SeaGlide Workshop Engages Teachers and Students in Ocean Research Technology
Practical applications of ocean research findings often include presenting the research and its results in a way that is accessible to non-researchers.
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Study Quantifies Influence of Data Input on Confidence in Loop Current Forecasts
Researchers described in a recent study a surrogate-based technique to quantify the uncertainty in forecasting the oceanic circulation.
Sea Grant Releases Brochure on Oil Spill Cleanup Technology Developments
The Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) is pleased to announce a new Sea Grant informational brochure that explores products currently available or in development to remove oil from water in future spills.
Study Characterizes Natural Deep Sea Seeps
Mississippi scientists surveyed natural seeps near the Macondo blowout using a high-resolution autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) to inform biogeochemical studies about the post-Deepwater Horizon water column and seafloor.
Virtual Lab Creates More “Wow” Moments in Science Discovery
A child’s face lit up with wonder as she peered into a microscope for the first time and discovered a new world. Researchers at the Miami-based RECOVER consortium want experiences like this to happen more often for more students, so they designed and developed the RECOVER Virtual Lab.
Grad Student Girard Uses High-Definition Imagery to Assess Post-Spill Coral Recovery
Deep-sea corals are important organisms that support a healthy and diverse deep-sea ecosystem. However, there is much we do not know about certain coral species, including how they grow, reproduce, or interact with other organisms.
Study Finds Jellyfish Mucus May Enhance Microbial Oil Biodegradation
Scientists conducted laboratory experiments to examine the influence of moon jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) on crude oil aggregation and degradation. The researchers found that jellyfish swimming in a dispersed oil solution produced copious amounts of mucus which formed aggregates containing 26 times more oil than the surrounding water.
Study Finds Corexit Triggers EPS Production, Enhancing Marine Snow Formation
Scientists observed in laboratory experiments the formation of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS, a natural microorganism excretion) when phytoplankton and their associated bacteria were exposed to Corexit dispersant.
Grad Student Dykstra Sees Global Applications for Local Ocean Circulation Maps
When Deepwater Horizon oil approached coastal environments, it was unclear how river water entering the Gulf of Mexico would affect the oil’s transport and fate. Steve Dykstra uses drifters and ship-deployed sensors to study how freshwater plumes disperse in the coastal environment over different seafloor topography.
Using Complementary Simulations to Improve Oil Tracking under Hurricane Conditions
Interactions among wind, waves, and upper-ocean currents are essential factors in predicting oil slick transport and fate. These complex interactions, however, make capturing their dynamics in simulations challenging, especially when turbulent weather conditions are present.