Category: Photo Gallery

A pair of bottlenose dolphins cruising behind the Nancy Foster. Image credit: NOAA

NOAA Conducts Interdisciplinary Research Cruise in the Caribbean Aboard the Nancy Foster

AOML partnered with NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) to conduct an interdisciplinary research cruise aboard the NOAA Ship Nancy Foster from April 11, 2015 through June 3, 2015. The cruise began in the U.S. Virgin Islands and extended westward across the northern Caribbean to Mexico. Researchers from various institutions conducted a myriad of biological and physical oceanographic surveys during the three month cruise.

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Group photo of the participants at the Rosenstiel School's MTLSSC Building. Image credit: NOAA

AOML Hosts Young Scientists on Take Your Child To Work Day

On April 10, 2015, AOML personnel participated in the annual ‘Take Your Child to Work Day’ tradition. Parents and students shared a day full of science which included a tour of the UM Rosenstiel School’s new Marine Technology & Life Sciences Seawater Complex. At the MTLSSC, participants observed the SUSTAIN wave tank in action, interacted with the resident aplysia, and toured a coral nursery. Thanks to all the AOML staff and young scientists who joined us this year!

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Sunset aboard the R/V F.G. Walton Smith. Image credit: NOAA

April Hydrographic Survey Conducted in the Florida Straits

AOML physical oceanographers conducted a hydrographic survey along the 27th north parallel in the Florida Straits aboard the R/V F.G. Walton Smith on April 9-10, 2015. The cruise was conducted as part of the ongoing Western Boundary Time Series project, which is designed to quantify Florida Current volume transport and water mass changes. Scientists measured full water column values of salinity, temperature, and oxygen using CTD equipment. This survey and others help to calibrate daily estimates of the Florida Current volume transport.

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Gideon Butler of the University of San Diego lays a transect along a reef. Photo credit: Lauren Valentino, NOAA

AOML Marks 13th Trip Aboard Global Reef Expedition Cruise

During the months of March & April, AOML researchers participated in the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation’s Global Reef Expedition cruise which took place in the waters of the British Indian Ocean Territory. Some of the areas explored included the Maldives and the Chagos archipelago, home to the world’s largest Marine Protected Area. Aboard the R/V Golden Shadow and working under the theme “Science Without Borders,” the Global Reef Expedition team researches remote coral reef locations around the globe documenting their health to better understand which factors are crucial to reef resilience. AOML has participated in 12 Global Reef Expedition cruises since June 2012.

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March Numeric Nutrient Criteria Study Cruise collects data at Fowey Light for the Argo program. Image credit: NOAA

Numeric Nutrient Criteria Study Cruise

AOML scientists conducted a Numeric Nutrient Criteria Study cruise Wednesday and Thursday, March 18-19th in Biscayne Bay off of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties aboard the NOAA R/V Hildebrand. The study provides concurrent water column and coral reef status data for four coral assemblies off of Miami-Dade and Broward County. These results will be employed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to determine numeric nutrient criteria for the coastal waters of Southeast Florida.

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Uli Rivero and Erica Rule use a balloon as an explanatory prop during their NED talk. Image credit: NOAA

Science Communication Workshop

Jana Goldman, a science communicator and plain language trainer, traveled to Miami on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 to engage AOML employees in a workshop on how to communicate science effectively to non-science audiences. While participating in the science communications exercises, AOML staff learned a myriad of successful plain language techniques as well as effective methods to develop clear scientific messages.

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CTD under sparkling clear blue water. Image credit: NOAA

February 2015 Western Boundary Time Series Cruise

AOML physical oceanographers Molly Baringer, Ulises Rivero, Pedro Pena, Andrew Stefanick, Grant Rawson, Jay Hooper and Francis Bringas conducted a Western Boundary Times Series cruise aboard the UNOLS R/V Endeavor on February 15, 2015. Molly Baringer, AOML Deputy Director, served as chief scientist and was supported by additional crew from the University of Puerto Rico. Scientists measured full water column values of salinity, temperature, and oxygen. Scientists also telemetered data from a series of moorings along the 26th north parallel for a joint NOAA and National Science Foundation program designed to monitor the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation current. Francis Bringas also conducted a fall rate experiment that consisted of deploying 200 XBTs from different launch heights.

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Professor Julio Morell of The University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez and AOML's Grant Rawson, watch the glider drift away after deploying it on February 6, 2015. Image credit: NOAA

Underwater Gliders Second Deployment

On February 6, 2015, AOML physical oceanographers deployed two underwater sea gliders from the University of Puerto Rico’s R/V La Sultana in hopes of improving prediction of hurricane intensity. This is the second deployment trial after two gliders had a successful first mission at sea from July-November 2014. The main goal of this project is to deploy a pilot network of underwater gliders in the Caribbean Sea and Tropical North Atlantic Ocean to help with hurricane intensity forecasting and provide valuable information about the role the ocean plays in tropical cyclone development.

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Miami-based researchers learn how to use direct broadcast polar-orbiting satellite data. Image credit: NOAA

AOML Hosts Satellite Workshop

Scientists from University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center (SSEC) and the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies visited AOML to provide training on how to use direct broadcast polar-orbiting satellite data for the enhancement of environmental forecasting and decision making. The course focused on the use of data from the new AOML antenna, including SuomiNPP and Aqua/Terra instrument observations and products.

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