Expertise
Coastal groundwater systems, groundwater-surface water interactions, hydrology, coastal processes
Research Interests
My primary research area is coastal hydrogeology. Current research focuses on groundwater–surface water interactions in estuaries, beach groundwater dynamics and submarine groundwater discharge. Within these areas, I quantify how waves, tides, currents, extreme precipitation, storm surge, tidal flooding and sea level rise influence groundwater flow, solute transport and saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers and sediments. I study these processes through field observations, numerical models and quantitative and geospatial analysis of large datasets across scales ranging from meters to the globe.
Education
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.): Geology, University of Delaware - Newark, Delaware
- Master of Science (M.S.): Geology, University of Delaware - Newark, Delaware
- Bachelor of Science (B.S.): Geoenvironmental Studies, Shippensburg University - Shippensburg, Pennsylvania
Selected Publications
- Movahedi, N.*, M. Reid*, L. Zheng, A. Skarke, & J.W. Heiss (2026). Tidal current reversals drive dynamic bedform-induced benthic exchange in a large estuary, Journal of Hydrology, doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2026.135752
- Heiss, J.W. & C.J. Russoniello (2026). Runoff capture by sea level rise alters the area, geometry, and quantity of coastal catchments, Water Resources Research, doi: 10.1029/2025WR042166
- Geng, X., H.A. Michael, J.W. Heiss, M.C. Boufadel, H. Li, and Y. Zhang (2025), Groundwater Flow and Salinity Dynamics in Swash Zones: Combined Effects of Evaporation, Waves, and Geologic Heterogeneity, Journal of Hydrology, doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.132322
- Geng, X., H.A. Michael, J.W. Heiss, M.C. Boufadel, H. Li, and X. Wang (2024), Influence of evaporation and high-frequency seawater inundation on salinity dynamics in swash zones, Water Resources Research, doi: 10.1029/2024WR037427
- Olorunsaye, O., and J.W. Heiss (2024). Stability of saltwater-freshwater mixing zones in beach aquifers with geologic heterogeneity. Water Resources Research, 60, 1–22
- Peng, K., J.W. Heiss, X. Xie, L. Yan, Y. Deng, Y. Gan, Q. Li, & Y. Zhang (2023), Groundwater discharge and saltwater-freshwater mixing in a mangrove wetland over tidal cycles: a field and modeling study, Journal of Hydrology, 620, 1-15
- Lu, Y., X. Xie, J.W. Heiss, K. Peng, Y. Deng, Y. Gan, Q. Li, & Y. Zhang (2023), Isotopic and spectral signatures unravel the sources, preservation and degradation of sedimentary organic matter in the Dongzhai Harbor mangrove estuary, southern China, Journal of Hydrology, 618
- Heiss, J.W., B. Mase, & C. Shen (2022), Effects of future increases in tidal flooding on salinity and groundwater dynamics in coastal aquifers, Water Resources Research, 58, e2022WR033195
- Kim, K.H., J.W. Heiss, H.A. Michael, W.J. Ullman, W-J Cai (2022), Seasonal and spatial production patterns of dissolved inorganic carbon and total alkalinity in a shallow beach aquifer, Frontiers in Marine Science, 9, 1–12
- Cogswell, C., and J.W. Heiss (2021) Climate and seasonal temperature controls on biogeochemical transformations in unconfined coastal aquifers, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences
- Geng, X., J.W. Heiss, H.A. Michael, H. Li, B. Baubenheimer, M.C. Boufadel (2021), Geochemical fluxes in sandy beach aquifers: Modulation due to major physical stressors, geologic heterogeneity, and nearshore morphology, Earth-Science Reviews, 221(103800)
- Kim, K.H, J.W. Heiss (2021), Methods in capturing the spatiotemporal dynamics of Flow and biogeochemical reactivity in sandy beach aquifers: A Review, Water, 13(6), 782
- Geng, X., J.W. Heiss, H.A. Michael, M.C. Boufadel, K. Lee (2020), Groundwater flow and moisture dynamics in the swash zone: effects of heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity and capillarity, Water Resources Research, 2020WR028401
- Heiss, J., Michael, H., Koneshloo, M. (2020). Denitrification hotspots in intertidal mixing zones linked to geologic heterogeneity. Environmental Research Letters.
- Heiss, J.W., Michael, H.A., Puleo, J. (2020). Groundwater–surface water exchange in the intertidal zone detected by hydrologic and coastal oceanographic measurements. Hydrological Processes.
- Kim, K.H., Heiss, J., Geng, X., Michael, H.A. (2020). Modeling hydrologic controls on particulate organic carbon contributions to beach aquifer biogeochemical reactivity. Water Resources Research, 1-17.
- Heiss, J.W. (2020). Whale burial and organic matter impacts on biogeochemical cycling in beach aquifers and leachate fluxes to the nearshore zone. Journal of Contaminant Hydrology.
- Russoniello, C.J., Heiss, J.W., Michael, H.A. (2018). Variability in Benthic Exchange Rate, Depth, and Residence Time Beneath a Shallow Coastal Estuary. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans.
- Heiss, J., Post, V., Laattoe, T., Russoniello, C., Michael, H. (2017). Physical Controls on Biogeochemical Processes in Intertidal Zones of Beach Aquifers. Water Resources Research,53(11).
- Kim, K.H., Heiss, J., Michael, H.A., Cai, W.J., Laattoe, T., Post, V.E., Ullman, W.J. (2017). Spatial Patterns of Groundwater Biogeochemical Reactivity in an Intertidal Beach Aquifer. Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences,122(10) 2548--2562.
- Geng, X., Heiss, J., Michael, H.A., Boufadel, M.C. (2017). Subsurface flow and moisture dynamics in response to swash motions: Effects of beach hydraulic conductivity and capillarity. Water Resources Research, (2001) 317-335.
- Walther, M., Heiss, J., Magri, F., Delfs, J., Graf, T. (2016). Thermo-Hydro-Mechanical-Chemical Processes in Fractured Porous Media: Modelling and Benchmarking: Benchmarking Initiatives (pp. 97-105). Springer International Publishing
- Mcallister, S.M., Barnett, J.M., Heiss, J., Findlay, A.J., Macdonald, D.J., Dow, C.L., Luther, G.W., Michael, H.A., Chan, C.S. (2015). Dynamic hydrologic and biogeochemical processes drive microbially enhanced iron and sulfur cycling within the intertidal mixing zone of a beach aquifer. Limnology and Oceanography,60(1) 329--345.
- Heiss, J., Puleo, J.A., Ullman, W.J., Michael, H.A. (2015). Coupled surface-subsurface hydrologic measurements reveal infiltration, recharge, and discharge dynamics across the swash zone of a sandy beach. Water Resources Research,1.
- Heiss, J., Michael, H.A. (2014). Saltwater-freshwater mixing dynamics in a sandy beach aquifer over tidal, spring-neap, and seasonal cycles. Water Resources Research,50(8) 6747-6766.
- Heiss, J., Ullman, W.J., Michael, H.A. (2014). Swash zone moisture dynamics and unsaturated infiltration in two sandy beach aquifers. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science,143 20-31.