dynamics and Response to Changing Climate, Springer
  • 19.
    Decentralized management hinders coastal climate adaptation: the spatial-dynamics of beach nourishment
    Gopalakrishnan, S., McNamara, D., Smith, M. D., & Murray, A. B. (2017) — Environmental and Resource Economics, 67(4), 761–787
  • 20.
    skedm: Empirical Dynamic Modeling
    Cortale, N., & McNamara, D. (2017) — Journal of Open Source Software, 2
  • 21.
    Herbivore space use influences coral reef recovery
    Eynaud, Y., McNamara, D. E., & Sandin, S. A. (2016) — Royal Society Open Science, 3(6)
  • 22.
    Nonlinear forecasting of intertidal shoreface evolution
    Grimes, D. J., Cortale, N., Baker, K., & McNamara, D. E. (2015) — Chaos, 25(10)
  • 23.
    Climate adaptation and policy-induced inflation of coastal property value
    McNamara, D. E., Gopalakrishnan, S., Smith, M. D., & Murray, A. B. (2015) — PLOS One, 10(3)
  • 24.
    Understanding human–landscape interactions in the "Anthropocene"
    Harden, C. P., Chin, A., McNamara, D. E., et al. (2014) — Environmental Management, 53(1), 4–13
  • 25.
    Observed changes in hurricane-driven waves explain the dynamics of modern cuspate shorelines
    Moore, L. J., McNamara, D. E., Murray, A. B., & Brenner, O. (2013) — Geophysical Research Letters, 40(22)
  • 26.
    A coupled physical and economic model of the response of coastal real estate to climate risk
    McNamara, D. E., & Keeler, A. (2013) — Nature Climate Change, 3(6), 559–562
  • 27.
    Coupled economic–coastline modeling with suckers and free riders
    Williams, Z. C., McNamara, D. E., Smith, M. D., Murray, A. B., & Gopalakrishnan, S. (2013) — Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 118(2)
  • 28.
    Progress in coupling models of human and coastal landscape change
    Murray, A. B., Gopalakrishnan, S., McNamara, D. E., & Smith, M. D. (2013) — Computers & Geosciences, 53, 30–38
  • 29.
    Spatial dynamics of benthic competition on coral reefs
    Sandin, S. A., & McNamara, D. E. (2012) — Oecologia, 168(4), 1079–1090
  • 30.
    Emergent behavior in a coupled economic and coastline model for beach nourishment
    Lazarus, E. D., McNamara, D. E., Smith, M. D., et al. (2011) — Nonlinear Processes in Geophysics, 18(6)
  • 31.
    Coastal sustainability depends on how economic and coastline responses to climate change affect each other
    McNamara, D. E., Murray, A. B., & Smith, M. D. (2011) — Geophysical Research Letters, 38(7)
  • 32.
    Long-term, large-scale morphodynamic effects of artificial dune construction along a barrier island coastline
    Magliocca, N. R., McNamara, D. E., & Murray, A. B. (2011) — Journal of Coastal Research, 27(5)
  • 33.
    Beach nourishment as a dynamic capital accumulation problem
    Smith, M. D., Slott, J. M., McNamara, D. E., & Murray, A. B. (2009) — Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 58(1)
  • 34.
    Geomorphology, complexity, and the emerging science of the Earth's surface
    Murray, A. B., Lazarus, E., McNamara, D. E., et al. (2009) — Geomorphology, 103(3)
  • 35.
    Coupled barrier island–resort model: 2. Tests and predictions along Ocean City and Assateague Island
    McNamara, D. E., & Werner, B. T. (2008) — Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 113(F1)
  • 36.
    Coupled barrier island–resort model: 1. Emergent instabilities induced by strong human-landscape interactions
    McNamara, D. E., & Werner, B. T. (2008) — Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, 113(F1)
  • 37.
    Dynamics of coupled human-landscape systems
    Werner, B. T., & McNamara, D. E. (2007) — Geomorphology, 91(3–4), 393–407
  • 38.
    Fractional derivatives—analysis and experimental implementation
    Davis, J. A., Smith, D. A., McNamara, D. E., et al. (2001) — Applied Optics, 40(32)
  • 39.
    Encoding complex diffractive optical elements onto a phase-only liquid-crystal spatial light modulator
    Davis, J. A., McNamara, D. E., et al. (2001) — Optical Engineering, 40(2)
  • 40.
    Two-dimensional polarization encoding with a phase-only liquid-crystal spatial light modulator
    Davis, J. A., McNamara, D. E., et al. (2000) — Applied Optics, 39(10)
  • 41.
    Image processing with the radial Hilbert transform: theory and experiments
    Davis, J. A., McNamara, D. E., et al. (2000) — Optics Letters, 25(2)
  • 42.
    Analysis of the fractional Hilbert transform
    Davis, J. A., McNamara, D. E., & Cottrell, D. M. (1998) — Applied Optics, 37(29)
  • +
    Additional in-review manuscripts and book chapters — see Google Scholar for the complete list.
Teaching & Course Materials
PHY 201 Spring 2026
General Physics
Syllabus Wiley
PHY 321 Fall 2025
Classical Dynamics
Syllabus Newton Projectile Momentum Energy SHM Noninertial RF
PHY 314 Spring 2025
Computational Physics
Syllabus
Contact

The best way to reach me is by email: mcnamarad@uncw.edu. Office: Deloach 203.