Water Quality Research for the South Florida Program Continues with Coast-Wide Testing Cruise

From August 6th to the 10th, AOML researchers, in partnership with the University of Miami and the University of South Florida, embarked on a cruise to investigate water quality along South Florida’s coasts. Two teams alternated to complete 24-hour sampling and data collection. Niskin bottles mounted on CTD rosettes were submerged at specific sites to collect water samples to measure temperature, salinity, pH, and other water properties. The bottles are remotely activated to close at different depths, giving us water samples of each part of the water column. The team collected samples from the southern tip of South Florida which were processed on board, and sent back to the lab to determine nutrients, dissolved inorganic carbon, chlorophyll content, plankton respiration rates, and other factors. For more on what this research is and how it impacts the community, visit the Q&A with Chris Kelble.

  • Incubation for O2 Samples aboard the deck of the R/V Walton Smith: Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  • Mid-Day aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  • Scientist Ian Smith conducting a net tow aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  • Scientist Kelly Montenero processing samples taken aboard the R/V Walton Smith.
  • Scientists casting a CTD aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  • Scientists taking water samples from the CTD. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  • Scientist Kelly Montenero taking water samples from the CTD. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  • Scientist taking Chlorophyll Samples at the underway sampling station aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.

Image Captions

From Left:

  1. Incubation for O2 Samples aboard the deck of the R/V Walton Smith: Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  2. Mid-Day aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  3. Side view aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  4. Scientist Ian Smith conducting a net tow aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML. 
  5. Scientist Kelly Montenero processing samples taken aboard the R/V Walton Smith.
  6. Underway Sampling Station aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  7. Scientists casting a CTD aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  8. Scientists taking water samples from the CTD. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  9. Scientist Kelly Montenero taking water samples from the CTD. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  10. Scientists Ian Smith and Kelly Montenero run the CTD deployment aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  11. Front view of the Walton Smith, Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.
  12. Scientist taking Chlorophyll Samples at the underway sampling station aboard the R/V Walton Smith. Photo Credit: NOAA AOML.