Academic Career

CHARLES ERNEST KNOWLES

Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor

Emeritus Associate Professor of Physical Oceanography

North Carolina State University

College of Sciences

Department of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Education:

Ph.D. Physical Oceanography, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, May 1970

Professional Experience:

1970 – 1974 Assistant Professor, Physical Oceanography, NCSU
1974 – 2003 Associate Professor, Physical Oceanography, NCSU
1987 – 1992 Coordinator, NCSU UNC-W Cooperative Ph.D. Degree Program in Marine Science
1990 – 1992 Director, Natural Resources Research Center, NCSU
1992 – 1993 Acting Assistant Vice Chancellor for Research, NCSU
1993 – 1995 Coordinator University Centers, Institutes and Laboratories, Research Administration, NCSU
1993 – 2000 Chairman, Triangle Universities Environmental Coordinating Council
1993 – 1998 Member of Council on Athletics, NCSU
1995 – 1998 Chairman, Faculty Academic Committee of the Council on Athletics, NCSU
1996 Acting Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, NCSU — July 1 to December 31
1998 – 2000 Elected Member of Faculty Senate for College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, NCSU
2000 Acting Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, NCSU (January 1 to June 30)
2000 – 2001 Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, NCSU (July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001)
2001 – 2003 Director of Community College Relations and Distance Learning, College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (July 1, 2001 to December 31, 2003
2004 – present Associate Professor, Emeritus, Physical Oceangraphy, NCSU

Awards:

  • Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor award (1998-2000)
  • Outstanding Teacher Award for 1996-97 – MEMBER of the Academy of Outstanding Teachers
  • LeRoy and Elva Martin Award for Teaching Excellence, PAMS Foundation, April 2002
  • Outstanding Faculty Advisor for 1991-1992 and 1996-97, NCSU Tae Kwon Do Club

Professional Emphasis:

My long-term research interests have centered around the physical processes and dynamics of estuaries, estuarine-ocean dynamics, and finite-depth and shallow-water wave generation and dissipation, with an emphasis on estuaries. In 1987 I sought and moved into my first administrative position, and from 1990 to 1995 that was my full-time responsibility. In August 1995 I returned full-time to my faculty position and then spent two periods as Associate Dean in 1996 and 2000-2001. My latest professional scholarly interests involve innovative course development and educational technologies, including offering an online course on the World Wide Web, one of the first five offered in the Fall Semester, 1997. Through an NSF grant, it also included working closely with four NCSU colleges and 9 community colleges in Eastern NC in a unique articulation partnership.

Because of my January 1, 2004 retirement, I no longer accept new graduate students.

Personal Interests:

  • Golf
  • Tae Kwon Do (3rd Degree Black Belt and former Certified Instructor)

Memberships:

  • American Geophysical Union
  • The Oceanography Society
  • The Society of the Sigma Xi
    • Vice President NCSU Chapter 1997/1998
    • President-elect NCSU Chapter 2000/2001
    • President NCSU Chapter 2001/2002

Professional Review Panels:

  • National Science Foundation
  • NOAA – Sea Grant
  • Journal of Physical Oceanography
  • Office of Naval Research
  • NASA
  • Journal of Geophysical Research
  • American Meteorology Society
  • Australian Journal of Science

Courses Taught at NCSU:

MEA 742 Ocean Surface Gravity Wave Theory
MEA 601, 602 Advanced Physical Oceanography
MEA 560, 561 Introduction to Physical Oceanography
MEA 200 Introduction to Oceanography

  • Regular Semester Lecture Courses
  • Summer Term Lecture Course
  • Cable Independent Study, Channel 18, Raleigh – Distance Education Learning Technology Applications (DELTA), NCSU
  • Video Independent Study – DELTA
  • Regular Semester Web-based Course – DELTA
  • Written Independent Study – UNC-CH
ES 100 Introduction to Environmental Science

Publications:

A. Refereed Journals or Books

1970 Reid, R. O. and C. E. Knowles. An Inverse Tsunami Problem. In: Tsunamis in the Pacific Ocean (Ed Adams). East-West Center Press, Honolulu, pp. 399-406.
1973 Knowles, C. E. and R. O. Reid. The Inverse Tsunami Problem for Islands of General Shape. In: Tsunami Waves, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, YUZHNO-SAKHALINSK, pp. 61-68.
1974 Knowles, C. E. Salinity Determination from use of CTD sensors. Jour. Phys. Ocean., 4 (2) p. 275-277
1977 Knowles, C. E. and J. J. Singer. Exchange through a Barrier Island Inlet: Additional Evidence of Upwelling off the Northeast Coast of North Carolina. Jour. Phys. Ocean., 7(1) p. 146-152.
1982 Knowles, C. E. On the effects of finite-depth on wind-wave spectra: 1. A comparison with deep-water equilibrium range slope and other spectral parameters. Jour. Phys. Ocean., 12 (6), pp. 556-568.
1983 Knowles, C. E. On the estimation of surface gravity waves from subsurface pressure records for estuarine basins. Jour. Estuarine, Coast. & Shelf Sci., 17, 395-404.
1986 Knowles, C. E. On finite-depth wind-wave generation and dissipation. In: Wave Dynamics and Radio Probing of the Ocean Surface, Ed: O. M. Phillips & K. Hasselmann, Plenum, New York and London, pp. 145-160.

B. University Publications

1993 Procedures for Creating and Managing Research and Public Service Centers, Institutes and Laboratories, NCSU Office of Research, Outreach and Extension, November 10, 1993, 24 p.
1995 Procedures for Creating and Managing Organized Research and Public Service Units, NCSU Office of Research, Outreach and Extension, June 20, 1995, 34 p. This was a greatly expanded edition of the 1993 procedures manual.

C. Refereed Technical Reports

1981a Knowles, C. E. Estimation of surface gravity-waves from subsurface pressure records for estuarine basins. UNC Sea Grant Publication UNC-SG-WP-81-6 Sept., 18 p.
1981b Knowles, C. E. Wind-wave climatology and wind-tides for Fort Raleigh wave-gauge site, 1979. UNC Sea Grant Publication UNC-SG-WP-81-8, Dec., 37 p.

D. Book Reviews

1978 Knowles, C. E. Review of: Weather for the Mariner, 2nd Edition, By Rear Adm. William J. Kotsch, U. S. Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, 1977, 272 p., for Bulletin of AMS, Sept. 1978.
1985 Knowles, C. E. Review of: Tsunamis: Their Science and Engineering. Proceedings of the International Tsunami Symposium, May 1981, IUGG Tsunami Commission, Sendai-Ofunato-Kamaishi, Japan, Ed. Iida, K. and T. Iwasaki, 599 p., for EOS, 66(36), September 1985, pp. 631.

E. Proceedings and Abstracts

1971 Knowles, C. E. An Inverse Tsunami Problem for Symmetric Islands of Simple Shape. Trans. AGU, 52(4), p. 240.
1973 Knowles, C. E. Salinity Determination for use with CTD Sensors. Trans. AGU, 54(4), p. 317.
1974 Knowles, C. E., J. J. Singer. Thermographic Anomaly at Oregon Inlet. Trans. AGU, 55(4), p. 1008
1975 Knowles, C. E. Circulation Dynamics in the Neuse River, N. C. Trans. AGU, 56(12), p. 1008.
1977 Knowles, C. E. Salinity Control of Eurasian Watermilfoil; a physical diagnostic model. Trans. AGU, 57(12), p. 1173.
1980a Knowles, C. E. Equilibrium range slope for shallow-water gravity-wave spectra. Trans. AGU, 61(17), p. 262.
1980b Knowles, C. E. On an empirical attenuation factor for estuarine, wind-driven gravity-waves. Trans. AGU 61(46), p. 987.
1981a Knowles, C. E. Wind-wave spectra and the effects of finite-depth. IUCRM Symposium on Wave Dynamics and Radio Probing of Ocean Surface, Miami Beach, FL, May 1981.
1981b Knowles, C. E. Wind-wave growth and atmospheric stability in a large shallow-water estuary. Trans. AGU, 62(17), p. 313.
1981c Knowles, C. E. Transducer height selection to avoid a maximum compensation factor cut-off in estimating surface gravity-wave from subsurface pressure fluctuations. Trans. AGU, 62(45), p. 93.
1983 Knowles, C. E. The effect of finite-depth on wind-wave spectra. Symposium on the Practice of Physical Oceanography, Texas A & M, April 1983.
1984 Knowles, C. E. Non-ideal fetch wind wave generation. First Annual Duke/UNC Oceanography Symposium, Duke Marine Lab, Beaufort, NC, 17 November 1984.
1985 Knowles, C. E. Evidence of oscillatory currents with semi-diurnal periods in the Neuse River Estuary. Symposium on Circulation Patterns in Estuaries, College of William and Mary, February 1985.
1994 Knowles, C. E. and Russ Lea. Organized University Research and Service Consortial Partnerships: The Importance of Effective Administration!, Proceedings of NCURA Region III and SRA Southern Section Spring Meeting, San Juan, PR, May 15-18, 1994.

Related Research Grants:

1. UNC Sea Grant, “Dynamics of Flow in Estuarine Waters”, total award = $45,759 for period January 1, 1973 – December 31, 1973. Principal Investigators: M. Amein, C. Knowles.
2. UNC Sea Grant, “Dynamics of Flow in Estuarine Waters” total awards – $23,957 for period January 1, 1974 – December 31, 1974. Principal Investigators: C. Knowles and M. Amein.
3. UNC Sea Grant, “The Physical and Biological Parameters Affecting Establishment of Marsh Vegetation for Shoreline Erosion Control”, total award -$44,242 for period January 1, 1977 – December 31, 1977. Principal Investigators: E. Seneca, E. Knowles, S. Broome.
4. UNC Sea Grant, “The Physical and Biological Parameters Affecting Establishment of Marsh Vegetation for Shoreline Erosion Control”, total award – $36,510 for period January 1, 1978 – December 31, 1978. Principal Investigators: E. Seneca, E. Knowles, S. Broome.
5. UNC Sea Grant, “The Physical and Biological Parameters Affecting Establishment of Marsh Vegetation for Shoreline Erosion Control”, total award – $36,510 for period January 1, 1979 – December 31, 1979. Principal Investigators: E. Seneca, E. Knowles, S. Broome.
6. UNC Sea Grant, “Analysis and Prediction of Ocean Surface Gravity Waves on the N. C. Coast”, total award – $10,950 for period January 1, 1979 – December 31, 1979. Principal Investigators: E. Knowles and R. Weisberg.
7. UNC Sea Grant, “Analysis and Prediction of Ocean Surface Gravity Waves on the N.C. Coast”, total award – $28,244 for period January 1, 1980 – December 31, 1980. Principal Investigators: E. Knowles and R. Weisberg.
8. UNC Sea Grant, “The Physical and Biological Parameters Affecting Establishment of Marsh Vegetation for Shoreline Erosion Control”, total award – $8,347 for period January 1, 1980 – December 31, 1980.. Principal Investigators: E. Seneca, E. Knowles, S. Broome.
9. UNC Sea Grant, “Analysis and Prediction of Ocean Surface Gravity Waves on the N. C. Coast”, total award – $52,561 for period January 1, 1981 – December 31, 1982. Principal Investigators: E. Knowles and R. Weisberg.
10. U.S. EPA Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program, “University Partnership Research Agreement”, $79,792 for period October 1, 1995 – September 30, 1997. Principal Investigators: R. I. Bruck and E. Knowles.
11. NSF Advanced Technological Education Program, “Coastal NC Community Colleges and NCSU, Improving Articulation for Workforce Development.” Effort was centered at the Center for Marine Science and Technology (CMAST) and involved 10 down-east community colleges and the Colleges of Physical & Mathematical Science, Agriculture & Life Sciences, Education and Psychology, and Engineering. Total Award $299,940 for period from April 15, 2001 &endash; April 14, 2004. Principal Investigators: Pamela Hilbert and E. Knowles