An NBC Philadelphia report on the effects of Hurricane Ian cancelling Chowderfest in LBI features Oscar Schofield (SEBS) discussing how sea level rise is fueling stronger storms. Full video at NBC Philadelphia

15th annual youth-led initiative provides hands-on learning opportunities during 4-H STEM Month and throughout the year October is 4-H STEM Month. Rutgers Cooperative Extension has teamed up with Cooperative Extension at Cornell University in New York to bring educators from across two states to the New York Aquarium for an immersive full-day professional development experience. They will be introduced to the 4-H Stem Challenge Explorers of the Deep through a hands-on activity demonstration of the Ocean Explorers Augmented Reality (AR) board game and Ocean Communicator activity. This is an opportunity for educators to not only learn how to use the kit in their communities, but a chance to apply the Ocean concepts to real world applications in content and displays experienced throughout the aquarium. Following the training, educators here in New Jersey, and from across the country will roll out the 4-H STEM Challenge to their students. Youth will apply their knowledge, creativity, and innovation to learn about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) topics through this year’s theme, which focuses on ocean exploration, marine science, and the impact of climate change on our oceans. A recent survey commissioned by National 4-H Council showed that 84 percent of teens would like to be involved with shaping the future of our environment. Ocean exploration and research help scientists, policy makers, communities, and individuals prepare for and adapt to changing ocean conditions, many of which are resulting from climate change – making this a perfect theme to teach youth how they can get involved, no matter where they live. Developed in partnership with New Jersey Cooperative Extension and the Department of Marine & Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University, Explorers of the Deep is a collection of three unique, hands-on activities that help youth develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communications skills across a broad range of topics including ocean science, data interpretation, physics, and aquaculture. Full article at NJAES Newsroom

On Monday, October 3, three American scientists have been welcomed to the premises of the AGOA Sanctuary as part of an opportunistic collaboration. Our scientists are taking advantage of the deployment of an American glider in the waters of the French West Indies to attach a hydrophone to it and test a data collection method. Travis Miles, Joe Gradone, and Doug Wilson, American researchers from the University of the United States Virgin Islands and Rutgers University in New Jersey, work on ocean water parameters. They are carrying out a mission in the southern Caribbean arc with the aim of studying the heat transfers of the currents coming from Brazil and entering the Caribbean. This mission also allows them to improve meteorological models for predicting cyclones, which require precise water temperature to gain momentum. To carry out this mission they use an underwater glider. The glider is an autonomous device controlled by satellite which will take measurements in the water column on its way. It performs programmed dives up to 1000 m depth during which its sensors (oxygen, temperature, salinity) will record the characteristics of the water masses according to the depth. Each time it comes to the surface, the glider sends the results of its dive ashore via satellites. Around the world, gliders are also used to study the chemistry of the oceans or the animals that inhabit them. Equipping them with hydrophones makes it possible to hear the animals that are on the mission’s path: whale songs, sperm whale clicks or dolphin whistles. The interest is then to obtain recordings of areas that are not easily accessible by boats, offshore, in the depths, while avoiding the sea conditions of the hurricane season. Thus, this type of mission can help improve knowledge on the distribution of cetaceans on the scale of the Caribbean. The American team therefore agreed to attach a hydrophone to the back of the glider at the request of the AGOA Sanctuary team. This deployment is a first for the Caribbean, and will allow us to test the potential of this method in our waters. The “RU29” glider was deployed this Wednesday, October 5 on the Caribbean coast of Martinique. Transported to sea thanks to the nautical means made available by the Marine Natural Park of Martinique, the machine mounted on a launching ramp was slid into the ocean. It will descend through the interior of the Caribbean arc until it reaches the waters of Granada, then return to Martinique in about 1 month. It will then be revived to go this time towards the north of the arc. While the information from the physical sensors is sent by satellite in near real time, it will be necessary to wait for the return of the glider to extract the acoustic recordings and analyze them in search of cetaceans. The presence of American scientists for a week allowed many discussions on scientific cooperation in the Caribbean, and the usefulness of gliders for different studies, marine mammals of course, but also water quality, currents, etc. . We hope that these fruitful contacts will continue in the future. Original article in French at AGOA

Ocean News & Technology Young Professional Award: Presented to an MTS member, 35 years of age or younger, who has demonstrated leadership in the Society and works in a professional capacity in management, engineering, or research and development in a marine technology field. Recipient – Ms. Cassidy Gonzalez-Morabito, Systems Test and Integration Engineer, L3Harris Ms. Gonzalez-Morabito is being recognized for her work in the test and integration of software to support naval operations. She has led the updated release of multiple test software packages, which have improved test reliability, reduced false failure rates, increased test speed, updated instrumentation, and simplified operations. These test software packages are used to provide confidence to engine control module (ECM) units before they are deployed in naval aircraft.

Rutgers works closely with many different partners in the MARACOOS network to make ocean observation data continuous, accurate, and impactful to the maritime community. Many different universities and agencies work together within MARACOOS to power understanding and prediction of ocean and coastal observing systems enabling better decisions through better data. Mid-Atlantic ports handle 25% of the total U.S. waterborne commerce and include the nation’s second largest container port, the nation’s largest petroleum product hub, and the world’s largest Naval base. Ports, waterway navigation and piloting, and small craft operations require reliable, quality data products for decision making. The US Coast Guard (USCG) relies on surface current predictions from the Rutgers Doppio system. The system provides more accurate capacity to simulate motion of search targets in the Mid-Atlantic Bight, an area of intense maritime commerce, fishing, and increasing recreational use. The robust High Frequency Radar (HFR) network, which has been a data supplier to the USCG since May 2009, is also a well used tool. The observations made by this network feed the Short-Term Predictive System (STPS). STPS creates the detailed surface current predictions 24 hours into the future for the Mid-Atlantic Bight (MAB) region. NOAA National Ocean Service uses HFR to enhance its PORTS products for New York Harbor and Chesapeake Bay. In addition, the data are used by National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices in AWIPS2 and for Nearshore Wave Prediction Systems. The USCG also uses SST products for SAR operations. Additionally, the SST products are used by many stakeholders for ocean data assimilation (regional scientists), as well as by the recreational fishing community and boating community for effective navigation. Full article here.

Congratulate Tim Stolarz who successfully defended his master’s thesis this afternoon.  His thesis was titled “”Understanding Ocean Highways: Trends in Surface Currents and Divergence in Urbanized Coastal Margins For a Predictable Ocean” He delivered an excellent presentation during which he was asked aspect of the masters did he enjoy the most, the field work, science discovery, data analysis? His response was ‘ Definitely the conversations!’  A testament to creative teams working together to solve big issues.  Great Job Tim!!!

Rutgers Marine Field Station stands at the heart of where climate change is happening the fastest in the world, providing a unique and crucial window into the future for researchers. A former U.S. Coast Guard station, the building located on the Mullica Hill Estuary in Tuckerton, New Jersey, was transformed into a research facility when it became part of Rutgers in 1972. Each daily tide brings different organisms to the estuary, making it a place of constant change. “This change around the field station provides a window into understanding the changes occurring over time along the coast,” says Oscar Schofield, Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences. Full article at Rutgers Today