Greetings! I hope your summer is going well and that you’re adjusting to a new normal of online conferences and meetings. I know I miss having the opportunity to meet in person to talk about ocean observing in the Gulf and the needs and goals for our regional association in the coming few years.
We’re busy collecting proposals as we get ready to prepare our next five-year plan as part of our U.S. IOOS grant application. We’ve been pleased with what we’ve seen so far, and are looking forward for more to come.
- Don’t forget, the deadline to submit your proposal is midnight EDT July 24!
- View the proposal details and a link to our Strategic Plan here.
I hope you’ve also taken a minute to enjoy the sunsets enhanced by the enormous Sahara Desert dust cloud that has made its way across the Atlantic Ocean. Personally, I’m hoping its ability to block sunlight will have a cooling effect on sea surface temperatures — helping to dampen hurricanes. We’re also watching closely to see what impacts the dust will have on algal blooms this year.
Speaking of hurricanes, mark your calendar for July 31 and be sure to join us for our next webinar "Emergency Preparedness and Response for Offshore Oil & Gas Operators." (Details below under "Coastal Hazards.")
In the meantime, of course, we’ll be as ready as we can be for whatever comes our way, thanks to all of you in the observing community who are running the sensors, gliders and other observing platforms that help keep us all informed and prepared.
Until next time,
|
|
IOOS Advisory Committee Seeks to Fill Vacancies
|
|
NOAA is seeking two new members for the IOOS Advisory Committee to fill vacancies created in 2019. The appointments will fill the remainder of the unexpired terms, which end Aug. 15, 2021. As a Federal Advisory Committee, membership on the
IOOS Advisory Committee
is required to be fairly balanced in terms of viewpoints represented and the functions to be performed, as well as including the interests of geographic regions of the country and the diverse sectors of society.
|
|
Gulf Research Program Seeks Nominations
|
|
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is inviting nominations for the Gulf Research Program’s Board on Offshore Energy Safety. The Board will contribute to the program’s goal of increasing the effectiveness of oil spill prevention and response by supporting coordination and trust across stakeholder groups and improving the understanding and management of the systemic risk associated with offshore energy production and transportation in the Gulf of Mexico region.
|
|
Sahara Dust, Algal Blooms and Observing Systems
|
|
Annually, billions of tons of desert dust move through the atmosphere. Dust transported into the Gulf of Mexico is linked to the rapid growth of harmful algal species and pathogens. GCOOS is at the forefront of national and global efforts to create a Harmful Algal Bloom monitoring network that includes forecasting tools and vulnerability assessments. Using a combination of traditional microscopic cell counts; new technology such as the Imaging FlowCytobot (IFCB) and Optical Phytoplankton Discriminator (i.e. BreveBuster) that yield cell counts in near-real-time; advances in satellite remote sensing data processing; and emerging citizen science programs that are improving spatial and temporal coverage of HAB observations to support models and forecasts, GCOOS and the entire IOOS community are advancing capacity building, technology transfer and joint research efforts to scale up to a global HAB observing system.
|
|
Webinar: Building Resilient Communities
|
|
Dr. Tracie Sempier will present the webinar “A Systematic Approach to Building Resilient Communities: Enhancing Capacity to Respond to Future Disasters in the Gulf of Mexico.” Sempier is the Coastal Storms Outreach Coordinator for the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium and the Regional Program Manager for the Gulf of Mexico Alliance. She works to decrease the negative impacts of coastal storms on families, communities, the environment, natural resources and property.
- When: 2 p.m. (CDT)/3 p.m. (EDT) July 21
- Register
|
|
Water Resources Mini All-Hands
|
|
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance Water Resources Team invites you to join them for the next virtual meeting on July 28. The virtual session is the Team's mini “All Hands” in place of the canceled conference this summer. You do not have to be a member of the Team to participate.
|
|
Covid-19 Observing System Impacts
|
|
UNESCO has released the results of an April survey of the impacts of Covid-19 closures restrictions on the Global Ocean Observing System. It found that the pandemic has had far-reaching impacts that could affect weather forecasting and climate change predictions.
“The results of the survey and the issues uncovered are a key part of the learning and sharing processes between countries that we support,” said Vladimir Ryabinin, Executive Secretary of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, the UN’s main ocean science body that also coordinates the GOOS. “This will allow us to pivot towards having leaders in ocean science engage in common priorities and cooperative action to sustain key observations and flows of data.”
In the meantime, the US Academic Research Fleet has resumed operations and released a list of FAQs about how operations will move forward.
|
|
The Wind Turbine Radar Interference Mitigation (WTRIM) Working Group — a consortium of federal agencies composed of the DOE, DOD, FAA, NOAA, BOEM, and DHS — will be hosting a webinar on the NOAA-IOOS U.S. Oceanographic HF Radar Network. Presentations on mission impacts, technical issues, and mitigation options will be given by: Brian Zelenke for NOAA; partner Federal agencies the USCG and BOEM; academic partner institutions Rutgers University, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and the University of California, Santa Barbara; HF radar manufacturer CODAR Ocean Sensors, Ltd.; and others.
- When: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT July 27.
- Register: Registration required before July 24.
- Register
|
|
The University of Southern Mississippi will be conducting two-tiered UxS certificate classes this summer and fall that will give working knowledge of everything from ocean science to engineering (ocean, electrical and mechanical) for operators and pilots that will help them safely and successfully execute UxS missions.
This will be the first offering of the two-tier program with a heavy focus on buoyancy gliders. These courses/certificates have been developed in collaboration with NOAA, Navy, academia and industry partners to meet the user's needs.
|
|
New Data Strategies from NOAA
|
|
NOAA has developed new cloud and data strategies designed to unlock the full utility and potential of the agency’s massive and diverse data. These strategies are integral to implementing a collection of strategies to dramatically expand emerging science and technology that will drive innovation and guide transformative advancements in NOAA’s science, products and services.
“The value of NOAA’s data depends on its quality, integrity, and the ability of users to access and use the data with modern, emerging, and innovative cloud-based services,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., acting NOAA administrator. “Our Cloud and Data strategies provide a guide to address emerging science and technology, and ultimately help accelerate NOAA’s mission and further increase the value of our data.”
|
|
AGU is seeking abstract submissions for the topic “Coastal Ocean Modeling in Support of Marine Navigation and the Blue Economy” for the fall meeting, which is scheduled to take place in San Francisco Dec. 7-11, 2020.
|
|
Healthy Ecosystems & Living Resources
|
|
Through the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System, NOAA, NASA, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the Office of Naval Research are developing a marine observation network for the United States to create a better long-term system to monitor changes in marine life.
|
|
GCAN Webinar Series: The Ocean Acidification Information Exchange
|
|
In June, the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Acidification Network (GCAN) presented a webinar led by Julianna Mullin, Manager of the Ocean Acidification Information Exchange. Mullen’s presentation provided an overview of this online community of professionals involved or interested in ocean acidification. Did you miss the webinar?
- Watch the recording to learn about the resources the Exchange offers and how you can get involved.
|
|
The enduring pandemic does not allow the Marine Technology Society and the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society, co-sponsors of OCEANS 2020 Singapore and OCEANS 2020 Gulf Coast, to hold the conferences as planned.
Instead, these conferences are being combined and the worldwide community invited to participate in a single virtual conference “Global OCEANS 2020: Singapore — U.S. Gulf Coast.”
The virtual conference will feature a mix of live and on-demand events between Oct. 5-20 available to all registrants.
|
|
|
The event is designed for global maritime professionals to learn, innovate, and lead in the protection and utilization of the world’s largest natural resource — oceans.
|
|
Join Us for Our Next Webinar: "Emergency Preparedness and Response for Offshore Oil & Gas Operators."
|
|
Please join us for the next GCOOS webinar "Emergency Preparedness and Response for Offshore Oil & Gas Operators" with Bradley Hubbard, Senior Emergency Response Specialist for Shell Oil Company.
As part of Shell Emergency Management, he provides emergency preparedness and response support to offshore operations throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Among his responsibilities are response planning, incident command system training, exercise support and on‐site incident management for Shell assets.
|
|
The first of the U.S. Navy gliders is out in the Gulf now and being tracked on GANDALF, the GCOOS tool that tracks and maps gliders deployed in the Gulf of Mexico and the U.S. East Coast.
The gliders are part of the Hurricane Picket Line that's being established to provide full water column data to the climate modelers. Knowing the water temperature from surface to bottom is crucial to improving the intensity forecasts.
The blue dots are ARGO floats and can be clicked on for long-term plots.
|
|
Weather Channel “Embraces the Gulf”
|
|
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance’s “Embrace the Gulf” campaign was featured on the Weather Channel in June. Watch as Executive Director Laura Bowie discusses this awareness campaign designed to highlight the value and the vitality of the Gulf of Mexico region.
|
|
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance is moving their Tools Café online. Join Data and Monitoring Team Co-Chair Dave Reed as he hosts presenters during virtual sessions that will showcase the work of GOMA partners and offer opportunities for Q&A.
- Bookmark this page for future details and save these dates: Aug. 4 & 18; Sept. 1 & 15; Oct. 6 & 20; Nov. 10 & 17
|
|
Capping off 10 Years of GoMRI
|
|
Ten years ago today, the well below the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil rig was capped after discharging gas and light sweet crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico for 87 days. The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) was created in response to the disaster to improve society’s ability to understand the impacts of the oil on the ecosystem, learn new ways to mitigate oil in the environment, and understand how to be better prepared should a similar event arise in the future. This work has resulted in more than 1,400 peer-reviewed publications.
The farewell issue of the GoMRI newsletter is now available. It summarizes the research conducted in the wake of the spill and the key findings from the last decade of research.
|
|
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.
|
|
GCOOS maintains a jobs listing for positions and fellowships in the ocean observing community. Want to advertise a position? Email
Laura Caldwell
|
- Executive Director, Harte Research Institute (HRI) for the Gulf of Mexico Studies
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) Gulf Research Program - Environmental Program Unit Director, Board Director; Offshore Energy Safety
- National Ocean Services; NCOOS - Supervisory Environmental Scientist
- United States Geological Survey - Physical Scientist
- Mote Marine Laboratory — Senior Research Scientist in either Shark or Manatee Biology, Florida Red Tide Initiative; Phytoplankton Culture Specialist, Staff Analytical Chemist; Exotoxicology Program, Florida Red Tide Initiative Postdoctoral Scientist, Aquarium Biologist, Coral Restoration Postdoctoral Researcher, Information and Data Coordinator, Environmental and Occupational Safety Officer
- Florida International University — Open-rank faculty position in Phycology
- The Water Institute of the Gulf - Data Architect for Environmental Resources
- Flanders Marine Institute - VLIZ - Science Officer Genetic Data
- Postdoctoral Positions: NOAA; National Centers for Coastal Ocean Sciences, NRC Research Programs
- Fellowships: Margaret A. Davidson Graduate Fellowship
|
|
GCOOS maintains a listing of funding opportunities. Have an opportunity you'd like to advertise? Email
Laura Caldwell
|
- FY 2020 Ocean Technology Transition Project
- Gulf of Mexico Alliance Funding Calendar
- NEP Coastal Watershed Grant Program
|
|
Many Meetings have been postponed or canceled due to covid-19. We've tried to provide updates below.
|
|
1: GCOOS Members Meeting. New Orleans. Details not yet available.
|
|
5-20: Oceans 2020 Gulf Coast and Oceans 2020 Singapore have been combined into a virtual conference featuring a mix of live and on-demand events.
Details.
|
|
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
|
|
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.
|
|
Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick
, Executive Director
•
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
•
Laura Caldwell
, Program Assistant
|
|
In Memoriam: Matt Howard, 1952-2018
|
|
|
|
|
|
|