Bio

Baker's research advances understanding of environmental fluid mechanics in coastal regions through laboratory experimentation, numerical modeling, and field observations. Her work spans shallow-water wave breaking dynamics over smooth and rough bathymetry, surf-zone vorticity dynamics and its effects on material dispersal and exchange, wave boundary layers and sediment transport, and extreme-event-driven coupled hydro- and morphodynamics. Baker's research informs predictions of coastal water quality, shoreline evolution, and coastal hazards, supporting resilience as coastal environments face growing pressure from storms, sea-level rise, and human development.

Baker completed a bachelors degrees in Civil Engineering from Oregon State University and a Masters and PhD in Civil & Environmental Engineering from the University of Washington.

Academic Appointments

  • Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Assistant Professor (By courtesy), Oceans

Additional Info

Links

2026-27 Courses

Stanford Advisees

All Publications

  • The Role of Sea-Swell, Infragravity Waves, and Dune Geometry on Runup Excursion During Dune Collision Baker, C. M., Anarde, K., Tissier, M., Rutten, J., van Wiechen, P., Mieras, R., De Vries, S. edited by Coelho, C., Hallin, C., Sancho, F., Silva, P. A. SPRINGER INTERNATIONAL PUBLISHING AG. 2026: 37-42

    View details for DOI 10.1007/978-3-032-15477-4_7

    View details for Web of Science ID 001768345600007

  • Tracer Dispersion by Surfzone Eddies: Assessing the Impact of Undertow Vertical Shear JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL OCEANOGRAPHY Treillou, S., Marchesiello, P., Baker, C. M., McWilliams, J., Dumas, F. 2025; 55 (8): 1211-1234

    View details for DOI 10.1175/JPO-D-24-0236.1

    View details for Web of Science ID 001544914900001

  • Modeled Surf-Zone Eddies on a Laboratory Scale Barred Beach With Varying Wave Conditions JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS Nuss, E. S., Moulton, M., Suanda, S. H., Baker, C. M. 2025; 130 (1)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2023JC020549

    View details for Web of Science ID 001467861200001

  • Assessing NOAA Rip-Current Hazard Likelihood Predictions: Comparison with Lifeguard Observations and Parameterizations of Bathymetric and Transient Rip-Current Types WEATHER AND FORECASTING Casper, A., Nuss, E. S., Baker, C. M., Moulton, M., Dusek, G. 2024; 39 (7): 1045-1063

    View details for DOI 10.1175/WAF-D-23-0181.1

    View details for Web of Science ID 001267160400001

  • Correction of coherent interference in wave-resolving nearshore models and validation with experimental data OCEAN MODELLING Treillou, S., Marchesiello, P., Baker, C. M. 2024; 189

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ocemod.2024.102369

    View details for Web of Science ID 001304526900001

  • Measurements of dune erosion processes during the RealDune/REFLEX experiments. Scientific data van Wiechen, P., Rutten, J., de Vries, S., Tissier, M., Mieras, R., Anarde, K., Baker, C., Reniers, A., Mol, J. W. 2024; 11 (1): 421

    Abstract

    Nearshore hydro- and morphodynamic data were collected during a field experiment under calm conditions, moderate conditions, and storm conditions with dune erosion in the collision regime. The experiment was conducted on the Sand Engine near Kijkduin, the Netherlands, from October 18, 2021, to January 7, 2022. Two artificial unvegetated dunes were constructed just above the high water line to measure storm erosion and dune impacts from higher water levels and waves. During the experiment, three storms occurred that resulted in significant erosion of both dunes. The collected hydrodynamic data include pressure sensor and velocimeter data along two cross-shore transects. The collected morphodynamic data include bathymetry and topography surveys, optical backscatter sensor data in the inner surf zone, and a continuous cross-shore line-scanning lidar data set of the dune face. This comprehensive data set can be used to (1) study relevant nearshore hydrodynamic and morphodynamic processes that occur during calm conditions, moderate conditions, and storm conditions with dune erosion in the collision regime, and (2) validate existing dune erosion models.

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s41597-024-03156-9

    View details for PubMedID 38653962

    View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11039729

  • Two-dimensional inverse energy cascade in a laboratory surf zone for varying wave directional spread PHYSICS OF FLUIDS Baker, C. M., Moulton, M., Chickadel, C. C., Nuss, E. S., Palmsten, M. L., Brodie, K. L. 2023; 35 (12)

    View details for DOI 10.1063/5.0169895

    View details for Web of Science ID 001128560800014

  • Remotely sensed short-crested breaking waves in a laboratory directional wave basin COASTAL ENGINEERING Baker, C. M., Moulton, M., Palmsten, M. L., Brodie, K., Nuss, E., Chickadel, C. 2023; 183

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.coastaleng.2023.104327

    View details for Web of Science ID 001009460200001

  • Modeled Three-Dimensional Currents and Eddies on an Alongshore-Variable Barred Beach JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS Baker, C. M., Moulton, M., Raubenheimer, B., Elgar, S., Kumar, N. 2021; 126 (7)

    View details for DOI 10.1029/2020JC016899

    View details for Web of Science ID 000681412200015

  • Response of Metal Building Cladding to Tsunami Wave Impact Loads JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING Baker, C., Higgins, C., Liu, J., Yeh, H. 2020; 146 (11)

    View details for DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)ST.1943-541X.0002800

    View details for Web of Science ID 000576083900001

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1401-8645