Research Highlights
Research Interests
Directing research into advanced technologies and methods for oceanographic and meteorological data collection.
Improving hurricane forecasts with upper ocean observations from underwater gliders and other ocean observing platforms.
Monitoring the Western Boundary Currents in the Subtropical Atlantic.
Grant Rawson
Physical Scientist, Physical Oceanography Division
305.361.4363
4301 Rickenbacker Causeway
Miami, Florida 33149
“Every day you have the opportunity to learn and experience some-thing and some-one new. Seize the opportunity. Learn and experience everything you can, and use it to change the world.”
Grant Rawson is an Oceanographic Physical Scientist for the Physical Oceanography division at NOAA/AOML. Grant manages the research, development, testing, and maintenance of state of the art oceanographic and meteorological instrumentation, processes and techniques. He is AOML’s Senior Glider Engineer and manages AOML’s fleet of Hydroid Seagliders, one of the largest such fleets in the world. Grant is a member of the Institute of Electronics and Electrical Engineers, the IEEE Ocean Engineering Society and the Marine Technology Society. Additionally, Grant is a member of AOML’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Treasurer of the Buoy & Gulls Morale Club.
Current Work
- Hurricane Underwater Gliders
- Western Boundary Time Series Program
- The XBT Network
- ALAMO Floats
- BCG Argo
- MOC and MHT Array
- The PIRATA Northeast Extension
- NOAA Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR) reviewer
- Tropical Atlantic Current Observations Study
- XBT Fall Rate Experiment
- Deep Ocean Data Retrieval Systems
- XBT Meteorological Measurements
2003, B.S. Marine Science, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
2020, Master’s Degree in Professional Science, RSMAS, U. Miami, Virginia Key, FL
Instrumentation
Manage AOML’s Hurricane Underwater Glider fleet, evaluating instrument sensor performance and directing the design, testing, upgrade, and maintenance of AOML’s fleet of Hydroid Seagliders.
Designed sensor suite for the colocated measurement of Meteorological data with XBT measurements for studying surface heat and moisture fluxes across the air-sea interface.
Developed Paperless log book system for oceanographic data collection at sea.
Designed XBT Fall Rate Experiment to study the effect of drop height on initial and terminal velocity of XBTs.
Migration of data acquisition and processing to the cloud
Systems automation
Publications:
G.Rawson, U.Rivero, G. Goni, R. Domingues, F. Bringas, J. Dong, H-S. Kim, G. Halliwell, J. Morell, L. Pomales, and P. Chardon, “NOAA/AOML-CARICOOS Underwater Glider Operations in Support of Tropical Cyclone Intensification Studies” 2018 IEEE/OES Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Workshop (AUV). 10.1109/AUV.2018.8729802
Presentations:
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Oceanic Engineering Society Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Symposium (AUV2018) – NOAA/AOML-CARICOOS Underwater Glider Operations in Support of Tropical Cyclone Intensification Studies.
NOAA’s AOML and Integrated Ocean Observing Systems (IOOS) Improving Forecasting and Assimilation (IFAA) 2019/2020 Hurricane Glider Workshop – AOML’s component of NOAA’s Uncrewed Systems Strategy program during the 2019 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Detailing work completed during the 2019 in the Caribbean Sea and Tropical North Atlantic, from Puerto Rico, The United States Virgin Islands, The Dominican Republic and South Florida
NOAA AOML’s Physical Oceanography Division’s 2019 Underwater Glider Training Forum – Training program partners in the development, testing, parameters, characteristics, piloting, and maintenance of Underwater Gliders.
University of Miami Underwater Glider Symposium – Spatial Analysis of Underwater Glider Data from Puerto Rico During the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
NOAA/AOML 2020 Virtual Open House – Eyes on our Ocean – How the ocean is studied using underwater gliders before, during, and after Tropical Cyclones to improve hurricane intensity forecasts.
Ocean Observing Team Award 2021
For transforming understanding of Atlantic circulation with a breakthrough in observing system design, providing continuous, cost-effective measurements.
Federal Employee of the Year Nominee 2021
AOML’s Diversity, Inclusion and You! (DIY) Team for working tirelessly to ensure the best possible quality of work/life balance for AOML employees, to promote diversity and inclusion in the STEM fields, and to participate in diversity and inclusion efforts at higher levels of NOAA.
Bronze Medal Award in Scientific of Engineering Achievement 2021
For the successful coordination and operation of the “picket Fence” of underwater gliders during the 2019 hurricane season for improved forecasting.
NOAA Administrator’s Award 2017
For Surveying Cuban waters and establishing a groundbreaking multinational Atlantic bluefin tuna research partnership with Cuban scientists.
NOAA Bronze Medal Award 2016
For the rapid and successful implementation of an array of underwater gliders geared towards Caribbean Sea and Tropical Atlantic hurricane research forecasts.