Greetings,
This year has gotten off to a busy start. We’re wrapping up a successful glider season, publishing papers about harmful algal blooms and finalizing details for a new webinar series featuring colleagues from Mexico that we’re organizing with TAMU.
During the series, researchers from Mexico will share information about what’s happening in the southern Gulf’s observing community. We’re hoping the series will foster communication and collaboration about the wider Gulf.
The series will begin in March — look for a special invitation with all the details soon!
Until next month!
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Board Nominations and Elections |
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Nominations will open for the GCOOS Board of Directors starting Friday, Feb. 18, 2022.
The Board invites colleagues interested in and committed to working within an organization dedicated to providing data, information and products to the Gulf of Mexico stakeholder community. Stakeholders include the private sector, governmental agencies at all levels, academia and researchers, non-governmental organizations and the public.
Review full nomination details here.
- The nomination deadline is 5 p.m. (CST), Friday, March 18, 2022
- Ballots will be sent out for a vote on Friday, March 25, 2022
- Voting ends at close of business, Friday, April 8, 2022
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Did you know that tomorrow marks “Observe the Weather” Day? It’s a reminder of how important understanding and forecasting weather is to the lives and livelihoods of humanity!
We’ve come a long way since Aristotle described weather patterns in his book Meteorologica and naval officers Francis Beaufort and Robert FitzRoy launched the study of meteorology as we know it today.
- GCOOS continues the legacy of improving forecasts to benefit society through the work of our partners and the more than 1,300 data sensors in the GCOOS network available on our data portal.
From forecasts that enhance safety on a daily basis (e.g., aviation, maritime operations) to warning people about impending disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes, improving the quality of life is at the heart of weather observations. Share your observations and promote the value of weather forecasting on social media using the hashtag #ObservetheWeatherDay on Jan. 25!
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NOAA’s Ocean Acidification Program is accepting proposals for mini-grants of up to $40,000. Priority goals for projects include engaging diverse audiences in OA education and outreach and matching OA communication needs with existing research, education and outreach activities, while developing innovative approaches for community involvement.
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Settlement Reached in Longest-Running Oil Spill in U.S. History |
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Taylor Energy will pay more than $43 million in civil penalties, removal costs and natural resource damages related to the spill at Mississippi Canyon 20 (MC-20), which began in 2004, when the Taylor Energy production platform about 10 miles off the coast of Louisiana collapsed during Hurricane Ivan.
The spill is the longest-running spill in U.S. history. According to the Washington Post, the Taylor Energy spill was hidden for six years before environmental watchdog groups stumbled on oil slicks while monitoring the Deepwater Horizon disaster a few miles north of the Taylor site in 2010.
Some $16.5 million of the proposed settlement will fund projects to restore natural resources impacted by the spill. Another $15 million will be assessed as a civil penalty and more than $12 million will pay for Coast Guard removal costs.
- The public comment period on the proposed consent decree ends on Feb. 14.
- View the full decree here
- View the Justice Department press release
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Texas City Y Final Oil Spill Settlement Announced |
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The Texas City Y oil spill occurred on March 22, 2014, following a vessel collision between a bulk carrier and a tank barge. The incident spilled an estimated 168,000 gallons of intermediate fuel oil into Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. More than 160 miles of Texas shoreline were oiled. Scientists identified impacts to recreational opportunities and a range of natural resources including birds, shorelines, and bottlenose dolphins.
The final settlement, announced on Jan. 24, will support projects that restore populations of bottlenose dolphins and birds, as well as shoreline habitats. It will also support outdoor recreational opportunities impacted during the spill.
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Mississippi: Public Comment Period for Restoration Project Amendments |
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The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) announced restoration projects during its annual Restoration Summit in November. Now, MDEQ is seeking public comment on plans that include those projects:
- Mississippi’s Multiyear Implementation Plan (MIP) Amendment #5. The MIP is a list of projects and programs proposed for funding under Bucket 1 of the RESTORE Act. Mississippi’s MIP Amendment #5 includes four amended projects and six proposed projects. Review the amendment & comment here
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Mississippi’s 2021 State Expenditure Plan (MSEP) Amendment. The MSEP is a list of projects and programs proposed for funding under Bucket 3 of the RESTORE Act. Mississippi’s 2021 MSEP Amendment includes one amended project and five proposed projects. Review the amendment and comment here
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MDEQ Also Updating its Restoration Portal |
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MDEQ created the online Restoration Project Portal where it receives project ideas for consideration. The Portal has project ideas that are not feasible, have already been funded or have been deemed not needed. Beginning April 1, 2022, MDEQ will archive projects submitted or updated before January 1, 2018.
- New ideas can continue to be submitted here. There is no deadline to submit new project ideas.
- Existing projects or ideas can still be updated as well. For help adding a project or updating a current project, please email restore.portal@mdeq.ms.gov.
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Marine Debris Mid-Year Meeting |
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The Gulf of Mexico Alliance has scheduled its Marine Debris Cross Team initiative meeting for the afternoon of Jan. 25 and morning of Jan. 26.
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Check out the agenda and register to attend here
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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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Glider User Group Seeks Your Input |
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The Underwater Glider User Group (UG2) seeks input on the community’s willingness to participate in an in-person workshop Sept. 27-29 at the Scripps Seaside Forum in La Jolla, California.
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Please fill out this survey before Jan. 31
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Developing Wind Energy in the Gulf |
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NOAA and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) have signed an interagency memorandum to advance wind energy while protecting biodiversity and promoting cooperative ocean use. The agreement underscores the agencies' commitment to responsibly deploy 30 gigawatts of wind energy production capacity in federal waters by 2030 and leverages the responsibilities, expertise, and relationships of both agencies to support this goal.
As part of the agreement, BOEM also announced that it is preparing a draft environmental assessment (EA) to consider the impacts of potential offshore wind leasing in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The area that will be reviewed in the EA includes almost 30 million acres just west of the Mississippi River to the Texas/Mexico border. BOEM will narrow the area based on stakeholder and ocean user input before advancing any Wind Energy Areas, which are offshore locations that appear most suitable for wind energy development.
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Red tides can cost millions in economic losses, results in the deaths of multitudes of marine life and place human health at risk. In 2019, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis reactivated the HAB Task Force to focus on HAB issues and help mitigate their harmful impacts.
In December, Florida’s Harmful Algal Bloom Task Force released its second progress and recommendations consensus report, following on the first consensus report released in December 2020. The document includes recommendations for public health, communications, management and response and research.
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Read the full report and recommendations here
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Healthy Ecosystems & Living Resources |
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New Nutrient Bulletin from NOAA |
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NOAA’s central region collaboration team has developed a new bulletin designed to share information about nutrient runoff issues and impacts in the Mississippi River Basin/Gulf of Mexico. You can join the distribution list for the Nutrient Runoff Network Info Bulletin by emailing noaa.centralregion@noaa.gov.
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Newest Warm Core Eddy in the Gulf |
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The new year begins with a big show in the Loop Current (LC)! By assembling a series of Sea Surface Temperature (SST) images, scientists at Louisiana State University’s Earth Scan Laboratory showed the development and subsequent separation of the newest warm core eddy in the Gulf.
The images are made possible by the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), the primary instrument on the GOES-R satellite series for imaging Earth’s weather, oceans and environment. Compared to the previous generation of GOES, which viewed Earth with five spectral bands, ABI views the Earth with 16 channels (wavelengths), enabling elements such as trees, water, clouds, and moisture on the Earth’s surface or atmosphere to be observed.
The LC is a deep, high velocity ocean current that is fed by the Yucatan Current.
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Top Image: Jan. 1; bottom image: Jan. 9 |
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It contributes about 50% of the flow to the Gulf Stream along the U.S. East coast after exiting the Gulf of Mexico through the Florida Straits as the Florida Current.
These and other satellite products from the ESL team — which is led by GCOOS Board member Dr. Nan Walker — can be found here.
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Tracking Blue-Green Blooms |
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EPA has published an ArcGIS StoryMap to track reported cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (cyanoHABs) in freshwaters across the country. CyanoHABs can harm ecosystems and contaminate freshwaters with toxins that can lead to serious human health impacts. There is scientific consensus the incidence of cyanoHABs has increased in the nation's freshwater systems in recent years, in part due to climate change.
The StoryMap consolidates freshwater advisory and closure information from state environmental and health agencies into user-friendly, interactive maps. In addition, the story map includes links to information on freshwater harmful algal blooms (HABs) causes and effects; several EPA tools on HAB preparedness and response; and state and local HAB resources such as laboratories that analyze water samples for the presence of cyanotoxins.
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According to NOAA, 2021 was marked by extremes across the U.S., including exceptional warmth, devastating severe weather and the second-highest number of billion-dollar weather and climate disasters on record. Ten states — including Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas — also had their warmest Decembers on record.
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2021 Also Set Record High for Ocean Warmth |
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A new analysis published in the journal Advances in Atmospheric Sciences showed that oceans contained the most heat energy in 2021 since measurements began six decades ago.
Human-emitted greenhouse gases are cited as the cause of the accelerated rate — estimated to be eight times faster than in the preceding decades since the late 1980s. The paper also warns that changes are needed for coastal building codes and to respond to the increased potential for severe storms and flooding related to warmer oceans.
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Sea Level Rise Curriculum |
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PLACE: SLR, a partnership between Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, Florida Sea Grant, NOAA Sea Grant, and Mississippi State University Extension to support and enhance sea-level rise resilience in the northern Gulf of Mexico, has developed a sea level rise curriculum for teachers interested in tackling the topic in their classrooms. Now, they’re hosting educator workshops around the Gulf on using the curriculum.
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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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Harte Research Institute: Endowed Chair in Socio-Economics
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Florida State University, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science: Assistant Professor
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National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration Underwater Glider User Group: Program Specialist – Uncrewed Marine Systems
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National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) - Fish Biologist (Miami and Panama City, FL, Beaufort, NC, Pascagoula, MS, and Galveston, TX)
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Florida State University, Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science: Assistant Professor (5 positions)
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Dalhousie University: Scientific Director of the Ocean Tracking Network and Professor of Biology
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Mississippi State University, Gulf Research Institute: Research Engineer
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State of Florida: Environmental Specialist
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Broward Count Board of County Commissioners:Environmental Program Manager, Beach & Marine
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The State of Florida, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): Environmental Specialist III
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The State of Florida, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): Engineering Specialist III
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The State of Florida, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP): Environmental Specialist, Rookery Bay
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Mote Marine Laboratory: Life Support Systems Operator
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GOOS Biology: Data Manager
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National Wildlife Federation: Campaign Manager Offshore Wind Energy
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World Wildlife Fund: Vice President, Oceans Area Based Conservation
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World Wildlife Fund: Program Officer, Resilient Coastal Habitats
Postdoctoral Positions:
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NOAA: National Centers for Coastal Ocean Sciences, NRC Research Programs
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NRC: Research Associateship Programs Postdoctoral and Senior Research Awards
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University of Miami: Postdoctoral Associate in Acoustic Tracing
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Loyola Marymount University: Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Bioinformatics and Machine Learning
Fellowships:
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The Integrated Ocean Observing System Association: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Fellowship
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Mississippi State University Extension, Sea Grant: Resilience Coordinator, Habitat Resilience Specialist, Coastal Climate Resilience Fellowship
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NASEM: Early Career Fellowships
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Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium: Graduate 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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- NASEM: Gulf Research Program’s Early-Career Research Fellowship
- NOAA: Fiscal Year 2022 Gulf of Mexico Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Program
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: Emergency Coastal Resilience Fund 2021 Request for Proposals
- NOAA Technology Partnership Office
- NOAA National Ocean Service – FY2022 Marine Debris Prevention
- NOAA: Integrated Research on Coastal and Ocean Acidification and Harmful Algal Blooms
- Gulf of Mexico Alliance
- Restore Science Program
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25-28: Gulf of Mexico Conference. Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Details
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26-28: 2022 DMAC Sprint, Chicago, Illinois |
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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, accurate and on-demand 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. Jorge Brenner, Executive Director • Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick, Senior Advisor • Bill Lingsch, U.S. Glider User Group Coordinator • Dr. Kerri Whilden, Oceanographer • Dr. Chris Simoniello, Outreach & Education Coordinator • Felimon Gayanilo, Systems Architect, Co-Data Manager • Bob Currier, Research Specialist, Product Developer, Co-Data Manager • Marion Stoessel, Senior Research Associate • Jennifer Vreeland-Dawson, Research Associate • Grant Craig, Program Coordinator • Laura Caldwell, Program Assistant • Nadine Slimak, Public Relations & Content Marketing, Vetted Communications, LLC
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In Memoriam: Matt Howard, 1952-2018
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