Hurricane, Climate, Coastal and Ocean Research.
Research Highlights
Read our News Stories from the Field, Research Publications, and Events.
Our Research Makes an Impact
Project: Monitoring the Ocean Improves Weather Forecasts
AOML plays a key role in collecting and maintaining sustained ocean observations that monitor the temperature and salinity of ocean features using drifters, Argo floats, XBTs, moorings, and other platforms.
Impact: Adding Ocean Data from Directly Beneath a Storm Leads to More Accurate Hurricane Forecasts
Unmanned Ocean Glider data improve our understanding of the current ocean state and are used to initialize hurricane models. Data from gliders passing under Hurricane Gonzalo improved the intensity forecast by one category on the Saffir Simpson Scale.
Project: Monitoring Commercially Important Sportfish Populations
AOML developed a sportfish model that the US Army Corps of Engineers adopted to evaluate the impacts of Everglades Restoration on south Florida’s economically and ecologically important sportfish populations.
Impact: Empowers Managers to Evaluate Different Scenarios and Plan for the Future
The majority of sportfish in south Florida are dependent upon healthy estuaries with natural freshwater runoff. The model shows how sea trout would respond to different management scenarios, giving managers actionable information.
Project: HWRF's High Resolution Moving Nest Module
AOML developed a high resolution moving nest in NOAA's regional hurricane model known as HWRF, increasing resolution over the storm environment. We transition the HWRF model into operations in joint partnership with NOAA's Environmental Modeling Center.
Impact: Improved Forecast Accuracy Better Informs Coastal Communities
The HWRF model has improved intensity forecasts by 10- 5 kts in the critical decision making period of 48-72 hours before landfall. This allows people to make informed decisions to prepare their families, homes, and communities.