NOAA Science Seminar Series
Past 2024 Seminars

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: November NOAA NWS Alaska Climate Outlook Briefing


Presenter(s): Rick Thoman, Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy

Sponsor(s): NOAA/OAR Climate Program Office and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)

Seminar Contacts: Alison Hayden (abhayden@alaska.edu) & Genie Bey (genie.bey@noaa.gov)

Abstract: We will review recent and current climate conditions around Alaska, discuss forecasting tools, and finish up with the Climate Prediction Center's forecast for December 2024 and the winter season. Join the gathering online to learn what's happened and what may be in store with Alaska's seasonal climate.

Bio(s): Rick Thoman is the Alaska Climate Specialist with ACCAP and has many years of experience producing reliable Alaska climate change information and graphics describing Alaska's changing environment. His work spans the bridge between climate modeling, Alaska communities, and the media.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: December NWS Alaska Climate Outlook Briefing

Presenter(s): Michael Lawson, Asst. Sea Ice Meteorologist/Alaska Sea Ice Program

Sponsor(s): NOAA/OAR Climate Program Office and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)Seminar Contacts: Alison Hayden (abhayden@alaska.edu) & Genie Bey (genie.bey@noaa.gov)

Abstract: In June 2024, the research vessel Norseman II was partially-disabled and trapped in sea ice for a two week period offshore the community of Shishmaref in the Bering Strait region of Alaska. The National Weather Service's Alaska Sea Ice Program supported the United States Coast Guard and United States Fish and Wildlife/United States Geological Survey personnel onboard the vessel with sea ice briefings via daily annotated satellite imagery.

Bio(s): Michael began his career in the National Weather Service in 2011 as a Meteorologist Intern at the Anchorage Forecast Office. In 2015 he began working part-time with the Alaska Sea Ice Program in addition to being a meteorologist with NWS Anchorage, then going full-time with the ASIP in 2018. He continues to occasionally work as a forecaster on the weather side in addition to the Alaska Sea Ice Program. Michael especially enjoys working with all types of satellite imagery for both ice and weather analysis and forecasting.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: Art x Climate

Presenter(s): Allyza Lustig; US Global Change Research Program / ICF; Senior Manager, National Climate Assessment

Sponsor(s): NOAA Library

Seminar Contact : library.seminars@noaa.gov

Abstract: Art x Climate was a first-of-its-kind call for climate-focused artwork to be featured in the National Climate Assessment (NCA). The US Global Change Research Program developed this call with the understanding that together, art and science move people to greater understanding and action. Art x Climate sought to expand the resonance and reach of the NCA and to demonstrate the power of art to advance the national conversation around climate change. This talk will detail the Art x Climate effort: why this project was needed, how it was conceived and implemented, and the artworks received.

Keywords: art, climate, assessment

Bio(s): Allyza Lustig is the Senior Manager on the National Climate Assessment team at the US Global Change Research Program, where she helps manage the assessment process and led the development of Art x Climate. Allyza has an interdisciplinary social science background with a focus on the boundary space between climate science and decision making. She is also a painter and is passionate about the power of art as a means of documenting climate change and inspiring action.

Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Central Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Central Library YouTube channel.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Hybrid Numerical-AI/ML Model Development and Application in Coastal Hazards Forecast

Presenter(s): George Xue, Louisiana State University

Sponsor(s): NOAA Coastal Ocean Modeling Seminars: https://coastaloceanmodels.noaa.gov/seminar/

Seminar Contact(s): Alexander.Kurapov@noaa.gov

Abstract: Coastal communities face a range of hazards, from acute disturbances like hurricane-induced flooding to seasonal threats like seasonal hypoxia. This presentation introduces a hybrid modeling framework that combines advanced numerical models with AI and machine learning (ML) techniques to address both short-term and chronic coastal hazards.
For acute disturbance prediction, we developed a hybrid framework to predict hurricane-induced compound flooding by integrating process-based numerical models with data-driven ML approaches. Using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks for time series data of water depth, discharge, and wind, coupled with a two-way dynamically linked hydrological-ocean model (WRF-Hydro and ROMS), the system accurately simulates flood events, as demonstrated in Galveston Bay, TX, during Hurricane Harvey. This hybrid model drastically reduces computational time, producing flood maps within seconds, compared to traditional numerical models that require much longer processing times. The framework highlights a novel approach to rapid and accurate flood risk prediction, supporting timely decision-making for coastal preparedness.On the other hand, for seasonal environmental impacts, we use hypoxia forecasting on the Louisiana-Texas shelf as an example. A hybrid system, operational at hypoxia.lsu.edu, is under construction to integrate ROMS-based numerical models with AI/ML models to forecast both the hypoxia area (HA) and its spatial distribution. The AI models, leveraging U-Net and DeepLabv3+ architectures, provide daily forecasts of hypoxia distribution with high precision, significantly outperforming existing statistical models. Our analyses underline the importance of nutrient reduction strategies, with physical processes like water column stratification and sedimentary biogeochemical processes playing key roles in daily hypoxia variability.Together, these two studies demonstrate the power of combining physics-based models with AI/ML techniques to address both immediate and long-term coastal hazards. This approach offers scalable solutions for enhancing coastal resilience, from acute disaster response to sustained environmental management in the face of climate change.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: TBD

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NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: Molecular indicators of warming and other climate stressors in Pacific cod early life stages

Presenter(s): Laura Spencer, AFSC Affiliate, UW SAFS/CICOES Postdoctoral Researcher

Sponsor(s): Groundfish Seminar Series - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Groundfish Assessment Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bianca Prohaska (bianca.prohaska@noaa.gov) & Sarah Friedman (sarah.friedman@noaa.gov)

Accessibility: Closed captioning is available live during the via a WebEx toggle.

Abstract: Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus) populations have undergone dramatic changes in abundance and distribution in recent years. In the Gulf of Alaska, decreases in both pre-recruits and age 3+ estimates following marine heat waves suggest that warming negatively impacted early life stages. There is also evidence that summer feeding cod are shifting poleward into the Northern Bering Sea, which raises questions as to whether spawning might also occur in colder, more northern conditions. I will present results from controlled laboratory experiments in which we paired phenotypic responses with genomic assays to understand the physiological response of Pacific cod early life stages to warm and cold conditions. While the primary objective was to identify mechanisms that might have caused low recruitment during heatwave years, the rich genome-to-phenome datasets derived from experimental work create opportunities for marker development and targeted genetics studies. For instance, among the 30,000+ genes in the Pacific cod genome, we have found genetic variants in ~150 genes that are putatively associated with juvenile performance (high growth and condition) in warm conditions. These thermal markers of performance could be tracked through heatwave periods to capture selection events, furthering our understanding of Pacific cod's adaptive potential under shifting climates. This presentation will highlight the utility of new genomic tools in fisheries research and management.

Bio(s): Laura Spencer received her B.S. in Oceanography from the University of Washington, then eventually found her way back to receive her PhD in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, studying under Dr. Steven Roberts. Her PhD research focused on impacts of climate stressors on shellfish species native to the Pacific Coast using genomic tools, and was informed by her time working in oyster restoration in the Puget Sound. She is currently a postdoctoral researcher at UW and AFSC Affiliate.

Slides/Recordings/Other Materials: Seminar recordings will be posted here within a week of the presentation if permission is granted by the presenter.
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Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' or 'unsubscribe' in the subject or body of the email. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your comments and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: 2024 Alaska Next-Generation Satellite Meeting

Presenter(s): Dr. Jessica Cherry, Regional Climate Services Director for Alaska, NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI),Anchorage, AK

Sponsor(s): NOAA LEO Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bill Sjoberg bill.sjoberg@noaa.gov

Location: Webinar

Abstract: Cherry will provide a readout of the Alaska Next-Generation Satellite Meeting (held in Anchorage, September, 2024), preview the conference report and summary findings, as well as potential strategies moving forward that fit within a vision for regional services, user engagement, and the NOAA service delivery model. Conference co-host Jennifer Delamere from the University of Alaska Fairbanks will be on hand for additional comments and questions

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Available upon request.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Comparison of High-Frequency Radar (HFR) wave measurements with the NOAA Nearshore Wave Prediction System (NWPS) model and NDBC buoys.

Presenter(s): Christopher Olson, CCME II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers


Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: This seminar presents results from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Dr. Dmitry Dukhovskoy of the NWS/NCEP. High-frequency radar (HFR) wave measurements are evaluated against numerical simulations and buoy observations in the New Jersey coastline during a storm event on May 7-8, 2022 (known as the Mother's Day nor'easter event). Wave measurements are obtained from three CODAR SeaSonde HFR stations installed along the New Jersey coast at Seaside Park, Brant Beach, and Brigantine NJ, and buoy observations provided by the National Data Buoy Center(NDBC). Wave characteristics during this storm event are simulated using the NOAA Nearshore Wave Prediction System (NWPS). HFR-estimated wave characteristics, including significant wave height, wave period, and wave direction, are compared against observations and model output. Analyses are conducted for time series of single average values of wave characteristics averaged over the HF radar footprint and within specified range bands from the radars. For the area-averaged values, the error analysis indicates that NWPS data have best agreement with buoy observations and HFR for certain wave directions. Errors in wave period and wave direction are notably high suggesting possible inadequacies in appropriate choice of error analysis and techniques. Analysis of errors for different ranges shows lower errors in wave height between 12 and27 kilometers range, suggesting an optimal operational range for HFR applications for measuring waves. The research and results advance NOAA's Mission towards understanding and prediction of oceans and coasts.

Bio(s): Christopher Olson is a NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME)-II Cohort 2 graduate scholar from Florida A&M University (FAMU). He has a bachelor's degree in geology with a concentration on geomorphology from San Francisco State University and a master's degree in natural resources and a minor in STEM education from the University of Nebraska"Lincoln. Christopher is pursuing a Ph.D. in civil engineering with a concentration in environmental engineering. His research is based on hurricane wind-generated waves' effects on natural and nature-based infrastructure such as dunes, beaches, and salt marshes. Christopher completed his NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunity (NERTO) with the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) National Center for Environmental Prediction(NCEP). Christopher worked closely with the High-Frequency Radar (HFR) team to assess wave parameter estimates by HFR. This provided Christopher with experience inworking with numerical modeling products and buoy measurements to improve the potential for HFR's wave measurement abilities and contribute to NOAA's mission. These experiences have developed Christopher's skills in research, collaboration with experts, and insight into NOAA's advancement in wave measurement technologies and post-processing techniques. Upon completing his degree, Christopher plans to pursue a career within the NOAA mission enterprise, ideally furthering HFR and coastal resilience research. For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Sendan e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Metagenomic Analysis of the Microbial Community Associated with Oyster Mariculture in the ACE Basin NERR

Presenter(s): Jaden Hunt, CCME II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers


Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Oysters and other bivalve species related to shellfish aquaculture provide social, economic and environmental benefits. In addition to meeting the demand for seafood, these include habitat formation for macrofauna, shoreline protection and water quality enhancement through pollutant and nutrient removal, and business and commercial opportunities. NOAA recognizes the benefits that sustainable aquaculture provides and has published a 5-year strategic plan for aquaculture and oyster restoration to guide the agency's workflow from 2023 to 2028. Communities of microorganisms associated with aquaculture sites were investigated through the use of metagenomic techniques. The analysis of genetic information may provide a clearer image of who is present in these communities, what processes they are involved with, and how they are carrying them out. Sediment and water samples were taken from an oyster aquaculture site in proximity to the Ashepoo Combahee Edisto (ACE) Basin NERR near Charleston, South Carolina. DNA was subsequently extracted from the retrieved samples at the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) at the Hollings Marine Laboratory. DNA was then sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform and analyzed using the QIIME2 bioinformatic pipeline. Results showed that the microorganisms present in these communities contribute to the cycling of Carbon, Nitrogen and Sulfur. The most common bacteria found in the samples were of the phylum proteobacteria and class gammaproteobacteria. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentors, Dr. Jeff Guyon and Laura Webster, NOAA NOS/NCCOS, at the Hollings Marine Laboratory. The NERTO aligns with the NOAA CCME-II research goal of improving the understanding of ecosystem dynamics with the use of existing and new data streams.

Bio(s): Jaden Eaton Hunt is a NOAA EPP/MSICSC Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems-II (CCME-II) Cohort 2 graduate scholar at Florida A&M University (FAMU). His interests and skill sets involve techniques associated with molecular biology to investigate microbial communities associated with terrestrial and aquatic environments. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Albany State University studying general biology whilst pursuing a minor in biotechnology. He has a master's degree in environmental science with a concentration in molecular environmental microbiology focusing on soil ecology from FAMU. His thesis research focused on soil ecology regarding the microbial communities in heavy metal contaminated soils near nuclear facilities. Jaden is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in environmental science, continuing his interest in molecular and microbiology with an emphasis on marine ecology. His research aligns with coastal intelligence with an emphasis on the shellfish aquaculture industry, more specifically bivalves, the ecological services they provide, and the microorganisms associated with their tissues and environment. Jaden completed his NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunity (NERTO) with the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) at the Hollings Marine Laboratory in Charleston, South Carolina. He obtained and refined skills in the lab with molecular work with DNA extraction, downstream processes such as PCR and library preparation prior to sequencing the DNA retrieved from sediment and water samples collected near an oyster aquaculture site. Jaden plans to pursue a research career within the NOAA workforce. Jaden is supported as a Cohort II Graduate Fellow funded by the NOAA CCME-II award NA21SEC4810004. For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Sendan e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Assessing best methods for long-term monitoring of microplastics in oceanic surface waters of two National Marine Sanctuaries.

Presenter(s): Sonia Duran, CCME II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers


Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Microplastics (MPs) are a ubiquitous global threat to human health and the environment. The tiny particles harbor toxins thought to disrupt systemic bodily functions. Currently, there is a problematic lack of standardization in MP research protocol. Long-term monitoring can yield critical information on MP properties, sources, and distributions and provide vital data for assessing risks and risk reduction and contribute to protocol standardization. The Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries (GFNMS/CBNMS) in Northern California lie adjacent to the USA's most polluted urbanized bay. To fill in data gaps and determine long-term trends, on MP occurrence in oceanic surface waters of GFNMS/CBNMS, an analysis was done to determine the most appropriate methods for long-term monitoring. A two-week pilot sampling study occurred in May 2024 to assess feasibility of techniques for long-term monitoring followed by an extensive literature review. The manta net is the recommended sampling device because it can sample across large areas, and it is the most commonly used technique worldwide for comparable research. Because of the inherent capture bias and contamination risks known to occur when using mantas, subsamples could be collected with a pump to account for these concerns. As much as is possible, plastic equipment should be avoided. The lab chosen for analysis should assist with study design and pre-processing of samples. Data should be open-sourced to promote data-sharing. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI/CSC NERTO graduate internship project conducted with NOAA mentors Danielle Lipski and Monisha Sugla of the NOAA NOS line office in alignment with the NOAA CCME-II award's goals of improving coastal resilience through management tool development focused on long-term monitoring of the environmental stressor microplastics.

Bio(s): Sonia Duran is a NOAA Cooperative Science Center Fellow for the Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems-II (CCME-Il). She earned a B.S. in Wildlife Biology from Texas State University with minors in Geology and Nature & Heritage Tourism. Prior to graduating, she volunteered more than 1,000 hours towards research, habitat restorations, and outreach and was hired at an environmental consulting firm where she did habitat management and Environmental Site Assessments. She in an Associate Wildlife Biologist. The NOAA CCME-II award supports Sonia's pursuit of an M.S. in Ocean, Coastal, and Earth Sciences at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley under Dr. David Hicks' mentorship. As part of a long-term monitoring study, she assesses the succession of benthos, water qualities, and habitat and vegetation dynamics in the coastal Bahia Grande (BG) wetland basin since the 2022-widening of a channel joining it to its primary water source from which it was once severed. BG is in an ecologically unique area within Texas' most valuable fishery in one of the poorest counties in the US. Ongoing monitoring to help restore BG's biological communities and promote wildlife diversity will inform management decisions and enrich natural resources for current and future generations. Sonia's 2024 NERTO was hosted by the Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries in the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries. She developed a comprehensive protocol for a first-ever Sanctuary-based microplastics (MP)sampling study of oceanic surface waters for long-term monitoring. Because of California's pioneering efforts to curb plastic pollution, Sonia hopes to research MPs in one of the state's National Marine Sanctuaries or EstuarineResearch Reserves to inform science-based policy decisions. Sonia is grateful to serve society and our natural resources as a Cohort #2 Graduate Fellow supported by the NOAA CCME-II award. For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.
Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Quantifying and Visualizing Uncertainty of Machine Learning (ML)-Derived Ensemble Predictions for Enhanced Coastal Decision-Making.

Presenter(s): Miranda White, CCME II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems (CCME II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers


Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Cold-stunning events, or cases when water temperatures reach threatening levels for wildlife (e.g., fish and endangered sea turtles), pose a substantial risk to coastal systems along the Texas coast. This research focuses on integrating machine learning (ML) models into real-world operational settings for cold- stunning event management by investigating the decision-making landscapes and communication pathways among stakeholders who are pertinent to preparing for these extreme events. The research highlights the importance of considering the entire ML development lifecycle, which involves multiple stakeholder groups that require tailored information and uncertainty communication strategies to ensure effective model implementation. Throughout the lifecycle, it is essential to account for how diverse actors, such as scientists, resource managers, and operational decision-makers, interpret and utilize ML-derived information for situational awareness and mitigation strategies during extreme events. To facilitate this understanding, a structured interview protocol consisting of approximately 25 questions was developed, coupled with a Cold-Stunning Simulation Slide deck and uncertainty visualizations during my NOAA EPP/MSICSC NERTO that was conducted with NOAA mentor Jebb Stewart (NOAA/OAR/GSL).The slide deck features deterministic and probabilistic water and air temperature predictions, while the uncertainty visualizations depict various forms of uncertainty using fan plots and exceedance probability tables. These tools were designed to capture insights on stakeholders' decision-making processes, informational needs, and trust in ML-derived predictions during cold-stunning events. Ultimately, these insights will inform tailored ML-derived uncertainty quantification and communication strategies and enhance stakeholder engagement in using ML-derived information for risk management, supporting more effective decision-making and operational planning in cold-stunning events.

Bio(s): Miranda White is a NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystem-II (CCME-II) Graduate Scholar and Coastal and Marine System Science PhD student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC). At TAMU-CC, she is a graduate researcher at the Conrad Blucher Institute and NSF AI institute for Research on Trustworthy AI in Weather, Climate, and Coastal Oceanography. Her research focuses on assessing and communicating variability, uncertainty, and trustworthiness of machine learning (ML) coastal models that predict water temperatures to mitigate impacts of freeze events in southern Texas. She is working collaboratively with National Center of Atmospheric Research (NCAR) risk communication scientists, TAMU-CC AI scientists, NOAA ML data visualization specialists, and local stakeholders to improve stakeholder decision-making concerning sea turtle and fisheries conservation efforts during extreme freeze events. Miranda earned both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Integrated Environmental Science at Bethune-Cookman University (B-CU) supported by the NOAA Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems CSC award, researching stakeholder perceptions of living shoreline implementation in residential areas within Indian River Lagoon, FL with Dr. Hyun J. Cho. She also competed on the B-CU NCAA Division-I Women's Volleyball team during her undergraduate career. She hopes her work will lead her to continue to promote user-inspired AI development in research and operational realms to increase implementation and trust in reliable AI and ML tools for environmental applications. For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Sendan e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: Sanctuary Watch: The Answer to Life's Problems (all your problems revolve around building data-driven websites, right?)

Presenter(s): Jai Ranganathan, Marine Ecologist, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

Sponsor(s): NMFS Ecosystem Based Management/Ecosystem Based Fishery Management Seminar Series (EBM/EBFM) and NOAA Central Library.

POC: EBFM/EBM Environmental Science Coordinator, Peg Brady (peg.brady@noaa.gov)

Abstract: NOAA produce tons of Incredible Science Stuff. And we want the nation to know about all of this scientific awesomeness through awesome websites. But here's the thing: building cool, data-driven websites usually requires lots of technical knowledge, time, and funds. Sanctuary Watch aims to change that - it's a web application that we're building to display the latest scientific data products of the National Marine Sanctuary system. And Sanctuary Watch does it in a way that's easy to implement for staff. Best of all, we're releasing the web architecture for Sanctuary Watch for everyone to use. Use it to tell your own science stories!

Keywords: WordPress, web development

Bio(s): Jai Ranganathan is part of the research team at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. He has a doctorate in ecology for some reason, which helps him tremendously when he is fighting with the computer, which he likes to do often. He does web development for National Marine Sanctuaries and for the Integrated Ecosystem Assessment program.

Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Central Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Central Library YouTube channel.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: The Great Lakes Atlas of Multi-Omics Research (GLAMR)Part of the NOAA Omics Seminar Series

Presenter(s): Anders Kiledal Assistant Research Scientist, University of Michigan Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences

Sponsor(s): NOAA Omics

Seminar Contact(s): Nicole Miller, NOAA 'Omics Portfolio Specialist, noaa.omics@noaa.gov

Abstract: To collect and standardize the ever-growing volume of omics data (DNA or RNA sequences, metabolomics, etc.) produced by Great Lakes researchers, we built the Great Lakes Atlas of Multi-omics Research (GLAMR), a publicly-accessible website and database supported via the NOAA 'Omics program. To populate GLAMR, we collected Great Lakes metagenomic, metatranscriptomic, and amplicon sequencing datasets"including many of our own"from public repositories while simultaneously collecting and standardizing all available sample metadata, including associated environmental measurements. The GLAMR website, greatlakesomics.org, allows users to explore, query, and download datasets processed through standardized bioinformatics pipelines, and provides links to the originating repositories. GLAMR currently houses nearly 2,500 samples and we expect this number to grow rapidly as researchers increasingly rely on omics methods. By bringing together diverse datasets spanning 15 years from across the Great Lakes, GLAMR provides researchers and other Great Lakes stakeholders a powerful but accessible tool for understanding this critical freshwater ecosystem.

Bio(s): Anders is an Assistant Research Scientist at the University of Michigan where he leads development of the Great Lakes Atlas of Multi-omics Research (GLAMR) and uses 'omics techniques to study harmful algal blooms, particularly the large annual blooms that plague Lake Erie's western basin. He received his PhD from the University of Delaware where he used omics techniques to study bacteria living in and on concrete.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: A recording of this presentation will be made available on the NOAA Omics website. View past omics seminar recordings here: https://sciencecouncil.noaa.gov/NOAA-Science-Technology-Focus-Areas/NOAA-Omics

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: From Gear to Ghost: Reeling in the Problem

Presenter(s): Raimundo Espinoza (Executive Director of Conservacin ConCiencia); Neill Holland (President of Ocean Aid 360); James Morioka (Executive Director of Papahnaumokukea Marine Debris Project)

Sponsor(s): NOAA Marine Debris ProgramSeminar Contacts: Ashley Hill (ashley.hill@noaa.gov), Mark Manuel (mark.manuel@noaa.gov), Yaritza Rivera (yaritza.rivera@noaa.gov)

Abstract:
Marine Debris is a problem around the world, and tropical islands are no exception. These island communities often face different challenges, such as limited disposal options, and increased storm activity. Tropical Islands Partnering on Solutions for Marine Debris (TIPS) is a bimonthly online webinar series hosted by the NOAA Marine Debris Program. The goal of the TIPS series is to help tropical island communities connect and share perspectives from across the tropics on common marine debris issues and proposed solutions. Each webinar features stakeholders from federal, state, and local government, nongovernmental organizations, academia, and industry to discuss topics about outreach and education, policy, debris management, and successes, as well as overcoming challenges under normal and storm conditions.Help us reel in the problem and tackle abandoned, lost, or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) at our next webinar.This TIPS webinar will feature presentations from various organizations that engage in ALDFG mitigation efforts. Presenters will speak to prevention, removal and research initiatives aimed to "reel in the problem" of ALDFG. Hope to catch you later.

Bio(s): Raimundo Espinoza, Executive Director of Conservacin ConCienciaThis presentation will address how working in partnership with local commercial fishers in derelict fishing gear removal efforts has been a catalyst for Conservation actions as well as an effective and efficient way to conduct large scale marine debris removal actions while investing in local frontline communities.Neill Holland, President of Ocean Aid 360Ocean Aid 360 has hauled in over 400,000 pounds of high priority derelict traps and other forms of marine debris from Florida and the Bahamas. In this short presentation, Capt. Neill Holland will discuss community volunteer mobilization around ALDFG and proven ways to reduce conflict between resource user groups.James Morioka, Executive Director of Papahnaumokukea Marine Debris ProjectSince 2020, PMDP has removed 870,000 pounds of marine debris from the remote reefs and islands within the Papahnaumokukea Marine National Monument. In September and October 2024, PMDP aims to remove 130,000 more pounds on their mission to a million pounds removed over the last 5 years.

Recordings: Webinar recordings will be available on the Tropical Islands Partnering on Solutions for Marine Debris Webinar Series.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: Bridging macroecology and fisheries science to understand how fish will fare in a changing climate.

Presenter(s): Jennifer Bigman, NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology

Sponsor(s): Groundfish Seminar Series - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Groundfish Assessment Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bianca Prohaska (bianca.prohaska@noaa.gov) & Sarah Friedman (sarah.friedman@noaa.gov)

Accessibility: Closed captioning is available live during the via a WebEx toggle.

Abstract: Macroecology, a subfield of ecology, focuses on understanding the generality of relationships among organisms and their environments, typically at large spatial scales. Much work in this field tests predictions of theory, including those related to how species will respond to climate change. For example, oxygen limitation suggests that size, growth, and any process related to aerobic metabolism will be limited as waters warm. Similarly, the temperature size-rule describes the widespread pattern whereby ectotherms reared under warmer conditions or in warmer waters grow faster to smaller sizes at maturity. In this talk, I share examples of how macroecological theory can be used to frame research questions that aim to understand and predict how species will respond to a changing climate, especially in the context of fisheries. I also discuss different modeling approaches used to explore these questions. First, I consider whether oxygen relates to maximum size and growth across fishes. Second, I test whether temperature can explain and predict changes in size-at-age of Alaskan groundfishes. Last, I discuss recently started work and future directions surrounding how ecological theory can inform climate-enhanced stock assessments and, more broadly, climate-ready fisheries.

Bio(s): Jenny Bigman is a quantitative ecologist with NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology (OST) and is based in Seattle, WA. She completed a Ph.D. at Simon Fraser University where she studied global patterns of ecology and physiology in sharks and other fishes. Before joining OST, she was a postdoctoral fellow at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center working on understanding how changing environmental conditions affect the distribution, habitat use, size, and growth of Alaskan groundfishes. Jenny's current work focuses on understanding cross-species and cross-region patterns in species' responses to climate change with a focus on climate-informed stock assessments.

Slides/Recordings/Other Materials: Seminar recordings will be posted here within a week of the presentation if permission is granted by the presenter.
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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Why We Can Approximate Spheroidal Geopotential Surfaces as Spherical but Can't Approximate True Geopotential Surfaces as Spheroidal

Presenter(s): Dr Peter Chu, Naval Postgraduate School Chair of the Department of Oceanography

Sponsor(s): NCEP/EMC

Seminar Contact(s): Jun Du, Jun.Du@noaa.gov

Abstract: Meteorologists and oceanographers use spherical, spheroidal, true geopotentials and associated coordinates to represent Earth gravity. The spherical geopotential coordinate system associated with the standard gravity gs is for the Earth with uniform mass density and without rotation. The spheroidal geopotential coordinate system associated with the apparent gravity ga is for the Earth with uniform mass density and rotation. The true geopotential coordinate system associated with the true gravity gt for the Earth with nonuniform mass density and rotation. The spherical geopotential is used in almost all atmospheric and oceanic dynamics and models after employing two approximations: (1) spheroidal geopotential approximation (EGA) which is to approximate the true geopotential surfaces as spheroidal, and (2) spherical geopotential approximation (SGA) which is to approximate the spheroidal geopotential surfaces as spherical. The two approximations involve advective metric terms and horizontal (i.e., on geopotential surfaces) pressure gradient errors. The advective metric terms are negligible in all the geopotential coordinates. The horizontal pressure gradient force error is negligible in the SGA but equals the horizontal gravitational disturbance vector in the EGA. It needs to be included in atmospheric and oceanic dynamics and models if spherical or spheroidal geopotential coordinates are still used.

Speaker

Bio(s):
Peter Chu obtained PhD in Geophysical Sciences from the University of Chicago in 1985. He joined the Department of Oceanography, Naval Postgraduate School in 1986. He was promoted to Professor in 2000 and Distinguished Professor in 2011. He has been the Chair of the Department of Oceanography since 2012. He has published more than 400 papers with 211 peer-reviewed journal articles, and 3 books. He is a fellow of the American Meteorological Society, Co-Chief Editor
of the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology 2009-2015, and Chairman of the UNESCO/Inter-government Ocean Commission (IOC) Global Temperature and Salinity Profile Program (GTSPP) 2018-2022.

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NOAA Science Seminars

Title: Incorporating upper mesophotic coral ecosystems into fishery-independent surveys in the US Virgin Islands

Presenter(s): Jay Grove (NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center), Tyler Smith (University of the Virgin Islands), and Sarah Heidmann (University of the Virgin Islands)


Sponsor(s): NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

Seminar Contact(s): caroline.donovan@noaa.govLocation: Webinar

Abstract: Mesophotic coral ecosystems form between ~30"100 and their interconnected seascapes and associated species are increasingly being recognized as integral components of coral reefs. In the US Virgin Islands (USVI), mesophotic reefs cover 2"3x the habitat compared to shallow reefs. A three-year pilot study, Deep Coral Reef Monitoring Program (DCRMP), expanded upon the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program's (NCRMP) sampling frame to encompass upper mesophotic reefs (30"50m), conducting fishery-independent surveys using the same methodology with technical diving in the northern USVI. We analyzed fish communities across gradients of depth and hard relief, appropriate for the gradual changes that exist across the shelf. Higher fish density and diversity at sites generally corresponded with higher relief, and individual species showed unique responses in occurrence and density across gradients of depth and structure. This comprehensive dataset was suitable to analyze for a variety of more ecologically-focused research questions, such as mesophotic reefs as refuges for populations of the invasive lionfish, effects of spatial protection on fish communities, and apparent ontogenetic migrations. For management applications, analyses of NCRMP and DCRMP data showed that of four fisheries species in ongoing or upcoming US Caribbean stock assessments (i.e., queen triggerfish, stoplight parrotfish, yellowtail snapper, red hind) domain-wide density and length comparisons showed similar or statistically higher abundances and larger lengths for fishes at deeper depths (>30 to 50 m). Collectively, these results highlight the importance of surveying the complete contiguous reef tract (0"50m) to better understand and conserve the U.S. Caribbean coral reefs by directly informing many aspects of fisheries and ecosystem management including stock assessments, ecosystem-based fisheries management, protected species, marine protected areas, and ecosystem status reports.Dr. Jay Grove is a research fishery biologist for NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, where she leads a team that research spans from fish ecology to fisheries management. She is the principal investigator for the fish component of the National Coral Reef Monitoring Program (NCRMP) in the U.S. Atlantic and Caribbean and is the NCRMP biological sampling coordinator in Florida. She has been working with fishery-independent SCUBA surveys since 2011. Jay both leads research and provides expertise on a variety of national, inter-agency, and intra-agency panels to best use surveys to examine the status and trends of reef fish communities related to survey expansions, responses to environmental events, impacts of restoration efforts, and to inform aspects of fisheries and ecosystem management (e.g., marine protected areas, stock assessments, status reports).

Dr. Tyler Smith is a coral reef ecologist interested in the dynamics of coral reef populations, physical and anthropogenic forcing of ecological systems, and human health aspects of coral ecology. Since 2005, he has been a researcher, teacher, and student mentor at the University of the Virgin Islands and research coordinator for the US Virgin Islands Territorial Coral Reef Monitoring Program. Highlights of his scholarly credentials include serving on the Scientific and Statistics Committee of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council from 2014"2018, serving as an appointed member of the National Academy of Sciences Ocean Studies Board, Interventions to Increase the Resilience of Coral Reefs, garnering over 60 million dollars in external research funding, and the publication of over 100 peer-reviewed articles with ~5,000 citations.

Sarah Heidmann is a research coordinator at the University of the Virgin Islands, where she works on a variety of projects, including movement ecology of spawning aggregations, long-term coral reef monitoring, and developing new methods of coral reef and fisheries assessments. She has been working and diving on and around mesophotic reefs since 2015 and has a special interest in fish ecology. Sarah is also a cofounder of Reefs Unknown, a nonprofit that seeks to promote and facilitate both scientific research and public understanding of mesophotic reefs, and works with partners around the Caribbean to expand existing monitoring projects into mesophotic depths.NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your comments and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Development and application of a size-structured management strategy evaluation tool in the Southeast region of the United States

Presenter(s): Dr. Matt Damiano, Research Fish Biologist, Caribbean Fisheries Branch, NOAA/NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center

Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and NOAA LibrarySeminar Contacts: Dr. Bai Li (bai.li@noaa.gov) and Library Seminars

Abstract: This work describes a size-structured management strategy evaluation tool that was developed to test alternate management procedures (MP) against commercial and recreational objectives for south Atlantic black sea bass (Centropristis striata) and Atlantic cobia (Rachycentron canadum) over multiple states of mean recruitment and rates of natural mortality, respectively. The framework was extended to develop a proof-of-concept MSE for US Caribbean yellowtail snapper (Ocyurus crysurus) to explore robustness of status quo MPs to recruitment nonstationarity. This presentation will cover both applications.

Keywords: MSE, recreational objectives, nonstationarity

Bio(s): Dr. Matt Damiano is a Research Fish Biologist in the Caribbean Fisheries Branch of the Southeast Fisheries Science Center's Sustainable Fisheries Division. He holds a PhD in Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology from North Carolina State University, and is a former NMFS-SeaGrant Population and Ecosystem Dynamics fellow. When he's not thinking about fish, he likes long walks, video games, and petting cats.

Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Library YouTube channel.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Science influences on Policy: A Case Study with Acid Rain

Presenter(s): Paul Ringold, Ecologist, US EPA, Pacific Ecological Sciences Division (ret.)

Sponsor(s): NOAA NWFSC Monster Seminar Jam

Seminar Contacts: Vicky Krikelas, Vicky.Krikelas@noaa.gov

Abstract: Acid rain was a prominent environmental concern especially in the late 20th century in North America. In recognition of its prominence, Congress established the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP) under Title VII of the Energy Security Act of 1980. NAPAP spent over $1.3 billion on research and produced its final assessment in 1991. In parallel with the research program intensive policy debates resulted in the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990.These amendments included, under Title IV, a cap-and-trade program designed to efficiently reduce acid rain. With decades of hindsight, we can see the effectiveness of the control program and consider the role that science played in the formulation of policy. Considering the role of science in policy benefits by identifying a framework through which policy is made. I'll represent a policy development framework derived from John Kingdon's seminal work. I'll identify the general ways in which biophysical sciences can facilitate key steps in policy development. Then I'll describe parts of the acid rain issue and the NAPAP program. I'll suggest how NAPAP research likely influenced policy development with an eye towards how those linkages apply more generally. Last, I'll describe the results of the acid rain control program; that control program turned out to be far more successful than could have been imagined.

Bio(s): Paul earned his Ph.D. in marine evolutionary ecology from The Johns Hopkins University. He then earned his MBA from the University of Maryland. He worked in Washington D.C. for the Conservation Foundation, for NOAA's Office of Policy and Planning, for the National Wildlife Federation and then, while on assignment from the Brookhaven National Laboratory he worked for the National Acid Precipitation Assessment program. He served as a Senior Scientist at NAPAP and then as the Director for a year. He left NAPAP for work with EPA's Office of Research and Development where, among other things, he led a Critical Loads program with support from EPA and DOE to develop and represent US views on this issue to the UN. In 1994 he left DC to serve as a researcher at EPA's laboratory in Corvallis. In 2015 he became the Chief of the Freshwater Ecology Branch in that laboratory until his retirement in March of 2024. The Ecological Society of America recognized his contributions when it awarded him their Distinguished Career Service Award.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: NOAA's Gulf of Mexico Integrated Ecosystem Assessment Program
NOAA Gulf of Mexico Forum Webinar Series


Presenter(s): Brendan Turley, Assistant Scientist, Gulf of Mexico IEA coordinator, Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Studies (UM-CIMAS), University of Miami, NOAA-Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) affiliate; Carissa Gervasi, Assistant Scientist, UM-CIMAS, NOAA-SEFSC affiliate; and Willem Klajbor, Senior Research Associate, UM-CIMAS, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory/NOAA SEFSC affiliate

Sponsor(s): NOAA's Gulf of Mexico Regional Collaboration Team, a part of NOAA's Regional Collaboration Network

Seminar Contact(s): Kristen Laursen, Kristen.R.Laursen@noaa.gov , NOAA Fisheries and Regional Collaboration Network

Abstract: NOAA's Gulf of Mexico Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) program has been working toward Ecosystem-Based Management to provide information that enables managers to make better science-based decisions considering both human dimensions and ecological aspects. The Gulf of Mexico IEA's primary objectives are support for ecosystem-based fisheries management, science support for the National Marine Sanctuaries, Marine Spatial Planning, and fishing community resilience.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: This webinar will be recorded and shared online. Please contact Kristen.R.Laursen@noaa.gov for the recording and/or PDF of this webinar.


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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Marine debris induced by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami: A multi-sensor remote sensing assessment

Presenter(s): Dr. Lin Qi, GST (supporting NOAA)

Sponsor(s): NOAA Ocean Color Coordinating Group (NOCCG)

Seminar Contact(s): Veronica.Lance@NOAA.gov

Abstract: Remote sensing of marine debris has been a hot research topic in the past decade as marine debris is directly relevant to marine pollution, disaster mitigation, and ecosystem health. However, because many types of floating debris and non-debris materials can be found in the ocean and because marine debris patches on the ocean surface are typically much smaller than the size of an image pixel, it is technically challenging to detect, discriminate, and quantify marine debris. Here, using multi-sensor satellite remote sensing, we demonstrate how to overcome such challenges using a case study of the Great East Japan Earthquake and subsequent tsunami in March 2011. Following the record-high tsunami on March 11, extensive marine debris was found on March 12, with the maximal amount found on March 13. The debris was found to be mainly wood (possibly lumber wood), with an estimated 1.5 million metric tons in an elongated water area of 6800 km2 (18 km E-W and 380 km N-S) near parallel to the coast between 36.75oN and 40.25oN. The amount of debris decreased rapidly with time, with scattered debris patches captured in high-resolution satellite images up to April 6. These results provide new insights on the initial distribution of the Japanese Tsunami Marine Debris, which may be used to help find bottom deposition of debris and help refine numerical models to predict the debris trajectory and fate.

Bio(s): Lin Qi received her PhD degree in remote sensing and GIS in 2015 from the Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. She worked as a post-doctorate scholar between 2015 and 2018 at the University of Massachusetts Boston (USA) and Xiamen University (China). During 2019 to 2021, She was an associate professor at Sun Yat-Sen University (China). She is currently a research scientist working at NOAA STAR. Her main research interests are optical characterization, remote sensing, and understanding of floating algae and other floating matters in global oceans and lakes. These include Ulva, Sargassum, Noctiluca, Trichodesmium, Microcystis, other dinoflagellates and diatoms, as well as brine shrimp cysts, sea snots, and marine debris. She has published > 30 scientific papers, with an h-index of 20.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: slides can be found at this link about 24 hours after the live webinar: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/PastSeminars_NOCCG.php

Subscribe to the One NOAA Science Seminar weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/OneNOAASeminars.php. For more information visit: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/NOAAScienceSeminars.php

NOAA Science Seminar SeriesDate & Time: 4 December 2024, 3 - 4 pm ET

Title: Co-Creating Climate Solutions: Designing Carbon Monitoring Tools for Salt Marshes

Presenter(s):

• Robinson (Wally) Fulweiler, Boston University
• Lena Champlin, Boston University

Sponsor(s): This webinar is co-sponsored by the NERRS Science CollaborativeSeminar Contacts: Doug George (douglas.george@noaa.gov) or Nick Soberal (nsoberal@umich.edu)

Abstract: Salt marsh ecosystems are well-known for their carbon storage capacity. They are also hotspots of respiration, which produces greenhouse gases that can counteract the long-term carbon storage. However, there is a paucity of spatial and temporal measurements of greenhouse gas fluxes in salt marsh ecosystems. This lack of data impairs our ability to manage salt marsh ecosystems effectively for carbon storage. Data are limited by various factors, including logistical and financial constraints of measuring greenhouse gases. In this webinar, we will describe our year-long collaborative project to design low-cost, ultra-portable instruments for measuring greenhouse gas fluxes in salt marshes. A team from Boston University and the five New England NERRs worked together to test sensors that measure CO2, temperature, and humidity in salt marsh environments. The team conducted five field trips throughout the year, incorporating iterative feedback on instrument design, ease of deployment, and alignment with existing monitoring efforts at the NERRs. This webinar will cover the process of designing and testing these instruments, our major findings, as well as key applications of the technology for salt marsh restoration and research.

Bio(s): Please visit here for more information about the webinar.Subscribe to the OneNOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email:Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Libraries as Community Hubs for Citizen Science: How SciStarter is Supporting the Movement NOAA Library Seminars

Presenter(s): Tara Cox, Director of the Citizen and Community Science Library Network at SciStarter/Senior Manager of Programs and Partnerships at National Girls Collaborative Project, Emma Giles, Manager of Public Outreach and Programs

Sponsor(s): NOAA Education and NOAA Library



Seminar Contact(s): NOAA Library Seminars (library.seminars@noaa.gov) and Rebecca Funk (rebecca.funk@noaa.gov)


Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Abstract: Libraries across the country are becoming community hubs for citizen science, introducing their communities to participatory research through training, programs and citizen science kits to make participation more accessible. SciStarter in partnership with Arizona State University and the National Girls Collaborative Project are supporting thousands of libraries through the Citizen and Community Science Library Network. Join us to learn how to leverage this network to reach more communities through libraries.

Keywords: citizen science, libraries, community science

Bio(s):
Tara has over a decade of experience supporting national STEM education initiatives across informal learning communities. She is principal investigator of the NSF-funded Advancing the Conversation on Scaling National Informal STEM Programs. Tara is passionate about broadening participation in STEM by uplifting community values, needs and interests.

Emma Giles is the Manager of Public Outreach and Programs at SciStarter where she produces and hosts "SciStarter LIVE, " a weekly, virtual event series. Emma is also the managing director of SciStarter's Citizen Science Month and One Million Acts of Science among other signature programs. Emma has a Master's degree in Science & Technology Policy at Arizona State University.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Central Library YouTube channel.


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NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: Building Climate-Smart' Fisheries: Strategies for Securing Sustainable Seafood on a Changing Planet

Presenter(s): Erica Ferrer, Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellow, UC Santa Cruz

Sponsor(s): NOAA NMFS SWFSC Fisheries Ecology DivisionSeminar contact: tanya.rogers@noaa.gov.

Abstract: As the global demand for seafood continues to rise and the ecological effects of climate change worsen, we are tasked with the challenge of building sustainable, climate-smart' fishery systems. In this talk, I will draw on case studies from my research on small-scale fisheries in Baja California and the Dungeness crab fishery here in California to demonstrate systems of seafood production with low resource footprints and species that may be resilient to climate change. I will also discuss strategies for ending overfishing and rebuilding fish stocks, highlighting how studies in experimental biology can support these efforts amid escalating environmental pressures. Specifically, I will examine the effects of ocean warming, marine heatwaves, deoxygenation, and harmful algal blooms on marine organisms and the fisheries they support, while providing practical, solutions-oriented strategies for mitigation and adaption.

Bio(s): Dr. Ferrer is a marine biologist working at the interface of ecology, oceanography, fisheries science, and policy to understand fisheries sustainability as both a function and driver of Earth System stability. The unifying theme of her research is to understand how we can better support and build sustainable fisheries while also protecting marine biodiversity and restoring ocean ecosystems on a rapidly changing planet. Dr. Ferrer is currently a Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellow in the Kroeker Lab and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Santa Cruz, where she has tested the effects of ocean warming and deoxygenation on Dungeness crabs' uptake and depuration' of the harmful algal toxin domoic acid. Prior to beginning her postdoc at UCSC, she completed her Ph.D. in Marine Biology and M.S. in Oceanography at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego. At Scripps, she studied the effects of climate change on ocean organisms and ecosystems, and the sustainability of small-scale fisheries in Mexico. Long-term, Dr. Ferrer aims to use her science to help generate scientifically-robust and socially-just conservation solutions' for coastal and open-ocean issues.

Recordings: The talk will be recorded; link to recording available upon request.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Studies of Extreme Weather using Machine Learning and Climate Emulators

Presenter(s): Dr William Collins, Associate Laboratory Director of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Area (EESA) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)

Sponsor(s): NCEP/EMC

Seminar Contact(s): Jun Du, Jun.Du@noaa.gov

Abstract: Studying low-likelihood high-impact climate events in a warming world requires massive ensembles of hindcasts and forecasts to capture their statistics. At present, it is extremely challenging to generate these ensembles using traditional weather or climate models, especially at sufficiently high spatial resolution.

We describe how to bring the power of machine learning (ML) to generate climate hindcasts at four to five orders-of-magnitude lower computational cost than conventional numerical methods. We show how to evaluate ML climate emulators using the same rigorous metrics developed for operational numerical weather prediction.

Furthermore, we illustrate the power of this approach by generating a huge ensemble (HENS) initialized for each day of June through August 2023, the second-hottest summer in at least the last 2000 years. We show how HENS can be used to quantify the intensity of atmospheric rivers in the Southern Hemisphere, the diffusion of tropical cyclones in the general circulation, and the severity of unprecedented heatwaves characteristic of last summer.

We conclude with the prospects of extending machine-learning emulators to make skillful predictions of future climate change.

Speaker

Bio(s):
William Collins is an internationally recognized expert in climate modeling and climate change science. His personal research concerns the interactions among greenhouse gases and aerosols, the coupled climate system, and global environmental change.

Dr. Collins is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Physical Society (APS), the American Geophysical Union (AGU), and the American Meteorological Society (AMS). He was awarded the AGU's Tyndall History of Global Environmental Change Lectureship in 2019 and their Jule Charney Lectureship in 2024. He was a Lead Author on the Fourth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for which the IPCC was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, and has also served as Lead Author on the Fifth and Sixth Assessments. His role as Chief Scientist in launching the Department of Energy's Accelerated Climate Model for Energy (ACME) program was awarded the U.S. Department of Energy Secretary's Achievement Award on May 7, 2015.

Before joining Berkeley and Berkeley Lab, Dr. Collins was a senior scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and served as Chair of the Scientific Steering Committee for the DOE/NSF Community Climate System Model project.

Dr. Collins received his undergraduate degree in physics from Princeton University and earned an M.S. and Ph.D. in astronomy and astrophysics from the University of Chicago.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Upwelling in Cyclonic and Anticyclonic Eddies at the Middle Atlantic Bight ShelfBreak Front

Presenter(s): Andrew Hirzel (U. Hawaii)

Sponsor(s): NOAA Coastal Ocean Modeling Seminars: https://coastaloceanmodels.noaa.gov/seminar/

Seminar Contact(s): Alexander.Kurapov@noaa.gov

Abstract: Despite the ubiquity of eddies at the MidAtlantic Bight shelfbreak front, direct observations of frontal eddies at the shelfbreak front are historically sparse and their biological impact is mostly unknown. This study combines high resolution physical and biological snapshots of two frontal eddies with an idealized 3D regional model to investigate eddy formation, kinematics, upwelling patterns, and biological impacts. During May 2019, two eddies were observed in situ at the shelfbreak front. Each eddy showed evidence of nutrient and chlorophyll enhancement despite rotating in opposite directions and having different physical characteristics. Our results suggest that cyclonic eddies form as shelf waters are advected offshore and slope waters are advected shoreward, forming two filaments that spiral inward until sufficient water is entrained. Rising isohalines and upwelled slope water dye tracer within the model suggest that upwelling coincided with eddy formation and persisted for the duration of the eddy. In contrast, anticyclonic eddies form within troughs of the meandering shelfbreak front, with amplified frontal meanders creating recirculating flow. Upwelling of subsurface shelf water occurs in the form of detached cold pool waters during the formation of the anticyclonic eddies. The stability properties of each eddy type were estimated via the Burger number and suggest different ratios ofbaroclinic versus barotropic contributions to frontal eddy formation. Our observations and model resultsindicate that both eddy types may persist for more than a month and upwelling in both eddy types may have significant impacts on biological productivity of the shelf break.
Slides, Recordings, OtherMaterials: TBDSubscribe to the NOAA ScienceSeminar Series weekly email: Sendan e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body.Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions andideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: Exploding Crab Research " Expanding Disaster Relief Research Capacity

Presenter(s): Madison Shipley, University of Washington, School of Aquatic and Fishery Science

Sponsor(s): Groundfish Seminar Series - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Groundfish Assessment Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bianca Prohaska (bianca.prohaska@noaa.gov) & Sarah Friedman (sarah.friedman@noaa.gov)

Accessibility: Closed captioning is available live during the via a WebEx toggle.

Abstract: North Pacific crab stocks have faced many challenges in recent years, including the Tanner crab fishery disaster in 2017, the collapse of the eastern Bering Sea snow crab fishery in 2019/20, and a decade of declining Bristol Bay red king crab abundance with persistent recruitment failure. These crises underscore the urgent need for robust research to address knowledge gaps critical for informing management and recovery strategies in an increasingly dynamic and warming system. A silver lining of crabs in hot water is increased research support in the face of these fishery disasters. The Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation (BSFRF) is an industry-supported research group conducting collaborative research to support our understanding of Bering Sea crab fisheries for two decades. This presentation will explore the BSFRF's past and current research efforts, future directions, and emphasize the vital role of collaboration to build capacity and support informed management of these iconic Alaskan stocks.

Bio(s): Madison Heller-Shipley is a current PhD student at the University of Washington and has been a fisheries researcher at Natural Resources Consultants Inc. (NRC) for ten years. She also serves as a science advisor to the Bering Sea Fisheries Research Foundation (BSFRF). Madison earned her Bachelor of Science in 2015 and her Master's degree in 2020, both from the University of Washington, where her Master's research supported the adoption of a new state harvest strategy for eastern Bering Sea Tanner crab in Alaska. Her doctoral research focuses on population dynamics modeling of North Pacific commercial crabs, where she is assessing shortcut Management Strategy Evaluation methods, exploring assumptions about state Tanner crab districts, and hopes to explore questions on Tanner crab predation and cannibalism using multi-species stock assessment frameworks. Madison has played a key role in developing and executing collaborative surveys and frequently conducts and leads fieldwork in the Bering Sea.

Slides/Recordings/Other Materials: Seminar recordings will be posted here within a week of the presentation if permission is granted by the presenter.
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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: California-Nevada December 2024 Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar

Presenter(s):
Drought and Climate Update and Outlook - Pete Fickenscher, NOAA National Weather Service California-Nevada River Forecast CenterTools and Resources for your Winter Toolbox - Pete Fickenscher, NOAA National Weather Service California-Nevada River Forecast Center; Julie Kalansky, California-Nevada Adaptation Program, Scripps Institute of Oceanography/University of California San Diego; and Amanda Sheffield, University of Colorado Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, NOAA NIDIS

Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System

Seminar Contact(s): Amanda Sheffield amanda.sheffield@noaa.govLocation: Webinar

Abstract: The California-Nevada Drought Early Warning System December 2024 Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar is part of a series of regular drought and climate outlook webinars designed to provide stakeholders and other interested parties in the region with timely information on current drought status and impacts, as well as a preview of current and developing climatic events (i.e., El Nio and La Nia).

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Will be available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmADP4Cm4SNtYZMmrY48PtQ

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Climate and Societal Interactions Division Nature-Based Solutions Webinar 3: Building Coastal Adaptive Capacity through Nature-Based Solutions

Presenter(s): Tom Corringham, Research Economist, Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Sponsor(s): NOAA Climate and Societal Interactions Division: Climate Adaptation Partnerships and Adaptation SciencesSeminar Contacts: Aliya Mejias aliya.mejias@noaa.gov, Genie Bey genie.bey@noaa.gov, Bhaskar Subramanian bhaskar.subramanian@noaa.gov

Abstract: This five-part webinar series features projects funded by the Climate and Societal Interactions (CSI) Division's Adaptation Sciences (AdSci) and Climate Adaptation Partnerships (CAP) programs focused on the research and application of nature-based solutions (NbS), which are actions to protect, sustainably manage, or restore natural or modified ecosystems to address societal challenges, simultaneously providing benefits for people and the environment.Increasing communities' capacity to adapt to climate change can take many forms"this webinar features two presentations that relate to increasing coastal adaptive capacity. The first, funded by AdSci, will provide an overview of how a community is working to increase their coastal adaptive capacity and community resilience to sea level rise through workshops and vulnerability assessments that identify potential adaptation pathways, funding opportunities, and data needs. The second project featured will be from the West CAP team, the California-Nevada Climate Adaptation Program, highlighting their approach to providing technical assistance and integrating regional data and projections for sea level rise, coastal storm flooding, and beach erosion. This work aims to assist with developing adaptation pathways and strategies, including dunes as NbS, and co-produces and integrates climate, social science research, and Indigenous stewardship to support the advancement of effective sea-level rise adaptation planning with several collaborators across Southern California.Presentations

• (AdSci) Increasing Massachusetts Coastal Adaptive Capacity and Community Resilience to Sea Level Rise
• (CAP / CNAP) Evaluating Nature-Based Solutions for Coastal Adaptation in Southern California

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: November NOAA NWS Alaska Climate Outlook Briefing


Presenter(s): Rick Thoman, Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy

Sponsor(s): NOAA/OAR/Climate Program Office and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)

Seminar Contact(s): Alison Hayden (abhayden@alaska.edu) & Genie Bey (genie.bey@noaa.gov)

Abstract: We will review recent and current climate conditions around Alaska, discuss forecasting tools, and finish up with the Climate Prediction Center's forecast for December 2024 and the winter season. Join the gathering online to learn what's happened and what may be in store with Alaska's seasonal climate.

Bio(s): Rick Thoman is the Alaska Climate Specialist with ACCAP and has many years of experience producing reliable Alaska climate change information and graphics describing Alaska's changing environment. His work spans the bridge between climate modeling, Alaska communities, and the media.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: AquaFloat: A novel hyperspectral radiometer system for ocean color measurements in the UV-VIS-NIR spectral region

Presenter(s): Dr. Dariusz Stramski, University of California San Diego (UCSD)

Sponsor(s): NOAA Ocean Color Coordinating Group (NOCCG)

Seminar Contact(s): Veronica.Lance@NOAA.gov

Abstract: Accurate in situ measurements of spectral water-leaving radiance and remote-sensing reflectance are key for development and validation of ocean color algorithms as well as vicarious calibration of satellite ocean color sensors. The current commonly used in-water radiometric techniques include the use of free-falling profilers or buoy-based systems with a single-depth radiometer placed at near-surface depth or multi-depth radiometers placed at depths of 1 m and deeper. Accurate determinations of water-leaving radiance from these systems face significant environmentally-induced challenges associated with short temporal variability due to surface wave effects, intermittent bubble clouds, vertically non-uniform optical properties, Raman scattering by water, and sky/cloud conditions. To address these challenges a novel float-based near-surface hyperspectral radiometer system called AquaFloat was developed through a partnership of Opto-Knowledge Systems Inc. and Scripps Institution of Oceanography under the sponsorship of NASA SBIR program. The key advancement is that the AquaFloat provides simultaneous, multi-depth time-series measurements of upwelling spectral radiance at three adjustable shallow depths very close to the surface in the range from about 5 cm to 1 m which is critical for improving determinations of water-leaving radiance. The radiance sensors provide data at high spectral resolution (~1 nm) over a broad spectral range from 300 nm to 1100 nm. A sensor for measuring the hyperspectral downwelling irradiance above the sea surface is also included in the system. The AquaFloat is also equipped with inclinometers, magnetometers, depth sensor, out of water switch, and GPS. The overall design, customizable system specifications, relative ease and flexibility of use of AquaFloat offers an improved tool for routine field work in support of satellite ocean color missions and associated science and application programs of NOAA, NASA, other international space and research agencies, as well as various end-users of ocean color-derived data products. In this presentation a prototype AquaFloat system including its design, specifications, and results from initial field testing will be described. The pathway for the near-term transition of AquaFloat technology to commercialization through the NASA SBIR Civilian Commercialization Readiness Pilot Program (CCRPP) will be also discussed.

Bio(s): Dr. Dariusz Stramski is a Professor in the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego where he leads the Ocean Optics Research Laboratory. He received the M.Sc. in physical oceanography in 1978 and Ph.D. in Earth Sciences in 1985 from the University of Gdansk in Poland. His research interests cover a wide range of topics in ocean optics, optical remote sensing of aquatic environments, and applications of optical methods in oceanography. Example research areas include the interactions of light with seawater constituents, ocean optical properties, light absorption and scattering properties of marine particles, radiative transfer, light fields within and leaving the ocean, and forward and inverse optical modeling including development and applications of algorithms for satellite remote sensing of the world's oceans. His work also includes the development of optical instrumentation and advances in measurement methodologies for oceanographic applications. He is the 2024 recipient of the Nils Gunnar Jerlov Medal of the Oceanography Society for his significant and wide-ranging contributions to the field of optical oceanography.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: slides can be found at this link about 24 hours after the live webinar: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/PastSeminars_NOCCG.php

Subscribe to the One NOAA Science Seminar weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/OneNOAASeminars.php. For more information visit: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/NOAAScienceSeminars.php

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Using collaborative research to understand regional oceanographic influences on Northern shortfin squid distribution

Presenter(s): Sarah Salois and Mary Kate Munley, NOAA/NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)

Sponsor(s): U.S. Climate-Fisheries Seminar Series; coordinator is
Vincent.Saba@noaa.gov Location: Webinar

Abstract: TBD

Bio(s): TBD

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: U.S. Eastern Region Climate Services: Use Case/NEXRAD Precipitation Analysis for Transportation

Sponsor(s): NOAA's Eastern Region Climate Services Webinar Series

Presenter(s):
Samantha Borisoff, Climatologist with the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University; and Erik Zuker, HNTB


Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service / National Centers for Environmental Information / Regional Climate Services.

Seminar Contact(s): Ellen Mecray

Location: Webinar

Abstract: The webinar will feature a recap of November conditions and Erik Zuker will showcase his analysis of NEXRAD data for precipitation and its use in the transportation sector.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: If interested in obtaining a PDF of the slides and/or the recording, see the Northeast Regional Climate Center.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your comments and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Green Labs: Enabling and supporting action for sustainability in scientific research

Presenter(s): Kathryn A. Ramirez-Aguilar, PhD

Sponsor(s): NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory (https://gml.noaa.gov/about/seminars.php)

Seminar Contacts: Peter Effertz (peter.effertz@noaa.gov) and Youmi Oh (youmi.oh@noaa.gov)Abstract :The large energy and resource footprint of laboratories points to the importance of implementing efficiency and sustainability efforts within scientific research. The University of Colorado Boulder Green Labs Program began in 2009 as one of the first green labs programs in the nation. These programs can be found at universities, federal & non-profit research campuses, and, as of recent, even in the private sector at biopharma companies for example. Green labs programs engage scientists to innovate ways to reduce resource consumption in their research and to integrate the use of more sustainable practices and materials. These programs also collaborate with other campus stakeholders to bring forth opportunities for efficiency/sustainability that researchers can participate in such as contests, lab-specific material recycling, green chemistry efforts, and more.This presentation will provide insight into the large resource consumption of laboratory research, the type of efforts implemented by green labs program, ideas for system change that could lead to ongoing significant impacts, and efforts underway in the world to connect efficiency and sustainability expectations to the funding of science. Information will also be shared about two leading nonprofits in the lab sustainability field, International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) and My Green Lab, including opportunities and tools offered by these organizations.

Bio(s): Kathy has a doctorate in chemistry and 15 years of laboratory research experience in chemistry and biochemistry. She left the lab bench driven into action by the large environmental footprint of scientific research. Kathy created and manages the Green Labs Program at the University of Colorado Boulder since 2009. She is also a board member for the International Institute for Sustainable Laboratories (I2SL) and chairs an I2SL group focused on green labs best practices and connecting efficiency and sustainability expectations to the funding of science.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Understanding the genetic basis of run timing diversity in four species of Pacific salmonPart of the NOAA Omics Seminar Series

Presenter(s): Wes Larson, Genetics Program Manager, NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center

Sponsor(s): NOAA Omics

Seminar Contact(s): Nicole Miller, NOAA 'Omics Portfolio Specialist, noaa.omics@noaa.gov

Abstract: Migration is an important component of the life cycles of many organisms and differences in migration timing can greatly influence fitness. Variation in migration timing (hereafter referred to as run timing) is found in many salmon species and contributes to the portfolio of life history diversity that is vital for maintaining healthy populations. Large effect loci that strongly influence run timing have been discovered in Chinook salmon and steelhead and these loci have been a major focus of research and conservation efforts over the last decade. However, the genetic basis of run timing variation has not been investigated in other Pacific salmon. Here, we use a combination of whole genome sequencing and targeted amplicon sequencing to identify loci associated with run timing variation in sockeye, pink, chum, and coho salmon. We find that two small genomic regions on homeologous chromosomes that arose after an ancient whole genome duplication are strongly associated with run timing across the four species. The genes most closely associated with these regions are the Leucine Rich Repeat Containing 9 (LRRC9) gene and the Estrogen Receptor Beta (ESRB) gene. The LRRC9 region is associated with run timing in sockeye, chum, and pink salmon, and the ESRB region is associated with run timing in chum and coho salmon. Notably, the Six6 gene, which is associated with age-at-maturity in steelhead and Atlantic salmon, is also found near the regions we identified. Our results suggest that the two duplicated versions of this region are highly associated with variation at multiple phenotypes in salmon. We hypothesize that this may be a master regulatory region that influences gene expression at many genes involved in multiple physiological pathways. Knowledge of patterns of variation at this major affect locus can be leveraged to help maintain the evolutionary potential of salmon populations and understand how they may respond to future stressors.

Bio(s): Wes received his BS from the University of California-Santa Cruz and his PhD from the University of Washington. His PhD focused on applying genomic tools to study local adaptations and inform management of Pacific salmon in Alaska. Wes is currently the program manager of the genetics group at the NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Wes' research interests include all things omics with a focus on population genomics, genetic stock identification, and developing metabarcoding tools for eDNA and mixed-DNA sample applications.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: A recording of this presentation will be made available on the NOAA Omics website. View past omics seminar recordings here: https://sciencecouncil.noaa.gov/NOAA-Science-Technology-Focus-Areas/NOAA-Omics

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Lidar measurements of methane, clouds, and aerosols from NASA's High-Altitude Lidar ObservatoryNOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory Seminar Series

Presenter(s): Rory Barton-Grimley, NASA Langley

Sponsor(s): NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory

Seminar Contact(s): Gregory Schill, gregory.schill@noaa.gov

Abstract: Routine observations of methane (CH₄) concentrations over a range of spatial and temporal scales have been identified as necessary to constrain anthropogenic and biogenic contributions to CH₄ emissions. To-date, the focus of remote sensing observations has been directed towards strong CH₄ point source quantification, however, regional diffuse fluxes are a large contributor to the anthropogenic CH₄ budget and accurate remote sensing observations are needed for their constraint. To address the community's observational needs and those of the broader NASA weather, climate, carbon cycle, and atmospheric composition focus areas the NASA Langley Research Center has developed the multifunctional High-Altitude Lidar Observatory (HALO). HALO employs the Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) technique at 935 nm for high vertical resolution water vapor profiles, the Integrated Path DIAL (IPDA) technique at 1645 nm for high accuracy and precision column and multi-layer CH₄ measurements, and the high spectral resolution lidar (HSRL) and backscatter techniques at 532 nm and 1064 nm, respectively, for retrievals of aerosol extinction, backscatter, depolarization, and planetary boundary layer (PBL) heights. The novel combination of the DIAL/IPDA and HSRL techniques provide key context to CH₄ measurements, elucidating the atmosphere's layered structure by giving vertical mixing and PBL height estimation, and additionally provide a critical capability to validate aerosol and cloud induced biases from passive space-borne retrievals of column CH₄. This talk will focus on the CH₄/HSRL HALO configuration and using data collected by HALO during the NASA LISTOS, ACT-America, and STAQS field campaigns the CH₄ retrieval accuracy, precision and overall operational capabilities have been assessed in a multitude of measurement domains and atmospheric conditions, including diurnal city variations, within heavy biomass burning plumes, and through broken cloud fields. Examples of city-scale and regional measurements of CH₄, coincident aerosol properties, and PBL heights will be presented along with synergistic comparisons to NASA and NOAA in-situ observations. General methods for attributing the boundary layer enhancements and range resolving capabilities will be discussed and examples will be presented on the extraction of single point emission and diffuse emission estimates from high altitude column integrated observations.

Bio(s): Dr. Barton-Grimley currently serves as a Research Scientist within the Science Directorate at the NASA Langley Research Center. Dr. Barton-Grimley is an instrument scientist focused on advancing airborne and spaceborne lidar technologies and retrieval methods for measurements of methane, water vapor, and clouds/aerosols. As a co-investigator for NASA's High Altitude Lidar Observatory (HALO) he leads the development of HALO's methane measurement capability and supports national and international airborne field campaigns across a wide range of NASA science focus areas. As a part of the NASA Decadal Survey Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) Incubation science team, Dr. Barton-Grimley leads the development and inclusion of space-based Differential Absorption Lidar (DIAL) instrument models and retrieval methods into NASA's PBL observing system simulation experiment. Additionally, Dr. Barton-Grimley is a co-investigator for NASA's Atmospheric Boundary Layer Lidar project, which is advancing the space-readiness of key lidar technologies to enable the first ever space-based DIAL measurements of water vapor, methane, and PBL heights. Beyond his research, Dr. Barton-Grimley is the chair of the American Meteorological Society's Committee on Laser Atmospheric Studies and provides graduate student mentorship in the field of lidar instrument science.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: https://csl.noaa.gov/seminars/2024, contingent on speaker approval.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Air Quality and Wildfire Smoke Forecasting for the state of Utah

Presenter(s): Heather Holmes, Associate Professor, University of Utah

Sponsor(s): System Architecture and Engineering (SAE) and the NESDIS User Engagement Council (UEC).Seminar Contacts: Zach Thal, (zach.thal@noaa.gov) and Amber Hill, (amber.hill@noaa.gov)Location: WebinarRegistration Link: (Registration requested) https://docs.google.com/forms/d/15VAQY4gVPj59o1yV23lTDp3A0evcdHpoLukB-_DHrU4/edit NOAA and NESDIS Topics of Interest: Air quality monitoring, air quality hazards, and smoke forecasting.

Abstract: Dr. Heather Holmes will discuss air quality and smoke forecasting products in Utah as part of an National Science Foundation Civic Innovation Challenge (NSF CIVIC) funded project. Dr. Holmes' Community Resilience through Engaging, Actionable, Timely, high-rEsolution Air Quality Information (CREATE-AQI) project aims to protect children from air quality hazards by providing air quality alerts to local decision-makers and equipping indoor air quality sensors in childcare facilities across Utah. CREATE-AQI is also developing an automated air-quality modeling system to provide three-day Air Quality Index (AQI) forecasts with an hourly time resolution on a 12-km horizontal grid.

Bio(s): Dr. Holmes, an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Utah, researches air quality, atmospheric turbulence, and exposure modeling to improve human health and public policy assessments. In 2021, Dr. Holmes and her research team collaborated with NASA to study post-wildfire smoke retention and atmospheric behavior, improving predictions of its impacts on nearby communities. To study the physics and chemistry of air pollution, Dr. Holmes utilizes a variety of data, such as aerosol optical depth (AOD) and plume injection height (PIH) and remote monitoring products, such as the Multi-Angle Imaging Spectroradiometer (MISR) and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). She has a history of collaborative research and serves on the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Committee on Mountain Meteorology, State of Utah Air Quality Advisory Board, and the Health Effects Institute Research Committee. As an educator at the University of Utah, Dr. Holmes teaches courses on atmospheric modeling and air pollution and holds adjunct faculty positions in the departments of Mechanical Engineering and Atmospheric Sciences.To learn more about how Dr. Holmes and the University of Utah are using NOAA data, please contact meet.the.users@noaa.gov.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Why everything you know about shark conservation is wrong: an interdisciplinary analysis of the causes and consequences of environmental misinformation

Presenter(s): Dr. David Shiffman, interdisciplinary marine conservation biologist

Sponsor(s): Groundfish Seminar Series - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Groundfish Assessment Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bianca Prohaska (bianca.prohaska@noaa.gov) & Sarah Friedman (sarah.friedman@noaa.gov)

Accessibility: Closed captioning is available live during the via a WebEx toggle.

Abstract: Many members of the public are aware of and concerned by shark conservation challenges, but there is widespread misunderstanding of the threats to sharks and the available policy solutions to address those threats. Many are heavily influenced by information from uninformed extremists rather than from experts. These misunderstandings result in suboptimal policy outcomes, and even conflict between stakeholder groups. This seminar summarizes a decade of work attempting to understand the causes and consequences of widespread misunderstanding about shark conservation threats and solutions. It also proposes solutions focusing on sharing our hard-earned expertise with the interested public in an accessible format.

Bio(s): Dr. David Shiffman is an interdisciplinary marine conservation biologist based in Washington, DC, where he consults for groups including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the IUCN Red List, UNFAO Fisheries, the Ocean Conservancy, and Star Trek. His writings have appeared in the Washington Post, Scientific American, National Geographic, and a monthly column in SCUBA diving magazine, and his more than 50 peer reviewed scientific journal articles have been cited over 2,500 times. He is one of the most-followed scientists in the world on social media and invites you to follow him @ WhySharksMatter.

Slides/Recordings/Other Materials: Seminar recordings will be posted here within a week of the presentation if permission is granted by the presenter.
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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: U.S. Southeast Climate Webinar and El Nio-Southern Oscillation and Winter Outlook

Presenter(s): Climate Overview
Chris Fuhrmann | Southeast Regional Climate Center

Water Resources Overview
Todd Hamill | NWS Southeast River Forecast Center

Agriculture Impact Update
Pam Knox | University of GeorgiaEl Nia-Southern Oscillation and Winter Outlook for the Southeast
Michelle L'Heureux | National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center

Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System

Seminar Contact(s):
Meredith Muth meredith.muth@noaa.govLocation: Webinar

Abstract: The Southeast Climate monthly webinar series is held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 10:00 am ET. This series is hosted by the Southeast Regional Climate Center, in partnership with the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the NOAA National Weather Service. These webinars provide the region with timely information on current and developing climate conditions such as drought, floods, and tropical storms, as well as climatic events like El Nio and La Nia. Speakers may also discuss the impacts of these conditions on topics such as agriculture production, water resources, wildfires, and ecosystems. The special topic for the October webinar is El Nio-Southern Oscillation and Winter Outlook for the Southeast.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Will be available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmADP4Cm4SNtYZMmrY48PtQ

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: NEDTalk - U.S. Billion-dollar Weather and Climate DisastersNOAA Environmental Data Talks (NEDTalks)

Presenter(s): Adam Smith is an applied climatologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information"Climate Science and Services Division. He is the lead scientist for the U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters program.

Sponsor(s): NOAA NESDIS Communications / NESDIS HQ



Seminar Contact(s): Rafael.deAmeller@noaa.gov

Abstract: Better understanding disaster costs, hazard risk and resilience over space and time. The presentation will delve into NOAA's systematic approach to tracking U.S. billion-dollar weather and climate disasters. It will explore how NOAA identifies and evaluates these events, estimates their economic impact, and analyzes trends over time to assess hazard risks and regional vulnerabilities.

See https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/events/nedtalk-us-billion-dollar-weather-and-climate-disasters

Bio(s): https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/events/nedtalk-us-billion-dollar-weather-and-climate-disasters

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Increasing Implementation of Citizen Science Across NOAANOAA Library Seminars

Presenter(s): John McLaughlin - Education Program Manager; Rebecca Funk- ERT- NOAA Citizen Science Program Support Specialist

Sponsor(s): NOAA Education and NOAA Library

Seminar Contacts: NOAA Library Seminars (library.seminars@noaa.gov) and Rebecca Funk (rebecca.funk@noaa.gov)


Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Abstract: Engagement of the public through citizen science helps NOAA accomplish its mission. The potential for this type of engagement has increased dramatically in recent years as new and low-cost technologies have greatly expanded who can and wants to participate. These technological innovations are complemented by the development of new models for co-creating projects with communities to better incorporate their needs and goals from the start. In this talk we will analyze data on NOAA projects from reports to Congress on Implementation of Federal Prize and Citizen Science Authority, as well as discuss efforts in our agency to support and grow participatory science.

Keywords: citizen science, co-production, participatory

Bio(s):
John McLaughlin is an Education Program Manager with NOAA's Office of Education. He serves as NOAA's Citizen Science Coordinator and established NOAA's Citizen Science Community of Practice to facilitate communication among people within the Agency interested in empowering the public to become more involved with science. He represents NOAA in government-wide efforts to expand citizen science and in partnerships with the broader field.

Rebecca Funk- ERT - is the NOAA Citizen Science Program Support Specialist working to support community and crowdsourcing science throughout the agency. She has a B.S. in Wildlife and Fisheries Resources from West Virginia University and recently completed her M.Ed. in Instructional Design.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Central Library YouTube channel.


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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Accounting for social and cultural benefits of fishing

Presenter(s): Dr. Kirsten Leong, Social Scientist, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Sponsor(s): NOAA NWFSC Monster Seminar Jam

Seminar Contacts: Vicky Krikelas, Vicky.Krikelas@noaa.gov

Abstract: There is growing interest in developing social and cultural indicators for marine management, yet marine ecosystem outputs are typically described using mainly ecological and economic concepts. Further, the resilience of coastal communities to climate change impacts and related social-ecological uncertainties depends on social and cultural considerations that are underrepresented in management by agencies such as NOAA Fisheries. In the Pacific Islands Region, the concept of non-commercial fishing has been a focus since the late 1990s to bring attention to social and cultural aspects of fishing beyond monetary or recreational value. This presentation will provide an overview of underrepresented social and cultural benefits, especially food systems, culture and heritage, and non-market economies, which play a central role in the Pacific Islands, via sharing and gifting fish with friends and family, and for community and cultural events. While most prominent in Indigenous cultures, these types of relationships are crucial in local fishing communities across all regions of NOAA Fisheries and can help maintain community resilience and wellbeing in the face of shocks and uncertainties such as those due to climate change. We are exploring potential metrics and management levers that could help fishing communities maintain these underrepresented social and cultural benefits. Without social science information about the full range of economic, social, and cultural connections to the ocean, we cannot meet NOAA's mandates to: (1) achieve the greatest benefits to the nation from fisheries management, defined by the MSA in optimum yield, and (2) provide for sustained participation of fishing communities.

Bio(s): Kirsten Leong is a Social Scientist with NOAA Fisheries at the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center. She has worked on human dimensions issues on federal lands and waters for over 20 years. She applies social science to better understand and manage natural resource controversies over perceptions of resources or management, especially human-wildlife interactions and human impacts on resources. Her current research includes broadening approaches to ecosystem-based fisheries to better account for social and cultural aspects of fishing, and communicating risks about seafood and interactions with protected species.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Developing the Next Generationof Female Environmentalists - My Trip to Pakistan

Presenter(s): Jenny Dissen Engagement and Partnership, Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies - North Carolina North Carolina State University North Carolina Institute for Climate Studies(NCICS),151 Patton Ave, Asheville, NC28801

Sponsor(s): NOAA LEO Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bill Sjoberg bill.sjoberg@noaa.gov

Location: Webinar

Abstract: The Department of State working with NC State University invested in a project Developing the next generation of female environmentalists to promote and help empower Pakistani women scientists in climate change studies. The collaboration between Pakistani women's universities - Fatima Jinnah Women University, Lahore College for Women University, and Sardar Bahadur Khan Women University - and North Carolina State University " was designed to focus on environmental studies / climate change curriculum development, collaborative research, virtual teaching exchanges, professional development for faculty, and to hold workshops in Pakistan and North Carolina. These workshops involved NOAA, climate and weather data, and how it relates. This talk will present key findings from a field visit in the Hunza Valley of Pakistan, what I observed and learned, and my perspectives on opportunities for use and value of LEO satellite imagery data in high altitude mountain regions that are prone to landslides and rapid riverine flooding

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Available upon request.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Estuarine transport and biological impacts of microplastics in Delaware Bay



Presenter(s): Tobias Kukulka and Jonathan Cohen, University of Delaware

Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) Science Seminar Series.

Seminar Contacts: Moe Nelson, david.moe.nelson@noaa.gov; Amy Urhin, amy.uhrin@noaa.gov

Location: Webinar

Accessibility: TBD

Abstract: We explore the estuarine transport and biological impacts of microplastics in Delaware Bay. One specific objective of this project is to investigate whether microplastic marine debris
(MPMD) exposure during larval development impacts blue crab Callinectes sapidus survival and recruitment to mid-Atlantic estuaries. We use hydrodynamic modeling approaches paired with field observations to determine spatial and temporal distribution of both MPMD and C. sapidus zoeae/megalopae in Delaware Bay and its adjacent continental shelf. We assess impacts of MPMD exposure on C. sapidus zoeae/megalopae using laboratory-reared C. sapidus under a gradient of MPMD concentrations. We find that the estuarine circulation and smaller scale turbulent flows greatly aggregate near surface-trapped buoyant material, such as MPMD and C. sapidus zoeae/megalopae, resulting in highly patchy distributions of buoyant material. Modeling results suggest that in these patches the concentrations of MPMD and C. sapidus zoeae/megalopae are elevated by several orders of magnitude likely facilitating particle-particle interactions. Field observations confirm co-occurrence of MPMD and C. sapidus larvae. In laboratory exposures, C. sapidus zoea survivorship is unaffected by MPMD, but larvae show reduced growth and increased development time. Handling costs of MPMD appear responsible as opposed to ingestion and subsequent sublethal effects.

Bio(s): Tobias Kukulka received his Ph.D. in Oceanography from the University of Rhode Island in 2006. He was a postdoctoral scholar at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution from 2007-2009 before joining the faculty in the School of Marine Science and Policy at the University of Delaware in 2010.

Jonathan Cohen received his Ph.D. in Biology from Duke University in 2004. He was a
postdoctoral scholar at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution from 2004-2006. He then
joined the faculty of Eckerd College, moving to the School of Marine Science and Policy at the
University of Delaware in 2011.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: The webinar will be recorded, and the video will be viewable in Adobe Connect.
A pdf of the slides may be provided upon request.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: System-level thinking for ecosystem-based fisheries management: Evaluating US fisheries portfolios

Presenter(s): Howard Townsend, NOAA Fisheries Office of Science & Technology

Sponsor(s): NMFS Ecosystem Based Management/Ecosystem Based Fishery Management Seminar Series (EBM/EBFM) and NOAA Central Library.

POC: EBFM/EBM Environmental Science Coordinator, Peg Brady (peg.brady@noaa.gov)

Abstract: Ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) is broadly considered to be the future of fisheries management. In the US, fisheries ecosystem plans are being developed and implemented across management regions. In most regions, ecosystem models are being used to capture the broad suite of interactions and dynamics in these regional ecosystems. However, these models can be complex, and though they have been used to advance EBFM, simpler approaches are needed to aid managers in system-level thinking. Portfolio analysis has been proposed as a tool to evaluate economic benefits of EBFM. The application of portfolio management theory to fisheries management can evaluate the reduced economic risks offered from portfolio management by accounting for fisheries-stock interactions, risk, and sustainability concerns in a relatively straightforward manner. Previous applications of this approach to fisheries stocks demonstrated trade-offs between aggregate returns (landings) and portfolio risks (variability in landings). We expand on previous work and apply these methods to six US regions to evaluate the extent to which excessive risk taking may be occurring. We suggest approaches for adapting these methods to create EBFM indicators.

Keywords: Ecosystem-based Fisheries Management, Social-Ecological Systems, Ecosystem Indicators, Portfolio Analysis, Economic Models

Bio(s): Howard Townsend is an ecologist with the NOAA Fisheries, serving as the ecosystem modeling coordinator for NOAA Fisheries. Dr. Townsend has over 20 years of experience developing quantitative models of populations and ecosystems. Dr. Townsend is currently focused on developing models of marine and coastal systems, with a focus on models to be used for the management of fisheries stocks, living marine resources, and their ecosystems. Prior to his work at NOAA Fisheries, he studied population and evolutionary ecology of seabirds in the Galpagos Islands. He has a B.S. and Ph.D. in Biology with a concentration in Statistics and Mathematical Modeling from Wake Forest University, North Carolina.

Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Central Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Central Library YouTube channel.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Practicing Partnership: co-production and boundary spanning in rural Alaska


Presenter(s): Elizabeth Figus, Figus Consulting Services

Sponsor(s): NOAA/OAR/Climate Program Office and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)

Seminar Contact(s): Alison Hayden (abhayden@alaska.edu) & Genie Bey (genie.bey@noaa.gov)

Abstract: This webinar will synthesize four years of community-based climate services work in Southeast Alaska. A guidance framework will be presented for research co-production, regional networking, and capacity building through partnerships.

Bio(s): Dr. Elizabeth Figus is an interdisciplinary social scientist based in Juneau, AK. She has a BA in Sociology and International Relations, an MA in European Studies, and a PhD in Fisheries. All of her academic research has touched on environmental management. Since 2019, Dr. Figus has researched co-production in climate services, with a focus on cultivating partnerships among rural Indigenous communities and academics in Alaska. She conducts her current research through her private consulting company and has also worked seasonally in commercial fisheries in Alaska since 2005.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: From Spark to Strategy: Understanding Alaska's Wildland Fire Response


Presenter(s): Rick Thoman (Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy) & Jason Dollard (Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service)

Sponsor(s): NOAA/OAR/Climate Program Office and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)

Seminar Contact(s): Alison Hayden (abhayden@alaska.edu) & Genie Bey (genie.bey@noaa.gov)

Abstract: The 2024 fire season in Alaska was compressed, with most of the area burned occuring in a few weeks in June and the first days of July. The total area burned was higher than most recent years but far below 2019 and 2022. During this webinar we will review two wildfires that impacted communities in interior Alaska and what went into the responses. The McDonald fire ignited on June 8th in a remote part of the Tanana Flats Military Training Area, about 31 miles southeast of Fairbanks. At first, the fire did not pose a threat to life or structures but the smoke impacted Fairbanks and other communities in the region. When the fire grew and burned outside the military range, a substantial effort was made to protect a cluster of remote recreational cabins. Later in the season, the Riley Creek Fire ignited near the entrance to Denali National Park during the peak of the tourist season and had an immediate impact on visitors, community members and businesses. We will discuss what goes into the interagency response to different fires like these.

Bio(s): Rick Thoman is the Alaska Climate Specialist with ACCAP and has many years of experience producing reliable Alaska climate change information and graphics describing Alaska's changing environment. His work spans the bridge between climate modeling, Alaska communities, and the media.

Jason Dollard began his firefighting career with the BLM Alaska Fire Service's training crew, the North Star Fire Crew, in 1996. Over the years, he worked with both the Midnight Sun and Chena Hotshots, and as an Alaska smokejumper. After a range of roles, including Fuels Technician Oregon and BLM AFS Zone Fire Management Officer, he landed in the role as Chief of Fire Operations at BLM AFS in 2020. Since 2022, he's served as Associate Manager, where his experience continues to benefit Alaska wildland fire management. Jason also enjoys outdoor pursuits like snow machining, fishing, and camping " otherwise known as hunting.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: The impediments to high-risk, high-return research

Presenter(s): Carl Bergstrom, Department of Biology, University of Washington

Sponsor(s): NOAA NWFSC Monster Seminar Jam

Seminar Contacts: Vicky Krikelas, Vicky.Krikelas@noaa.gov

Abstract: Scientific researchers may be driven by curiosity, but they are constrained by the realities of the scientific ecosystems in which they operate and motivated by the incentives with which they are confronted. We can use mathematical models of the research enterprise to understand how scientific norms and institutions shape the questions we ask, the efficiency with which we work, and the discoveries we make about the world around us. In this talk I present a pair of mathematical models aimed at revealing why scientists are reluctant to propose and conduct high-risk research. In the first vignette we look at how peer review filters " ex ante review as for grant proposals and ex post review as for completed manuscripts " shape the types of questions that researchers pursue. In the second vignette, we develop an economic hidden action model to explore how the unobservability of risk and effort discourages risky research. Scientific norms and institutions are not god-given; we create and maintain them. If we can understand their consequences, we have the potential to nudge the norms and institutions in directions better tailored to our contemporary research questions and technologies.

Bio(s): Carl T. Bergstrom is a professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Washington in Seattle. Trained in evolutionary biology, mathematical population genetics, and infectious disease epidemiology, Carl is perhaps best known for working across field boundaries and integrating ideas across the span of the natural and social sciences. The unifying theme running through his work is the concept of information. Within biology, he studies problems such as the evolution of communication, and how the process of evolution by natural selection creates the information that is encoded in genomes. In philosophy and sociology of science, his work explores how the incentives created by scientific institutions shape scholars' research strategies and in turn our scientific understanding of the world; in network science, how information and disinformation flows through massive-scale networks. In epidemiology, he played a prominent role during the COVID-19 pandemic as a science communicator and developed models used to implement proactive testing programs worldwide. His work on the evolution of emerging infectious diseases illustrates the value of evolutionary biology in public health and medicine, and the college textbook he coauthored with Lee Dugatkin, Evolution, is now in its third edition with W. W. Norton and Co. Recently, Carl has teamed up with Jevin West to fight misinformation online by teaching quantitative reasoning and digital literacy. Together, they coauthored Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Digital World (Random House, 2020).

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: FathomNet: Accelerating processing of ocean visual data for large-scale biodiversity monitoring



Presenter(s): Kakani Katija, Principal Engineer, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) Science Seminar Series.

Seminar Contacts: Moe Nelson, david.moe.nelson@noaa.gov

Location: Webinar

Accessibility: TBD

Abstract: In order to fully explore our ocean and effectively steward the life that lives there, we need to scale up our observational capabilities both in time and space. Marine biological observations and surveys of the future call for building distributed networks of underwater sensors, vehicles, and data analysis pipelines, which requires significant advances in automation. Imaging, a major sensing modality for marine biology, is being deployed on a diverse array of platforms, however the community faces a data analysis backlog that artificial intelligence and machine learning may be able to address. How can we leverage novel computer and data science tools to automate image and video analysis in the ocean? How can we create workflows, data pipelines, and hardware/software tools that will enable novel research themes to expand our understanding of the ocean and its inhabitants in a time of great change? FathomNet seeks to address these community needs through creating a collaborative R&D program that links artificial intelligence with broad community engagement. FathomNet provides a central hub for researchers using imaging, AI, open data, and hardware/software; provide data pipelines from existing image and video data repositories; share project tools for coordination; leverage public participation and engagement via gamification; and create data products that are widely shared. Together, FathomNet will be used to directly accelerate the automated analysis of visual data to enable scientists, explorers, policymakers, storytellers, and the public, to learn, understand, and care more about the life that inhabits our ocean.
Keywords: automation, visual data, artificial intelligence

Bio(s): Dr. Kakani Katija is a Principal Engineer at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) and a Research Associate at the National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution). Originally an Aerospace Engineer (BSc from University of Washington and MSc from CalTech), Kakani received a PhD in Bioengineering from the California Institute of Technology. As lead of the Bioinspiration Lab, Kakani and her group investigates ways that imaging can enable novel observations of life in the ocean. By developing imaging and illumination tools (e.g., DeepPIV, Chiton, and EyeRIS),automating the classification of underwater visual data using artificial intelligence (FathomNet, Ocean Vision AI), building large-scale community science contributions networks through mobile gaming (FathomVerse),and integrating next-generation algorithms (ML-Tracking, DeepSTARia) on robotic vehicles (e.g. Mesobot, ROVs, and AUVs) to consistently and persistently observe ocean life, her group's efforts will increase access to biology and related phenomena in the deep sea. Kakani was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2011, a Kavli Research Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences in 2013, a Frontiers of Engineering Fellow of the National Academy of Engineering in 2020, and awarded the Marine Technology Society's Compass Distinguished Achievement Award in 2023. She has received generous funding support for the Bioinspiration Lab's work from a number of funding organizations including the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, National Geographic Society, NSF, NOAA, Schmidt Ocean Institute, Dalio Philanthropies, Schmidt Marine Technology Partners, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. In her spare time, Kakani enjoys life as a cat lady, advocates for planet-saving multi-modal transportation, and along with her husband, likes to roam the outdoors and participate in random sporting events (e.g., figure skating, keg tossing, tobogganing, etc.).

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: The webinar was recorded, and the video is viewable in Adobe Connect at:
https://noaabroadcast.adobeconnect.com/p6bcpw3rfvp7/

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NOAA Science Seminar SeriesDate & Time: 6 November 2024, 3 - 4 pm ET

Title: Synthesizing Motus data across the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS) for research, education, and conservation

Presenter(s):

• Marae West, Cape Fear Bird Observatory
• Evan Buckland, Cape Fear Bird Observatory
• Ray Danner, Althouse & Meade

Sponsor(s): This webinar is co-sponsored by the NERRS Science Collaborative and NOAA RESTORE

Seminar Contact(s): Doug George (douglas.george@noaa.gov) or Nick Soberal (nsoberal@umich.edu)

Abstract: Over half of the NERRs have Motus wildlife tracking stations, which provide new information on the presence and movements of animals. Given the NERRS' increasing number of Motus stations, growth of the resulting databases, and interest in these data from within and outside of the NERRs, there is an opportunity to develop a collaborative community and supporting infrastructure within the NERRS. This catalyst project's five objectives were to: create a website to display Motus data across the NERRS, develop educational resources, develop an in-person education experience at the North Carolina NERR, construct towers at four sites that previously did not have towers, and promote communication and collaboration among NERRS staff. In this webinar, the project team will demonstrate how to use the products that they developed and discuss how to learn more about Motus and the state of the network within the NERRS, and get involved.

Bio(s): Please visit here for more information about the webinar.Subscribe to the OneNOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email:Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: Regime shifts in resource explicit ecological systems

Presenter(s): Chris Heggerud, Postdoctoral Researcher, Univeristy of California Davis

Sponsor(s): NOAA NMFS SWFSC Fisheries Ecology DivisionSeminar contact: tanya.rogers@noaa.gov.

Abstract: In theoretical population biology, the study of steady-states, persistence and other long-term dynamics are often made the focal point. However, many ecological issues arise from dynamics that occur in much shorter, and perhaps more ecologically relevant timescales. This mismatch suggests that the study of transient dynamics and regime shifts is of significant interest for both understanding and predicting population dynamics. Additionally, these timescales differences are even more pronounced in populations that have an explicit dependence on resources and resource dynamics. In this talk I will discuss resource explicit population modeling and show how the study of transient dynamics leads to significant insights both mathematically and ecologically. I will illustrate how resource dynamics can be influenced by human interactions resulting in several possible regime outcomes. Furthermore, I will discuss new methods to predict the occurrence of transient dynamics and regime shifts from ecological data.

Bio(s): Chris is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California, Davis with Alan Hastings in the Department of Environmental Science and Policy. His research is in mathematical ecology focusing on microbial population dynamics and non-asymptotic behavior. After completing his undergraduate degree at Toronto Metropolitan University, he moved back to Alberta to receive his PhD in applied mathematics (Mathematical Ecology) at the University of Alberta under the supervision of Mark Lewis and Hao Wang. He'll be joining the University of Manitoba in July 2025.

Recordings: The talk will be recorded; link to recording available upon request.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Operationalizing available research computing resources for stock assessment

Presenter(s): Nicholas Ducharme-Barth, Oceanic Stock Assessment Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NMFS and Megumi Oshima, Island Stock Assessment Program, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, NMFS


Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and NOAA Library

Seminar Contact(s): Dr. Bai Li (bai.li@noaa.gov) and Library Seminars

Abstract: This presentation provides an overview of existing research computing resources available to NOAA staff and proposes a workflow for operationalizing these resources for stock assessment. In other words, running more/bigger models in less time. We walk through an example application using Stock Synthesis, present results of benchmark testing of these computational tools, and discuss future challenges and directions.

Keywords: high-throughput computing, high-performance computing, stock assessment

Bio(s): Nicholas Ducharme-Barth joined the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center in 2021. Previously, Nicholas worked at the Pacific Community (SPC) conducting pelagic stock assessments for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). He received his B.S. in Mathematics from the College of William & Mary and his Ph. D. in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences from the University of Florida.

Megumi Oshima has been working at the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center since 2021. She works mostly on domestic and territorial bottomfish stocks and is interested in Openscience and creating reproducible and transparent workflows. Before joining PIFSC, she was a graduate student at University of Southern Mississippi where she got her PhD in Coastal Sciences.

Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Library YouTube channel.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: The role of larval connectivity on spatial fisheries management

Presenter(s): Mallarie Yeager, NOAA Alaska Regional Office

Sponsor(s): Groundfish Seminar Series - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Groundfish Assessment Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bianca Prohaska (bianca.prohaska@noaa.gov) & Sarah Friedman (sarah.friedman@noaa.gov)

Accessibility: Closed captioning is available live during the via a WebEx toggle.

Abstract: I will touch on two projects pertaining to the role of larval connectivity on spatial fisheries management. The first will focus on my postdoc work testing the role of connectivity on the function of the California marine protected area (MPA) network. Combining coastal oceanography with the ecology and fishing of several local CA fisheries, myself and colleagues built an integral projection population model to quantify the MPA effects of the larval connectivity on population structure, fecundity, and network persistence. We found that (i) all experienced metapopulation persistence but the magnitude varied across species, (ii) the effect of MPAs present in the network increased metapopulation persistence for all species, (iv) the presence of south coast region MPAs had the largest impact on metapopulation persistence, and (v) several MPAs were identified as high value MPAs through increased larval export and eigencentrality. This work demonstrates that through increased larval connectivity and network persistence, populations may be more resilient to environmental change through the potential to buffer drastic population changes associated with a changing climate. Lastly, I will briefly discuss some recent work with colleagues from AFSC and UAF on using a coupled biophysical-ocean circulation individual-based model to quantify Essential Fish Habitat of early life history stages for two fish stocks in the Gulf of Alaska: Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) and Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus). We show via this IBM framework, we can obtain spatiotemporal maps of pelagic early life history EFH and produce dynamic ecosystem indicators for stock specific Ecosystem Socioeconomic Profiles (ESPs), which can be used for informing ecosystem-based management decisions regarding risk assessment within the stock assessment process.

Bio(s): Mallarie is a marine habitat resource specialist at the Alaska Regional Office in the Habitat Conservation Division in Juneau AK. Her work at NMFS focuses on building models of Essential Fish Habitat for federally managed species throughout Alaskan waters. She is trained as a quantitative marine ecologist with expertise in fish habitat associations, predator-prey interactions, community and biodiversity analysis, species distribution modeling, functional trait analysis, and metapopulation dynamics, with extensive statistical modeling and field experience in marine systems. Prior to joining the Alaska Regional Office, Mallarie was a postdoc researcher at UC Santa Cruz where she developed spatially explicit demographic population models to assess metapopulation persistence of five focal fisheries across the network of California marine protected areas. Mallarie earned her Ph.D. in Ecology Evolution and Marine Biology at Northeastern University, her M.Sc. at San Diego State University in Ecology and her B.Sc. in Biology at University of North Florida.

Slides/Recordings/Other Materials: Seminar recordings will be posted here within a week of the presentation if permission is granted by the presenter.
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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Modeling planktonic food web interannual variability of the northern Gulf of Alaska shelf

Presenter(s): Ludivine Conte (U. California, Santa Cruz)

Sponsor(s): NOAACoastal Ocean Modeling Seminars: https://coastaloceanmodels.noaa.gov/seminar/

SeminarContact: Alexander.Kurapov@noaa.gov

Remoteaccess: Connect with Google Meet meet.google.com/kti-ktaw-nes,
PhoneNumbers (US)+1414-856-5982 PIN: 248 179#

Abstract: A 25-year (1996-2020) hindcast from a coupled physical-biogeochemical model is evaluated with nutrients, phytoplankton and zooplankton field data and is analyzed to identify mechanisms controlling seasonal and interannual variability of the northern Gulf of Alaska (NGA) planktonic food web. Characterized by a mosaic of processes, the NGA is a biologically complex and productive marine ecosystem. Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) analysis combining abiotic and biotic variables averaged over the continental shelf reveals that light intensity is a main driver for nanophytoplankton variability during spring, and that nitrate availability is a main driver for diatoms during spring and for both phytoplankton during summer. Zooplankton variability is a combination of carry-over effects from the previous year and bottom-up controls from the current year, with copepods and euphausiids responding to diatoms and microzooplankton responding to nanophytoplankton. The results also demonstrate the effect of nitrate availability and phytoplankton community structure on changes in biomass and energy transfers across the planktonic food web over the entire growing season. In particular, the biomass of large copepods and euphausiids increases more significantly during years of higher relative diatom abundance, as opposed to years with higher nitrate availability. Large microzooplankton was identified as the planktonic group most sensitive to perturbations, presumably due to its central position in the food web. By quantifying the combined variability of several key planktonic functional groups over a 25-year period, this work lays the foundation for an improved understanding of the long-term impacts of climate change on the NGA shelf.
Slides, Recordings, OtherMaterials: TBDSubscribe to the NOAA ScienceSeminar Series weekly email: Sendan e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body.Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions andideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Improving Subseasonal-to-Seasonal Prediction of Surface Air Temperature and Hydrological Variables: The Role of Land-Atmosphere Coupling and Offline Modeling Systems, and Dynamical Filtering of Tropical Subseasonal Variability in Observations and Forecast Models

Presenter(s): Dr. Yuna Lim, ESSIC/UMD, and Dr. David Marsico, CIRES/Colorado

Sponsor(s): NOAA OAR Weather Program Office S2S Program and NOAA NWS Office of Science and Technology Integration Modeling Program DivisionSeminar Contacts: Mark Olsen, mark.olsen@noaa.gov

Abstract: This monthly webinar series was created to share ongoing work within NWS and OAR at the Weeks 3-4 and S2S timescales. We would like to foster a relaxed, informal dialogue among forecasters, modelers and researchers. This month, Yuna Lim will speak about "Improving Subseasonal-to-Seasonal Prediction of Surface Air Temperature and Hydrological Variables: The Role of Land-Atmosphere Coupling and Offline Modeling Systems," and David Marsico will speak about "Dynamical Filtering of Tropical Subseasonal Variability in Observations and Forecast Models."

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Available on the Weeks 3-4/S2S Webinar Series website: https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/weeks-3-4-s2s-webinar-series

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NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: NOAA in Space

Presenter(s): Pamela (Pam) Sullivan, NOAA NESDIS Director Office of Geostationary Earth Orbit Observations

Sponsor(s): The NOAA Environmental Leadership Seminar Series (NELS) series provides examples and insight of NOAA's leadership in environmental science, by those who lead it and make it happen. The NELS seminars are sponsored by the NOAA Science Council as part of the NOAA Science Seminar Series. For questions or to recommend a NELS speaker, please contact the NELS Team at nels@noaa.gov The NELS Team is Hernan Garcia, Sandra Claar, Katie (Rowley) Poser, and Robert Levy.

Abstract: This seminar will cover how NOAA's satellites have helped the U.S. and its global partners forecast weather and track dangerous environmental conditions since the beginning of the space age. It will discuss the different types of NOAA satellites, where they live, and the benefits they provide. It will also discuss how NOAA partners with other agencies to monitor the globe, and provide a preview of NOAA's future space capabilities.

Bio(s): Pam Sullivan leads the development of NOAA's geostationary satellite systems as the Director of the Office of GEO Observations. She manages the Geostationary Operational Environment Satellite R Series (GOES-R) and Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) programs, responsible for the development of the spacecraft, instruments, launch services, and ground systems. Sullivan joined NOAA in 2018 after 27 years with NASA, where she contributed to multiple spaceflight missions including the Joint Polar Satellite System, James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble Space Telescope, and the GOES-IM, NOP, and R-series projects. Early in her career, Sullivan served as a United States Air Force officer supporting Space Shuttle and other manned spaceflight missions. She holds a bachelor's degree in astronautical engineering from M.I.T.

Accessibility: Closed Captioning will be provided during this event. If NOAA staff would like to request an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter via webcam for an upcoming webinar, please apply through the NOAA Office of Human Capital Services' Sign Language Interpreting Services Program.
Notice: This seminar will be recorded for later viewing. By joining you automatically consent to such recording. If you do not consent to being recorded, please do not join the session.

Seminar recording for later viewing: To access the video of the presentation after the seminar, visit the NOAA Environmental Leadership Seminar Series web page.
Slides/Recordings/Other Materials: Slides will be shared after the webinar with all who register, or a link for acess. Recording will be shared after the webinar with all who register, or a link where they can be found, or a contact for the recording.
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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: JEDI (Joint EUV Coronal Diagnostic Investigation) and the Vigil Missionat L5

Presenter(s): Dr. Donald M. Hassler (SwRI) Boulder, CO; and the JEDI Team

Sponsor(s): NOAA/NESDIS/SWO

Seminar Contact(s): dena.joseph@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Closed captions available

Abstract: JEDI is a next-generation high cadence, multi-thermal EUV Imager selected by NASA to fly on the European Space Weather Mission Vigil in a halo orbit around the Lagrange Point L5. JEDI will improve our understanding of space weather and enhance space weather operations capability by providing vital observations of earth-directed space weather events from the solar disk out 6 R. JEDI will also answer fundamental questions about the Ground State of Space Weather...the Solar Wind. With 10x greater throughput than EUI/FSI in occulted mode >1.4 R, JEDI makes high cadence observations of the "Middle Corona (West et al. 2023) out to 6 R standard and routine. This important, yet little-observed, middle corona, is the critical region of CME acceleration, flare reconnect ion and solar wind formation. With its large FOV, JEDI directly complements other Vigil instruments, providing overlapping FOVs that connect the observations from the Photospheric Magnetic Field Imager (PMI) with those from CCOR (Compact Coronagraph).The JEDI instrument is comprised of two simple, reliable, low-risk/high-heritage telescopes, the Space Weather Operational Coronal Imager(SWOC) and the Enhanced Wide-angle Observations of the Corona (EWOC). SWOC takes 4 min cadence images of the full solar disk and extended corona out to3.2 R on the Earthward limb in three narrow passbands corresponding to temperatures ranging from the chromosphere to the flaring corona. EWOC takes images of the full solar disk and extended corona in two passbands sensitive to chromospheric and coronal plasma out to 6 R. EWOC's game-changing FOV is enabled by a moveable occulter, proven by Solar Orbiter Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUI/FSI), allowing interleaved, low-scattered light images of the extended corona and on-disk coronal structures.

Bio(s): Dr. Hassler is a Program Director at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, CO and former Director of the Institut d'Astrophysique Spatiale in Orsay, France. He is PI of the NASA-contributed JEDI (Joint EUV Coronal Diagnostic Investigation) instrument to the European Vigil L5 Space Weather Mission, the NASA-selected PI and US-Operations lead of the SPICE instrument on the ESA/NASASolar Orbiter mission and the PI of the Radiation Assessment Detector (RAD) instrument on the NASA Mars Science Laboratory currently operating on Mars since 2012. Dr. Hassler received his PhD in physics at the University of Colorado, Boulder.Slides/Recordings/Other Materials: Slides will be shared by requestSubscribe to the One NOAA Science Seminar weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/OneNOAASeminars.php. For more information visit: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/NOAAScienceSeminars.php

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: U.S. Eastern Region Climate Services: The NY State Heat Plan

Sponsor(s): NOAA's Eastern Region Climate Services Webinar Series

Presenter(s):
Samantha Borisoff, Climatologist with the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University; and Mark Lowery, New York State Department of Environmental Protection


Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service / National Centers for Environmental Information / Regional Climate Services.

Seminar Contact(s): Ellen Mecray

Location: Webinar

Abstract: The webinar will feature a recap of October conditions and Mark Lowery will offer an overview of the New York State Heat Plan.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: If interested in obtaining a PDF of the slides and/or the recording, see the Northeast Regional Climate Center.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your comments and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Air quality and greenhouse gases from space: indicator of human activityNOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory Seminar Series

Presenter(s): Pieternel Levelt, NSF NCAR, Boulder, USA; KNMI, TU Delft, The Netherlands

Sponsor(s): NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory.

Seminar Contact(s): Audrey Gaudel, audrey.gaudel@noaa.gov

Abstract: In the 19th and 20thcentury the chemical composition of the atmosphere did change drastically as a result of human activities. Therefore, the Dutch Nobel Prize winner Paul Crutzen called this time period the anthropogenic' epoch. The rapid worldwide growth of megacities, and its associated strong increase in air pollution, are clear examples of this. These are developments that will continue to be important in the coming decades, even with the agreements made during the recent UN climate change conferences and the Global Methane Pledge to reduce methane emission with 30 %by 2030.Nowadays we can measure the chemical composition of the atmosphere with satellites. With innovative satellite instruments of Dutch origin, such as OMI and TROPOMI, daily global maps of air pollution and greenhouse gases are measured on urban scale resolution. In this seminar I will start with an overview of NCAR/ACOM and the new initiatives we are working on before I will entirely focus on satellite observations from space. An outline will be given of the major research questions in the atmospheric climate domain, and their importance for air quality and climate policy. Further, OMI's and TROPOMI's satellite measurement technique will be explained, and what these measurements can bring for as well research as climate policy, now and in the future. Examples of COVID-19lockdown reduction of air pollution, air pollution from wildfires, methane emissions from fossil fuel industry and landfills, as well as a new satellite concept (NITROSAT) measuring agriculture emissions will be discussed. I will end my seminar advocating for geostationary satellite measurements over the Global South, with a focus on Africa. Recent findings on Africa air quality, based on TROPOMI data, will be shown.

Bio(s): Prof. dr. Pieternel F. Levelt. is director of NCAR-ACOM in Boulder, Colorado since June 2021. Before that she was for more than a decade department head of the R&D department on Satellite Observations at KNMI (Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) in The Netherlands. She still is affiliated to KNMI, and also to University of Technology Delft, where she is professor in Remote Sensing of the Earth Atmosphere. She is further Principal Investigator of the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and scientific founder of the Tropospheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI).

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: https://csl.noaa.gov/seminars/2024/, contingent on speaker approval.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: 1. Enhancing Resilience in Restoration Efforts Using Selectively Bred Corals; 2. Effect of thermal history on the thermal performance of Caribbean coral populations

Presenter(s): 1. Andrew Baker (UMiami)
2. Kira Hughes and Crawford Drury (HIMB)
3. Kelly Gomez Campo (PSU) and Illiana Baums (HIFMB) (Tentative)
4. Lyza Johnston (JAMS)

Sponsor(s): NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

Seminar Contact(s): caroline.donovan@noaa.govLocation: Webinar

Presentations

Title: Enhancing Resilience in Restoration Efforts Using Selectively Bred Corals

Presenter(s): Kira Hughes and Carlos Caruso

Abstract: Coral restoration continues to attract interest as a resource management strategy to combat reef degradation. However, warming oceans represent an ongoing and increasing stressor that cannot be locally mitigated in advance of restoration efforts. Variation in thermal tolerance within extant coral populations may support adaptation that is needed for corals to cope with impending temperature conditions and is a major untapped resource in conservation efforts that could help ensure the long-term persistence of coral reefs. Previous Assisted Evolution research indicates that selective breeding for thermal tolerance is a viable technique that can improve this trait in larval and juvenile corals while retaining genetic diversity. However, there is little empirical evidence to support the practical application of selective breeding in corals. To address this gap, we conducted selective breeding experiments to create juvenile coral restoration stocks, tested the efficacy of breeding approaches, and are evaluating the employment of selective breeding to assist natural recovery. We have explored different approaches to selective breeding including traditional crosses of known parents, pooled crosses, and post-fertilization selection on wild-bred corals at early life stages. Additionally, we have developed and optimized husbandry techniques that improve larval and post-settlement survivorship and support genetic diversity. In November 2024 we will outplant selectively bred corals for the first time (to the best of our knowledge) in Kneohe Bay, Hawaii. Our work provides a basis for judging the impact of selective breeding on coral thermal tolerance and consequent restoration project outcomes and will provide a unique decision framework for maximizing thermal tolerance and genetic diversity during restoration.

Title: Effect of thermal history on the thermal performance of Caribbean coral populations

Presenter(s): Kelly Gomez-Campo and Iliana Baums

Abstract: The increasing frequency and severity of coral bleaching events, often tied to thermal history, highlight the importance of historical data in identifying resilient coral genets and populations. In this study, we examine how accumulated thermal stress, measured as Degree Heating Weeks (DHW), impacts the thermal performance of Caribbean corals. Using the Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System (CBASS), we compared the acute heat stress responses of four foundational coral species across the Caribbean. Coral genets were subjected to control conditions, representing the local Maximum Monthly Mean (MMM) sea surface temperature (SST). Experimental groups were exposed to heat stress at increments of MMM +4C, MMM +6C, and MMM +9C. Thermal performance at the genet level was assessed by measuring Photosystem II (PSII) function (as Maximum Quantum Yield, Fv/Fm) and tissue pigmentation (via in vivo light absorption, Absorptance) under standardized acute temperature stress profiles. Additionally, parameters from fitted Fv/Fm temperature response curves (effective doses, EDs) were used for comparative analysis. Significant differences in coral resistance and recovery from acute thermal stress were observed among the study locations: Lower Florida Keys, the Eastern Caribbean (U.S. Virgin Islands), and the Southern Caribbean (Curaao, funded by a different grant). Different strategies to cope with heat stress were also evident among the four species studied. Acropora palmata and Siderastrea siderea exhibited greater resistance to heat stress, while Orbicella faveolata and Porites astreoides showed stronger recovery capabilities. Positive relationships between thermal performance proxies and DHW suggest that corals in Curaao have experienced repeated heat-stress events, enhancing their thermal tolerance and potentially influencing acclimatization and adaptation processes.NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your comments and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Turbulent heat fluxes during fractional ice over the Great Lakes

Presenter(s): Gabriella Lk' (Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest)

Sponsor(s): NOAACoastal Ocean Modeling Seminars: https://coastaloceanmodels.noaa.gov/seminar/

Seminar Contact(s): Alexander.Kurapov@noaa.gov

Abstract: Turbulent surface heat fluxes play a crucial role in many physical processes of lakes by determining their energy and water budget. Operational hydrodynamic and ice forecasting models have been developed for the Great Lakes; however, modeled turbulent heat fluxes have been only evaluated against ice-free summer observations. Modeled ice concentrations and thicknesses have also been assessed against measurements but without directly testing heat flux estimations, despite the many years of available eddy-covariance (EC) measurements over the Great Lakes. Currently, we use a continuum ice model, focusing on how the model represents fluxes during fractional ice cover. The current ice and open-water flux calculation methods may need to be reviewed. The FVCOM-CICE model was applied for Lake Michigan-Huron and Lake Superior to simulate open water heat fluxes using the COARE algorithm, ice, and hydrodynamics. First, we check how each model works separately. Open water sensible and latent heat fluxes are compared with EC measurements for ice-free periods, and ice fluxes during complete ice cover. Ice concentrations are evaluated against satellite-based data at EC tower locations and on lake averages as well. We investigate how modeled fluxes match EC observations during fractional ice cover and explore the possible causes of deviances and errors in the FVCOM-CICE model.
Slides, Recordings, OtherMaterials: TBDSubscribe to the NOAA ScienceSeminar Series weekly email: Sendan e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body.Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions andideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: The influence of size, life history, and climate on distributions of juvenile California Current fish species

Presenter(s): Rebecca Howard, Research Fish Biologist, NOAA/NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) , Groundfish Assessment Program (GAP)

Sponsor(s): Groundfish Seminar Series - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Groundfish Assessment Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bianca Prohaska (bianca.prohaska@noaa.gov) & Sarah Friedman (sarah.friedman@noaa.gov)

Accessibility: Closed captioning is available live during the via a WebEx toggle.

Abstract: Marine fishes undergo rapid changes in body size and habitat use during their early life stages. They also exhibit diverse life histories that may impact the way they respond to oceanographic patterns and how we, in turn, model their distributions. Therefore, incorporation of size into spatiotemporal models may provide a mechanism to determine what large-scale ocean features affect species at different points in their life cycle as well as enhance projections of species distributions. Our results illustrate how life history and physical oceanographic features can be applied to species distribution models to potentially provide more biologically realistic model predictions.

Bio(s): Rebecca Howard is originally from California and received her bachelor's degree in Aquatic Biology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She spent the years after graduating working as a fisheries observer for groundfish fisheries in the Bering Sea and as an AmeriCorps member at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center supporting Coho salmon and steelhead monitoring efforts. Rebecca then went on to obtain two graduate degrees at Oregon State University: a master's in Marine Resource Management and a PhD in Ocean, Earth, and Atmospheric Sciences. Her research at OSU focused on understanding how ocean conditions can impact the spatial distributions of marine species in the California Current System and Bering Sea, both now and in the future. Rebecca joined the Alaska Fisheries Science Center as part of the Groundfish Assessment Program this past April.

Slides/Recordings/Other Materials: Seminar recordings will be posted here within a week of the presentation if permission is granted by the presenter.
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Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' or 'unsubscribe' in the subject or body of the email. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your comments and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Remote sensing of extreme weather events on CDOM in Long Island Sound

Presenter(s): Charlotte Rhoads, CESSRSTII Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers


Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Coastal areas are critical in global carbon cycling, particularly as climate change alters carbon fluxes through rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and sea-level rise. These changes affect microbial activity, carbon remineralization, and transportation pathways, influencing the fate of carbon in coastal environments. Dissolved organic matter (DOM), sourced from land and sea, regulates ecosystem functioning, while colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) acts as an optical proxy for tracking DOM dynamics. Extreme weather events modify DOM quantity and quality, impacting harmful algal blooms (HABs). In Long Island Sound (LIS), a eutrophic estuary, high-resolution satellite remote sensing, and regionally optimized algorithms enable monitoring of DOM and its response to extreme precipitation events. By analyzing CDOM's optical properties, such as a_CDOM(300),DOC, S_275"295, and S_R, changes in DOM can be linked to carbon cycling and water quality. Increased DOM flux during heavy rains drives dinoflagellate blooms, posing threats to water quality and aquaculture. Identifying CDOM optical signatures of harmful dinoflagellates like Prorocentrumcordatum and Margalefidinium polykrikoides may allow for monitoring via remote sensing.The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentors Veronica Lance and Jonathan Sherman of NESDIS and Gary Wilkfors and Lisa Guy of NOAA Fisheries. The NERTO aligns with NOAACSC CESSRST-II's goal of providing actionable remote sensing-based research to stakeholders. The NERTO deepened the intern's understanding of NOAA's mission of managing and protecting coastal ecosystems and resources.

Bio(s): Charlotte Rhoads is a NOAA Cooperative Science Center Fellow in the NOAA Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST II). Ms. Roads is pursuing a master's in Earth and Atmospheric Science at City College of New York (CCNY). She is a member of the Tzortziou Bio-Optics Lab at CCNY, where she conducts research on the optical signatures of carbon dynamics in Long Island Sound. Half of her NERTO was completed with NOAA NESDIS, while the other half was completed with NOAA Fisheries Northeast Fisheries Science Center at the Milford Lab, CT. Charlotte Rhoads is supported as a Cohort 2 Graduate Fellow in the NOAA Center for CESSRST-II award.For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: NEDTalk - NOAA's Coral Reef Watch and the 4th Global Coral Bleaching EventNOAA Environmental Data Talks (NEDTalks)

Presenter(s): Dr. Derek Manzello is a coral reef ecologist, with a Ph.D. in Marine Biology and Fisheries from the Rosenstiel School of the University of Miami, Dr. Manzello is Coordinator of NOAA's Coral Reef Watch program, an effort focused on the monitoring of coral reef ecosystems through satellite observations. Coral Reef Watch is a part of NOAA's NESDIS Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR).

Sponsor(s): NESDIS Communications / NESDIS HQ

Seminar Contacts: Rafael.deAmeller@noaa.gov

Abstract: On April 15, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the International Coral Reef Initiative announced that the world was experiencing it's 4th Global Bleaching Event (GBE4). Since February 2023, mass coral bleaching has been documented across at least 70 different countries/territories spanning the northern and southern hemispheres of all ocean basins (as of 9 August 2024). GBE4 has been record-setting, as >74% of the world's reef area has experienced bleaching-level heat stress since January 2023, exceeding the previous record set during the 3rd Global Bleaching Event that spanned 2014-2017 (GBE3, 65.7%).

In an effort to minimize concomitant impacts on heat-stressed corals, popular tourist areas have been closed at Pling Island in Phuket, Thailand, and the Maldives temporarily halted all coastal development projects. Coral reef areas in both the northern and southern Atlantic Ocean have experienced the most extreme levels of heat stress during this event, with Degree Heating Week (DHW, C-weeks) values 2-3 times greater than has ever occurred before in the satellite record.

The majority of reef areas in the wider Caribbean and south Atlantic exceeded 16 C-weeks, with some regions surpassing 20 C-weeks; these extreme levels of heat stress have driven coral mortality ranging from 60-99% of all corals during past events. Over the past 365 days, 99.9% of all reef area in the Atlantic Ocean have experienced bleaching level-heat stress. Record-setting heat stress has also occurred in the eastern tropical Pacific, southcentral Pacific (e.g., Western and American Samoa), southern Great Barrier Reef, and the Seychelles. The full ecological impacts of this event will not be fully realized for months-to-years, but preliminary reports have been alarming. The acroporid corals, which were the dominant, shallow-water, reef-building corals throughout the Caribbean for at least the past 250,000-500,000 years, were severely impacted, with reports of 90-100% mortality in Florida, Mexico, and Puerto Rico following the 2023 phase of this event. This presentation will provide updates on the latest trends and patterns of this ongoing, record-setting marine heatwave.

See https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/events/nedtalk-noaas-coral-reef-watch-and-the-4th-global-coral-bleaching-event

Bio(s): https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/events/nedtalk-noaas-coral-reef-watch-and-the-4th-global-coral-bleaching-event

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAAScience Seminar Series

Title: Identifying local and synoptic-scale meteorological and land cover conditions favorable for the occurrence of large fires in California

Presenter(s): E'lysha Guerrero, CESSRST II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers


Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Whilst global warming projections lead to continuous warming trends and California wildfire activity is expected to increase, the state of wildfire predictions will need to be enhanced to keep up with the ever-changing climate conditions. This research project aims to characterize meteorological and land conditions related to large wildfires in California and identify their connection to predictable climate patterns, potentially enhancing future wildfire predictions. We utilize historical wildfire perimeter data (2000 "2022) and apply the K-means Clustering Algorithm on localized meteorological variables to group wildfires based on similar conditions. Larger-scale synoptic meteorology is analyzed to identify potential predictors for future wildfire occurrences. The research questions addressed during the NERTO are: (a) What are the local regional and seasonal characteristics of California's historically larger wildfires from 2000 - 2022? and (b) What are the typical large-scale circulation patterns associated with each California clustered group?The value of this research lies in its contribution to NOAA's mission to understand and predict climate and weather changes, specifically through advancing wildfire prediction capabilities. The insights gained can improve both prediction models and wildfire management strategies, supporting NOAA's broader goal of mitigating the impacts of extreme weather and natural hazards. Additionally, the use of machine learning techniques, like K-means clustering, fosters innovation in predictive skills, aligning with the NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory's mission to develop new knowledge and tools for forecasting extreme events such as wildfires. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Dr. Andrew Hoell, Dr. Rochelle Worsnop, and Dr. Melissa Breeden of NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II's goal to understand and predict changes in climate and weather. The NERTO project deepened the intern's understanding and increased the research skill sets of data acquisition, preprocessing, analyses, and validation techniques required for earth system science research.

Bio(s): E'lysha Guerrero is pursuing a master's degree in Geography, with a concentration in Watershed Science, at San Diego State University. E'lysha earned her bachelor's degree in Meteorology/Climate Science from San Jose State University, where she first developed her interest in weather and climate science. Her NERTO research project directly contributed to her research focus at San Diego State University and was proposed to the NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory (PSL).Expanding her interest in wildfire science and machine learning techniques, she enjoys investigating various phenomena and the causes of systematic earth processes. Her overall goal is to improve society's readiness for continuous climate change and to enhance wildfire prediction models, ultimately helping to save lives and protect property. E'lysha Guerrero is supported as a Cohort 2Graduate Fellow in the NOAA Center for Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST-II) award.For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Historical Data Reconstruction for the California Coastal Currents using 3D Empirical Orthogonal Functions and Multivariate Regression

Presenter(s): Danielle Lafarga, CESSRST II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers


Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Many studies analyze ocean temperature variance, computing empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) one layer at a time(2D). However, surface phenomena like El Nio extend into deeper layers, exemplifying how crucial it is to examine their three-dimensional structure to fully understand their impact. This research aims to compute 3D EOFs for different areas of the Pacific Ocean to answer how much and what variability can be explored across ocean layers using a high-resolution, eddy-resolving model known as the Global Ocean Physics Reanalysis (GLORYS). The model's fine resolution allows for detailed analysis of smaller-scale dynamics, such as those along the coasts of California, Oaxaca, and Costa Rica. Nevertheless, the volume of data presents a memory challenge for 3D calculations. To address this, we propose an algorithm that enables 3D EOF computation on computers with limited memory (16GB RAM), making high-resolution analysis feasible.Computing 3D EOFs is crucial for understanding our oceans and how ocean dynamics can extend through multiple layers. This research aligns with NOAA's mission to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. By providing a more comprehensive view of ocean variability, the results also contribute valuable insights into the habitats of fish species protected by NOAA Fisheries, aiding in the preservation and management of marine ecosystems.The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor, Dr. Michael Jacox of NOAA SWFSC Environmental Research Division, and NOAA collaborator Dr. Michael Alexander of NOAA Atmosphere Ocean Processes and Predictability (AOPP) Division. The NERTO aligns NOAA CSCCESSRST-II's goal of to understand and predict changes in climate and weather. The NERTO project deepened the intern's understanding of remote sensing technology, big data computing, and participation in NOAA mission-aligned activities through extensive collaborations with NOAA employees.

Bio(s): Danielle Lafarga is a NOAA Cooperative Science Center Fellow for Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technology (CESSRST-II). She earned her B.S. in Physics from the University of California, San Diego, and worked as an academic specialist for children before beginning her PhD in Computational Science at San Diego State University and the University of California, Irvine. Her research focuses on analyzing and visualizing ocean temperature variability across different ocean depths. After completing her PhD, she aims to continue working with NOAA and eventually return to academia to inspire curiosity and empathy in future generations of STEM students. Danielle Lafarga is supported as a Cohort #1Graduate Fellow in the NOAA Center Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST-II) award.For more information, access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Societal Data Insights: Data Integration for Inland Flooding.

Presenter(s): Isabel Lopez, CESSRST II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers


Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Urban recurrent flooding presents a complex challenge distinct from nuisance flooding, typically associated with coastal areas. Unlike nuisance flooding, which is often predictable and localized, urban recurrent flooding involves a dynamic interplay of factors such as dense infrastructure, varied land use, and heterogeneous topography. These elements contribute to unpredictable flood patterns that are more difficult to model and manage. The complexity of urban environments amplifies the challenges in assessing flood risks and potential impacts, necessitating a more sophisticated analytical approach. This research adapts the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) to highlight areas prone to flooding based on flow direction and water accumulation. Additionally, it incorporates the Curve Number (CN) method to estimate runoff volumes from precipitation events, providing refined tools for measuring surface runoff and predicting flooding potential. Recognizing that urban flooding significantly impacts communities, this study integrates social data to capture the broader societal effects, particularly on vulnerable populations. The proposed framework is designed for flexibility, allowing its application across diverse urban areas with varying geographic and social characteristics. By combining geospatial analysis with social data, this research offers a comprehensive approach to flood risk assessment, providing valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners.The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentors Dr. Jonathon Mote and Dr. Kyle Metta of the Weather Program Office (WPO) in Silver Spring, MD. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II's goal to understand changes in climate and weather and to share that knowledge and information with others. The NERTO project enhanced the intern's ability to integrate social data with physical data, providing deeper insights into developing methods that combine social, weather, and climate data for more comprehensive analyses.

Bio(s): Isabel Lopez is supported as a Cohort # 2 Graduate Fellow in the NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST-II). She is pursuing a doctorate in Civil Engineering at The University of Texas at El Paso. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and her master's in Environmental Engineering from UTEP in 2020 and 2023, respectively. During her master's studies, Isabel developed and refined her interest in using GIS and hydrological modeling to streamline the analysis of surface properties and runoff. Her research focuses on finding innovative solutions to alleviate urban flooding in El Paso, TX, by utilizing remote sensing tools and integrating socio-economic data to create thematic maps. The goal of her research is to develop geospatial products that stakeholders can utilize to enhance flood management strategies. She also seeks to understand how urban environments may evolve under climate change scenarios, providing valuable insights for resilience planning and adaptation.For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Approaches to Fisheries Climate Adaptations using the Northeast US Atlantis model

Presenter(s): Joe Caracappa, NOAA/NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)

Sponsor(s): U.S. Climate-Fisheries Seminar Series; coordinator is
Vincent.Saba@noaa.gov Location: Webinar

Abstract: TBD

Bio(s): TBD

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Climate and Societal Interactions Division Nature-Based Solutions Webinar 2: Considerations for Integrating Nature-based Solutions in Planning

Presenter(s): Jessica Eisma, Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering, University of Texas at Arlington; Kirsten Oleson, Professor, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Mnoa; Ann Nyambega, MS Candidate, Natural Resources and Environmental Management, University of Hawaii at Mnoa

Sponsor(s): NOAA Climate and Societal Interactions Division: Climate Adaptation Partnerships and Adaptation SciencesSeminar Contacts: Aliya Mejias aliya.mejias@noaa.gov, Genie Bey genie.bey@noaa.gov, Bhaskar Subramanian bhaskar.subramanian@noaa.gov

Abstract: This five-part webinar series features projects funded by the Climate and Societal Interactions (CSI) Division's Adaptation Sciences (AdSci) and Climate Adaptation Partnerships (CAP) programs focused on the research and application of nature-based solutions (NbS), which are actions to protect, sustainably manage, or restore natural or modified ecosystems to address societal challenges, simultaneously providing benefits for people and the environment.As climate change can impact communities differently, planning decisions to adapt should be grounded in place-based priorities. This webinar episode will feature two projects that consider different approaches to adaptation planning: cost-effective, climate, multi-objective analysis; and natural capital-informed. The first project, funded by AdSci, will provide an overview of how Houston quantifies the potential of an NbS in urban flood reduction and sought to build community understanding and support. This work took into consideration the potential reduction of expected climate change-induced increases in flood risk for vulnerable communities in highly urbanized coastal areas. The second presentation will be from Pacific Research on Island Solutions for Adaptation (Pacific RISA, a CAP team). The team will provide an overview of their on-going three-part project to create information needed for a natural capital approach to climate resilience, focusing primarily in Hawaii but drawing on cases in other Pacific Islands.Presentations:

• (AdSci) Identification of cost-effective, climate-informed green infrastructure adaptations to reduce flood risk in Houston's vulnerable communities
• (CAP / Pacific RISA) Natural capital-informed decision making on Kauai

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Our Submerged Past: Exploring Inundated Late Pleistocene (10,500-17,000 years ago) Caves in Southeast Alaska with SUNFISHNOAA Library Seminars

Presenter(s): Dr. Kristof Richmond, Chief Technology Officer, Sunfish, Inc.; and Dr. Kelly Monteleone, Underwater Anthropologist, Sealaska Heritage Institute

Sponsor(s): NOAA Ocean Exploration and NOAA Library.

Seminar Contact(s): Nina Pruzinsky, Grant Science Support Coordinator, NOAA Ocean Exploration (nina.pruzinsky@noaa.gov)

Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Abstract: The west side of Prince of Wales Island, Southeast Alaska had drastic sea-level rise at the end of the Pleistocene: up to 176 m in 7000 years. This now-submerged coastline would have been the route for early peoples journeying to the Americas. We surveyed this area for submerged caves and rock shelters, performing detailed investigation with the SUNFISH AUV"a compact, portable underwater vehicle with precision positioning and maneuverability to survey complex geometries in 3D, return to targets, take sediment samples, and assist human divers in archaeological tasks. Results from sediment cores include pollen, dinoflagellate cysts, and microdebitage with radiocarbon analysis to expand our understanding of the palaeoenvironment.

Keywords: Underwater archaeology, AUV, Submerged cave

Bio(s):
Dr. Richmond completed his Ph.D. at Stanford University on a visual mapping, navigation, and control system for MBARI ROVs and then started working with Stone Aerospace on a variety of robotics projects, almost all with an underwater component. He's taken advanced, highly maneuverable underwater robots into all kinds of places, from caves in Namibia to under the McMurdo Ice Shelf in Antarctica. He has been involved with the development of the SUNFISH autonomous underwater vehicle from its beginnings at Stone Aerospace, and now continuing at the spin-out Sunfish, Inc.

Dr. Monteleone completed her Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of New Mexico. She has an MSc in Maritime Archaeology from the University of Southampton, UK, and a Hrs. BSc in Archaeology from the University of Calgary. Her research focuses on providing the tools and expertise to help locate submerged archaeological sites on the continental shelf of Southeast Alaska and assist the local communities in learning more about their ancestors. Kelly is the Associate Director for the Canada/International constituency for Sigma Xi and the secretary for the Alaska Chapter of Sigma Xi.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Central Library YouTube channel.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Analysis of the 2024 Southern Brazil Heavy Rain and Flood Event from the Perspective of NOAA Satellite-Based Retrievals

Presenter(s): Sheldon Kusselson, Chris Grassotti, Pinping Xie

Sponsor(s): NOAA LEO Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bill Sjoberg bill.sjoberg@noaa.gov

Location: Webinar

Abstract:
In late April and May of 2024, the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul experienced a prolonged period of extremely heavy rainfall which led to catastrophic flooding and more than 100 fatalities. This extreme meteorological event was captured by a wide range of NOAA satellite retrieval products ranging from precipitation rates, soil moisture, to atmospheric water vapor, and temperature soundings. The seminar speakers will present an overview of the event, and describe how the various satellite products are able to provide insights on the nature of such extreme phenomena, as well as discuss some of the remaining challenges in using satellite products to observe such historic, fast-changing events.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Available upon request.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: An overview of NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Fiscal Year 2025 Regional Ecosystem Research Program Funding Opportunity for Potential Applicants



Presenter(s): Kimberly Puglise, Regional Ecosystems Research Program Manager, NOAA NCCOS Competitive Research Program

Sponsor(s): NOAA NCCOS Competitive Research Program, and NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) Science Seminar Series

Seminar Contacts: Moe Nelson, david.moe.nelson@noaa.gov ; Kimberly Puglise, kimberly.puglise@noaa.gov

Location: Webinar

Accessibility: TBD

Abstract: NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Competitive Research Program (NCCOS/CRP), in partnership with NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and National Marine Protected Areas Center, is pleased to announce a Fiscal Year 2025 Notice of Funding Opportunity(NOFO) for the Regional Ecosystem Research (RER) Program. NCCOS/CRP invites potential applicants to join a webinar on the FY2025 NOFO. This competition is soliciting proposals for projects to understand species' habitat usage and connectivity in and around marine protected areas. This information will be used to improve the ability of resource managers to address habitat connectivity, species' habitat affinities, and spatial and temporal usage of habitats in management plans for marine protected areas. NCCOS/CRP envisions funding two projects for up to three to four years in duration, with an approximate annual budget for each project up to $500,000, not to exceed $2,000,000 per project. The webinar will discuss the funding opportunity including due dates and requirements. There will be an opportunity to ask clarifying questions at the end of the webinar. More information on the funding opportunity, and a recording of this webinar after the event, can be found on the RER Program's website. Please see the full NOFO on Grants.Gov for additional details and instructions.

Additional information on this (and other) funding opportunities from NCCOS is available at: https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/about/funding-opportunities/ .

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: The webinar was recorded, and the video is viewable in Adobe Connect at https://noaabroadcast.adobeconnect.com/p93h56fvteqi/ .
Slides from the October 22 NOAA Science Seminar are accessible at:
https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/crp/regional-ecosystem-research/

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: U.S. Southern Plains Climate and Drought Update

Presenter(s): Drought Conditions in Texas: John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas State Climatologist
Drought Conditions in Oklahoma: Gary McManus, Oklahoma State Climatologist
Drought Conditions in Kansas: Matthew Sittel, Kansas Assistant State Climatologist
Forecasts and Outlooks: Adam Hartman, NOAA's National Weather Service Climate Prediction Center

Seminar Contact(s):
Joel Lisonbee joel.lisonbee@noaa.govLocation: Webinar

Abstract: Drought developed or worsened across Oklahoma over the summer. In September, Extreme Drought (D3) expanded over southwest Oklahoma, northwest Texas, and southern Kansas. NOAA's Climate Prediction Center's seasonal outlooks predict increased chances for warmer- and drier-than-normal conditions through the end of the year across the Southern Plains and into adjacent states. In fact, parts of eastern Texas that experienced flooding in early summer are now likely to develop drought by mid-fall.

With the rapid development of drought likely across the Southern Plains, and beyond, this webinar will look at current conditions and the climate outlooks through winter.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Will be available here: https://www.youtube.com/@noaadrought

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Insights Into allopatric speciation in North American freshwater fishes

Presenter(s): Tom Near, Yale University

Sponsor(s): Groundfish Seminar Series - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Groundfish Assessment Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bianca Prohaska (bianca.prohaska@noaa.gov) & Sarah Friedman (sarah.friedman@noaa.gov)

Accessibility: Closed captioning is available live during the via a WebEx toggle.

Abstract: Southeastern North America is hotspot of aquatic biodiversity. There are more species of freshwater fishes in eastern North America than any other temperate region on Earth. Much of this species diversity is concentrated among a set of geographically disjunct highland areas that include the Ozarks, Ouachitas, Cumberland Plateau, and the southern Appalachians. Allopatric speciation among these highland areas has been offered as a mechanism responsible for the high diversity of fish species, but it does not explain diversification within these areas. In this talk I will summarize recent work that shows how habitat specificity to bedrock geology drives both vicariant and dispersal-mediated allopatric speciation within highland areas. Our work also demonstrates that allopatric speciation does not always result in ecological equivalent species, indicating a role for ecological divergence generating diversity among the most closely related lineages. Studying the evolutionary history of southeastern North American freshwater fishes reveals a myriad number of mechanisms responsible for the high species diversity in one of our biological national treasures.

Bio(s): Thomas Near is the Bingham Oceanographic Curator at the Yale Peabody Museum, a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Head of Saybrook College at Yale University. Tom is from the north side of Chicago and he attended Northern Illinois University earning bachelor's degrees in both history and biological sciences. He obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois working out of the famed Illinois Natural History Survey. Tom arrived at Yale as an assistant professor and assistant curator in the fall of 2006.

Slides/Recordings/Other Materials: Seminar recordings will be posted here within a week of the presentation if permission is granted by the presenter.
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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Numerical and physical mixing in simulations of submesoscale baroclinic instabilities over sloping bathymetry

Presenter(s): Dylan Schlichting (Los Alamos National Laboratory)

Sponsor(s): NOAA Coastal Ocean Modeling Seminars: https://coastaloceanmodels.noaa.gov/seminar/

Seminar Contact(s): Alexander.Kurapov@noaa.gov

Abstract: A longstanding issue that affects ocean model fidelity is numerical mixing, the spurious mixing generated by the discretization of tracer advection. However, little is known about numerical mixing in simulations of submesoscale flows, other than that it can be larger than physical mixing, the mixing parameterized by turbulence closure schemes. I'll present findings from my PhD studies, which used realistic and idealized submesoscale eddy-resolving simulations with the Regional Ocean Modeling System to improve our understanding of numerical mixing. Our study site is the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River plume in the northern Gulf of Mexico, a region known for its rich submesoscale eddy field that develops during summer. The objectives of this presentation are to 1) quantify the sensitivity of numerical and physical mixing to horizontal resolution, 2) characterize where numerical and physical mixing are significant in the water column, and 3) understand how numerical mixing alters the larger-scale ocean circulation and tracer states. We find that numerical mixing dominates physical mixing in frontal zones due to their sharp horizontal gradients, which can suppress submesoscale dynamics. As grid resolution is pushed towards submesoscale front-resolving, new processes are resolved, and we find marginal decreases in numerical mixing and increases in physical mixing.
Slides, Recordings, OtherMaterials: TBDSubscribe to the NOAA ScienceSeminar Series weekly email: Sendan e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body.Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions andideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: U.S. Southeast Climate Webinar and Review of the Growing Season

Presenter(s): Climate Overview
Chris Fuhrmann | Southeast Regional Climate Center

Water Resources Overview
Todd Hamill | NWS Southeast River Forecast Center

Agriculture Impact Update
Pam Knox | University of GeorgiaSpecial Presentation - Review of the Growing Season
Pam Knox | University of Georgia

Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System

Seminar Contact(s):
Meredith Muth meredith.muth@noaa.govLocation: Webinar

Abstract: The Southeast Climate monthly webinar series is held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 10:00 am ET. This series is hosted by the Southeast Regional Climate Center, in partnership with the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the NOAA National Weather Service. These webinars provide the region with timely information on current and developing climate conditions such as drought, floods, and tropical storms, as well as climatic events like El Nio and La Nia. Speakers may also discuss the impacts of these conditions on topics such as agriculture production, water resources, wildfires, and ecosystems.

The special topic for the October webinar is "Review of the Growing Season."

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Will be available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmADP4Cm4SNtYZMmrY48PtQ

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NOAAScience Seminar Series

Title: Phytoplankton monitoring and mapping using NOAA OAR/AOML satellite data products for urban waters ecosystems.

Presenter(s): Carolina Perez, CESSRST II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers

Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) significantly threaten coastal communities and public health, impacting marine ecosystems and local economies. These blooms indicate potentially toxic phytoplankton and reflect broader environmental issues such as eutrophication, runoff, and the effects of weather events on coastal areas. My research focuses on the monitoring of HABs in New York City waterbodies, specifically Randall's Island and the Gowanus Canal, in collaboration with NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)and the National Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN). The Gowanus Canal, a notable study area, was designated a Superfund site by the EPA in 2010 due to its severe contamination from runoff and combined sewage overflow.During my time at AOML, as part of my NERTO research project, I helped develop a research technique by combining satellite data and ground-based data to develop interactive web tools to enhance the real-time monitoring of marine ecosystems. While a NOAA AOML NERTO Intern, I contributed to enhancing sustainability and resilience for marine ecosystems and coastal communities. AOML's Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystem Dynamics (OCED) branch employs satellite observations to analyze sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (CHL) levels in water bodies. Using the Environmental Research Division's Data Access Program (ERDDAP), data on SST and CHL I was able to generate detailed maps of these parameters using MATLAB. Integrating satellite-based data with in-situ measurements offers a powerful approach to understanding the health of both open ocean and coastal ecosystems. Combining these data sources, the research aims to create synthesis products that examine algal blooms and their dynamics.The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentors Dr. Chris Kelble and Dr. Enrique Montes of the NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystem Dynamics (OCED) branch. This NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC's goal of Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies through the theme of Oceans and Coasts. The NERTO deepened the intern's understanding of NOAA's research practices by giving me firsthand experience with the teamwork and dedication of a NOAA research team.

Bio(s): Carolina Perez is a NOAA Cooperative Science Center Fellow for the City College of New York (CCNY). Carolina Perez is a Master's student at the CUNY City College of New York in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science. She received her bachelor's degree in biology from CCNY, where she had her first experience with hands-on research, an experience that sparked her desire to continue research in graduate school. As a NOAA CESSRST EPP/MSI Graduate Research Fellow, she explores environmental dynamics and phytoplankton diversity in urban waterbodies, focusing on the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn, New York. Her research stems from a deep passion for oceanography and coastal ecology. Through her fellowship with CESSRST-II, she developed skills in remote sensing, data visualization, and coding, which became vital tools for her research. She used these skills to monitor water quality and phytoplankton activity, integrating satellite data with ground-based observations. She plans to utilize remote sensing technologies to preserve urban water bodies while educating local communities about their importance. As the founder of the New York City-based nonprofit STEM Hive, she also aims to foster inclusivity in STEM education by providing underrepresented youth workshops highlighting diverse STEM careers and developing a passion for scientific exploration. As she continues her academic career, she aims to combine her passion for science with her commitment to giving back to local communities. Carolina Perez is supported as a Cohort #1 Graduate Fellow in the NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies II (CESSRST II) award.For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAAScience Seminar Series

Title: Characterizing Hub-height Wind Speed Dependence on Atmospheric Processes in an Offshore Wind Environment

Presenter(s): Akarshna Iyer, CESSRST II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers

Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Wind energy is a form of renewable energy that has been growing in implementation and use over the past years. However, this situation is rapidly changing, with several new offshore leases being issued to advance offshore wind energy generation. NOAA and other organizations, including the DOE, have sponsored the third Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP3), a coordinated field campaign and analysis designed to improve offshore wind forecasting. This work focuses on the characterization of low-level jets (LLJs), jet streams found in the lower troposphere, that take place over Block Island, RI, and Nantucket, MA (two of the WFIP3 sites). The research questions this work seeks to answer are: Is the meteorology of the LLJ region consistent for multiple LLJ events? What is the meteorology pattern when an LLJ is present (offshore), and why? Individual LLJ cases were analyzed using observations from various WFIP3 remote sensing instruments. Preliminary results suggest, through analysis of the thermodynamic structure of the marine atmospheric boundary layer, that LLJs with predominantly southerly flow seem to correlate with warm air advection and periods of strengthened near-surface stability. The mechanisms that drive LLJs in regions off the U.S. East Coast are relatively unknown, making it an important area of study, especially since LLJ events seem to have larger errors in the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model's wind forecasts. The presence of LLJs and their shear levels can affect overall wind power generation and cause unwanted damage to wind turbines. This research benefits the science community and society because improved wind energy forecasts will increase energy reliability. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Dr. David Turner of NOAA Research, Global Systems Laboratory (GSL), Boulder, CO. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II's goal to conduct NOAA mission-aligned collaborative research; the mission is To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts. The NERTO deepened the intern's understanding of NOAA, and her results will inform future analyses of the HRRR using WFIP3 data, resulting in a faster understanding of errors within the HRRR as a function of weather conditions during low-level jet events.

Bio(s): Akarshna Iyer is a NOAA Cooperative Science Center Fellow in the Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST-II). Akarshna is a second-year Master's student at Hampton University studying Atmospheric Science. She has a Bachelor's in Meteorology from the Florida Institute of Technology (Melbourne, FL) and an Associate's degree from Normandale Community College (Bloomington, MN). Currently, Akarshna is conducting research on offshore wind energy, specifically in the marine atmospheric boundary layer. She has an interest in renewable energy and its growth in order to bring society a step closer to cleaner air. Akarshna has conducted research on solar radiation during her undergraduate career, which she presented at the American Meteorological Society Student Conference in 2023. Akarshna believes strongly in the integration of arts within STEM and hopes to continue her vocation through various creative methods. Akarshna Iyer is supported as a Cohort 2 Graduate Fellow in the NOAA Center for Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST-II) award.For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Implications of Tropospheric Mass Flux Reduction for the Frequency and Intensity of Convective Precipitation

Presenter(s): Carlos Ordaz, CESSRST II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers

Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Tropical precipitation will change with warming. Some results suggest that tropical precipitation extremes will increase at rates higher than Clausius-Clapeyron scaling of 7% per Kelvin. As a first step in building physical understanding of tropical precipitation changes, we apply the framework established by Pendergrass and Hartmann in their 2014 (PH14) trilogy to idealized cloud-resolving models in radiative convective equilibrium. PH14 introduce a way to understand changes to precipitation distributions in two modes: the shift and the increase mode. We explain the values of the shift and increase modes in terms of physical principles. The shift mode is captured to first order by Clausius Clapeyron scaling, while the increase mode is a combination of Clausius-Clapeyron scaling and the decrease of mass flux expected with climate change. This work contributes to a better process-level understanding of the physical mechanisms that influence tropical precipitation in a changing climate, which can in turn be used to improve NOAA's models.The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor, Nadir Jeevanjee of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), Princeton. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSCCESSRST-II goal of furthering our understanding of the atmosphere. The NERTO Implications of Tropospheric Mass Flux Reduction for the frequency and intensity of convective precipitation also deepened the intern's understanding of atmospheric physics.

Bio(s): Carlos Ordaz hails from the West Coast, specifically the San Diego/Tijuana region. After completing a bachelor's degree in Structural Engineering from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), he pursued a master's in physics from the City College of New York (CCNY). Having moved to New York 11 years ago, his journey has included working in the retail industry and two engineering firms before returning to purse a master's in physics. He is currently working on a PhD in Physics at the CUNY Graduate Center where his current research studies precipitation in a changing climate using idealized models. He is also interested in the application of the second law of thermodynamics to improve modeling. Outside of work and studies, Carlos enjoys cycling around New York City and playing soccer. Carlos Ordaz is supported as a Cohort # II Graduate Fellow in the NOAA Center for Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technology-II (CESSRST-II) award.For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.
Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Merged LEO-GEO Tropospheric Nitrogen Dioxide (tropNO2) Product for Air Quality Applications

Presenter(s): Thomas Ely, CESSRST II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRSTII), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers


Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Air quality is a key societal issue and can be hard to predict in coastal cities such as New York City and Baltimore due to the effects of sea breeze. Air quality studies can benefit from more accurate retrievals of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) from geostationary satellite sensors that show the transport and spatial distribution of pollution throughout the day. The objective of this project is to implement and test a methodology that can improve the quality of geostationary (GEO) satellite NO₂ data using low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite NO₂ data. This methodology uses the Kalman Filter algorithm to merge the two datasets in a process similar to data assimilation, except that the background model field uses data from a GEO satellite sensor, which in this case is NASA's Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) satellite sensor. LEO data from Sentinel5-Precursor TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (Sentinel-5P TROPOMI) serves as observational information. The Kalman Filter adds TROPOMI measurements to the background, weighting each dataset based on their respective uncertainties, which can mitigate uncertainties in each of the original datasets, resulting in a more accurate tropospheric NO₂ product that retains the high temporal resolution of TEMPO data. The merged TEMPO-TROPOMI product is compared against the Pandonia Global Network (PGN) ground-based tropospheric NO₂ column retrievals to evaluate the performance of the merged product compared to the original products. This project demonstrated the feasibility of implementing the Kalman Filter for merging satellite datasets and generated a new tropospheric NO₂ product that can be useful for local air-quality monitoring.The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Dr. Shobha Kondragunta of NOAA NESDIS. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II's goal to have students conduct NOAA mission-aligned research. The NERTO Merged LEO-GEO Tropospheric Nitrogen Dioxide Product also deepened the intern's understanding of NOAA satellite product development and validation, as well as satellite sensor calibration.

Bio(s): Thomas Ely is a NOAA Cooperative Science Center Fellow for the NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technology (CESSRST-II). Thomas is a CESSRST-II Cohort 3 fellow at City College of New York and is currently pursuing a PhD in electrical engineering. Thomas also has a bachelor's and master's in electrical engineering from City College of New York. His current research is a continuation of the NERTO project on the fusion of trace gas data collected from low earth orbit and geostationary satellites using the Kalman Filter algorithm. This research aims to use information from LEO data to enhance high temporal resolution GEO data and produce a more accurate dataset for local urban air quality monitoring. He was also a CESSRST-II Cohort 1 fellow during his master's program, and his research focused on tropospheric ozone profile retrievals using lidar. Thomas participated in constructing a mobile lidar system. He used it to make observations during the summer of 2023 that were used to study pollution transport in and around the New York City area. Thomas is passionate about engineering and wants to develop technology that can improve and protect human lives, and he is especially interested in the aerospace field. He enjoys working in the lab on electronics and optics projects, as well as developing software. Thomas Ely is supported as a Cohort 3 Graduate Fellow in the NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST-II) award. For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.Subscribe/Unsubscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter #2 (HARP2) Overall On-Orbit Performance, and Potential Applications

Presenter(s): Vanderlei Martins

Sponsor(s): NOAA LEO Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bill Sjoberg bill.sjoberg@noaa.gov

Location: Webinar

Abstract: The Hyper-Angular Rainbow Polarimeter-2 (HARP2) was launched on board the Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud and ocean Ecosystem (PACE)mission, in February 2024, for the global measurement of aerosol and cloud properties as well as to provide atmospheric correction over the footprint of the Ocean Color Instrument (OCI) using multi-angle and polarization measurements.This talk will show a brief description of the instrument and will focus on the onboard performance of the HARP2 sensor for image results from intensity and polarization measurements at different angles and wavelengths, as well as on the initial intercomparison with the other PACE instruments and with some ground-based targets. The HARP2 data has also been evaluated for level 2 retrievals of cloud and aerosol microphysical properties. Aerosol retrieval results will be shown from the multi-angle fit of HARP2 data based on the microphysical modelling of aerosol and cloud particles.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Available upon request.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: October NOAA NWS Alaska Climate Outlook Briefing


Presenter(s): Rick Thoman, Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy

Sponsor(s): NOAA/OAR/Climate Program Office and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)

Seminar Contacts: Alison Hayden (abhayden@alaska.edu) & Genie Bey (genie.bey@noaa.gov)

Abstract: We will review recent and current climate conditions around Alaska, discuss forecasting tools, and finish up with the Climate Prediction Center's forecast for November 2024 and the winter season. Join the gathering online to learn what's happened and what may be in store with Alaska's seasonal climate.

Bio(s): Rick Thoman is the Alaska Climate Specialist with ACCAP and has many years of experience producing reliable Alaska climate change information and graphics describing Alaska's changing environment. His work spans the bridge between climate modeling, Alaska communities, and the media.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Making Safer Playspaces: Community Action to remove recycled tires from playgrounds in La Crosse, WisconsinNOAA Library Seminars

Presenter(s): Brendan Turley, Assistant Scientist, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies

Sponsor(s): NOAA Education and NOAA Library

Seminar Contact(s): Rebecca Funk (rebecca.funk@noaa.gov)

Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Abstract: A collaboration between community activists and local scientists in La Crosse, WI worked to understand the health risks of recycled tires used for playgrounds and make the switch to natural wood mulch.

Keywords: citizen science, public health, community science

Bio(s): Brendan Turley is an assistant scientist at the Cooperative Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Studies at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. His work is primarily engaged with understanding water quality issues and how they relate to harmful algal blooms its effect on important fish populations. One of the projects he is working on is a collaborative water quality monitoring project with commercial fishers in Southwest Florida.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Central Library YouTube channel.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Transient and resident Salmonella: A genomic approach to analyzing over a decade of genetic diversity from fish meal production and storage facilities.Part of the NOAA Omics Seminar Series

Presenter(s): Johnathan Likens, Microbiologist, NOAA, National Seafood Inspection Laboratory

Sponsor(s): NOAA Omics

Seminar Contact(s): Nicole Miller, NOAA 'Omics Portfolio Specialist, noaa.omics@noaa.gov

Abstract: This webinar will discuss NSILs genomic approach in analyzing over a decade's worth of Salmonella positive isolates collected from fish meal production and storage facilities. Utilizing the Illumina MiSeq platform and Galaxytrakr software NSIL analyzed the genetic diversity and determined the presence of transient and resident Salmonella serovars. With this work, we will provide new insight into the genetic diversity currently found in fish meal production facilities. Additionally, bringing awareness to the industry on the possibility of Salmonella harborage and the risk of downstream contamination.

Bio(s): Johnathan Likens is a Microbiologist at the National Seafood Inspection Laboratory located in Pascagoula, Mississippi. Before joining NSIL in 2015, Johnathan studied biological science at the University of Southern Mississippi.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: A recording of this presentation will be made available on the NOAA Omics website. View past omics seminar recordings here: https://sciencecouncil.noaa.gov/NOAA-Science-Technology-Focus-Areas/NOAA-Omics

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: NOAA in the Chesapeake BayNOAA Library Seminars

Presenter(s): Bruce Vogt, Ecosystem Science Manager, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office

Sponsor(s): NOAA Fisheries



Seminar Contact(s): NOAA Library Seminars (library.seminars@noaa.gov)


Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Abstract: The presentation will provide an overview of NOAA's involvement in the state and federal ecosystem partnership working to protect and restore the Chesapeake Bay known as the Chesapeake Bay Program. It will also cover how the Chesapeake Bay Program is looking to improve beyond 2025 and highlight opportunities for NOAA to further support the Nation's largest estuary.

Keywords: Chesapeake Bay, Science, Restoration

Bio(s): Bruce is an estuarine ecologist managing projects to improve our understanding of the links between habitat condition, water quality and living resources to support Chesapeake Bay management objectives. He also leads fishery science and coordination activities of the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Central Library YouTube channel.


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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Sea spray organics over the remote oceans: how much is normal?NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory Seminar Series

Presenter(s): Michael Lawler, NOAA CSL and CIRES

Sponsor(s): NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory

Seminar Contact(s): Gregory Schill, gregory.schill@noaa.gov

Abstract: Knowing the physical properties of aerosol particles over the oceans is important to predict their radiative effects. There is evidence that recently produced biogenic organic compounds in the surface ocean may significantly affect the physical properties of sea spray aerosol particles, in particular their size, number, and hygroscopicity. This would amount to a potentially large amount of control by ocean biota on the radiative balance over the oceans. Some model simulations and in situ observations indicate the effects could be significant. However, there exists large variability in reported measurements of the organic mass content of fresh sea spray, with e.g. some studies showing organic mass fractions around 50% for 0.4 m diameter sea spray, and others showing values less than 10% at that diameter. It has been difficult to determine what values are representative, even for relatively well-studied regions like the North Atlantic. We have produced a dataset of sea spray organic mass fractions using the NOAA PALMS (Particle Analysis by Laser Mass Spectrometry) instrument from measurements made on the DC-8 during the four-season NASA ATom mission. This dataset takes advantage of the unique qualities of single particle observations and the extremely broad spatial coverage achieved during ATom to provide a particle size-resolved view from ~ 0.15-0.7 m diameter that is essentially free of biases such as secondary organic aerosol and coastal biogeochemical features. We find that the average organic mass fraction of fresh sea spray aerosol is on the low end of reported values, with low seasonal variability, on the vary broad spatial scales considered. We infer that strong biological control of fresh submicron sea spray aerosol properties is most likely the exception rather than the rule. I will compare the results with previous observations and highlight some uncertainties that remain.

Bio(s): Dr. Lawler received his PhD from the University of California, Irvine, for work on the multiphase cycling of reactive halogens in marine air. His postdoctoral work focused on the formation and growth of new particles in the atmospheric boundary layer. Currently he is a research scientist at CU Boulder CIRES/NOAA Chemical Sciences Lab, where he uses single particle mass spectrometry to characterize the formation and transformation pathways of atmospheric aerosol, with a recent focus on the lower stratosphere.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: https://csl.noaa.gov/seminars/2024, contingent on speaker approval.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: 1. Toward improved coral seeding units; 2. Intraspecific variation in thermal tolerance in captively bred cohorts of the endangered Caribbean coral, Acropora palmata; 3. C-SHoRE (Coral Stress Hardening for Restoration): Benefits, Costs, and Biomarkers

Presenter(s): Jennifer Kraus (Office of Marine and Aviation Operations), Sarah Hile (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science), and Christine Addison (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science)

Sponsor(s): NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

Seminar Contact(s): caroline.donovan@noaa.govLocation: Webinar

Presentations

Title: Toward improved coral seeding units

Presenter(s): Margaret Miller and Miles McGonigle, SECORE

Abstract: The step of attaching coral propagules to the reef surface is among the most costly in most coral restoration pipelines. One solution is to obviate the attachment step completely by sowing' or wedging propagules. Coral larval seeding units (SUs) are artificial substrates that can be designed with specific characteristics to foster efficient handling, self-stabilization, and favorable habitat for coral recruits. In order to improve the self-stabilizing property (and, hence, the retention of outplanted SUs), we tested the stability/movement of over 80 different SUs (varying mass, size, and morphology), under controlled hydrodynamic forcing in the SUSTAIN (SUrge-STructure-Atmosphere Interaction) laboratory at the University of Miami. The primary takeaways from the extensive retention testing performed for this project showed that units with a combined larger mass and lower profile will be the most stable. The combination of these aspects is important as testing showed that more massive units with high profile areas displayed poor retention. A mass (g) to profile (cm2) ratio of at least 4 appears to be most effective. Further field testing has been performed and analyzed to corroborate these results. These physical characteristics have been incorporated with additional, established design criteria and other lessons learned from experimentation with coral settlers into a new SU prototype design that is currently undergoing testing.

Title: Intraspecific variation in thermal tolerance in captively bred cohorts of the endangered Caribbean coral, Acropora palmata

Presenter(s): Carly Kenkel, University of Southern California

Abstract: The region-wide decline of Acropora palmata has significant implications for the structure and function of Caribbean reefs as this is the only species capable of building the reef- crest habitat zone. The extreme heat wave in summer 2023 further decimated natural populations, particularly in the Florida Keys and many founder genets are now only represented in captivity. Novel, sexually produced genets could be used to supplement restoration designs, but the ultimate success of these efforts will depend on whether there is sufficient genetic diversity and thermal resilience in these captively bred offspring to survive and reproduce in a rapidly changing climate. We quantified thermal tolerance of 150 sexually produced A. palmata genotypes largely derived from three crosses, a multi-parent batch cross of Elbow, Horseshoe and Sand Island founder genets in 2013, a multi-parent batch cross of Elbow and Biscayne founder genets in 2017, and a biparental cross of two Lower Keys genets in 2020, in response to a one-month long tank-based thermal stress experiment. Survival was significantly reduced in the heat treatment, with heat-treated genotypes incurring a 4.7 times higher mortality risk on average. However, there were also significant differences in survival among genotypes under heat treatment, with an order of magnitude difference in hazard ratios between the worst- performing and best-performing genotypes. While some of this variation is attributable to differences in the dominant algal endosymbiont type hosted, additional variation is evident among genets hosting the same dominant symbiont species, indicating genetic variation among hosts. Taken together, we find a surprising degree of phenotypic variation in response to thermal stress among and within crosses, suggesting scope for continued acclimation and/or adaptation despite a limited parental population.

Title: C-SHoRE (Coral Stress Hardening for Restoration): Benefits, Costs, and Biomarkers

Presenter(s): Dr. Jose Eirin-Lopez, Florida International University and Dr. Serena Hackerott, University of Delaware

Abstract: The C-SHoRE project investigated the feasibility to improve restoration and enhance coral resilience via coral stress hardening. Stress hardening is an innovative physiological intervention that has the potential to greatly improve the long-term success of coral restoration. However, key questions regarding the dose, stressor specificity, potential benefits and trade-offs, and the molecular mechanisms of hardening must first be addressed to determine the applicability of this intervention within the scope of current restoration practices. Through a combination of laboratory and field experiments, we address critical knowledge gaps via the following objectives:
Objective 1: Assess the dose-dependence & stressor-specificity of coral stress hardening
Objective 2: Quantify the physiological benefits & trade-offs associated with coral stress hardening
Objective 3: Identify the molecular mechanisms underpinning acquired thermal tolerance
Objective 4: Evaluate coral stress hardening benefits, costs & biomarkers applied to coral restoration
NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email: Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your comments and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: On the response of sea surface temperature to dust storms in the Arabian Gulf

Presenter(s): Xiaohui Liu (College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University)

Sponsor(s): NOAA Coastal Ocean Modeling Seminars: https://coastaloceanmodels.noaa.gov/seminar/

SeminarContact: Alexander.Kurapov@noaa.gov

Abstract: The Arabian Gulf, connected to the northern Indian Ocean by a narrow strait, is an inverse estuary for which surface heating and evaporation is the primary mechanism for the formation of (warm salty) bottom water. Frequent dust storms in the atmosphere over the Gulf reflect solar insolation and are known to cause significant variation of surface radiative forcing in the Gulf. Previous studies have noted that the climatological shortwave radiation should be reduced to account for the effect of dust aerosols (e.g., Johns et al., 2003; Lorenz et al. 2020). In this study, by combining satellite SST, in-situ SST collected by biologging devices attached to cormorants and a series of numerical experiments with different shortwave radiative forcings (with and without dust) from the MERRA-2 hourly reanalysis product, we investigate the shorter timescale response of sea surface temperature (SST) of the Arabian Gulf to the dust aerosol concentration over the Gulf. The model results suggest that higher dust concentration during each storm decreases the gulf-averaged daily SST by about 0.8 C maximum, by reducing shortwave radiation. The SST decreases rapidly during periods of high dust concentration and restores more slowly after storms. The correlation between dust concentration and SST anomalies is also captured in both satellite SST observation and in situ biologging SST data. The SST response to the dust-induced forcing is finally generalized and interpreted by applying a linearized forcing-response model. By fitting the numerical results to the linearized model, we found that the response time of the SST to the variation of shortwave radiation is about 13 days, whereas typical dust storm durations are 6-15 days. This study enhances our understanding of the surface ocean's response to atmospheric processes in coastal and estuarine regions by utilizing improved air-sea fluxes, and biologging and satellite observations.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: TBD

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Nearshore fishes of Puget Sound: An investigation of early life history, habitat, and ecology

Presenter(s): Alicia Godersky, NOAA/NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering (RACE) Division

Sponsor(s): Groundfish Seminar Series - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Groundfish Assessment Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bianca Prohaska (bianca.prohaska@noaa.gov) & Sarah Friedman (sarah.friedman@noaa.gov)

Accessibility: Closed captioning is available live during the via a WebEx toggle.

Abstract: In 2011, a survey was conducted to investigate Puget Sound's nearshore food web and resulted in the largest collection of ichthyoplankton in the region. Almost one thousand specimens and 71 species were collected. April and May samples had the highest abundance and richness, but ichthyoplankton were collected throughout the year. I compared spatial and temporal patterns of three species with different life history phenology: Pacific Herring, Pacific Sandlance, and Starry Flounder. Analysis revealed seasonal and distributional differences among the three species. While this study is the most expansive analysis of ichthyoplankton in the Puget Sound, it is far from adequate.

Bio(s): Alicia Godersky was born in the landlocked state of Iowa, raised near the sea in Anchorage, AK, and formally educated in the great State of Washington. She received her bachelor's degree from the University of Washington Biology Department where she landed her first unpaid internship studying the local Olympia Oyster and her first paid internship at NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center studying freshwater ecology with a focus on invertebrates. She continued working as a contractor on several freshwater studies and eventually found herself in charge of plankton sampling on a 42-foot boat in Puget Sound. This work became her master's thesis and she graduated from UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences in 2018. She joined NOAA's RACE Division as part of EcoFOCI this May and is a member of the Ichthyoplankton Team.

Slides/Recordings/Other Materials: Seminar recordings will be posted here within a week of the presentation if permission is granted by the presenter.
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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: NEDTalk - Extreme heat - Mapping Heat Islands in CitiesNOAA Environmental Data Talks (NEDTalks)

Presenter(s): Morgan Zabow is the Community Heat and Health Program Manager with NOAA's Climate Program Office.

Sponsor(s): NOAA NESDIS Communications / NESDIS HQ

Seminar Contacts: Rafael.deAmeller@noaa.gov

Abstract: NOAA, in partnership with CAPA Strategies, developed a process for cities to conduct volunteer-based, community science field campaigns to map and understand how heat is distributed in their communities. The data collected from these campaigns is being used to inform community decisions to mitigate heat risk and support heat planning, preparedness, and response.

See https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/events/nedtalk-extreme-heat-mapping-heat-islands-cities

Bio(s): https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/events/nedtalk-extreme-heat-mapping-heat-islands-cities

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NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: Multi-Year CORS v3 (MYCS3)

Presenter(s): Phillip McFarland

Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Geodetic Survey

Seminar Contact(s): Webinar Team (ngs.webinar@noaa.gov)

Abstract: NGS's 3rd Multi-Year CORS Solution (MYCS3) is nearing completion. This webinar will discuss the project's purpose, background, and history, and give an update of the project status. We will share our most recent results and describe how they will be used downstream by both internal and external stakeholders.

Bio(s): Phillip McFarland is a geodesist and reference frame scientist in the Spatial Reference System Division of the U.S. National Geodetic Survey. He works on precise orbit determination of GPS satellites and reference frame determination for civil applications.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Approximately two weeks after the webinar, attendees will receive a link to the recorded webinar. The recorded webinar will also be posted on the NGS website:
will be posted on the CVP Program website: NGS webinar series

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Spatiotemporal variability of heat stress in the Imperial Valley using remote sensing and weather station data

Presenter(s): Stephanie Hurtado-Gonzalez, CESSRST II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST II), NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers


Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Extreme heat is a persistent environmental and public health issue impacting all populations. Current research has vastly explored the impacts of heat stress on urban environments and the Urban Heat Island effect. Yet, more efforts are needed to study the impacts on agricultural lands and farmworkers. The Imperial Valley, CA is no exception to this as it has a desert climate, while also being one of the largest producers of winter vegetable crops. This study is focused on utilizing remote-sensed Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from Landsat 8, in combination with weather station data, to evaluate and predict Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). As well as, exploring the components of WBGT. Monitoring heat stress through high-resolution remote sensing can address sub-field processes that are challenging to other systems such as MODIS and regional climate models with coarser spatial resolution. Results show that WBGT can be predicted from LST with a root mean square error of 5 F and that wet-bulb temperature (NWB) is the greatest predictor for WBGT. Future work will connect LST and WBGT data with physiological stress measurements, public health records, and interview responses from farmworkers. This research supports NOAA's mission to understand and predict climate and weather changes by enhancing knowledge of climate change, weather patterns, and heat stress impacts. As well as the National Weather Service's mission to protect lives and issue appropriately timely alerts to the public and emergency community.Research Questions:

1. How has WBGT changed over the study period? Are there any variations between weather stations?
2. What is the relationship between remotely sensed Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)?
3. Which variable within the WBGT equation plays the most significant role in determining WBGT?

The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor, Alexander Tardy of the National Weather Service office in San Diego, CA. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II's goal of to understand and predict changes in climate and weather. The NERTO project titled 'Spatiotemporal Variability of Heat Stress in the Imperial Valley Using Remote Sensing and Weather Station Data' deepened the intern's understanding of addressing societal problems through the integration of remote sensing technologies with multidisciplinary research in environmental systems, socioeconomic drivers, and solutions.

Bio(s): Stephanie Hurtado-Gonzalez is supported as a Cohort #2 Graduate Fellow in the NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST-II).She is pursuing a master's degree in Geography with a concentration in GIScience, at San Diego State University. Stephanie earned her bachelor's degree in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she was first introduced to remote sensing. After completing her undergraduate studies, she took a gap period and worked in an environmental laboratory, utilizing organic chemistry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to analyze over 100 potential contaminants against state and federal regulations. Her current research focuses on extreme weather and heat stress affecting vulnerable populations, though she is also interested in applying remote sensing to other fields and incorporating social science into her future work.For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.
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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Urban Study of Excessive Rainfall Rates

Presenter(s): Melissa Crouch, CESSRST II Graduate NERTO Intern, NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)

Sponsor(s): NOAA EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers

Seminar Contact(s): Audrey.Trotman@noaa.gov, and oed.epp10@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Warming atmospheric temperatures have the potential to increase the moisture content, leading to enough intensified precipitation and storms to induce flash flooding. Urban areas experience the worst of these events due to a lack of infiltration that affects drainage systems. This project is an analysis of these rainfall events. The objectives were to (1) use MRMS/FLASH data to help better anticipate urban flood events through good lead time, (2) use the data to refine flash flood guidance values, and (3) develop thresholds for improved issuance of severity of flood impacts. Particular focus was on the remnants of Ida on September 1^st and 2^nd, 2021, and the September 29^th event of 2023. Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) data were matched with local storm reports (LSRs) to statistically summarize the patterns of precipitation and surface runoff estimates within New York City. Flash flood guidance (FFG) was used to interpret the results of the analysis, which concludes that, for all events, the quantitative precipitation estimate (QPE) does not exceed FFG thresholds. The surface runoff simulations illustrate the exceedance of thresholds, posing the risk of flash flooding to occur. The work also helps in serving the needs of both meteorologists and hydrologists to improve lead time and calibrate thresholds for improved issuance of severity of flood impacts. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Dr. David Radell, Science Operations Officer at the National Weather Service at Upton, NY. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II's goal to understand and predict changes in Earth's environment. This Urban Study of Excessive Rainfall Rates also deepened the intern's understanding of how urban landscapes (like NYC) influence flash flooding behavior and the importance of how these models help the public in making informed decisions on how to prepare for these kinds of events.

Bio(s): Melissa Crouch is supported as a Cohort #1 Graduate Fellow in the NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST-II). Melissa is pursuing a master's degree in Earth and Atmospheric Science at the City College of New York (CCNY/CUNY). She obtained a Bachelor's degree in both applied meteorology and geology. On occasion, she volunteers as a citizen scientist for water quality monitoring programs. Melissa's research analyzes hydrological datasets provided by the National Weather Service. Simulating precipitation and streamflow events in urbanized areas to understand the magnitude of flood impacts, particularly flash flooding, in the face of climate sensitivity. The goal of her work is also to provide a characterization of the hydrological models and to determine the response of the extremes to a changing climate. For more information access the webpage for the Cooperative Science Centers, https://www.noaa.gov/office-education/epp-msi/csc/20212022-awards and NERTO, www.noaa.gov/eppnerto/.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Quality Assurance of Long-Term Observations by Balloon Borne Ozone sondes: Plans of My Sabbatical Journey at NOAA-GML/CSL

Presenter(s): Herman Smit

Sponsor(s): NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory (https://gml.noaa.gov/about/seminars.php)

Seminar Contacts: Monica Madronich (monica.madronich@noaa.gov)Abstract : Ozonesondes form the backbone of the global ozone observing network. They are currently launched regularly from about 60 stations worldwide, many with long-term records of up to 50 years or more. The importance of these data for assessing trends and compliance with the Montreal Protocol, as well as serving as a transfer standard and stable reference for satellite validation, cannot be overstated. However, maintaining quality across the sonde network requires regular and continuing assessment of the hardware, operational characteristics and data processing. To assess the performance of the sonde instrument and to guarantee consistency in long-term data records, an environmental simulation facility at the Forschungszentrum Jlich (FZJ) was established as the World Calibration Centre for Ozone Sondes (WCCOS) of WMO-GAW (Global Atmospheric Watch). Beginning in 1996, a series of JOSIE (Jlich Ozone Sonde Intercomparison Experiment) campaigns has been conducted at the WCCOS to evaluate different ozonesonde types.In a retrospective I will present and describe the data quality improvements achieved with a focus on a new data processing methodology to correct for the slow and fast time responses of the sonde signal. The last will also be the subject of my six month sabbatical visit to NOAA. A key target of my visit will be also to investigate the feasibility to establish at NOAA/GML a WMO/GAW-Regional Calibration Centre for Ozone Sondes (RCCOS) that would cover the American continent and the Tropics of the global ozone sonde network.

Bio(s): For more than 40 years Herman Smit worked as an atmospheric researcher (retired since 2021) at the Forschungszentrum Jlich in Germany to study atmospheric composition through long-term (in-situ) measurements to better understand the underlying chemical and dynamical processes. The focus of his work is on long term quality-assessed airborne in-situ measurements of ozone and water vapor using either balloon sondes or commercial in-service aircraft.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: VAWS: Assessing Freezing Spray Algorithms


Presenter(s): Gene Petrescu, NWS Alaska Region Arctic Test Bed

Sponsor(s): NOAA/OAR/Climate Program Office and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)

Seminar Contact(s): Alison Hayden (abhayden@alaska.edu) & Genie Bey (genie.bey@noaa.gov)

Abstract: Freezing Spray is the leading cause of marine fatalities in Alaska waters. Notable events of vessel sinkings due to freezing spray include; The Scandies Rose, Destination, Hunter, and Star Trek. Freezing spray can accumulate quickly in extreme events and result in rapid destabilization of a vessel. The National Weather Service has been using the Overland Method to estimate freezing spray accumulations for a few decades. Canada uses the Stallabras Method which is fairly similar. A challenge is that there is very little data to evaluate how well these algorithms work in various weather / water conditions. They were developed using specific vessel classes in specific regions, such as the Overland in the Bering Sea. How well does this apply to the Gulf of Alaska? The first phase of the project is attempting to use multiple methods to obtain in-situ freezing spray observations. A first set of observations were successfully collected early in 2024, with the observation period continuing through the upcoming winter. These observations will be used to evaluate the algorithms and help us determine their utility in varying conditions, or if they need to be adjusted how they should be improved. We will describe the characteristics and challenges of forecasting freezing spray, the partnership with AOOS, Skippers Science, AXIOM, and the Alaska Marine Exchange in collecting observations, and the next steps for algorithm evaluation.

Bio(s): Gene is the Regional Scientist and the Arctic Testbed and Proving Ground Director for the National Weather Service Alaska Region in Anchorage, AK. He started working with the NWS in Anchorage in 1990, and worked at Juneau and Juneau through 1995. Then in Glasgow, MT, Seattle, WA, and Missoula, MT before returning to Alaska in the Alaska Aviation Weather Unit in 2008. He has been at Alaska Region Headquarters since 2010.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: The collaborative execution of Ecosystem-based Management (EBM) science at NOAA Fisheries

Presenter(s): Dr. Christopher R. Kelble, NOAA Fisheries Office of Science & Technology

Sponsor(s): NMFS Ecosystem Based Management/Ecosystem Based Fishery Management Seminar Series (EBM/EBFM) and NOAA Central Library.

POC: EBFM/EBM Environmental Science Coordinator, Peg Brady (peg.brady@noaa.gov)

Abstract: Our Oceans are changing rapidly and experiencing increasing use for multiple activities. Thus, requiring NOAA to employ a systems approach to provide the best scientific advice for management. Yet, many of NOAA's scientific and management programs remain siloed causing bureaucratic and delivery hurdles. By increasing integration among our various programs, NOAA can achieve efficiencies and improvements in developing and communicating our science. Several programs are trying to achieve this, but they also suffer from a lack of integration. The pros and cons of undertaking this integration and a potential integrated path forward will be presented.

Keywords: Ecosystem-based Management (EBM), climate, integration

Bio(s): Dr. Christopher R. Kelble is the Director of the Marine Ecosystems Division in NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology. Prior to joining NOAA Fisheries, Chris worked in Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) at the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. Chris and the marine ecosystems division strive to advance the implementation and science supporting ecosystem based management, including climate ready fisheries.

Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Central Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Central Library YouTube channel.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: A Flexible Framework for Quantifying the Human Health Risk of Extreme Temperature Events

Presenter(s): Greg Tierney, Research Scholar, North Carolina State Climate Office

Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information

Seminar Contact(s): Fred Burnett (fred.burnett@noaa.gov), Ellen Mecray (Ellen.L.Mecray@noaa.gov) and Sharon Mesick (Sharon.Mesick@noaa.gov)

Abstract: Extreme temperature events " both heat waves and cold snaps " pose significant hazards to human health, with underserved and vulnerable communities often hit hardest. With these events projected to become more common and more extreme in the future, flexible tools are needed to assess their current and future risk across a variety of durations and thresholds. To address this need, we utilize intensity-duration-frequency (IDF) curves, frequently used in hydrology, as the basis for a flexible framework evaluating temperature extremes. The information-dense nature of IDFs permits coverage of several return periods (multi-year to multi-decade) and event lengths (2 hours to >10 days) in a compact visual format. Enhancements incorporating near-extreme events and uncertainty quantification provide additional utility in a range of applications including real-time event classification, integration with model projections, and use of health-focused metrics such as heat index and wind chill. Altogether, this framework complements a broader set of initiatives in North Carolina fostering more climate resilient communities.

Bio(s): https://climate.ncsu.edu/people/greg-tierney/

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Community Restoration in the Gulf of Mexico Following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Presenter(s): Kristopher Benson, NOAA Fisheries Restoration Center

Sponsor(s): Groundfish Seminar Series - Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Resource Assessment and Conservation Engineering Division, Groundfish Assessment Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bianca Prohaska (bianca.prohaska@noaa.gov) & Sarah Friedman (sarah.friedman@noaa.gov)

Accessibility: Closed captioning is available live during the via a WebEx toggle.

Abstract: Since 2021, the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) restoration portfolio has been working to restore deep Gulf of Mexico coral communities injured by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The goals of the portfolio are to improve understanding of MDBC to inform management and ensure resiliency, to restore abundance and biomass of MDBC invertebrates and fish with a focus on high-density coral sites, and to actively manage valuable MDBC to protect against multiple threats and provide a framework for monitoring, education, and outreach. This presentation will cover outcomes of the restoration activities to date and plans for the future.

Bio(s): Kristopher Benson works as a marine habitat resource specialist in the NOAA Fisheries Restoration Center. He has served in this role at Fort Crockett in Galveston, Texas, since 2003. He works to restore and conserve habitats ranging from coastal wetlands to the deep sea, with an emphasis on deep-water habitats in the Gulf of Mexico.

Slides/Recordings/Other Materials: Seminar recordings will be posted here within a week of the presentation if permission is granted by the presenter.
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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Study on the Performance and Accuracy of Reduced Order Source Terms in Coupled Circulation-Wave Models

Presenter(s): Mark Loveland (University of Texas at Austin)

Sponsor(s): NOAACoastal Ocean Modeling Seminars: https://coastaloceanmodels.noaa.gov/seminar/

Seminar Contact(s): Alexander.Kurapov@noaa.gov

Abstract: During hurricanes, coupled wave-circulation models are critical tools for public safety. The standard approach is to use a high fidelity circulation model coupled with a wave model that uses the most advanced source terms. As a result, the models can be computationally expensive and so this study investigates the potential consequences of using simplified (reduced order) source terms within the wave model component of the coupled wave-circulation model. The trade-off between run time and accuracy with respect to observations is quantified for a set of two storms that impacted the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Ida. Water surface elevations as well as wave statistics (significant wave height, peak period, and mean wave direction) are compared to observations. The usage of the reduced order source terms yielded significant savings in computational cost. Additionally, relatively low amounts of additional error with respect to water level observations during the simulations with reduced order source terms are observed in our computational experiments. However, large changes in global model outputs of the wave statistics were observed based on the choice of source terms. Accuracy of the wave statistics with respect to observations improved with the most advanced source terms but with a strong dependence on the accuracy of the atmospheric forcing.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: TBD

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Identifying Subseasonal Forecasts of Opportunity Using Explainable AI, and Evaluation of Moist Static Energy Related to Boreal Winter Intraseasonal Tropical Waves in UFS P8

Presenter(s): Dr. Marybeth Arcodia, Colorado State, and Dr. Nakbin Choi, George Mason

Sponsor(s): NOAA OAR Weather Program Office S2S Program and NOAA NWS Office of Science and Technology Integration Modeling Program DivisionSeminar Contacts: Mark Olsen, mark.olsen@noaa.gov

Abstract: This monthly webinar series was created to share ongoing work within NWS and OAR at the Weeks 3-4 and S2S timescales. We would like to foster a relaxed, informal dialogue among forecasters, modelers and researchers. This month, Marybeth Arcodia will speak about "Identifying Subseasonal Forecasts of Opportunity Using Explainable AI" and Nakbin Choi will speak about " Evaluation of Moist Static Energy Related to Boreal Winter Intraseasonal Tropical Waves in UFS P8."

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Available on the Weeks 3-4/S2S Webinar Series website: https://vlab.noaa.gov/web/weeks-3-4-s2s-webinar-series

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NOAA Science Seminar SeriesDate & Time: 4 October 2024, 3 - 4 pm ET

Title: Course-Based Research Provides Coastal Insights Through Collaborative Science and Big Data Skills

Presenter(s):

• Kait Reinl, Lake Superior National Estuarine Research Reserve
• Paul Hanson, University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Sylvia Yang, Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Sponsor(s): This webinar is co-sponsored by the NERRS Science Collaborative and NOAA RESTORE Seminar Contacts: Doug George (douglas.george@noaa.gov) or Nick Soberal (nsoberal@umich.edu) AbstractThe National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) provides an opportunity to compare site-based monitoring data from a wide range of estuaries across the nation to discover patterns and trends in ecosystem dynamics. Despite decades of SWMP data being amassed " and the Reserve System's interest in investigating long-term changes in estuarine systems " limited personnel capacity has often prevented these datasets from being fully utilized. To address this need, a catalyst project developed a graduate level class at University of Wisconsin-Madison for Spring 2024 with dual learning objectives: a technical objective to learn ecological big data skills and a collaborative objective to learn how to conduct user-driven collaborative science. In this webinar, the project team will share their journey of developing and implementing the class, highlight student findings, and demonstrate analyses that they used to address science and management questions. They will also discuss lessons learned along the way and future opportunities for this teaching model to be used by the NERRS and partners.

Bio(s): Please visit here for more information about the webinar.Subscribe to the OneNOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email:Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: NEDTalk - Planetary Climates: Exploring climate in other planets and our EarthNOAA Environmental Data Talks (NEDTalks)

Presenter(s): Rafael Rafa de Ameller and Juan Pablo Hurtado - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Environmental Visualization Lab, or NOAA VizLab, I.M. Systems Group, Inc.

Sponsor(s): NOAA / NESDIS Communications / NESDIS HQ



Seminar Contact(s): Rafael.deAmeller@noaa.gov

Abstract: Celebrate NOAA DataFest and World Space Week 2024 with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)! This year's World Space Week theme, Space & Climate Change, highlights the essential role of space science in understanding and addressing the challenges of climate change on Earth. Join us for Planetary Climates: Exploring Climate on Other Planets and Our Earth, a compelling live presentation featuring experts Juan Pablo Hurtado and Rafael de Ameller.

Whether you're a student, educator, scientist, or simply curious about the cosmos and our environment, this event, open to the public, offers an opportunity to explore the intersection between space exploration and climate science.

Event Highlights:
- Live Online Broadcast: Explore planetary climates through NOAA's Science On a Sphere. Compare the climates of different planets in our solar system to Earth's, and discover insights into our own climate challenges.
- Expert Insights: Hear from Juan Pablo Hurtado and Rafael de Ameller as they discuss how space exploration informs our fight against climate change on Earth.
- World Space Week Focus: Learn about World Space Week, the world's largest annual space event, and how this year's focus on Space & Climate Change unites space enthusiasts, scientists, and the public to address one of the most urgent issues of our time.

About NOAA
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency within the United States Department of Commerce. NOAA is dedicated to understanding and predicting changes in the Earth's climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. By providing critical data and insights, NOAA supports efforts to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources, ensuring a sustainable future for our planet.

About the Science On a Sphere
NOAA's Science On a Sphere is a cutting-edge visualization tool that uses a spherical display to represent planetary data. This immersive and interactive platform provides a unique perspective of climate patterns, weather phenomena, and more across Earth and other planets.

See https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/events/nedtalk-planetary-climates-exploring-climate-other-planets-and-our-earth

Bio(s): https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/events/nedtalk-planetary-climates-exploring-climate-other-planets-and-our-earth

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Learning and Improving upon Stock Assessment Workflows across the U.S.A.

Presenter(s): Samantha Schiano, ECS Federal in support of NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology


Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and NOAA Library

Seminar Contact(s): Dr. Bai Li (bai.li@noaa.gov) and Library Seminars

Abstract: This work explored the unique stock assessment workflows of assessment scientists around the U.S.A. and the struggles that come with a non-standardized process. While there may be approaches and efforts to streamline workflows and in particular, report writing, most of it is regionally or even species specific due to differing requirements for reporting. To help streamline workflows across the country, we have worked with a steering committee to develop an R package that addresses common issues in the reporting process by providing consistent formatting, user-friendly implementation, and programmed accessibility standards.

Keywords: Stock assessment reports, workflow, automation

Bio(s): Samantha Schiano is a contractor with ECS federal working with the National Stock Assessment Program. Samantha's work primarily focuses on stock assessment workflows by developing ways to increase throughput and providing tools to help stock assessment scientists.

Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Library YouTube channel.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: FHAST: A mechanistic based tool for assessing habitat effects on anadromous fish

Presenter(s): Peter Dudley, NOAA SWFSC Affiliate, University of California - Santa Cruz, Fisheries Collaborative Program

Sponsor(s): NOAA NMFS SWFSC Fisheries Ecology DivisionSeminar contact: tanya.rogers@noaa.gov.

Abstract: In an effort to protect infrastructure, access water, develop agricultural land, etc., agencies, managers, or individuals will often alter anadromous fish habitat along rivers. These same actors may also alter habitat to aid in conservation of these species (habitat restoration). When planning projects that could impact aquatic habitats either positively or negatively, regulatory agencies generally require an assessment of those impacts on native fauna, including fish. These alterations often involve numerous ecological interactions which are difficult to account for simultaneously. To aid in the assessment of how habitat alteration will affect fish, we have developed the Fish Habitat Assessment and Simulation Tool (FHAST). FHAST is a spatially explicit agent-based tool which allows users to simulate the effects of habitat alteration on an anadromous fish species and account for numerous ecological processes. Fish actions are based on mechanistic principles derived from physiological and behavior studies. We developed the model with continuous from both a regulator (NOAA) and an agency engaged in habitat alterations (US Army Corps). As such, there was a focus on making the tool usable by these two agencies. We present the model structure, show calibration simulations, and use FHAST to show how different habitat alterations such as changing cover, altering flows, or increasing food availability changes fish growth and population levels of both salmonids and sturgeons. With increasing access to habitat data and computing power, models like FHAST, which use mechanistic physiological and behavioral data to explicitly account for interacting ecological processes, will increasingly become available and used.

Bio(s): Peter Dudley is an ecological modeler focusing on extending biophysical, organismal-based ecology to a population level using agent-based frameworks in spatially explicit habitat models. He focuses specifically on issues of conservation and habitat suitability. He received a Bachelor of Physics from Creighton University and a Master in Physics from Purdue University. He then moved to the University of Wisconsin where he earned a Master in Material Science and a PhD in Integrative Biology with a focus on Biophysical Ecology. After completion of his PhD in 2014, Peter joined the Fisheries Collaborative Program (FCP) at UCSC as a NOAA Fisheries Affiliate. In the FCP, Peter focuses on endangered winter-run Chinook salmon and threatened green sturgeon. He both uses existing and develops new agent-based models to assess the effects of habitat on winter-run Chinook, oversees the green sturgeon research, and uses various modeling methodologies to support these works, including biophysical computational fluid dynamics modeling and habitat selection modeling.

Recordings: The talk will be recorded; link to recording available upon request.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Data or Information Resource Spotlights
NOAA Gulf of Mexico Forum Webinar Series


Presenter(s): Paul Fanelli, Senior Oceanographer, Coastal Hazards Branch, NOS Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS); Chris Ridener, Associate Scientist II with UCAR/NCAR, working as a Visiting Scientist with NOAA/NWS; Don Rinker, Physical Scientist, NWS Dissemination GIS Team; Adam Pollack, Fish Biologist, Trawl and Plankton Branch, Population and Ecosystems Monitoring Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center; Megan Howson, Marine Mammal Biologist / Data Scientist, Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS); Jerad King, GIS Manager and Developer, GCOOS

Sponsor(s): NOAA's Gulf of Mexico Regional Collaboration Team, a part of NOAA's Regional Collaboration Network

Seminar Contact(s): Kristen Laursen, Kristen.R.Laursen@noaa.gov , NOAA Fisheries and Regional Collaboration Network

Abstract: The NOAA Gulf of Mexico Forum Webinar Series is excited to highlight four online data or information resources valuable for the region. Speakers will briefly share about each resource, highlighting some of the fascinating and useful information you can find in them.Session Outline:- Coastal Inundation Dashboard: Paul Fanelli, Senior Oceanographer, Coastal Hazards Branch, NOS Center for Operational Oceanographic Products & Services (CO-OPS)

- National Weather Service (NWS) GIS Viewer: Chris Ridener, Associate Scientist II with UCAR/NCAR, working as a Visiting Scientist with NOAA/NWS, and Don Rinker, Physical Scientist, NWS Dissemination GIS Team

- Southeast Abundance of Fish and Shrimp Data Visualizer (SEA-Fish): Adam Pollack, Fish Biologist, Trawl and Plankton Branch, Population and Ecosystems Monitoring Division, Southeast Fisheries Science Center
- Compilation of Environmental, Threat, and Animal Data for Cetacean Population Health Analyses Platform (CETACEAN): Megan Howson, Marine Mammal Biologist / Data Scientist, Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS), and Jerad King, GIS Manager and Developer, GCOOS


Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: This webinar will be recorded and shared online. Please contact Kristen.R.Laursen@noaa.gov for the recording and/or PDF of this webinar.


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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: What is knowledge brokering and are you already doing it?

Presenter(s): Jess Melbourne-Thomas and Rachel Kelly, JMT: Transdisciplinary Researcher and Knowledge Broker; RK: Knowledge Broker, JMT: CSIRO Environment (Australia); RK: Centre for Marine Socio-ecology, University of Tasmania

Sponsor(s): NOAA NWFSC Monster Seminar Jam

Seminar Contacts: Vicky Krikelas, Vicky.Krikelas@noaa.gov

Abstract: Knowledge brokers facilitate two-way knowledge exchange in research processes, both between researchers working in different disciplines, and between researchers, stakeholders and rightsholders. In this panel-style seminar we will introduce concepts around effective knowledge brokering, describe some examples of the application of knowledge brokering for marine social-ecological systems research, and open a conversation about experiences and learnings in facilitating knowledge exchange and engaging with research users, policy makers and local knowledge holders through knowledge brokering. Our aim is to foster interactive discussion around knowledge brokering and lessons learned on its practice/application.BIO

Dr. Jess Melbourne-Thomas is a transdisciplinary researcher and knowledge broker, and leads a Marine Social-Ecological Systems team in CSIRO's Sustainable Marine Futures program. Jess' background is in mathematical modelling and Antarctic climate change science, and in her current role she is helping to connect research to decision-making for sustainability and climate change adaptation. Jess was one of Australia's first 30 Superstars of STEM and was named the 2020 Tasmanian Australian of the Year for her excellence in research, science communication and policy engagement. She co-founded the Homeward Bound project, which took the largest ever all female expedition on a leadership journey to Antarctica in 2016, and was a Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2019 Special Report on the Oceans & Cryosphere in a Changing Climate.

Dr Rachel Kelly is the Knowledge Broker at the Centre for Marine Socioecology, Tasmania. She oversees the centre's approach to end-user engagement and research uptake in the context of informing marine and coastal and climate issues and solutions. She also conducts research in this role as a marine socioecologist, with a focus on human dimensions of sustainability. Taken together, Rachel's work is predominately inter/transdisciplinary, working with diverse teams to develop sustainable solutions to ocean and climate challenges. Rachel has been recognised as 1 of the Top 40 Early Achievers in Research in Australia and 1 of the Top 5 in Social Sciences. She is a Green Talents Alumni and a UTAS Future Research Leader (2023).

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Intelligent Underwater Robotics: Adapting to Dynamic Environments

Presenter(s): Dr. Corina Barbalata, Louisiana State University, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Sponsor(s): NOAA Ocean Exploration and NOAA Library.

Seminar Contact Nina Pruzinsky, Grant Science Support Coordinator, NOAA Ocean Exploration (nina.pruzinsky@noaa.gov)

Abstract: Underwater robots have gained research attention in the past years as they can expand our knowledge of the oceans and perform dangerous tasks in extreme environments. However, these robotic systems are expensive, require large infrastructures for deployment, and the commercially available systems are either teleoperated or have pre-programmed missions that are not adaptable to changes in the environment or the system. Achieving full autonomy and long-term deployments for marine robots requires addressing limitations in system modeling and predictive behaviors, scene understanding, control and planning, and energy management. This talk will focus on the steps taken to create intelligent marine robots capable of adapting to environmental changes and hardware limitations, by looking at predictive models, model-based control and planning architectures, and perception systems for underwater robots that explore the environment.

Keywords: Marine robotics, mathematical models, control theory, optical systems, 3D reconstructions

Bio(s):
Dr. Corina Barbalata is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, at Louisiana State University (LSU). She is the co-director of the iCORE Laboratory and a fellow in the Coastal Studies Institute at LSU. She is also the co-director of the High-School Student Research Program in the College of Engineering at LSU. She received the NSF Career Award in 2024. Her research interests are in physics- and data-driven modeling of vehicle-manipulator systems, development of model-based control structures for autonomous robotic systems, and scene understanding and interpretation for robotic navigation. Her application domains are marine robotics and industrial automation.

Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Recordings: Recordings will be shared 24 hours after the event on the NOAA Library YouTube channel.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: September NOAA NWS Alaska Climate Outlook Briefing


Presenter(s): Rick Thoman, Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy

Sponsor(s): NOAA/OAR/Climate Program Office and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)

Seminar Contacts: Alison Hayden (abhayden@alaska.edu) & Genie Bey (genie.bey@noaa.gov)

Abstract: We will review recent and current climate conditions around Alaska, discuss forecasting tools, and finish up with the Climate Prediction Center's forecast for October 2024 and the winter season. Join the gathering online to learn what's happened and what may be in store with Alaska's seasonal climate.

Bio(s): Rick Thoman is the Alaska Climate Specialist with ACCAP and has many years of experience producing reliable Alaska climate change information and graphics describing Alaska's changing environment. His work spans the bridge between climate modeling, Alaska communities, and the media.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Climate and Societal Interactions Division Nature-Based Solutions Webinar 1: Modeling Nature Based Solutions for Decision Making

Presenter(s): Marissa Webber, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Nastaran Tebyanian, Decision Scientist at The Water Institute; Steven Scyphers, Senior Marine Scientist I, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Associate Professor, University of South Alabama; Director, Center for Socio-Environmental Resiliency

Sponsor(s): NOAA Climate and Societal Interactions Division: Climate Adaptation Partnerships and Adaptation SciencesSeminar Contacts: Aliya Mejias aliya.mejias@noaa.gov, Genie Bey genie.bey@noaa.gov, Bhaskar Subramanian bhaskar.subramanian@noaa.gov

Abstract: This five-part webinar series features projects funded by the Climate and Societal Interactions (CSI) Division's Adaptation Sciences (AdSci) and Climate Adaptation Partnerships (CAP) programs focused on the research and application of nature-based solutions (NbS), which are actions to protect, sustainably manage, or restore natural or modified ecosystems to address societal challenges, simultaneously providing benefits for people and the environment.Transforming global climate data into actionable information to support local resilience strategies remains a challenge for communities. Additionally, community stakeholders, when deciding on adaptation interventions, can have varying perceptions of potential benefits. This webinar episode will share two projects that support the resilience and adaptation planning decision making process. The first will feature a project lead by CAP's Mid-Atlantic Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (MARISA) team that developed and applied a dual-drainage model to evaluate future flood hazards under climate change and support the development of resilient green infrastructure systems in the face of deep uncertainty in the Mid-Atlantic region. The framework and methods used to support decision making under deep uncertainty with respect to extreme rainfall and green infrastructure at local and watershed scales are being used to help guide similar efforts in other communities and regions. The second project, funded by AdSci, focused on answering how diverse stakeholders, from empowered decision-makers to at-risk groups impacted by decisions, perceive and prioritize the benefits, consequences, and trade-offs of shoreline Social Ecological Systems (SESs) and adaptation decisions.Presentations

• (CAP/MARISA) Integrated Modeling and Decision Support for Stormwater Managers
• (AdSci) Collaborative Modeling the Benefits, Consequences, and Trade-offs of Mangroves and Seawalls for Coastal Communities

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your comments and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Co-stewardship, Code-switching, and Commerce: Perspectives from NOAA's Senior Advisor on Tribal Engagement and Fisheries

Presenter(s): Zach Penney, Senior Advisor, NOAA Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere

Sponsor(s): NOAA NWFSC Monster Seminar Jam

Seminar Contacts: Vicky Krikelas, Vicky.Krikelas@noaa.gov

Abstract: NOAA Fisheries serves an important role fulfilling the federal trust responsibility to federally recognized tribes through stewardship, science, regulation, co-management, partnership and funding. Early constructs of United States (U.S.) fishery management and policy lacked tribal voices and often ignored tribal treaties, reserved rights, expectations, and concerns related to stewardship, fishery access, conservation burden, and environmental conduct. Consequently, many wild United States fisheries, such as Pacific Northwest salmonids, are currently far below historic baselines or extirpated due to human impacts and societal trade-offs. With this experience, many tribes and Indigenous communities have serious and legitimate concerns over the U.S. track record of fishery management, which continually tests the relationships, laws, mission and values between NOAA and Indian Country. Compared to most federal land management agencies, NOAA (DOB: 1970) can be considered a relatively young federal agency with respect to the cumulative process it can take to develop robust tribal programs, infrastructure and expertise. It is essential NOAA institutionalizes tribal engagement, investments, and core competencies given its treaty and trust responsibilities. This seminar will provide a professional and personal perspective on NOAA's complex tribal portfolio with emphases on co-stewardship, representation, Indigenous Knowledge, and considerations for relationship building.

Bio(s): Zach is an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe and has devoted his professional career to restoring native fish, protecting tribal/indigenous fisheries, and ensuring tribal treaty and trust responsibilities are upheld. Zach holds a Ph.D. from the University of Idaho, a M.S. from the University of Victoria (Canada) and a B.S. from Sheldon Jackson College (Alaska). Zach's early career focused on salmonid culture but gradually transitioned toward research related to fish ecology, energetics, and physiology. Due to the significance of tribal treaty rights in the Pacific Northwest fishery, water, and energy management, Zach eventually found himself bridging science, treaty rights, and policy with a tribal responsibility to help speak for the fish.

Before joining NOAA, Zach served as the Fishery Science Department Manager for the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission in Portland, Oregon. As an appointee, Zach's priorities have focused on developing core competencies on tribal sovereignty and self-determination at NOAA, improving Indigenous representation in federal decision-making, upholding federal treaty and trust responsibilities via NOAA authorities, promoting co-stewardship, and braiding Indigenous Knowledge into NOAA's mission and objectives.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Accelerating Transitions: What tools are available? (Research Transitions Fireside Chat Seminar Series) NOAA Library SeminarsKeynote

Presenter(s): John Cortinas, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)Moderator: Annette Hollingshead, Transitions Manager, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), OARPanelists:

• Patrick Burke, Warn on Forecast Research Program Lead, National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL), OAR
  
• Chad Gravelle, IT Development, Office of Science and Technology Integration (STI), NWS
  
• Vanda Grubii, Director, Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML), OAR
  
• Ken Sperow, Senior Science Advisor for Cloud Computing and VLab Director, Office of Science and Technology Integration (STI), NWS
  
• Jebb Stewart, Weather Visualization and AI Research Development Branch Chief, Global Systems Laboratory (GSL), OAR
  
• Adrienne Sutton, Oceanographer, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), OAR
  

Sponsor(s): NOAA Library

Seminar Contacts: NOAA Library Seminars (library.seminars@noaa.gov)


Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Abstract: Transitioning research and development projects into use, including operations (R2O), commercialization (R2C), applications (R2A), and other uses (R2X) is central to NOAA's mission of science, service, and stewardship. The NOAA Office of Research, Transition, and Application (ORTA) has been helping NOAA offices accelerate transitions to ensure NOAA's investment in research and development contributes to its service mission. During this Fireside Chat, speakers from across NOAA will discuss their experiences with transition planning including both from the R&D and operational perspectives. This seminar will feature three projects, the Warn on Forecast System (WoFS), the Surface Ocean CO2 Reference Observing Network (SOCONET), and the Dynamic Ensemble-based Scenarios for IDSS (DESI).

Keywords: Research transitions, transition support, transition plans

Bio(s): John V. Cortinas, Jr., Ph.D., is the new Deputy Assistant Administrator for Science in NOAA's Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. John began his career as a research meteorologist at the University of Oklahoma's Cooperative Institute for Mesoscale Meteorological Studies, working with scientists at NOAA's National Severe Storm Laboratory on severe weather and hazardous winter weather research and applications, eventually becoming the Cooperative Institute's Assistant Director.

Patrick Burke is the Program Lead for the Warn-on-Forecast Project at the National Severe Storms Laboratory. He began his career as a student at NSSL before graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a Master's in Meteorology in 2002. For the next 18 years he was a forecaster in the National Weather Service, including five years as a Lead Forecaster at the Weather Prediction Center. Patrick always remained plugged into research, leading activities in NOAA's Hazardous Weather Testbed and Hydrometeorological Testbed, and in 2020 he returned to his roots at NSSL to join Warn-on-Forecast. As a program lead, Patrick helps steer research goals, performs outreach, and even dives into chat rooms to assist forecasters who are using the Warn-on-Forecast System during experimental runs. Patrick's motivation has always been to enable more confident and timely warnings for severe weather and heavy rainfall. He believes his group's work with the National Weather Service to move Warn-on-Forecast toward an operational transition is the next big leap in that effort.

Dr. Chad Gravelle is the National Weather Service's (NWS) National Science and Operations Officer (SOO) and Forecasting a Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs) Lead with the Office of Science and Technology Integration. In this role, Chad leads the SOO Program for the NWS and is responsible for supporting and leading research-to-operations efforts with NWS Forecast Office and National Center SOOs. In addition to overseeing the SOO Program, Chad leads or co-leads new innovations for future operational capabilities with stakeholders and researchers, such as the NWS Community-Centric Warnings and Warn-on-Forecast System transition initiatives.

Dr. Grubii is the Director of the NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML), one of the world's preeminent research institutions for monitoring long-term changes in the atmosphere. Prior to joining NOAA in 2023, Dr. Grubii served as director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research's (NCAR) Earth Observing Laboratory (EOL) for more than a decade, where she was responsible for EOL's scientific strategy and management and operation of a major portion of NSF's Lower Atmosphere Observing Facilities (LAOF). The EOL's accomplishments under her leadership include the successful development of novel observational technologies, reconstruction of the NCAR aviation building, and safely returning to field campaign operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ken Sperow leads the NWS/STI Cloud efforts as the OSTI Senior Science Advisor for Cloud Computing and is also the NOAA Virtual Laboratory (VLab) Director. He has spent over 10 years of his 28 year career focused on streamlining R2O by providing tools and services that promote collaboration and software development best practices. Over the past 6 years an emphasis has been placed on how the Cloud can be leveraged to meet the needs of the NWS and NOAA. He has a MS in Meteorology from the University of Oklahoma and software development experience working within NWS and also in private industry.

Jebb Q. Stewart is at the forefront of developing innovative technologies for advanced AI techniques to improve weather forecasting and the interactive visualization of environmental data. He is also the lead of the Weather Visualization and AI Research Development branch at the NOAA Global Systems Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. With a unique blend of expertise in both meteorology and computer science, he has over 20 years of experience in software development, specifically tailored for interactive visualizations, processing, and distributing geophysical data.

Dr. Sutton's research centers around the patterns of air-sea CO2 exchange and ocean acidification in open ocean, coastal, and coral reef environments. Specifically, she is interested in using interdisciplinary approaches to explore how physical and biological mechanisms, such as the El Nio/Southern Oscillation and coral reef metabolism, drive variations in ocean carbon chemistry across time and space. These approaches include using autonomous instrumentation on buoys and other platforms to better understand n

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Environmental Drivers of Poor Fish Recruitment in the South Atlantic

Presenter(s): Ana Vaz, NOAA/NMFS Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC)

Sponsor(s): U.S. Climate-Fisheries Seminar Series; coordinator is Vincent.Saba@noaa.gov Location: Webinar

Abstract: TBD

Bio(s): TBD

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the One NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information.

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Forecast Challenges Associated with Rapidly Developing Storm Systems with Limited Observations and Verification

Presenter(s): Michael J. Folmer, PhD, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, NOAA National Weather Service, Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP), Ocean Prediction Center, 5830 University Research Court, College Park, MD 20740

Sponsor(s): NOAA LEO Program

Seminar Contact(s): Bill Sjoberg bill.sjoberg@noaa.gov

Location: Webinar

Abstract:
The National Weather Service Ocean Prediction Center has been participating in the GOES-R and JPSS Proving Ground activities since 2011 and has benefited greatly from the improved satellite products and techniques that were introduced into forecast operations. As the forecasters were trained on the next generation of geostationary and polar-orbiting satellite products and capabilities, it was gradually realized that key features in the imagery that might have been missed with the legacy satellites were now more prominent in the newer, higher resolution imagery. Forecasters are very sensitive to the lack of observational data available in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans, and this has led to poor model initializations and performance when dealing with challenging atmospheric patterns. Occasionally, there are mid-latitude storm systems that overperform(based on the available guidance) and the satellite products indicate subtle features that a forecaster can use to confidently increase the winds and waves with a system, even without the luxury of verifiable observations. The most used satellite products are the multispectral imagery or RGBs (Red Green Blue), scatterometer data from ASCAT-B/C, occasional synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, and altimeters. This presentation will highlight a few of these nowcasting events where guidance under-performed, but the imagery gave forecasters more confidence that the system was stronger than otherwise indicated.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Available upon request.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: U.S. Eastern Region Climate Services: Northeast Regional Climate Center

Sponsor(s): NOAA's Eastern Region Climate Services Webinar Series

Presenter(s):
Samantha Borisoff, Climatologist with the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University; and Art DeGaetano, Director of NOAA's Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University


Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service / National Centers for Environmental Information / Regional Climate Services.

Seminar Contact(s): Ellen Mecray

Location: Webinar

Abstract: The webinar will feature a recap of September conditions and Art DeGaetano will offer an overview of the Northeast Regional Climate Center.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: If interested in obtaining a PDF of the slides and/or the recording, see the Northeast Regional Climate Center.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your comments and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Landscape of Tribal Communities: Context for Working in Rural Alaska


Presenter(s): Adelheid Herrmann, Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy

Sponsor(s): NOAA/OAR/Climate Program Office and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)

Seminar Contact(s): Alison Hayden (abhayden@alaska.edu) & Genie Bey (genie.bey@noaa.gov)

Abstract: Current funding opportunities for Arctic climate research and Indigenous priorities are needed but can simultaneously place a burden on Tribal communities in Alaska. The lack of capacity at the local level to receive and distribute these funds is challenging. Tribes, Tribal organizations and other rural and urban entities are left scrambling to access funding. Adelheid Herrmann, co-investigator at ACCAP, will discuss a set of resources she developed to help researchers, academics, and federal and state agencies working in rural Alaska understand the current landscape and complexities of Tribal communities. Herrmann's graphics help people visualize the overwhelming number of external and internal forces that Tribes and Tribal members deal with daily.

Bio(s): Adelheid Herrmann is a co-investigator at ACCAP and a postdoctoral fellow. Her work helps build the capacity of rural communities to respond and adapt to climate change. Many of the Tribes in rural Alaska are engaged in adaptation, resilience and mitigation planning, and Herrmann's projects address the capacity of these Tribes to carry out and implement these planning processes.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Distinguishing macrophytes from other sources of reflectance in an optically complex glacially-impacted fjord system in Greenland using Sentinel 2

Presenter(s): Dan Carlson, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Institute of Coastal Ocean Dynamics, Germany

Sponsor(s): NOAA Ocean Color Coordinating Group (NOCCG)

Seminar Contact(s): Veronica.Lance@NOAA.gov

Abstract: Macroalgal contributions to blue carbon have gained recent attention but pathways from coastal sources to offshore sinks remain poorly quantified. Macroalgae have a global distribution, but some areas may offer enhanced carbon export potential. In Greenland, new shorelines are uncovered as ice retreats and models predict a poleward expansion of macroalgae as temperatures increase. This potential expansion, along with proximity to deep convective mixing, make Greenland a promising region for macroalgal contributions to the carbon cycle. Mapping and monitoring macroalgae in Greenland, and elsewhere in the Arctic is challenging as the region remains difficult to access and monitor on the necessary spatiotemporal scales. Satellite imagery may enable large-scale monitoring of coastal and offshore areas in Greenland and its surroundings but its use is impacted by the optically complex environments and the scarcity of supporting data in the region. In this seminar, I demonstrate the use of Sentinel-2 imagery in mapping intertidal macroalgae in an optically complex fjord system in SW Greenland. Sentinel-2 imagery is also used to identify floating mats of macroalgae on the shelf and offshore in the Labrador Sea. When combined with surface drifter trajectories, the satellite results suggest that the biological carbon pump should include lateral transport of macroalgae via surface currents and vertical export due to sinking of macroalgal-derived particulate organic carbon.

Bio(s): Daniel Carlson is an oceanographer in the Institute of Coastal Ocean Dynamics at Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon in Geesthacht, Germany. Daniel obtained his PhD in Physical Oceanography from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2014. Before joining Hereon, He worked at the Italian National Research Council in La Spezia, the Arctic Research Centre at Aarhus University in Denmark, and Florida State University. Daniel's research focuses on understanding the role of ocean physics in shaping coastal ecosystems using satellite and aerial remote sensing data and in situ observations.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: slides can be found at this link: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/PastSeminars_NOCCG.php

Subscribe to the One NOAA Science Seminar weekly email: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/OneNOAASeminars.php. For more information visit: https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/NOAAScienceSeminars.php

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Numerically accurate formulation of implicit turbulent bottom stress in an ocean model with barotropic-baroclinic mode splitting

Presenter(s): Alexander Shchepetkin (University of Galway, Galway, Ireland)

Sponsor(s): NOAA Coastal Ocean Modeling Seminars: https://coastaloceanmodels.noaa.gov/seminar/

Seminar Contact(s): Alexander.Kurapov@noaa.gov

Abstract: Bottom drag plays an important role in dissipating tides, and becomes one of the dominant factors in tidal bays and estuaries. One such place is Galway Bay, Ireland, where tidally induced currents can reach the speed of 2.5 m/sec, posing challenges in hydrodynamic modeling, essentially due to the interference of different algorithms, which need to work in concert, but originally were not thought to be this way. Thus, the split-explicit time stepping for an oceanic model implies that the barotropic mode is solved separately from the rest of the model using smaller time step. This leads to significant computational savings, because the large number of short time steps are applicable only for 2D part of the whole 3D model, but also results in more complicated code, carefully designed to avoid numerical errors and instability. At the same time, vertical processes -- vertical viscosity, mixing of tracers, and, recently added, vertical advection (where it is strictly unavoidable) -- are treated implicitly, but only in a one-dimensional manner resulting in a simple and efficient solver. The third ingredient is parameterization of vertical profile of turbulent mixing coefficient along with kinematic stress bottom boundary condition, which is of the no-slip type, but nonlinear in nature due to the fact that both bottom drag coefficient and vertical viscosity profile depend on the magnitude of the current. Taken separately, these three aspects are well understood at this point. However, combining them in a single computational model requires special care: the barotropic mode needs to know the bottom drag terms in advance (which can be computed only within the 3D part of the code), but when done, the result barotropic mode calculation adjusts the horizontal velocity components in the 3D mode, compromising both the no-slip boundary conditions and the consistency of bottom stress with vertical viscosity profile.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: TBD

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: U.S. Southeast Climate Monthly Webinar + Fire Weather Portal for the Southeast

Presenter(s): Climate Overview
Chris Fuhrmann | Southeast Regional Climate Center

Water Resources Overview
Todd Hamill | NWS Southeast River Forecast Center

Agriculture Impact Update
Pam Knox | University of Georgia

Special Presentation - Fire Weather Portal for the Southeast
Corey Davis | North Carolina State Climate Office

Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System

Seminar Contact(s): Meredith Muth meredith.muth@noaa.govLocation: Webinar

Abstract: The Southeast Climate monthly webinar series is held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 10:00 am ET. This series is hosted by the Southeast Regional Climate Center, in partnership with the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) and the NOAA National Weather Service. These webinars provide the region with timely information on current and developing climate conditions such as drought, floods, and tropical storms, as well as climatic events like El Nio and La Nia. Speakers may also discuss the impacts of these conditions on topics such as agriculture production, water resources, wildfires, and ecosystems.

The special topic for the August 2024 webinar is "The New National Water Prediction Service (NWPS)."

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Will be available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmADP4Cm4SNtYZMmrY48PtQ

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: CA/NV Drought & Climate Update and Outlook Webinar

Presenter(s):
Drought and Climate Update and Outlook:
Julie Kalansky | California-Nevada Adaptation Program (CNAP), Scripps Institute of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego California-Nevada Wildland Fire Potential Outlook:
Speaker TBAAnthropogenic Intensification of Cool-season Precipitation is Not Yet Detectable Across the Western United States:
Park Williams | University of California, Los Angeles

Seminar Contact(s): Amanda Sheffield, NOAA/NIDIS, amanda.sheffield@noaa.gov

Location: Webinar

Abstract:
The California-Nevada Drought Early Warning System September 2024 Drought & Climate Outlook Webinar is part of a series of regular drought and climate outlook webinars designed to provide stakeholders and other interested parties in the region with timely information on current drought status and impacts, as well as a preview of current and developing climatic events (i.e., El Nio and La Nia).

Are our seminars recorded? Yes, you can find them here (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmADP4Cm4SNtYZMmrY48PtQ)

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. See https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/NOAAScienceSeminars.php

NOAA Science Seminar Series
Title: Education and Outreach " Building the Blue Economy Workforce

Presenter(s): Dr. Adam Soule (URI), Dr. Jessie Kastler (USM), Holly Morin (URI), Tara Hicks Johnson (UNH), and Megan Cook (OET)

Sponsor(s): NOAA Ocean Exploration and University of Rhode Island (URI)'s Inner Space Center (ISC)

Seminar Contact(s): Nina Pruzinsky, Grant Science Support Coordinator, NOAA Ocean Exploration (nina.pruzinsky@noaa.gov)

Abstract: NOAA Ocean Exploration will be hosting a four-part NOAA Ocean Exploration Cooperative Institute (OECI) series of NOAA Science Seminars to highlight OECI's strengths and key projects over the past five years, and plans for the future.

Bio(s): TBD

Accessibility: Captions are available during the live presentation and once uploaded to the NOAA Central Library YouTube Channel automatic captions are added. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.

Recordings: Recordings can be found at https://web.uri.edu/oeci/education-and-outreach/seminars/

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series
NOAA Library Seminars

Title: Weather Program Office FY25 Notice of Funding Opportunity

Presenter(s): Anthony T. Brown, Weather Program Office, Grants Process Manager

Sponsor(s): NOAA's Weather Program Office and NOAA LibrarySeminar Contacts: Library Seminars

Accessibility: You are able to get live closed captions during the presentation by selecting the CC button in your Vimeo player. Captions are added to the recordings of presentations once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel. Sign language interpreting services and Federal Relay Conference Captioning (RCC) service are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.


Abstract: In partnership with the NOAA Central Library, WPO is hosting a webinar on September 11, at 1:00pm (EDT). The webinar will cover each of this year's competition objectives and priorities, and will be followed by an open Q&A session.Keywords: FY25 NOFO Webinar

Bio(s): Anthony Brown is WPO's Grants Manager overseeing critical milestones, deliverables and funding actions throughout the grants cycle. In his recent role as a Contracting Officer with the Environment Protection Agency, he managed Superfund contracts responsible for environmental clean up of some of the nation's most contaminated sites. Additionally, served on detail as a Project Officer at the EPA's Water Division where he supported the award of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) Emerging Contaminant Grant in New York State. This grant addressed eradicating emerging contaminants, like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the drinking water of Small and Disadvantaged Communities.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your comments and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series
NOAA Library Seminars

Title: Science On a Sphere: Using Data Visualizations and Art to Engage and Inspire

Presenter(s): Hilary Peddicord, Education Lead for SOS, NOAA Office of Education Affiliate at CIRES CEEE; Shilpi Gupta, Technical Lead for SOS, NOAA Office of Education Affiliate at CIRES CEEE

Sponsor(s): NOAA LibrarySeminar Contacts: Library Seminars

Accessibility: You are able to get live closed captions during the presentation by selecting the CC button in your Vimeo player. Captions are added to the recordings of presentations once uploaded to the NOAA Library YouTube Channel. Sign language interpreting services and Federal Relay Conference Captioning (RCC) service are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.


Abstract: Join us for the next installment of the Library's Science Communication Through the Arts series! Science On a Sphere has been a dynamic tool for showcasing scientific visualizations for the past two decades. Through the SOS Users Collaborative Network, partnerships between NOAA and public museums worldwide have provided the team with a distinctive vantage point for creatively conveying scientific concepts. In this presentation, we will explore various methods we've used to captivate audiences through compelling and artistic content and effective communication strategies.Keywords: art, data visualization, science on a sphere

Bio(s): Hilary Peddicord is the Education Lead for NOAA Science On a Sphere within the NOAA Office of Education for CIRES Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation at CU Boulder. Hilary orchestrates professional development and training activities for science teachers and informal educators, creates scientific storytelling content for SOS and SOSx platforms, and leads a group of SOS users from across the globe in sharing their best practices in content and audience engagement. Most recently, she has served as a Principal Investigator on a project funded by the National Science Foundation, designed to advance our understanding of how science teachers can learn to incorporate arts-based teaching methods and visualizations of authentic science data into their pedagogical practices in order to improve students' data literacy and critical thinking skills. Shilpi Gupta is the Technical Lead and Senior Software Engineer for the NOAA Science On a Sphere (SOS) project, one of NOAA's premier outreach tools. She leads the SOS Development Team and designs and implements new features for the SOS platform. In addition, she has collaborated as a co-PI on two grants commissioning artists to create science-informed, arts-expressed films for SOS to inspire awareness of important climate change issues through a unique lens. Shilpi is affiliated with the NOAA Office of Education and with the CIRES Center for Education, Engagement and Evaluation at CU Boulder.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your comments and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Harnessing Uncrewed Vessels and Autonomous Samplers to Scale Environmental DNA (eDNA) Observations Across Large and Remote Geographic Areas of the OceanPart of the NOAA Omics Seminar Series

Presenter(s): Christina Preston, Research Specialist, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute

Sponsor(s): NOAA Omics

Seminar Contact(s): Nicole Miller, NOAA 'Omics Portfolio Specialist, noaa.omics@noaa.gov

Abstract: In 2022, with support from NOAA and BOEM and in conjunction with UNH, OECI/OER, Saildrone, Inc. and MBARI, the 22-meter uncrewed vessel, USV Saildrone SD1200, fitted with multiple sensors including multibeam sonars (EM304 and EM2040) and an automated eDNA sample collection device, the Environmental Sample Processor, simultaneously mapped the seafloor and collected environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from surface waters of some the most remote and understudied regions of the U.S. EEZ including 1) 500km region of the south Bering Sea along the Aleutian Island Chain east of Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 2) 3,900km transit from the Aleutian Islands to CA, and 3) an area of economic interest >230km off the coast of Mendocino, CA. A total of 224 eDNA samples (163 field and 61 control) were collected by filtration, preserved using RNAlater and analyzed using amplicon metabarcoding to access the biodiversity. In this seminar, we will discuss over-the-horizon autonomous eDNA sampling on the uncrewed vessel, show some preliminary results of the biodiversity from the field collected samples, and discuss results from control samples collected to access biofouling and eDNA sample stability. The study highlights important considerations for interpreting results from autonomously collected samples in future expeditions and provides a pathway for scaling global biodiversity observations and ocean exploration through large-scale, systematic biodiversity surveys.

Bio(s): Christina M. Preston received a B.S. degree in biology from James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA, USA, and a Ph.D. degree in ecology, evolution, and marine biology from the University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA. She is currently a Research Specialist with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, Moss Landing, CA, USA. Her current research activities involve developing molecular methods to sample, identify, and quantify organisms in aquatic environments autonomously using underwater robots.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: A recording of this presentation will be made available on the NOAA Omics website. View past omics seminar recordings here: https://sciencecouncil.noaa.gov/NOAA-Science-Technology-Focus-Areas/NOAA-Omics

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an email to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Intermountain West Drought Conditions & Outlook

Presenter(s): Intermountain West Drought Conditions and Outlook
Dave Simeral | Desert Research Institute/Western Regional Climate CenterSource Water Supply Forecast Error - Streamflow
Peter Goble | Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University

Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System

Seminar Contact(s): Gretel Follingstad gretel.follingstad@noaa.govLocation: Webinar

Abstract: These webinars provide the region's stakeholders and interested parties with timely information on current and developing drought conditions, as well as climatic events like El Nio and La Nia. Speakers will also discuss the impacts of these conditions on things such as wildfires, floods, disruption to water supply and ecosystems, as well as impacts to affected industries like agriculture, tourism, and public health.

A summary and recording of this webinar will be available at drought.gov/webinars after the event. Email subscribers will receive an email when the summary and recording are available. Please subscribe to regional email updates below to receive an email when the summary and recording are available.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Will be available here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmADP4Cm4SNtYZMmrY48PtQ

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: GLOBE and the GLOBE Observer App in Alaska: Decades of Environmental Data and Learning

Presenter(s): Christina Buffington, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Sponsor(s): NOAA/OAR/Climate Program Office and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Policy (ACCAP)

Seminar Contact(s): Alison Hayden (abhayden@alaska.edu) & Genie Bey (genie.bey@noaa.gov)

Abstract: Since 1995, the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program has monitored Earth's environments through in situ ground-based data collection. Now in over 125 countries and accessible through an App, students, educators and researchers participate in GLOBE using GLOBE integrated system science protocols. Since 2006, GLOBE automated weather stations at schools and other learning organizations have been ingested into NOAA's Meteorological Assimilation Data Ingest System (MADIS). GLOBE data also align with NASA satellite missions like the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission, Ice Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat2) Mission, and the Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) mission. The Alaska GLOBE Partnership, led by Dr. Elena Bautista Sparrow since 1996, has engaged thousands of K-12, undergraduate and graduate students and educators in community centered climate change investigations and stewardship projects. This webinar shares an overview of the GLOBE program, celebrates recent GLOBE student projects in Alaska, and provides local and global opportunities to interact with GLOBE, including how to retrieve and visualize weather data.

Bio(s): Christina (Christi) Buffington is a Science and Education Specialist and Program Manager with the Geographic Information Network of Alaska at the Geophysical Institute at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). She is the GLOBE Training Point of Contact for the Alaska GLOBE Partnership housed by International Arctic Research Center. Christi has 25 years of experience in environmental monitoring and education working for two universities, an environmental engineering firm, a non-profit organization and a school. She teaches watershed management at UAF and serves as a principal investigator for a NASA SnowEx and GLOBE reciprocal mentoring and collaboration grant.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly e-mail: Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!