Oceanographer
Oceanographer

Biography

Dr. Andrea E. Copping joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in 2006, as a senior researcher. Dr. Copping focuses on marine renewable energy development for PNNL on behalf of the Department of Energy.

Using risk-based approaches, Dr. Copping leads a research team that integrates laboratory, field, and modeling measurements into a coherent body of evidence to support siting and permitting decisions, and to understand the role that these effects play in technology development and project initiation. She leads OES-Environmental – an international project on environmental effects of marine energy development that shares environmental effects information to benefit from progress made around the world, under the IEA Ocean Energy Systems. She also leads projects that focus on fundamental research and development that support Blue Economy development, including ocean observations, aquaculture, and providing power to remote communities and islands, as well as leading the PRIMRE system of databases and information hubs that house all US marine renewable energy data. Dr. Copping works across several scientific disciplines to determine implications of human stressors on marine resources and ecosystems processes, working with stakeholder groups and resource managers to ensure that the available scientific information is accessible and available.  

Dr. Copping holds a B.Sc. in marine biology from McGill University and an M.S. and a Ph.D. in biological oceanography from the University of Washington. Although trained as a blue water oceanographer, she has spent most of her professional career on interactions between human activities and the marine environment in coastal and estuarine areas. Previously, she was Associate Director of the Washington Sea Grant, University of Washington, responsible for research and outreach on a wide range of marine topics. Dr. Copping holds the position of Distinguished Faculty Fellow in the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington, is an Associate Editor for the Coastal Management Journal, serves on the editorial board of the International Marine Energy Journal, and serves on scientific advisory boards for national marine energy development for Ireland, France, Chile, and Australia.

Research Interest

  • Effects of human activities on the marine environment
  • Renewable ocean energy in support of decarbonization
  • Environmental and social interactions with ocean technology development

Education

  • Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography, University of Washington

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Distinguished Faculty Fellow, University of Washington
  • Associate Editor for the Coastal Management Journal
  • Editorial Board for International Marine Energy Journal
  • Scientific Advisory Committee to MaREI (Marine and Renewable Energy Institute), Ireland
  • Scientific Advisory Committee to FEM (France Energies Marines), France
  • PNNL Coastal Division Research Council

Publications

2025

  • Jung H., Z. Lu, W. Hwang, B. Friedman, A.E. Copping, R.A. Branch, and Z. Deng. 2025. "Modeling and Sea Trial of a Self-powered Ocean Buoy Harvesting Arctic Ocean Wave Energy using a Double-Side Cylindrical Triboelectric Nanogenerator." Nano Energy 135, no. _:Art. No. 110641. PNNL-SA-205406. doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2024.110641

2024

  • Copping A.E., M. Martinez, L.G. Hemery, I. Hutchison, K.M. Jones, and M.E. Kaplan. 2024. "Recent Advances in Assessing Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Around the World." Marine Technology Society Journal 58, no. 3:70-87. PNNL-SA-201616. doi:10.4031/MTSJ.58.3.2
  • Deng Z., A.L. Salalila, A.E. Copping, J.J. Martinez, and Y. Li. 2024. "Environmental Monitoring and Risk Assessment for Marine Energy Systems." In Encyclopedia of Renewable Energy, Sustainability, and the Environment, edited by M. Reza Rahimpour. 141-150. PNNL-SA-194950. doi:10.1016/B978-0-323-93940-9.00263-2
  • Hemery L.G., L. Garavelli, A.E. Copping, H.K. Farr, K.M. Jones, N. Baker-Horne, and L. Kregting, et al. 2024. "Animal Displacement from Marine Energy Development: Mechanisms and Consequences." Science of the Total Environment 917. PNNL-SA-189187. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170390
  • Knights A., A.J. Lemasson, L.B. Firth, N. Beoumont, S. Birchenough, J. Claisse, and J. Coolen, et al. 2024. "To what extent can decommissioning options for marine artificial structures move us toward environmental targets?." Journal of Environmental Management 350. PNNL-SA-197564. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119644?
  • Knights A., A.J. Lemasson, L.B. Firth, T. Bond, J. Claisse, J. Coolen, and A.E. Copping, et al. 2024. "Developing expert scientific consensus on the environmental and societal effects of marine artificial structures prior to decommissioning." Journal of Environmental Management 352. PNNL-SA-197563. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119897?
  • Ouro-Koura H., H. Jung, J. Li, D. Borca-Tasciuc, A.E. Copping, and Z. Deng. 2024. "Predictive Model Using Artificial Neural Network to Design Phase Change Material-Based Ocean Thermal Energy Harvesting for Powering Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles." Energy 301, no. _:Art. No. 131660. PNNL-SA-189773. doi:10.1016/j.energy.2024.131660

2023

  • Copping A.E., D. Hasselman, C. Bangley, J. Culina, and M. Carcas. 2023. "A probabilistic methodology for determining collision risk of marine animals with tidal energy turbines." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 11, no. 11:Art. No. 2151. PNNL-SA-189702. doi:10.3390/jmse11112151
  • Deng Z., H. Jung, H. Ouro-Koura, A.L. Salalila, B. Friedman, J. Liu, and A.E. Copping. "Efficient Hydraulic-to-electric Energy Conversion for PCM-based Ocean Thermal Gradient Energy System to Power Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles." In OCEANS 2023 Limerick.
  • Deng Z., H. Jung, H. Ouro-Koura, A.L. Salalila, B. Friedman, J. Liu, and A.E. Copping. 2023. "Efficient Hydraulic-to-electric Energy Conversion for PCM-based Ocean Thermal Gradient Energy System to Power Uncrewed Underwater Vehicles." In OCEANS 2023, June 5-8, 2023, Limerick, Ireland, 1-4. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-183895. doi:10.1109/OCEANSLimerick52467.2023.10244366
  • Hasselman D., L.G. Hemery, A.E. Copping, B. Fulton, J. Fox, A. Gill, and B. Polagye. 2023. "'Scaling up' Our Understanding of Environmental Effects of Marine Renewable Energy Development from Single Devices to Large-Scale Commercial Arrays." Science of the Total Environment 904. PNNL-SA-186245. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166801
  • Jung H., B. Friedman, H. Ouro-Koura, A.L. Salalila, J.J. Martinez, A.E. Copping, and R.A. Branch, et al. 2023. "Self-Powered Autonomous Sensing System for Arctic Ocean using a Frequency-multiplied Cylindrical Triboelectric Nanogenerator." In OCEANS 2023, June 5-8, 2023, Limerick Ireland, 1-5. Hoboken, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-183896. doi:10.1109/OCEANSLimerick52467.2023.10244599
  • Jung H., B. Friedman, W. Hwang, A.E. Copping, R.A. Branch, and Z. Deng. 2023. "Self-powered Arctic Satellite Communication System by Harvesting Wave Energy using a Triboelectric Nanogenerator." Nano Energy 114. PNNL-SA-185318. doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2023.108633
  • Ouro-Koura H., H. Jung, D. Borca-Tasciuc, A.E. Copping, and Z. Deng. 2023. "MODELING AND OPTIMIZATION OF A PCM-BASED OCEAN THERMAL ENERGY HARVESTER FOR POWERING UNMANNED UNDERWATER VEHICLES." In ASME 2023 17th International Conference on Energy Sustainability collocated with the ASME 2023 Heat Transfer Summer Conference, July 10-12, 2023, Washington DC, Paper No: ES2023-106769, V001T08A001. New York, New York:ASME. PNNL-SA-181217. doi:10.1115/ES2023-106769
  • Whiting J.M., L. Garavelli, H.K. Farr, and A.E. Copping. 2023. "Effects of small marine energy deployments on oceanographic systems." International Marine Energy Journal 6, no. 2:45-54. PNNL-SA-168119. doi:10.36688/imej.6.45-54

2022

  • Jung H., C. Venkata Subban, J. Mctigue, J.J. Martinez, A.E. Copping, J. Osorio, and J. Liu, et al. 2022. "Extracting Energy from Ocean Thermal and Salinity Gradients to Power Unmanned Underwater Vehicles: State of the Art, Current Limitations, and Future Outlook." Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews 160. PNNL-SA-163771. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2022.112283

2021

  • Cavagnaro R.J., A.E. Copping, D.S. Jenne, and J. Garson. 2021. "Research and Development Pathways for Powering the Blue Economy with Marine Renewable Energy." In Proceedings of the 14th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2021), September 5-9, 2021, Virtual, Online, 2033-1 - 2033-7. Southampton:European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference Series. PNNL-SA-160755.
  • Copping A.E., D.J. Rose, and M.C. Freeman. 2021. "Moving from scientific research to consenting guidance for MRE environmental risk." In Proceedings of the 14th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2021), September 5-9, 2021, Virtual, Online, 1912-1 - 1912-7. Southampton:European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference Series. PNNL-SA-161459.
  • Copping A.E., L. Garavelli, H.K. Farr, F. Driscoll, K.M. Ruehl, M. Faltas, and C. Castillo. 2021. "Added value for integrated marine energy data systems." In Proceedings of the14th European and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2021), September 5-9, 2021, Virtual, Online, 1964-1 - 1964-7. Southampton:European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference Series. PNNL-SA-161460.
  • Copping A.E., L.G. Hemery, H. Viehman, A. Seitz, G.J. Staines, and D. Hasselman. 2021. "Are fish in danger? A review of environmental effects of marine renewable energy on fishes." Biological Conservation 262. PNNL-SA-156094. doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109297
  • Cotter E.D., R.J. Cavagnaro, A.E. Copping, and S.H. Geerlofs. 2021. "Powering Negative-Emissions Technologies with Marine Renewable Energy." In OCEANS 2021, September 20-23, San Diego, CA, 1-8. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-164551. doi:10.23919/OCEANS44145.2021.9705807
  • Hemery L.G., A.E. Copping, and D.M. Overhus. 2021. "Biological consequences of marine energy development on marine animals." Energies 14, no. 24:Art. No. 8460. PNNL-SA-168036. doi:10.3390/en14248460
  • Hemery L.G., D.J. Rose, M.C. Freeman, and A.E. Copping. 2021. "Retiring environmental risks of marine renewable energy devices: The “habitat change” case." In Proceedings of the 14th European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (EWTEC 2021), September 5-9, 2021, Virtual, Online, 1931-1 - 1931-6. Plymouth:European Wave and Tidal Energy Conference Series. PNNL-SA-160799.

2020

  • Cavagnaro R.J., A.E. Copping, R. Green, D. Greene, D.S. Jenne, D.J. Rose, and D.M. Overhus. 2020. "Powering the Blue Economy: Progress Exploring Marine Renewable Energy Integration With Ocean Observations." Marine Technology Society Journal 54, no. 6:114-125. PNNL-SA-154165. doi:10.4031/MTSJ.54.6.11
  • Cavagnaro R.J., C. Matthews, D.L. Hume, R. Raye, A.E. Copping, and D.S. Jenne. 2020. "Enabling Marine Energy Integration for Ocean Observing: Functional Requirements." In Global Oceans 2020: Singapore - U.S. Gulf Coast, October 5-30, 2020, Biloxi, MS, 01-07. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-155589. doi:10.1109/IEEECONF38699.2020.9389228
  • Copping A.E., A.M. Gorton, R. May, F. Bennet, E. Degeorge, M. Repas, and B. Rumes. 2020. "Enabling Renewable Energy While Protecting Wildlife: An Ecological Risk-Based Approach to Wind Energy Development Using Ecosystem-Based Management Values." Sustainability 12, no. 22:9352. PNNL-SA-157942. doi:10.3390/su12229352
  • Copping A.E., and L.G. Hemery. 2020. OES-Environmental 2020 State of the Science Report. PNNL-29976. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. doi:10.2172/1632878.
  • Copping A.E., L.G. Hemery, D.M. Overhus, L. Garavelli, M.C. Freeman, J.M. Whiting, and A.M. Gorton, et al. 2020. "Potential environmental effects of marine renewable energy development - the state of the science." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 8, no. 11:Article No. 879. PNNL-SA-156387. doi:10.3390/jmse8110879
  • Copping A.E., M.C. Freeman, A.M. Gorton, and L.G. Hemery. 2020. "Risk Retirement - Decreasing Uncertainty and Informing Consenting Permitting Processes for Marine Renewable Energy Development." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 8, no. 3:172. PNNL-SA-150723. doi:10.3390/jmse8030172
  • Copping A.E., R. Green, R.J. Cavagnaro, D.S. Jenne, D. Greene, J.J. Martinez, and Y. Yang. 2020. Powering the Blue Economy - Ocean Observing Use Cases Report. PNNL-29585. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 
  • Witt C., J. Pearlman, B. Polagye, F. Caimi, F. Muller-Karger, A.E. Copping, and H. Spence, et al. 2020. "Future Vision for Autonomous Ocean Observations." Frontiers in Marine Science 7. PNNL-SA-155941. doi:10.3389/fmars.2020.00697
  • Yang Z., A.M. Gorton, T. Wang, J.M. Whiting, A.E. Copping, K. Haas, and P.J. Wolfram, et al. 2020. Multi-resolution, Multi-scale Modeling for Scalable Macroalgae Production. PNNL-29881. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 

2019

  • Copping A.E., M.C. Freeman, A.M. Gorton, and L.G. Hemery. 2019. "A Risk Retirement Pathway for Potential Effects of Underwater Noise and Electromagnetic Fields for Marine Renewable Energy." In OCEANS 2019 MTS/IEEE, October 27-31, 2019, Seattle, WA. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-147090. doi:10.23919/OCEANS40490.2019.8962841
  • Ko Y., B. Barrett, A.E. Copping, A. Sharifi, M. Yarimi, and X. Wang. 2019. "Energy Transitions Towards Low Carbon Resilience: Evaluation of Disaster-Triggered Local and Regional Cases." Sustainability 11, no. 23:Article No. 6801. PNNL-SA-148907. doi:10.3390/su11236801
  • Whiting J.M., A.E. Copping, M.C. Freeman, and A.E. Woodbury. 2019. "Tethys Knowledge Management System: Working to Advance the Marine Renewable Energy Industry." International Marine Energy Journal 2, no. 1:29-38. PNNL-SA-132718. doi:10.36688/imej.2.29-38
  • Whiting J.M., A.E. Copping, M.C. Freeman, and A.E. Woodbury. 2019. "Tethys Knowledge Management System: Working to Advance the Marine Renewable Energy Industry." International Marine Energy Journal 2, no. 1:29-38. PNNL-SA-140333. doi:10.36688/imej.2.29-38

2018

  • Copping A.E., A. Livecchi, H. Spence, A.M. Gorton, D.S. Jenne, R. Preus, and G.A. Gill, et al. 2018. "Maritime Renewable Energy Markets: Power from the Sea." Marine Technology Society Journal 52, no. 5:99-109. PNNL-SA-134407. doi:10.4031/MTSJ.52.5.3
  • Copping A.E., A.M. Gorton, and M.C. Freeman. 2018. Data Transferability and Collection Consistency in Marine Renewable Energy. PNNL-27995. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. 
  • Copping A.E., M.C. Freeman, A.M. Gorton, and S. Dreyer. 2018. "Managing Environmental Effects to Facilitate Marine Renewable Energy Development." In The 4th Asian Wave and Tidal Energy Conference (AWTEC 2018), September 9-13, 2018, Taipei, Taiwan. Keelung City:National Taiwan Ocean University. PNNL-SA-135255.

2017

  • Breithaupt S.A., A.E. Copping, J. Tagestad, and J.M. Whiting. 2017. "Maritime Route Delineation using AIS Data from the Atlantic Coast of the US." Journal of Navigation 70, no. 2:379-394. PNNL-SA-120338. doi:10.1017/S0373463316000606
  • Copping A.E., M.E. Grear, R.A. Jepsen, C. Chartrand, and A.M. Gorton. 2017. "Understanding the Potential Risk to Marine Mammals from Collision with Tidal Turbines." International Journal of Marine Energy 19. PNNL-SA-120984. doi:10.1016/j.ijome.2017.07.004
  • Yang Z., and A.E. Copping. 2017. Marine Renewable Energy: Resource Characterization and Physical Effects. Cham:Springer International Publishing. PNNL-SA-125380. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53536-4

2016

  • Bull D., D.S. Jenne, C.S. Smith, A.E. Copping, and G. Copeland. 2016. "Levelized cost of energy for a Backward Bent Duct Buoy." International Journal of Marine Energy 16. PNNL-SA-121027. doi:10.1016/j.ijome.2016.07.002
  • Copping A.E., S.A. Breithaupt, J.M. Whiting, M.E. Grear, J.D. Tagestad, and G.A. Shelton. 2016. "Likelihood of a Marine Vessel Accident from Wind Energy Development in the Atlantic." Wind Energy 19, no. 9:1557-1566. PNNL-SA-108588. doi:10.1002/we.1935
  • Long W., K. Jung, Z. Yang, A.E. Copping, and Z. Deng. 2016. "Coupled Modeling of Hydrodynamics and Sound in Coastal Ocean for Renewable Ocean Energy Development." Marine Technology Society Journal 50, no. 2:27-36. PNNL-SA-114856. doi:10.4031/MTSJ.50.2.6

2015

  • Copping A.E., G. Zydlewski, and A.M. Redden. 2015. "Special Issue: Renewable Ocean Energy Development and the Environment." Estuaries and Coasts 38, no. 1:S156-S158. PNNL-SA-106884. doi:10.1007/s12237-014-9922-2
  • Copping A.E., L.A. Hanna, F.B. Van Cleve, K.M. Blake, and R.M. Anderson. 2015. "Environmental Risk Evaluation System - An Approach to Ranking Risk of Ocean Energy Development on Coastal and Estuarine Environments." Estuaries and Coasts 38, no. 1:S287-S302. PNNL-SA-102166. doi:10.1007/s12237-014-9816-3
  • Long W., Z. Yang, A.E. Copping, K. Jung, and Z. Deng. 2015. "The Development of a Finite Volume Method for Modeling Sound in Coastal Ocean Environment." In OCEANS'15 MTS/IEEE Washington, October 19-22, 2015, Washington DC, 1-6. Piscataway, New Jersey:IEEE. PNNL-SA-112403. doi:10.23919/OCEANS.2015.7404439
  • Wang T., Z. Yang, and A.E. Copping. 2015. "A Modeling Study of the Potential Water Quality Impacts from In-Stream Tidal Energy Extraction." Estuaries and Coasts 38, no. 1 (Supplement):173-186. PNNL-SA-97921. doi:10.1007/s12237-013-9718-9
  • Yang Z., T. Wang, N. Voisin, and A.E. Copping. 2015. "Estuarine Response to River Flow and Sea-Level Rise under Future Climate Change and Human Development." Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 156. PNNL-SA-102982. doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2014.08.015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010