RUCOOL is involved with innovative research across the spectrum of oceanography topics, but here we highlight 3 exemplars of innovative RUCOOL-led research and impacts related to tropical cyclones, long time series, and ecosystems and fisheries.
Tropical Cyclones. RUCOOL has pioneered the use of undersea robotics and coupled ocean–atmosphere models to fill critical data gaps that limit our ability to accurately forecast hurricane track and intensity. RUCOOL innovations and focus on team building have catalyzed major partnerships between Rutgers, other leading universities, the U.S. Navy, NOAA, and international collaborators to create the next generation of storm‑forecasting capabilities. RUCOOL is now providing leadership in implementing these new approaches in coordination with the World Meteorological Organization, the National Weather Service, and the Global Ocean Observing System.
Long time series. Rutgers anchors a 40‑year time series in Tuckerton (NJ); a 35‑year time series along the rapidly melting Western Antarctic Peninsula; and >20 years of integrated observations on the Mid‑Atlantic continental shelf. These records have revealed changing fish communities along the New Jersey coast to long‑term declines in seabirds in the Southern Ocean.
Ecosystems and Fisheries. RUCOOL is developing offshore aquaculture, supporting wind & tidal energy projects, and sustaining traditional fishing practices. Sustainable use, deconfliction of multiple activities, and safety requires an unprecedented quantitative visualization of the current ocean and the ability to forecast over operational time scales. This will require development of autonomous “smart” coupled ocean-atmosphere observing-modeling networks.