In these days of social distancing, working from home and institutional travel restrictions, I hope you're all faring well!
I just wanted to offer a reminder that the annual GCOOS Members Meeting originally scheduled for April 2 in New Orleans has been canceled due to Covid-19.
We apologize for the inconvenience but our Board took this action based on an abundance of caution.
Please mark your calendars for our Fall Members Meeting — we’re planning it for Oct. 1 in New Orleans.
In the meantime, please be sure to follow CDC guidelines and don’t forget to wash, wash, wash your hands!
Until next month!
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GCOOS Board Election Update
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Just an update about what's happening with the GCOOS Board Elections...
Nominations were due in February and voting opened at 10 a.m. EST Friday March 13. Voting will close at 6 p.m. EST on Friday, March 20 — that's this Friday — so voting members, please be sure to turn your ballots in!
Open seats and the nominees are:
Academic (1 Seat Open)
Government (3 Seats Open)
- Kim Yates (USGS)
- Kirsten Larsen (NOAA/NCEI)
- Steve Buschang (Texas General Land Office)
Industry
(1 Seat Open)
Outreach & Education (2 Seats Open)
- Sara Graves (University of Alabama Huntsville)
- Joe Swaykos (National Data Buoy Center, Retired)
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IOOS Advisory Committee Update
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The IOOS Advisory Committee — which includes GCOOS Board Chair Sara Graves and Board Member Ruth Perry — held its first in-person meeting in Washington, D.C., last month.
Following the charge from the Advisory Committee Chair Scott Rayder and opening remarks on the IOOS program from Director Carl Gouldman, Fern Gibbons, Senate Commerce Committee Staff member and Josie Quintrell, IOOS Association Director gave an overview of the congressional legislative process and a preview of the expected actions in the coming months.
RDML Tim Gallaudet, Ph.D., USN Ret., Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy NOAA Administrator discussed
NOAA’s new strategies
in four key science and technology focus areas: UxS, AI, ‘Omics, and Cloud Computing. IOOC co-chairs David Legler (NOAA) and Laura Lorenzoni (NASA) shared their global perspectives and outcomes from the Ocean Obs’19 meeting and Deerin Babb-Brott (OSTP), Nicole LeBoeuf (NOAA/NOS) and John Haines (USGS) had a lively discussion with the committee about the executive branch perspectives.
Lastly on day one, Martin Yapur from NOAA NESDIS TIPIO reviewed NOAA’s approach to Observing System Requirements Management. Day two of the meeting was dedicated to shaping the committee’s priorities for the foreseeable future. A more in depth story will be on the IOOS website soon.
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New Leader at Florida Sea Grant
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Sherry Larkin, associate dean for UF/IFAS Research and associate director of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, has been named director of Florida Sea Grant. Larkin joined the University of Florida faculty in 2000 and has served as interim director of Florida Sea Grant since April 2019, after the unexpected passing of Karl Havens, who had led the program since 2007.
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Ocean Observatories Initiative Call for Application
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The Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board (OOIFB) is soliciting applications to fill one membership position. Scientists with experience using scientific observing systems such as OOI are encouraged to apply.
The Ocean Observatories Initiative Facility Board (OOIFB) was created in 2017 to provide independent input and guidance regarding the management and operation of the National Science Foundation-funded Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI).
The OOIFB provides a way to expand scientific and public awareness of OOI, and ensure that the oceanographic community is kept informed of developments of OOI.
Application deadline is this Friday, March 20.
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GCOOS Hosting Deep Ocean Data from Shell
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GCOOS member researchers at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and Texas A&M University (TAMU) have teamed up with Shell Exploration & Production Company on a new deep-ocean monitoring project that is expected to bring unprecedented data about the deep Gulf of Mexico to the public for at least two decades. Shell will share data from the mooring line located in the Stonesfield, which is located 200 miles south of New Orleans and in 9,500 feet (2,900 meters), with USM and TAMU.
Stones is the world’s deepest oil and gas project. Operating in 9,500 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico, the facility connects to subsea infrastructure which produces oil and gas from reservoirs nearly 30,000 feet below sea level.
GCOOS is excited to be partnering with the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine Gulf Research Program and Shell to support a pilot effort to convert an existing ocean mooring owned by Shell into the first long-term deep ocean observatory in the Gulf of Mexico. GCOOS is hosting the project's data.
“This visionary collaboration among private companies — Shell and Fugro — with government agencies and Gulf university researchers will bring new information to the public and will provide key information about the Loop Current, tropical storms and hurricanes, changes in climate and other important ocean variables that forecasters and modelers can use to make people safer,” said GCOOS Executive Director Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick. “We applaud Shell for stepping up to help fill critical information gaps about our offshore and deep ocean environments in the Gulf.”
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Healthy Ecosystems & Living Resources
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MBON Partner Nominated for Explorer's Club
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Congratulations to Dr. Steve Gittings, a recent inductee into the prestigious Explorers Club!
Gittings, Science Coordinator for the NOAA Marine Sanctuaries Division, was nominated for this professional society that promotes scientific exploration and field study by marine conservationist Sylvia Earle and Secret Service veteran Jim Corry.
Selfless commitment to the environment runs in Gittings' family — his grandfather also received this distinguished honor.
Gittings has been instrumental in working with the IOOS Marine Biodiversity Observation Network (MBON) team, which includes GCOOS, to identify data products that support National Marine Sanctuary Condition Reports. These provide a summary of the conditions and trends within sanctuaries and inform management responses to identified pressures.
Gittings’ exceptional qualities that earned him entry into the exclusive Explorers Club are currently benefitting MBON Florida Keys projects where active restoration efforts are underway to determine the
scale that iconic reefs can be restored
.
GCOOS Data Management and Communications team member Marion Stössel has contributed greatly to the processing and review of marine flora and fauna data of the Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project (CREMP) being used to monitor the selected reefs.
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Supporting Coastal Systems, Communities and Economies
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The Texas Sea Grant College Program at Texas A&M University has awarded five new research grants totaling $1.4 million for two-year research projects. The grants will fund researchers at universities around the state to support coastal and marine ecosystems, communities and economies.
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Fisheries Input Requested
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The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is conducting a scientific stock assessment of scamp and is seeking input from fishermen and other constituents The information you provide will help to inform the scientists and managers as they formulate a current understanding of the scamp stock.
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Oceanic & Atmospheric Research Strategy
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NOAA Research has developed the 2020-2026 Strategy to help further Oceanic & Atmospheric Research (OAR) as a leader in environmental research and assist us in meeting the vision to deliver NOAA’s future.
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Celebrating a Long-Term Commitment to Dolphins
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Did you know that the world’s longest-running study of a wild dolphin population is based in the Gulf of Mexico and celebrating its 50
th Anniversary this year?
GCOOS Member the Chicago Zoological Society’s Sarasota Dolphin Research Program, which is based at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, will be hosting a symposium on Oct 3.
Event speakers will include the program’s founders and the event will highlight key discoveries and conservation contributions made through research with Sarasota Bay’s bottlenose dolphins, which also serve as a control population for studies of the Deepwater Horizon’s impacts on dolphins in Barataria Bay, Louisiana.
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Oil Spills and Air Quality
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A new study measuring the size of aerosolized oil droplets from bubbles bursting on an oil slick suggest that the presence of dispersant may enhance the concentration of nano-sized droplets containing oil above a slick. The concentration of nano-sized droplets may increase by an order of magnitude in air containing ambient nanoparticles, which commonly occurs in the oceanic environment.
Extremely high concentrations of ambient nanoparticles may occur when there is in situ burning of oil. Oil spills can affect air quality through the emission of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to the atmosphere. Exposure to VOCs have been linked to headaches, eye irritation, and changes in blood profiles and liver enzymes.
The study,
Aerosolization of Crude Oil-Dispersant Slicks Due to Bubble Bursting,
is reported in the Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres.
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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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- NERACOOS — Director
- Executive Director, Harte Research Institute (HRI) for the Gulf of Mexico Studies
- HRI Endowed Chair for Biodiversity and Conservation
- HRI Chair for Ecosystem Science and Modeling
- AOOS — Regional Data Sharing Coordinator
- University of South Florida — Dean of the College of Marine Sciences
- 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: Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Gulf Research Programs
- Louisiana State University Phytoplankton Ecology Lab; graduate student
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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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Many Meetings have been postponed or canceled due to Covid-19. We've tried to provide updates below.
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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.
Canceled. We will see you on Oct. 1 in New Orleans.
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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.
Postponed until further notice.
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1: GCOOS Members Meeting. New Orleans. Details not yet available.
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1-3:
Bays and Bayous Symposium
, Golden Nugget Biloxi Hotel and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. “Sound Science, Sound Policy: A 2020 Vision for the Future." Begins at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 1; ends at noon on Thursday, Dec. 3
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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
•
Bill Lingsch
, U.S. Glider User Group Coordinator
•
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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