Author: AOML Communications

The robot and the reef: Can enriched seawater fast-track coral restoration?

Alkalinity enrichment in the lab may be the key to more effective reef restoration. An innovative Ph.D. student puts this hypothesis to the test using cutting-edge technology. In a tank filled with glass jars, stir bars, and coral babies settled onto ceramic tiles, a robotic arm glides with precision, dosing each jar with various levels […]

Read Full Article

Inside the Storm: Meet the NOAA team behind hurricane research

Hurricanes are among some of the most destructive natural disasters and pose major risks to coastlines. Given warming oceans, increasing storm intensities, and population growth, advancing hurricane research is vital for tracking storms and predicting their strengths and landfalls. A complex team, from program managers to meteorologists, is essential for successfully predicting, observing, and forecasting […]

Read Full Article

Breaking records in the sky and sea: Innovations in research through the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season

The 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has officially come to an end. Throughout this record-breaking season, NOAA scientists conducted innovative research on tropical cyclones that will improve forecasting accuracy, enhance understanding of storm behavior, and strengthen preparedness efforts for communities. Their work and dedication contributed to a safer and more resilient future for those facing the impacts of extreme weather events.

Read Full Article

World first: Mini ocean robot collects data in a Category 5 hurricane

NOAA and Oshen robots bring back key wind and pressure data from Hurricane Humberto A small, wind–powered ocean robot became the first uncrewed surface vehicle to capture and transmit data from inside a Category 5 hurricane on Sunday, September 28, as part of research by NOAA, the United Kingdom-based robotics company, Oshen, and the University […]

Read Full Article

AOML leads National Coral Reef Monitoring Program operations throughout the Atlantic 

The National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) led by NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program is the largest monitoring effort globally to support the conservation of reefs. Scientists with NOAA’s AOML Coral Program and the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) lead the monitoring efforts in the Gulf of America, Caribbean and the Atlantic […]

Read Full Article

Offspring of opportunity: First-ever spawn collected from urban corals in Miami could bolster future reefs

Scientists at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS) have successfully overseen the first-ever crossbreeding between grooved brain corals (Diploria labyrinthiformis) collected from a highly urbanized site in PortMiami and a nearby reef – a breakthrough that could revolutionize efforts to restore local coral reefs.

Read Full Article

NOAA’s next-generation hurricane model accurately predicted Hurricane Erin

Hurricane Erin was one of the largest storms recorded in the Atlantic basin, with only around 5% of storms matching or exceeding its size. Both operational and experimental NOAA forecast models for Erin proved incredibly accurate, especially for Erin’s track early in the forecast period.  NOAA’s flagship hurricane forecast model, the Hurricane Analysis and Forecast […]

Read Full Article

Atlantic Niño/Niña modulates typhoon landfall risk in East and Southeast Asia

A new study led by AOML and CIMAS scientists further shows that the impacts of Atlantic Niño/Niña on tropical cyclones are not limited to the Atlantic basin (i.e., hurricanes), but also extend to the western North Pacific basin (i.e., typhoons) through inter-basin teleconnections. 

Read Full Article

Ensuring continuity: A new method for Florida Current transport observations

The flow of the Florida Current, one of the most powerful ocean currents in the world, has been measured by a submarine telecommunications cable between Florida and the Bahamas since 1982. Unfortunately, this record was interrupted in November 2023 due to a mechanical failure of the cable. Building on prior research, a new study presents an alternative method to continue providing the Florida Current daily transport estimates until the cable can be repaired. 

Read Full Article