Minna Ho

Minna Ho is a scientist in the Biogeochemistry Department, specializing in numerical ocean modeling. Her research focuses on understanding the impact of coastal and nearshore physical processes on ecosystems. She has developed a new wastewater plume modeling method to support sanitation management discharge decisions. She is currently investigating the impact of anthropogenically-enhanced nutrient coastal export on ocean acidification and hypoxia in the California Current System and nutrient management scenarios to mitigate this impact.

She received her B.S. in mathematics and atmospheric and oceanic sciences in 2017 and her M.S. in civil engineering in 2019 from the University of California, Los Angeles. She is currently getting her Ph.D. in oceanography from the University of California, Los Angeles. She joined SCCWRP in 2017.

Education

Ph.D., oceanography, University of California, Los Angeles. In progress.

M.S., civil engineering, University of California, Los Angeles. 2019

B.S., mathematics/atmospheric and oceanic sciences Interdepartmental Program, University of California, Los Angeles. Minor, environmental engineering. 2017

Professional Experience

Scientist, Southern California Coastal Water Research, CA. 2020-present

Senior Research Technician, Southern California Coastal Water Research, CA. 2019-2020

Research Technician, Southern California Coastal Water Research, CA. 2018-2019

Laboratory Assistant, Southern California Coastal Water Research, CA. 2017-2018

Staff Research Associate, James C. McWilliams Laboratory, University of California, Los Angeles, CA. 2017-2018

Research Assistant, Richard F. Ambrose Laboratory, University of California, Los Angeles, CA. 2015-2017

Computer Applications

Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS)

Selected Presentations and Conference Proceedings

M. Ho, F. Kessouri, M. Sutula, C. Frieder, D. Bianchi, and J. McWilliams. Using coastal modeling to predict how wastewater recycling and nitrogen management actions impact coastal acidification and hypoxia. Ocean Sciences Meeting. Feb 24 - Mar 4, 2022. Virtual.

M. Ho, F. Kessouri, M. Sutula, D. Bianchi, and J. McWilliams. Can potable-use wastewater recycling and nitrogen management reduce acidification and oxygen loss in Southern California? Conference of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation. Nov 1-11, 2021. Virtual.

M. Ho, F. Kessouri, M. Sutula, J. McWilliams. Applying Particle Tracking Modeling in Wastewater Plumes to Support Monitoring Programs. CalCOFI Conference. Dec 1-2, 2020. Virtual.

M. Ho, F. Kessouri, D. Bianchi, J. McWilliams, M. Molemaker, T. Gallien and G. Robertson. Impact of water recycling on wastewater effluent plumes in drought-stricken regions in ocean acidification and hypoxia contexts. Ocean Sciences Meeting. February 16-21, 2020. San Diego, CA.

M. Ho, F. Kessouri, M. Sutula, J. McWilliams, D. Bianchi, T. Gallien, G. Robertson, J. Molemaker. 2019. High resolution numerical ocean outfall plume modeling in the southern California bight. Conference of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation. Nov 3-7, 2019. Mobile, AL.

M. Ho, 2019. Modeling and validation of coastal wastewater effluent plumes using high-resolution nonhydrostatic regional ocean modeling system. M.S. Thesis, University of California, Los Angeles. Los Angeles, CA.

Publications


Journal Articles

Kessouri, F., M. Sutula, D. Bianchi, M. Ho, P. Damien, J.C. McWilliams, C.A. Frieder, L. Renault, H. Frenzel, K. McLaughlin, C. Deutsch. 2024. Cross-shore transport and eddies promote large scale response to urban eutrophication. Scientific Reports 14:7240.

Ho, M., F. Kessouri, C.A. Frieder, M. Sutula, D. Bianchi, J.C. McWilliams. 2023. Effect of ocean outfall discharge volume and dissolved inorganic nitrogen load on urban eutrophication outcomes in the Southern California Bight. Scientific Reports 13:22148.

Kessouri, F., K. McLaughlin, M. Sutula, D. Bianchi, M. Ho, J.C. McWilliams, L. Renault, J. Molemaker, C. Deutsch, A. Leinweber. 2021. Configuration and validation of an oceanic physical and biogeochemical model to investigate coastal eutrophication in the Southern California Bight. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems 13:e2020MS002296.

McLaughlin, K., M.D.A. Howard, G. Robertson, C.D.A. Beck, M. Ho, F. Kessouri, N.P. Nezlin, M. Sutula, S.B. Weisberg. 2021. Influence of anthropogenic nutrient inputs on rates of coastal ocean nitrogen and carbon cycling in the Southern California Bight, United States. Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene 9:00145.

Sutula, M., M. Ho, A. Sengupta, F. Kessouri, K. McLaughlin, K. McCune, D. Bianchi. 2021. A baseline of terrestrial freshwater and nitrogen fluxes to the Southern California Bight, USA. Marine Pollution Bulletin DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112669 .

Ho, M., J.M. Molemaker, F. Kessouri, J.C. McWilliams, T.W. Gallien. 2021. High-Resolution Nonhydrostatic Outfall Plume Modeling: Cross-Flow Validation. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-7900.0001896.

Kessouri, F., J.C. McWilliams, D. Bianchi, M. Sutula, L. Renault, C. Deutsch, R.A. Feely, K. McLaughlin, M. Ho, E.M. Howard, N. Bednarsek, P. Damien, J. Molemaker, S.B. Weisberg. 2021. Coastal eutrophication drives acidification, oxygen loss, and ecosystem change in a major oceanic upwelling system. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America DOI:10.1073/pnas.2018856118.

Sutula, M., M. Ho, A. Sengupta, F. Kessouri, K. McLaughlin, K. McCune, D. Bianchi. 2021. Dataset of terrestrial fluxes of freshwater, nutrients, carbon, and iron to the Southern California Bight, U.S.A.. Data in Brief DOI:10.1016/j.dib.2021.106802.

Winfrey, B.K., M. Ho, W. Wang, Y.J. Li, R.F. Ambrose. 2020. Design aspects and plant species affect pollutant removal in Southern California stormwater biofilters. Blue-Green Systems DOI:10.2166/bgs.2020.012.

Technical Reports

Sutula, M., D. Senn, L. Fono, M. Ho, F. Karimpour, F. Kessouri, A. King, A. Latker, P. Markle. 2021. Approaches to Quantifying Uncertainty in Coastal Eutrophication Numerical Modeling: A Workshop Summary. Technical Report . Southern California Coastal Water Research Project. Costa Mesa, CA.