Oceanographic HF Radar Data Preservation in Wind Turbine Interference Mitigation Coastal oceanographic high frequency radars (HFR) are used to measure the current of the ocean at the surface. HF signals can propagate in what is known as groundwave mode, following the curvature of the ocean surface beyond the horizon, giving them the ability to make observations over large areas. The most common coastal HFR in the U.S. is the SeaSonde® compact cross loop system produced by CODAR Ocean Sensors Ltd. The sea surface current measurements from the national network of Coastal oceanographic HFR are vital to United States Coast Guard for search and rescue efforts, aid in oil spill response, and provide current maps to ocean mariners and researchers. Other secondary uses for coastal HF radar include wave field measurements, wind measurements, and vessel detection. When wind turbines are in the field of view of coastal HF radars they act as reflectors and cause an interference signal that can be mixed with the oceanographic data. The wind turbine interference (WTI) cause errors or gaps in oceanographic data output. CODAR Ocean Sensors Ltd. (the contractor) has been at the forefront of the efforts to characterize and mitigate the WTI impacts on coastal HFR measurements. The existing mitigation techniques are designed to detect and remove oceanographic data impacted by the WTI, which can result in the loss of meaningful oceanographic data. Furthermore, they do not mitigate the impact to some of the secondary HFR data products such as wave field parameters (height, period, direction). The purpose of this proposal is to develop and test a mitigation method that is capable of removing the WTI while preserving most, if not all, of the oceanographic data. The objective outlined in this statement of work is to mitigate WTI in coastal HFR while preserving as much oceanographic data as possible. A secondary objective is to mitigate the impact to some of the secondary data outputs, namely, wave measurements. The two strategies proposed to obtain this objective include The use of empirical machine learning methods, aided by the physics of wind turbine interference, to estimate WTI signals to a high enough degree of accuracy such that they can be separated and removed from the oceanographic echoes. Configuring multiple HFR to operate in a multi-static mode in which each HFR receives bistatic sea echo from multiple other HFR transmissions, filling in gaps caused by WTI.

New Jersey is the first state in the country to make climate change a part of the public school curriculum. Rutgers University hosted a workshop Thursday to help educators integrate the topic across the curriculum. The workshop included hands-on and interactive sessions with other teachers. “These tools are designed to create an environment in innovation and new ideas, prepare our students to meet the reality of our shared climate challenges, and to develop the next generation of climate leaders,” said first lady Tammy Murphy. Sarah Ruppert, a fine arts teacher at Delaware Valley Regional High School in Hunterdon County, said her students are eager to know more. “I do see students taking on and feeling challenged by climate change, from just wondering how to help to wondering what evidence and where it comes from.” “We know that sea level rises in New Jersey twice as faster as other places across the nation. We know that 84% of kids want to learn about climate change education. … We know 89% of students have reported that they have stress anxiety from climate change and are thinking about it overtime,” said Edward Cohen, assistant director of the Center for Math, Science, Computer Education at Rutgers. Major funding for Peril and Promise is provided by Dr. P. Roy and Diana T. Vagelos with additional funding from The Marc Haas Foundation, Sue and Edgar Wachenheim III, and the Cheryl and Philip Milstein Family. Original article at NJ Spotlight News

Sentinel Home The Sentinel Mission Flight Viewer Our Goals Our Challenges UN Ocean Decade What is a Glider? What Gliders Can Do Slocum Gliders The Sentinel Glider History Doug Webb and Henry Stommel’s Challenge to Humanity Scarlet Knight’s Atlantic Crossing Our Team Topics in Marine Science Teledyne Technologies Get Involved Social Media Mission Donors Outreach Events Sentinel Blog Sentinel Home The Sentinel Mission Flight Viewer Our Goals Our Challenges UN Ocean Decade What is a Glider? What Gliders Can Do Slocum Gliders The Sentinel Glider History Doug Webb and Henry Stommel’s Challenge to Humanity Scarlet Knight’s Atlantic Crossing Our Team Topics in Marine Science Teledyne Technologies Get Involved Social Media Mission Donors Outreach Events Sentinel Blog Curiosity, Unity, Discovery The Sentinel Mission is a challenge to circumnavigate the global ocean following nautical rules by an underwater robot. The mission’s goal is demonstrate novel new technology develop by Teledyne Marine Inc and promote curiosity this ocean planet. The mission will use the newly developed Teledyne Marine’s new Sentinel autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Our vision is to use this mission to build global unity and contribute to scientific discoveries with a goal to improve community resilience and inspire a sustainable relationship with our world’s oceans. WHO WILL MAKE THIS HISTORY? What is unique about this mission is that this will be anchored by undergraduate students from around the world. The goal is ensure a new generation of ocean leaders take leadership for the stewardship of this ocean planet that is exhibiting accelerating change. Above is our initial projected map developed over by students over the last 1.5 years in our Rutgers coursework. Our goal is bring global communities together in partnership during the Sentinel mission supporting the goals of the United Nations Ocean Decade effort. What are the rules for a nautical circumnavigation of Earth’s ocean? A basic definition of a global circumnavigation would be a route which covers roughly a great circle, and in particular one which passes through at least one pair of points antipodal to each other.  For around the world sailing records, there is a rule saying that the length must be at least 21,600 nautical miles calculated along the shortest possible track from the starting port and back that does not cross land and does not go below 63°S. It is allowed to have one single waypoint to lengthen the calculated track. The equator must be crossed.

Q&A on Recent Whale Strandings and Offshore Wind Energy Development   Are whale strandings increasing along the Jersey Shore? Recent whale strandings along New Jersey and New York continue a period of increased humpback whale mortalities along the U.S. East Coast that began in 20161,2. In April of 2017 it was declared an Unusual Mortality Event (UME) for humpback whales by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as defined by the Marine Mammal Protection Act1. Have there been similar strandings in the past and why? Three other UMEs for humpback whales have occurred since 2000. In 2003, there were 16 mortalities; in 2005, 7 occurred; and in 2006, 48 mortalities were recorded. The causes of these UMEs are still undetermined3. This most recent increase that has been occurring since 2016 is similar to that observed between 1985-19924. The similarities include a notable increase in frequency and sightings, an increase in the number of strandings (many in mid-winter when they are believed to be primarily in tropical regions), and the age of the whales at mortality (juveniles)1-11. What are potential causes of whale strandings? Many factors can contribute to the stranding of an individual whale. These include illness, vessel strikes, entanglement in discarded fishing gear, high-intensity, low-frequency acoustic surveys, and contributing factors such as climate variability, long-term climate change, and predator-prey interactions.6,8,10,12 The port of New York and New Jersey is now the busiest port in the U.S, with cargo handling capacity increasing by 5.7% since 2021 and surpassing the Port of Los Angeles last year.13 Vessel density and speed are highest in nearshore waters where it is believed the juvenile humpback whales are foraging at the surface.5,6,8,11,14 The majority (93%) of humpback whale mortalities in the New York Bight caused by vessel strikes were juveniles.11 Furthermore, vessel strikes have been identified as the culprit for half of the necropsied whales that have stranded since 2017 – that’s six times higher than the 16-year average of 1.5 whales3 – while necropsy (a type of autopsy) analyses for the other stranded whales are ongoing. Adult humpback whales, along with fin, minke, and north Atlantic right, forage farther offshore. In addition to changes in human activity across our region, the habitat of the whales and their prey changes rapidly. Characteristics of the ocean off our coast undergo remarkable variability across days and weeks to seasons, years, and decades.15 This intense ocean variability drives an equally variable ecosystem – from the primary producers (planktonic algae) to highly migratory fish and marine mammals. Tight coupling between ocean conditions and the habitat preference of local and migratory species can cause their distributions to vary significantly from season to season and year to year. Furthermore, our coastal waters are situated in one of the most rapidly warming regions in the world. Following the recent increasing trend of carbon dioxide emissions without additional policy changes and action, local ocean temperatures in the mid-Atlantic would increase by 3-4°C over the next 70 years16. Ocean warming has led to vulnerability among approximately half of the U.S. Northeast Shelf species17, and the dominant response of fish species to ocean warming has been to shift their distribution range poleward18-20. A primary food source of humpback whales, Atlantic menhaden have been increasing in biomass in the region since the 1980s21, and anecdotal observations suggest that their distributions have been shifting closer to shore and staying later into winter. We do not know why. Coincidentally, these nearshore areas are where juvenile humpbacks have been observed feeding at the surface5,6,8,11,14, potentially increasing susceptibility to vessel strikes or entanglement. Are the strandings related to the research and monitoring occurring because of New Jersey’s offshore wind energy development project? Ongoing planning and surveying activities conducted by offshore wind developers for the different projects include acoustic surveys for site evaluation. There have been recent claims that these acoustic surveying efforts have caused this recent uptick in whale strandings. At this point, there are no data or evidence linking whale mortalities to any one specific factor, including offshore wind development.10,12,22 Not all acoustic surveys are the same. Unlike the large acoustic arrays for oil and gas surveys or military sonar that use high-intensive low frequency acoustics, the wind acoustic surveys are of high frequency or lower intensity low frequency which are harder for baleen whales – including humpback whales – to hear.12,23 Notably, the recent strandings of humpbacks and other marine mammals have been occurring from Florida through Maine1, covering a large region with very different stressors. To properly assign cause to any stranding, all factors must be considered. Why is it important to determine the cause(s) of whale strandings and what research efforts are needed to address this issue? Most reports are too quick to assign the cause of whale strandings without much concern for data and scientific input. Now more than ever it is critical that we consider the evidence and the complexity of the entire system before drawing conclusions about the causes. Many factors, natural and human-caused, impact ecosystem health. Decisions, particularly those as paramount as calls to shut down the development of a climate-mitigating renewable energy, need to be based on scientific data and solid evidence and consider the entirety of factors contributing to observed or perceived impacts. At this point, there are no such data or evidence linking whale mortalities to any one specific factor including offshore wind development. We encourage the decision makers to consider all the changes occurring in and factors impacting the coastal ocean habitats utilized by these whales. In addition to ongoing baseline monitoring and planned offshore wind impact studies, it is imperative to bring together the marine mammal and broader oceanographic communities now to investigate and identify all potential drivers of this ongoing UME event before any blame can be directed toward a specific entity or activity. What must be considered when planning responsible development of offshore wind?  The need is clear to develop sustainable solutions to combat the single biggest threat to our ocean and the planet

Mission Statement The Sentinel Mission is a daring scientific endeavor aiming to make history by completing the first circumnavigation journey by an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). Through the use of next-generation technology fueling the Sentinel AUV, ocean observation in the modern age can be revolutionized to support the New Blue Economy and Beyond serving as a proof-of-concept, the Sentinel Mission stands to promote a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive ocean for all. Timeline Henry Stommel basement  Henry Stommel’s basement is where the idea of the ocean glider was created. Year (1996)  Henry Stommel’s published article (1996) – This article is the starting point of a partnership between Henry Stommel and Douglass C. Webb, found of Teledyne. The Slocum glider was created and named after Joshua Slocum. Joshua Slocum was the first person to single-handedly sail around the world. His achievement led to the glider being named after him. Rutgers 1999 -launched its first gilder (glider 1) Crossing of the Atlantic- Rutgers University scientists and students launched a robotic underway glider off the coast of New Jersey. Named RU27, the glider was the first to cross the Atlantic Ocean.  Flight Across the Atlantic – RU27 – RU17 (rutgers.edu) Outreach Crosscut Members: Sal Fricano, Paul Alves, Trevor Barry, Mox Engelman, Megan Murie, Bella Fowler, Maddy Ripper, Becca Sangmeister, Joshua Cleary Email Drafts ———-Email Draft – V_Alumni———- Dear _____,              On behalf of the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, we would like to cordially invite you to become an ambassador for the Sentinel Mission – the world’s first circumnavigation journey by an autonomous underwater vehicle.            In 2009, a team of faculty and undergraduate students at Rutgers University’s Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, in conjunction with Teledyne Marine and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), successfully completed the first Atlantic crossing with an autonomous underwater vehicle, which marked a major milestone in the capabilities of ocean observation. Now, 15 years later, technological advancements have led to the development of the Sentinel glider from our partners at Teledyne Marine, which is a robust next-generation glider engineered with the intent of undergoing long-duration science missions across the world. In anticipation of the Sentinel glider’s upcoming maiden voyage, our team of undergraduates believe that it is integral to the success of the Sentinel mission that we establish partnerships with distinguished individuals, groups, and organizations such as yourself. Beyond serving as a proof-of-concept for how new technologies can serve ocean observation networks across the globe, the Sentinel mission stands for far more than just science. Due to the global reach this technology has, data collected through the Sentinel glider and its future fleet will stand to serve communities everywhere through equitable and inclusive means. A successful first journey of the Sentinel glider is not a win for one, but for all. As an ambassador, we would greatly appreciate your social and/or financial support of this project as it finishes development and begins to make way for deployment. The prestige and outreach you and your organization have would be a priceless asset for us in working to spread the word about this major scientific journey we are undertaking to promote a sustainable, profitable, and scientifically understood ocean for all people across the globe. Through your inclusion in our team of researchers, students, and diverse individuals from across the world, we will continue to progress further in spreading awareness about this historical scientific undertaking and its positive implications for communities everywhere.            Thank you very much for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing back from you and further discussing our path to partnership.    Kind Regards, The Undergraduate Students of Topics in Marine Science Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey ———-Email Draft – V_Donors———- Dear _____,              On behalf of the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, we would like to cordially invite you to become an ambassador for the Sentinel Mission – the world’s first circumnavigation journey by an autonomous underwater vehicle. XXX Thank you very much for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing back from you and further discussing our path to partnership.   Kind Regards, The Undergraduate Students of Topics in Marine Science Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey ———-Email Draft – V_Organizations———- Dear _____,              On behalf of the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, we would like to cordially invite you to become an ambassador for the Sentinel Mission – the world’s first circumnavigation journey by an autonomous underwater vehicle. XXX Thank you very much for your time and consideration. We look forward to hearing back from you and further discussing our path to partnership.   Kind Regards, The Undergraduate Students of Topics in Marine Science Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey ———-Email Draft – V_International———- Dear _____,              On behalf of the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences at Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey, we would like to cordially invite you to become an ambassador for the Sentinel Mission – the world’s first circumnavigation journey by an autonomous underwater vehicle. In 2009, a team of faculty and undergraduate students at Rutgers University’s Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences, in conjunction with Teledyne Marine and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), successfully completed the first Atlantic crossing with an autonomous underwater vehicle, which marked a major milestone in the capabilities of ocean observation. Now, 15 years later, technological advancements have led to the development of the Sentinel glider from our partners at Teledyne Marine, which is a robust next-generation glider engineered with the intent of undergoing long-duration science missions across the world. In anticipation of the Sentinel glider’s upcoming maiden voyage, our team of undergraduates believe that it is

The wooden causeway to the Rutgers University Marine Field Station in Little Egg Harbor Township, where Superstorm Sandy made landfall in New Jersey. To the left, the casino hotels of Atlantic City can be seen off in the distance. Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Ted Sherman | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The Rutgers Marine Field Station rises on weathered pilings overlooking a fragile wetland, surrounded by a sea of tall salt grass brushed here and there into sweeping hypnotic patterns by the wind. White herring gulls dot the brown marsh as they stand over dark, brackish tidal pools, hunting for fiddler crabs. Ten years ago, this was Ground Zero for Superstorm Sandy, which roared over the inlet when it made landfall in New Jersey. Today, the estuary around the remote research facility in Little Egg Harbor is mostly healed. Yet the ecology of the marsh itself has changed, in response to the rising global temperatures attributed to climate change that many believe is likely to spawn more and even deadlier storms than Sandy and now Hurricane Ian, which only recently devastated Florida. In a place between the land and the sea, researchers are studying those changes. They collect the larvae that floats in with the tide. They keep track of visitors who arrive by air or by sea, and watch the day-to-day life cycle amid the tidal pools left behind when the water recedes, and in the spartina reeds at water’s edge. The field station serves as a window — not only on the impact of climate change, but on just how the next big storm to hit New Jersey might behave. The Rutgers University Marine Field Station, on the estuary in Little Egg Harbor Township where Superstorm Sandy made landfall 10 years ago. Andre Malok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com   Getting here feels like a journey to the end of the world. The road to the station begins down in Tuckerton and involves a seven-mile-long drive across uninhabited islands and mudflats, over one-lane bridges where fishermen cast their lines, past isolated marinas and then finally to a dead end on the Mullica Hill Estuary where the white buildings capped with red roofs finally make their appearance in the distance. The road is not always passable. High tide sometimes will flood the pavement several times a month, even on sunny days. A walk from the road across a wooden causeway elevated over the marsh finally brings you to Roland Hagan, who came here as an intern in 1989 and now serves as operations manager for the Rutgers lab that has been studying the estuary for the past 50 years. “I make sure the place doesn’t fall apart,” he laughed, before setting off on a tour of the station, from the “clean labs” that are always dirty because no cleaning chemicals are allowed in the room for fear of contaminating samples, to the observation cupola high atop the station that offers a panoramic view of the wetlands. Roland Hagan points to the damage at the Rutgers Marine Field Station, where Superstorm Sandy made landfall 10 years ago,  Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Perched above the water, the lab is “like a boat on stilts,” observed Hagan. Wastewater is collected in holding tanks and pumped out each week so as not to disturb the environment they study every day. Inside are samples of fish and crab larvae collected by researchers and students. Sensors in the water track the passage of marine life. One ongoing study involves documenting the spread of microplastics in fish. He pointed offshore to a pelican, once a rare guest from warmer waters, gliding just offshore, diving and coming up with its lunch. “They don’t like the cold airOr much,” Hagan noted. With the changes in climate, there has been a dramatic shift in the kinds of fish being seen around the station, including more species from south of Cape Hatteras, and fewer from the north of Cape Cod, according to Oscar Schofield, chairman of Rutgers’ Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences. “Different fish have been moving into the estuary because the ocean is getting warmer,” he said. And higher water temperatures are not the only changes in the estuary. The sea level rise here is occurring faster than anywhere else in the world, Schofield noted, in part because the South Jersey coastline continues to sink; a legacy of the geology left behind by the last ice age. That could spell even more flooding problems for Atlantic City, which can be seen off in the distance, sometimes casting a hellish red glow in the night sky when the clouds are low. Some studies suggest half of the gaming resort could be uninhabitable by 2060. As part of its research, the station deploys a fleet of underwater drones as well — sometimes to track marine life, and at times to collect data on hurricanes. On the evening before Sandy came ashore, one such drone carrying the designation of RU-23 was already radioing back data about the storm. Launched into the ocean four days earlier by a Rutgers team led by researcher Travis Miles, now an assistant professor at the university, its mission was to collect information about currents and water temperatures, even as the seas roiled. The yellow, sensor-laden torpedo-like robotic craft, known as a Slocum Glider (named for Joshua Slocum, the first man to single-handedly sail around the world), is a unique research tool. It has no propeller, using its ability to rise and sink deep into the ocean to navigate by “flying” through the water in a series of dives. Using minimal power, it can operate for weeks, sinking and gliding, and then rising towards the surface, over and over again. As the storm raced toward the New Jersey coast, Schofield was able to keep tabs on the data being uploaded by RU-23, seeing what was happening in the middle of Sandy in real time from more than 100 miles away. Marine researchers

In March of 2022, Rutgers junior and Leadership Scholar at the Institute for Women’s Leadership Kirstin Slattery inquired about the possibility of a trip aboard the R/V Rutgers along the Raritan River. She had been tasked with developing a social action plan centered around a personal passion, and as an environmental policy major, the Raritan River and its storied history were a perfect fit. Kirstin reached out to R/V Rutgers Captain Chip Haldeman and initiated discussions in relation to what’s involved, how much it costs, and most importanly, what she’s interested in accomplishing. Feeling perhaps a bit of deja vu, Captain Chip connected Kirstin w/ Dr. Heather Fenyk, Board President and de facto Executive Director of the Lower Raritan Watershed Partnership. Dr. Fenyk, one of our resident experts on history and current policies affecting the Raritan River, agreed to accompany the IWL scholars aboard and share her expertise. Additionally, Kirstin was also invited aboard by Dr. Fenyk for LRWP’s annual trip prior to her own discussing similar areas of interest and introducing new concepts as well. Fast forward to October 28th, and Kirstin’s vision, dedication, and planning had come to fruition. Not only had she arranged the scheduling and logistics for the trip, but she had also secured the necessary funding for the vessel’s operation. This can often be a daunting task, but challenges are meant to be overcome, and this now-Rutgers senior delivered. Dr. Jeffra Schaefer, a professor in Rutgers’ Department of Environmental Sciences, volunteered to serve as deckhand, offering further expertise. Dr. Schaefer and Dr. Fenyk are the embodiment of women in leadership roles; perfect examples for aspiring Scarlet Knights. Many thanks to both for volunteering their time. The trip itself was informative and educational – the bonus being perfect weather and beautiful fall colors along the banks – but not without its obstacles. Moon phases and tides had conspired to flood the Rutgers crew boathouse docks, so the R/V Rutgers once again utilized its landing craft ability to board passengers on the banks of the Raritan near Boyd park. The remainder of the trip went off without a hitch, returning as planned and disembarking at the boathouse, just prior to RU crew’s afternoon practice. Congratulations, Kirstin, on a job well done. Truly a moment for Rutgers to be proud!