MS of Operational Oceanography (MOO) students recently visited Furuno USA Inc. in Denton, MD to learn about Furuno’s diverse marine radar technologies and their applications. The visit was hosted by Gil Passwaters of Furuno, who provided an informative tour of the facility. During the tour, Gil detailed the company’s mission and history, as well as the various operational capabilities of their radar and GPS, and the software utilized for processing the radar data. The MOO students, as well as everyone at RUCOOL, express their gratitude to Gil and Furuno USA Inc for the valuable opportunity to engage and gain insights into their field.
MS of Operational Oceanography (MOO) Students trained over a 3-day workshop led by SEABER’s Quentin Tatibouet, testing RUCOOL’s new AUV the YUCO-SCAN. This new AUV is equipped with side-scan sonar, allowing our students to set out on the R/V Rutgers out of the Rutgers University Marine Field Station (RUMFS) with Capt. Chip Haldeman. Quentin explained the comprehensive and flexible accompanying software, and all of the MOO students found the YUCO easy to work with and fun to use. Coordinating a flexible mission, Quentin & and the MOO students scanned a shipwreck outside Great Bay, NJ. Everyone at RUCOOL, especially the MOO students, is looking forward to the next mission – thanks Quentin & SEABER!
Dr. Hugh Roarty’s article “The Vessel Traffic Service Needs a Major Radar Upgrade” was recently published in US Naval Proceedings. Proceedings is a monthly magazine published by the United States Naval Institute. Launched in 1874, it is one of the oldest continuously published magazines in the United States. Proceedings covers topics concerning global security and includes articles from military professionals and civilian experts, historical essays, book reviews, full-color photography, and reader commentary. The article discussed Dr. Roarty’s work to evaluate the Coast Guard use of radar to manage traffic in the ports. The existing microwave radars operated by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) within the Vessel Traffic Sservice system do not provide reliable detection of small vessels, which can pose a threat to the Marine Transportation System. As part of the project Dr. Roarty raveled and met with Coast Guard personnel at the twelve Vessel Traffic Service centers to develop a needs analysis for the VTS centers with respect to radar remote sensing. A request for information (RFI) was developed and delivered to radar manufacturers that allowed the USCG to evaluate state of the art in radar technology for small vessel detection while also meeting the VTS mission to monitor and advise vessels within the navigational waterways. Full article at US Naval Institute
Rutgers has launched the Offshore Wind Collaborative to coordinate and build expertise in offshore wind research across the university community and to support workforce development pathways to employment in this industry. Leading the establishment of the collaborative is Margaret Brennan-Tonetta, director of the Office of Resource and Economic Development at Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, along with Josh Kohut, professor, Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, School of Environmental Biological Sciences, and Wade Trappe, professor and Associate Dean for Academics, School of Engineering. More than 40 faculty members from across Rutgers’s campuses in New Brunswick, Camden and Newark have committed to the Offshore Wind Collaborative, bringing a wide range of disciplines and expertise including marine sciences, environmental science, engineering, materials science, supply-chain, and public policy, as well as economics, psychology and other social sciences. Rutgers is well positioned to establish the collaborative environment and knowledge-sharing needed to foster the growth of a wind-based economy in New Jersey. New Jersey is poised to be a strong player in the emerging sector in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the U.S. The state’s Offshore Wind Strategic Plan, approved in 2020, guides the establishment of the offshore wind industry to benefit New Jersey residents. It is a core strategy of the state’s Energy Master Plan, which identifies the most ambitious and cost-effective ways of reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Wind Institute awarded the Rutgers OffShore Wind Collaborative a one-year, $125,000 grant as part of the University Initiatives to Advance Offshore Wind program. Brennan-Tonetta, Trappe and Kohut serve as co-investigators University Initiatives program, which includes three projects: Offshore Wind Energy Symposium, a free event on Jan. 12 that will bring together industry, government and academic leaders to discuss challenges and opportunities, as well as build community engagement in offshore wind. A summary report based on information from the symposium will be used by NJEDA to develop recommendations on the government’s role in development of the offshore wind sector. Educational Initiatives for a Resilient Offshore Wind Economy in New Jersey, will develop and deliver modular curricula across various technical, business, environmental, engineering and policy topics related to offshore wind. The modules will be designed to be integrated into a wide range of current Rutgers courses and for presentation as standalone programs. Community Events and Shared Learning opportunities via three in-person community-building events at Rutgers-Camden, Rutgers-Newark and Rutgers-New Brunswick, with the primary goal of exploring opportunities in the offshore wind sector. NJEDA also provided a $282,000 grant to Rutgers to create the New Jersey Wind Institute Fellowship Program to support student research in topics that further the growth of offshore wind as well as build student and faculty advisor expertise in offshore wind research and innovation in the state. Chelsie Riche, assistant director for student success and experiential education, Office of Academic Affairs, serves as the principal investigator for the Rutgers Fellowship Program. Rutgers is one of four higher education institutions in the state, including Rowan University, Montclair State University and New Jersey Institute of Technology, to offer its undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to conduct paid, independent research related to offshore wind. Open to students across all fields of study, the yearlong fellowship program was launched in Fall 2022 and includes 13 undergraduate and graduate student fellows at Rutgers. Learn more about the Offshore Wind Collaborative and the Wind Institute Fellowship Program. Original article at Rutgers NJAES Newsroom
RUCOOL’s Julia Engdahl has won multiple awards for her work last year at NOAA. She won two Director’s Team Awards from NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS). These awards were for work on automating quality control on NOAA’s Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Data System (PORTS) current meter data and for providing vital verified water level data, new API data services, and new and updated sea level projections and scenarios products in support of the 2022 Sea Level Rise Technical Report. Julia also won a NOAA CO-OPS Directors award for her individual work in developing innovative solutions and creative problem solving through programming and code improvements, resulting in more flexible and efficient operational processes related to NOAA’s derived product suite in CO-OPS. Julia was a critical part of two innovation projects over the past year; one to develop a PORTS Currents Analysis Tool (CAT) and the other to automate and otherwise make more efficient the routine processes that are required when transitioning microwave water level technology into operations. Julia is an is currently working with RUCOOL focused on an array of projects including glider data analysis during hurricanes with support from NOAA IOOS and OAR and integrating onboard processing onto Slocum gliders with support from the Office of Naval Research. Congrats Julia!!
Thirty years ago, a satellite receiving dish on top of the brand new Rutgers marine sciences building was turned on. This signaled the birth of RUCOOL. Since then, this group has had a global impact and changed how oceanography is conducted. RUCOOL was formed to better observe and understand our ocean beyond the century-old practice of limited, ship-based expeditions. To that end, RUCOOL has become an acknowledged leader in pushing innovative research that has developed some of the first ocean sensor-webs, providing 4-dimensional pictures of the ocean and data, that is freely available to any person in the world. The team has innovated the use of satellites, shore-based radars, autonomous ocean robots and ocean models. It has achieved this while also innovating new modes of education and outreach. While there is much to celebrate, RUCOOL is looking forward. In the past, efforts focused on developing and successfully deploying novel ocean platforms, but now these systems have matured. The premium is now focused on producing high-quality data products and scientific understanding to meet societal goals, whether it be hurricane prediction, climate impacts on marine and human ecosystems, safety at sea, or the development of an environmentally and economically sustainable offshore wind industry. RUCOOL is committed to meeting these goals while educating the next generation of ocean leaders. For an overview of our work in 2022, please visit: https://rucool.marine.rutgers.edu/news/reports/
A deep dive into new initiatives supporting biodiversity – from the coastline to the seafloor In a well-functioning marine ecosystem, everything is connected – from microscopic matter to massive aquatic mammals. If any one element becomes unbalanced, the ripple effects can be devastating. This interconnectedness is one of the reasons why climate change is such a significant – and imminent – threat to the world’s oceans. Katherine Richardson, a researcher of marine biology and biodiversity, notes that we’re already seeing major disruptions in Earth’s marine ecosystems: motile (moving) organisms migrating to new regions to escape warming temperatures, excess nutrient input from pollution affecting marine life, and coral bleaching, among other calamities. Biodiversity is taking a huge hit in the wake of a changing climate – which in turn impacts climate mitigation efforts. “The biodiversity crisis is at least as important as the climate crisis,” explains Richardson. “Biological processes, including both land and ocean photosynthesis, are critical for establishing sinks in the global carbon cycle. The way we change the biosphere’s capacity for carbon storage is an integral part of the climate crisis.” Globally, organizations ranging from renewable energy companies to conservation groups to university research programs are collaborating to tackle the joint crises of plummeting biodiversity and ongoing climate change. Below, take a journey from the coast to the seafloor to learn more about three critical efforts that aim to improve marine ecosystems. The Humber Seascape Restoration Programme is led by partners Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, representing their combined 70,000 members, 800 active conservation volunteers and 218 specialist staff. It builds on an ambitious program of seagrass restoration work already underway between the Hornsea Four Offshore Wind Farm project and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. In the project’s initial phase, seagrass seeds will be planted along four hectares. The plants will provide critical shelter for animals, as well as a nursery for certain fish species. Next, conservationists plan to release 500,000 native oysters to encourage biogenic reef development. Dr. James Wood, the fisheries and research manager of the North Sea Wildlife Trusts, notes that the iconic estuary is one of the most important conservation sites in the UK. “It’s recognized as the single largest freshwater contributor to the North Sea, with tributaries that drain one-fifth of England’s landmass. Nature conservation works here, alongside some of Europe’s busiest transport routes, and there is immense potential for pioneering as well as ongoing restoration for marine wildlife,” he explains. Dr. Wood and his team will be closely monitoring metrics of success of the estuary restoration project, including oyster survivorship rates, reef formation stats and signs of reproduction. They’ll also monitor if the seagrass seedlings are taking root, stabilizing sediments and expanding their footprint into adjacent areas. Ideally, the efforts will lead to enriched coastal habitats, carbon sequestration, improved water quality and an overall increase in marine species. Adoption of renewable energy systems is a key part of addressing climate change – but in an interconnected world, even the most well-intentioned efforts must be implemented carefully, with consideration of potential unintended consequences. When it comes to constructing the infrastructure required for offshore wind farms, the process must be deliberate – and data-driven – in order to cause the least amount of disruption to marine ecosystems as possible. One example of a research effort attempting to quantify the impact of renewable energy infrastructure on marine life is the Ecosystem and Passive Acoustic Monitoring (ECO-PAM) project, which gathers crucial data about the North Atlantic right whale. This magnificent animal is capable of traveling thousands of miles in search of food. Part of its migration habitat lies off the coast of the Eastern United States, including areas off of New Jersey and Massachusetts, where there’s ongoing offshore wind interest and activity. To better understand how wind farm rollout might impact this species, the ECO-PAM initiative collects data about the whale’s songs, migration patterns and general ocean conditions. It does so via acoustic monitoring buoys deployed by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), an acoustic vector sensor buoy by University of Rhode Island (URI) and an autonomous underwater glider developed by Rutgers. The endeavor has been a collaborative effort, not only for developing the hardware and technology, but for deploying it effectively in challenging conditions. “Working with advanced electronics in the coastal ocean is always a challenge, as there are ships, storms and biology that occasionally impact our gliders,” explains Josh Kohut, a professor in the department of marine and coastal sciences at Rutgers. That said, the initiative has overcome all obstacles in its way thus far, including Covid-related delays that shifted the project’s original timeline. Over the last two years, Rutgers has successfully deployed autonomous underwater gliders nine times. Each mission has helped collect data about not only the whales, but also about the oceanographic conditions they prefer – as well as more general data about the changing marinescape. The resulting data is publicly available and helps to support student-based research on marine mammal coastal habitats. Full article at The Guardian