בוורלי גודמן - בית הספר למדעי הים ע"ש ליאון צ'רני

About▼

Beverly Nicole Goodman-Tchernov is a marine geoarchaeologist and sedimentologist whose interdisciplinary work has significantly advanced the understanding of past coastal hazards, particularly tsunamis, in the Mediterranean. Known for integrating geological, archaeological, and historical evidence, she has pioneered methods to identify and interpret ancient tsunami deposits, reshaping how researchers assess long-term coastal risk. Goodman-Tchernov earned her academic training in marine sciences and developed expertise in underwater excavation, sediment analysis, and coastal geomorphology. Much of her research focuses on reconstructing extreme events across millennia, combining fieldwork in submerged and shoreline environments with laboratory techniques such as microfossil identification, geochemical fingerprinting, and radiometric dating. Her investigations have helped establish the frequency, magnitude, and environmental impacts of tsunamis along the Israeli, Aegean, and broader Eastern Mediterranean coasts. A core theme of her work is improving the accuracy of hazard assessment by refining how scientists distinguish between tsunami-related deposits and those formed by storms, floods, or human activity. She has conducted influential studies on the effects of the Bronze Age Thera eruption, historical tsunamis impacting Levantine port cities, and modern analogues such as the 2004 Indian Ocean and 2011 Tōhoku events. Her research has provided critical context for coastal planning, resilience strategies, and the protection of cultural heritage sites. As a professor and scientific diving instructor, Goodman-Tchernov is also deeply committed to education and capacity building. She trains students and professionals in underwater research methods and participates in international collaborations aimed at improving coastal hazard preparedness. Her work has been widely published and frequently cited across disciplines ranging from geology and geomorphology to archaeology and disaster science. Through her innovative approaches and dedication to interdisciplinary inquiry, Beverly Nicole Goodman-Tchernov has become a leading figure in understanding the dynamic relationship between humans and the sea across deep time.

Publications▼

Desert flashfloods recorded by Ba/Ca in benthic marine foraminifera (Operculina ammonoides), Goodman-Tchernov, B., Oron, S., Sadekov, A., Antler, G. & Katz, T., 30 Sep 2026, In: Chemical Geology. 720, 123611.
Foraminifera community assemblages from the southern Maldivian Archipelago: A helpful baseline for future environmental assessments, Baroliya, H., Anagnostoudi, T., Oron, S., Sala, E., Friedlander, A. M. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., May 2026, In: Marine Micropaleontology. 204, 102574.
Warning signal from the Dead Sea: Plastic pollution at the deepest hypersaline lake, Kalman, A., Mercurio, M., Lazar, M., Langella, A., Izzo, F., Grifa, C., Anagnostoudi, T., Pietraszek, A. V. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., 15 Jan 2026, In: Journal of Hazardous Materials. 502, 140621.
Anatomy of a Flash Flood in a Hyperarid Environment: From Atmospheric Masses to Sediment Dispersal in the Sea, Kalman, A., Katz, T., Vincze, M., Longenecker, J., Mathalon, A., Hill, P. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., 10 Sep 2025, In: Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences. 25, 9, p. 3201-3219 19 p.
Far-field effects of the Nile damming on the silica cycle in the Southeastern Mediterranean Sea, Katz, T., Bookman, R., Herut, B., Goodman-Tchernov, B. & Sisma-Ventura, G., 15 Apr 2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 921, 171274.
Anthropogenic structure emplacement and sediment transport at King Herod's harbour, Israel: ED-μXRF (Itrax) data and foraminifer Pararotalia calcariformata as proxies of coastal development over millennia, Steele, R. E., Reinhardt, E. G., Gabriel, J. J., Boyce, J., Burchell, M., Kingston, A. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., Mar 2024, In: Marine Geology. 469, 107245.
Shallow water foraminifera from Niue and Beveridge Reef (South Pacific): Insights into ecological significance and ecosystem integrity, Oron, S., Friedlander, A. M., Sala, E. & Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., 10 Jan 2024, In: Royal Society Open Science. 11, 1, 230997.
The Proyecto Costa Escondida: Historical ecology and the study of past coastal landscapes in the Maya area, Glover, J. B., Rissolo, D., Beddows, P. A., Jaijel, R., Smith, D. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., 2024, In: Journal of Island and Coastal Archaeology. 19, 3, p. 505-524 20 p.
How monster storms shape fringing reefs: Observations from the 2020 Middle East Cyclone, Oron, S., Akkaynak, D., Goodman Tchernov, B. N. & Shaked, Y., Jul 2023, In: Ecosphere. 14, 7, e4602.
Earthquake, Fire, and Water: Destruction Sequence Identified in an 8th Century Early Islamic Harbor Warehouse in Caesarea, Israel, Everhardt, C. J., Dey, H. W., ‘Ad, U., Sharvit, J., Gendelman, P., Roskin, J., Robins, L., Jaijel, R., Barkai, O. & Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., Apr 2023, In: Geosciences (Switzerland). 13, 4, 108.
Evolution of sediment grain-size profiles on a sheltered, continental shelf in response to punctuated flood deposition, Katz, T., Katsman, R., Kalman, A. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., 1 Dec 2022, In: Continental Shelf Research. 251, 104868.
Coastal palaeoenvironmental record of Late Bronze to Iron Age harbour development at Liman Tepe-Clazomenae, western Anatolia, Turkey, Riddick, N. L., Boyce, J. I., Şahoğlu, V., Erkanal, H., Tuğcu, İ., Alkan, Y., Reinhardt, E. G. & Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., Aug 2022, In: Marine Geology. 450, 106842.
Sedimentary response of the deep eastern Mediterranean basin to the north African desertification, sea level variation and regional tectonics, Schattner, U., Kanari, M., Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., de Mahiques, M. M. & Bernhardt, A., Apr 2022, In: Basin Research. 34, 2, p. 662-687 26 p.
Boulder Dislodgement During Coastal Storms and Tsunamis: Insights From a New Ensemble Model, Weiss, R., Irish, J. & Goodman Tchernov, B., Mar 2022, In: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems. 23, 3, e2021GC010266.
Anthropogenic changes in waterways produce "drought-like" layers in shelf sediments, Kalman, A., Goodman-Tchernov, B., Hill, P., Everhardt, C., Mathalon, A. & Katz, T., 18 Feb 2022, In: Elementa. 10, 1, 00039.
Palaeoshoreline reconstruction and underwater archaeological potential of Liman Tepe: A long-occupied coastal prehistoric settlement in western Anatolia, Turkey, Riddick, N. L., Boyce, J. I., Krezoski, G. M., Şahoğlu, V., Erkanal, H., Tuğcu, İ., Alkan, Y., Gabriel, J. J., Reinhardt, E. G. & Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., 15 Jan 2022, In: Quaternary Science Reviews. 276, 107293.
Recent shallow water foraminifera from the Selvagens Islands (Northeast Atlantic) – Assemblage composition and biogeographic significance, Oron, S., Friedlander, A. M., Sala, E. & Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., 5 Jan 2022, In: Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 264, 107671.
Volcanic ash, victims, and tsunami debris from the Late Bronze Age Thera eruption discovered at Çeşme-Bağlararası (Turkey), Şahoglu, V., Sterba, J. H., Katz, T., Çayır, U., Gan, U. G., Tyuleneva, N., Tugcu, I., Bichler, M., Erkanal, H. & Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., 4 Jan 2022, In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 119, 1, e2114213118.
Benthic foraminifera geochemistry as a monitoring tool for heavy metal and phosphorus pollution — A post fish-farm removal case study, Oron, S., Sadekov, A., Katz, T. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., Jul 2021, In: Marine Pollution Bulletin. 168, 112443.
The Mediterranean Sea and the Gulf of Cadiz as a natural laboratory for paleotsunami research: Recent advancements, De Martini, P. M., Bruins, H. J., Feist, L., Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., Hadler, H., Lario, J., Mastronuzzi, G., Obrocki, L., Pantosti, D., Paris, R., Reicherter, K., Smedile, A. & Vött, A., May 2021, In: Earth-Science Reviews. 216, 103578.
Redox evolution and the development of oxygen minimum zones in the Eastern Mediterranean Levantine basin during the early Holocene, Zirks, E., Krom, M., Schmiedl, G., Katz, T., Xiong, Y., Alcott, L. J., Poulton, S. W. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., 15 Mar 2021, In: Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 297, p. 82-100 19 p.
A monte-carlo model for caisson overturning by tsunamis, Irish, J. L., Weiss, R. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., 31 Dec 2020, In: Proceedings of the Coastal Engineering Conference. 36, 2020
Effect of Different Derivatization Protocols on the Calculation of Trophic Position Using Amino Acids Compound-Specific Stable Isotopes, Martinez, S., Lalzar, M., Shemesh, E., Einbinder, S., Goodman Tchernov, B. & Tchernov, D., 15 Dec 2020, In: Frontiers in Marine Science. 7, 561568.
Seismic potential of the Dead Sea Fault in the northern Gulf of Aqaba-Elat: New evidence from liquefaction, seismic reflection, and paleoseismic data, Kanari, M., Niemi, T. M., Ben-Avraham, Z., Frieslander, U., Tibor, G., Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., Wechsler, N., Abueladas, A., Al-Zoubi, A., Basson, U. & Marco, S., 20 Oct 2020, In: Tectonophysics. 793, 228596.
Archaeological dating of tsunami and storm deposits, Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., 1 Jan 2020, Geological Records of Tsunamis and Other Extreme Waves. Elsevier, p. 729-743 15 p.
Evidence for the Presence of Oxygen-Depleted Sapropel Intermediate Water across the Eastern Mediterranean during Sapropel S1, Zirks, E., Krom, M. D., Zhu, D., Schmiedl, G. & Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., 17 Oct 2019, In: ACS Earth and Space Chemistry. 3, 10, p. 2287-2297 11 p.
Publicity waves based on manipulated geoscientific data suggesting climatic trigger for majority of tsunami findings in the mediterranean – response to ‘tsunamis in the geological record: Making waves with a cautionary tale from the mediterranean’ by marriner et al. (2017), Vött, A., Bruins, H. J., Gawehn, M., Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., De Martini, P. M., Kelletat, D., Mastronuzzi, G., Reicherter, K., Röbke, B. R., Scheffers, A., Willershäuser, T., Avramidis, P., Bellanova, P., Costa, P. J. M., Finkler, C., Hadler, H., Koster, B., Lario, J., Reinhardt, E. & Mathes-Schmidt, M. & 7 others, Ntageretzis, K., Pantosti, D., Papanikolaou, I., Sansò, P., Scicchitano, G., Smedile, A. & Szczuciński, W., Oct 2019, In: Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie. 62, p. 7-45 39 p.
Factors influencing flashflood deposit preservation in shallow marine sediments of a hyperarid environment, Mathalon, A., Goodman-Tchernov, B., Hill, P., Kálmán, Á. & Katz, T., May 2019, In: Marine Geology. 411, p. 22-35 14 p.
OSL over-dispersion: A pilot study for the characterisation of extreme events in the shallow marine realm, López, G. I., Goodman-Tchernov, B. N. & Porat, N., 15 Dec 2018, In: Sedimentary Geology. 378, p. 35-51 17 p.
Coastal reconstruction of Vista Alegre, an ancient maritime Maya settlement, Jaijel, R., Glover, J. B., Rissolo, D., Beddows, P. A., Smith, D., Ben-Avraham, Z. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., 15 May 2018, In: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 497, p. 25-36 12 p.
Estuarine development and early Holocene transgression across an aeolianite substrate, Caesarea, central Israel, Goff, J. A., Austin, J. A. & Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., 15 Apr 2018, In: Continental Shelf Research. 158, p. 33-44 12 p.
A new chalcolithic-era tsunami event identified in the offshore sedimentary record of Jisr al-Zarka (Israel), Tyuleneva, N., Braun, Y., Katz, T., Suchkov, I. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., 1 Feb 2018, In: Marine Geology. 396, p. 67-78 12 p.
Possible tsunami inundation identified amongst 4–5th century BCE archaeological deposits at Tel Ashkelon, Israel, Hoffmann, N., Master, D. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., 1 Feb 2018, In: Marine Geology. 396, p. 150-159 10 p.
Late Quaternary sea-level changes and early human societies in the central and eastern Mediterranean Basin: An interdisciplinary review, Benjamin, J., Rovere, A., Fontana, A., Furlani, S., Vacchi, M., Inglis, R. H., Galili, E., Antonioli, F., Sivan, D., Miko, S., Mourtzas, N., Felja, I., Meredith-Williams, M., Goodman-Tchernov, B., Kolaiti, E., Anzidei, M. & Gehrels, R., 25 Aug 2017, In: Quaternary International. 449, p. 29-57 29 p.
Tsunamis, Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., 2017, In: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. p. 984-988 5 p.
The Proyecto Costa Escondida: Recent interdisciplinary research in search of freshwater along the North Coast of Quintana Roo, Mexico, Beddows, P. A., Glover, J. B., Rissolo, D., Carter, A. M., Jaijel, R., Smith, D. M. & Goodman-Tchernov, B., 1 Sep 2016, In: Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Water. 3, 5, p. 749-761 13 p.
Holocene-era submerged notches along the southern Levantine coastline: Punctuated sea level rise?, Goodman-Tchernov, B. & Katz, O., 16 May 2016, In: Quaternary International. 401, p. 17-27 11 p.
Offshore evidence for an undocumented tsunami event in the 'low risk' Gulf of Aqaba-Eilat, northern Red Sea, Tchernov, B. G., Katz, T., Shaked, Y., Qupty, N., Kanari, M., Niemi, T. & Agnon, A., 1 Jan 2016, In: PLOS ONE. 11, 1, e0145802.
Deterioration of Israel's Caesarea Maritima's ancient harbor linked to repeated tsunami events identified in geophysical mapping of offshore stratigraphy, Goodman-Tchernov, B. N. & Austin, J. A., 1 Sep 2015, In: Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 3, p. 444-454 11 p.
Desert flash floods form hyperpycnal flows in the coral-rich Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea, Katz, T., Ginat, H., Eyal, G., Steiner, Z., Braun, Y., Shalev, S. & Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., 1 May 2015, In: Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 417, p. 87-98 12 p.
Cold seep biogenic carbonate crust in the Levantine basin is inhabited by burrowing Phascolosoma aff. turnerae, a sipunculan worm hosting a distinctive microbiota, Rubin-Blum, M., Shemesh, E., Goodman-Tchernov, B., Coleman, D. F., Ben-Avraham, Z. & Tchernov, D., Aug 2014, In: Deep-Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 90, 1, p. 17-26 10 p.
First evidence for the presence of iron oxidizing zetaproteobacteria at the levantine continental margins, Rubin-Blum, M., Antler, G., Tsadok, R., Shemesh, E., Austin, J. A., Coleman, D. F., Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., Ben-Avraham, Z. & Tchernov, D., 10 Apr 2014, In: PLOS ONE. 9, 3, e91456.
Hydrocarbon-related microbial processes in the deep sediments of the Eastern Mediterranean Levantine Basin, Rubin-Blum, M., Antler, G., Turchyn, A. V., Tsadok, R., Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., Shemesh, E., Austin, J. A., Coleman, D. F., Makovsky, Y., Sivan, O. & Tchernov, D., Mar 2014, In: FEMS Microbiology Ecology. 87, 3, p. 780-796 17 p.
Archaeological evidence for the tsunami of January 18, A.D. 749: A chapter in the history of early Islamic Qâysariyah (Caesarea Maritima), Dey, H., Goodman-Tchernov, B. & Sharvit, J., 2014, In: Journal of Roman Archaeology. 27, 1, p. 357-374 18 p.
הוד הים: יציבות ושינוי במערכות הימיות של ישראל, Stambler, N. (Editor), LOTAN, T. (Editor), GOODMAN TCHERNOV, B. N. (Editor) & BERMAN FRANK, I., 2014, ישראל: העמותה הישראלית למדעי הימים. 584 p.
Distribution of the Lamellibrachia spp. (Siboglinidae, Annelida) and their trophosome endosymbiont phylotypes in the Mediterranean Sea, Rubin-Blum, M., Tsadok, R., Shemesh, E., Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., Austin, J. A., Coleman, D. F., Ben-Avraham, Z., Gruber, D. F. & Tchernov, D., Jan 2014, In: Marine Biology. 161, 6, p. 1229-1239 11 p.
Magnetic detection of ship ballast deposits and anchorage sites in King Herod's Roman harbour, Caesarea Maritima, Israel, Boyce, J. I., Reinhardt, E. G. & Goodman, B. N., Jul 2009, In: Journal of Archaeological Science. 36, 7, p. 1516-1526 11 p.
Multi-proxy geoarchaeological study redefines understanding of the paleocoastlines and ancient harbours of Liman Tepe (Iskele, Turkey), Goodman, B. N., Reinhardt, E. G., Dey, H. W., Boyce, J. I., Schwarcz, H. P., Sahoǧlu, V., Erkanal, H. & Artzy, M., 1 Apr 2009, In: Terra Nova. 21, 2, p. 97-104 8 p.
Tsunami waves generated by the Santorini eruption reached Eastern Mediterranean shores, Goodman-Tchernov, B. N., Dey, H. W., Reinhardt, E. G., McCoy, F. & Mart, Y., 2009, In: Geology. 37, 10, p. 943-946 4 p.
Evidence for Holocene marine transgression and shoreline progradation due to barrier development in Iskele, Bay of Izmir, Turkey, Goodman, B., Reinhardt, E., Dey, H., Boyce, J., Schwarcz, H., Sahoglu, V., Erkanal, H. & Artzy, M., Sep 2008, In: Journal of Coastal Research. 24, 5, p. 1269-1280 12 p.

Education▼

B.A. Anthropology, University of Wisconsin-Madison M.A. Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University-State College PhD Geology and Earth Sciences, McMaster University

Academic Background▼

Beverly Nicole Goodman-Tchernov has established an influential academic and professional career focused on reconstructing past coastal hazards, particularly tsunamis in the Mediterranean. With advanced training in marine sciences, she developed expertise in sedimentology, microfossil analysis, underwater field methods, geochemical fingerprinting, and radiometric dating. These skills enable her to distinguish tsunami deposits from those formed by storms, floods, or human activity—an essential contribution to long-term hazard assessment.

Research Areas▼

Coastal Research
Micropaleontology
Foraminifera
Natural Disasters
Sea level Change
Climate
Marine Geoarchaeology, microplastics

Awards▼

Distinguished Alumni Award (2009) – Harper College, USA
National Geographic Emerging Explorer (2009)
Ocean Hero – NOAA, USA
ARCH Alumni Award – McMaster University, Canada
Kavli Fellow
Life Member – Explorer’s Club

Media▼

Her research has clarified the frequency, scale, and environmental impacts of major tsunamis affecting the Eastern Mediterranean. She has investigated deposits associated with the Bronze Age Thera eruption, historical tsunamis that struck Levantine port cities, and modern events such as the 2004 Indian Ocean and 2011 Tōhoku tsunamis. Her interdisciplinary analyses support coastal resilience planning and the protection of cultural heritage. Widely cited and internationally collaborative, Goodman-Tchernov also trains the next generation through her work as a professor and scientific diving instructor.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

בית הספר למדעי הים
ע"ש ליאון צ'רני

אוניברסיטת חיפה

Prof. Beverly Goodman