News & Events Archive

All news stories. For information about a story, contact Dennis Krohn (727) 803-8747 x3062

SPCMSC Coastal Scientist Invited Panelist at AAPG/SEPM Special Session on Hurricane Sandy

On May 21, SPCMSC Geologist Cheryl Hapke will speak at the combined annual meeting of the American Association of Petroleum Geology (AAPG) / Society for Sedimentary Geology (SEPM) in Pittsburgh, PA. Cheryl is one of three invited panelists for a Special Session on Hurricane Sandy and Our Vulnerable Developed Coastlines. Cheryl recently returned from a 75-day detail to the Hurricane Sandy Joint Field Office (JFO) in Queens, NY. Cheryl was appointed as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on coastal change to the Natural and Cultural Resources (NCR) group. The NCR is one of six Recovery Support Functions (RSF) specified in the new Natural Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF) implemented in 2011. The Department of Interior (DOI) is assigned responsibility as the coordinating agency for NCR RSF, and Cheryl became the lead field coordinator of the NCR Recovery Support Function because of her continued presence and familiarity with New York State and local stakeholders and regional federal partners. Cheryl led the transition from the response-phase Beach Infrastructure Task Force to formulation of the recovery-phase Coastal Resiliency Task Force. Cheryl initiated the publication of Coastal Resiliency Fact-Sheets, based loosely on USGS fact sheets, which have been adopted by many other RSF efforts.

For more information on the AAPG/SEPM Special Session, please see http://www.aapg.org/pittsburgh2013/ForumsandSpecialSessions.cfm

SPCMSC Researcher Invited to become a Member of the Advisory Board for the Ocean Acidification- International Coordination Centre (OA - ICC)

On May 14, 2013, Dr. Lisa Robbins SPCMSC (St Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center) participated in the first Advisory Board meeting of the Ocean Acidification - International Coordination Centre (OA-ICC) held at the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Environmental Lab in Monaco. Dr. Robbins was invited to become a founding Member of the Advisory Board for the Ocean Acidification – International Coordination Centre. This Centre, located in Monaco, was launched to aid communicating, promoting and facilitating global actions on ocean acidification. The Advisory Board has representatives from the SOLAS-IMBER (Surface Ocean-Lower Atmosphere Study – Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research) Ocean Acidification Working Group (of which Robbins is a member). Representatives of other major OA programs and projects around the world on the advisory board include IMBER, SOLAS, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), IAEA, UK Ocean Acidification Programme, MedSeA Project (European Mediterranean Sea Acidification in a changing climate) to name a few. Representatives from other international organizations include UNEP (United Nations Environmental Programme), World Bank, IOC-UNESCO (International Oceanographic Commission – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), EC-JRC (European Commission – Joint Research Centre) among others. Government and foundations include the Prince Albert I Foundation, NOAA, and the Monaco Foreign Affairs Department. Dr. Robbins is the lead on the task for Capacity Building for Ocean Acidification scientific research in developing nations. In the coming year, two OA capacity building workshops are being planned; one in Chile and a second in the Caribbean.

SPCMSC Researchers invited to Expert Panel Workshop on the Role of Subsidence in Coastal Louisiana

On May 13, 2013, SPCMSC staff Jack Kindinger, Jim Flocks, and Julie Bernier participated in a workshop on the role of subsidence for Louisiana Coastal Restoration and Protection Planning hosted by The Water Institute of the Gulf (TWIG) in Baton Rouge, LA. Participating via Webinar, the SPCMSC scientists were invited to present an overview of SPCMSC’s past, current, and potential subsidence research. The Panel was tasked by the State of Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to address current data gaps in coastal subsidence knowledge. The objectives of the workshop were to foster technical discussion on primary processes driving subsidence, to describe technical issues associated with the various measurement methodologies, to identify existing data sources, and to make recommendations to the CPRA committee.

SPSMSC staff continue Calcification Monitoring in the Keys

From May 13 – May 24, a field team led by SPCMSC scientist Ilsa Kuffner will continue research on coral growth involving several species in the Florida Keys.  The goal of the research is to better understand why rates of coral calcification and reef building are faster in the Dry Tortugas compared to the main Florida Keys reefs. The field trip will finish up the monitoring on one species and start monitoring a second.  SPCMSC staff also participating includes Jennifer Morrison, BJ Reynolds and Keith Ludwing.  The field crew will be staying aboard the M/V Ft. Jefferson, a National Park Service vessel chartered by the USGS for use by both Ilsa’s research team and Kristen Hart’s (SESC) research team.

SPCMSC staff to establish Baseline Map for FY14 Coral Reef Project

From May 20 – May 25, SPCMSC Research Oceanographer Dave Zawada will lead a field expedition to the Florida Keys to map Crocker Reef, using the ATRIS imaging systems (http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2010/08/research.html). The imagery will be used to create a benthic-cover map of the site which will serve as a base layer for future data products to be generated during CREST-II a continuation of the Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies Project (http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/crest/).

Green Sea Turtles Benefiting from Protected Areas

On Monday, April 29, USGS put out a press release (http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3575&from=rss_home) on research showing green sea turtles make use of habitats in Dry Tortugas National Park and nearby protected areas. The work, conducted by SESC biologist Dr. Kristen Hart, SPCMSC scientists Dr. Dave Zawada and Barbara Lidz, and a University of Florida colleague, was recently published in the journal Biological Conservation. Media calls so far include Mother Jones and Washington bureau of the Sun Sentinel/Orlando Sentinel. The release was picked up by a number science blogs such as Science Daily, PhyOrg, RedOrbit, Mother Nature News, Biology News Net. It was also run in Discovery News, the Summit County Citizen's Voice, and syndicated by LiveScience.

SPCMSC interview with 10 News WTSP Tampa on Hurricane Research

On April 25, SPCMSC-Oceanographer Hilary Stockdon was interviewed by a team from Tampa's Channel 10 News for a special show they will be broadcasting for hurricane season. Mark Collins, a station forecast meteorologist, talked to Hilary about storm surge, waves, sand dunes, beach erosion, and USGS predictions, among other topics.  The TV crew recorded a lot of video of our USGS model runs and maps showing probabilities of coastal change. The show is expected to air on June 1, the first day of Hurricane season.

SPCMSC hosts High School Charter Students

On April 30, 2013, a group of 35 junior and senior dual-enrollment high school students from The Villages Charter School, in Sumter County, Florida, visited the US Geological Survey and USF College of Marine Science. SPCMSC staff member Theresa Burress introduced them to the U.S. Geological Survey and the diverse array of ongoing scientific research at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. Research geologist Jennifer Miselis led a tour of the Science Center. She explained how scientists use the sediment core laboratory and equipment, demonstrated by Julie Bernier, as they conduct field work and seek to advance their knowledge of coastal geomorphology along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of the United States.

SPCMSC Scientist invited participant to Joint GSA Penrose/ AGU Chapman Conference on Coastal Issues

From April 14 to 19, SPCMSC Oceanographer, Jack Kindinger participated with a select group of 80 coastal scientists in Galveston, Texas, for the Joint GSA/AGU Conference on Coastal Processes and Environments under Sea-Level Rise and Changing Climate: Science to Inform Management. The joint conference was convened to develop criteria to increase scientific and public awareness of the realities of global change and its impacts on coastal environments. There were four days of talks, posters, and a field trip describing: (1) short-term and long-term impacts of accelerated sea-level rise, (2) climatically induced alteration in sediment delivery to coasts, (3) increased frequency of severe storms, and (4) anthropogenic exacerbation of coastal change. On the fifth morning a panel led the small group of scientists in a discussion “Reaching Scientific Consensus and Conveying Science to Policy Makers”. This discussion produced twenty-five basic knowledge points that will guide decision and policy makers.

SPCSMC Post-Doc Presents Crisis Communication Research at IgniteTampa Forum

On Thursday, April 25, 2013 Sophia B Liu, Ph.D., Mendenhall Postdoctoral Fellow at the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC), presented her research on crisis crowdsourcing, specifically on coastal hazard classification, at the 3rd Annual IgniteTampa (http://ignitetampa.org/) held at the historic Tampa Theater in Tampa, Florida. Ignite talks have a strict fixed format: 5 minutes and 20 slides, that automatically advance every 15 seconds. Sophia recounts her personal experience using Twitter during a Colorado wildfire, the long history of crowdsourcing at the USGS with the "Did You Feel It?" earthquake website established in 1999; and her recent research work on the USGS Tweet Earthquake Dispatch system that can detect earthquakes in real-time by crowdharvesting Twitter data. For her Mendenhall research, Sophia is developing iCoast, a web application to ground truth and improve predicative coastal erosion models by utilizing the power of crowdsourcing to help classify thousands of coastal aerial photos acquired in response to Hurricane Sandy.

SPCMSC Staff participate in undersea research in deepwater canyons off the US East Coast

The USGS DISCOVRE (Diversity & Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems) team will take part in multiple cruise legs between April 30 and May 27 to investigate the biology and ecology of deepwater canyons off the eastern coast of the United States. This cruise will focus on Norfolk Canyon with some visits to Baltimore Canyon. Michael Gray (SPCMSC) will be examining the microbial associates of deep-sea corals and the microbial diversity present in soft sediments. He will also be retrieving a setting plate experiment that has been underwater since last August to look at the microbial biofilms that form on various substances (limestone, sandstone, steel), since those biofilms determine which macrofauna will later colonize rocky outcrops or shipwrecks. Other DISCOVRE scientists include Cheryl Morrison (Leetown Science Center), studying coral population genetics; Amanda Demopoulos (SESC), studying benthic ecology and foodwebs; and Nancy Prouty (Santa Cruz), studying paleoclimate using coral skeletons. The cruise will be a NOAA signature expedition and will have web coverage on the Ocean Explorer website. This work is conducted in cooperation with BOEM-funded contractors from a variety of academic institutions.

Related links:
http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/coral-microbes/discovre/
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2011/3102/
http://deepwatercanyons.wordpress.com

SPCMSC staff participates in Climate Change Symposium for Educators

On April 22, Lisa Robbins and Theresa Burress will present a one-hour workshop to teachers on climate change science to the Coastal Areas Climate Change Education Partnership (CACCE) at Jefferson High School in Tampa, Fl. The workshop will provide an overview of current research underway at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center (SPCMSC), where scientists study various aspects of climate change such as creating climate histories using microfossils, coral reef calcification, and ocean acidification. USGS scientist Lisa Robbins will discuss her recent research expeditions to the Arctic Ocean where researchers collected ocean chemistry data and shared their experiences with students via an interactive web site and blog. The CACCE Symposium, funded by the National Science Foundation, will bring together hundreds of educators and secondary school teachers working in science institutions from the Tampa Bay area to facilitate discussions about innovative educational practices on climate change science.

Continued Media Interest on Regional Sea-Level Rise Paper

On 2/28/13, CNB-TS* contract oceanographer Peter Howd (St. Pete) spoke with reporters from both the Wall Street Journal and the industry publication “Risk and Insurance” about regional sea-level rise due to changing ocean dynamics and how those regional signals interact with more widely quoted global sea-level rise scenarios. Recently published findings by Abby Sallenger, Kara Doran and Peter Howd identified a hot spot of acceleration of sea-level rise along the Northeast US coast. University scientists have followed up on and strengthened these findings and have unveiled additional interactive mapping systems for visualizing some of the hazards associated with sea-level rise.*(Cherokee Nation Business – Technology Solutions).

For more information on the USGS- contributed work, please see:
Sallenger, A. H., K. S. Doran, and P. A. Howd (2012), Hotspot of accelerated sea-level rise on the Atlantic coast of North America, Nature Climate Change, 2, 884–888, doi:10.1038/nclimate1597.
http://www.nature.com/nclimate/journal/v2/n12/full/nclimate1597.html
http://www.csc.noaa.gov/digitalcoast/tools/slrviewer

For more information on the university work, please see:
Ezer, T., L. P. Atkinson, W. B. Corlett and J. L Blanco (2013), Gulf Stream’s induced sea level rise and variability along the U.S. mid-Atlantic coast. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans, Vol. 118, 1–13, doi:10.1002/jgrc.20091
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jgrc.20091/full
http://slrviewer.rutgers.edu

SPCMSC Scientist Participates in Bureau Hazard Communication Workshop

From Feb 18 – 21, a workshop was conducted at the Southern California field seismology office in Pasadena, CA for the USGS Science Application for Risk Reduction (SAFRR) project. The project’s goals are to identify methods to implement the communication objectives outlined in the Natural Hazards Strategic Science Plan (SSP) (http://www.usgs.gov/start_with_science/) and to define the elements and structure of the SAFRR project that could support this implementation.  Twelve scientists including representatives from USGS coastal, earthquake, landslide, tsunami, volcano, flood, and geomagnetic hazards attended.  Outcomes of the meeting were some top-down recommendations that would provide improved technical and staffing support for this effort and some bottom-up actions and strategies for reaching the SSP objectives.  Nathaniel Plant attended this meeting and represented coastal hazard issues.

For more information about the SAFFR project, please see: http://www.usgs.gov/blogs/features/usgs_top_story/usgs-natural-hazards-risk-reduction-project-goes-national/

Australian Coastal Erosion Specialist Visits SPCMSC

For the week of February 25^th, Dr. Kristen Splinter from the University of New South Wales, Australia, will be visiting the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center to work with Dr. Joseph Long (SPCMSC-Oceanographer) on forecasting shoreline evolution on Australian and U.S. coastlines.  The primary goal is to implement recently published data assimilation tools developed by the USGS (Long and Plant 2012) into the shoreline model developed and used at the University of New South Wales (Splinter et al. 2012).  During her visit she will be giving a seminar on February 27^th at 10:30am in the Normile Conference Room on “The development and application of a new empirical equilibrium shoreline model across multiple sites and minimum data collection requirements.”

For more information, please see:
Long, J.W. and N. G. Plant (2012). “Extended Kalman Filter framework for forecasting shoreline evolution.” Geophysical Research Letters 39(13): L13603 http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2012GL052180/abstract

Splinter, K.D, M.A. Davidson, et. al. (2012) “Climate controls on longshore sediment transport.” Continental Shelf Research 48: 146-156. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378383912001676

SPCMSC Coastal Geologist leaving on 60-day Detail to develop Post-Sandy Guidance

On Friday, Feb. 9th, SPCMSC geologist Cheryl Hapke left to do a two-month detail working with FEMA and other Federal, State, and Local agencies to develop guidance for post-Hurricane Sandy recovery. Cheryl will serve as the coastal processes subject expert working out of the FEMA Joint Field Office in Queens, NY.

SPCMSC Research Effort mentioned in International Periodical

In the Feb 9th edition of the international magazine, The Economist, the article entitled “Global warming may make the northernmost ocean less productive, not more so", the USGS Arctic Ocean Acidification project was mentioned discussing the rising acid levels in the Arctic Ocean and its ramifications to organism health and the foodweb. The article can be found at: http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21571386-global-warming-may-make-northernmost-ocean-less-productive-not-more.

Senior St Petersburg Oceanographer passes away at 63

On Wed., February 6, the USGS St. Petersburg Center received news that senior oceanographer Asbury (Abby) Sallenger passed away at his home the previous evening.  Following are some remarks forwarded by CMGP chief, John Haines: “Abby's contributions to the USGS, to the Coastal and Marine Geology Program, and to many of us personally cannot be briefly captured. He was the architect of our Coastal Program, and his vision can still be seen in the structure, objectives, and values of that program. In building our program, he insisted that science comes first - while maintaining that the USGS has a unique responsibility to ensure our science makes a difference to issues of national importance. He relished that responsibility, and was our most effective advocate for the role of science, particularly USGS science, in addressing coastal issues.

Abby was an imaginative researcher and was engaged in his own research, and in the broader community, until the end. He was currently participating as an author of IPCC and USGCRP technical reports on sea-level rise and the vulnerability of coastal systems, and within the last year published important research on regional sea-level rise in Nature.

Some of Abby's legacy can be seen in our response to Hurricane Sandy - a response that has garnered substantial recognition for the USGS.  At the heart of our response to hurricanes you'll find Abby's vision, Abby's science, and Abby's leadership. He was a great friend and mentor to me personally, and he had an enduring impact on the USGS."

For more information, see:
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/07/us/asbury-h-sallenger-jr-expert-on-coastal-hazards-dies-at-63.html?_r=0

USGS
http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3508

Tampa Bay Times
http://www.tampabay.com/news/obituaries/abby-sallenger-who-started-coastal-and-marine-science-center-in-st/1274492

SPCMSC scientist one of twelve selected to attend international microscopy course

From February 18-22, 2013, SPCMSC research microbiologist Christina Kellogg will participate in a week-long course in fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) held only once a year by the Department of Microbial Ecology in Vienna, Austria. This International FISH course is an intensive, hands-on training in the technique, which uses fluorescently labeled DNA probes to specifically target microbes in environmental samples for taxonomic identification and enumeration using a confocal microscope. There are no courses in the United States that apply this technique to environmental samples. Due to the intensive participation, the course is limited to 12 individuals. Dr. Kellogg was selected to be one of these twelve. Participating in this training is particularly timely because a colleague at Eckerd College, Dr. Koty Sharp, just acquired a confocal microscope. With Dr. Kellogg bringing back protocols for the newest FISH techniques, together SPCMSC and Eckerd College can create a center of excellence in St. Petersburg, Florida. This will be a resource to the entire state as well as the rest of the USGS, providing both a place to learn the method or a fee-for-service way to process samples, greatly expanding the bureau’s investigative capacity.

USGS Workshop on Long-Term Coastal Monitoring

On February 6, 2013, a workshop is being held on the 2006-2010 Louisiana Barrier Island Comprehensive Monitoring (BICM) Program at the Dalton J. Woods Auditorium, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La. The meeting is co- sponsored by USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Center Science and Louisiana State University School of the Coast and Environment, in cooperation with University of New Orleans. The BICM program was developed to provide long-term data on Louisiana’s barrier islands that could be used to plan, design, evaluate, and maintain current and future barrier island restoration projects. Results from the Phase 1 project will be presented and discussions of future phases of the project will be discussed.

Continuing Calibration study in Gulf of Mexico

On February 6, 2013, SPCMSC researchers, Caitlin Reynolds, Julie Richey, Don Hickey, and Chris Reich, will be conducting fieldwork for an ongoing calibration study in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The researchers are trying to establish a relationship between microfossil assemblages and their shell chemistry to modern ocean conditions. They deployed a sediment-trap mooring in January, 2008 in the northern Gulf to measure the seasonal flux and chemistry of planktic foraminiferal shells collected in the trap. The results will provide better calibration of standard climate proxies, leading to improved interpretation and correlation between marine and continental paleoclimate records. The trap will be collected and redeployed for the thirteenth time this February.

New SPCMSC Publication compares Field-Friendly DNA Preservation Techniques

An article published in the January issue of FEMS Microbiology Ecology by SPCMSC microbiologists Michael Gray and Christina Kellogg compared a variety of methods that can be used to preserve samples in the field for DNA analysis back in the laboratory. They evaluated factors including cost and ease of use, as well as whether it was necessary to have access to a freezer or to be able to transport samples without flammable chemicals or liquids. The information in this paper will help field researchers, particularly those that work in remote locations with little or no laboratory infrastructure, choose the best method to preserve their precious samples. The abstract is available online at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1574-6941.12008/abstract.

SPCMSC Staff Participating in International Cyber Communication Conference

SPCMSC Staff Participating in International Cyber Communication Conference. Christina Kellogg (SPCMSC) will be attending ScienceOnline2013 January 30-February 2, 2013. This is the seventh annual conference exploring science on the internet and brings together an international community of scientists, students, educators, physicians, journalists, librarians, bloggers, programmers and others interested in the way the internet is changing the way science is communicated, taught, and done. This meeting limits its attendance and is conducted in an 'unconference' style where the participants construct the program in advance and sessions are designed to be driven by group discussions rather than traditional lectures. For more information, you can visit the conference web site at www.scienceonline.com or follow the hashtag #scio13 on Twitter.

SPCMSC Staff Featured in New York Times Article on Hurricane Sandy

SPCMSC Oceanographer Instructor for International Course on Ocean Acidification

SPCMSC Scientist to participate in decision on closing new breach in Fire Island, NY from Hurricane Sandy

On Dec. 20^th, SPCMSC geologist Cheryl Hapke will participate in a meeting at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE) Headquarters in Manhattan with the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, USCOE, and New York State to decide what actions, if any, should be taken to close the breach in the Fire Island Wilderness Area, which opened during Hurricane Sandy. See: (http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/sandy/lidar/) Location 3

Prior to that, from Dec. 12–15, Cheryl will be conducting post-Sandy beach response field surveys on Fire Island and meeting with the press.

SPCMSC graduate student wins Outstanding Dissertation Award

Links to research papers:

http://aem.asm.org/content/74/24/7828.short

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01115.x/abstract

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967063712001082

SPCMSC Research on Arctic Ocean Acidification discussed on Radio Talk Show

Sharon Gilberg, volunteer for SPCMSC Ocean Acidification Team, conducted a radio interview with the Hill & Dale Show (LA Talk Radio) regarding USGS ocean acidification research on Wednesday, November 21. The interview can be found between the 12:15 - 28:00 markers at: http://www.latalkradio.com/Hilldale.php.

SPCMSC Conducts Lidar surveys to document coastal topographic change resulting from Hurricane Sandy

Hurricane Sandy's landfall on Nov. 4, 2012 affected the coastlines over a broad swath of mid-Atlantic and Northeastern states, including New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. The effects included breaching, overwash, and erosion of the many barrier islands along the coast, and the destruction of coastal houses and infrastructure. Before Hurricane Sandy’s landfall, the SPCMSC Extreme-storms research project coordinated with other agencies and research projects to obtain updated lidar surveys used to evaluate the pre-storm vulnerability of this stretch of coast to extreme storms.

Immediately prior to Sandy's landfall, the experimental EAARLB Lidar was flown over some of the barrier islands in New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. These surveys were coordinated with efforts by at least three of the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program’s research projects that are underway in the region. The EAARLB Lidar was able to collect both topographic and shallow water bathymetric data that will allow documentation of both elevation changes and sediment redistributions above and below the shoreline. Following the storm, the USGS coordinated post-storm lidar surveys of New Jersey and Fire Island, New York, using EAARLB and contract lidar surveys of Fire Island, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina. These data will be made available to emergency responders and other agencies, such as NOAA, Army Corps of Engineers, and FEMA. Lidar data are being analyzed to evaluate predictions of coastal erosion and to provide updates for future assessments of coastal vulnerability.

USGS Science Stars in Emmy-Nominated Documentary

“Turning the Tide,” a documentary produced by Louisiana Public Broadcasting, has been nominated for a 2012 Suncoast Emmy for Best Documentary. This is the highest Emmy category for which the program is eligible and is a huge honor. The awards ceremony will be held December 1, 2012, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. The film takes an in-depth look at the proposed solutions, proven strategies, and bold engineering that can “turn the tide” on Louisiana’s coastal land loss problem. It includes comments from USGS researchers Abby Sallenger, Chris Swarzenski, Charles Demas (retired), and Dan Kroes. NWRC also provided images which were used in the film.

SPCMSC Coastal Geologist will participate in upcoming USACE Meeting to discuss Fire Island, New York research

On November 13, SPCMSC Geologist Cheryl Hapke will participate with three other members of the WHCMSC staff on presenting the latest research findings for Fire Island to the New York City District Headquarters of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Additional agencies represented will include the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and representatives from New York State. Cheryl will present her work on sub-aerial morphologic change analysis.

SPCMSC Oceanographer Speaking at National Coastal Conference on Quantifying Erosion Hazards during Hurricanes

On October 12, Hilary Stockdon will be speaking at the ASBPA National Coastal Conference in San Diego, CA. This meeting provides a forum for engineers, planners, and scientists to work together to address the challenges of development in the coastal zone. Stockdon will present the recently published 'National Assessment of Hurricane-Induced Coastal Erosion Hazards' in the Hurricane Disaster Planning and Technologies session. This analysis quantifies the probability of dune erosion, overwash, and inundation during landfall of category 1-5 hurricanes along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico and Southeast Atlantic coasts. The assessment, as well as the supporting data, provides sound science to a variety of groups in the coastal community tasked with making decisions related to mitigation, emergency response, and coastal planning.

SPCMSC Publication Links Leopard Shark Habitats to Nearshore Wave Patterns

On September 3, SPCMSC oceanographer Joe Long was one of several authors of an article accepted and published initially in the online edition of Environmental Biology of Fishes. In "Demography and movement patterns of leopard sharks (Triakis semifasciata) aggregating near the head of a submarine canyon along the open coast of southern California, USA", Nosal et al analyze the distribution and movement of leopard sharks and identify a potential link between preferential habitats and nearshore wave patterns.

Coastal and Marine Geology Program major contributor to Feds Feed Families Food Drive

On September 12, USGS announced that the Coastal and Marine Geology Program contributed over two tons of food to the Federal food drive. While only having ~ 4% of the total USGS employees, the dedicated CMGP group contributed over 30% of the food stuffs, thanks to a fun competition between the three centers. SPCMSC came in second just behind our PCMSC colleagues on the west coast. All St. Pete food donations will go to Metropolitan Ministries in St. Petersburg.

UPCOMING: SPCMSC Staff Help Lead Expanded St. Petersburg Science Festival

On Saturday, October 27, U.S. Geological Survey St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center is participating with multiple exhibits in the upcoming Second Annual St. Petersburg Science Festival. The event will take place at the waterfront campus of University of South Florida St. Petersburg, in conjunction with MarineQuest, FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute's annual open house. The science festival is a free, public celebration of science, offering a wide range of engaging, interactive science, technology, engineering, and math-related activities. Last year's inaugural event included 25 science exhibits and drew more than 6,000 festival visitors. In 2012, more than 90 science-related activities and shows have been confirmed, including new exhibitors, dynamic stage shows, and innovative activities hosted by St. Petersburg's vibrant arts organizations that showcase the many connections between art and science.

U.S. Geological Survey, a founding collaborator of the science festival, will contribute the following exhibits:


• Surf's Up: Visitors will generate large and small waves in a long wave tank filled with sand and then see the resulting changes in beach profiles. Scientists will help visitors understand the extreme movement of sand that occurs as a result of hurricanes.


• Catch Climate Fever: Build a sediment core with microfossils to see evidence of the Earth's climates of the past, and view foraminifers under a microscope.



• Diggin' the Past: Festival visitors will see a variety of sediment cores, and collect sediment samples. Scientists will demonstrate how and why they collect sediment cores and show geologic tools used in fieldwork such as a vibracore rig and an airboat used to collect cores in wetlands and marshes.



• Where in the Wild? Tracking and tagging animals: Festival visitors will see radio tags and techniques that scientists use to track native and non-native animals in the wild.



Participating SPCMSC and SESC scientists and staff include Theresa Burress, Sandy Coffman, Kara Doran, Hilary Stockdon, Kate Bradshaw, Julie Bernier, Noreen Buster, Kyle Kelso, Caitlin Reynolds, Lisa Osterman, Katie Richwine, Rita Beckhorn, and Rachel Pawlitz (Gainesville). Heather Schreppel and Kira Barrera will be helping with the US FWS 'Alligators' exhibit. Theresa Burress is the 2012 St. Petersburg Science Festival Program Committee Chair and Festival Co-Chair.

UPCOMING: USGS presentation at Florida Association of Science Teachers (FAST)

On Friday, October 26, Theresa Burress and Sharon Gilberg will present a technical information session at the FAST annual conference, titled "U.S. Geological Survey Ocean Science: Exploring ocean acidification in the Arctic Ocean." The presentation will include information about U.S. Geological Survey educational resources and ongoing research activities of the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center, highlighting the recent research expedition to the Arctic Ocean where USGS scientists studied ocean acidification and shared their experiences with students via an interactive web site and blog.

SPCMSC Ocean Research Featured in Alaska Newspaper

On Friday, August 31, SPCMSC-Oceanographer Lisa Robbins was featured in The Arctic Sounder, an Alaska Newspaper, about her work looking at CO₂ in the Arctic Ocean aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy. Dr. Robbins was quoted in the article "These [CO₂] data will provide a better understanding of the current patterns of acidification and thus they will significantly contribute to society's efforts to understand, forecast, and potentially mitigate impacts to the Arctic ecosystem and its many globally important resources." An online journal of the expedition can be viewed at coastal.er.usgs.gov/ocean-acidification/arcticcruise2012/.

UPCOMING: DataONE All-Hands Meeting

Data Observation Network for Earth (DataONE) (http://www.dataone.org/) is the foundation of new innovative environmental science through a distributed framework and sustainable cyber-infrastructure that meets the needs of science and society for open, persistent, robust, and secure access to well-described and easily discovered Earth observational data. Supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation, DataONE will ensure the preservation, access, use and reuse of multi-scale, multi-discipline, and multi-national science data via three principle cyber-infrastructure elements and a broad education and outreach program. The USGS is currently the only federal agency partner organization in DataONE. Heather Henkel (USGS-St. Pete) is one of two USGS participants on the Community Education and Engagement Working Group, and is part of a team developing educational and data management materials for DataONE. These materials are being repurposed for the soon-to-be released USGS Data Management website. At the upcoming all-hands meeting, to be held in Albuquerque September 18-20, each working group will be meeting to discuss their successes for this year and plans for the upcoming year.

Three CMG Centers converge to study coastal groundwater exchange in Hood Canal, Washington

http://gallery.usgs.gov/videos/569
A recent field trip (July/August, 2012) to Lynch Cove, the terminus of the Hood Canal fjord in Washington State, highlights the synergy housed within the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program and the USGS Water Center in Tacoma, WA to study complex coastal processes. This field study was designed to address a suite of physical and biogeochemical processes associated with enhanced submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) by pulling in experts in geochemistry, hydrology, geology, and oceanography. This interdisciplinary approach to study complex coastal processes is the central theme of the recently restructured Coastal Aquifer Project (CAPII). In Fiscal Year 2011, Peter Swarzenski, Kevin Kroeger, and Christopher G. Smith, representing the three CMG offices (i.e., Santa Cruz, Woods Hole, and St. Petersburg, respectively) re-aligned the scope of CAPII to current USGS Science Strategies and opportunities. The linked film highlights some of the activities that took place during the trip, but more importantly, the dynamic nature of the environment.

SPCMSC Assesses Potential Coastal-Change Impacts for Tropical Storm Isaac

On Tuesday, August 28, staff at the SPCMSC released an assessment of potential coastal erosion impacts of Tropical Storm Isaac for the northern Gulf Coast. Using USGS observations of beach topography and National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecast storm surge and wave conditions (Advisory # 29), scientists calculated the probability of dune erosion, overwash and inundation for sandy beaches in the path of Isaac. The potential impacts were shown for three areas along the northern Gulf Coast: Louisiana, Mississippi/Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle. Results show that beach and dune erosion was very likely for 66%, 89%, and 52% of the sandy coastlines in LA, MS, and AL, respectively. Most of the Chandeleur Islands in LA and 20% the MS barriers were very likely to overwash due to waves and surge. The assessments were referenced by national news services, such as AccuWeather, Discovery News, Newsroom America, Live Science among others. For more information, please contact Hilary Stockdon (hstockdon@usgs.gov).

SPCMSC Scientist’s Work included in Prestigious NOPP award

On Tuesday, August 14, SPCMSC staff scientist Christina Kellogg was part of a group recognized by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) for its Excellence in Partnering Award. The Lophelia II research program started investigating Deepwater Corals in 2008. This award is only given once a year and last year no recipients qualified. The award nomination cited its “exceptionally diverse partnerships, which include scientists, graduate students, technicians, public outreach professionals, and industry specialists from a very broad spectrum of ocean sciences ranging from Federal regulating agency scientists to academic scientists to industry partners.” Christina is currently on a research cruise off the U.S. east coast on the RV Nancy Foster. Her blog posts about the cruise can be read at:
http://deepwatercanyons.wordpress.com/2012/08/17/dr-christina-kellogg-environmental-microbiologist/
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/12midatlantic/logs/aug16/aug16.html

Joint SPCMSC / SESC Publication Shows Changes in Wetland Composition for Tampa Bay

On August 8, SPCMSC scientist Ellen Raabe and SESC biologist Carole McIvor published an article in Estuaries and Coasts on Tampa Bay Coastal Wetlands: Nineteenth to Twentieth Century Tidal Marsh-to-Mangrove Conversion. Using historic navigation charts form the 1870’s, their work showed a conversion of marsh to mangrove wetlands, averaging 72% at four sites across Tampa Bay. Two sources for nineteenth century coastal landscape were in close agreement, providing an unprecedented view of historic conditions in Tampa Bay.

UPCOMING: USGS participates in deepwater canyons research cruise off eastern U.S.

The USGS DISCOVRE (Diversity & Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems) team will take part in multiple cruise legs between August 15 and September 30 to investigate the biology and ecology of deepwater canyons off the eastern coast of the United States. Christina Kellogg (SPCMSC) will be examining the microbial associates of deep-sea corals and the microbial diversity present in soft sediments, neither of which has ever been explored in these canyons. She will also be deploying setting plates to look at the microbial biofilms that form on various substances (limestone, sandstone, steel), since those biofilms determine which macrofauna will later colonize rocky outcrops or shipwrecks. Other DISCOVRE scientists include Cheryl Morrison (Leetown Science Center) studying coral population genetics, Amanda Demopoulos (SESC) studying benthic ecology and foodwebs, and Nancy Prouty (Santa Cruz) studying paleoclimate using coral skeletons. The cruise will be a NOAA signature expedition and will have web coverage on the Ocean Explorer website (http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/).

Related links:
http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/DISCOVRE/index.html
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2011/3102/
http://deepwatercanyons.wordpress.com/

SPCMSC and DOI Scientists Participate in Sustainable Ecosystem Restoration Conference for Coastal Louisiana

On July 26th, a workshop on SEDIMENT DIVERSION: LAND BUILIDING FOR A SUSTAINABLE ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION IN COASTAL LOUISIANA was held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; sponsored by American Society Civil Engineers and Coasts, Oceans, Ports, and Rivers Institute (ASCE-COPRI); and hosted by Wetlands and Sediment Management Committee and Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (LACPRA). Presentations and three expert panels were organized to discuss Mississippi River Dynamics, Receiving Basins and Sediment Retention, and Science and Policy Considerations. Panelists for the Science and Policy included Alyssa Dausman (USGS/DOI representative, Gulf Ecosystem Restoration Task Force), Chip Groat (President, Board of Directors, The Water Institute of the Gulf), Jack Kindinger (USGS Coastal and Marine Geology), Rick Raynie (Chief, LA Applied Coastal Engineering & Science (LACES) Division, Robert Twilley (Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development, University of Louisiana at Lafayette), and Steve Underwood (North Carolina Division of Coastal Management).

SPCMSC authors publish on framework for forecasting shoreline evolution

SPCMSC oceanographers Joseph Long and Nathaniel Plant published an article in the July, 2012 issue of Geophysical Research Letters ( http://www.agu.org/pubs/crossref/2012/2012GL052180.shtml) on the use of Kalman Filters to combine models and observations in an effort to better forecast future shoreline change. Application of the technique also provides quantitative estimates of the forecast uncertainty, which is crucial for developing future hazard vulnerability assessments.

SPCMSC scientists report on accelerated sea level rise on US northeast coast

USGS scientists Abby Sallenger and Kara Doran, along with Cherokee Nation Businesses contract oceanographer Peter Howd, recently published a paper in Nature Climate Change titled “Hotspot of accelerated sea-level rise on the Atlantic coast of North America.” The paper was the featured publication for the journal’s June 24 on-line release, and has been the top emailed and downloaded paper for the past two weeks. It was also the lead Editor’s Choice article in Science. Over 900 media articles from around the globe have resulted, as well as appearances by the authors on numerous radio broadcasts, including NPR’s nationally syndicated Science Friday and The Diane Rehm Show, both available as podcasts. A few of the significant news services or media outlets that ran stories in the US include AP, Baltimore Sun, Boston Globe, CBS, Chicago Tribune, Huffington Post, LA Times, NBC, NPR, New York Times, Reuters, UPI, USA Today, and Washington Post.  Internationally, stories appeared in Canada, China, Germany, India, Netherlands, Singapore, the United Kingdom and others.

SPCMSC scientist’s television appearance in “Mysterious Microbes” now online

SPCMSC microbiologist Christina Kellogg was featured in a segment of a TV show focused on Florida coral scientists. The story asks what research on microbes is revealing about coral health and how human activities impact the microbial balance of the reef. Kellogg’s work on deep-sea corals and use of new microarray technology is highlighted. This episode is part of a series titled “Changing Seas” produced by Miami Public Television WPBT2. The 30-minute video can be accessed online at http://video.wpbt2.org/video/2245417400.

SPCMSC Staffer Responds to T.S. Debby Media Inquiries on Coastal Erosion

As Tropical Strom Debby lingered in the northern Gulf of Mexico during the week of June 24, 2012, Hilary Stockdon (SPCMSC-Oceanographer) responded to a half-dozen media queries about the impact of the tropical storm on local beaches and on coastal erosion in general. Four telephone interviews were conducted for both national outlets (NBC Nightly News) and local outlets: the Bradenton Herald, the Sarasota Tribune, and the Tampa Bay Times. Dr. Stockdon also provided on-camera television interviews for two local news channels: SNN Sarasota News 6 that aired on 6/23/12 and WFLA News Channel 8 (St. Petersburg/Tampa, FL) on 6/26/12. A sample article from the Bradenton Herald describing the local effects of Tropical Storm Debby as related to USGS regional coastal erosion studies can be viewed at: (http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120630/ARTICLE/120639963?p=1&tc=pg).

SPCMSC Scientist Key Participant in International Coral Reef Symposium

On July 6th, SPCMSC Research Ecologist Ilsa Kuffner leaves for Cairns, Australia to participate in the 12th International Coral Reef Symposium (ICRS2012) (www.icrs2012.com). Ilsa will be chairing a mini-symposium on “Environmental and Biogeochemical Controls of Marine Calcification and Coral Reef Accretion” on Thursday, July 12, and then on the same day presenting her own work with SPCMSC co-author T. Don Hickey on calcification over space and time in the subtropical Florida Keys, U.S.A.

First Coastal National Elevation Dataset (CoNED) Released for Mobile Bay, AL

In a collaborative effort between the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP), and the USGS National Geospatial Program (NGP), the first combined topobathymetric data set of Mobile Bay, Alabama, is being released to the public (http://nationalmap.gov). Topobathymetric data are a merged rendering of both topography (land elevation) and bathymetry (water depth) to provide a seamless elevation product useful for applications such as modeling sea level rise and storm surge. This topobathymetric model represents the first Coastal National Elevation Dataset (CoNED) bathymetry-based contribution to the National Elevation Dataset (NED). The CMGP effort was led by John Brock (ERHQ- Reston). The model was constructed using a combination of 71 separate topographic and bathymetric datasets from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The datasets range in age from 1917 to 2011.

SPCMSC Summer Outreach Activities

SPCMSC will host groups of University of South Florida (USF) Waterfront summer campers, ages 8-14, in June and July. The tours will feature hands-on science activities designed to showcase research conducted by the USGS. On June 21, the campers will visit the SPCMSC Core Lab to learn about seafloor mapping and then hear about hurricanes, as campers build their own models of coastal erosion. On June 28, campers will complete hands-on activities to identify Florida rocks and minerals and then explore current climate research and the ways in which foraminifera are used as climate proxies as they use microscopes to identify different species of “forams”. The July tours will highlight a new activity focused on recent cruises to the Arctic Ocean and related investigations into the ocean’s chemistry (http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2011/08/). The campers will test how changes in pH affect calcium carbonate. Contributing SPCMSC staff include Julie Bernier, Noreen Buster, Kara Doran, Jen Miselis, Caitlyn Reynolds, led by librarian Theresa Burress. Eckerd Intern Jordan Kuperberg will also provide assistance for the summer.

On June 21 and 22, SPCMSC will host both high school students from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) school of Environmental Science in Tallahassee, Florida, and National Science Foundation (NSF)-sponsored college interns from Mote Marine Institute in Sarasota, Florida, respectively. Geologists Julie Bernier, Noreen Buster, and Jen Miselis will demonstrate how sediment cores are analyzed in the Core Lab; data analyst Will Pfeiffer will show how SPCMSC scientists process the resulting data for analysis and interpretation; geologist Caitlyn Reynolds will provide an overview of climate research and the ways in which foraminifera are used as climate proxies; and oceanographer Hilary Stockdon will demonstrate a new interactive map predicting probabilities of coastal change in the Gulf of Mexico that may result from hurricanes and extreme storm events.

SPCMSC Scientist to Present Poster on Using Microarray Technology to Study Coral Disease

Christina Kellogg (SPCMSC) will be presenting a poster at the 112th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology meeting in San Francisco (June 16-19, 2012) (http://gm.asm.org/) titled “Using PhyloChip™ G3 Microarrays to Compare Bacterial-Community Shifts Between Healthy and Diseased Corals.” Prior research has indicated that coral diseases may be due to secondary opportunistic infections, rather than primary pathogens, making it imperative to understand the microbial changes that occur from healthy to diseased corals. Microarrays are small chips that are printed with DNA sequences representing 30,000 microbial groups, ranging from family to species. If bacterial DNA from a coral matches any of the microarray DNA spots, a signal is generated that can be used to determine the relative abundance of those microbes in the sample. Healthy and white plague-affected samples of star coral (Montastraea annularis) were collected from the Virgin Islands National Park and Dry Tortugas National Park for this research. For more information, see:


http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/crest/research-themes/coral-disease.html



http://www.usgs.gov/ecosystems/genetics_genomics/epidemiology_fish_wildlife_diseases_corals.html

May/June SPCMSC Outreach Activities

On May 31, Theresa Burress will present an overview of U.S. Geological Survey science and educational resources to ESTA K-8, an 'Exploring Science Teacher's Association' meeting in Largo, Florida. The purpose of the teacher workshop is to highlight local science resources and volunteer opportunities for 125 local elementary and middle school science teachers. The USGS presentation and booth will focus on St. Petersburg Science Center research, including hurricanes and extreme storms, coral reefs, and ocean acidification.

On June 2, SPCMSC will participate in the annual 'Hurricane and Other Natural Disasters Expo' hosted by the Science & Technology Education Innovation Center (http://www.sciencecenterofpinellas.org/portal2/). Kara Doran and Theresa Burress will exhibit the USGS coastal erosion demonstration, educating the public about the impacts that hurricanes and extreme storms have along the Gulf of Mexico coastline.

SPCMSC Scientists Complete Next Phase of Coral Growth Studies in Dry Tortugas National Park

Ilsa Kuffner, Chris Reich, Don Hickey, and Kyle Kelso (SPCMSC) completed a sampling expedition to Dry Tortugas National Park (DTNP) on board the M/V Ft. Jefferson May 8 – 17, 2012. Over 6 m of coral core from six colonies were collected, documenting coral growth from at least the last 150 years. Two of the cores will be used to retrospectively derive sea-surface temperatures adjacent to Loggerhead Key, the site of the historic Carnegie Laboratory from 1905-1939; (Shinn and Jap, 2005, USGS Open-File Report 2005-1357) within the Research Natural Area of DTNP. The four other cores will document coral growth and temperature in the Pulaski Shoals area of the park, where an on-going study measuring calcification rates of corals and algae is also taking place (http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2010/3098/).

SPCMSC Scientist describes Historic Changes of Tampa Bay Marshes

On May 3, 2012, Ellen Raabe (SPCMSC) presented an invited talk to the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TPEP) Technical Advisory Committee (http://www.tbep.org/). The talk described 'The 19th to 20th Century Tidal Marsh-to-Mangrove Conversion in the Tampa Bay Coastal Wetlands'. Comparison of two historic surveys reveals a dominance of tidal marsh prior to 1880, in contrast to the mangrove-dominated coast of modern times.

SPCMSC Oceanographer Presents Arctic Ocean Acidification Results at Science Policy Conference

USGS research oceanographer Dr. Lisa Robbins (St. Petersburg) presented research on “Ocean acidification in the Arctic Ocean: New data shows large areas of carbonate undersaturation in the Canada Basin”, at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Science Policy Conference May 1-2, 2012 in Washington, D.C. (http://sites.agu.org/spconference/). The poster was co-authored by other USGS St. Petersburg scientists; Kim Yates, John Lisle, and Paul Knorr; and additionally Brian Buczkowski (Woods Hole), Leslie Holland Bartels (Alaska), and scientists from the University of South Florida. Their data showed that 20% of the Canada Basin is already undersaturated with respect to aragonite- a situation that was modeled to occur between 2050 and 2100.

Five SPCMSC Staffers Judge Magnet Elementary School Science Fair

On May 3, 2012, five U.S. Geological Survey scientists and staff from the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Geology Science Center (SPCMSC) served as science judges for the annual Bay Point Magnet Elementary School Science Fair in St. Petersburg, FL (http://www.baypoint-es.pinellas.k12.fl.us/sci.htm). Judges assessed third, fourth, and fifth grade students who worked to answer scientific questions from multiple disciplines. Problems ranged from physics questions such as how high different types of balls will bounce when dropped from a particular height, to biology questions such as how different color lights affect how fast a worm moves. Each class contributed 10 or more of their best projects to be judged at the event. Of the 135 projects that were entered into the Science Fair, 32 students were awarded gold medals, 48 students were awarded silver medals, and 55 students were awarded bronze medals. USGS judges included Theresa Burress, Kara Doran, Xan Fredericks, Paul Knorr, and Kathryn Smith.

SPCMSC Oceanographer Talks about Arctic Cruise to Women Lawyers Association

USGS research oceanographer Dr. Lisa Robbins (St. Petersburg) presented research on the Arctic and Ocean Acidification to the Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers (HAWL) and their children on Thursday, April 26, 2012. It was “Bring your Child to Work” Day and coincided with the monthly meeting of HAWL. Over 100 people were in attendance. Dr. Robbins’ talk focused on living aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy for 7 weeks and on collecting data for the USGS Ocean Acidification in the Arctic project. She also talked about how she became a scientist and the types of courses one needs to take for an advanced degree. After her talk, a number of students came up to ask about the iphone App she and her team developed and downloaded it right there!

SPCMSC Scientist to Give Invited Talk on Groundwater-Borne Nutrient Fluxes of West Florida Shelf

Christopher G. Smith (SPCMSC) has been invited to give a summary of his work on groundwater-borne nutrient fluxes to the west Florida shelf at the American Water Resources Association (AWRA) meeting to be held at the SPCMSC office on May 18. His work was funded in part by the Mendenhall Program (2008-2010) with continued support from the Coastal Aquifer Project, a Coastal and Marine Geology project focusing on the role of submarine groundwater discharge on ecological and natural hazards.

The technical session of the AWRA will focus on Integrated Water Resource Management. Topics include 'Valuing Southwest Florida’s ecosystem services on public lands'; 'Resilient and adaptive urban infrastructures'; 'Public and stakeholder involvement in water management'; 'Adaptive management within an Everglades restoration project'; and 'Water quality monitoring as a means to protecting Florida’s water bodies'. Attendees will primarily be local to the state of Florida, and include water management employees, environmental consultants, economists, university researchers, and engineers.

USGS Scientists Participate in Planning for Summer East Coast Benthic Sampling Cruise

Christina Kellogg (SPCMSC) and Amanda Demopoulos (SESC) will be representing the USGS DISCOVRE project at a cruise-planning meeting at University of North Carolina-Wilmington on April 19, 2012. This meeting with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) contractors is to work out details of the three research cruise legs that will occur in August-September 2012 in terms of staffing, scientific objectives, and logistics. These cruises will visit two deepwater canyons off the east coast of the United States, deploying long-term benthic landers and using a remotely-operated vehicle (ROV) to collect samples of cold-water corals, other invertebrates, and sediment cores. The goal of these research cruises is to fill information gaps about biodiversity and food-webs in these canyons, as well as to locate and investigate shipwrecks of archaeological significance. For more information, please see:

http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/DISCOVRE/index.html

http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2011/3102/

SPCMSC Scientist to participate in Mayor’s Youth Showcase in St. Petersburg

On April 19, Christopher Smith (SPCMSC) participated as a volunteer judge in the Science and Technology section of the Second Annual (St. Petersburg) Mayor's Youth Showcase of Achievement. The purpose of the event is to recognize outstanding achievements from both middle school and high school youth in nine different categories including Science and Technology. St. Petersburg's Mayor Bill Foster will present awards to these outstanding youth on May 8 at the Progress Energy Center's Mahaffey Theater (http://www.stpete.org/teenawards/).

SPCMSC Scientists Discuss Coastal Groundwater Issues with Local High School Students

On April 25, Christopher Smith and Christopher Reich (SPCMSC) will provide an overview of their research and background science on Coastal Groundwater (http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2009/07/, http://aslo.org/lo/toc/vol_57/issue_2/0471.html) to students at Lakewood High School in St. Petersburg, Florida.

SPCMSC Scientist Releases Report on Hurricane-Induced Coastal Erosion Hazards at Science Policy Conference

The USGS Coastal Change Hazards group in St. Petersburg, Florida will release a report in early May that quantifies hurricane-induced coastal erosion hazards for sandy coastlines in the Gulf of Mexico. Modeled storm conditions and measured beach elevations were used to calculate the likelihoods of dune erosion, overwash, and beach inundation during landfall of category 1-5 hurricanes. Results indicate that approximately 70% of the beaches on the US Gulf of Mexico shoreline are vulnerable to extreme erosion associated with overwash during a category-1 hurricane landfall. USGS Oceanographer Hilary Stockdon will present the results of the study, “'National Assessment of Hurricane-induced Coastal Erosion Hazards: Gulf of Mexico,” at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Science Policy Conference in Washington, DC, May 1-2, 2012.

SPCMSC Scientist Teaches High School Environmental Science Class

For the 26th time, Dave Zawada (SPCMSC) provided field instruction on Big Pine Key, Florida, to students in the Environmental Science Project from his former high school in Munster, Indiana. Begun in 1974, the class immerses students in field activities and lectures designed to elucidate the floral and faunal similarities between the Indiana Dunes and the Florida Keys, which are geologically linked by the Wisconsin glacial period. In March, Zawada lectured the students on the geology and ecology of Big Pine Key and surrounding marine habitats, and also led dive trips to nearby Looe Key.

SPCMSC Scientists host Latin American Visitors for State Department International Leadership Program

On Friday, March 30, the SPCMSC center hosted a trio of Latin American visitors under the auspices of the State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (http://exchanges.state.gov/ivlp/). The purpose of the visit was for the visitors to understand how different federal agencies are involved in environmental protection and how the agencies cooperate and integrate their efforts. The three visitors were Captain Luiz De Havila, Jr., Captain, Military Police of Panama; Mr. Rodrigo Victor, Director General, Sao Paulo State Forest Institute; and Mr. Paulo Filho, Head, Federal Environmental Monitoring, The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA). SPCMSC staff Mark Hansen organized the tour; Kim Yates and Kara Doran gave talks on ocean acidification and extreme storms, respectively.

SPCMSC Scientists Examine Impact of Ocean Warming and Acidification on Corals in US Virgin Islands

Ilsa Kuffner, Don Hickey, Chris Reich, and Jennifer Morrison (SPCMSC) are going to St. Thomas and St. John of the U.S. Virgin Islands in March 2012, to collect coral cores from three reef-building species. The trip is part of an on-going study using the corals as recorders of sea-surface temperature and possibly ocean acidification. This new effort will expand their analysis from Biscayne Bay and the Dry Tortugas to the larger Caribbean region. Results from these measurements will provide a long-term record (50-150 years) on the variability of ocean temperature and coral growth as corals respond to climate change. Funding for this project is from the DOI Southeast Climate Science Center and USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program.

SPCMSC Scientist to Give International Talk on First Deep-Sea Coral Metagenome

Christina Kellogg (SPCMSC) will be giving a talk at the 5th International Deep-Sea Coral Symposium in Amsterdam (April 1-7, 2012) (www.deepseacoral.nl) about the first metagenome to be sequenced from a deep-sea coral. A metagenome contains the collective genomes of all the microorganisms associated with a particular host; in this case, the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa. These data are the first to reveal archaea (single-celled prokaryotes that are genetically and metabolically very different from bacteria) and viruses associated with this coral, in addition to bacterial and microeukaryote diversity. These data include both taxonomic and functional genes providing insight not only into the WHO of the coral-associated microbial community, but also WHAT they are doing. Coral microbial ecology is an important topic since it is fundamental to our understanding of coral health, disease, and resilience in the face of climate change.

Arctic Cruise News on Radio Disney for Earth Day

SPCMSC oceanographer Lisa Robbins will be featured along with Sharon Gilberg, (USGS volunteer and teacher at St. Petersburg College) (http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/ocean-acidification/arcticcruise2011/researchteam.php) on Radio Disneys' Kids' Concerns, a locally produced public service show aired on Saturday mornings. The show will be taped in Clearwater, Florida, between March 10 – 11. Host Christian Lemus will be sending questions in advance about the Arctic, ocean acidification, and Earth Day.

SPCMSC scientists visit Shorecrest Elementary for Environmental Science Week

Theresa Burress, Kara Doran, and Ilsa Kuffner (SPCMSC) visited Shorecrest Preparatory School in St. Petersburg, Florida. On Friday, March 2, Theresa and Kara talked to four 4th grade classes about hurricanes and how they impact our coasts. They also presented a coastal erosion model that illustrates the processes of sediment transport. On Monday, March 5, Ilsa gave a talk titled "Coral Reefs and Their Health", to four classes of 3rd graders.

SPCMSC Scientist Collaborates on Arctic Assessment and Mapping

USGS research oceanographer Dr. Lisa Robbins met with Arctic researchers from the Arctic countries in Amsterdam February 13-15, 2012 to coordinate and work on the Arctic Mapping and Assessment Program, Arctic Assessment on Ocean Acidification. Dr. Robbins is one of the lead authors on Chapter 3 of the Assessment. The Assessment will be published Feb 2013 and presented to the Arctic Ministerial meeting in Sweden May, 2013.

SPCMSC scientist presents Arctic Research at Athena Society

USGS research oceanographer Dr. Lisa Robbins will present her Arctic research and the adventure of the Summer 2011 Ocean Acidification Arctic Cruise to the Athena Society Inc. on March 5, 2012. The Athena Society is an organization of Tampa Bay professionals who have both demonstrated leadership in the community and committed themselves to promoting equality and opportunity for women.

Cub Scout Pack “Mighty” 475 visits St. Pete

On February 25, Theresa Burress and Kara Doran (SPCMSC) gave demonstrations to Cub Scout Pack 475 of the Central Florida Council. The visit, organized by scout leader Esther Kelley, was designed so the scouts could earn merit badges in Weather and Geology. Theresa gave a talk about Florida geology, showing examples of rocks found in Florida. She followed with a hands-on activity demonstrating the rock cycle using chocolate rocks. Kara gave the Shifting Sands demo on coastal erosion (http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2010/08/outreach.html). In between, Kyle Kelso (SPCMSC) spoke about why he became a scientist, which helped the scouts qualify for their Science badge.

SPCMSC hosts Central High School Students

On February 21, scientists in the St. Petersburg field office hosted a group of 55 high school students from Central High School in Brooksville, Florida. The students viewed video podcasts to introduce CMG’s current research and then had the opportunity to pose questions to scientists. Lisa Robbins spoke about her work on ocean acidification and her recent experience on an Arctic cruise to collect data. Kara Doran spoke about her work on hurricanes and discussed ways that local governments and emergency managers may use USGS science in storm preparation and response activities.

Reference Publication Highlights SPCMSC Microbial Work

Dale Griffin (SPCMSC-Tallahassee) authored a chapter on 'Atmospheric Habitats' (Chapter 4.6) in the 2011 reference book Microbial Ecology, edited by Larry Barton and Diana Northrup. Dale discusses the basics of microbial ecology and explains how microorganisms can interact in and with the environment.

Workshop on Geologic Records of Sea Level Rise to be held in St. Pete

On Feb. 1 and 2, staff from the USGS Climate and Land Use Change Research and Development Program will be holding a small workshop in the St. Petersburg field center. SPCMSC staff presenting include Abby Sallenger, Nathaniel Plant, and Christopher Smith. The purpose of the meeting is to identify potential data gaps in sea-level records and explore areas of potential collaboration between CMG and the Climate Program.

SPCMSC Coral Research Discussion Topic for Norwegian Ministry of Environment Meeting

USGS Director Marcia McNutt will be meeting with the Norwegian Ministry of Environment next week. One of the talking points will be microbiologist Christina Kellogg's (SPCMSC) deep-sea coral research. Kellogg traveled to Norway in June 2011 to join an international team that is conducting research on the impacts of drilling mud on cold-water corals. Coordinated by the International Research Institute of Stavanger (Stavanger, Norway) and funded by the Research Council of Norway, this project seeks to develop diagnostic tools to monitor non-lethal stress in these corals.

Use Case Methodology Presented at Workshop for Potential Future CMGP Database Development

Over 20 scientists from the USGS and academia gathered in St. Petersburg, Fla. from Jan. 18 – 20 for a workshop, led by Peter Fox of Rensselear Polytechnic Institute (http://tw.rpi.edu/wiki/ Peter_Fox) to discuss the concept of “Use Cases” as a starting point for implementing more effective data base management. “Use Cases” are a technique to take advantage of the social aspect of the controlled vocabulary needed for optimal data base queries as part of the new field of semantic web technologies (http://wiki.esipfed.org/index.php/ Semantic_Web_ Tutorial). The workshop was a follow-on to one held in Woods Hole in September 2010. The goal of the meeting was to develop complementary conceptual, logical, and physical data models to represent methods of data access and data analysis, based on the scenarios commonly encountered by USGS scientists in their research. One of the four examples chosen as a pilot “Use Case” was led by Rob Wertz (SPCMSC) to implement an image retrieval system using aerial photography data collected by the CMG National Assessment team with Karen Morgan (SPCMSC) and by the St. Petersburg-based Lidar acquisition and processing team with Jamie Cormier (SPCMSC).

Sound Waves Article on Coral Research Translated into Haitian Creole

Since the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010, many groups of Haitian-Americans have been contacting authors and publishers with requests to translate their material into the Haitian Creole language in an effort to rebuild and improve the country’s education structure. Christina Kellogg (SPMSC) was contacted by a group in the Dominican Republic with a request to translate a Sound Waves article she authored about her deep-sea coral research. It will become part of a collection titled “Geek Science” that highlights interesting science. The results of this research have also recently been published in a Wiley technical journal.

Joint SPCMSC-USACE-NPS Fieldwork Utilizes Combined Lidar/Radar for Bathy/Topo Beach/Nearshore Mapping

Cheryl Hapke (SPCMSC) is participating in a joint fieldwork exercise with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) at Fire Island, NY, the week of Jan. 30 – Feb. 3. The purpose is to conduct a beach/nearshore survey using the USACE CLARIS system, which is a 4WD truck equipped with ground-based lidar for measuring topography and x-band radar (7.25 – 8.4 GHz) for measuring bathymetry. The field mission will start with a public presentation on Sat. Feb. 28, at the Fire Island Lighthouse with Jesse McNich (USACE) announced by a National Park Service (NPS) press release (http://www.nps.gov/fiis/parknews/newsreleases.htm).

College Tour Highlights Applied Coastal Research for Management/Policy Decisions

On January 24, 2012, SPCMSC researchers Jim Flocks, Cheryl Hapke, Ilsa Kuffner, and Joseph Long hosted a group of Eckerd College students interested in applied coastal research at the St. Petersburg Science Center. The primary focus was to show students the methods and techniques that coastal and marine scientists currently use to collect data and conduct scientific studies that guide management/policy decisions. The interactive event included video presentations, hands-on geophysical samples, and lectures/displays describing ongoing USGS Coastal and Marine projects.

USGS scientists participate in State of the Gulf of Mexico (SGM) Summit

A four-day meeting of Federal, State, Academic, NGO, and private stakeholders (~390 participants), hosted by the Harte Research Institute, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, was held in Houston, Texas, from Dec. 4-8, to assess the status of the Gulf and how the partners can work together in the future. Objectives of the SGM meeting include: Share a vision of a healthy and resilient Gulf of Mexico; Set a criteria to evaluate the health of the Gulf; Provide a platform to initiate implementation of the President's Gulf Restoration Plan; Discuss mechanisms to promote marine and coastal protection and restoration; and Promote international cooperation for ocean management and ecosystem issues. Also discussed among many other topics was development of a Report Card on the State of the Gulf of Mexico. Keynote presentations were given by Lisa Jackson, Administrator, EPA; Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Administrator, NOAA; Nancy Sutley, Chair, White House CEQ; Suzette Kimball, Deputy Director, USGS; and former First Lady Laura Bush. The USGS had a strong participation including many of the Center Directors and their staff from around the Gulf including: Bob Joseph - TWS, Phil Turnipseed (organizing committee) - NWRC, George Arcement -LWSC, Mickey Plunkett - MWSC, also attending Martha Garcia - Ecosystems Mission Area, Alyssa Dausman (presenter) and Jack Kindinger - SEA GOM Coordination; and Gary Mahon, Branch Chief - SESC.

New Fact Sheet Details SPCMSC Research and Field Activities

Extreme storms, sea-level rise, and the health of marine communities are some of the major societal and environmental issues impacting our Nation's marine and coastal realm. A new fact sheet highlights scientific research conducted at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center that investigates processes related to these ecosystems and the societal implications of natural hazards and resource sustainability. Examples of research featured in the publication include forecasting impacts of extreme storms and hurricanes on coastal environments, obtaining geologic cores to understand Earth’s history and predict future trends, and monitoring the health of coral reefs. The fact sheet can be viewed here: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2011/3148/.

USGS Scientist is a Technical Author on National Climate Assessment

Oceanographer Hilary Stockdon is serving as a technical author on the coastal chapter of the U.S. Global Change Research Program’s National Climate Assessment. Authors working on the coastal chapter will synthesize recent science relevant to climate change impacts on U.S. coasts and identify major advances and gaps in knowledge. The Assessment aims to incorporate advances in the understanding of climate science into larger social, ecological, and policy systems, while providing analyses of impacts and vulnerability. The new report will be released as a stand-alone document and also serve as the scientific underpinning of a more condensed report given to Congress in 2013. It builds upon the previous Assessment published in 2009.

Video Documenting 50 Years of Coral Changes Selected for AGU Workshop

The American Geophysical Union is hosting a video workshop called “The S Factor” at its annual Fall Meeting, where three Hollywood filmmakers will critique science videos and talk about the secrets behind successful video storytelling. Corals: A 50-Year Photographic Record of Change from the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology podcast series was selected as one of 10 videos out of dozens of entries into the workshop. Produced in St. Petersburg, FL., the video chronicles 50 years of photographic documentation of the changing conditions to coral reefs in the Florida Keys by retired USGS geologist Gene Shinn. The video was directed by Matthew Cimitile, written by Ann Tihansky, and edited by Betsy Boynton. “The S Factor” workshop will take place on December 6 and is lead by oceanographer-turned-filmmaker Randy Olson, writer and director of the feature film documentaries Flock of Dodos and Sizzle: A Global Warming Comedy and author of Don’t Be Such a Scientist: Talking Substance in an Age of Style,. More information can be found here: http://agusfactor.org/.

SPCMSC Research Oceanographer Discusses Ocean Acidification with Pierre-Yves Cousteau

USGS research oceanographer Lisa Robbins met with Pierre-Yves Cousteau and local science leaders at the University of South Florida’s College of Marine Science in St. Petersburg, FL. on November 16 to discuss Mr. Cousteau’s interest in making St. Petersburg the U.S. headquarters for his international organization, Cousteau Divers. Robbins discussed the USGS science mission and use of scuba diving in various projects. She also talked about USGS scientific role in ocean acidification issues and described the use of portable carbon technologies that ships of opportunity could be outfitted to measure various chemical parameters, including pH, pCO2, and dissolved inorganic carbon. Cousteau was interested in technologies that “citizen” scientists and dive boats could employ while on dive trips and using these for gathering widespread data to understand ocean acidification.

Coastal Erosion Presentation at Tampa Charter Middle School

Theresa Burress and Dennis Krohn gave a follow-up talk for the Great American Teach-In at the Mount Pleasant Standard Base Middle School on November 18. The coastal erosion model developed by Karen Morgan was presented to 73 6th-8th graders, more than two-thirds of the entire student body. The USGS talk was incorporated into the curriculum of several classes at the school. Students across all grades were well versed about different types of natural hazards and were fascinated by hurricane names and the sand model.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water and Science visits SPCMSC

Lori Caramanian, the DOI Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water & Science paid a field visit to the USGS in St. Petersburg, Fla., on November 10. Lori came to the center following a successful two-day tour of viewing manatee tagging at Homosassa Springs with USGS scientists from Gainesville, Fla. At the center, Lori talked with Christina Kellogg about DISCOVRE, the USGS Deep Seas Corals Project that looks at the microbial ecology, population genetics, benthic ecology, and geochemical records of deep sea corals; with Chris Smith on interpretations of paleo-environmental and sedimentary environments in the northern Gulf of Mexico and assessing ground water hazards; and with Hilary Stockdon on the Gulf of Mexico Regional Vulnerability Assessment Project and the new artificial berm on the Chandeleur Islands. In addition, a field tour was organized aboard the R/V G.K. Gilbert with Jim Flocks, Nancy DeWitt, Kyle Kelso, and B.J. Reynolds, where a full sediment core was taken. Center Director Dick Poore, Mark Hansen, and pilot Rich Young accompanied Lori, an avid sailor, on the water. Finally, back at the center, Jim Flocks showed Lori how the sediment cores were processed and Molly McLaughlin gave her a quick tour of the labs.

PBS Documentary Crew to Film USGS Scientist Research on Coral Disease

The show “Changing Seas”, from Miami public television station WPBT2, is currently working on an episode about marine microbes. A video production crew will be visiting SPCMSC on November 22 to film the work of microbiologist Christina Kellogg and her research on coral disease. The PBS station produces a documentary series on topics related to Florida's marine organisms and ecosystems.

USGS Participates in Coastal Processes Workshop in Ghana

Cheryl Hapke represented the USGS at a workshop on Coastal Processes hosted by researchers at University of Ghana’s Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, in Accra, Ghana from November 5-12. The workshop involved an international team of coastal experts who were invited by the U.S. Navy’s African Partnership Station and the Office of Naval Research to assist Ghana with developing a sustainable program for measuring and monitoring coastal change and understanding the processes driving change. In addition to the USGS, the expert team included scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the University of New Hampshire, and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education. Presentations, discussions, and field exercises focused on coastal change measurement, understanding wave climate, and regional coastal modeling.

Using Microarrays to Compare Microbial Sampling Methods for Corals

Due to declining reef health worldwide, many coral studies have focused on diseases and the resulting changes that occur in the coral-associated bacterial community. As yet, there is no single standardized method for the collection and preservation of coral samples for microbiological analyses. In a new study, researchers from the USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center and collaborators from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories used the PhyloChip™, a high density 16S ribosomal RNA gene microarray, to compare a noninvasive method to a more common technique across two pairs of healthy and diseased corals. While more attractive to resource managers, the noninvasive method were found to be unsuitable for disease studies due to its inability to distinguish between healthy and diseased corals. The paper is currently the science feature for the USGS Genetics and Genomics website.

SE Louisiana Green Dream Team Presented Environmental Achievement Award at DOI Awards Ceremony

The Green Dream Team was one of ten teams recognized at a 2011 Department of Interior award ceremony presided by Secretary Salazar. USGS scientists Dawn Lavoie, Asbury ‘Abby’ Sallenger, and Jim Flocks; U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement scientist Michael Miner; and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist James Harrison were awarded the 2011 Green Dream Team Environmental Achievement Award earlier in the year for exceptional leadership by an interagency team to effectively place a Federal sustainability idea into action. The Environmental Awards were recently featured on the DOI oneINTERIOR homepage. More information about the partnership can be found here: http://www.doi.gov/greening/awards/2011/2011_FWS_Louisiana.html.

Atlantic Sea Level Study Featured in Bermuda Newspaper

An article in Bermuda’s Royal Gazette newspaper details a study that is determining how sea levels have changed over the last 2,000 years and features quotes by SPCMSC oceanographer Ryan P. Moyer. The team, which consists of scientists from the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, Villanova University, West Chester University, and the USGS is working on a NASA-funded study to examine the accumulation of sediment in mangroves and growth and erosion of corals to determine past sea levels in the Atlantic Ocean. The goal is to compare and contrast the mangrove and coral reef findings in Bermuda with records from other areas of the world to form a more complete picture of the ocean’s sea level history.

USGS Mapping of Barnegat Bay Featured in Local Paper

An article and video in the Asbury Park Press highlights part of a USGS project that is mapping and surveying Barnegat Bay in New Jersey. The survey is generating 3-D imagery of the bay’s surface morphology as well as gathering information on the bay’s geologic history, the movement of water in and out of the system, and the runoff of nutrient pollution from the mainland that are contributing to algae blooms. These mapping activities are a first step in restoring the Bay environment that is experiencing degrading water quality.

With the help of the seafloor mapping group from the Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center, geologist Jennifer Miselis gave a presentation to project partners and members of the press on November 2nd after two days of data collection. Data collection will be continued in the spring and will inform the water quality modeling component of the project. You can read the full article and see a short video on the research here: http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011311020123

Great American Teach In

The Great American Teach In provides an opportunity for scientists and other professionals who have interesting careers and hobbies to share their experiences and encourage students to strive to reach their goals and spark an interest in a career path. This year scientists and staff with the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center are participating at many schools, communicating the importance of science as well as their knowledge and career expertise. Participating in this event are Theresa Burress, Matthew Cimitile, Kara Doran, Kyle Kelso, Dennis Krohn, Joe Long, Karen Morgan, Ellen Raabe, Chris Reich, Kathryn Smith, Hilary Stockdon, and Dave Thompson. They will talk with young students about careers in oceanography, biology, and science communication and discuss the science of hurricanes, coral reefs, Florida geology, and ocean chemistry.

Climate Change Symposium and Showcase

Theresa Burress, Matthew Cimitile, and Kara Doran represented the USGS at the Climate Change Symposium and Showcase for educators on November 7, at Blake High School in Tampa, FL. The group displayed a coastal erosion model along with scientific posters and video podcasts that highlight some of the climate change and coastal hazards science being researched at the USGS in St. Petersburg, FL. Teachers who came up to the booth were fascinated by the erosion model as a teaching tool, and eagerly took home the many teacher packets and other USGS educator resources that were distributed. Organized by the Coastal Areas Climate Change Education Partnership (CACCE), the symposium brought hundreds of primary and secondary school teachers together with scientists and engineers working in science organizations to facilitate discussions about innovative educational practices on climate change science, social impacts, and adaptation in communities.

Discover the Island Event

Joe Long and Kara Doran will present a small-scale coastal erosion model at the Discover the Island event at Egmont Key State Park on November 12th. Egmont Key is a barrier island located at the mouth of Tampa Bay that has experienced significant erosion over the past decade due to storms, tidal flows, and other natural processes. Long and Doran will discuss the process of erosion on barrier islands and the science behind assessing and predicting coastal vulnerability. Along with science and environmental displays, the event includes self-guided walks of the island, tours of the lighthouse, and Civil War reenactors.

Florida Shelf Research to be Presented at CERF Conference

USGS research oceanographer Lisa Robbins will discuss the Florida Shelf habitat as part of highlighting Florida’s climate adaptation projects at the upcoming Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) Conference in Daytona, Florida, November 6 to 10. The talk entitled “Response of Florida Shelf Ecosystems to Climate Change” is co-authored by SPCMSC scientists Kim Yates and Paul Knorr and presents carbon and physical data from estuarine and shelf environments to understand habitat and resource change. The 2011 CERF conference will focus on how societies and coastal and estuarine environments will adapt to changing conditions by focusing on socioeconomic drivers and responses.

Environment, Science, and Technology Talk on Thermal Infrared Imagery and Groundwater Discharge

Ellen Raabe was invited to give a talk by the University of South Florida Environmental Science and Policy Department on the use of airborne thermal infrared imagery to estimate groundwater discharge in estuaries. Groundwater discharge to the coast plays an important role in coastal water quality and overall estuarine productivity, especially in karst environments such as Florida. The ability to model and understand groundwater influence in the estuary is limited by knowledge of the location, volume, and quality of groundwater discharge. Along with discussing use of airborne imagery in mapping and estimating groundwater discharge, the talk on November 3 explored the characteristics of the Big Bend estuary and the Floridan aquifer.

Research Paper that Calculates Probability of Shoreline Change for U.S. Atlantic Coast Selected as AGU Journal Highlight

A research paper authored by Ben Gutierrez and Robert Theiler of Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center and Nathaniel Plant of SPCMSC has been selected as a highlight by the American Geophysical Union for the Journal of Geophysical Research. Titled ‘Statistical model predicts shoreline erosion rates due to sea level rise’, the paper describes a Bayesian network that uses observations of historical oceanographic and geologic processes, coupled with knowledge of geographic features, to calculate the probability of shoreline change for the United States' Atlantic coast. The model draws on measurements collected at 5-kilometer intervals along the coastline representing between 50 and 100 years of observations. Clustering their estimates into five different shoreline change scenarios, they found this method accurately predicted the observed scenario for each 5-kilometer stretch of coastline 71% of the time. Knowledge of the local sea level rise rate was the most important factor contributing to a successful prediction. This method will be valuable towards estimating the local impacts of sea level rise and provides information needed by planners to develop effective strategies against rising waters that has been difficult to obtain so far. Research papers are selected as journal highlights by AGU editors for their significant importance to the geosciences.

SPCMSC Scientist to co-host Special Groundwater-Surface Water Session

Research geologist Christopher G. Smith and René Price, a colleague from Florida International University, will host a special session entitled “Groundwater-Surface Water Exchange of Water and Constituents along Coastlines” at the 2011 Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation (CERF) biennial meeting in Daytona Beach, Florida, November 6-11.  The session focuses on the exchange of groundwater and surface water at or near coastlines, the influence this exchange has on dissolved constituents, and ecosystem health. Highly respected national and international scientists will present original data quantifying groundwater-surface water exchange rates, chemical fluxes at the land-sea margin, and rates of biogeochemical processes that occur at these mixing zones.

Society for Environmental Journalist Conference

Matthew Cimitile and Ann Tihansky are attending the 2011 SEJ Conference in Miami, FL. from October 19-23. This annual conference brings environmental and science journalists, communicators, writers, and filmmakers together with scientists and policy makers from around the nation for thought provoking sessions on today’s environmental issues. Everglades’ restoration, coral reef health, sea-level rise, ocean acidification, and sustainable fisheries will be some of the more prevalent issues discussed at the conference. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is providing the opening night talk. U.S. Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt is participating in a plenary with other leading scientists and environmental reporters to discuss how the two professions can work together to bring the latest, most relevant and accurate information to the public. Many other USGS scientists and personnel are participating at this year’s conference.

Assessing Coral Bleaching in the Florida Keys

Last week, SPCMSC scientists Dave Zawada, Phil Thompson, and Lance Thornton conducted underwater surveys of corals under stress in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. They used the Along Track Reef Imaging System (ATRIS), which takes geo-located digital images of the seafloor at high resolution, allowing the team to assess the percentage of corals that bleached or died. In collaboration with a multi-agency group including Florida Fish and Wildlife Institute, The Nature Conservancy, University of Miami, and others that are conducting disturbance response and long-term monitoring of reefs, the ATRIS surveys took place at sites where SCUBA-diver surveys were underway. Coral bleaching is the loss of symbiotic plants inside the coral’s tissues and results from abnormally high water temperatures. Bleaching can be fatal to the corals if temperatures do not cool off. NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch Program predicted a major bleaching event at Sombrero reef based upon the record-breaking number of weeks that water temperatures were above the monthly mean. The ongoing work is part of the Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies (CREST) project.

SPCMSC Ecologist Interviewed by Miami Herald on Florida Keys’ Coral Reefs

Ecologist Ilsa Kuffner was interviewed by environmental reporter Curtis Morgan on coral resiliency and calcification rates in the Florida Keys for an upcoming article. Kuffner answered questions about the factors that promote coral reef resiliency, explained preliminary results of a USGS coral calcification study in the Florida Keys, and presented hypotheses regarding the patterns in calcification rates and growth that are evident in the study. Morgan also requested use of USGS images to accompany his article. The images come from a photo gallery that document five decades of changes that have taken place in both the size and the types of corals present at several coral reef sites in the Florida Keys. Taken by retired USGS scientist Gene Shinn, now professor emeritus at the University of South Florida, these photos capture events such as the appearance of coral disease and the die off of coral species like staghorn.

Video Podcast Series wins 2011 USGS Shoemaker Award

The Coastal and Marine Geology Podcast Series produced at the USGS in St. Petersburg, FL received the 2011 Shoemaker Award in the Audio/Visual Product Category. Awarded by the USGS Office of Communications and Outreach, the Shoemaker Awards recognize extraordinary examples of communicating complex scientific concepts and discoveries that capture the interest and imagination of the American public or increase understanding among USGS employees about our mission. The video podcast series highlights the science conducted at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center. So far, seven videos have been produced covering topics such as African dust and coral reef health, measuring and forecasting impacts of extreme storms on coastal environments, and ocean acidification research in the Arctic. The series has been enhanced by the tremendous knowledge and support from the scientific staff at the center. Members of the podcast team include Matthew Cimitile (director, writer), Betsy Boynton (graphics, video editing), and Ann Tihansky (editor, producer).

SPCMSC participates in Sessions for Semantic Web Development

Rob Wertz, Shawn Dadisman, Jamie Cormier, and Theresa Burress will attend a Semantic Web Development session at the USGS Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center on Sept 21-23. During guided working sessions, participants will write a representative set of use cases for the Coastal and Marine Geology Program’s Integrated Data Management System. A use case describes the steps or actions between a user (human or machine) and a software system that is being used to achieve a particular goal. The sessions will also include concentrated work on basic and alternative activity flows, activity diagrams and data models, and a discussion of next steps.

Uncovering the Geologic History of the Florida Middle Grounds

SPCMSC scientists are conducting field work in the Florida Middle Grounds to identify the composition and geologic history of anomalous features prevalent in the region. The Florida Middle Grounds support giant limestone pinnacles and ledges whose origins have long been a mystery to scientists. Don Hickey, Kyle Kelso, Keith Ludwig, Chris Reich, and BJ Reynolds of the USGS and David Palandro of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will be aboard the R/V G.K. Gilbert on September 20 and 21 to conduct the research. The team will take both a short core of the cap rock and a few sediment push cores from exposed sediments at the base of the cap rock. The proposed site for this trip is south of a previous cored site in August 2010 where a 60-ft-deep core was drilled in an effort to understand the geologic history of the area. More information about the research project can be found here: http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2011/06/fieldwork2.html

Microbial Ecology of Deep-Water Mid-Atlantic Canyons

A new USGS fact sheet highlights microbiological experiments that will be conducted in submarine canyons located along the eastern coast of the United States. During a series of research cruises in 2012-2014, samples will be collected and experiments deployed in the canyons along the mid-Atlantic bight (a coastal region running from Massachusetts to North Carolina). Characterized by swift currents and steep walls that extend miles deep, these canyons are unique ecosystems that have rarely been studied. Rocky outcrops in the canyons provide important habitat for deep-sea corals, which require hard surfaces to grow on. This study will identify and characterize the beneficial microbes associated with these corals, as well as the microbial biofilms that initially colonize hard surfaces in the canyons to prepare them for settlement by larger invertebrates like corals and sponges. Additionally, the microbial communities in the soft sediments on the floors of the canyons will be counted and classified to incorporate them into food webs and benthic ecology studies. This work is part of the DISCOVRE (Diversity, Systematics, and Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems) Project, an integrated, multidisciplinary effort investigating deep-sea communities from the microscopic to the ecosystem level. You can view the fact sheet here: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2011/3102/

Discovery Documentary Crew Films USGS Scientists Research on Coastal Impacts from Hurricane Irene

A documentary crew with the Discovery Channel and Paramount Pictures is shooting a 3-part TV series and a full length 3-D film on hurricanes. It will feature the work of the USGS Coastal Change Hazards group. The documentary crew will be aboard a flyover mission with USGS scientists as they collect post-storm aerial photographs of the North Carolina coastline impacted by Hurricane Irene. These images are used to show the extensive changes to coastal environments caused by an extreme storm. The results help the USGS to prepare more accurate predictive models of future coastal impacts. The film crew will also interview USGS oceanographer Asbury 'Abby' Sallenger on the impacts of Hurricane Irene along the North Carolina coast.

Coastal Change Hazards Group Survey Storm Damage to North Carolina Coast

The USGS, in cooperation with NOAA, is acquiring airborne lidar (light detection and ranging) topographic surveys of portions of the North Carolina coastline impacted by Hurricane Irene. Members of the USGS coastal-change response team are also obtaining low-altitude oblique photography from a small aircraft August 30 and 31. Together, these data will be compared to earlier surveys to show extensive changes to the coastal environment from the landfall of Hurricane Irene. The surveys will extend along the entire North Carolina coastline and will illustrate areas of dune erosion, barrier island breaching, and the landward movement of large volumes of sand. By obtaining photographs and lidar surveys before and after a hurricane, scientists can discern the degree of change to beaches and coastal environments as well as determine how much the land has eroded and the extent of damage to houses and other infrastructure. Data acquired from the flyovers will be used to make more accurate predictive models of future coastal impacts from severe storms and identify areas vulnerable to extreme coastal change. Once the before and after photographs and surveys are analyzed, they will be posted at: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/irene/

Coastal Change Hazards Group Forecasts Extensive Erosion along North Carolina Beaches during Irene

The USGS Coastal Change Hazards group spent the busy week modeling and forecasting inundation and erosion potential of the North Carolina coastline as Hurricane Irene, currently a Category 3 storm, approaches the eastern coast of the United States. According to their model for hurricane-induced coastal change, extensive dune erosion and overwash, the landward movement of large volumes of sand, is forecasted for the North Carolina coastline. The pre-storm assessment compares measurements of dune and berm elevations to potential hurricane-induced water levels, including surge and runup. Input surge and wave conditions are obtained from NOAA scenario-based models (surge) and operational forecasts (waves). Generated simulations found that extensive erosion was likely, greater than a 66 percent chance, in most coastal environments given a direct landfall in that area. Oceanographer Hilary Stockdon gave an interview to the Orlando Sentinel about the model and forecast.

In addition to modeling activities, several group members departed St. Petersburg, FL. on the morning of August 24, to participate in a flyover of the Georgia and South Carolina coastline to get much needed aerial imagery and data for future modeling activities. Hurricane Irene is the first hurricane of the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season. It is expected to track over the North Carolina coast Saturday. The model of the hurricane-induced coastal change for the North Carolina coastline should be published shortly here: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/irene/

Research Cruise Exploring Ocean Acidification in the Arctic Featured in National and International News Outlets

USGS scientists Lisa Robbins and Kim Yates were interviewed by Reuters, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and several Alaskan and Canadian news outlets on their work regarding ocean acidification in the Arctic. The Chicago Tribune, Scientific American, MSNBC, and additional news sources across the nation featured articles on the research as well.

Scientists from the USGS and the University of South Florida have embarked on a research cruise to the Arctic Ocean to collect water samples and other data to determine trends in ocean acidification from the least explored ocean in the world. Data collected during the seven-week cruise will provide an understanding of the extent Arctic Ocean chemistry is changing and detail potential implications for carbonate species - like phytoplankton and shellfish - that are vulnerable to greater ocean acidity. The research is taking place on board the U.S. Coast Guard vessel Healy and during the 2011 U.S. - Canada Extended Continental Shelf Survey research expedition; a joint mission led by the University of New Hampshire's Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping/Joint Hydrographic Center, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Canadian Geological Survey, in which the USGS is a principal collaborator. To learn more, go to http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/ocean-acidification/arcticcruise2011/

St. Petersburg Times Article Details New Solar Collectors at USGS St. Petersburg Facility

A new solar heating system installed at SPCMSC to reduce carbon dioxide emissions while saving on energy costs was featured in a St. Petersburg Times article on August 10. Evacuated-tube solar collectors are being installed on the center's Bill Young Marine Science Complex, which houses state-of-the-art laboratories, to supplement the current natural-gas boiler to provide heat in the winter and reheat conditioned air in the summer. The evacuated-tube system uses no fossil fuels and is expected to make up the cost of the solar parts and installation in four to six years.

Arctic Cruise Explores Changing Ocean

Scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of South Florida (USF) College of Marine Science will embark on a research cruise to the Arctic Ocean to determine trends in ocean acidification from the least explored ocean in the world. Researchers are hoping to understand the extent Arctic Ocean chemistry is changing and detail potential implications for carbonate species - like phytoplankton and shellfish - that are vulnerable to greater ocean acidity. Scientists will set sail aboard the U.S. Coast Guard vessel Healy for seven weeks, beginning August 15, and will collect and analyze water samples using an array of highly specialized instruments including sampling bottles that can collect water from as deep as 3500 meters. Instruments will also pick up measurements on dissolved oxygen content, conductivity, temperature, and depth in the water column.

The research is taking place during the 2011 U.S. - Canada Extended Continental Shelf Survey expedition; a joint mission between the U.S. Coast Guard, the USGS, and the Canadian Coast Guard. The Ocean acidification research team consists of USGS scientists Lisa Robbins, Kim Yates, Paul Knorr, Chris DuFore, and John Lisle and USF scientists Bob Byrne, Jonathan Wynn, Sherwood Liu, and Brian Buczkowski. People interested will be able to track the ocean acidification research team during their voyage in the Arctic on their cruise journal at http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/ocean-acidification/arcticcruise2011/. Additionally, a slideshow on USGS arctic acidification research that includes photos from last year's cruise is available at http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/podcast/.

The Florida Shelf Ecosystem Climate Change Project Selected as Featured Case Study

The Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange (CAKE) highlight case studies on their website that show on-the-ground climate change adaptation projects which are providing valuable tools for sharing results, approaches, and inspiration. The Response of Florida Shelf Ecosystems to Climate Change (FLASH) project was recently selected as one of their featured case studies. USGS scientists working on the FLASH project are determining how economically significant fish, shellfish, and sediment-producing organisms are responding to climate change and altering ocean conditions such as acidification in the region. The project involves field work, laboratory experiments, and analysis of historical data and satellite imagery. Results from this project will inform policy and science decisions on potential remediation efforts to protect living marine resources along Florida’s shelf. The Climate Adaptation Knowledge Exchange is aimed at building a shared knowledge base for managing natural systems in the face of rapid climate change. It is intended to help build a community by vetting and organizing the best information available, creating a directory of practitioners to share knowledge and strategies, and identifying and explaining data tools and information available from other sites. View the site and the featured case study here: http://www.cakex.org/

Isotopes from Coral Skeletons can Record Delivery of Terrestrial Carbon to Coastal Waters

Tropical small mountainous rivers deliver a poorly quantified, but potentially significant amount of carbon to the world’s oceans. However, there are few historical records of land–ocean carbon transfer that exist for any region on Earth. A new study by USGS geologist Ryan R. Moyer and Ohio State University geologist Andrea G. Grottoli indicate corals have the potential to provide such records. Measurements were conducted on a 56-year-old Monastraea faveolata coral located in the Rio Fajardo in Puerto Rico and stable carbon and radiocarbon isotope values of the river and adjacent coastal waters were gathered during two wet and dry seasons. The study found depletions of the carbon values in the coral skeleton were coherent with timing of peak river discharge and correlation of the carbon values were the same in both coral skeleton and the dissolved inorganic carbon of the river and coastal waters. Coral skeletal are recording the delivery of riverine dissolved inorganic carbon to the coastal ocean and thus could be used to develop proxies of historical land–ocean carbon flux for many tropical regions. This information could be valuable for understanding the role of tropical land–ocean carbon flux in the context of land-use and global climate changes.

Testing if Coral Reconstructions can Tell of Past Tropical Cyclone Activity

Complimenting modern records of tropical cyclone activity with longer historical and paleoclimatological records would increase understanding of natural tropical cyclone variability on decadal to centennial time scales. A new study authored by USGS geologist Ryan P. Moyer, K. Halimeda Kilbourne of UMCES-Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, Terrence Quinn of the University of Texas, and Andrea G. Grottoli of Ohio State University explored if stable oxygen isotope ratios from coral skeletons could identify past tropical cyclone events. Tropical cyclones produce large amounts of precipitation with significantly lower stable oxygen isotope ratios, making them identifiable in the marine carbonate record. The study presents a model of seawater oxygen isotopes expected during tropical cyclones and gathered data from corals in Puerto Rico. The reconstruction methods however, showed no significant distinguishable mark between normal rainfall and tropical cyclone in the coral record. Future studies must focus on species, sampling resolution, and environmental signals. The study was published in the July issue of Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.

First Study to Culture Bacteria from Cold-water Coral Species

USGS researchers and university scientists have just published the first study to culture bacteria from the cold-water coral Lophelia pertusa, in an effort to understand the roles that bacteria play in cold-water coral biology. Microorganisms associated with corals are hypothesized to help their host animal by cycling nutrients, breaking down carbon sources, and producing antibiotics to prevent fouling by other microbes. Lophelia pertusa is a globally distributed cold-water coral that forms complex, 3-dimensional habitat in the deep sea. Two sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico were sampled and bacteria were cultured from coral tissue, skeleton, and mucus. Results showed that both sampling sites shared closely related isolates, indicating possible temporally and geographically stable bacterial–coral associations. Yet isolates that were phylogenetically tightly grouped had varying responses to antibiotics and thus phylogenetic placement cannot predict strain-level differences and highlights the need for greater culture-based experiments. The study was published in the August issue of FEMS Microbiology Ecology and authored by SPCMSC scientists Michael Gray and Christina Kellogg, Julia Galkiewicz of the University of South Florida, and Zoe Pratte from Florida International University.

SPCMSC Scientist Wraps Up Field Work on Investigating Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reef Ecosystems in Puerto Rico

USGS scientist Ryan P. Moyer will participate in the final field operation to support an ongoing collaborative, multi-institutional research project at the Atlantic Ocean Acidification Test-bed in La Parguera, PR. From July 29 to August 5, Moyer will be joined in the field by co-Principal Investigators Dwight Gledhill (NOAA-CIMAS), Greg Piniak (NOAA-NCCOS), Wade McGillis (Columbia U.), and Chris Langdon (U. Miami-RSMAS) as they study the link between seasonal water column geochemical fluxes and changes in benthic community structure at a long-term coral reef ocean acidification monitoring site. The project hopes to gain an understanding of how coral reef communities respond to natural short-term variations in water column chemistry and whether the ecosystem tolerance to that range of variability is enough to help mitigate the predicted impacts of long-term ocean acidification. The first seasonal sampling trip for this collaborative effort was conducted in January 2011. A subsequent trip occurred in April/May 2011. The ocean acidification test-bed and all field operations are scheduled to move to the Florida Keys in 2012.

USGS Scientist Featured in AGU Promotional Video on Geoscience Congressional Visits Day

Oceanographer Hilary Stockdon appeared in an American Geophysical Union informational video about Geoscience Congressional Visits Day. The video details how the day provides scientists with an opportunity to meet with their legislators and discuss the importance of federally funded science research as well as their own research. Geoscience Congressional Visits Day takes place on September 20-21 in Washington, DC and is hosted by AGU along with other geoscience societies. Meetings are scheduled between scientists and members of Congress and their staff to discuss research and illustrate the importance of supporting federally funded research through agencies such as DOE, EPA, NASA, NOAA, NSF, and USGS. The short informational video can be viewed here.

Florida Sea Grant Publication Highlights Marine Science Scholarship and Former Recipients

A new Florida Sea Grant publication that highlights the Aylesworth Scholarship program features several former recipients of the award including USGS microbiologist Christina Kellogg, who received the scholarship while she was pursuing her doctorate from the University of South Florida College of Marine Science. The scholarship supports undergraduate, master’s and doctoral students in a variety of academic disciplines that have a direct application to marine science.

New Fact Sheet Highlights Research in the U.S. Virgin Islands

The St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center has published a new fact sheet that details coastal and marine geology "Research Activities in the U.S. Virgin Islands." The publication, authored by Matthew Cimitile, highlights research activities into gathering baseline information for resource management and assessing the health of and environmental changes to vital ecosystems such as coral reefs. In particular, scientists at the center are working in the U.S. Virgin Islands to investigate the effects of ocean acidification and sea-level rise on coral reefs, acquire high-resolution topographic data for resource management, use fluorescence to diagnose coral diseases, and characterize coral disease dynamics. The fact sheet was published on June 23.

Publication of Geology Volume of Gulf of Mexico Origin, Waters, and Biota Series

The third volume in the 'landmark scientific reference series from the Harte Research Institute for Gulf Of Mexico Studies' that gives a comprehensive, up-to-date descriptions of the geology of the Gulf of Mexico basin has been published. USGS Geologist Noreen Buster and former USGS scientist Charles W. Holmes edited the Geology Volume, which contains six sections addressing the Gulf's geology including its origin, processes, estuaries, beaches, barrier islands, and coral reefs. Chapters in the book are authored by leaders in the field and provide a synthesis of decades of scientific research in the region to the scientific, management, and policy communities. The first two volumes in this series provided in-depth information on the marine biodiversity of the Gulf of Mexico and on the ocean and coastal economy of the region. The book came out of a partnership between Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, the Harte Research Institute, and the USGS.

SPCMSC Scientist to Participate in Gulf of Mexico Research Cruise

USGS scientist Ryan P. Moyer will be one of the scientific crew aboard the M/V Weatherbird II for a research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico from June 25-July 2. The ship will cruise along two transects of the West Florida Shelf (WFS) and collect sediment cores from a variety of depths and locations along each transect. Moyer will be part of the coring team and is responsible for the deployment and recovery of the box coring system. The cores collected will be used by Moyer to study proxy records of ocean acidification along the WFS in coordination with Dr. Ben Flower (University of South Florida College of Marine Science). The research vessel will also house scientists from Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection, Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission, USF College of Marine Science, and Eckerd College.

Coastal Zone 2011 Conference

Matthew Cimitile will be attending the Coastal Zone 2011 Conference in Chicago, IL. from July 17-21 where he will help support communications and media involvement at the conference. He will work with the Department of Interior's Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes Program in this endeavor. Sessions at the conference will touch on the implementation and communication of the National Ocean Policy, climate change and sea-level rise impacts on coastal environments and communities, coastal and marine spatial planning, flood hazard areas, and more. The Coastal Zone conference is a biennial international symposium and is the largest international gathering of ocean and coastal management professionals in the world. Nearly 1,000 people attend representing federal, state, and local governments, academia, nonprofit organizations, and private industry.

DOI Green Dream Team Environmental Achievement Award

USGS scientists Dawn Lavoie, Asbury (Abby) Sallenger, and Jim Flocks and U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation, and Enforcement scientist Michael Miner were awarded the Department of Interior's (DOI) 2011 Green Dream Team Environmental Achievement Award. This award recognizes exceptional leadership by an interagency team to effectively place a Federal sustainability idea into action. The award came out of a partnership between the USGS, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Southeast Louisiana National Wildlife Refuge shortly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The hurricane devastated the southeast Louisiana coast and barrier islands which are extremely important as habitat for wildlife and storm protection for coastal communities. The four recipients were members of a team that analyzed island changes based on historical maps and remotely sensed shoreline and topographic data, conducted a series of LIDAR surveys after Hurricane Katrina to determine barrier island recovery potential, analyzed sea floor evolution and sediment dynamics in the refuge over the past 150 years, collected geophysical data through coring to more fully characterize the sediments composing the islands, and modeled potential responses of the island to low-intensity, intermediate, and extreme events likely to affect the refuge over the next 50 years. Results from these studies were published in the report "Sand Resources, Regional Geology, and Coastal Processes of the Chandeleur Islands Coastal System: an Evaluation of the Breton National Wildlife Refuge." This study was later invaluable during the response to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill as coastal managers repeatedly referred to the report and reached out to the scientific authors for further assistance when making decisions in the area.

USGS Part of International Study on the Effects of Oil and Gas Exploration on Cold-Water Corals

Microbiologist Christina Kellogg will be traveling to Norway from June 18-29, to begin a collaborative study on the effects of drilling mud on cold-water corals. Drilling mud is a slurry of compounds that greases and cool wells during the drilling process. Kellogg is a participant in a three year grant funded by the Research Council of Norway and will be consulting on experimental design and microbial ecology. A primary objective of this project is to develop diagnostic methods to detect cold-water coral stress that may result from nearby oil and gas exploration activities.

USGS Hosts Students from Mote Marine Laboratory Summer Internship Program

On June 24, SPCMSC will host 12 undergraduate college students who are participating in the summer intern program at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, FL. The students will see several videos from the Coastal and Marine Geology Video Podcast series that are produced at the center and highlight current USGS research taking place in and around Florida. Content in the videos pertain to Everglades field research, changes in coral reef health and conditions, and studies on the response of coastal environments to extreme storms. USGS scientists Ilsa Kuffner, Joe Long, Ginger Range, and Chris Reich will field questions and discuss careers in science. Several project posters will be displayed and career and project materials will be distributed to the students.

Splash Camp/Lifeguarding Students to Tour USGS in St. Petersburg, FL

SPCMSC will host five groups of summer campers in June and July as part of their participation in University of South Florida’s Waterfront programs. Students will tour the facility, speak with scientists about their research, and participate in hands-on activities and demonstrations. One group of Junior Lifeguarding students ages 12-14 will be touring the U.S. Geological Survey on June 15. They will visit the St. Petersburg boating and diving facilities and meet scientists who are involved in ongoing coral reef research. Staff will demonstrate 3-D mapping technology, and students will learn about the hazards of tsunamis. Four groups of Splash camp students ages 9-11 will tour the U.S. Geological Survey on June 23, June 30, July 14, and July 21. Splash Camp brings environmental and water safety awareness as well as fitness to children in a variety of settings. Along with visiting the St. Petersburg boating and diving facilities and meeting scientists who are involved in ongoing coral reef research, campers will learn about Florida geology and have the opportunity to assemble and take home their own Rock and Minerals of Florida identification kit.

USGS Hosts United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Water Education Lectures

Natural Hazards Presentation Given at Pinellas County Charter School

2011 Pinellas County Hurricane & Natural Disaster Expo

As the start of hurricane season approaches, scientists from the USGS Coastal Change Hazards Program are informing the public about the impact hurricanes and other extreme storms can have on coastal environment and communities. Kara Doran, Joseph Long, and Nathaniel Plant will be participating in the 2011 Pinellas County Hurricane & Natural Disaster Expo on Saturday, June 4 in St. Petersburg, FL. They will display the USGS hurricane wave tank, which simulates the effects of wind and waves on a barrier island. The tank illustrates sediment transport and barrier island breaching processes and provides an interactive exhibit for children to see science in action. Through the exhibit, researchers will discuss the role the USGS plays in modeling, data collection, and vulnerability assessments associated with extreme storms. Along with the USGS, speakers from the National Weather Service, NASA, and The Red Cross will discuss hurricanes, tracking storms from space, and preparedness.

Visualizing Geospatial Information Article Picked Up by Tampa Bay Tribune

An article by the USGS in St. Petersburg, FL, which detailed tools and technology that support scientists in visualizing complex geospatial information, was the topic of a Tampa Bay Tribune story on May 21. Ann Tihansky, Shawn Dadisman, and Brendan Dwyer shared high tech images of the Tampa Bay region to generate interest in geoscience information and share resources that can be used by the public. Examples demonstrate what scientists 'see' in 3-D in order to understand complex processes and changes over time. The Tribune story discussed how such detailed maps and charts can help fishermen in the Tampa region by making it easier to interpret the seafloor. For example, using such charts can inform fishermen where cuts and edges along shoals are or to locate grass flats.

The original story was featured in the quarterly publication Bay Soundings: http://www.baysoundings.com/Stories/Better-Than-Birds-Eye-View.asp. The Tribune article can be found here: http://www2.tbo.com/sports/outdoors/2011/may/21/new-technology-shows-bays-underwater-secrets-ar-209192/

posted: 2011-05-26

New Findings Presented at USGS Northern Gulf of Mexico Annual Science Meeting

SPCMSC scientists presented new findings and posters at the Northern Gulf of Mexico Annual Science Meeting of the Northern Gulf Coast Ecosystem Change and Hazard Susceptibility (NGOM) Project held on May 24-26 in Lafayette, LA. The theme of this year's meeting was "Staging the Delivery of NGOM Project Scientific Findings, Maps, and Geospatial Data." Along with presentations of scientific findings, participants toured the USGS National Wetlands Research Center, took a field trip to the Fish and Wildlife Service Rockefeller Refuge, and had an opportunity to view the ongoing Atchafalaya Basin flooding. New findings presented by SPCMSC scientists included: recent climate variation in northern Gulf of Mexico by Dick Poore; USGS activities in the Chandeleur Islands and on the emergency oil-spill mitigation sand berm by Jim Flocks; Hurricane impacts on coastal wetlands by Bob Morton; Wetland loss due to recent hurricanes in coastal Louisiana by Monica Palaseanu; Holocene stratigraphy and depositional environments of Cat Island by Jennifer Miselis; Historic environmental change within Mobile Bay by Lisa Osterman; Quantifying marsh accretion rates from the Mobile River Delta and Bay Region by Chris Smith; and using the EAARL to estimate bare-earth topography in shallow submerged wetland environments by Amar Nayegandhi. More information about the meeting and the project can be found here: http://ngom.usgs.gov/

SPCMSC Scientist Gives Guest Lecture at Local High School

USGS Mendenhall Post-Doctoral Fellow Ryan P. Moyer gave a presentation on coral reefs at Palm Harbor University High School on May 24 in Palm Harbor, FL. Ryan was invited to talk to two different sections of Mrs. Lori Bauck's 11th and 12th grade Advanced Placement Environmental Science Class. In his lecture called "Cool Kids Like Corals (And So Should You)," Moyer first gave students a brief introduction to corals and coral reefs. He then went on to inform students about some of the environmental problems currently facing coral reefs and highlighted coral research performed by scientists at the USGS in St. Petersburg, FL.

USGS Scientists Complete Field Study on Coral Growth at Four Marine Protected Areas in the Florida Keys

Last week Ilsa Kuffner, Don Hickey, and Caitlin Reynolds completed the first two-year phase of a field study at four reefs across the Florida Keys, including in Dry Tortugas National Park, two sites in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, and in Biscayne National Park off Miami. The ongoing work is part of the Coral Reef Ecosystems Studies (CREST) project that involves research on the health and resilience of shallow water reef environments. Changing ocean chemistry and temperature from increased carbon dioxide in the oceans and atmosphere, respectively, are predicted to slow growth (calcification) rates of reef-building corals. The research team measured the amount of calcium carbonate gained by the corals approximately every six months for the last two years. At the end of this portion of the study, the corals were split in half, two 4-mm slabs were retrieved, and the two living halves were epoxied back together at the original collection reef to continue living. These valuable coral-skeleton slabs, along with the growth rate data, will allow scientists to address long-standing questions on the impacts of changing ocean chemistry and temperature on coral growth, and provide a better calibration for determining past ocean temperatures using the Strontium/Calcium paleothermometer (i.e. a natural temperature proxy).

SPCMSC awarded USGS GIS/National Map Conference Poster Award

Brendan Dwyer, Matthew Streubert, and Chris Reich were awarded the USGS GIS Workshop/National Map Users Conference Poster Award for "Best Data or Software Integration," for their poster on the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center's Core Archive Portal. The Center houses a unique collection of coral and rock cores from around the world including south Florida, Belize, the Philippines, and the Gulf of Mexico. The core archive portal allows users to search for core material via a world map and zoom in on areas of interest and to download information for a particular core site. The award was given at the USGS 8th biennial Geographic Information Science Workshop and first National Map Users Conference that took place in Denver, CO, from May 10-13. The goal of the conference was to enhance communication and collaboration among National Map users and contributors and to promote advancement of GIS and related technologies with the USGS community.

USGS Geologist Presenting on Uranium-cycling at Biogeochemistry Symposium

Christopher Smith will be giving a talk at the 11th International Estuarine Biogeochemistry Symposium that takes place May 15-19 in Atlantic Beach, NC. The title of the talk is 'Uranium-cycling in subterranean estuaries of Florida.' Smith will describe the geochemical process that influences the transport and transformation of uranium through freshwater-saltwater interfaces within coastal and submarine aquifers. The talk incorporates work from Smith's graduate and postdoctoral work in Indian River Lagoon, the Everglades, and Crystal Beach Spring in Florida. The theme of the Symposium is "Crossing Boundaries" and provides a forum for marine, earth, and atmospheric scientists whose focus is on estuaries and the critical role these environments play in the transport and transformation of materials from land to the ocean.

SPCMSC Contribute Sea-level Rise Article to the American Planning Association Florida Chapter

Florida faces tough decisions about long-range planning and development strategies as a low-lying peninsula surrounded by water. More than 4500 square miles of land in the state are lower than five feet above sea level and any significant rise in sea level could further erode, alter, and degrade coastal environments and increase risk of flooding in populated areas. To address impacts of climate change, scientific information and monitoring are critical for designing beneficial, cost effective ways to prepare communities. An article titled ‘Sea-level Rise Science: Informing and Preparing Florida’s Coastal Communities’ by Matthew Cimitile describes current USGS scientific information and monitoring programs related to sea-level rise and extreme storms. The article was the cover story for the Spring edition of the American Planning Association (APA) Florida Chapter Newsletter. Collecting USGS data and information from the National Coastal Hazards Assessment Team, the Center for Excellence for Geospatial Information Science, and the Florida Oceans and Coastal Council Report, Cimitile describes the likely scenarios of sea-level rise by the end of the century, the various geologic and oceanographic influences on sea level, and the impact rising seas coupled with extreme storms can have on coastal environments and communities. The article provides critical information to an important audience - the planning community - that a Florida with higher sea level poses a unique set of planning challenges such as how to plan in coastal areas and hot to mitigate potential shoreline retreat. But through scientific expertise and informed planning Florida will be better prepared for the future. The APA Florida Chapter provides statewide leadership in the development of sustainable communities by advocating excellence in planning and working to enhance the natural and built environments.

Natural Hazards Mission Area Listening Session Conducted at Coastal Sediments Conference

As part of the USGS Strategic Science Planning process for the Natural Hazards Mission Area, oceanographer Nathaniel Plant held a "listening session" at the Coastal Sediments conference in Miami on May 4th. The purpose of the meeting was to solicit feedback about the role the USGS plays in coastal hazards research and to discuss how this role is coordinated with academic researchers and researchers from other government agencies. The meeting was attended by about 40 researchers, 80% of whom were not USGS employees. Important themes brought up in the discussion included strong support that USGS continue to conduct large-scale observational activities, continue and improve collaborations with Army Corps of Engineers, develop better guidance for academic researchers to engage in cooperative agreements with USGS, and stengthen the visibility of USGS research accomplishments and capabilities.

USGS Scientists Participate in Interagency Water Ditching and Survival Course

Dennis Krohn, Karen Morgan and BJ Reynolds participated in the Interagency Aviation Training (IAT) Water Ditching and Survival course on May 4 in Davie, FL. The course is designed to give participants the skills and confidence needed to calmly and safely exit an aircraft after it has made an emergency landing in water. The course is held a few times a year and while it is not required, it is recommended for all Department of Interior personnel whose job requires them to fly in an aircraft over water outside of glide distance from land. The course allows students to become familiar with personal flotation devices (PFDs), water survival techniques, and the techniques to safely exit a downed aircraft and reach the surface after ditching. Consisting of two parts, classroom and hands-on pool exercises, each student gets to experience a simulated aircraft ditching in a controlled environment. Using a dunking apparatus constructed of PVC pipe and webbing, students are strapped in using one of two different seat harnesses and use the techniques taught in the classroom to exit the dunker. You can download a short video, produced by Karen Morgan, of the training here: ftp://ftpext.usgs.gov/pub/er/fl/st.petersburg/cimitile/Training_video/

USGS Oceanographer is Keynote Speaker at Coastal Sediments '11

Oceanographer Asbury (Abby) Sallenger will be a keynote speaker at the Coastal Sediments '11 Conference that takes place May 2 - 6 in Miami, FL. Sallenger's talk is titled 'Hurricanes, Sea Level Rise, and Coastal Change.' He will discuss the magnitude of coastal change that recent hurricanes and the combine impacts of hurricanes and relative sea level rise has had on coastal environments around the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coast. The USGS will also be hosting a booth at the conference that will provide further information regarding hazards research and the coastal environment. The Coastal Sediments ’11 Conference provides an international forum for exchange of information among coastal engineers, geologists, marine scientists, shallow-water oceanographers, and others interested in the physical processes of coastal sediment transport and morphology change. More information can be found here: http://coastalsediments.cas.usf.edu/

Article on Improving Science Literacy and Education Published in Solutions Journal

An article authored by Matthew Cimitile (SPCMSC) that details the state of science literacy in the country and ways to improve the situation was published in the journal Solutions. Titled 'How America’s Science Education Can Make the Grade,' Cimitile writes how greater teacher training in science and math fields, emphasis on the nature and process of science in the classroom, introducing nontraditional teaching methods like multimedia and blogs to students, and involving both students and the public in science and the outdoors through national park institutes and citizen science collaborations can go a long way in improving science literacy. Cimitile interviewed teachers, scientists, and educational reformers on the frontlines of improving science education and literacy, including USGS National Education Coordinator Bob Ridky. The article was featured prominently on the home page of the journal's website. Solutions is a nonprofit print and online publication produced by the Gund Institute out of the University of Vermont and devoted to showcasing bold and innovative ideas for solving the world's integrated ecological, social, and economic problems. The article is found here: http://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/node/926/

SPCMSC Contributes to Community Resource Awareness through Bay Soundings Newsletter

Personnel with the SPCMSC authored two articles in the 2011 spring edition of Bay Soundings, a publication of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council. Matthew Cimitile contributed the article, "Marine Debris: Local Solutions to a Global Problem" highlighting the impacts of this global problem but also highlighting solutions and local actions (involving USGS volunteer staff) that improve the conditions of the Bay for marine life and coastal communities. Ann Tihansky, Shawn Dadisman, and Brendan Dwyer shared high tech images of the Tampa Bay region in another article titled "Better than a 'Birds-Eye' View," which highlights tools and technology that support scientists in visualizing complex geospatial information. The goal was to generate public interest in geoscience information and share resources that can be used at home. Examples demonstrate what scientists 'see' in 3-D in order to understand complex processes and changes over time. The USGS in St. Petersburg, FL, is on the editorial board of Bay Soundings and is a frequent contributor. The spring edition is available here: http://www.baysoundings.com/

SPCMSC Hosts St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Meeting

The St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center hosted the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership Quarterly Board Meeting on April 27. The St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, which formed in 1962 as St. Petersburg Progress, Inc., is a business-supported, non-profit 501 (c) (6) organization with a purpose to promote business growth and redevelopment in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. The organization was very instrumental in bringing the USGS to St. Petersburg. Center Director Jack Kindinger provided a tour of the facility and gave an overview of USGS research to board members. For many of the new board members this was their first visit to the USGS. More information about the Partnership can be found here: http://www.stpetepartnership.org/

SPCMSC Research Geologist Helps Judge Mayor’s Youth Showcase

Chris Smith volunteered to be a science judge of projects displaying science technology for the 2011 Mayor's Youth Showcase of Achievement for middle and high school teens. At the showcase, Pinellas County middle and high school students compete for twenty $500 savings accounts from Florida Central Credit union. The event took place April 28 at Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, FL.

USGS Eckerd Alumni Participate at Eckerd College's Earth Fest Event

Nancy DeWitt, Xan Fredericks, and Chandra Dreher hosted a booth and shared scientific and career information at Eckerd College's Earth Fest Event on Wednesday April 20th. Earth Fest is hosted by Eckerd College’s Earth Society club. The all-day event had a strong turn out with graduating, continuing, and perspective students in attendance. The scientists fielded many questions including "How do I become an employee, intern, or volunteer at the USGS?" Of course, they were happy to tell them about various employment opportunities including internships, contracting, and volunteer, as well as share some of their knowledge and experiences of transforming from Eckerd College students to USGS employees. They also shared information about recent events that have impacted the Gulf Coast environment. Many in attendance were interested in the USGS role in supporting the Gulf of Mexico oil-spill response, about which the scientists provided a recently published USGS Fact Sheet detailing this activity - http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/123/.

SPCMSC Discuss Coastal Erosion at Family Fun Science Night

Matthew Cimitile and Carl Taylor participated in the University of South Florida College of Education Family Fun Science Night at Lakewood Elementary School on April 27. Cimitile and Taylor hosted a station with USGS handouts regarding recent and ongoing research taking place at the center and a coastal erosion display. The display informs the public on the natural process of coastal erosion and how hurricanes can accelerate this process on barrier islands and in the coastal environment. The community event provided families the opportunity to see the benefits of science in a festive atmosphere.

USGS in St. Petersburg Hosts Distinguished Delegation from India, Discuss Hazard Research Activities

On April 8, the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center hosted a delegation of seven distinguished visitors from India. The delegation’s visit was organized by Mary Ellen Upton, Executive Director of The International Council of the Tampa Bay Region, Inc. The focus of the visit was "Climate Change and Clean Energy." Center Director Jack Kindinger and Computer Scientist Amar Nayegandhi welcomed the group. Kindinger then provided an overview of hazard research activities. After the overview, the group toured the facility and talked with research scientists Lisa Robbins about ocean acidification, Abby Sallenger regarding coastal hazards, Nathaniel Plant about sea level change and coastal vulnerability, and Dick Poore regarding changing ocean temperatures in the North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico.

USGS is Valuable Partner in First St. Petersburg, FL, Science Festival

The St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center has been heavily involved in the planning and coordination of the first science festival that will take place in St. Petersburg, FL, on April 30. The festival is presented as an engaging, informative event for families and the general public to explore the wonders of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). The goal is to have exhibitors let folks know the value of STEM as a career choice for adolescents, as an economic engine for the community and the nation, and as a reliable resource for both individuals and civic leaders to make rational decisions. Center Director Jack Kindinger and Information Specialist Ann Tihanksy have been involved with the festival committee and planning of the event over the past several years. Heather Schreppel currently is engaged in multiple committees this spring and designed the web site. Theresa Burress is on both the program and the arts & media committee. At the festival, geologist Jennifer Miselis will take part in an oil spill panel, discussing her role as a USGS representative on the Operational Science Advisory Team (OSAT) and the oil-spill related work SPCMSC scientists have been involved in. The OSAT Team was tasked with making timely recommendations to the U.S. Coast Guard Federal On-Scene Coordinator on adjustments to field sampling activities as well as reporting trends and maintaining the status of decision indicators. In addition, Oceanographers Lisa Robbins and Ryan P. Moyer will host a booth about the phenomenon of ocean acidification. They will talk about pH, ocean acidification, marine calcifiers, global food webs, carbon cycling and how all of it relates to human activity.

More information about the festival can be found here: http://www.stpetescifest.org/

New Scientific Investigation Map Assesses Historical Bathymetry and Bathymetric Changes of Mississippi and Alabama Coastal Regions

Geologists Noreen Buster and Robert Morton recently completed a 160-year evaluation of the historical bathymetry and bathymetric change of the Mississippi and Alabama (MS-AL) coastal regions. The investigative map and accompanying report will help assess the comprehensive dynamics of the MS-AL coastal zone, where land loss and seafloor change are of great concern to the public and to local, state, and federal agencies. Principal physical conditions that have driven morphological seafloor and coastal change in this area include decreased sediment supply, sea-level rise, storms, and human activities such as dredging. In such a rapidly changing coastal environment, understanding historically where and why changes are occurring is essential. The map can be seen here: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3154/

SPCMSC Researchers Conduct Benthic Habitat Survey of Lignumvitae Key Basin

USGS scientists recently completed a survey that characterized the benthic habitat of Lignumvitae Key Basin in the Florida Bay using the Along-Track Reef Imaging System (ATRIS). ATRIS, a noninvasive observing system that simultaneously acquires geo-located, color digital images and water-depth measurements, was used to detail the abundance, distribution, and size of corals in the Basin. Scientists are using this information to locate ideal coral heads that could provide subannually proxy records for seasurface temperature and salinity in the region dating back 100 to 150 years. Such data will be critical for water managers in deciding what the correct quantity, quality, timing and distribution of freshwater are to maintain a healthy and productive Everglades ecosystem. Authors of the report are SPCMSC researchers Chris Reich, Dave Zawada, Philip Thompson, Caitlin Reynolds, and Dick Poore along with Intern Daniel Umberger. The report can be found here: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1066/

Refuge Managers Meet to Discuss Priorities and Goals at SPCMSC

Refuge Managers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Area II, which includes personnel in the State of Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, will hold a meeting at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center from April 20-22. The managers will discuss budget projections, future priorities for the Region, conservation goals, changes in personnel policy, and updates on individual National Wildlife Refuges. The meeting will also include a field trip to Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge on the morning of April 21.

USGS Participates in Earth Island Day at State Park

Matthew Cimitile and Heather Schreppel hosted an interactive booth on the process of coastal erosion at an Earth Day event on Honeymoon Island State Park. The coastal erosion display uses a box filled with water, sand within the box shaped like a barrier island, and a fan. The fan blows against the sand and overtime makes sand grains at the center of the island migrate to the edges, demonstrating the impact wind and waves have on barrier islands throughout the years. Coastal erosion is a significant issue in Florida, where 60 percent of beaches experience some form of erosion and 50 percent experience significant erosion. Cimitile and Schreppel discussed the science of coastal erosion, impacts it has on barrier islands and coastal environments, and processes such as beach nourishment to stabilize beaches. Earth Island Day is a two day event at the state park that educates the local community in environmental and science issues. It took place on April 16.

SPCMSC hosts Cub Scout Pack 236

On April 16, SPCMSC hosted a group of local Cub Scouts from Pack 236 based in St. Petersburg, FL. The scouts met with SPCMSC scientist Ryan P. Moyer who spoke to the group about some basic aspects of his research. The scouts then were given a tour of the SPCMSC labs and scientific support facilities by Moyer and Sandra Coffman.

USGS Oceanographer Interviewed for Women in Science article for New Scientist Magazine

On April 6, Lisa Robbins was interviewed by New Scientist journalist Becky Oskin about her career as a scientist. Robbins provided information about her career path, why she went into science, and geology in particular, mentoring opportunities, and any possible gender discrimination and gender-related barriers that she may have come up against over her career. For this article, Oskin also interviewed a microbiologist, a computer science professor, the dean of engineering at Tufts, and USGS director Marcia McNutt. The article will come out at the end of April and will be featured in both the print edition and online.

SPCMSC Participates in Nature's Classroom Open House

Paper co-authored by USGS Oceanographer Selected as American Geophysical Union 'Research Spotlight'

A scientific paper published in Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) and co-authored by oceanographer Kim Yates has been selected by the editors of the publication as an American Geophysical Union (AGU) 'Research Spotlight'. The 'Research Spotlight' highlights new, noteworthy and interesting results published in AGU's journal and is featured on the back page of AGU's weekly newspaper Eos, Transactions. The paper titled "Productivity of a coral reef using boundary layer and enclosure methods" compares a new boundary layer method for analyzing coral reef productivity with the Submersible Habitat for Analyzing Reef Quality (SHARQ) method. The boundary layer method makes unobstructed measurements of vertical gradients in velocity and temperature with chemical constituents to calculate flux of momentum, heat, and O2 in the boundary layer. SHARQ is a transparent bottom-mounted enclosure that isolates water above the coral and allows for scientists to conduct in-situ measurements and assess how corals metabolize, grow, and respond to changing ocean conditions. A general summary of the paper is also be published in GRL's online and print editions and may be distributed to interested news media.

You can read the spotlight here: http://www.agu.org/journals/eo/eo1113/2011EO130010.pdf#anchor

SPCMSC Hosts and Discusses Current Research with Aspiring Environmental and Marine Science High School Students

On April 6, the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center hosted 100 students from Lakewood High School’s Center for Advanced Technologies. The visit began with Center Director Jack Kindinger welcoming the students, who were participating in the University of South Florida-St. Petersburg STREAMS - Supporting Talented and Remarkable Environmental and Marine Science Students - Scholarship Program. The students watched several video highlights from the Coastal and Marine Geology Video Podcast series that are produced at the center and describe current USGS research taking place in and around Florida. Content in the videos pertained to Everglades’s field research, changes in coral reef health and conditions, and studies on the response of coastal environments to extreme storms. USGS scientists Ginger Range, Chris Reich, Don Hickey, and Hilary Stockdon fielded questions and shared their personal experiences of scientific field work. Several project posters were displayed and career and project handouts were distributed to the students.

SPCMSC Scientist to Present on Rates of Marsh Accretion at Association of American Geographers Meeting

Research Geologist Christopher G. Smith will present on 'Quantifying marsh sedimentation rates from the Mobile River delta and Mobile Bay region' at the 2011 Association of American Geographers annual meeting in Seattle, WA. Using natural and anthropogenic fallout radionuclides, rates of marsh accretion in southwest Alabama can be computed over the last 150 years, providing insight to the marshes behavior due to changes in sediment supply, sea-level rise, and event deposition. Smith will present at a special session hosted by fellow USGS employees Jeffrey Danielson and John Brock. The meeting takes place from April 12-16.

More information about the meeting can be found here: http://www.aag.org/cs/annualmeeting/about_the_meeting

Seminar at SPCMSC Details Multi-scale Coastal Change Analyses

USGS Studies Louisiana Sand Berm Evolution

Construction of a sand berm around the Chandeleur Islands has created a unique opportunity to study the interaction of coastal protection and restoration efforts with a dynamically evolving natural barrier island. The objective of the study is to determine sediment transport pathways and mechanisms, understand feedback relationships, and improve forecasting ability. To date, SPCMSC scientists have conducted in situ measurements of waves, water levels, and currents, collected three lidar topography data sets, performed two bathymetric surveys, analyzed satellite and aerial imagery, and modeled the berm-island evolution as it faced winter storms. This phase of the study will be updated in May 2011 with an additional high-resolution bathymetric survey and updated lidar survey that will document the evolution of the sand-source areas used to construct the berm and continue to track the fate of the berm feature and sediment redistributions.

USGS Scientist Gives Guest Lecture on Corals and Climate Change at Local University

USGS Mendenhall Post-Doctoral Fellow Ryan P. Moyer was invited by the Student Environmental Awareness Society (SEAS) to give a guest lecture at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg campus (USFSP) on March 24. The lecture was titled "Corals, Carbon, and Climate: Exploring global change using coral-based proxy records." The hour-long seminar informed both students and faculty at USFSP, along with guest from other local agencies, about some of the climate-related pressures facing modern coral reefs, and highlighted Moyer's research on the impact of ocean acidification on coral growth and calcification.

SPCMSC Oceanographer Invited to Participate in Science-Engineering-Technology Congressional Visits Day

SPCMSC to Host Natural Hazards Science Planning Team Listening Session

The St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center will host an information collecting meeting for the Natural Hazards Science Planning Team on March 31 at 10 a.m. This will be one of several meetings the planning team will conduct with a variety of audiences who have an interest in USGS hazards research and applications. The meetings will provide a very brief and general description of what the planning team will be doing and then open up the session for comments from attendees. The new Natural Hazards Mission Area has direct responsibility for the following programs: Coastal and Marine Geology, Earthquake Hazards, Geomagnetism, Global Seismographic Network, Landslide Hazards, and Volcano Hazards.

New Fact Sheet on SPCMSC Response to Gulf of Mexico Oil-spill Featured on USGS Home Page

A Fact Sheet authored by Jack Kindinger, Ann Tihansky, and Matthew Cimitile detailing the response, mitigation and restoration activities conducted at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center was featured prominently on the USGS home page under latest publications. Immediately after the Deepwater Horizon event, the USGS in St. Petersburg, FL. began responding to data requests, directing response personnel, and providing coastal and shelf geophysical data to coastal-resource managers. The USGS provided oil-spill responders with up-to-date coastal bathymetry, barrier island topography, geologic data, and maps characterizing vulnerability and levels of risk from potential spill impacts. Baseline conditions prior to any spill impacts were documented through programs that included shoreline sampling and sediment coring. USGS scientific staff also participated in the Coast Guard Unified Commands (UC) and Operational Science Advisory Teams (OSAT).

Read the full fact sheet here: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/123/

New Fact Sheet on SPCMSC Science in Support of Gulf of Mexico Oil-spill Response, Mitigation, and Restoration Activities Published

Immediately after the Deepwater Horizon event, the USGS in St. Petersburg, FL. began responding to data requests, directing response personnel, and providing coastal and shelf geophysical data to coastal-resource managers. The USGS provided oil-spill responders with up-to-date coastal bathymetry, barrier island topography, geologic data, and maps characterizing vulnerability and levels of risk from potential spill impacts. Baseline conditions prior to any spill impacts were documented through programs that included shoreline sampling and sediment coring. USGS scientific staff also participated in the Coast Guard Unified Commands (UC) and Operational Science Advisory Teams (OSAT). In particular, the center focused on research that addressed; assessing the effects of sand-barrier berm construction; identifying oil deposition and inundation to barrier islands; providing geospatial data products of coastal and marine environments; monitoring seafloor habitats; developing protocols that enhance bioremediation processes; and identifying whether exposure to oil or dispersants impacted deep-sea coral communities.

Read the full fact sheet here: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/123/

AGU to Highlight USGS West Florida Shelf Ocean Acidification Research for State Sheets

The American Geophysical Union (AGU) is tapping SPCMSC oceanographer Lisa Robbins to highlight USGS Florida ocean acidification research for AGU state sheets, one page documents that highlight the research of several AGU member scientists in each state. AGU is highlighting the work of about three AGU scientists in each state, which will be presented to policymakers on Capitol Hill to express the importance of funding for basic scientific research and the impact such research has on states. Robbins and other scientists at the USGS are monitoring seawater chemistry associated with ocean acidification and benthic habitats on the West Florida Shelf. Shallow water cruises conducted by the USGS will provide regional information on the saturation state and pCO₂ fluctuation at the seawater/air boundary. Laboratory experiments are currently underway to investigate the effect of ocean acidification on the growth of marine calcifying algae that produce calcium carbonate sediments in temperate, subtropical, and tropical marine ecosystems. Data collected will fill data gaps in the Gulf of Mexico for carbon flux (pCO₂) and air-sea flux as well as increase understanding of how ocean acidification affects estuarine and shallow shelf marine waters. AGU came across this research through the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center web page dedicated to ocean acidification research: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/ocean-acidification/temperate.html

New Website Features USGS Microbiology Research on Deep-sea Coral Ecosystems

Think of coral reefs and you imagine warm, shallow tropical seas, not the cold, dark waters of the deep ocean. Now the deep ocean's best-kept secrets are being revealed – ancient coral ecosystems hidden from view at great depths. Www.Lophelia.org is an information resource on the cold-water coral ecosystems of the deep ocean. An exciting new section on the microbiology of these corals has been added to the web site featuring content, photos, and video from SPCMSC scientist and coral microbiology expert, Christina Kellogg.

View the site here: http://www.lophelia.org/news/328

Radio Piece Presents USGS Community Work Removing Derelict Crab Traps from Tampa Bay Waters

A radio piece produced by SPCMSC Matthew Cimitile highlights community work done by the USGS in assisting with Tampa Bay environmental programs. On February 28, Tampa Bay Watch, a nonprofit dedicated to protect and restore marine and wetland environments of Tampa Bay, conducted a crab trap removal. Derelict crab traps are traps that are no longer used or badly damaged, yet still trap and kill crabs, fish, turtles and other marine life and pose a navigational hazard. To remove this form of marine debris commonly found in shallow waters, Tampa Bay Watch partners with airboat captains from the Florida Airboat Association and the USGS. Gary Hill, Bureau Watercraft Safety Program Manager for the USGS and one of five airboat captains at the removal, helped to collect about 50 derelict crab traps removed from Bay waters that Saturday. Hill was also interviewed for the radio piece that aired on WMNF Community Radio.

Listen to the piece here: http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/9328

New Postcard Series Highlights USGS Ocean Acidification Research and Lidar Technology

A series of postcards produced by SPCMSC's Heather Schreppel and Matthew Cimitile visually highlight ongoing USGS research efforts in ocean acidification as well as mapping capabilities using lidar (light detection and ranging) technology. Featured in the ocean acidification postcards is research taking place in polar, temperate, and tropical regions. The USGS is participating in international and interagency working groups to develop research strategies to increase understanding of the global implications of acidification. Research strategies include new approaches for seawater chemistry observation and modeling, assessment of physiological effects on organisms, and changes in marine ecosystem structure. In addition, lidar postcards feature the specialized technology used to build high-resolution topographic and benthic maps. These mapped products describe important features affected by coastal-management decision and are a baseline for evaluating resources.

To learn more about ocean acidification visit: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/ocean-acidification/

More information about lidar can be found here: http://ngom.usgs.gov/dsp/

View the postcards here: http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/122/ and http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/124/

SPCMSC Center Director Attends USGS Marine Geohazards Workshop

Jack Kindinger participated in the National USGS Marine Geohazards Workshop in Menlo Park, CA, on March 1-3. The goal of the workshop was to develop a Marine Geohazards Research Initiative. In particular, participants discussed what should be the appropriate roles and responsibilities of the USGS in regard to marine geohazards within the context of the overall USGS mission. Also discussed by attendees that included USGS, state, academic and Canadian researchers and managers was identifying gaps in knowledge and prioritizing research issues. The workshop was hosted by the Earthquake and Coastal and Marine Geology Programs and USGS Director Dr. Marcia McNutt provided introductory remarks for attendees.

Oceanographer Selected as Marine Geoscience Leadership Symposium Participant

SPCMSC oceanographer Joseph Long has been chosen as one of 24 researchers to participate in the 2011 Marine Geosciences Leadership Symposium from April 18-22, in Washington D.C. The Symposium is designed to provide training in communicating scientific research and writing effective grant proposals, give a broader perspective on science policy and funding, and develop collaborative relationships among a cohort of early career scientists. Topics to be discussed include media training, the congressional budget, and current events in science policy. The Symposium is sponsored by the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. You can find more information here: http://www.oceanleadership.org/education/mgls/2011-symposium/

Two Government Technical Subcommittees to Meet at USGS St. Petersburg, FL, Office

The Inter-Agency Digital Imagery Working Group (IADIWG) and the National Digital Orthophoto Program's (NDOP) Technical Subcommittees will be meeting for their semi-annual face-to-face information exchange at the USGS Coastal and Marine Science Center in St. Petersburg, FL, March 8-10. The purpose of the IADIWG is to identify requirements and issues relating to digital imagery acquisition, guidelines, and policies common to Federal, state, and local government agencies and to work together to find solutions. The NDOP is a consortium of Federal agencies with the purpose of developing and maintaining national orthoimagery coverage in the public domain by establishing partnerships with Federal, State, local, tribal, and private organizations. The Technical Subcommittee addresses technical issues related to the research, production, distribution, and application of digital orthophotos, product specifications, and standards. Approximately 10 Federal Agency representatives from across the U.S. will be in attendance, and many more will attend via WebEx.

USGS Scientist Participating in Resilient Tampa Bay Workshop

Oceanographer Hilary Stockdon is representing USGS science related to hurricanes and sea-level rise at the Resilient Tampa Bay workshop on February 22-23. Stockdon is part of the USGS Coastal Change Hazards Project that understands the magnitude and variability of the impacts of hurricanes and extreme storms on U.S. coastlines to improve the capability to predict coastal change that results from severe storms. The conference is bringing together professionals and residents to exchanges ideas with experts from The Netherlands in developing resiliency plays for the Tampa Bay region. The workshop will focus on creating a sustainable region by preparing for events like hurricanes and flooding and also incorporating long-term adaptation to impacts of sea-level rise. The workshop is taking place at the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. More information can be found here: http://patelcenter.rc.usf.edu/rtbconf/index22.html

Field Trip to Lake Maggiore Enhances Water Quality Lesson for 5th Graders

SPCMSC ecologist Kathryn Smith worked with Bay Point Elementary science teacher Jodi Warson and City of St. Petersburg engineer Carlos Frey to lead a field trip of 5th grade students from Bay Point Elementary to Lake Maggiore in St. Petersburg, FL, February 7-8. The students went to the lake to learn about watersheds, storm water and water quality. Smith and Frey spoke to over 100 students and 25 adult chaperones, describing how rainwater transports materials into Lake Maggiore to impact water quality and what they can do as citizens to reduce these impacts. They also discussed city planning methods to improve water quality and the importance of activities to measure and monitor water quality. The students participated in a hands-on lab to measure several water quality parameters and ended the field trip with a tour of the City of St. Petersburg water quality lab. Smith worked with the school to earn a Splash! grant from the Southwest Water Management District to help pay for the field trip costs and lab supplies. Bay Point recently named SPCMSC their business partner of the year due to the participation of USGS scientists in their science education program.

SPCMSC Geologist to Retrieve Water Samples from Gulf of Mexico

Paul Knorr will be heading out to the Northern Gulf of Mexico from February 17-27, to retrieve around 120 discrete water samples during a carbon flux analysis that will analyze dissolved inorganic carbon content and alkalinity in the water. He will be on board the Weatherbird II, a University of South Florida Deepwater Horizon cruise ship, to perform intermittent spectrophotometric analysis of seawater pH and gather continuous temperature, pH, salinity, pCO₂ (seawater), and pCO₂ (air) data using a flow-through system. He will also be collecting water column profile samples for particulate organic carbon as well as samples for oxygen and carbon isotope analysis.

SPCMSC Participates in Elementary School Science Fair

Kara Doran, Ellen Raabe, Chris Smith, and Theresa Burress volunteered as Science Judges for the Bay Point Elementary Science Fair in St. Petersburg, Florida, on February, 10. This is the second consecutive year SPCMSC has helped judge the elementary school science fair. There were 14-16 teams of judges, with each team judging at least 3-4 projects at each grade level. SPCMSC helped judge science fair projects created by 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders.

SPCMSC Oceanographer Part of International Team Assessing Ocean Acidification in the Arctic

USGS research oceanographer Lisa Robbins participated in a coordination meeting in Copenhagen, Norway from Jan 31- Feb 1, as part of an expert writing team that will assess ocean acidification in the Arctic. The document they produce will be released in the summer of 2012. All countries surrounding the Arctic are involved in the Assessment. The meeting was led by the Arctic Mapping and Assessment Program (AMAP), which is overseen by the Nordic Council.

Science Behind Sinkholes Shared with Reporter Writing on Insurance Rates in Florida

On February 8, Julie Patel of the Sun Sentinel interviewed Ann Tihansky about the science behind sinkholes for an article focused on the insurance angle that is spurring legislators to look into increasing insurance rates across the state. Tihansky explained the basics about observed trends in occurrence, how specific activities and hydrologic events are linked to sinkholes, and how science can be used to quantify, advise, and inform about risk and vulnerability. Tihansky also provided photos from the sinkhole event in Plant City, Florida in January 2011. The article is expected to be published Feb.14-15.

USGS Presents New Seawater Chemistry Data of Beaufort Sea at Alaska Marine Science Symposium

Lisa Robbins participated in the Alaska Marine Science Symposium on Jan. 16-18, in Anchorage Alaska. Robbins, co-author with Kim Yates (USGS), Bob Byrne, (University of South Florida), Xuewu Liu (University of South Florida), Chris DuFore (USGS), Mark Patsavas (University of South Florida), and Mark Hansen (USGS), presented some of the newest seawater chemistry data from an August 2010 cruise in the Beaufort Sea/Canada Basin. One of the highlights of the presentation was the use of an iPAD to show a 3D image of the data.

SPCMSC Ocean Acidification Researchers Attending Aquatic Sciences Meeting

USGS researchers Lisa Robbins, Kim Yates, and Ryan P. Moyer will be participating in the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Annual Aquatic Sciences Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico, February 13-19. Robbins and Yates will be presenting two different posters on ocean acidification data collected from the Dry Tortugas and the Arctic. Moyer will give an oral presentation on his Mendenhall research entitled: "A 114-Year Record of Coral Geochemistry and Growth in Puerto Rico and Their Relationship to Anthropogenic Ocean Acidification." He is also co-author on a second oral presentation entitled: "Divergence in Global Riverine DOC and POC Ages: Implications for the Carbon Cycle," which will be given by Dr. James E. Bauer of Ohio State University. The Aquatic Sciences Meeting is held every two years by the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography and is a widely recognized venue for scientific exchange across all aquatic disciplines. The conference brings together an international group of freshwater and marine scientists to meet the challenge of global change while exploring diversity and connections across the range of aquatic systems impacted by humans.

USGS Mendenhall Post-doctoral Fellow Convenes River Biogeochemistry Session at Aquatic Sciences Meeting

Ryan P. Moyer will co-chair a session on February 14 at the 2011 Aquatic Sciences Meeting in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Moyer, along with session co-chair James E. Bauer of Ohio State University, will convene a session entitled: "Tropical Small Mountainous River Biogeochemistry: Terrestrial Losses, Internal Processing and Coastal Inputs." Small mountainous rivers (SMRs) transport globally significant amounts of terrestrial materials to the coastal ocean, yet the factors controlling their fluxes are not well understood. Fluxes of organic and inorganic matter between land and the coastal ocean are important components of global biogeochemical cycles. The relative lack of information on the biogeochemistry of organic and inorganic materials exported by tropical SMRs represents a major gap in our understanding of global land-ocean carbon fluxes and biogeochemical cycles. The special session will highlight cutting-edge studies of tropical SMR catchments and associated estuarine and coastal waters, as well as paleo-records of temporal and spatial changes in these fluxes and processes.

Annual Spoonbill Bowl Receives USGS Support

On February 5, Theresa Burress, Kara Doran, and Heather Schreppel participated in the Spoonbill Bowl, a regional academic competition by the Consortium of Ocean Leadership's National Ocean Science Bowl. The event took place at USF where 16 high school teams participated. Teams of four students were tested on their science knowledge through quick answer buzzer questions and team challenge questions. Doran served as a Moderator while Burress and Schreppel were Scorekeepers. This year's winning team will advance to the finals in Galveston, Texas for a chance to win a trip providing hands-on field and laboratory experience in the marine sciences. The USGS also supplied take home bags filled with educational materials to the participating teams and their coaches.

Interior's Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Participates in USGS Florida Science Activities

Deanna Archuleta visited Florida on January 31 and February 1 with a trip that involved briefings, a tour of the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park, and a day participating in a manatee capture and medical assessment organized by the USGS Southeast Ecological Science Center. Willie Rodriguez, the Florida Water Science Center Director, coordinated a data and studies program briefing given by Eddy Simonds and Dave Sumner in the Orlando Office. Jack Kindinger and Ann Tihansky from SPCMSC shared a briefing book about selected programs related to the Coastal and Marine program activities and capabilities. Deanna, Willie, Jack, and Ann then visited the Wildlife Park in Homosassa with Park Manager Art Yerian and Wildlife Care Supervisor Susan Lowe who gave a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility, complete with many of Floria's endangered species and educational exhibits. The backdrop of the facility prompted great conversations and an opportunity to learn more about the interconnectedness of Florida's natural resources. State programs rely on USGS science support that contributes to improving a wide range of resource management strategies.

USGS Scientists to Meet with BOEM to Discuss Upcoming Research Project on Deepwater Habitats

USGS scientists Amanda W.J. Demopoulos (Gainesville), Christina A. Kellogg (St. Pete), Cheryl L. Morrison (Leetown), and Nancy Prouty (Menlo Park) are meeting with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and contractors CSA International to discuss target sites, cruise plans, and integrated products for a new study exploring deepwater hard bottom habitats in the Mid-Atlantic. The project "Exploration and Research of Mid-Atlantic Deepwater Hard Bottom Habitats and Shipwrecks with Emphasis on Canyons and Coral Communities" will study and examine selected habitats to refine and extend the understanding of the distribution and complexity of hard bottom communities in this region. It is sponsored by the National Oceanographic Partnership Program and is a collaborative effort between BOEM, NOAA, the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, and the USGS. The meeting will take place on February 11 at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington in Wilmington, NC.

More information about the project can be found here: http://www.boemre.gov/ooc/press/2010/press0927.htm

National Hurricane Center Scientist to Discuss Sensitivity of Hurricanes to Climate Change

The St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center will host Christopher W. Landsea, NOAA National Hurricane Center science and operations officer, for a talk on Hurricanes and Global Warming on February 24. The talk titled 'Hurricanes and Global Warming: Expectations versus Observations' will be presented from 12 – 1 p.m. in the Normile Conference Room. Dr. Landsea's contention is that while some increase in tropical cyclone peak wind speed has occurred and will continue to occur if climate warms, the relevant question is what the sensitivity of tropical cyclone intensity, frequency, and overall activity to greenhouse gas forcing will be? Recent, much publicized scientific articles reporting large increases of hurricane energy, numbers, and wind speeds due to warmer sea surface temperatures makes this discussion a very timely and important one.

SPCMSC Participates in Filming USGS Manatee Capture

SPCMSC Matthew Cimitile participated in a manatee capture directed by wildlife ecologist Robert Bondee and the USGS Southeast Ecological Center (SESC) at Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge on February 1. Cimitile spent the day filming scientists and students from the SESC, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine capture, weigh, measure, and analyze the health and genetics of seven manatees in the refuge. SPCMSC is helping SESC develop a video podcast on USGS manatee research in Florida and will likely film and interview USGS scientists as they analyze and evaluate the data recovered at the manatee capture.

SPCMSC Director Participates in Oil Spill Response Panel at Conference Focused on Remediation Topics

Jack Kindinger was invited to participate on a panel at SURF 16 (Sustainable Remediation Forum) Feb. 3-4, 2011 in Tampa, FL discussing past, present, and future responses to the Deepwater Horizon spill. The event is hosted by the University of South Florida’s Patel Center for Global Solutions, the School of Global Sustainability and the College of Engineering. Kindinger joins other panelists: Bill Hogarth, Acting Director, Florida Institute of Oceanography; Gil McRae, Director of the State of Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute; Larry Langebrake, Director, Marine Technology Program-SRI St. Petersburg and a representative from NOAA that has not yet been announced. The panel brings together experts and program directors for a discussion about habitat management, federal response to habitat and species protection, and the role of technology and baseline analysis in effective management and response. Kindinger will represent the role of the USGS in providing science to support oil spill response, mitigation, and restoration activities. He will also share information about how the SPCMSC helped staff the Unified Command, and the Operational Science Advisory Team (OSAT). SURF is an organization focused on "promoting the use of sustainable practices during implementation of remedial action activities with the objective of balancing economic viability, conservation of natural resources and biodiversity, and the enhancement of the quality of life in surrounding communities."

Read more: SURF 16 Agenda

USGS Provides Geologic Maps for Schools in Florida

USGS Provides Geologic Maps for Schools in Florida The Southeastern Geological Society is bringing the 'Geologic Maps in Schools' Project to Florida. Through the support of the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies (GCAGS), the SEGS obtained funding to initiate the program which began in Texas through the Corpus Christi Geological Society (http://www.ccgeo.org). Ann Tihansky and Robert Ridky (USGS Education Coordinator) provided copies of the USGS map, A Tapestry of Time and Terrain, to defray costs for implementing the program which include map costs as well as framing. The collaborative effort involves other geologic professionals including personnel from the Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The maps are being delivered to schools where science educators and teachers who have participated in geologic education workshops throughout the state.

View the USGS map here: http://tapestry.usgs.gov/

USGS Assists Tampa Bay Watch with Derelict Crab Trap Removal

USGS Bureau Watercraft Safety Program Manager Gary Hill, (SPCMSC) represented the USGS and provided airboat support to a Tampa Bay restoration activity Saturday, January 22. Tampa Bay Watch coordinated 12 airboats from the Florida Airboat Association and trained teams to locate and remove derelict crab traps throughout Tampa Bay during one the lowest tides of the year, making the traps more accessible. Airboats are the ideal platform for this activity because of their ability to get into shallow water and the working area on the boat for crew and traps. Throughout the year, Tampa Bay Watch collects information about locations of derelict traps. Once a year they organize the crews needed to remove them. This important activity reduces unnecessary bycatch of marine organisms, removes marine debris from the environment, eliminates a safety hazard to boaters, expands public education on the problems of derelict ghost traps, and provides a community-based opportunity to enhance Tampa Bay.

More information can be found at the Derelict Crab Trap Removal Program.

USGS Oceanographer Featured in Imagine Magazine Water Issue

SPCMSC Oceanographer Ryan P. Moyer was featured in Imagine Magazine's Water Issue under their 'Exploring Career Options' column in January. In the column, Moyer discussed why he became an oceanographer and his current research, described a typical work day, how he works with other scientists, and the challenging and rewarding aspects of being an oceanographer. Imagine is a magazine for middle and high school students published by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth. The magazine has an academic focus and features contributions by both students and experts in their fields on issues and topics ranging from mathematics to writing to science and more. You can view the article here: http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/imagine/20110102_JFH and find out more information about Imagine here: http://cty.jhu.edu/imagine/

SPCMSC Joins Community Leaders at Ribbon-Cutting of New Green Business

Matthew Cimitile and Ann Tihansky joined Mayor Bill Foster, Senator Nelson’s representative Shahra Anderson, Congresswoman Kathy Castor’s Representative Nikki Capehart, and City Councilmen Karl Nurse, Jeff Danner, and Wengay Newton in recognizing the opening of the first electric car dealership in Florida and the first designated green city in the state. As a member of the St. Petersburg Ocean Team, the USGS participates in community events related to science and technology that enhance resource management capabilities and awareness.

First Microbiological Characterization of Several Gorgonian Coral Species in the Aleutian Islands

USGS and NOAA researchers have just published the first microbiological characterization of three gorgonian (soft coral) species that inhabit the cold waters of the Aleutian Islands. In a paper titled 'Microbial consortia of gorgonian corals from the Aleutian Islands' SPCMSC scientists Mike Gray, Molly McLaughlin and Christina Kellogg and National Marine Fisheries Service scientist Robert Stone used culture-based and 16S rRNA gene-based techniques to characterize the microbial ecology of the deep-sea gorgonian corals Paragorgia arborea, Plumarella superba, and Cryogorgia koolsae. These corals are among a host of diverse and unique cold-water coral communities in the Aleutians. There are more than 50 coral species found nowhere else in the world in the waters of the Aleutians, which lie between Alaska and Russia and divide the North Pacific from the Bering Sea. As much as 85% of the commercially important fish species in the area are associated with such deep-sea corals. By understanding the microbial consortia associated with these corals, scientists gain a better understanding of their relationship with their environment and the ecosystem services they provide. The article was published in the Federation of European Microbiological Societies Microbial Ecology.

It is featured on the USGS Microbiology and the Environment home page: http://microbiology.usgs.gov/

You can read the study here: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1574-6941.2010.01033.x/abstract

USGS Scientist to Give Florida Gulf Coast Lowlands Talk at Public Lecture Series

Ellen Raabe (SPCMSC) will be speaking at the Cedar Key Library in Cedar Key, Fl. on January 29 as part of their winter public lecture series. The title of her talk is 'Coastal Lowlands of Florida’s Big Bend Gulf Coast: change and stability of a marsh shore.' Her talk will focus on the unique geology, vegetation, and history of Florida’s Gulf Coast lowlands from Franklin to Pasco County. A combination of natural features such as spring-fed rivers, karst limestone, and low-wave energy contribute to the region’s natural beauty and productivity. However, both human activities and natural events are causing changes in the region and Raabe will discuss factors that have sustained or may threaten the natural resources and landscapes of the Big Bend coast.

USGS Participating in Seminole, Fl. Science Expo

Matthew Cimitile is participating in the Bauder Elementary School Science Expo on January 27, 2011 in Seminole, Fl. The annual Science Expo features over 200 science fair projects as well as booths from the scientific community in Tampa Bay. Cimitile will display the tsunami tank that was created at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center and shows the various types of tsunami waves that can wash ashore. Cimitile will also talk about how tsunamis form, regions where they are likely to occur, and how science is helping to understand the science around tsunamis and enhance warning systems.

SPCMSC nominated as Bay Pointe Elementary Business Partner of the Year

Bay Pointe Elementary school in St. Petersburg, Fl. has nominated the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center as their Business Partner of the year. The USGS in St. Petersburg has been associated with the school for over seven years. Each year, SPCMSC scientists have spoken to classes during the Great American Teach-In and worked with classroom teachers to highlight various science topics. Students have learned about diatoms, watched a volcano erupt, and witnessed live action beach erosion using various learning models. The school stated in their newsletter that "Bringing real life scientists to our students has inspired and engaged them in a way that would not have been possible without them working alongside our teachers."

USGS Scientists Help in Judging Science Fair

Kara Doran, Peter Howd, Joe Long, Kristy Sopkin and Bryan McCloskey helped judge the Saint Paul’s School Science Fair in Clearwater on January 14th. Saint Paul teaches grades K-8 and USGS personnel helped judge a variety of 7th and 8th grade science fair projects.

USGS Scientists to Depart on 9th Research Cruise of the Gulf of Mexico Climate and Environmental History Project

SPCMSC scientists Jessica Spear, Don Hickey, Caitlin Reynolds, and Kathryn Richwine are setting out on a research cruise to recover and redeploy a sediment-trap mooring that collects planktic foraminifers in order to better calibrate foraminiferal shell chemistry to environmental conditions. The Gulf of Mexico Climate and Environmental History project looks to use those samples collected to better understand the seasonal succession and preference of over 25 foraminifer species and to establish a relation between microfossil assemblages and their shell chemistry to modern ocean conditions. The scientists will retrieve material that was collected in the trap from mid-September, 2010 to late January, 2011 and set the next round of cups to collect samples from late January to early August, 2011. The sediment-trap mooring was first deployed in the Gulf of Mexico in January, 2008 at approximately 1,150 m of water depth, and the trap is positioned at 700 m on the mooring to guarantee the collection of deeper dwelling species of planktic foraminifers. The trap is equipped with 21 collection cups that are mounted on a rotating plate that is programmed to rotate every 7 to 14 days. Each cup contains a buffered formalin solution to preserve the samples. The trap is recovered and redeployed every 3-6 months, depending on sampling frequency. Eric Tappa from the University of South Carolina will also be a part of the research cruise. The cruise will take place January 20-21.

More information about the study can be found here: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/gom/posted: 2011-01-12

Sinkholes, Insurance Rates and Science in the News

On January 10, Ann Tihansky spoke with FOX News about a ‘Florida sinkholes’ story they are working on pertaining to new proposed insurance changes and the baseline need for science to guide policy decisions. Ann referred him to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Landfill Sinkhole Technical Advisory Group (TAG). Tampa Hydrologist Patricia Metz currently serves on this TAG. The next meeting will be held on January 26, 2011 in Tampa where new landfill application requirements in sinkhole prone areas will be discussed. In addition, the 108 ft wide by 60 ft deep sinkhole that formed under the South Hillsborough County Landfill on December 14, 2010 will be viewed by the TAG members.

More information pertaining to this issue can be found here: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/editorials/fl-sinkholes-insurance-editorial-af-20110110,0,3798356,print.story

New Podcast Highlighted as Science Feature, Posted on USGS Twitter Accounts

A video podcast that documents 50 years of photographic records of changing coral conditions in the Florida Keys is exhibited on the Science Feature slide show of the USGS home page. The video shows five decades of changes that have taken place in both the size and the types of corals that were present at coral reef sites from the early 1960s to today, capturing events such as the appearance of coral disease and the die off of coral species like staghorn. The USGS Podcast and Aquatic Life twitter accounts also posted information regarding the video.

Watch the podcast: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/podcast/index.html#corals

USGS Scientist Lead Author on IPCC's 2013 report titled 'Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability’

USGS Scientist Part of Collaborative Project to Investigate Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Puerto Rico Coral Reef Ecosystems

SPCMSC scientist Dr. Ryan P. Moyer is set to begin work on a collaborative multi-institutional research project at the Atlantic Ocean Acidification Test-bed in La Parguera, Puerto Rico in 2011. The focus of the project is to link seasonal water column geochemical fluxes with changes in benthic community structure at a long-term ocean acidification monitoring site in southwest Puerto Rico. This research will help gain an understanding of how coral reef communities respond to natural short-term variations in water column chemistry, and whether ecosystem tolerance to that range of variability is enough to help mitigate the predicted impacts of long-term ocean acidification. Moyer will be joined in the field by co-Principal Investigators Drs. Dwight Gledhill (NOAA-CIMAS), Greg Piniak (NOAA-NCCOS), Wade McGillis (Columbia U.), Chris Langdon (U. Miami-RSMAS), Derek Manzello (NOAA-AOML), and Jorge Corredor (U. Puerto Rico). The first seasonal sampling trip will be conducted January 8-14, 2011, with subsequent field trips scheduled for April, July, and October of 2011.

Annual Occupational Safety and Health Council Meeting to Convene in St. Petersburg

The Bureau is convening their annual face-to-face Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Council meeting in St. Petersburg, Fl., on January 11-13. This meeting will be held in conjunction with the full time USGS OSH staff across the nation for the purposes of addressing OSH programs and establishing future directions. Agenda topics include updates from the Associate and Deputy Directors for Administrative and Enterprise Information on safety realignment decisions, Department of the Interior Safety Staff programs and their impact on the USGS, Specialized Safety Program Managers safety initiatives, and USGS Headquarter OSH staff review of accident statistics, program metrics, and 2011 efforts to provide enhanced safety support to the field. Approximately 30 employees from across the country will be attending.

Documenting 50 Years of Coral Changes is Newest SPCMSC Video Podcast

For 50 years former USGS geologist Gene Shinn has been chronicling conditions at seven coral reef sites in the Florida Keys. This photographic documentation and research is the subject of a new video podcast. The video shows 5 decades of changes that have taken place in both the size and the types of corals that were present at the coral reef sites Grecian Rocks and Carysfort Reef from the early 1960s to today. The images capture events such as the appearance of coral disease and the die off of coral species like staghorn, which have been observed throughout the greater Caribbean.

The video can be seen here: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/podcast/

USGS African Dust Video to be Incorporated into University Website and Geology Class

The University of Puerto Rico and Coastline Community College in Fountain Valley, California requested permission to use segments of the USGS video podcast ‘African Dust, Coral Reefs and Human Health’ for use on their website and for an education video for a geology class. The video was produced at the USGS in St. Petersburg and features SPCMSC scientists Ginger Garrison and Christina Kellogg. The video highlights how recent changes in the composition and quantities of African dust transported to the Caribbean and the Americas might provide clues to why Caribbean coral reef ecosystems are deteriorating and human health may be impacted. In addition, Garrison was asked to participate in a webinar on February 11 at the University of Puerto Rico about African dust and its effect on corals.

The video can be seen here: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/podcast/

SPCMSC Releases New Home Page for Website

The St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center has redesigned its website’s home page to create an easily useable, visually appealing page that incorporates multimedia features for which the public and partners can access USGS science. The home page now includes a FLASH animation slideshow that features new and ongoing research taking place at the center, a news section that keeps the public and partners up to date on publications, field work, events and interactions with the media and the center’s podcast series that highlights the center’s involvement in issues such as changing ocean chemistry, impacts of African Dust on coral reefs, and measuring hurricane impacts to coastal environments. The new home page went live on Thursday, December 17.

Go to the SPCMSC website to check out the new look: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/

USGS Director Recognizes St. Petersburg Center Staff for Oil Spill Response

USGS Director Marcia McNutt recognized a large number of staff at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center for their various contributions supporting the Interior's response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill including the initial assessment and development and implementation of plans and preparations for sampling, monitoring, and sharing scientific resources and expertise with other federal, state and local agencies, academic institutions, and stakeholders. Staff included: Gordon Anderson, Karen Balentine, Julie Bernier, Sandy Coffman, Nancy DeWitt, Kara Doran, Jim Flocks, Jolene Gittens, Kristy Guy, Don Hickey, Chris Kellogg, Jack Kindinger, John Lisle, Joe Long, Keith Ludwig, Marci Marot, Bryan McCloskey, Molly McLaughlin, Jennifer Miselis, Karen Morgan, Paul Nelson, Nathaniel Plant, Dick Poore, Ginger Range, Chris Reich, BJ Reynolds, Lisa Robbins, Abby Sallenger, Chris Smith, Tom Smith, Hilary Stockdon, Dave Thompson, Phil Thompson, Ann Tihansky, Rob Wertz, Wayne Wright, Kim Yates, Dave Zawada. As work continues, it is likely more names will be added to this list.

Ocean Acidification Research in South Florida Highlighted as Science Feature on USGS Homepage

Research that is establishing baseline rates for coral and algal growth in south Florida is highlighted prominently on the USGS homepage as a science feature. The science feature links to a Sound Waves article written by Matthew Cimitile and Ilsa Kuffner that describes how Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies (CREST) project scientists are monitoring coral growth and calcification rates as ocean conditions change. At four coral monitoring stations in South Florida, corals are transplanted onto concrete cinder blocks and are fixed onto a disc with a bolt that can easily slide into a hole at the top of the block and just as easily be removed to weigh the coral. Corals are periodically removed from the monitoring stations and weighed using the buoyant-weight technique. They are also stained with a dye, alizarin red, that becomes incorporated into the outermost skeletal layer of the coral. The stain provides a reference mark for scientists and knowing the date of the staining and later measuring coral growth above the stain line provides the linear extension rate of newly calcified material. This is year two of the CREST five-year plan for studying processes that affect the status of shallow coral-reef resources in three federally protected areas: the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, Biscayne National Park in Florida, and Virgin Islands National Park on St. John.

The full article can be read here: http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2010/11/fieldwork2.html

SPCMSC scientists attend Ocean Carbon Biogeochemistry Workshop

Oceanographer Lisa Robbins and Mendenhall Post-doctoral Fellow Ryan P. Moyer participated in the Coastal Synthesis Workshop on December 11-12 in San Francisco, CA. The goals of the workshop were to gather active members of the coastal research community to identify existing datasets, publications, and ongoing studies that could contribute to the development of regional coastal carbon budgets. Determining the fluxes and processes that should be included in regional carbon budgets and associated models to ensure consistency and inter-comparability were also discussed. The final outcome of the Coastal Synthesis Activities will be a science plan for coastal ocean carbon and related biogeochemical research that identifies knowledge gaps and ranks research priorities to guide relevant program and agency activities and initiatives. The focus of the activity has been divided geographically into five regions of North America: East Coast, West Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Arctic, and Great Lakes. The workshop was sponsored by NASA and convened in cooperation with the US Carbon Cycle Science Program and the North American Carbon Program. A follow-up workshop is planned for the summer of 2011.

For further information see: http://www.whoi.edu/workshops/coastal_synthesis/

SPCMSC Study Featured in Special Issue of Deep Sea Research on Deep-sea Environments and Corals

A Special Issue of Deep Sea Research II was released on December 14 and features an article by USGS microbiologist Christina Kellogg that documents the distribution and abundance of viruses in deep-sea cold-seep environments. Marine viruses, mainly bacteriophages (viruses that specifically infect bacteria) are the most abundant organisms in the ocean and underwater sediments. These viruses affect bacterial diversity and population succession, productivity, and the flow of carbon. Little is known about the distribution and abundance of viruses in deep-sea, cold-seep environments. Push cores were collected using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to see whether sediments close to seeps host higher numbers of viruses than non-seep areas. Data obtained from the cores suggests that greater microbial activity in or near cold-seep environments results in greater viral production and therefore higher numbers of viruses. This paper is the first to present data on viral dynamics from cold-seep environments and sediments below 1000 meters water depth in the Gulf of Mexico. The special issue consists of articles from the CHEMO III project (2005-2009). The project’s objective was to explore, survey, and conduct experimental work on chemosynthetic communities and other hard bottom habitats, with an emphasis on deepwater corals. The project was sponsored by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Kellogg’s full article can be read here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.05.006

More on the special issue of Deep Sea Research II can be found here: http://www.nopp.org/2010/nopp-research-on-gulf-of-mexico-chemosynthetic-communities-highlighted-in-deep-sea-research-ii/

USGS Scientists to Participate in Coastal Synthesis Workshop to Discuss Carbon Budgets

Lisa Robbins and Ryan P. Moyer will attend the first Coastal Interim Synthesis Workshop on December 11-12 in San Francisco, California, that looks to assemble and synthesize relevant observations, data and modeling results on carbon cycle fluxes and processes along the North American continental margins. The workshop is hosted by the Ocean Carbon & Biochemistry Program and the North American Carbon Program and will bring together scientists from federal science agencies and universities. Major goals of the workshop are to identify existing datasets, publications and ongoing studies that could contribute to the development of regional coastal carbon budgets and to determine the fluxes and processes that should be included in regional carbon budgets and associated models. The workshop will also develop a science plan that identifies knowledge gaps and ranks research priorities. Other USGS scientists attending are Omar I. Abdul-Aziz, Brian A. Bergamaschi, Richard A. Champion, and Kevin D Kroeger.

Further information about the workshop can be found here: http://www.whoi.edu/page.do?pid=47955

More information about the carbon budget in the Gulf of Mexico can be read here: http://www.us-ocb.org/publications/OCB_NEWS_FALL10.pdf (1.3 MB PDF).

St. Petersburg Times contacts SPCMSC for Florida Spring Story

Environmental reporter Craig Pittman of the St. Petersburg Times contacted information specialist Ann Tihansky to help identify USGS science contacts for a feature article he is writing on springs in Florida. Pittman will likely follow up with several USGS Florida Water Science Center hydrologists for the article.

USGS Southeast Area Science Center Directors Meeting held in St. Petersburg, FL

Southeast Regional Director Jess Weaver convened a meeting with science center directors throughout the southeast area to discuss the progress and future direction for USGS regional science initiatives at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center December 1-2. The agenda of the meeting included discussion about annual review, tasks, timetables, and pre and post impact sampling for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Regional executive staff and liaisons also attended.

Members of Coastal Hazards Research Team to Present Talks at American Geophyiscal Union Meeting

Oceanographers Hilary Stockdon, Peter Howd, and Nathaniel Plant will be presenting talks at the American Geophysical Union Meeting in San Francisco on Dec 13-17. Stockdon will discuss various parameterizations and distributions regarding the elevation of wave runup that allow for a wider range of runup statistics that is vital when predicting overtopping of dunes during a storm and coastal vulnerability. Howd will present results of a Bayesian Model that looks at coastal-change vulnerability in the northern Gulf of Mexico with specific emphasis on the rate of relative sea-level rise. In addition, Joe Long (oceanographer) will convene the ‘Nearshore Processes’ session that presents research focused on the dynamics of waves, tides, currents, and sediment transport from the beach face to shelf break along sandy, muddy, and mixed sedimentary coasts. He is also presenting a poster that focuses on using nonlinear process-based numerical models to stimulate hydrodynamics and sediment transport during hurricanes and pre- and post-observations of coastal topography. Abby Sallenger and Kara Doran will also attend the meeting.

USGS Scientists Discuss Careers, Answer Questions at Great American Teach In

About a dozen St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center scientists and staff participated in the Great American Teach In at elementary, middle, and high schools across Hillsborough and Pinellas County on November 18, 2010. The participants discussed earth science research they conduct such as studying coral reef health, changing ocean chemistry, diatoms, and microbiology. The scientists also talked about the environments in which they conduct their research and answered questions pertaining to their careers. Participants included Theresa Burress, Don Hickey, Paul Knorr, Dennis Krohn, Ilsa Kuffner, John Lisle, Ryan P. Moyer, Ellen Raabe, Chris Reich, Kathryn Smith and Rudy Troche. The Great American Teach In occurs during the American Education Week and brings scientists, journalists, pilots and many other professionals into the classroom to talk to students about their careers. This was the 17th year it took place in schools across Tampa Bay.

Annual Meeting of National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards Team

Team Leaders and science leads from across the nation met in St. Petersburg, Fl., November 17-18 to discuss accomplishments, technologies and future plans for the program. Approximately 20 scientists and staff attended representing USGS offices in St. Petersburg, Wood’s Hole, MA. and Santa Cruz, CA. University researchers and scientists with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attended as well. Topics included long-term change, Lidar technology, sea-level rise, storm-induced change, and future directions of the Assessment Program.

USGS Florida Center Directors Meet to Discuss Synergistic Opportunities

Jack Kindinger, Director of the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center and Information Specialist Ann Tihansky met with Wilie Rodriguez, Director of Florida Water Science Center, on November 10, 2010, at the USGS Tampa office. They discussed opportunities for collaborating, communicating, and developing resources that can be shared or expanded to increase USGS capabilities in Florida.

SPCMSC Tunes in to Interior’s Briefing on the National Ocean Policy

The St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center assembled to hear the webex seminar from Interior’s Ocean and Coastal Activities Coordinator Terry Holman. Holman presented the latest overview of the status and plans of Interior’s actions in implementing the National Ocean Policy.

More information is available at: http://www.doi.gov/initiatives/ocean.html

Science Festival Planning Continues with Community and Corporate Partners

Community host partners including USGS, USF’s College of Marine Science, NOAA, Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, and The Pier Aquarium met to discuss the festival footprint, logistics, marketing and options for sponsorships in two separate meetings November 16 and 17. Ann Tihansky represents the USGS on the Steering Committee. The St. Pete Science festival is envisioned to follow formats of other festivals around the nation with the first being focused on the theme of Marine and Environmental Activities and Technologies. USF and the Pier Aquarium will be presenting the vision to local marine and environmental industry leaders on November 18 to engage the business sector in festival planning and sponsorship.

Quarterly Meeting with Bay Soundings Editorial Board

Ann Tihansky attended the quarterly meeting of the Bay Soundings Editorial Board to discuss plans for the upcoming winter issue. The publication is a quarterly information newsletter of the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council that presents information about natural resources and trends in human development and environmental impacts. The USGS in St. Petersburg, FL., which is a frequent contributor to the publication, brings national topics to a local level perspective to raise awareness and further improvements in resource management strategies.

Bay Soundings

US Senator Nelson Recognizes Important Role of Open House for Community

The St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center’s 12th Annual Open House was held November 5 and 6. The theme of this year’s Open House was ‘Liquid Earth: Our Fluid Planet’ and over 40 interactive booths highlighted USGS science activities pertaining to the ocean and coastal environment along with many of our community partners. Approximately 800 4th grade students attended the “Earth Science Day for Fourth Graders”, while nearly 500 visitors attended the Public Day. Senator Bill Nelson recognized the event in a letter expressing his appreciation to the Center for contributing to the community by promoting ocean research, education and stewardship. Other notable attendees included Nancy Bostock of the Pinellas County Board of Commissioners; Nikki Capehart representing Congresswoman Kathy Castor; RB Johnson, Mayor of Indian Rocks Beach; Peter Betzer of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, and Stephen Andrasik, the Academic Chair of Physical Science at St. Petersburg College.

USGS Scientists receive DOI Departmental Safety Awards for Diving Safety

Don Hickey (SPCMSC) and Marc Blouin are members of the Dive Safety Board that will receive the Department of Interior’s Safety Award for Excellence in the Group category on November 10 in Washington, D.C. The Secretary’s Honor Award Convocation honors individuals within the Department of Interior for Distinguished Service and Departmental Safety. A lot of research conducted at the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center and other USGS science centers across the nation take place in underwater environments where scuba diving is essential for scientific research. Examples include calcification and disease studies of coral reefs in Florida, geologic coring projects in the northern Gulf of Mexico and studying impacts of invasives on benthic communities in the Great Lakes. Hickey and Blouin are both experienced dive instructors who have been involved in many of these research projects. Recently, they were part of a field crew that collected four cores from the Florida Middle Grounds at water depths of 85 feet. Researchers were interested in understanding the geologic evolution of the features found 120 miles offshore the Tampa Bay area. Rotary core drilling took place to collect cores ranging between 2 to 57 feet. During the research trip, 65 safe SCUBA dives were conducted with divers spending a total of 101 hours underwater. Both Blouin and Hickey are involved in TRUE, Teen Research Underwater Explorers, a non-profit organization that focuses on involving teens in SCUBA education and scientific research in St. Petersburg.

Mapping Benthic Habitats and Tracking Sea Turtles Highlighted on USGS Science Feature

A Sound Waves article written by Matthew Cimitile that details work conducted in Dry Tortugas National Park by SPCMSC oceanographer Dave Zawada and USGS biologist Kristen Hart is highlighted on the Science Feature section of the USGS homepage. The article discusses how ATRIS ( Along-Track-Reef-Imaging System), an observing system that simultaneously acquires geo-located, color digital images and water depth measurements, is deployed to map the benthic habitat of Dry Tortugas National Park in order to characterize the composition and condition of benthic habitats and provide a basis for assessing changes and monitoring the progress of restoration efforts. The system is also being used to monitor the foraging, grazing, and transiting of threatened and endangered sea turtles in the national park. Data acquired by ATRIS is helping to determine the amount of time sea turtles spend in and around various habitats and along with the collection of blood and tissue samples will be essential towards protecting these marine species.

The Science Feature can be found here: http://www.usgs.gov/

And the full article here: http://soundwaves.usgs.gov/2010/08/research.html

Student Journalist Covers USGS St. Petersburg as News Beat for Journalism Class

The St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center was chosen by a University of South Florida – St. Petersburg journalism student as his news beat for the fall semester. Aaron Dalley will cover the research and events taking place at the center and produce several stories for his class and the university’s online publication. So far, the student journalist has written about the USGS Open House and Arctic acidification research.

USGS Scientists Collect Geomorphology Data of Cat Island as part of the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program (MsCIP)

The USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center scientists collected high-resolution geophysical and bathymetric data (including Chirp sub-bottom, sidescan-sonar, interferometric swath bathymetry and single-beam seismic) around Cat Island, MS. in September, 2010. This data is being used to map the subsurface geology and was used to develop a coring strategy around this unique "T-shaped" island located six miles off of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. During the week of October 18, USGS SPCMSC scientist collected 26 vibracores within the near-shore waters surrounding the island. The vibracores will groundtruth the geophysical and bathymetric data and provide textural classification of the sediments. The team of scientists that conducted the field work for each cruise is as follows: Geophysical and bathymetric surveys: Jack Kindinger, Jennifer Miselis, Noreen Buster, Dana Weise, Lance Thornton, and Capt. Dave Bennett; Vibracoring survey: Jack Kindinger, Chandra Dreher, Kyle Kelso and Capt. Rich Young. MsCIP is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to link structural and nonstructural hurricane and storm damage risk reduction elements with ecosystem restoration to provide for more resilient coastal communities to hurricanes and storms.

Imagine Magazine Interviews USGS Scientist for Career Option Column

The editor of Imagine, a magazine for middle and high school students published by the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, requested Ryan P. Moyer to participate in an interview for their Exploring Career Options column. Imagine has an academic focus and features contributions by both students and experts in their fields on issues and topics ranging from mathematics to writing to computer science and more. Moyer was targeted because he has taught at the Marine Science Consortium, a program previously listed in the magazine and familiar with student readers. Moyer’s research - related to the acidification of the oceans - is a topic that they want to include in their upcoming “Water Issue”. The interview focuses on Moyer’s current work, his description of a typical work day, working with other scientists, and what is challenging and rewarding about being an oceanographer.

Examples of recent issues can be found here: Biotechnology and Environmental Science.

SOFIA Information System and Tools to be Highlighted at Everglades Data Integration Meeting

Information Technology Specialist Heather Henkel will be presenting on the South Florida Information Access (SOFIA) portal at an Everglades data integration meeting on November 19th at Florida International University in Miami, FL. The talk entitled ‘Sofia: Managing Data and Publications’ will look at how SOFIA is providing scientific information access to support research, decision-making, and resource management for the South Florida ecosystem restoration effort.

Science of Coastal Vulnerability to Extreme Storms Video Podcast Featured on Geology.com

A SPCMSC video podcast on how the USGS Coastal Change Hazards research team measures the vulnerability of coastlines to hazardous storms was featured on geology.com on October 27, 2010. The podcast, titled ‘In Harm’s Way: Measuring Storm Impacts to Forecast Future Vulnerability’, documents how USGS scientists model potential changes to coastal environments to identify communities vulnerable to extreme erosion during storms. It also highlights how data is collected before and after storm landfall to verify past forecasts and improve future predictions. The video features interviews with oceanographers Abby Sallenger and Hilary Stockdon. Geology.com is a website focused on geology and earth science news, maps, satellite imagery, and career information.

You can watch the video here: http://geology.com/news/

SPCMSC Contributes Article Highlighting Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning

An article by Matthew Cimitile (SPCMSC) on a new planning process that brings together local stakeholders to determine the most appropriate locations to allow certain types of activities in ocean and coastal environments was published in the fall edition of Bay Soundings. The process, called coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP), will match different activities like marine protected areas, commercial shipping and aquaculture to places in the ocean and coastal environment where there uses can be sustained and they do not interfere with other activities. Overall, the process’ aims to accommodate necessary and value uses while maintaining ecologically sensitive places. CMSP is a major part of the nation’s first-ever ocean policy that looks to strengthen ocean governance and coordination. Bay Soundings is a quarterly news journal that covers the news and issues affecting Tampa Bay. The USGS is a member of the editorial board.

Read the article: Ecosystem Resource Planning Extends Offshore

USGS Scientist Participates in Florida Geological Survey State Map Meeting

Physical Scientist Ellen Raabe was the USGS representative at the State Map Advisory Meeting (SMAC) for the Florida Geological Survey (FGS) on October 1, 2010, in Gainesville, Fl. She was part of a panel that discussed justification for mapping priorities, GIS-compatible products, completion of "slivers" (mostly coastal), improved use of "private" core/well data, and potential collaboration with University resources. STATEMAP is a USGS program that directs funds to State geological surveys in order to improve and enhance existing geologic maps. FGS has a small, but competitive team under the direction of principal investigator Rick Green. Each year they successfully compete for and receive funding. This year the Ocala West quadrangle was completed, providing helpful information to local agencies and resource managers when making planning decisions and conserving natural resources. The Inverness East 1:100,000 quad is next in line for this coming year's FGS STATEMAP efforts, partly in support of hydrologic evaluations being conducted by the USGS Tampa Water Science Center.

More information about the STATEMAP program can be found here: http://ncgmp.usgs.gov/ncgmpabout/statemap

SPCMSC Scientist Presents New Research at Scientific Meetings in Florida

Ellen Raabe presented a 20 minute talk on a recently published paper she authored with Elzbeita Bialkowska-Jelinska, Kristen Ebersol, and David Stonehouse titled ‘Thermal Infrared Imagery Reveals Groundwater Seeps and Highlights the Potential Inland Movement of Seawater in Levy County, Florida’ at the 47th American Institute of Professional Geologists meeting in Orlando held on September 11-15. The talk roused great interest that Raabe received an invitation by Florida Industrial and Phosphate Research Institute Chairman Scott Nyhof to make a similar presentation at their meeting held on October 13-14, in Lakeland, Fl. The topic of her talk at this meeting was ‘Emerging Science Issues, Geology, and Application of Thermal Infrared in Coastal Lowlands’. The talk was designed to cover a broader realm of USGS topics including geologic mapping, emerging science issues, and hazard response.

Further information about use of thermal infrared imagery to identify groundwater-discharge locations can be found here: http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2010/1120/

More information about both conferences can be found here: http://www.asfe.org/index.cfm?cdid=11556&pid=10344 and http://www.fipr.state.fl.us/phosphateconfcontents.htm

SPCMSC Geologists Provide Advice, Guidance on Operational Science Advisory Team

Marci Marot, Chris Smith, Julie Bernier, and Jennifer Miselis of the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center have been rotating in for several weeks at a time on location at the Unified Area Command for the BP oil spill in New Orleans, LA. They are serving as USGS representatives on the Operational Science Advisory Team (OSAT). The OSAT Team is tasked with making timely recommendations to the USCG Federal On-Scene Coordinator via the NOAA Science Support Coordinator on adjustments to field sampling activities as well as reporting trends and maintaining the status of decision indicators. The OSAT is made up of representatives from member agencies including USGS, NOAA, USCG, EPA, BOEMRE, and BP. The OSAT provides a cross-agency analysis of near real-time data from the sub-surface monitoring efforts.

SPCMSC Scientists Receive a Best Publication Award

Bob Morton and Chuck Holmes (retired) have been invited to the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies (GCAGS) Awards ceremony on Sunday Oct. 10 in San Antonio, TX to receive 3rd place in best publication in the 2009 Transactions. GCAGS serves as a forum for the discussion and publication of papers on subjects concerning the geological profession as they relate to the Gulf Coast and Transactions is the association’s yearly publication.

CREST Scientists to Attend Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Conference and Workshop

Several Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies Project (CREST) scientists will be attending the Florida Keys Marine Ecosystem Conference and Workshop titled ‘Linking Science to Management’ that is held on October 19-22, 2010, in Duck Key, Florida. This conference brings together scientists, natural resource managers and stakeholders to discuss science related to the Florida Keys marine ecosystem. CREST scientists Kristen Hart, who is on the conference’s steering committee, Jen Flannery, Chris Kellogg, Ilsa Kuffner, Dick Poore, Kim Yates and Dave Zawada will present talks and posters on assessing the status and functioning of various components of the Florida Keys marine ecosystem resources.

You can find out more information about the conference here: http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/FloridaKeys/purpose.html

And about specific talks and posters here: http://www.conference.ifas.ufl.edu/FloridaKeys/Poster_Directory.pdf (72 KB PDF)

USGS DISCOVRE Embarks on Final Year of Deep-sea Coral Research in Gulf of Mexico

The USGS DISCOVRE project has embarked on its first research cruise of the project's fourth and final year and is out to sea from September 20 to October 3. The DISCOVRE research project focuses on a greater understanding of deep-sea coral environments in the Gulf of Mexico. The project is a collaboration of scientists from the USGS, University of North Carolina Wilmington and Chapel Hill, NOAA, the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research, the Scottish Association for Marine Science and other organizations and academic institutions. The R/V Cape Hatteras departed out of Gulfport, Florida with the ROV Kraken to collect samples of deep-sea coral at depths of 300 to 1,000 meters - for a variety of research objectives: trophodynamics, population genetics, reproduction, microbiology, and ecology. Cruise blogs are posted regularly during the cruise and twitter updates are broadcasted @USGSLive. The cruise will conclude in St. Petersburg, Florida.

You can find more information about Discovre research cruises here: http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/DISCOVRE/

You can keep current on the cruise’s research by following the blog here: http://tinyurl.com/3a2frcp

SPCMSC Scientists Gather Data to Decipher Origins of Cat Island, Mississippi

A survey team from the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center collected high resolution geophysical data from around Cat Island, MS. from September 6 to 15 as part of an ongoing geomorphic study of the island’s origins. The team consisted of research geologists Jack Kindinger, Jennifer Miselis, and Noreen Flocks, electronics engineers Dana Wiese and Lance Thornton, Capt. Dave Bennet and USGS volunteer Kate Rose. Data collected during the survey included more than 250 line miles of single-beam, swath, sidescan, and subbottom bathymetry data. Cat Island has a very unusual shape (T-Shaped) and is the western most island of the Mississippi Barrier Island chain. On August 14, vibracores were collected on the island and in the next couple of weeks 15 to 20 more vibracores will be collected. Sites for taking the remaining vibracores are being selected using the geophysical data just collected. The study is funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District.

SPCMSC Provides Congressional Briefing Material Detailing Oil Spill Response Activities

The USGS in St. Petersburg, Florida developed Congressional briefing materials highlighting the numerous oil spill response activities that scientists at the center are working on, from creating geospatial data products to providing pre and post-spill analysis as well as coordinating with other USGS offices nationwide. SPSMSC provided the briefing materials to USGS Louisiana Water Science Center Director Charles Demas for his annual congressional visit to Washington D.C. Demas will be delivering these materials to Congressman and Senators during the week of September 13. The materials describe how the center has been providing up-to-date coastal bathymetry and geologic data for the Gulf areas since the beginning of the spill. The SPSCMSC Center continues to manage data requests, conference calls, directing response personnel, and providing coastal and shelf geophysical data to on the ground responders as well as pre and post-spill sample planning and collection.

SPCMSC Office Hosts Youth Fishing Program Summit

The first ever Youth Fishing Program Summit workshop was held at the St. Pete USGS Office September 9-10, 2010. The workshop was sponsored by Florida Sea Grant as a forum for those working in youth angling programs to share resources, network and develop ideas for a statewide “Young Angler Program”. The program brought participants from across the state working at local, state, and national levels and tied to many national initiatives including No Child Left Inside, Get Outdoors, and Youth Environmental Alliance. Sandy Coffman coordinated the visit at the USGS facility. The event was organized and run by Karen Blyler of Univ. of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Coastal Maps Requested for Historical Society Presentation

The Mayor of Indian Rocks Beach, R.B. Johnson, requested assistance from the USGS for locating maps that tell the story of the shifting coastline of west-central Florida. Johnson, who works with many communities and municipalities to manage his city’s coastal resources, is interested in sharing the idea that beaches can move substantially over the course of time. Mark Hansen and Ann Tihansky provided R.B. Johnson with maps and several web sites for telling a story that spans the last century. Johnson is tying these resources to old maps he obtained from other older historical sources.

SPCMSC Participates in USGS Emergency Communications Test

On September 9, 2010, the USGS St. Petersburg Office personnel participated in the test of the newest USGS Emergency Notification Communication system designed to track personnel during an emergency situation. Employees were contacted at each of the locations currently entered in the emergency contact database. The test provided an opportunity to see who needed to update information and where other technical difficulties occurred so that the office is prepared for disasters and breaks in communication networks.

USGS Biologist Participates with USF-St. Petersburg on Eco-Cruise

Marc Blouin (SPCMSC) will be representing the USGS and diving as a tool for scientific study for the October 29 program that takes participants out on a sailboat into Tampa Bay to learn more about the coastal marine environment and related science and technology going on in the area. The USGS is a partner with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the USF-St. Petersburg Waterfront Office and Faculty who organize the outing on a 37-ft sailboat called the Wanderer. Discussion topics include climate change, water pollution, and technology.

Science of Coastal Vulnerability to Extreme Storms Highlighted in Newest SPCMSC Video Podcast

Hurricane Earl’s approach towards the east coast demonstrates the importance of understanding how coastal environments will respond to these extreme storms. A new video podcast documents the work of the USGS Coastal Change Hazards Program in measuring the vulnerability of coastlines to such hazardous storms. The podcast, titled ‘In Harm’s Way: Measuring Storm Impacts to Forecast Future Vulnerability’, shows how USGS scientists model potential changes to coastal environments to identify communities vulnerable to extreme erosion during storms. It also highlights how data is collected before and after storm landfall to verify past forecasts and improve future predictions. The video features interviews by oceanographer Abby Sallenger and Hilary Stockdon. The video podcast is currently a Science Feature on the USGS home page.

Watch the video podcast: http://gallery.usgs.gov/videos/297 or http://www.youtube.com/usgs

Coastal Change Hazards Project Provided Photos to Evening News for Approaching Hurricane Stories

The USGS Coastal Change Hazards Project supplied photographs showing coastal erosion in the Outer Banks of North Carolina for a report about potential inundation and erosion to the region that may come from Hurricane Earl for the CBS Evening News. The images detail a breach at Hatteras Island and beach erosion and overwash in Hatteras Village due to Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The story was aired during the evening news on August 31.

Watch the program: CBS Evening News Program

Media Interest in Coastal Vulnerability

Hurricane Earl, the 1st hurricane for 2010 that is a potential threat to the U.S., has triggered annual media interest in coastal vulnerability and hazards. Inquiries from CBS and Thailand are being supported by USGS communications and web resources. A new podcast on coastal vulnerability is featured on the USGS site and the USGS channel on YouTube and makes available USGS research to a diverse, international audience. Web pages maintained by the SPCMSC team serve up supporting technical information.

Watch the padcast: In Harm's Way: Measuring Storm Impacts to Forecast Future Vulnerability

See the Web site: Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Storms

New Fact Sheet Highlights USGS Research into the Impact of Climate Change on the Florida Shelf Ecosystem

A fact sheet by SPCMSC scientists Lisa Robbins and Ellen Raabe titled “Response of Florida Shelf Ecosystems to Climate Change: from Macro to Micro Scales” focuses attention on marine environments of the Florida shelf at three levels; regional, estuarine, and the individual organism. The USGS is partnering with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the University of South Florida (USF) to improve understanding of the effects of ocean acidification on regional carbonate processes, changes in individual estuaries, and organism-level response. This understanding will assist in developing appropriate Federal, State, and local management responses to climate change in coastal areas.

Read the Fact Sheet: Response of Florida Shelf Ecosystems to Climate Change: from Macro to Micro Scales

SPCMSC Researchers Part of Field Crew that Obtained Deep Sea Cores from Florida Middle Grounds

At water depths of 85 feet, a field crew of researchers on board the M/V Spree successfully collected four cores from the Florida Middle Grounds. Researchers are interested in understanding the geologic evolution of the features found 120 miles offshore the Tampa Bay area. The Florida Middle Grounds is a 1,193 square km area in the eastern Gulf of Mexico that houses stony corals, nearly 200 fish species, sponges, crustaceans, and other marine life. Rotary core drilling took place August 1 – August 7, and scientists collected cores ranging between 2 to 57 feet. Overall, 65 safe SCUBA dives were conducted with divers spending a total of 101 hours underwater. The research divers are Chris Reich, Keith Ludwig, Paul Knorr, Jordan Sanford, Adam Brame, BJ Reynolds, and Don Hickey from SPCMSC, Lee Bodkin (USGS Texas Water Science Center), Kayla Gibbs (USGS Ft. Worth, TX), Justin McInnis (USGS Austin, TX), Libby Carnahan (Florida Department of Environmental Protection), Nesti Stathakopoulos (National Coral Reef Institute), and Marc Blouin (USGS Great Lakes Science Center).

Posters Display SPCMSC Data Integration Networks and Information at Workshop

Community for Data Integration (CDI) Workshop, held at the USGS Federal Center in Denver from Aug 10 - 13. Posters displayed information on the ‘Everglades Depth Estimation Network’, ‘Conceptual Components for the Coastal Everglades Depth Estimation Network’, ‘Hindcasting Water-Surface Elevations for Water Conservation Area’ and ‘Building a Coastal and Marine Geoscience Data System to Improve Data Management and Integration’. CDI's goal is to develop and execute a plan for the integration of Bureau data resources in an effort to facilitate access to scientific data and information for scientists and decision makers. It also provides a forum to focus on data integration issues, planning, and execution, as well as to assist in providing Bureau level guidance to implement the USGS Data Integration Strategy.

Mendenhall Post-doctoral Fellow to Attend NOAA Fisheries Science Center Workshop on Ocean Acidification Research

Ryan P. Moyer, a Mendenhall Post-doctoral Fellow at SPCMSC, was also invited to attend the NOAA Fisheries Science Center Workshop on Ocean Acidification Research from 29 August to 1 September in Seattle, WA. This workshop seeks to update NOAA science centers on on-going ocean acidification projects within NOAA and by other federal and academic partners. The organizing committee also seeks an exchange of information on the latest developments in ocean acidification research while coordinating research activities within NOAA and between its partners to avoid redundancy.

USGS Scientist to Participate in Workshop on Paleo-ocean Acidification and Carbon Cycle Perturbation Events

Ryan P. Moyer, a Mendenhall Post-doctoral Fellow at SPCMSC, was selected to participate in a workshop to improve the network and interaction between researchers studying biogeochemical consequences of past carbon cycle perturbations, and improve the collective understanding of paleo-ocean acidification and its biogeochemical consequences The Workshop on Paleo-ocean Acidification and Carbon Cycle Perturbation Events will be held from August 25-29 on Catalina Island, CA and brings together 50 leading experts on Cenozoic paleoceanography, carbon cycle modeling, biological, chemical and physical oceanography, and paleobiology. The workshop aims to discuss existing evidence and define future goals of paleo-ocean acidification research as well as generate the first comprehensive synthesis publication on the topic.

More information is available at: PAGES (Past Global Changes)posted: 2010-08-26

Arctic Acidification Research Highlighted as Science Feature on USGS Homepage

Ocean acidification research taking place on board the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy is highlighted prominently on the USGS homepage as a science feature. The science feature details the joint USGS/USF team currently working to characterize the carbonate system of the Arctic Ocean with respect to potential impacts from climate change and ocean acidification. SPCMSC scientists Lisa Robbins and Kim Yates and University of South Florida College of Marine Science Professor Bob Byrne lead the team. The scientists on board the ship include Chris Dufore (SPCMSC), Xuewu Liu (USF) and Mark Patsavas (USF). This water sampling team are collecting a “first of its kind” data set that will enable scientists to determine the present state of carbonate mineral saturation in both surface and deep water; measure current levels of seawater pH, pCO2, total alkalinity, and dissolved inorganic carbon; and to better characterize the carbon cycling system. The researchers have been working a grueling schedule, sampling surface water every 2 hours since the cruise began at the beginning of August. Arctic acidification research is taking place in collaboration with the 2010 Extended Continental Shelf Project that is mapping areas of the seafloor to determine limits of the extended continental shelf.

Keep up to date on the ongoing acidification research in the Arctic by following the blog.

Additional information about the expedition can be found at the 2010 Extended Continental Shelf Project.posted: 2010-08-20

SPCMSC Coastal Change Hazards Research Featured in Science News

SPCMSC Coastal Change Hazards research is highlighted in an article titled “Scour Power” that discusses the large impact extreme storms can have on coastal erosion and the need for better estimates of future erosion in the August 28, 2010 issue of Science News. Oceanographer Asbury “Abby” Sallenger was quoted in the article and talked about how recent technology like aircraft with laser altimeters and GPS has transformed the way in which researchers collect data. The wealth of information that can now be collected provides insight into the amount of coastal change that takes place during storms. Models and pre and post-storm images produced by the Coastal Change Hazards research team were used in the article to highlight the impact storms can have on populated coastal areas and the environment. Science News is the magazine of the Society for Science & the Public.

The article can be read here: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/62040/title/Scour_power

Multi-agency Crew Collects Coring Data for Mississippi Coastal Improvement Plan

A multi-agency crew of scientists lead by Jack Kindinger (SPCMSC) collected vibracores in the northern Gulf of Mexico as part of the US Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi Coastal Improvement Plan (MsCIP) sponsored by the Cat Island Geomorphic Study from August 3rd to 6th. The onshore sampling portion of the Cat Island project was conducted over a three-day period with 14 vibracores acquired. Most core penetrations were to ~ 2.75 m depth below sea level, with the deepest being 4.75 m. The crew conducted very physically strenuous activities through very warm (heat index < 110˚F) conditions each day. Mike Brown and Dallon Weathers (University of New Orleans) operated the boats, shared gear, and provided valuable experience and indispensable help. Jennifer Miselis (SPCMSC) and Kate Rose (USGS Stennis) supplied background data and maps, great ideas for coring sites, and did much or all the recording. Kyle Kelso (SPCMSC), Meghan Alesce (USACE) and Mike Potts (NPS) provided additional support during the coring activities. In the next phase of the project, the team will conduct offshore geophysical surveys and coring around Aug. 30th.

USGS Contributes Article Documenting Freeze Event Impacts on Florida Resources

Matthew Cimitile (SPCMSC) wrote an article for Bay Soundings describing the impacts of the unprecedented freezing temperatures on water resources and wildlife in Florida. The epic cold spell lasting 11 consecutive days with temperatures below 34 degrees resulted in the deaths of many fish and manatees, bleached corals, frostbitten mangroves, more than 65 sinkholes and hundreds of dry wells. SESC scientists Robert Bonde and Tom Smith were quoted in the article discussing the role the historic freeze had on manatee populations and mangrove ecosystems around the state. Evaluating current water use as a method of crop freeze protection is still being addressed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District due to the sinkholes and impacts on domestic wells. Understanding the impact such extremes can have on natural resources can improve management practices and resource planning for the future. Bay Soundings is a quarterly news journal that covers the news and issues affecting Tampa Bay. The USGS is a member of the editorial board.

Read the article: Extreme Weather Stresses Ecosystemsposted: 2010-07-29

USGS Coastal and Marine Science Podcasts Featured on Science Websites

Podcasts from the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology podcast series have been featured on several science websites within the past few months. Podcasts on "Summer Fieldwork in Everglades National Park" and "Submersible Habitat for Analyzing Reef Quality (SHARQ)" appeared on Geology.com, a site published by retired Mansfield University geography and geology professor Hobart M. King. The site focuses on geology and earth science news, maps, satellite imagery, and career information. The podcast "African Dust, Coral Reefs, and Human Health" was featured on LabGrab.com, a website aimed at sharing science discoveries, news and laboratory research findings, and included an excerpt from the podcast transcript and commentary from LabGrab publishers. The African dust video was also highlighted on Earth Online Media, a media support blog for Earth Online: An Internet Guide for Earth Science, one of the first books concerning the use of the internet by earth scientists.

USGS Ecologist to present African dust findings at World Soil Conference

Ginger Garrison will be giving a presentation on findings from an African dust, coral reefs, and human health study at the 19th World Congress of Soil Science that is being held from August 1-6, 2010 in Brisbane, Australia. The Congress is held every four years and brings together scientists, researchers, academics and professionals from around the world. This year’s theme is 'Soil Solutions for a Changing World.' Garrison will discuss findings pertaining to the enrichment/depletion of trace metals in African dust from source and down-wind sites in the Caribbean.

EARTH Magazine Features USGS Science on Sinkholes in August Issue

USGS scientists Terrie Lee and Ann Tihansky were featured in the August issue of EARTH Magazine, a monthly periodical focused on earth science, energy and environment news that has a readership of over 50,000 per month. Titled “Sinkholes: Florida Grapples with the Wonders of the Not-So-Deep”, the article focuses on the factors contributing to the surplus of sinkholes in southwest Florida during the winter of 2010, as well as Florida’s underlying geology and the importance of understanding karst in managing water resources. Tihansky discussed how the number of sinkholes is probably underestimated, while Lee explained how demands on water resources impact the development on sinkhole formation.

USGS Scientists Use Thermal Infrared Imagery to Develop Greater Understanding of Groundwater in Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park, Florida

The USGS report "Thermal Imaging of the Waccasassa Bay Preserve: Image Acquisition and Processing," authored by SPCMSC scientists Ellen Raabe and Elzbieta Bialkowska-Jelinksa was published on July 8, 2010. The study used thermal infrared imagery to identify groundwater-discharge locations in Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park during winter, when groundwater being discharged from the Florida aquifer is thermally distinct from the surrounding cold surface waters. The imagery was used to detect interconnected and restrained water flow paths, and contributes to scientific understanding of the underlying geology of the area. This information can assist with resource management and strengthen understanding of the effects of land and water use on the coastal lowlands, estuarine habitats, and natural resources of the State Park.

Read the report: Thermal Imaging of the Waccasassa Bay Preserve: Image Acquisition and Processing

Coastal and Marine Geology Program’s Project Hosts Meeting with National Park Service to Facilitate Remote Sensing Research

The use of remote sensing technology, mapping, research and product development will be the focus of a meeting hosted by The Decision Support for Coastal Science and Resource Management (DSCSM) Project and the NPS Assateague Island National Seashore on June 15 to 17, 2010. Scientists at the meeting are discussing the use of remote sensing technology supported by DSCSM, facilitating discussions for continued collaboration between the two federal agencies and other project partners, and providing updates relating to remote sensing technology and research. The meeting is taking place at Assateague Island National Seashore in Berlin, Maryland.

USGS Supports Interior’s Coasts and Oceans Activities at The Coastal Society’s 22nd International Conference

Kyle Kelso represented the USGS as he accompanied the Department of Interior’s booth at The Coastal Society’s 22nd International Conference, ‘Shifting Shorelines: Adapting to the Future’ held in Wilmington, NC from June 13-16, 2010. The booth featured USGS science as well as other Interior coasts and oceans topics including materials from programs within US Fish and Wildlife Service, Minerals Management Service and National Parks. More than 300 coastal managers, scientists and policy makers attended the conference. The meeting, which is partly sponsored by the USGS, addresses a variety of coastal and ocean topics such as climate change, coastal environments, changing shorelines, and coastal economies. More information about the event can be found here: http://www.thecoastalsociety.org/conference/tcs22/

Oceanography Camp for Girls to Tour USGS Center in St. Petersburg, Florida

On July 8 and 9, SPCMSC is hosting a group of 8th grade girls from the University of South Florida Oceanography Camp for Girls. Personnel at the center will give the group a tour of the building and labs as well as providing interview time with scientists. Scientists will show the girls research being conducted and talk to them about choosing a career in marine science.

USGS Scientists Shed Light on Possible Geological and Environmental Impacts of Building a Barrier Berm to Protect Coastal Ecosystems

A USGS report entitled “Effects of Building a Sand Barrier Berm to Mitigate the Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Louisiana Marshes”, highlights impacts and long-term monitoring requirements involved with building a berm in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Three SPCMSC scientists - Jack Kindinger, James Flocks and Abby Sallenger - along with lead author Dawn Lavoie and David Twichell of the USGS, authored the critical report that was released on June 4, 2010. The study is in response to the State of Louisiana's request for emergency authorization to build a barrier berm to protect coastal wetlands from oil and perform spill mitigation work on the Chandeleur Islands and nearby barrier islands. Issues of concern are timely construction of the sand berm, difficulty of construction, scarcity of sand resources along coastal Louisiana, and the impact of storms on the berm, which could result in the transportation of oil and sediment across the island and into the back bays. The barrier berm is a new strategy for protecting the coast from oil and long-term monitoring is recommended to determine the geological and ecological impacts that construction of the berm would have on the environment.

SPCMSC Director Discusses Sand Berm Construction with Media Outlets

Jack Kindinger conducted interviews with CNN, the Los Angeles Times, and the New Orleans Times-Picayune pertaining to the building of an oil protection berm along the Louisiana coastline. Kindinger discussed the science behind building a sand berm as protection against oil washing into marsh and coastal ecosystems as well as the possible environmental impacts from the construction. In answering many of the reporters' questions, Kindinger referred to the newly released USGS report 'Effects of Building a Sand Barrier Berm to Mitigate the Effects of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill on Louisiana Marshes'.

Read the Los Angeles Times article: Scientists skeptical about rush to build sand barriers

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response Products

A new web page is displaying products being developed at SPCMSC in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Current products on the site include lidar topography and bathymetry maps of barrier islands and coastal wetlands and potential inundation and overwash prediction maps of islands and shorelines in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The center is also providing a whole range of lidar, bathymetry, sediment cores, and other data to help with response efforts.

Visit the site: Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response

USGS Helps to Develop Elementary Teacher Presentations for Earth Science Education Class

Ann Tihansky and Matthew Cimitile, SPCMSC, are working with education professor Malcolm Butler in developing project guidelines for an earth and physical science education class that is part of the Elementary Education: Math/Science Emphasis Graduate program at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg. Elementary school teachers taking the class will produce a three to five minute presentation on how they would present an Earth science topic to their classroom. Topics include wetlands, ocean acidification, ocean currents, oil spills in the Gulf, science in our everyday lives, and others. Presentations will be recorded and several will be picked to be hosted on SPCMSC website as a resource for elementary science teachers.

USGS Scientist Interviewed on Geology of Sinkhole Formation

On June 1, 2010, Ann Tihansky was interviewed by ABC News NYC about the geologic explanation for sinkholes, like the recent one that occurred in Guatemala on May 31, 2010, along with the heavy rains associated with Tropical Storm Agatha. Tihansky provided historical context for this sinkhole and discussed the variables that contribute to sinkhole occurrence as well as human activities that are often associated with them. In addition, she spoke about the hazards sinkholes can pose to water quality and infrastructure. She referred the reporter to the USGS report: http://fl.water.usgs.gov/Abstracts/c1182_tihansky.html for further information.

Oceanographer to Give Extreme Storm Presentation at Hurricane Expo

Hilary Stockdon, SPCMSC, will be one of the speakers at The Science Center of Pinellas annual Hurricane and Other Natural Disasters Expo on Saturday, June 5, 2010. The expo focuses on how the public can prepare for unexpected storms and natural disasters. Stockdon will present information regarding potential impacts from hurricanes and extreme storms to Tampa Bay’s coastal environment. Scientists Karen Morgan, Kara Doran, and Joe Long will use interactive displays to teach the public about coastal change during hurricanes. More information about the event can be found here: http://www.sciencecenterofpinellas.org/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=1&Itemid=73

USGS Mangrove Specialist Interviewed by Media About Potential Oil Spill Effects

Tom Smith was interviewed by the ABC affiliate WFTS-ABC Action News Channel 28 on the topic of potential impacts of the oil spill on mangroves and their associated ecosystems. Tom shared his historical perspective from an oil spill in Panama (1968 and his work there in 1989) and explained basic mangrove growth and physiology. He also discussed his current research at monitoring sites along the west Florida Gulf Coast including Tampa Bay and Everglades National Park. The news story is aired on WFTS at 5 and 6 p.m. EST May 7 and is available on-line.

Read the story: Local biologists worried about impact of oil on West Coast wildlife and vegetation

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response: Potential Inundation and Overwash Prediction Maps Available

Maps describing the potential for inundation and overwash of the islands and shorelines along the northern Gulf of Mexico were created by the SPCMSC Coastal Hazards team to assist oil spill response and to support science planning. The maps are being updated to include new regions and environmental conditions as this situation evolves. They are available on-line and are also part of the USGS Multi-media gallery.

Florida Science Centers Featured in May’s USGS Science Picks

A podcast on deep water corals with Christina Kellogg and a video podcast about African Dust, Coral Reefs, and Human Health, featuring several USGS scientists including Ginger Garrison and Christina Kellogg, were picked up as part of the monthly ‘USGS Science Picks’ (See last week’s highlights). Science Picks are a communications service that targets topics and items of interest and shares them with the media and the general public.

See the May Science Picks: May Science Picks - Hot News about Cool Science

Listen to the podcast: Diving for Deep-Sea Coral Critters

Coastal Hazards Science to be Included in Upcoming Hurricane Special

Abby Sallenger was interviewed by WFLA, News Channel 8, on May 5 about barrier islands, flooding, and other impacts of hurricanes along the west-central coast of Florida. It is expected to be part of their annual upcoming Hurricane Special to air the first week of June.

New Web Page Hosts Video Podcast Series

The recently created Coastal and Marine Geology podcast series now has its own web page. The video podcasts relate to USGS science conducted at SPCMSC and within the Coastal and Marine Geology program. Currently, there are three videos found on the site – “SHARQ”, “African Dust, Coral Reefs, and Human Health”, and “Summer Fieldwork in Everglades National Park”. The videos are located on the USGS Social Media site and the SPCMSC website: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/podcast/

USGS Scientists Interviewed About Tampa Bay Region’s Most Vulnerable to Oil Spill

Jack Kindinger and Kim Yates were interviewed by St. Petersburg Times environmental reporter Craig Pittman about areas in Tampa Bay that would be most vulnerable to oil impacts if the spill reaches the area. Kindinger and Yates provided Pittman with information regarding protected and preserved areas in the Bay region.

EPA Invites USGS To Present Findings on African Dust

Ginger Garrison was invited by EPA Region 4’s Air Quality Monitoring Managers' Meeting on April 21, in Athens, GA. Her talk, "African dust and implication for the SE United States", was delivered to an audience consisting of national and regional EPA, state and county government managers and scientists.

USGS Works with NASA on Dune Vulnerability Study

On April 20, 2010 scientists from the St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center installed a camera to monitor waves and dune erosion at the Kennedy Space Center. The camera will collect images for 10 minutes every hour. That data will be sent back to the St Petersburg office for analysis and will be shared with collaborators at NASA and University of Florida. Participating in the installation were Nathaniel Plant, Ann Marie Ascough, Phil Thompson and Karen Morgan from the USGS and Ron Schaub from NASA.

Student Paper Wins Award at the Association of American Geographer’s Meeting

On April 17, SPCMSC staff Marilyn Montgomery won the Coastal and Marine Specialty Group's Norb Psuty Student Paper Merit Award at the Association of American Geographers (AAG) annual meeting in Washington, DC week. Her award was for presenting her paper, "Spatial Analysis of Vulnerability to Coastal and Inland Flood Hazards in Tampa Bay, Florida".

Mendenhall Researcher Presents Seminar on Ocean Acidification at USGS Reston

Ryan Moyer presents a Mendenhall Research Seminar at the USGS Visitor Center in Reston, VA on April 30. The presentation, "Historical records of coral geochemistry and calcification and their relationship to anthropogenic ocean acidification" will discuss how corals are used as recorders of changes in seawater chemistry as they depositing calcium carbonate (aragonite) skeletons in discrete annual layers that can span several centuries. Moyer’s work is looking at recent increases in a combination of anthropogenic and climatic stresses that may be contributing to the degradation and decline of many coral reef communities world-wide. Measurements of annual variations in coral skeletal density combined with isotope and/or trace metal geochemistry of the coral skeleton can serve as proxies for a suite of paleo-environmental events and conditions.

USGS Participates in Ocean Acidification Workshop For Fisheries Industry

On April 26, Lisa Robbins and Kim Yates participated in a workshop on ocean acidification at the USGS St. Petersburg office. The workshop was hosted by the Seafood Choices Alliance to educate the fishery industry in west-central Florida. The “Cutting Through Complexity” Workshop was designed to clearly present scientific information regarding possible impacts of ocean acidification on fisheries and seafood industry stakeholders. The workshop also solicited participants for feedback about how to inform and engage the community on this issue. Ned Daly, the North America Director of SeaWeb-Seafood Choices kicked off the event. Robbins and Yates, along with Dennis Heinemann, a Senior Scientist with the Ocean Conservancy, presented talks to the group about the basic science behind ocean acidification. The attendees included resource managers, universities, fishery industries and conservation groups with representatives from the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, Florida Sea Grant, Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission and Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Ocean Conservancy, Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, University of Florida, Univ. of South Florida- College of Marine Science, members of the Aquaculture Industry, Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, and the Gulf and South Atlantic Fisheries Foundation.

USGS Scientist to Participate in Workshop on Assessing Ocean Acidification in the Arctic

Research Oceanographer Lisa Robbins has been invited to participate in the Scoping Workshop for the Arctic Ocean Acidification Assessment, in Tromsø, Norway in May 10-12, 2010. This workshop is being organized by the Arctic Mapping and Assessment Program (AMAP) 23rd Working Group (part of Nordic Council). The objectives of the Scoping Workshop include clarifying the priority questions on ocean acidification and discussing related work that might contribute to the Arctic assessment. Work will also include preparing the draft of contents/extended outline for the assessment report.

USGS Participates in Marine Quest with Booth Focused on Ocean Acidification

The USGS is participating April 17 with a display at the annual community education event hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute called Marine Quest that draws over 4,000 people. The USGS is one of many community research neighbors sharing expertise and educational materials about science and marine-related topics. The USGS theme for this year’s display is Ocean Acidification. Ryan Moyer, Ann Tihansky, Heather Schreppel and Ilsa Kuffner will host a display that illustrates basic concepts about pH, ocean chemistry and carbon cycling.

Science Literacy Article is Cover Story for Bay Soundings

An article on science literacy written by USGS journalist Matthew Cimitile was the cover story for the spring edition of Bay Soundings. The article titled “Reawakening the Scientific Mind of the American Public”, explored the critical importance and yet weakening state of science literacy among American adults and students when compared to other industrialized nations. It also described solutions to the problem through academics and community outreach. The Tampa Bay scientific and environmental community was highlighted for sparking scientific interest and curiosity in people through teacher workshops, environmental student programs and public engagement.

Read the story: Reawakening the Scientific Mind of the American Public

New African Dust Documentary Chosen for USGS Monthly ‘Science Picks’

The “African Dust, Coral Reefs and Human Health” documentary video featuring work being done by USGS scientists at SPCMSC and in Denver, CO. was chosen as a USGS Science Pick for the month of April. The documentary was written by Matthew Cimitile and Ginger Garrison and illustrates concepts about how recent changes in the composition and quantities of African dust transported to the Caribbean and Americas might provide clues that explain why Caribbean coral reef ecosystems are deteriorating and human health may be impacted. Science Picks are a monthly compilation of science ideas for potential news and feature stories and are issued by the USGS Office of Communication.

Watch the video: USGS Channel on YouTube

New Article Summarizes State of Knowledge and Research Gaps in the Microbial Ecology of Mesophotic Coral Environments

USGS Research Microbiologist Christina Kellogg has co-written a mini-review article focused on the diversity, connectivity, and importance of microbes hosted by corals, sponges, and algae in mesophotic coral ecosystems. These ‘twilight zone’ habitats occur at depths ranging from 30 to 200 meters and are of great scientific interest as they appear to be less impacted than shallower reefs and therefore may be critical refuges for some tropical species. The article is to appear in the Wiley InterScience Journal on Microbiology Ecology sponsored by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies and is available on-line in advance of print copies: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/123315065/abstract

Leadership St. Pete Class of 2010, Visits USGS, Learns About Science in the Community

The USGS Coastal and Marine Science Center hosted the Leadership St. Pete Class of 2010 as part of their day out in the Marine Science Research Community at Bayboro Campus in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida on April 9. They started their day with a welcome from Governor Charlie Crist at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, visited other facilities located within the Bayboro campus and finished their day at the USGS. Center Director Jack Kindinger welcomed the group to the facility and Abby Sallenger gave a presentation describing the research being conducted to evaluate coastal hazards and extreme storms with time for questions and discussion. The group of 40 received information packages about USGS science as well.

USGS Scientists Participate in Gulf of Mexico Climate Outreach Workshop

USGS scientists Abby Sallenger and Virginia Burkett presented USGS scientific findings about climate change and sea-level rise at the Gulf of Mexico Climate Outreach Workshop titled “Building a Community of Practice for Long-Term Engagement with Coastal Communities” . It is a series of workshops with the initial workshop being held in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida April 19-21 focusing on the topic of Sea Level Rise. Burkett provided the keynote presentation discussing rates and impacts of sea level rise in the Gulf of Mexico, summarizing the state of the science. Sallenger discussed impacts to the natural coastal systems and the response of barrier islands in introduced policy-related issues to consider. Jack Kindinger, Chris Smith, Ann Tihansky and Matthew Cimitile also attended. The meeting is being held as part of a SeaGrant funded program to bring together organizations that are or will be conducting outreach, extension and/or education on sea-level rise as well as helping organizations share tools, discuss strategies and gather the scientific information needed to help communities address questions related to climate change.

Gulf of Mexico Climate Outreach Program

NOAA’s Sea Grant Awards Eight ‘Climate Engagement’ Mini-Grants

USGS Scientists Serve As Technical Experts in Second of Three Groundwater Use Meetings

The USGS continues to participate in the Southwest Florida Water Management District’s January 2010 Freeze Event Meetings that bring together technical experts and invited stakeholders on the issue of crop freeze protection, groundwater use and sinkhole development. Ann Tihansky and Patricia Metz attended the April 21. Topics discussed included the topic of establishing caps for groundwater use for crop freeze protection to reduce impacts of dry public wells and sinkholes. They also discussed alternative means for crop protection that do not involve groundwater. Elected Officials and media attended the meeting. The issue continues to be part of the local and national news focusing on impacts of sinkholes on the community.

Read more: This Town Is Going Down, and Strawberries Share the Blame

Students head back to Trapnell after sinkhole repairs

USGS Represented At St. Petersburg Marine Science Industry Cluster Summit

The USGS was invited by the City of St. Petersburg’s Mayor to attend a discussion April 20 about enhancing the economic and scientific impact of the St. Petersburg Marine Science Cluster. Jack Kindinger and Rob Wertz represented the USGS along with members of Mayor’s Ocean Team and other stakeholders who are being brought together to discuss the Marine Science Cluster, it’s future direction and opportunities for further job creation.

USGS Interacts with Media and Coastal Community Representatives at National Hurricane Conference

USGS representatives of the Coastal Change Hazards Team participated in the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando Florida from March 30 through April 2, 2010. Abby Sallenger, Hilary Stockdon, Karen Morgan and Ann Tihansky fielded inquiries and provided publications about coastal hazards as well as other areas of USGS expertise pertaining to hurricanes and extreme storms, sea-level rise and flooding. Many media outlets were conducting interviews for their upcoming specials scheduled to air in late May and early June to coincide with the beginning of hurricane season and the USGS scientists conducted interviews with a variety of local, national and international media outlets including Barometer Bob, Jim Cantore from the Weather Channel, John Gerard-Weather Plus-NBC-Miami, Paul Dellegatto-WTVT FOX-13 Tampa, Denis Phillips-ABC-Tampa, Javier Serrano-Noticias 41, a local Miami Spanish station and Casanova Nurse from Tallahassee News Channel WTXL, Galveston Daily News, Stormpulse, Cayman Free Press, and the Meteorological News Service-Aruba. Environmental News Service picked up the press release in an article that ran April 1, 2010.

Earth Magazine Interviews USGS Scientists for Article on Wetlands in Karst Landscape

A writer with Earth Magazine recently interviewed Ann Tihansky, Terrie Lee and Kim Haag about a recent flurry of sinkholes associated with record-setting low groundwater levels due to groundwater pumping. The link between sinkhole development and groundwater levels prompted interest in the topic of how sinkholes affect water resources in the landscape. As many of the abundant wetlands in west-central Florida are of sinkhole origin, the hydrologic links between sinkholes and wetlands has led the writer to explore the relations between wetlands and water-resource development in west-central Florida. The USGS also provided images from the newly released Wetlands Primer.

Read the Primer: Hydrology and Ecology of Freshwater Wetlands in Central Florida—A Primer

St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center Launches Podcast Series

The St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center has launched its podcast series as a way to reach a broad public audience with multimedia content. The series has been approved by the Office of Communications and joins several other series being produced in USGS offices across the Nation. These products are designed to highlight science research topics and provide this content to a variety of social media ‘channels’ including YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. The podcasts are available on the USGS-YouTube channel, the USGS social media webpage, the USGS multimedia gallery and also on specific USGS program web pages that originated the content. The first two videos released in the series are: African Dust, Coral Reefs and Human Health, written by Matthew Cimitile and Ginger Garrison, and Summer Fieldwork in Everglades National Park, written by Paul Nelson. There are others currently in the production pipeline. These formats will help USGS scientists share capabilities, discoveries and other engaging aspects of our science with an active on-line community who is interested in our work and in sharing it with others.

Watch the video: Summer Fieldwork in Everglades National Park

Watch the video: African Dust, Coral Reefs and Human Health

Visit the multimedia gallery: USGS Multimedia Gallery

St. Petersburg Hosts Science Meeting for the Northern Gulf Of Mexico Project

Expert on Coral Reefs and Ocean Acidification Interviewed by Canadian University Class

USGS Coastal Hazards Team Attends National Hurricane Conference, Orlando

The 2010 National Hurricane Conference being held in Orlando, Florida from March 29 to April 2 brings together scientists, emergency managers and those in the recovery industry from all over the country with the goal of improving preparedness, mitigating the effects of, and speeding the recovery after a hurricane. Abby Sallenger, Hilary Stockdon, Karen Morgan and Ann Tihansky are planning to represent the USGS to increase awareness about USGS expertise and capabilities regarding coastal hazards and emergency planning. They will use examples of the disastrous coastal impacts associated with Hurricane Ike (2008) to illustrate why understanding coastal change is important. Information about the National Hurricane Conference can be found at http://www.hurricanemeeting.com

USGS Participates in Technical Advisory Meetings With Southwest Florida Water Management District Concerning the January 2010 Freeze Event

The impacts of ground-water pumping during the January 2010 freeze are the subject of continued resource management issues in the SWFWMD. The SWFWMD is planning to convene at least three meetings focused on separate issues that aim to bring technical expertise to discussions with affected members of the region including industry, political leaders, agricultural interests, emergency managers and local citizens. Ann Tihansky and Patricia Metz participated as Technical Experts during the first of three scheduled meetings, March 24. The meeting was led by David Moore, Executive Director of the SWFWMD and attendees included representatives from Florida State Legislators’ offices; Senator Storms, Representative Glorioso, and Stargel. Also present was a representative from Congressman Bilirakis’s office, and a number of basin board members. The next meeting will take place on April 21.

Girls Scouts Explore Geology through Joint Educational Program between USGS, Association of Women Geoscientists

On March 13-14, more than 50 Girls Scouts ranging in age from middle to high school participated in a weekend geology camping trip called “Discovering Geology Weekend”. The program was jointly sponsored by the Association of Women Geoscientists and the USGS. Ann Tihansky and Heather Schreppel of the SPMSC, worked with Allison Amram (AWG) and the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida to arrange and lead the two-day long field trip. The participants took a tour of an operating limestone quarry where they learned about why limestone is mined and also got a chance to look for fossils. They explored a variety of ecosystems unique to karst landscapes including caves and springs. At the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, Ivan Vicente of the USFWS, provided access to Three Sisters Springs where the girls were able to observe more than 50 manatees taking refuge in the warm spring water. Girls cite the lasting impact of interactions with role models and work site field trips on their academic and career choices. This trip was designed to encourage interest in the natural sciences through hands on experience that increased understanding of hydrologic interconnections, societal impacts on karst landscape, and the importance of natural resource stewardship.

USGS Participates in Environmental Science Career Day at USF

On March 25, Ann Tihansky, Kara Doran, Kathryn Smith and Chris Smith will represent the USGS at the first Environmental Science Career Day hosted by the Student Chapter of Environmental Professionals at University of South Florida-St. Petersburg. The Student Club is affiliated with the Tampa Bay Chapter as well as the National Chapter of Environmental Professionals. The goal is to provide mentoring, networking, career opportunities, and internships for students interested in the environmental sciences. Dr. Jack Gove, a research associate in the Section of Fishes at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History (LACM) and leading authority on the fishes and marine environments of the Galápagos Islands will be a guest speaker at the event.

More information: Tampa Bay Association of Environmental Professionals

NGOM Offshore Mapping Efforts Coordinated Between Coastal and Marine Offices

Coastal and Marine Geology teams from Woods Hole and St. Petersburg have been coordinating field efforts in the northern Gulf of Mexico since March 1 mapping the region around the Mississippi barrier islands for the National Park Service and as part of the Mississippi Coastal Improvements Program. They are tasked with providing updated post-Katrina bathymetry, subsurface geology and sand resource information the USACE multiagency team as part of the restoration program. This large reimbursable task is building on knowledge gained from the Northern Gulf of Mexico Project. Two vessels, the RV Tommy Monro working offshore with Dave Twichell's group from WH and the Glacier Bay working in shallow water with Jim Flock's group from St. Petersburg, have been collaborating provide near real-time data and preliminary interpretations to the modeling and coring groups in the multiagency team. If the entire region is not completely surveyed by March 30, the St. Pete team will stay to complete the work on a survey vessel provided by the USACE Mobile District.

Sea Technology Article Features USGS Deep ATRIS Design and Capabilities

The February issue of Sea Technology included an article highlighting various research applications that use an open-design tow vehicle system for real-time data collection. The article, “Coastal Zone Research Gets Assistance From an Open System Tow Body Tool”, highlighted the development of the USGS Deep ATRIS capabilities for mapping coral ecosystems. USGS Oceanographer Dave Zawada, worked closely with the design team to create the custom-built data collection platform to ensure its technical design met the needs and capabilities of USGS research.

Read more: Sea Technology

Eminent Scholars Lecture Series Hosts Panel Discussions on Ocean Acidification, Ice Sheets and Sea-Level Rise

The Eminent Scholar Lecture Series (ESLS) is held annually by the College of Marine Science (CMS), University of South Florida and is presented by the CMS and the USGS, and is sponsored by the St. Petersburg Times. This year the topic for discussion: Current Challenges in Marine Science: Ice Sheets and Sea Level; Ocean Acidification. The ESLS brings in four speakers to address this topic over two days. On March 3, Dr. Steven Nerem and Tad Pfeffer (both from Univ. of Colorado) discussed aspects of sea-level rise. On March 4, Joanie Kleypas of the National Center for Atmospheric Research presented her talk, The Clear Causes and Muddy Effects of Ocean Acidification. Following the lectures, a panel discussion was assembled in place of a scheduled NSF Speaker who was unable to attend. The panel covered all of the topics with a focused on communication of climate change science to the public and policy makers and and panelists included Ilsa Kuffner, and Kim Yates (both of USGS SPSC) along with Joanie Kleypas, Gary Mitchum-USF-CMS, Steve Nerem, and Tad Peffer. This lecture series serves at least eight research and education institutions in the St. Petersburg area, including the CMS, the USGS, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, USF St. Petersburg, USF Tampa, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Florida Institute of Oceanography, and Eckerd College. All lectures are open to the public.

Download the Flyer (1.3 MB PDF)posted: 2010-03-10

SPSC Speaker Highlights Florida Shelf Carbon Chemistry Work at USGS Climate Change Conference

Lisa Robbins will be presenting a talk on March 11 at the USGS Climate Change Conference about baseline data and modeling efforts currently underway for understanding carbonate saturation and carbon dioxide gas exchange rates in coastal waters along the west Florida shelf. Data collected during a joint field campaign with the University of South Florida (USF), and with remote sensing support from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), is being used to fill data gaps and bolster understanding of nearshore carbon flux variability. The talk is coauthored by Ilsa Kuffner, Paul Knorr, Xuewu Liu, Mark Hansen, Chris Smith, Robert Byrne, and Ellen Raabe and is titled, Monitoring Florida shelf carbonate saturation state and calcification rates: setting a baseline for response of ocean acidification on marine habitats and is part of the session, Focus Area 5: Research Funded by USGS RFP’s, Expanded Research Topics in Global Change Science.

USGS Expertise Tapped to Assist FDEP with Establishing Nutrient Numeric Criteria for Estuaries and Coastal Waters

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists Mark Zucker and Jeff Woods attended a public meeting held by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) March 2, 2010 at the University of Miami Rosenstiel Center School for Marine and Atmospheric Science on establishing numeric nutrient criteria for estuaries and coastal waters in Florida Bay, Florida Keys, Biscayne Bay, and Southeast Coastal Reef Tract (Key Biscayne to Vero Beach). This meeting brought together scientists, representatives, and experts from numerous federal, state, and local government agencies as well as many academic institutions. Zucker and Woods provided flow data for all major creeks and rivers flowing from the wetlands of Everglades National Park to Florida Bay that were used in conjunction with nutrient concentration data collected by Florida International University to calculate the nutrient load entering the Bay.

FDEP plans to develop numeric criteria for phosphorus and nitrogen that take into account the hydrologic and spatial variability of the nutrient levels in the state’s waters and the environmental response to those concentrations. The FDEP has been actively working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the development of numeric nutrient criteria since 2002. FDEP’s preferred approach is to develop cause/effect relationships between nutrients and valued ecological attributes, and to establish nutrient criteria that ensure that the designated uses of Florida’s waters are maintained. To limit nutrient enrichment, Florida will develop nutrient criteria for all waters, guided by recommendations from a technical advisory committee composed of technical experts from throughout the state.

For more information, visit Development of Numeric Nutrient Criteria for Florida's Waters

USGS Information:
Water Quality
Nutrient Loading at Card Sound Canal; a tidally driven canal that experiences highly stratified bi-directional flow conditions
Nutrient Inputs Along Coastal Transects Within Everglades National Park, Floridaposted: 2010-03-10

Radio News Story Covers Sea-Level Rise, Climate Change

On March 4, WMNF Community Radio aired a news story about sea-level rise produced by USGS journalist Matthew Cimitile at the SPSC. Cimitile attended and recorded the Eminent Scholar Lecture Series at Univ. of South Florida’s College of Marine Science where Steven Nerem, the Associate Director of the Colorado Center for Astrodynamics Research at the University of Colorado, gave a lecture titled, "What's Happening in the Bathtub? 
An Overview of Present-Day Sea Level Change". Cimitile also interviewed Nathaniel Plant–SPSC about trends in sea-level rise, climate change and coastal vulnerability as he had just returned from the “International Conference on Sea Level Rise in the Gulf of Mexico” held in Texas. http://www.gulfbase.org/event/view.php?eid=icoslritgom1.

The story is available on-line: http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/new-research-suggests-greater-sea-level-rise

Read more: Eminent Scholar Lecture Series - Current Challenges in Marine Science: Ice Sheets and Sea Level; Ocean Acidification

Topic of Science Literacy Featured on Community Radio

On March 4, Matthew Cimitile, USGS-SPSC, attended the monthly Science Café, hosted by the Poynter library on the USF St. Petersburg campus. The Science Café, a casual meeting aimed at discussing science topics with a non-technical audience, was focused on the theme of why science literacy is important to society. USF Science Education professor Malcolm Butler’, presented a talk titled, “The Science of Our Lives: Bridging the Parallel Universes”. Butler used everyday examples of how science understanding is critical to our society and used group activities and group discussion to encourage exchange and discussion. The science café is just one of many community efforts that are aimed at improving scientific literacy. Cimitile, who has been following the topic of science literacy, prepared a news story for WMNF Community Radio. It will likely air on March 10 and is available on-line: http://www.wmnf.org/news_stories/science-cafe-connects-science-with-everyday-life

USGS Participates in the Regional Competition of the National Ocean Science Bowl

On March 6, Ann Tihansky and Kara Doran, both of the SPSC, participated in Spoonbill Bowl, the regional academic competition of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership’s National Ocean Science Bowl. There were 16 teams at the regional event with 4 members at a time participating in the team competition. Winners at regional competitions taking place nationwide will advance to the national competition scheduled to be held in St. Petersburg, FL in April. Doran served as a Moderator and Tihansky was a Science Judge along with other volunteers for the morning session. The USGS furnished take home educational materials for the participating teams and their coaches.

National Ocean Sciences Bowl

News Angle: Understanding Earthquake/Tsunami Hazards

On March 1, CBS affiliate in Tampa, 10 Connects, interviewed Rob Wertz and Uri ten Brink (USGS-CMG Woods Hole-via televideo conference lines) about the cause of earthquakes, tsunamis and how 3-D visualizations, such as the Geowall, are used to educate the public and give scientists better tools to visualize in three dimensions and through time. The focus of the final story addressed earthquake frequency and risks for Florida. The story ran on their 5 p.m. newscast and highlighted USGS earthquake monitoring capabilities worldwide.

It is available on-line: http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=126437

SPSC Represented at Harte Research Institute’s Sea Level Rise 2010 Conference

Jack Kindinger and Nathaniel Plant (SPSC) attended the conference, International Conference on Sea Level Rise in the Gulf of Mexico, in Corpus Christi, Texas from March 1-3, 2010. Barry Rosen presented a poster by Tom Smith and others representing work on modeling efforts in response to climate change. The conference was convened by the Harte Research Institute with a large number of organizing committee members including Jeff Williams of the USGS-Woods Hole office and Al Hine of the University of S. Florida College of Marine Science along with NOAA, USFWS, EPA and the US Army COE. Other USGS personnel attending include: Sonya Jones, Martha Garcia and Virginia Burkett.

Read more: Sea Level Rise 2010 Conference

AGU’s EOS Cover Story: USGS Research Forecasting Hurricane Impact

Oceanographers Nathaniel Plant, Hilary Stockdon, and Abby Sallenger highlighted work being done by the USGS Coastal Hazards Program in an article, "Forecasting Hurricane Impact on Coastal Topography" as the cover story of the February 16, 2010 issue of EOS, Transactions, American Geophysical Union journal. The USGS research program assesses coastal vulnerability and predicts coastal topographic changes and changes to vulnerability expected with future storms. The article emphasizes that capabilities in understanding the likely interactions between extreme storms and coastal topography can provide rapid forecasts and verification of information for multiple uses. Providing updated information to the public, coastal managers and emergency response teams, guiding future research efforts, and testing predictive models are some of the ways this research contributes to preparing communities for coastal hazards.

Florida Science Centers Represented at USGS National Climate Change Conference

A number of researchers from Florida will participate in a nationwide conference March 9-11, 2010 in Denver, CO on the topic of climate change.

• Tom J. Smith will share background on a multidisciplinary project including contributions from other USGS authors in Florida (Hal Davis, Don DeAngelis, Ann Foster, Tim Green, Wiley Kitchens, Nathaniel Plant, Dan Slone, Brad Stith, Eric Swain, Dave Sumner, Ann Tihansky, and Susan Walls) and multiple partners (Univ. of Florida, Florida State Univ., Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute) through a poster looking at downscaling climate change models. The project, titled, A Land of Flowers on a Latitude of Deserts: Aiding Conservation and Management of Florida’s Biodiversity by using Predictions from “Down-Scaled” Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Model, will take scenarios and modeling results and will share these with resource management groups via workshops in which the scenarios will be used to predict responses of additional selected species, habitats and ecosystems. Smith will represent work by scientists in the Southeast Ecological Science Center, the Florida Water Science Center and the St. Petersburg Science Center.
• Eric Swain will also discuss hydrodynamic modeling representing his collaborations with Catherine Langtimm, Tom Smith, Dennis Krohn, Don DeAngelis, Brad Stith, Jeremy Decker and Melinda Lohman in their poster, Development of hydrodynamic models for evaluating climate change and ecosystem landscape effects in Southern Florida, USA
• Ryan P. Moyer, a Mendenhall Post-doctoral Fellow at the St. Petersburg Science Center, will be presenting a talk on his Mendenhall research, titled Coral-based records of boron isotopes and skeletal density: Useful proxies of anthropogenic ocean acidification?. This work is co-authored by collaborators Bärbel Hönisch (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory), Kevin Helmle (NOAA AOML), and Kim Yates, Chris DuFore, and Nate Smiley of the SPSC. The work features the first coral boron isotope record from the Caribbean Sea, and represents one of four known coral boron records from around the globe.
• John Brock, Monica Palaseanu-Lovejoy, Amar Nayegandhi will be sharing a poster titled: Oscillating Late Holocene Sea Level and Coral Reef Ecosystem Structure at the Dry Tortugas.
• Lisa Osterman will be presenting the poster Development and spread of low-oxygen bottom water on the Louisiana and Texas coasts, Gulf of Mexico: the paleo record representing coaithors Peter Swarzenski and Richard Poore.
• Stephanie S. Romañach will be presenting a poster entitled, Climate envelope modeling for evaluating climate change on threatened and endangered species in South Florida.
• Cathy Langtimm of SESC will be presenting information about a sea level rise project and work of Dennis Krohn, Tom Smith, Don DeAngelis, Eric Swain and Brad Stith, titled, Past and Future Impacts of Sea level Rise on Coastal Habitats and Species in the Greater Everglades.
• Lisa Robbins of SPSC along with coauthors, Ellen Raabe, John Lisle, and Sherman Wilhelm of the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services will present the poster, Florida estuaries reflecting climate change: decreasing pH, increasing salinity and temperature.
• Lisa Robbins of SPSC is also giving a presention about baseline data and modeling efforts currently underway for understanding carbonate saturation and carbon dioxide gas exchange rates in coastal waters along the west Florida shelf. The talk, titled Monitoring Florida shelf carbonate saturation state and calcification rates: setting a baseline for response of ocean acidification on marine habitats is coauthored by Ilsa Kuffner, Paul Knorr, Xuewu Liu, Mark Hansen, Chris Smith, Robert Byrne, and Ellen Raabe.

The agenda and proceedings are available online: http://geology.usgs.gov/globalchange2010/

Eastern Geographic Science Center student to present at 26th Annual Symposium on Caribbean Geology

Coral Roig of the Eastern Geographic Science Center will present “Active Faulting in Southwest Puerto Rico” at the 26th Annual Symposium on Caribbean Geology:  Advanced Sciences and Technologies for Geological Hazards Study and Mitigation February 24-27, 2010, at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez.  This presentation documents Ms. Roig’s thesis work relating to new discoveries about geologic hazards in southwest Puerto Rico, which may represent higher earthquake risks than previously believed.

Sea Level Rise Workshop

The Center for Environmental Studies at Florida Atlantic University, the Florida Sea Grant College Program and the USGS held a sea level rise workshop in Boca Raton February 16 - 17, 2010.  Dr. Ronnie Best, Everglades Coordinator, co-chaired the workshop, and USGS staff from St. Pete and Ft. Lauderdale presented a brief synopsis of their current research. The purpose of this workshop was to engage Florida university faculty and Florida resource management agencies on the issue of sea level rise and its effects on coastal zone marine or upland ecosystems and hydrological dynamics potentially impacted by future sea level rise and storm surge.  The workshop highlighted (a) ongoing research by Florida university faculty and agency scientists, (b) identified needs of Water Management Districts and other agencies, and (c) identify cutting edge issues at the federal, state and local level that can address with multi-disciplinary multi-institutional teams.

USGS Presents Work on Coastal Habitats and Species at Sea Level Rise Conference

On March 1st, Dr. Barry Rosen (SE Rex Office) will be presenting  the FISCHS project (Future Impacts of Sea level rise on Coastal Habitats and Species), which includes Drs. Catherine Langtimm, Don Deangelis, Tom Smith, Brad Stith (all SESC) as well as Dennis Krohn (St Pete) and Eric Swain (FLWSC) at the Sea Level Rise 2010 Conference. Nathaniel Plant (St Pete) will also present his work on "The impact of sea-level rise and changing coastlines" at the conference. The goal of the conference is to share the latest research on natural processes and human dimensions of sea-level rise in the Gulf of Mexico and to engage decision makers and the public in planning for the future. Dr. Rosen’s presentation will be part of a “speed-dating” session that allows researchers from diverse disciplines to become familiar with the variety of research being conducted on Sea Level Rise by the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA).

Joint Agency Workshop on Deep Sea Corals

USGS, Minerals Management Service (MMS), and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are jointly presenting a workshop on Deep Sea Corals on February 17-18, 2010 at the National Conservation Training Center. The workshop will feature presentations on the latest research on exploration of deep sea coral sites, animal distributions in the coral reefs, and ecology of the reef communities. USGS presenters include Drs. Amanda Demopoulos (SESC), Christina Kellogg, Cheryl Morrison, and Gary Brewer.

USGS Measuring Trophodynamics of Deep Sea Food Webs

USGS has been working with other federal and university partners to examine the food web linkages of deep sea coral reefs in an unprecedented effort to examine food webs from the bottom of the sea floor to the water’s surface, including seabirds. Dr. Amanda Demopoulos (SESC) will be presenting  the results of the study at the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography Ocean Sciences meeting taking place in Portland, Oregon on February 22-26, 2010. Dr. Demopoulos will also be the lead presenter of “Discovering the Mysteries of the Deep,” lecture in Reston on Friday, February 19.

USGS Communications Staff To Serve on Bay Soundings Editorial Advisory Board

Ann Tihansky was invited to serve on the Editorial Advisory Board for the quarterly publication called Bay Soundings. Bay Soundings is a printed and on-line publication produced by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council with the mission of protecting Tampa Bay and its watershed. The Editorial Advisory Board helps identify storylines that communicate scientific and community activities relevant to this mission. The USGS now joins other board member representatives from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council, the Tampa Bay Estuary program, the Southwest Florida Water Management District and other private groups working to protect and restore Tampa Bay. The USGS has been contributing content to this publication for the past several years.

USGS Science Featured in Community Discussion about Sea-Level Rise Impacts, Makes Local News

Matthew Cimitile, USGS-St. Petersburg, attended the public workshop, “Planning for Sea-Level Rise and Hurricane Storm Surge in Sarasota County” held on Feb. 8 at the More Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida. The community discussion was sponsored by Penn State, the University of Idaho, the Marine Policy Institute at Mote Marine Laboratory, the USGS and NOAA. The workshop was designed to help local officials integrate sea-level rise into their future planning efforts. Cimitile prepared a news story for WMNF Community Radio about the way scientific findings are contributing to community discussions and planning scenarios. The story aired on Feb. 9 and is available on-line.

Mendenhall Fellow Presents Research at Ocean Sciences Meeting in Portland, OR.

Ryan P. Moyer, a Mendenhall Post-doctoral Fellow at the St. Petersburg Science Center will attend the 2010 Ocean Sciences Meeting from 22-26 February in Portland, OR. Moyer is lead author and will give an oral presentation on his Mendenhall research entitled: “Historical records of coral geochemistry and growth and their relationship to anthropogenic ocean acidification”. He is also co-author on a second oral presentation entitled: “Carbon isotope geochemistry of two tropical small mountainous river systems and adjacent coastal waters of the Caribbean”. The Ocean Sciences Meeting, which is co-sponsored by the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography, The Oceanographic Society, and the American Geophysical Union, occurs every two years and is one of the largest gatherings of coastal and marine scientists from around the globe.

Students Provide Community Service at USGS St. Petersburg Science Center

On February 16, 20 students from Shorecrest High School volunteered for a program of marine science community service at several institutions within the C.W. Bill Young Marine Science Complex in downtown St. Petersburg. Their week began at the USGS where they prepared hand out materials for the Regional and National Ocean Science Academic Competition Bowls that will be hosted here in March and April, helped organize publications and map resources, moved map files and other large office filing furniture, helped prepare samples for rock and mineral kits that are part of an educational resource partnership between the USGS and the Florida Geological Survey, and prepared sediment samples collected from around the world with display onto Google Earth. The students learned a lot about activities that take place behind the scenes at the USGS and many inquired about volunteer and intern possibilities. Lisa Robbins coordinated the event and Lisa, Ann Tihansky, Jordan Sanford, Heather Schreppel and Theresa Burress prepared and directed the students through their tasks. It is likely to become an annual USGS event as part of Shorecrest’s annual service learning week. Robbins organized the student volunteer week to include service time at NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service Office, the State of Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Research institute, and the University of South Florida College of Marine Science Educational Learning Laboratory, Clam Bayou.

USGS Scientists Participate in National Park Research Natural Area Science Workshop

USGS scientists Kristen Hart (USGS-Davie) and Ilsa Kuffner (USGS-St. Petersburg) presented their work at the ‘Dry Tortugas National Park Research Natural Area Science Workshop’ in Homestead, FL on January 12, 2010. Dry Tortugas National Park and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hosted the workshop to review progress in the joint implementation of the Dry Tortugas National Park Research Natural Area (RNA) Science Plan. Hart presented her work on the “Use of protected areas by threatened and endangered marine turtles in the Dry Tortugas” and Kuffner presented her work on “Trophic relationships on coral reefs of Dry Tortugas National Park: inside and outside of the RNA”. Their presentations were part of approximately 15 presentations addressing the Science Plan topics of abundance and size structure of exploited species, immigration/emigration of exploited species, catch composition and rates, benthic resources, egg production/larval dispersal, social sciences and submerged cultural resources.

USGS Scientist Invited to Present Scoping Paper on Ocean Acidification to AMAP

Lisa Robbins (USF-St. Petersburg) has been invited to present a scoping paper on ocean acidification in the Arctic region to the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme (AMAP) 23rd Working Group. AMAP is one of five working groups of the Arctic Council. AMAP’s primary function is to advise the governments of eight Arctic countries about threats from pollution and associated issues. Robbins, along with Richard Feely (NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory), Kim Magraw (DOI Office of Policy Analysis) and Tom Armstrong (Senior Advisor for Climate Change, Office of the Deputy Secretary, DOI) had previously discussed the need for a scoping paper for the AMAP in a conference call in early December 2009. Robbins, Feely, Kim Yates (USGS St. Petersburg) and Vicki Fabry (California State University, San Marcos), then worked together to prepare the document for the group. Robbins will present this paper at the AMAP meeting in San Francisco on February 12, 2010.

Read more about AMAP: Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme

Find out more about the Artic Council: Arctic Council

USGS Scientists to Participate on Sinkhole Public Hearing and Panel Discussion

The Southwest Florida Water Management District has requested the USGS to provide hydrogeologic expertise on a panel they are assembling for a public meeting and panel discussion. The meeting is being held to address the recent sinkhole activity in the Dover and Plant City region of west-central Florida that occurred as farmers pumped unprecedented volumes of groundwater for crop freeze protection in early January. Ann Tihansky (USGS-St. Petersburg) and Patricia Metz (USGS-Tampa) will represent the USGS at the meeting scheduled for February 17, 2010.

USGS Scientists Judge Regional Science and Engineering Fair

Deputy Center Director Jack Kindinger, and Mendenhall Post-Doctoral Fellow Ryan P. Moyer (both USGS-St.Petersburg) will serve as judges for the 2010 Pinellas Regional Science and Engineering Fair on Saturday, 6 February 2010. The science fair will take place in Seminole, FL and is expected to showcase over 200 science projects from Pinellas County middle and high school students. Judges will be responsible for choosing 24 students to represent the Region at the State Science and Engineering Fair in Orlando, FL, and two students who will advance to participate in the International Science Fair in San Jose, CA.

Crowdsourcing The National Map

Barbara Poore, Eastern Geographic Science Center, has helped organize a workshop on volunteered geographic information January 12-13, 2010 in Herndon, VA. This workshop will explore how citizen mapmakers might contribute to The National Map, the USGS' source for topographic information for the nation.

The emergence of the Internet and social networking technologies have allowed volunteer amateur mapmakers to collaborate or “crowdsource” online maps that are beginning to rival maps made by professionals in government and the commercial sector. The USGS is in the process of developing a new business plan for effective and efficient incorporation of volunteered geographic information into The National Map given the rapidly changing technical landscape and the mandates for more transparency in government.

USGS managers will meet with representatives from other federal agencies; the private and non-profit sectors that have initiated successful citizen science, volunteered geographic data, or crowdsourced projects; and with university researchers who have studied these issues. Presentations will be made by the Office of Science and Technology Policy and by leaders of successful projects such as Open Street Map, the Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, the Library of Congress’ Flickr project, and Wikipedia.

More information can be found at the workshop web page and workshop results will be posted there.posted: 2010-01-07

Mangroves and Invasives

On 28 November 2009, an article co-authored by Dr. Tom J. Smith III titled "Are mangroves in the tropical Atlantic ripe for invasion? Exotic mangrove trees in the forests of South Florida" was published online in the journal Biological Invasions.

The article, aimed at resource managers and botanical garden directors, analyzes two non-native species of mangrove trees that were planted in South Florida’s intertidal zone in 1940s and have since increased their population. If the invasive mangroves do become established, the ecological impacts on coastal mangrove forests are currently unknown.

Coral Reef Ecologist Shares Information with Australian Cosmos Magazine

Ilsa Kuffner, a participant in the AGU press feed, responded to an inquiry from COSMOS magazine about potential effects from ocean acidification and coral reefs and possible impacts to other coastal resources. John Pickrell sent a note thanking AGU for providing the link to the scientists. He is working on a story and will provide it as soon as it is posted.

Special Issue of Journal of Coastal Research Highlights LiDAR Applications, Features USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Expertise

The Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue 53, (Nov. 2009) is focused on LiDAR applications and features USGS contributions from the St. Petersburg Office.

Four of the 10 articles in the issue were authored by USGS scientists located in the St. Petersburg Office including Dave Zawada, Hilary Stockdon, Kara Doran, Abby Sallenger, Monica Palaseanu-Lovejoy, Amar Nayegandhi, and Wayne Wright. Other USGS authors included John Brock and Dean Gesch.

The articles highlighted the work of the USGS as it pertains to providing technical tools and innovation to partners and resource managers in coastal settings with an overview article titled, “The Emerging Role of Lidar Remote Sensing in Coastal Research and Resource Management” by John Brock.

Read the articles: http://www.jcronline.org/perlserv/?request=get-toc&issn=1551-5036&volume=53&issue=sp1&ct=1&ESSID=5e453258b7b9b5d794120935ce3e5cf3posted: 2010-01-05

USGS Participates in Hernando County Water Awareness Public Education Series

On December 4, Ann Tihansky participated in a public education series and addressed over 130 community residents with her talk, “Sinkholes! Why Here? Why Now? How Water Moves Through Our Landscape”.

The presentation shares information about basic hydrologic principles, linking sinkholes to related water-resource issues as part of the annual Hernando County Utilities Water Awareness Series.

Monthly presentations focus on water resource education and feature work of state and local agencies. Representatives from the Southwest Water Management District also attended the event. The programs are available online and are televised on the community public access cable station.

Sound Waves Article Picked up by Newsletter To Improve Fishery Industry Knowledge about Ocean Acidification

A freelance journalist and a representative with Sustainable Fisheries Partnership, an industry group up in Seattle WA, followed up on a Sound Waves article by interviewing USGS research oceanographer Lisa Robbins for an upcoming newsletter.

Freelance journalist Peter McDougall interviewed Robbins on November 16 about USGS ocean acidification studies currently in progress and in particular the Florida Shelf Ecosystems Response to Climate Change project. McDougall is writing a newsletter article with the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership representative Brad Warren, who is working on a project that involves bringing the latest science and research about ocean acidification to the industry groups in Maine, and the other states of the Gulf of Maine.

Press Inquiries About Science Behind Understanding Sea-Level and Climate

Steve Nichols, a reporter with WTVT, FOX-13 in the Tampa Bay area and Kathy Fountain, who hosts a noon panel discussion television program have made inquiries about resources and expertise for possible upcoming shows focused on climate change, sea-level changes and other topics related to the Copenhagen conference. The St. Petersburg office has provided web pages, pdf references and is working to coordinate any interviews and follow-up.

USGS Participates in Short Course on Ocean Acidification Sponsored by National Science Foundation

USGS St Petersburg scientists, Lisa Robbins, Kim Yates, and Chris Dufore participated in a NSF sponsored short course on Ocean Acidification, November 2-13, 2009, at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Robbins, a member of the Ocean Carbon Biogeochemistry committee on Ocean Acidification, the organizing committee for this short course, worked with the other members on the agenda and contents of this unique short course since NSF gave the go-ahead in May. Yates was chosen as one of 20 international expert scientists who lectured on specific topics. Yates discussed manipulation of carbonate system parameters in ocean acidification experiments and she and Dufore demonstrated field and laboratory techniques in spectrophotometric pH and alkalinity measurements.

USGS Scientist Featured on Puerto Rican Radio About Chemicals in African Dust Air Mass

On December 7, 2009, Ginger Garrison was interviewed live on the Puerto Rican radio station WALO (Univision Puerto Rico) by Susan Soltero for her program "Susan en su Ambiente" (Susan in the Environment). The focus was on chemical contaminants in African dust air masses. The interview was conducted bilingually reaching both Spanish and English speaking audiences. Of special note, Soltero has previously won an Emmy for her environmental reporting. Garrison found the interview to be of excellent quality with Soltero asking questions in English, translating them to Spanish then translating the English response into Spanish.

USGS Scientist To Participate in Media Feed During Copenhagen Conference

Ilsa Kuffner will be one of approximately 10 USGS scientists nationwide who will participating in the in AGU assembly of scientists that will be available to answer media questions during the Copenhagen Conference. This effort has been organized to help media acquire accurate scientific facts needed for their coverage of the conference.

USGS Scientist Quoted in Article About Hurricane Hazards

Abby Sallenger (USGS-St. Petersburg) was quoted in an article on-line at WPTV based on a Scripps-Howard poll looking at hurricane hazards and public perception.

Read more: Poll: Hurricanes pose a greater threat nowposted: 2009-11-25

Community Partnership Offers Two Water-Resources Workshops To Teachers in Florida

The USGS partnership with the American Groundwater Trust secured funding through the Pier Aquarium in St. Petersburg to offer two one-day teacher workshops on November 23-24. The workshops focused on basic hydrological concepts such as streamgaging, groundwater hydrology, water-quality, and related water-resource issues. Nearly 50 teachers attended and received a variety of educational resources to help incorporate water-resource concepts into the classroom. The program was so successful that it is being planned again for next year.

Multi-media Slide Show Describing Field Work in Everglades Posted On-line

Interest in USGS field work, especially in the Everglades National Park spurred the creation of a multi-media slide show that gives a personal perspective to what it takes to conduct field work in this remote and challenging environment.

The slide show, titled "Everglades Summerwork Presentation", is a day in the field and provides background information on the research being conducted as well as it’s purpose. Paul Nelson, who at the time was a summer intern and is now a full-time employee, narrates a descriptive story that gives other potential interns a real appreciation for working with the USGS.

Watch the slide show: Summer Fieldwork in Everglades National Park: A Pictorial Overview from a USGS Intern

USGS To Represent USGS Expertise and Capabilities at the 33rd Caribbean Central American Action Conference

Jean Weaver and Ann Tihansky will be representing USGS expertise and capabilities at the 33rd annual Caribbean Central American Action Conference in Miami, November 29 through December 2. The theme of the conference is ‘Responding to Global Challenges’ recognizing that the Caribbean Basin is located at the geographical center of the inter-American system. The USGS will highlight critical USGS science expertise provided through USGS programs and the State Department including hazards such as hurricanes, tsunamis, landslides, volcanoes, as well as energy issues and petroleum deposits, water quality, availability, droughts and floods, atmospheric transport of contaminants, and important biological topics including endangered/invasive species and tracking across political boundaries.

Media Interested in USGS Research Featured at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

A USGS press release featuring the work USGS scientists who were presenting results at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry conference in New Orleans, November 19-23 has led to numerous requests for interviews and responses to journalist emails as they are developing articles. Freelance writers from Discover magazine and New Scientist contacted Ginger Garrison. There will be more to come as these articles reach the press.

Read press release: From Toxic Dust and Algae to Ill Winds From Africaposted: 2009-11-25

St. Petersburg USGS Office Hosts Eleventh Annual Open House

The St. Petersburg Office of the USGS hosted its eleventh annual Open House November 6 and 7. An estimated 1,500 people visited the facility over the course of two days consisting of nearly 1,000 fourth graders and their teachers, community partners, educators and the general public. On the public day, nearly 500 people visited and took advantage of the educational resources organized by Theresa Burress. Two USGS personnel attended from out of state to help. Barbara Strait attended from the Office of Communications in Reston and Ed Klimasauskas from the USGS Water District Office in Nevada to gain hands on experience to prepare for hosting a similar event in Carson City, Nevada.

Get more information: Annual Open Houseposted: 2009-11-18

Two Florida USGS Scientists Participate At USGS Booth At Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Conference in Orlando

On November 1-2, Arturo Torres and Ann Tihansky participated at the USGS display booth at a recruiting event supporting diversity in the USGS workforce. The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Conference brought students from across the nation to learn about career and education options and opportunities. The booth was organized by Alexandra Hadley-Chavez and was staffed by USGS scientists from across the nation. The effort was headed up by Pam Malam and Rafael Rodriguez.

USGS Coastal Science Included in Congressional Briefing

On November 18, Abby Sallenger will represent the USGS during a briefing about coastal erosion. Sallenger will talk about coastal storm impacts and will be joined by Jon Boothroyd with the Univ. of Rhode Island and Jim Titus of the EPA. The briefing was organized by the American Geophysical Union and the Geological Society of America.

USGS Scientist Gives Guest Lecture on Corals and Climate at Local College

USGS Mendenhall Post-Doctoral Fellow Ryan P. Moyer (St. Petersburg) was invited to give a guest lecture at the St. Petersburg College (SPC) Science Lecture Series on 15 October 2009 in St Petersburg, FL. The Lecture Series was sponsored by the Environmental Science Club at SPC. The lecture was titled “Corals and the Carbon Cycle: Exploring climate change using coral-based proxy records”. The hour-long seminar informed both students and faculty at SPC about some of the climate-related pressures facing modern coral reefs, and highlighted Moyer’s research on the impact of ocean acidification on coral growth and calcification.

Press Inquiry about Invasive Snakes

Ann Tihansky was contacted following the USGS press release and an NPR story on Sunday October 18 covering the issue of invasive snakes. The inquiry came from a freelance journalist who is interested in pitching ideas to Discover and Scientific America about new scientific research directions and implications for managing invasive species. He had also received the USGS press release.

Florida Century Commission May Hold Summit to Discuss Offshore Drilling

Jack Kindinger (FISC-St. Petersburg) met with St. Petersburg Mayor Baker and Economic Development staff, University of South Florida College of Marine Science, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute to discuss hosting a summit meeting, similar to the Coastal Cities Conference, to bring scientists and communities together on the topic of offshore drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The hope is to host an event prior to the Congressional Special Session.

Sinkhole Information Requested by Library of Congress

A representative from the Library of Congress contacted Ann Tihansky (FISC-St. Petersburg) about sinkholes in Florida and USGS research and available publications. They were preparing a response to a Congressional Inquiry.

USGS Everglades

The USGS EDEN Hydrologic Data Portal was highlighted in University of Florida (UF) press release following the publication of "Validation and ecosystems application of the EDEN water-surface model for the Florida Everglades," in the journal Ecohydrology by Pamela Telis (FISC-Ft. Lauderdale) and UF's Frank Mazzotti. It was picked up by Brown and Caldwell Florida Water News and the science website PhysOrg.com. The Palm Beach Post also ran an article on September 19.

USGS Scientists Study Ocean Acidification and Carbon Cycling on West Florida Shelf

Dr. Lisa Robbins, Paul Knorr, Mark Hansen, Nate Smiley (FISC-St. Petersburg) and University of South Florida scientists finished a 5 day cruise in August off the west Florida Shelf collecting water data as part of the USGS "Response of the West Florida Shelf to Climate Change" project.

To evaluate ocean acidification, the cruise followed a "zig zag" track from Crystal River, Florida to the 10,000 Islands area, about 100 miles off shore, covering over 1000 miles to collect data such as pCO₂ air, pCO₂ seawater, pH of seawater, total carbon, radon (groundwater input), salinity, temperature, fluorescence, and blue green algae cell counts. These data are being used to evaluate where or whether the west Florida shelf is a sink or source of carbon dioxide and to elucidate carbon cycling on the shelf. The carbonate saturation state of the water will also be calculated and used in conjunction with data collected over the same area in February 2009 and August 2008, to evaluate seasonal variability.

Find out more: Florida Shelf Geochemistryposted: 2009-09-11

Discover Magazine to Feature Article about Fertilizers, Mining and Watershed for December Issue

On September 2, Ann Tihansky (FISC-St. Petersburg) was interviewed about Florida geology, mining of phosphate deposits and watershed impacts associated with both fertilizer use and mining activities in west-central Florida. The article is expected to be an overview report using the Peace River watershed as an example of fertilizer-related impacts to watersheds and coastal waters based on previous USGS reports. The article is slated to appear in the December magazine issue.

USGS 'Scientist at Work' featured in the New York Times

Abby Sallenger, chief of the USGS National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards project, was featured in the New York Times September 1, 2009 in an article by Cornelia Dean.

The article: "Scientist at Work: Asbury H. Sallenger Jr. The Geologist’s Tale: A Storm, a Survivor and a Vanishing Island" highlighted Abby's work as both a coastal geologist and as a science communicator.

Learn more about the USGS Coastal Change Hazards program at: Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Stormsposted: 2009-09-02

USGS Recognized by St. Petersburg’s Mayor at Top Apple Awards

On August 12, St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker presented Top Apple Awards to schools and their corporate partners who have earned an ‘A’ rating or improved their standing with the state of Florida. The Top Apple awards recognized the USGS partnership with Baypoint Elementary. It is the fifth year that this partnership has received this award. Jack Kindinger and Ann Tihansky (FISC-St. Petersburg) along with Baypoint Principal Gaye Lively, received the award in the City Council Chambers. The event was attended by community leaders from local and state government including representatives from Senator Nelson and Governor Crist's offices.

For more information, see Mayor's Mentors and More

USGS Scientist Participant in International Working Group on Ocean Acidification

Lisa Robbins, FISC-St. Petersburg, has accepted the invitation to serve on the international working group of ocean acidification that is comprised of the two groups: SOLAS (Surface Ocean- Lower Atmosphere Study) and IMBER (Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Research). Lisa represents the US along with Richard Feely of NOAA. Other participating nations include: Germany, China, France and the United Kingdom.

Read more about ocean acidification: Response of Florida Shelf Ecosystems to Climate Change

USGS Invited to City of St. Petersburg’s Top Apple Awards

On August 12, Mayor Rick Baker will present Top Apple Awards to schools and their corporate partners who have earned an ‘A’ rating or improved their standing with the state of Florida. Jack Kindinger and Ann Tihansky (FISC-St. Petersburg) will represent the USGS at the ceremony in the City Council Chambers along with representatives from Baypoint Elementary School who have been partners in the city program since 2003.

USGS Supports NASA and DOI Coastal Facilities, Resources Management

USGS scientist Nathaniel Plant (FISC-St Petersburg) was invited to contribute his expertise on quantifying dune vulnerability to a NASA-sponsored workshop on "Climate Change Impacts & Adaptation: NASA Mission & Infrastructure" held July 28-30 at Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

The workshop addressed management issues on NASA facilities in coastal and arid environments susceptible to effects of climate change. NASA's climate change scientists met with their environmental and facilities managers to determine how to apply climate change science to managing NASA's resources and capabilities. These properties also contain natural resources managed by Department of Interior. USGS expertise can support NASA's global climate prediction by providing knowledge and observations of surface and ground water, geology, and topography.

Coastal Science and Management Website Provides USGS LIDAR, Maps, Publications

The Decision Support for Coastal Science and Management project has a new website. This project, sponsored by the USGS Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP), uses remote-sensing, mapping, and point-monitoring tools based on aircraft and satellite sensors. This unique integrated package supports improved timing and scale of conservation and management decisions by National Park Service (NPS) and other agencies. Visit the site to learn more about project objectives, existing mapping capabilities, on-going research and collaboration, publications, and published LIDAR data products.

Visit the site: Decision Support for Coastal Science and Managementposted: 2009-08-07

Surprising Diversity and Abundance of Corals Found Growing on Mangrove Prop Roots

USGS-research biologist Caroline Rogers (FISC-St. John, USVI) documented 28 species of scleractinian corals growing on or near red mangrove prop roots in Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument in St. John, US Virgin Islands.  Growth of such a high diversity of coral species has not been previously documented in the scientific literature. The discovery also suggests the diversity in these mangroves may be higher than in any other Caribbean mangrove systems. The 1-page article was published on-line July 12, in Coral Reefs, the Journal of the International Society for Reef Studies.

Coral Cores Collected to Study Trends in Coral Growth, Ocean Acidification

USGS scientists Ryan P. Moyer (Mendenhall Fellowship), Nathan Smiley, and Chris DuFore (FISC-St. Petersburg) traveled to Puerto Rico 14-23 July 2009 where they collected eight coral cores from large colonies of star and brain corals from the reefs of La Parguera. Preliminary estimates indicate the cores contain multi-century archives of coral growth and ocean chemistry that will help scientists understand the impacts of ocean acidification on coral growth and calcification. Data on historical coral growth, calcification, and skeletal geochemistry will be extracted from the cores. Collaborators at USGS and NOAA plan to combine the core data with modern ocean pH measurements to better understand how corals have responded to past changes in ocean chemistry. This work will better enable scientists to predict future coral response to ocean acidification.

USGS Contributes to Long-term Planning for St. Petersburg Science Festival

The City of St. Petersburg downtown partners, along with other local, state and federal science agencies, universities, and high-tech companies in the area are in the early planning stages of a major downtown science festival currently slated to be held in 2011. The festival is to be modeled after the San Diego or Cambridge science festivals, which are part of a National Science Festivals Network. The experience of planning and holding the annual USGS Open House and other community outreach events are valuable expertise to the planning consortium.  Jack Kindinger and Ann Tihansky represent the USGS along with partners from NOAA, the state’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, SRI and many others.

For more information see: http://www.sdsciencefestival.com/

NEW DISCOVRE Kicks off Second Field Season With Exploratory Cruise off Cape Canaveral

From August 6-17, Amanda Demopoulos (FISC-Gainesville), Cheryl Morrison (Leetown Science Center), and Julie Galkiewicz (FISC-St. Petersburg), Steve Ross (UNCW, Chief Scientist), and several others from outside USGS will take part in the first of four cruises for the second field season of DISCOVRE. DISCOVRE (Diversity, Systematics, and Connectivity of Vulnerable Reef Ecosystems) is a 4-year, multi-agency project to characterize the biological diversity, population connectivity, and food webs of deep coral habitats. The first cruise will focus on the deep water off Cape Canaveral using the 4-personsubmersible Johnson-Sea-Link (JSL) and other methods to collect organisms associated with the reefs, from the tiniest microbes up to the largest fishes and invertebrates. Scientists will be making daily blog entries on the ship’s log that will be accessible to the public and will enable scientists to share new discoveries in near real-time.

Maps of the field sites, cruise plans and scientist’s blogs are available online at: http://fl.biology.usgs.gov/DISCOVRE/discovre_gmap.html

South Carolina WSC hosts Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN) data management meeting in Columbia, SC

South Carolina WSC hosts Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN) data management meeting in Columbia, SC.  EDEN is an integrated network of real-time water-level gaging stations, ground-elevation models, and water-surface models designed to provide scientists, engineers, and water-resource managers with real-time water-depth information for the entire freshwater portion of the greater Everglades. Members of the EDEN project team from Texas, the South Carolina Water Science Center and FISC met in Columbia during the week of July 27 to address ways to improve the efficiency of data transfer and data management issues.

Find out more: The Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN)

USGS Scientist to Discuss Lidar Technology at Gulf Beaches Rotary Monthly Meeting

Amar Nayegandhi (FISC-St. Petersburg) will be speaking to the Gulf Beaches Rotary Club at the Treasure Island Tennis and Yacht Club on August 4. The group requested a science luncheon speaker and is particularly interested in Lidar technology. Amar will be talking about lidar technology and applications pertaining to better understanding of coastal hazards and measuring resiliency of coastal communities.

Read more about LIDAR: Experimental Advanced Airborne Research Lidar (EAARL)

See: Lidar for Lunch at St. Petersburg, Florida, Propeller Club

FOX-13 Tampa Preparing Pre-Storm Programming with USGS Coastal Hazards Science

The local Fox affiliate in the Tampa Bay area interviewed Abby Sallenger about possible expectations for coastal communities during hurricane season using Hurricane Ike and the Texas coastline as a comparison to encourage communities to prepare. The news station is anticipating programming needs in advance of an approaching storm. The story is likely to air in late July or August unless a hurricane threatens the west-coast of Florida sooner.

USGS Scientist Radio Interview with Barometer Bob Show Kicks Off Hurricane Season

Hilary Stockdon (FISC-St. Petersburg) appeared as one of three guests on the Barometer Bob Radio Show marking the first day of hurricane season.

Hilary discussed the role of USGS research in understanding coastal change and working with other agencies to coordinate forecasting of coastal vulnerabilities in advance of extreme storm landfall. The other two guests were Dan Brown (senior forecaster for the National Hurricane Center), and Will Shaffer (chief of the National Weather Service evaluation branch in Silver Spring, Maryland also known as the 'godfather' of storm surge).

Aquifer Microbial Ecology Presented to Broward County

On June 19, John Lisle (FISC-St. Petersburg) presented “The Significance of Bacteria, Viruses and Ciliates in the Upper Floridan Aquifer” to Broward County, Florida’s Water Advisory Board’s Technical Advisory Committee.

His presentation summarized recent research data on the microbial ecology within the Upper Floridan Aquifer and how microbial processes influence geochemical and water quality variables of regulatory interest. The Upper Floridan Aquifer in this region of Florida is being considered as a resource for drinking water and a repository for injected treated waters.

USGS Hosts United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Water Education Lectures

For the last several years, USGS, South Florida Water Management District, and Florida Earth Foundation, have sponsored a lecture series with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s International Institute for Hydrologic and Environmental Engineering (UNESCO-IHE) Institute for Water Education.

On June 10-11, Heather Henkel (FISC-St. Petersburg) presented a lecture on "South Florida Information Access (SOFIA) website" and "The Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN)" in addition to coordinating 12 other talks covering various topics including hydrology, modeling, climate change, and data integration.

Speakers included those from USGS, US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), National Park Service (NPS), the University of Florida, and Florida Atlantic University. Twenty students from Africa, South America, and Asia, participated in this lecture series along with Dr. Biswa Bhattacharya from UNESCO-IHE.

For more information, visit UNESCO Institute for Water Educationposted: 2009-06-25

Former FISC Journalism Intern Writes Story on Ocean Acidification for Maui Time

As a follow-up to World Oceans Day on June 8, previous USGS journalism intern and now reporter with Maui Time, Kathryn Bradshaw, is writing a piece about ocean acidification that will feature USGS science and images that is expected to appear as the cover story on June 18.

Bradshaw spent the summer of 2006 as a journalism intern at FISC-St.Petersburg where she covered the topic for a Sound Waves article: "Discovering the Effects of CO₂ Levels on Marine Life and Global Climate."

Read the Maui Time story: Bad Chemistryposted: 2009-06-25

FISC Scientist Participates in Coral Genomics Workshop

On June 21-27, Christina Kellogg (FISC-St. Petersburg) will attend an intensive workshop titled “Coral Genomics for the Non-Genomic Scientist” sponsored by NOAA and the National Coral Reef Institute. Twenty students (from Italy, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Spain,Tanzania, the United Kingdom, and the USA) will meet at the US FWS National Conservation Training Center in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to learn about genome biology, transcriptomics, new sequencing technologies, microarray analyses, and bioinformatics tools and databases.

For more information, visit the course web siteposted: 2009-06-25

USGS Ecologists Interviewed on Everglades Restoration for ‘Focus Earth’ Series

Ecologists Drs. Stephanie Romañach and Kristen Hart (USGS-Florida Integrated Science Center) appeared on an episode of Planet Green Channel’s nationally-broadcasted television show ‘Focus Earth’ dedicated to the restoration of the Everglades.

Stephanie and Kristen, along with colleagues from FWS, NPS, and University of Florida, were interviewed about issues surrounding Everglades restoration, and how the science conducted by USGS helps meet restoration goals. The interviews as well as highlights of Dr. Hart's field work appear on the show 'Focus Earth' throughout the week starting June 13.

For more information, visit: Focus Earth: June 13, 2009: Everglades Nevermore and Snake Invadersposted: 2009-06-25

Sea-Level Rise, Coastal Vulnerability, Key Issues for Climate Change in Southeast US

A report prepared by the US Global Change Research Program, "Southeast Regional Highlights from the Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States" included research conducted by the USGS Coastal Change Hazards Team. USGS work is discussed in the context of sea-level rise and increased vulnerability of coastal communities as being among the most serious consequences of climate change for the region. USGS images and calculated land loss after Hurricane Katrina in the Chandeleur Islands, Louisiana are used to illustrate potential impacts for other coastal communities throughout the southeast.

Read the report: Southeast Regional Highlights from the Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States (316 KB PDF)posted: 2009-06-17

FISC Scientist leads SCUBAnauts to Capitol Hill during Oceans Week

Chris Moses, one of several leaders of the local SCUBAnauts groups, will be taking a group of 22 SCUBAnauts to Capitol Hill during Oceans Week June 9-10. The SCUBAnaut International program is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that trains youth ranging in age from 12-18 to become stewards of the ocean environment and explorers of tomorrow. The group is scheduled to meet with key NOAA officials as well as several Congressmen. The SCUBAnaut program will also be recognized at the Seventh Annual National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Leadership Awards Dinner for its efforts in education and ocean stewardship.

Visit the web site: SCUBAnauts International

Coral Coring Used To Analyze Ocean Chemistry, Climate Change

Ryan P. Moyer is collaborating with a team of scientists who collected four coral cores from large brain corals in the shallow waters near Stuart, in Martin County, Florida on June 5-6. Analysis of the cores will generate data on historical coral growth, calcification, and skeletal geochemistry related the historical seawater geochemistry and water quality in the region, providing insights into ocean chemistry and climate change. Moyer will relate the core data to past changes in sea surface pH recorded in the coral skeletons to investigate ocean acidification as part of his Mendenhall Fellowship research.

FISC Scientist Speaks on Ocean Acidification For World Oceans Day

To celebrate World Oceans Day 2009 on June 8, Ilsa Kuffner (FISC-St Petersburg) joined Research Engineer Lori Adornato and Ocean Conservancy Southeast Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Director in a panel discussion following the public screening of the movie, A Sea Change: Imagine a World without Fish. Dr. Bill Hogarth, Dean of University of South Florida's College of Marine Science, kicked off the event, which was hosted by the International Ocean Institute, USA and shown at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute's Auditorium. The film, which is not yet released, is geared for general audiences to raise awareness about global effects from changes in ocean chemistry. The film's trailer is available online.

Find out more: A Sea Change: Imagine a World Without Fish

FISC Geologist Discusses Coastal Impacts of Extreme Storms with Journalists

Abby Sallenger was invited to speak at this summer's Scripps Howard Institute on the Environment held June 1-6, 2009 at Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter, Florida.

The program offers "an intensive week-long program of continuing education for professional journalists...who report on environmental topics."

Sallenger's session, titled "The Impact of Extreme Storms as the World's Oceans Rise: Disappearing Barrier Islands" shared impacts of Hurricane Katrina on the Chandeleur Islands of Louisiana and how the observed degradation may be an indication of future impacts in the southeast U.S. from hurricanes riding on rising seas.

Find out more: 'Hurricane Highway' Islands: Rebuild Or Retreat?

USGS Providing Lidar Data to Analyze Dune Vulnerability at Cape Canaveral

Between the backdrop of NASA's space shuttle "Endeavour" and trails of nesting sea turtles scattered across the beach, eroding sand dunes protect NASA's infrastructure from storms while supporting a rich coastal habitat.

On May 28, 2009, USGS scientists and collaborators teamed up to survey the dunes using Experimental Advanced Airborne Lidar system. The Lidar topographic and bathymetric data are being used to support a dune vulnerability study that is documenting changes in the beach due to recent storms. This information can help predict changes due to future storms and will be used by NASA and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to manage the coast in a way that balances the needs of the space program and the wildlife at Cape Canaveral.

Read more: Integrated Remote Sensing and Modeling Group

USGS Conducts Ocean Acidification Research in Florida Bay

USGS scientists deployed the SHARQ underwater incubation chamber on the seafloor of Lignumvitae Basin off the Peterson Keys in Florida Bay from May 3 to 14, 2009.

This deployment was part of a collaborative field expedition to standardize field and laboratory methods among partner academic institutions participating in ocean acidification research. Data were collected to examine diurnal trends in coral reef community calcification and metabolism, benthic microbial respiration, and water column geochemistry related to increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Additional work was completed on developing standardized geochemical methods needed for concurrent work being performed by the partner institutions.

Read more: Coral Reef Builders Vulnerable to Ocean Acidificationposted: 2009-06-08

USGS to Participate in Dialogue on Climate Change and Coastal Conservation

The dialogue is meant to stimulate a discussion of issues pertaining to climate change and coastal conservation and is scheduled for October 23, 2009. USGS scientists Lisa Robbins and Ann Tihansky currently are participating in planning this community education event and representing USGS science. It is likely that other USGS scientists will be involved as planning progresses.

Read more: Cutting Edge Conservation

USGS: Your Resource During Hurricane Season

When hurricanes strike, you can find critical information to help protect lives and property at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hurricane Web site.

More than half of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of a coast — and coastal populations are increasing. Many of these areas, especially the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, will be in the direct path of hurricanes.

Read the Press Release

NewsChannel8 Interviews USGS Scientist for Hurricane Season Special

Meteorologist Leigh Spann, with News Channel 8, Tampa-St. Petersburg, interviewed Abby Sallenger as part of an hour-long special on Hurricanes that will air on May 30. Spann was particularly interested in using Ike as an example of what could happen along the west coast of Florida during hurricane season. Sallenger discussed the effects of seawalls, storm surge levels and current considerations based on elevation and construction types throughout west-central Florida.

learn more: Coastal Change Hazards: Hurricanes and Extreme Stormsposted: 2009-05-13

Community Discussion About Ocean Acidification in Tandem with Film Screening

FISC-St.Pete scientist Ilsa Kuffner will be participating on a discussion panel about ocean acidification along with John Ogden, Director of the Florida Institute of Oceanography and member Florida Oceans and Coastal Council along with other scientists. The panel discussion will take place after the community viewing of the film, "A Sea Change."

The film will be shown June 8, 2009 at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s Auditorium in St. Petersburg, FL. The event is being organized by the International Ocean Institute – USA to raise awareness and focus public attention on this urgent but little-known crisis.

The film follows retired educator and concerned grandfather Sven Huseby back to stunning ancestral sites (Norway, Alaska the Pacific Northwest) where he finds cutting-edge ocean research underway. His journey of self-discovery brings adventure, surprise and revelation to the hard science of acidification.

USGS Conducts Ocean Acidification Research in La Parguera Puerto Rico

USGS scientists deployed the “SHARQ” underwater incubation chamber on the fore-reef slope of Cayo Enrique Reef at La Parguera, Puerto Rico during March 18 - 31, 2009. This deployment was part of a multi-agency field expedition to standardize ocean acidification research field and laboratory methods among partnering agencies participating in ocean acidification research. Data were collected for examining diurnal trends in coral reef community calcification and metabolism related to elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Additional work was completed on developing standardized geochemical methods needed for concurrent work being performed by partnering agencies.

Hazards of Storm Surge and USGS science recognized in Houston Chronicle article

USGS science featured prominently in an article by Eric Berger as a result of an interview at the National Hurricane Conference in Austin, Texas April 8, 2009. Abby Sallenger, USGS Florida Integrated Science Center – St. Petersburg conducted the interview and used the exhibit display graphics to illustrate the significance that storm surge had on the low-lying Texas coast and how these conditions leave it vulnerable to future storms.

Read the story: Hurricane leaves Bolivar open to surges Houston Chronicle

Abby Sallenger Receives Award at 2009 National Hurricane Conference

Abby Sallenger, USGS Florida Integrated Science Center - St. Petersburg, was recognized with a Special Award for Outstanding Achievement in Oceanography by the 2009 National Hurricane Conference for revolutionizing the study of hurricane impacts through more quantitative measurements of coastal erosion after severe storms and helping emergency managers cope with coastal erosion following Hurricanes Ike and Katrina. Abby was recognized with other award recipients at a special luncheon for all conference participants.

Workshop for Recreational Boaters

Sponsored by the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Observing System and SeaGrant.

The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Observing System (GCOOS) is offering a free workshop February 4-5 at the USGS-St. Petersburg to provide a forum for the recreational boating community to learn about integrated ocean observing, observational data and other products designed to meet the needs of recreational boaters. Learn how to find data about ocean temperature, wave heights, satellite observations and more.

Workshop sessions will cover topics such as: search and rescue, fishing, diving, and offshore cruising. Pre-registration is required. For more information: GCOOS

2008 Annual Open House a Success

New National Geographic series features USGS science in the Everglades

The program, called "America's Wild Spaces, The Everglades," aired on November 27, 2008. The crew filmed USGS scientists Gordon Anderson and Karen Balentine (contracted through Jacobs Technology, Inc.) as they conducted field measurements and assisted Everglades National Park staff. The USGS scientists were invited to participate by Vic Engel of Everglades National Park. The National Geographic crew, supervised by Brian Armstrong, filmed work being done as part of the joint study between the USGS and the National Park Service. Both USGS scientists assisted Vic Engel, a NPS hydrologist, with his measurements as part of his study looking at atmospheric carbon dioxide while National Geographic filmed. In addition, the National Geographic crew filmed Karen and Gordon measuring coastal sediment at a sediment elevation table. National Geographic videographer gets a shot with a 'bird's eye view' from the 80-foot tower instrumented to measure atmospheric carbon and other climatic parameters. The final film product, a 50-minute TV program slated for National Geographic television has the working title "Secret Everglades" and follows two earlier released programs called "Secret Yosemite" and "Secret Yellowstone." All are part of a series about America's National Parks in time to coincide with the National Parks Centennial. The program aired November 27th and copies should be available on DVD for sale at the Park's visitor's center by the end of 2008.

Gene Shinn wins the Twenhofel Award

Dr. Gene Shinn, who retired from the USGS after more than 30 years, will receive the 2009 William H. Twenhofel Medal from the Society of Sedimentary Geology (SEPM). The highest award given by the SEPM, the Twenhofel Medal is awarded annually to a person for his or her "Outstanding Contributions to Sedimentary Geology."

Nominees are chosen for having made outstanding contributions to paleontology, sedimentology, stratigraphy, and/or allied scientific disciplines. The contributions normally involve extensive personal research, but may involve some combination of research, teaching, administration, or other activities which have notably advanced scientific knowledge in Sedimentary Geology.

According to Gray Multer, a geologist well-known for his work in the carbonate environments of the Bahamas and Florida, "Congratulations to Gene Shinn for being awarded the prestigious Twenhofel Medal by the Society for Sedimentary Geology The honor is long overdue. As a lifelong friend I have always been impressed with his ability to often perceive truths before others do, to warn us of risks, and to seek realistic and appropriate solutions. Some important challenges he alone has solved yet stays open for dialog. We are lucky to have Gene Shinn on our side."

As a researcher dedicated to working in the field, Gene encourages discussion and innovative thinking. He is never afraid to speak his mind or get on the hot seat amidst controversy and heated discussion. Gene joins the ranks of some very distinguished geologists such as Bouma, Folk, Ginsburg, Imbrie, Schlager, and Vail, who have shaped major concepts in understanding earth processes and history. Congratulations Gene!

William H. Twenhofel (1875-1957) Yale PhD (1912), is regarded as the "patriarch of sedimentary geology", was member of the National Research Council, and retired in 1945 from an illustrious academic career at the University of Wisconsin Madison. The Department of Geology at the University of Wisconsin has been one of the top programs in the US for decades. Twenhofel co-founded the Journal of Sedimentary Petrology (now, Journal of Sedimentary Research) one of premier journals in this field.

Gene will receive the award at the Society's annual meeting in Denver June, 2009.

USGS Science in USA Today Article

USGS participation in the 11th Coral Reef Symposium was included in an article in USA Today on July 13.

Read the article: Rough seas: One-third of coral reef species face extinction

USGS scientist Ginger Garrison was interviewed by National Geographic

USGS scientist Ginger Garrison was interviewed by National Geographic about her presentation on the impact of dust on coral reefs.

Read the July 14 article: Tainted African Dust Clouds Harm U.S., Caribbean Reefsposted: 2008-07-24

Using Science to Stay Informed and Prepared for Hurricanes

More than half of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles of a coastline. Hurricanes affect the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and as population and development trends escalate in coastal areas, future storms will inflict greater destruction. The USGS web page offers resources and tools used to assess coastal changes and coastal vulnerabilities to extreme storms that may help emergency planners better prepare themselves for a potential landfall.

• Aerial photography both before and after a hurricane demonstrates the impact of extreme storms on coastal environments. See collections of before and after photos: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/isabel/
  
  
• Lidar maps of coastlines before and after extreme storm events are used to analyze coastal change. Learn how beaches respond to waves and storm surge. An example after Hurricane Isabel is shown here: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/isabel/lidar.html
  
  
• Maps of potential inundation of the beach system during direct hurricane landfall are created and shown here: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/nps-beaches/

When a hurricane approaches the coast, USGS scientists will update potential inundation maps. Please visit: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/hurricanes/

USGS St. Petersburg Dedicates New Building

Jack Kindinger, Associate Center Director of the Florida Integrated Science Center - St. Petersburg, welcomed Congressman C.W. Bill Young; USGS Deputy Director Robert Doyle; Florida Integrated Science Center Director Barry Rosen, USGS Oceanographer Lisa Robbins, University of South Florida President Judy Genshaft; Peter Betzer, President and CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership, and Martin Normile of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay to the dedication ceremony of USGS - St. Petersburg's newest building.

The 11,400 square-foot building, which features six state-of-the-art labs, a dive locker, and 12 offices, is the third within the USGS campus and is the latest addition to the C.W. Bill Young Marine Science Complex located along the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg. The C.W. Bill Young Marine Science Complex consists of the USF College of Marine Science and its Center for Ocean Technology, the USGS Florida Integrated Science Center, the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, the Southwest Regional Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Florida Sea Grant, Eckerd College, and the Florida Institute of Oceanography.

Dr. Chris Kellogg's guest blog post on Deep Sea News

Christina Kellogg is featured as a guest blogger on Deep Sea News. Here is an excerpt from the blog:

"Corals don't usually know what country they are living in, and those that do assure me that it does not affect their biology, just their politics. So, imagine the enthusiasm greeting the announcement of an Atlantic Ocean-wide research program to study coldwater coral ecosystems. That's right, we're talking about big picture science from the ground (or seafloor) up!"

Read the blog: http://scienceblogs.com/deepseanews/2008/03/science_beyond_borders.phpposted: 2008-03-14

USGS FISC scientist Ilsa Kuffner to participate in press conference at the 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting Orlando, March 4, 2008

Ilsa Kuffner will be participating in a press conference based upon the findings of the Ocean Science Meeting Session #144 "Coral Reefs: Impacts of Environmental Alterations and Climate Change on Coral Biology and Biogeochemistry, and Links Between Dissolved Organic Matter." Three abstracts were chosen from the session to participate in the press conference. Ilsa will be joined on the panel by Andrea Grottoli (Ohio State University) and Christopher Shank (University of Texas at Austin).

The press conference will occur in room W307D at 10:00AM, March 4, 2008.

More information: 2008 Ocean Sciences Meeting

USGS scientists participate in international science plan workshop on deep-sea coral ecosystems

Florida Integrated Science Center scientists Amanda Demopoulos and Christina Kellogg, along with Leetown Science Center scientist Cheryl Morrison, are participating in the TRACES (Trans-Atlantic Coral Ecosystem Study) workshop February 28 and 29 at University of North Carolina’s Center for Marine Science in Wilmington, North Carolina. The meeting, which is partly sponsored by the USGS, is one of two international meetings planned to bring together scientists and partners to develop a science plan for future deep coral research. One of the workshop organizers is Dr. J. Murray Roberts, who presented a seminar at FISC St. Pete in January 2008. This collaboration relies on cooperation between Canada, the European Union and the United States. TRACES program development also is supported by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and a Marie Curie International fellowship grant from the European Commission.

Benefits of this research include:

• Better understanding of North Atlantic climate history and ecology using cold-water coral records.
• Better understanding genetic and ‘biodiversity’ links among Atlantic coral ecosystems used to develop sound long-term conservation management policies.
• Develop expertise and international partnerships between Canada, E.C. and U.S.
• Raise public understanding and awareness of these hidden coral worlds.

The other workshop will be held in March in Portugal. http://www.lophelia.org/traces/meetings/meetings.htm

USGS FISC St. Petersburg hosts Sea Grant Gulf of Mexico Research Planning Workshop

USGS Florida Integrated Science Center St. Petersburg is hosting a Sea Grant Gulf of Mexico Research Planning Workshop on February 19, 2008. Over 75 participants are expected to attend this workshop, which is one of five being held as part of the Gulf of Mexico Research Plan. The mission is to prioritize research needs for the Gulf of Mexico for 2006-2011 by working through regional stakeholder inputs and implementation strategies.

More information: Gulf of Mexico Research Planposted: 2008-02-15

Abby Sallenger and Arturo Torres were interviewed by Roy DeJesus of Bay News 9 en espanol

Abby Sallenger and Arturo Torres were interviewed by Roy DeJesus of Bay News 9 en espanol, a local television channel broadcasting news 24-hours a day in spanish. Abby talked about future coastal impacts in Florida using present trends observed in Louisiana as a likely scenario for Florida in the next 50 to 100 years. Arturo also reviewed climate change in terms of Earth history and human impacts but conducted his interview in Spanish. Their interviews are part of a 5-part series on climate change and sea-level rise impacts in Florida. It will likely air within a few weeks.

More infomation: Bay News 9 en espanol

posted: 2008-02-15

Global Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise in Florida A Conversation Between Scientists and the Media

February 6, 2008
University of South Florida St. Petersburg
To be held at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies
801 Third Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida

This intensive day-long training will help scientists and journalists communicate more effectively with each other and therefore with the public. By helping scientists and the media work more productively together, the conference will facilitate the flow of critical scientific information to the public and policy makers. The topic of this conference is the predicted effects of global climate change and the susceptibility of coastal Florida to a one-meter sea level rise.

More information: Science and Media

Coral Reef Builders Vulnerable to Ocean Acidification

USGS News Release: 1/4/2008 6:39:20 PM.

As pH declines in the world's oceans, the effects on coral reefs could be more harmful than previously thought. This pH decline, a process known as "ocean acidification," occurs due to absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As a result, the growth of reef builders may be severely inhibited.

More information: USGS News Release

Strategic Science for Coral Ecosystems

Shallow and deep coral ecosystems are being imperiled by a combination of stressors. Climate change, unsustainable fishing practices, and disease are transforming coral communities at regional to global scales. At local levels, excessive amounts of sediments, nutrients, and contaminants are also impacting the many benefits that healthy coral ecosystems provide.

This Plan, Strategic Science for Coral Ecosystems, describes the information needs of resource managers and summarizes current research being conducted by U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists and partners. It outlines important research actions that need to be undertaken over the next five years to achieve more accurate forecasting of future conditions and develop more effective decision-support tools to adaptively manage coral ecosystems.

The overarching outcome of this Plan, if fully implemented, would be in transferring relevant knowledge to decision-makers, enabling them to better protect and sustain coral ecosystem services. These services include sources of food, essential habitat for fisheries and protected species, protection of coastlines from wave damage and erosion, recreation, and cultural values for indigenous communities.

Read the plan: Strategic Science for Coral Ecosystems (837 KB PDF)

USGS Oceanographer Abby Sallenger recognized for Communications

The USGS Office of Communications and Outreach recognized USGS Oceanographer Abby Sallenger for Lifetime Achievement in Communication.

Read more: Abby Sallenger recognized for Communications

USGS To Host Congressional Briefings on How Science is Used to Respond to Hurricanes

Media Advisory: 1/24/2008 12:04:56 PM

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will host Congressional briefings on how science can be used to prepare for and react to hurricanes and will issue a new report, "Science and the Storms: The USGS Response to the Hurricanes of 2005." The peer-reviewed report covers scientific studies performed after Hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Some of this response took place days after the hurricanes; other responses included fieldwork and analysis through the spring of 2006.

More information: Media Advisory

The Florida Integrated Science Center's 9th Annual Open House and Earth Science Day

The "Pulse of Earth Science" was the theme for the 2007 Open House. Keeping track of earth processes on our changing planet is much of what scientists do. Scientists monitor the pulse of many different natural systems. By measuring, monitoring, and observing, scientists keep track of many fascinating secrets of our natural world. Come visit with scientists and see how they keep their fingers on the pulse of our changing planet.

Read more: Florida Integrated Science Center's Annual Open House