New Year, Continued Restoration and Monitoring

AOML scientists recently returned from the first cruise of 2018. As part of the South Florida Project, regional surveys over the southwest Florida shelf and the Florida Keys reef tract are routinely performed aboard the R/V F.G. Walton Smith on a bimonthly basis, to keep a watchful eye over sensitive marine habitats found in the region. Sampling methodologies include discrete sampling and flow through measurements of water quality and chemistry, and biological oceanographic parameters.

  • Scientist validating NOAA ocean color satellites. Image credit: NOAA
  • The deck of the R/V Walton Smith, between sampling stations in the Gulf of Mexico. Image credit: NOAA
  • Scientists prepare the bongo net for plankton tows. Image credit: NOAA
  • Plankton samples collected in a successful plankton tow. Image credit: NOAA
  • Scientists review data sheet on observation deck. Image credit: NOAA
  • Scientist sampling at an underway station in the wet lab aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.

Image Captions

From Left:

  1. Scientist validating NOAA ocean color satellites. Image credit: NOAA
  2. The deck of the R/V Walton Smith, between sampling stations in the Gulf of Mexico. Image credit: NOAA
  3. Scientists prepare the bongo net for plankton tows. Image credit: NOAA
  4. Plankton samples collected in a successful plankton tow. Image credit: NOAA
  5. Scientists review data sheet on observation deck. Image credit: NOAA
  6. Scientist sampling at an underway station in the wet lab aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.