Exciting things are happening in the Gulf of Mexico!
Registration is now open for our annual Members Meeting in New Orleans. Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Michelle Heupel, Director of Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System. (View our
preliminary agenda &
register now).
At the request of glider operators, our glider tracking portal,
GANDALF, includes the East Coast. We're currently tracking two University of South Florida gliders named Bass and Gansett, and we're also pleased that our new U.S. Underwater Glider Group (UG2) coordinator, Bill Lingsch, has come aboard.
This week, several GCOOS staffers and board members will be in San Diego at the
AGU Ocean Sciences meeting, where we’ll be talking about building ocean-observing capacity, unique partnerships with industry, data visualization tools and more.
I hope you’ll join with me to
Embrace the Gulf (see what I just did there?) and join us at our meeting in April. And don’t forget:
Nominations are now open for the GCOOS Board of Directors.
Until next month!
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GCOOS Annual Meeting Registration
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Registration for the annual GCOOS Members Meeting is now open. The meeting will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Double Tree by Hilton New Orleans, 300 Canal St., New Orleans, Louisiana, 70130.
Keynote speaker Dr. Michelle Heupel is Director of Australia’s Integrated Marine Observing System. Since 2006, IMOS has been routinely operating a wide range of observing equipment throughout Australia’s coastal and open oceans, making all of its data accessible to the marine and climate science community, other stakeholders and users and international collaborators.
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Make Your Nominations for the GCOOS Board of Directors Now
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Nominations for the GCOOS Board of Directors will close at 5 p.m. (CST), Friday, Feb. 28, 2020. The Board seeks colleagues interested in and committed to working within an organization dedicated to providing data, information and products to the Gulf of Mexico stakeholder community. Terms are for three years.
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How Valuable Are Ocean Observing Data Portals?
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GCOOS, along with the other 10 U.S. Regional Associations and the IOOS Association, are working to gain a better understanding of the value of the data and products we deliver to our communities and plan for improved services in the future.
Working with the Center for the Blue Economy of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, we’ve created a survey focused on the Economic Value of Ocean Observing Systems and are asking for your input today.
Please note that while the survey asks about your “willingness to pay for data,” this is merely part of the valuation process and neither GCOOS nor the other Associations has any intention of charging for data.
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Seventy-five of the nation’s top experts in harmful algal blooms (HABs) recently released a consensus document detailing research needs to most effectively combat future blooms in Florida.
The document — “State of the Science for Harmful Algal Blooms in Florida:
Karenia brevis and
Microcystis spp.” — describes the current state of knowledge, identifies data gaps and prioritizes research needs associated with the two most common HABs in the state, red tide and blue-green algae.
Researchers focused on five topic areas to determine what scientists know, what they think they know and what they need to know then ranked research priorities for HABs in Florida.
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Energy Emissions in the Gulf
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The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) commissioned a study, “Air Quality Modeling in the Gulf of Mexico Region,” in 2014 to update its air quality analyses for the Gulf of Mexico region. The study may lead to regulatory changes, including potentially new emission exemption thresholds (EETs), a screening tool to determine if more refined air quality modeling and emission controls are needed.
BOEM asked the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to provide an independent technical review of the study. The Academies’ review found the cumulative effect of the study’s biases and uncertainties across the meteorological and emission datasets, and from the air quality models themselves, could be quite large and result in EET estimates that are higher than they should be, or lower than they need to be.
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The January DMAC Tech Webinar on Jan. 30 featured GCOOS Systems Architect Felimon Gayanilo presenting “Resolving Data Provenance with OGC SensorML.”
He described the NSF/EarthCube X-DOMES (Cross-Domain Observational Metadata for Environmental Sensing) project, which developed the SensorML Viewer/Editor (SVE) and SensorML Registry and Repository (SRR) to help the ocean observing community by providing sufficient description of sensors used in measuring ocean phenomena to establish data provenance in publically-available data access services. He also discussed approaches to connect data access services to data provenance information utilizing community metadata standards.
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New Ocean Observing Prize
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NOAA is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Energy to present the $3 million Ocean Observing Prize, which is designed to grow the blue economy and accelerate the development of the marine energy sector.
The prize challenges innovators to integrate marine energy sources into unmanned vehicles, buoys, floats and tags, into ocean communications and underwater navigation and in extreme environments, such as deep-sea and polar regions.
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Applications Open: Ocean Experiences for Undergrads
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Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Student Experiences Aboard Ships (STEMSEAS) provides six to 10-day, ship-based exploratory experiences for undergraduates from diverse backgrounds aboard NSF-funded research vessels. Students sail with experienced faculty mentors and engage in geoscience and oceanography activities. Most expenses are covered by the program and the sailing schedule and application process is now open for 2020.
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Growing Hydrography Expertise in the Gulf
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Among the first actions required after damaging storms impact the Gulf Coast are hydrographic surveys to identify navigation hazards. Survey data are vital to a range of interests — from shipping to restoration.
GCOOS members at The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Ocean Science and Engineering offer a hydrographic science degree program to help grow the expertise. Hydrographic Science Degree Programs Coordinator Sheila Malley and Tim Osborn, NOAA Office of Coast Survey Gulf Coast Regional Navigation Manager, recently introduced the program’s graduate students to the work and technology of the Navigation Response Team at the NOAA National Data Buoy Center.
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Students in the USM School of Ocean Science and Engineering Hydrographic Science program learn about the work and technology of the NOAA Office of Coast Survey’s Navigation Response Team. Photo credit: USM SOSE
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The opportunity for students to engage with members of the government that work in hydrography provided understanding of the many facets of survey applications and stimulated ideas and collaboration for student comprehensive final survey projects.
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The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will offer over 78 million acres for a region-wide lease sale scheduled for March 18. The sale would include all available unleased areas in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
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A report from NOAA’s 2019 Emerging Technologies Workshop is now available. Hosted by NOAA's three Strategy Councils, the 2019 workshop showcased new and evolving technologies with the potential to advance resilience to extreme weather and water and the Blue Economy.
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Advancing Ocean Tools for Exploration and Mapping
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The four-year agreement will also focus on advancing the transmission of ocean video and information in real-time to public and academic audiences as well as new data collection and processing methods to increase the value and relevance of deep-ocean data.
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Healthy Ecosystems & Living Resources
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South Florida MBON holds team meeting
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The South Florida Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) team, led by Dr. Frank Muller-Karger, met early this month to talk about biodiversity in South Florida and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and set priorities for product development over the next six months.
New products are expected to combine fisheries data, animal telemetry, underwater sound measurements, information from satellite remote sensing and environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses and will serve as indicators that track how life in the sea is changing.
The team is also developing community standards and best practices for collecting biological data.
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Tower at Sombrero Reef, an area designated as one of seven iconic reefs by NOAA for priority coral reef restoration in the Florida Keys. Photo credit: Chris Simoniello
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Using eDNA to Indicate Change
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The Marine Biodiversity Observation Network has published an analysis in Nature Communications demonstrating application of eDNA to identify indicators of change in marine ecosystems. The team surveyed biodiversity in 18-months of a time-series of seawater samples from Monterey Bay, California. They concluded that “eDNA-based analyses can provide detailed information about marine ecosystem dynamics and identify sensitive biological indicators that can suggest ecosystem changes and inform conservation strategies.”
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Nominees Sought for Review Committee on Long-Term Trends in the Gulf
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The Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has launched a new study “Long-Term Environmental Trends in the Gulf of Mexico.”
The consensus study will assess the cumulative effects of multiple restoration projects; discuss potential impacts from both acute events and long-term changes and consider synergistic and antagonistic effects across multi-decadal restoration activities and recommend adaptive management strategies.
The GRP is seeking experts to serve on the committee: eight to 10 volunteer experts will be selected from fields including, but not limited to: ecosystem restoration and function; restoration monitoring and evaluation; ecosystem services; geomorphology; coastal processes; land use planning; natural resource management and policy; stakeholder engagement; data management, synthesis, and modeling. Nominations are welcome of individuals from state agencies, non-governmental organizations, academia and other sectors. No current officer or current employee of the U.S. Government can serve on this or other appointed committees of the GRP.
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The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is re-evaluating the focus areas under its six priorities and three cross-team initiatives with input from state and federal agencies, academia, non-governmental organizations and businesses in the region as part of its strategic planning process.
The Governors' Action Plan III for Healthy and Resilient Coasts was released in 2016 and is nearing its scheduled end. Your answers to this survey will be provided to the Gulf of Mexico Alliance Management Team for consideration and inclusion in the next action plan.
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Water Institute Welcomes New Board Members
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The Water Institute of the Gulf has welcomed three exceptional new members to its board of directors: Dr. Gerry Galloway Jr., Christy Brown and Dr. Efi Foufoula-Georgiou. Dr. Robert Twilley, executive director of the Louisiana Sea Grant College Program, is also joining the Institute’s Science and Engineering Advisory Council (SEAC).
Founded in late 2011 through a collaborative effort involving the State of Louisiana, Senator Mary Landrieu, and the Baton Rouge Area Foundation (BRAF), the Institute connects academic, public and private research providers and conducts applied research to serve communities and industry.
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Register Now: NOAA Shoreline and Geospatial Products Review
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During this “town hall” webinar, Mike Aslaksen, National Geodetic Survey, and Ken Logsdon, Jr., Dewberry, will update stakeholders on NGS’s efforts to improve
shoreline.noaa.gov as an entry point to a more modernized and streamlined NOAA Shoreline Data Explorer (NSDE).
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Living Shoreline Project Bids Open
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The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is seeking sealed bids for construction of phase 5 of the Hancock County marsh living shoreline project, which is part of the Phase III Early Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment prepared by the
Deepwater Horizon (DWH) Natural Resource Trustees.
The Project includes the construction of approximately 46 acres of salt marsh in Heron Bay and includes dredging activities as part of the HCPHC’s Dredging Program to maintain maritime access to Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis Space Center.
- Optional pre-submittal conference: 11 a.m. CST Friday, Feb. 28, 1141 Bayview Ave., Biloxi, Mississippi, 39530.
- Sealed bids will be received until 11 a.m. CST, Thursday, March 12, at 1141 Bayview Avenue, Suite 208, Biloxi, Mississippi, 39530, or electronically via MAGIC (1470-20-R-IFBD-00006).
- Details
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GRP Seeks Experts for New Study on Energy Operations Safety
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The Gulf Research Program of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is seeking eight to 10 volunteer experts for a new study "Progress and Opportunities Toward Decreasing the Risk of Offshore Energy Operations."
This consensus study will define the current profile of systemic risks of offshore oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico that could lead to disasters; assess how various technological, regulatory, environmental, organizational, and process changes have contributed to increasing or decreasing the systemic risks of the offshore oil and gas operations, and what incentive structure is necessary to effect positive changes; and identify and prioritize future needs for increased understanding, communication and management of systemic risks related to the offshore oil and gas industry.
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In 2010, the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon resulted in the largest man-made disaster in U.S. history. Today, each Gulf state administers restoration funds and programs. Additionally, other agencies and organizations are also tasked with administering programs designed to restore Gulf habitats and better understand Gulf ecosystems.
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GCOOS maintains a jobs listing for positions and fellowships in the ocean observing community. Want to advertise a position? Email
Laura Caldwell
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- U.S. IOOS — Current Program Manager
- U.S. IOOS — Modeling Profile Manager
- NERACOOS — Director
- AOOS — Regional Data Sharing Coordinator
- University of South Florida — Dean of the College of Marine Sciences
- Assistant Professor - Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of North Carolina, Wilmington
- Biology and Ecosystem Data Analyst - Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)
- Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory — Research Oceanographer
- Mote Marine Laboratory — Ocean Technology Program; HAB Mitigation and Ecology; Stranding Investigations Program; Grants Administration
- New England Aquarium - Director of Corporate Relations (Fundraising); Summer Camp Counselors, Assistant Summer Camp Counselor; Assistant Instructor; Advanced and Lead Instructors; Research Assistant (Aerial Observer)
- Florida International University — Open-rank faculty position in Phycology
- Postdoctoral Positions: University of Southern Mississippi; NRC
- Fellowships: NOAA & SeaGrant
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Gulf Research Programs
- Louisiana State University Phytoplankton Ecology Lab; graduate student
- Gulf Research Program Fellowships
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GCOOS maintains a listing of funding opportunities. Have an opportunity you'd like to advertise? Email
Laura Caldwell
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- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) — Derelict Fishing Gear Reductions
- FY 2020 Community-based Restoration Program Coastal and Marine Habitat Restoration Grants
- Coral Restoration Projects in Honor of Dr. Ruth Gates
- FY 2020 Ocean Technology Transition Project
- Gulf of Mexico Alliance Funding Calendar
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2:
GCOOS Annual Members meeting. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Doubletree by Hilton, 300 Canal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana.
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28-30: Marine Mammal Commission’s Annual Meeting, InterContinental Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Details not yet available.) Meeting open to the public.
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GCOOS is the Gulf of Mexico regional component of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) and the only certified system dedicated solely to the Gulf of Mexico. Our mission is to provide timely, reliable and accurate information on the open ocean and coastal ocean waters of the Gulf of Mexico to ensure a healthy, clean, productive ocean and resilient coastal zone.
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Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick
, Executive Director •
Dr. Leila Belabbassi
, Data Manager
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Bill Lingsch
, U.S. Glider User Group Coordinator
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Dr. Chris Simoniello
, Outreach & Education Coordinator •
Felimon Gayanilo
, Systems Architect •
Dr. Shinichi Kobara
, Assistant Research Scientist, Product Developer •
Bob Currier,
Research Specialist, Product Developer •
Marion Stoessel
, Senior Research Associate •
Dr. Steven Baum
, Associate Research Scientist •
Jennifer Vreeland-Dawson
, Research Associate •
Grant Craig
, Program Coordinator •
Nadine Slimak
, Public Relations & Content Marketing, Vetted Communications, LLC •
Dr. Chuan-Yuan Hsu
, Post Doctoral Research Associate •
Robbie Iles
, Graduate Research Assistant
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In Memoriam: Matt Howard, 1952-2018
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