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In early July, the Caribbean experienced 165 mph winds as Category 5 Hurricane Beryl swept through the region. Beryl was unprecedented, becoming the Atlantic’s earliest forming Category 5 tropical cyclone on record. The storm developed and rapidly intensified to maximum wind speed in less than four days – a behavior uncommon this early in the season. Despite the unprecedented intensification, hurricane scientists and oceanographers with NOAA were prepared. Researchers collaborated with multiple partners to sample Beryl from top to bottom, providing invaluable data to safeguard life and property while also aiding future research to unlock complex tropical cyclone processes. Hurricane Research Division scientists photographs the “stadium effect” within the eye of category 5 hurricane Beryl from aboard the NOAA Hurricane Hunter P3 Orion. To better understand Hurricane Beryl, scientists observed the storm from the sea, sky, and space with an array of observational instruments to gain a comprehensive perspective of the storm’s behavior and dynamics. Data from these instruments were assimilated into weather models and used by the National Hurricane Center for more accurate track and intensity forecasts. Ocean temperature and salinity features influence a hurricane’s ability to pull deeper waters upward that cool the surface ocean, an interaction known to impact storm development and intensity. An underwater glider deployed by Rutgers University’s Center for Ocean Observing Leadership, RU29, was near Beryl’s projected path and, as Beryl approached, was moved to inside the forecast cone. Soon after, the storm crossed directly over the glider, collecting measurements below the hurricane’s eyewall. This is believed to be the first time a glider has been beneath the eyewall of a category-5 hurricane. As the glider made frequent dives to depths over 1500 feet, unprecedented data revealed how Beryl mixed, cooled, and changed the ocean below. The data were submitted in real-time to the U.S. IOOS National Glider Data Assembly Center for immediate use in forecast models as well as research. Full article at NOAA Research

Congratulations to Joe Gradone who was awarded the “Best Oceanography Talk” of the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship 5th annual conference last week in New Orleans.  Joe’s work spans cutting edge ocean robotic technology, balancing ocean heat budgets, and improving storm forecasting.  Kudos to Joe!!!!

Congratulations to Dr. Jackie Veatch on successfully defending her dissertation titled “Physical Drivers of Food Web Focusing in Marine Ecosystems”.

Core

Focus Areas

The Rutgers University Center for Ocean Observing Leadership (RUCOOL) is creating knowledge of our ocean planet by pushing the limits of science and new technologies while inspiring future generations of ocean explorers.

Hurricane Science

Hurricane Science

The RUCOOL Hurricane Science Team develops and uses advanced observing technologies and models to better understand coupled ocean-atmospheric processes in tropical cyclones.

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Offshore Wind

offshore-wind

The RUCOOL Offshore Wind team develops and advances the science that informs decision-making around offshore wind, both at a state and national level.

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Polar Science / LTER

Polar Oceans

RUCOOL scientists are engaged in polar research using both regional & global climate models, via large collaborative efforts that utilize undergraduate and graduate framework.

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Ocean Acidification

Ocean Acidification

The RUCOOL Ocean Acidification Team develops and uses advanced observing technologies to address hypotheses related to identifying and evaluating the drivers of acidification.

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Integrated Ocean Technology

Integrated Ocean Technology

RUCOOL develops and operates state-of-the-art ocean sensor technologies, integrating their data products together to get the most comprehensive 3d view of the ocean possible.

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Empowering the next generation

Empowering the next generation

RUCOOL is innovating education practices to enable all humanity be active explorers of their ocean planet. These tools are being used to develop the next generation of ocean scientists and engineers.

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