The NOAA Science
Seminar Series began in 2004 and is a voluntary effort by
over 70 NOAA seminar coordinators to integrate and distribute a list of
NOAA-hosted, publicly accessible science seminars. In 2020
we shared listings for over 500 seminars!
All NOAA Program Offices are welcome to share their hosted science-related
seminars as part of the NOAA Science Seminar Series effort.
To become a seminar calendar contributor, e-mail Hernan Garcia.
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& update seminars on the calendar. We use the data from this Google calendar to populate the
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We ask seminar contributors to follow our formatting and content guidelines,
which helps us keep the seminar listings consistent across all our contributors.
Abstract: Coastal communities are experiencing increased inundation occurrences due to sea level rise, hurricane flooding and high tide events. Identification of businesses and jobs most vulnerable to inundation is an important part of coastal municipal planning, especially for areas with working waterfronts. Unfortunately, many smaller coastal communities do not have the expertise and funding to conduct the analyses needed to obtain this information, and often require technical assistance. As such, this research project examined the U.S. coast to identify cities that were at risk to coastal inundation hazards using a variety of national datasets: FEMA National Risk Index, NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer, NOAA Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper, NOAA C-CAP Land Cover and the Hazard Economics Rural Capacity Index Map. Four case study areas were identified after preliminary overlay of inundation hazards with businesses in the marine economy using 2021 ESRI Business Analyst data and further discussions with regional partners: Chelsea, MA; Cape May, NJ; Crisfield, MD and Murrells Inlet, SC. Four inundation hazard layers (high tide flooding, sea level rise 1-4ft, category 1 storm surge, FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas) were overlaid with business locations in each case study area, and maps of flooding extent for each hazard and their impact on the marine economy were produced. Percentage of businesses inundated, potential total number of employees impacted, and potential sales volume lost for the marine and non- marine economy were calculated. Site specific information for each case study was also included for general context of the local economy. These case studies illustrate the potential efficacy of creating city-specific business inundation profiles for municipal planners using ESRI Business Analyst, and an initial framework for a methodology to identify smaller coastal communities in need of this form of technical assistance.
Bio(s): Dijani Laplace is a NOAA CCME- II Graduate Scholar currently pursuing his master's degree at Texas A&M University " Corpus Christi. Dijani is a part of the Community Resilience Group at the Harte Research Institute of Gulf of Mexico Studies, and his research is focused on understanding how resident perceptions of ecosystems in the U.S. Virgin Islands impact ecosystem management and resilience. Dijani received his B.S. in Biology from the University of the Virgin Islands in 2020. Dijani's research interests are focused on ecosystems, ecosystem services, and geospatial analysis. However, he has recently leaned into social science as part of his research. Most recently, Dijani completed his NERTO, in which he developed inundation profiles for businesses in certain cities as case studies using various inundation hazards, at the NOAA Office for Coastal Management in Charleston under the guidance of Dr. Kate Quigley and the economics team.
Title: A dual-wavelength photothermal aerosol absorption monitor: design, calibration, performance and measurements of coated soot NOAA Chemical Sciences Laboratory Seminar Series
Presenter(s): Dr. Gria Monik, University of Nova Gorica
Abstract: The direct measurement of aerosol light absorption coefficient is preferable over indirect methods. A photothermal interferometer probes the change of the refractive index caused by light absorption in the sample " the detection is linear and can be traced to first principles. Measurement at two wavelengths allows the determination of its wavelength dependence and the ngstrm exponent (AAE). The photothermal aerosol absorption monitor (PTAAM) uses a folded Mach-Zender interferometer. Two pump lasers at 532 and 1064 nm are modulated at different frequencies and focused in the sample chamber using an axicon (patent granted) for simultaneous measurement. The interferometer signal is detected by photodiodes and lock-in amplifiers at the two respective frequencies. The green channel is calibrated traceably to primary standards using ~1 mol/mol NO2. The calibration is transferred to the IR using aerosolized nigrosin. The uncertainties for absorption coefficients at 532 and 1064 nm and AAE were 4%, 6% and 9%, respectively. We calibrated filter photometers in green and IR. A winter ambient campaign has shown similar multiple scattering parameter values for ambient aerosols and laboratory experiments. We have also determined the absorption enhancement by coatings of BC with non-absorbing secondary organic matter (SOM).
Bio(s): Dr. Gria Monik is a professor at the University of Nova Gorica in Slovenia. He received his PhD in physics from the University of Ljubljana. He serves as the Head of the Center for Atmospheric Research and the Dean of the School of Environmental Sciences at the University of Nova Gorica. His research interests include measurement techniques of black carbon aerosol and other carbonaceous light absorbing aerosol. He has served as a member of the United Nations ECE expert group on black carbon.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. For your awareness, this webinar will be recorded and shared.
Abstract: For October, the Gulf of Mexico Forum webinar series takes a closer look at marine mammal stranding and how it connects with weather and climate. Erin Fougeres will present on the "Marine Mammal Stranding Network in the Gulf of Mexico and impacts of climate extremes - the freshwater Unusual Mortality Event of 2019." Blair Mase will present on "Extreme weather impacts on marine mammal response" with a focus on out-of-habitat rescues after hurricanes.
Bio(s): Dr. Erin Fougeres is a marine mammal biologist and the NOAA Fisheries Marine Mammal Stranding Program Administrator for the southeast U.S. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of California Santa Cruz and her Master's and Ph.D. in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she worked in the Marine Mammal Stranding Program for more than 10 years. Erin's research expertise is in physiological ecology with an emphasis on bottlenose dolphin thermoregulation and morphology. As the Stranding Program Administrator for NOAA since 2008, she oversees a Network of volunteer organizations responding to marine mammal strandings from North Carolina through Texas, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She helps to coordinate the response to and oversee the investigation of marine mammal strandings, including mass strandings and Unusual Mortality Events.
Blair Mase has served in the position of NOAA's Southeast Region Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator since the onset of the program in 1993. She is based out of the NOAA Southeast Fisheries Science Center's Miami Lab. She has extensive experience in the responses of marine mammal stranding events, out of habitat rescues, disentanglement as well unusual mortality events and investigations. She works closely with Erin Fougeres at the Southeast Regional Office.
Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Please contact Kristen.R.Laursen@noaa.gov for the recording and/or PDF.
Julio E. Ceniceros, University of Texas at El Paso, Environmental Science and Engineering, NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies
Title: Fostering Collaboration and Advancing Research: A Year-Long Internship at NOAA's Physical Sciences Laboratory
Presenter(s): Julio E. Ceniceros, University of Texas at El Paso, Environmental Science and Engineering, NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies
Sponsor(s): NOAA Office of Education (OED), Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI)
Abstract: Julio Ceniceros, a Ph.D. candidate from the University of Texas at El Paso, successfully completed a year-long internship at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Physical Sciences Laboratory in Boulder, CO, as part of his fellowship with the NOAA Office of Education (OED) under the Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI). During this internship, Julio significantly bolstered the lab's research capabilities by developing Python script-based tools to process atmospheric sounding datasets and ocean vertical profile datasets, crucial for studying air-sea fluxes and marine boundary layer processes"a central research focus of the lab. This experience not only enriched his research skills but also facilitated his professional growth through hands-on development activities. He contributed novel products and preliminary findings to his host research lab, showcasing the collaborative synergy between academia and the NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory and emphasizing the significance of such partnerships in advancing atmospheric and oceanic sciences.
Bio(s): Julio E. Ceniceros, a dedicated Ph.D. candidate at the University of Texas at El Paso, is fueled by a passion for comprehending the effects of climate change on near-shore aquatic ecosystems. Currently a fellow with the NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies, Julio's research delves into the intricate relationships between different ecosystems in response to evolving climate patterns. Under the mentorship of Dr. Craig Tweedie, his investigation focuses on understanding thermal pattern changes in near-shore aquatic environments. Through the use of Google Earth Engine, Julio analyzes satellite imagery to uncover trends in diverse locations, ranging from high latitudes to tropical open ocean settings. His overarching aim is to extract meaningful insights about water quality parameters and facilitate effective communication of his findings, fostering discussions on the broader implications of changing aquatic ecosystems. Are your webinars recorded?: Yes, a link to the recorded webinar will be provided to all registrants after the event.
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Abstract: Habitat is a central concept for all ecological research, and provides the mechanistic connection between individual-level behaviors, environmental and climate changes, and population-level demographics. The Magnuson-Stevens Act mandates that fisheries management councils designate Essential Fish habitat (EFH) and revisit those designations every five years. The Alaska Fisheries Science Center and Regional Office have a multi-decadal partnership regarding EFH research, including funds for analytical, laboratory, and field research. In this talk, we quickly outline this partnership and then discuss recent and future research to support designating Alaska EFH. We start by summarizing an ensemble species distribution model (SDM) used to identify species densities for over 200 groundfish species and life-stages. This ensemble mitigates consistent differences in EFH area identified using individual models, and was recently adopted by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council to designate EFH. We then discuss future EFH research using archival tags and stomach-content data. The archival-tag research applies a mechanistic diffusion-taxis movement model to archival tag data for Pacific cod, and estimates habitat preferences (and resulting habitat utilization) using a Hidden Markov model. The stomach-content research applies a thinned and marked point process, fitted as a Generalized Additive Model involving the multivariate Tweedie distribution. We specifically estimate a spatially varying catchability ratio between stomach contents and industry cooperative surveys for juvenile snow crab, and the resulting abundance index is correlated with stock-assessment estimates of crab recruitment. We share some current and future directions for using multiple data streams to inform SDMs and identifying prey habitat. Throughout, we emphasize that habitat research provides an avenue to combine field, laboratory, and analytical research, and provides opportunity for creative, cross-program research.
Abstract: NOAA's National Centers for Coastal and Ocean Science Competitive Research Program (NCCOS/CRP) is pleased to announce a Fiscal Year2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Ecology & Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) Program. The ECOHAB program was authorized under the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA) in 1998 as an applied competitive research program designed to increase the understanding of the fundamental processes underlying the causes and impacts of HABs. Such understanding is required to develop appropriate HAB management and response strategies. While considerable progress has been made toward understanding and predicting HAB events and their impacts, the complexity of HABs has become more apparent and new HAB problems have emerged. Thus, research into the causes and impacts of HABs and toxins is still essential and will require a multi-disciplinary, holistic approach to advance our current understanding. NCCOS/CRP is soliciting proposals for targeted and regional FY2024 ECOHAB projects that aim to enhance predictive and/or applied science capabilities for HAB events. A letter of intent is required. The deadline for letters of intent is October 18, 2023; and full applications are due by 11:59PM ET on January 31, 2024. Please see the full NOFO in Grants.Gov for additional details and instructions, and visit the NCCOS Funding Opportunities page for more information including a recording and FAQ from this webinar.
Bio(s): Maggie Broadwater is a physical scientist and program manager with NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) Competitive Research Program (CRP). As the manager of NOAA's Ecology & Oceanography of Harmful Algal Blooms (ECOHAB) program, she works across NOAA and with other agencies and partner institutions to advance understanding, detection, prediction, control, mitigation, and response to harmful algal blooms (HABs). Maggie previously worked as a research scientist in NOAA's Marine Forensics and Marine Biotoxins programs, and holds a B.S. in Biochemistry, M.S. in Biomedical Sciences, and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. She lives in Charleston, SC, USA.
Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: The webinar will be recorded, and a link will be provided to participants after the event. A pdf of the slides will be available upon request.
NOAA Science Seminar Series Title: Accounting for increased uncertainty in setting precautionary harvest limits from past assessments (National Stock Assessment Science Seminar Series)
Presenter(s): Chantel R. Wetzel, Ph.D., Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA
Sponsor(s): NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and NOAA's Central Library (NCL)Seminar Contacts: Abby Furnish (abigail.furnish@noaa.gov) and Library Seminars
Accessibility: Captions are added to the recordings of presentations once uploaded to the NOAA Central Library YouTube Channel. Sign language interpreting services and Federal Relay Conference Captioning (RCC) service are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.
Abstract: Estimates of current population status, derived from stock assessments and often expressed as spawning output, are uncertain. Additionally, the uncertainty around spawning output projections should be expected to increase further out in time from the year in which the assessment was conducted. This work details an approach to quantify increasing uncertainty within and among existing assessments of U.S. West Coast groundfish and how the results of this analysis have been applied when setting future acceptable biological catches.Keywords: harvest control rules, scientific uncertainty, assessment
Bio(s): Chantel Wetzel is an assessment scientist at NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA. In addition to conducting stock assessments, Chantel is involved in a variety of research that includes translating assessment uncertainty into appropriate management actions, developing robust assessment approaches across a range of data limitations, and developing tools for visualizing data and assessment results.
Remote Access: This webinar is being rescheduled for October 27, 2023
Abstract: Heat continues to be the leading weather-related killer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating an average of 1,220 heat-related deaths occurred in the United States annually (2019 "2021) based on information reported in death certificates. However, the true mortality burden is higher because heat exposure is a contributing factor to deaths resulting from many causes. NOAA's global analysis shows that the 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2005, and 7 of the 10 have occurred just since 2014. Not only are heat waves occurring more frequently, but are also more intense and longer-lasting with less cooling overnight, leading to more strain on the human body.
This webinar will focus on the convergence of heat and health, specifically exploring the challenges and opportunities around the analysis of heat mortality and emergency department information.
Bio(s): Rish Vaidyanathan is a senior health scientist with the Climate and Health Program at the National Center for Environmental Health, CDC. Rish's training and work experience covers a wide range of substantive areas, including epidemiology, exposure assessment, and data science. In addition, he has several years of experience planning, coordinating, and implementing strategies to facilitate the conduct of environmental health surveillance and translational research projects. Specifically, he has been able to establish mutually beneficial collaborations with various academic institutions, state and local health departments, and federal agencies on efforts to identify and characterize populations most at risk to extreme heat and other climate-sensitive exposures.
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Note: The seminar is on Friday October 6, even though the registration link includes "sep_25".
Accessibility: TBD
Abstract: NOAA's National Centers for Coastal and Ocean Science Competitive Research Program (NCCOS/CRP) is pleased to announce a Fiscal Year 2024 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) Program.The NOAA Competitive Research Program invites potential applicants to join a webinar on the FY24 Effects of Sea Level Rise (ESLR) federal funding opportunity. The opportunity has two focal areas; General Coastal Resilience and Alaska Regional Coastal Resilience, which will be described in detail during the webinar. The funding opportunity is soliciting proposals to evaluate and quantify the ability of nature based solutions (NBS) to mitigate the effects of sea level rise (SLR) and inundation (storm surge, nuisance flooding, and/or wave actions). This FFO will support research to inform adaptation planning and coastal management decisions in response to SLR and coastal inundation, through advancement of models of physical and biological processes capable of evaluating vulnerability and resilience under multiple sea level rise, inundation, and management scenarios, including evaluation of nature based solutions. NCCOS/CRP envisions funding two to four projects in the General Coastal Resilience focal area, and at least one project in the Alaska Regional Coastal Resilience focus area. NOAA expects to award approximately $4 million through this competition and anticipates supporting projects at the level of$200,000 to $400,000 per year for the General Coastal Resilience focal area and$200,000 to $500,000 per year for the Alaska Regional Coastal Resilience focal area, pending availability of appropriations.The webinar will discuss the ESLR program and the funding opportunity due dates and requirements. There will be an opportunity to ask clarifying questions at the end of the webinar. More information on the funding opportunity, and a recording of this webinar after the event, can be found on the ESLR Program'swebsite. When formally announced, a link to the full funding opportunity description can be found here. A letter of intent is required. Please see the full NOFO in Grants.Gov for additional details and instructions.
Bio(s): Dr. Trevor Meckley manages the Effects of Sea Level Rise Competitive Research Program at NOAA's National Center for Coastal Ocean Science. Dr. Meckley holds a Ph.D. and M.S. from Michigan State University, and a B.S. from Millersville University.
Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: The webinar will be recorded, and a video link shared with participants afterwards. A pdf of the slides will be available upon request.
Remote Access: Connect with Google Meet meet.google.com/kti-ktaw-nes, Phone Numbers (US)+1414-856-5982 PIN: 248 179#
Abstract: Data from profiling floats in the Black Sea revealed complex temporal and spatial relationships between physical variables and oxygen, chlorophyll and the backscattering coefficient at 700 nm, as well as some limits in understanding the details of biogeochemistry dynamics. To account for different interdependences between physical and biogeochemical properties, a feedforward backpropagation neural network (NN) was used. This NN learns from data recorded by profiling floats and predicts biogeochemical states using physical measurements only. The performance was very high, particularly for oxygen, but it decreased when the NN was applied to older data because the interrelationships between the physical and biogeochemical properties have changed recently. The biogeochemical states reconstructed by the NN using physical data produced by a coupled physical"biogeochemical operational model were better than the biogeochemical outputs of the same coupled model. Therefore, the use of data from profiling floats, physical properties from numerical models and NNs appears to be a powerful approach for reconstructing the 4D dynamics of the euphotic zone. Basin-wide patterns and temporal variabilities in oxygen, backscattering coefficient and chlorophyll were also analyzed. Of particular interest is the reconstruction of short-lived biogeochemical features, particularly in coastal anticyclone areas, which are difficult to observe with available floats at the basin scale.
Abstract: The term space weather generally describes changes that take place on the sun and near-Earth environment, particularly when the sun is especially active. In this talk he will discuss how NOAA is making us a Space Weather Ready Nation that is ready, responsive and resilient to space weather events.
Abstract: Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) is a commercially important species in New England and Atlantic Canada, yet remain a data-poor species with many questions regarding their reproductive biology and migratory habits. This seminar discusses research completed by the Maine Department of Marine Resources since 2016 to better understand halibut migration, life history, and spawning behavior using a variety of electronic tagging techniques. Data from this project have revealed the first evidence of spawning activity in US-tagged fish and long-range migration patterns throughout the Gulf of Maine and Atlantic Canada.
Bio(s): Bill has worked as a Marine Resource Scientist with the Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Boothbay Harbor Lab since 2016. In addition to being the state's Atlantic halibut biologist, he is DMR's GIS coordinator and works as a technology coordinator on many other hardware and software projects. Bill has a BA in Biology from Hartwick College and has previously worked as a groundfish observer, timber frame carpenter and field assistant on projects around the world.
Dr. Ved Chirayath, Director of the Aircraft Center for Earth Studies, ACES at University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, RSMAES
Title: Revealing the Ocean Deep: Next-Generation Sensing Technologies for Marine and Planetary ScienceNOAA Central Library Seminars
Presenter(s): Dr. Ved Chirayath, Director of the Aircraft Center for Earth Studies (ACES) at University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science (RSMAES)
Sponsor(s): Office of Research, Transition, and Application and the NOAA Central Library
Accessibility: Captions are added to the recordings of presentations once uploaded to the NOAA Central Library YouTube Channel. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.
Abstract: We have mapped more of the surface of the Moon and Mars than our own ocean floor"but that is changing. Professor Ved Chirayath will present three remote sensing technologies he invented during his time at NASA. These technologies will help us better understand Earth's marine environments while furthering the search for life on other planets.
Bio(s): Dr. Ved Chirayath is the Vetlesen Professor of Earth Sciences, Mechanical, and Aerospace Engineering and Director of the Aircraft Center for Earth Studies (ACES) at University of Miami's Rosenstiel School. He is the founder and former director of the Laboratory for Advanced Sensing at NASA Silicon Valley and a National Geographic Explorer.
Abstract: Coastal Acidification is the changing of pH in coastal waters caused by excess CO2 and local factors such as nutrient runoff, upwelling, and hypoxia. Coastal acidification can occur uniquely in each coastal area depending on the individual stressors there. The Mid-Atlantic Coastal Acidification Network (MACAN) sought to create a teaching tool on coastal acidification specific to the Mid-Atlantic region. Educators from NJ, DE, and VA collaborated to collate and modify existing resources, as well as create new resources, to build a module for 6-12 teachers. The module includes lesson plans adapted from organizations like NOAA, Sea Grant, and Project Learning Tree that will help students build an understanding of the issues by learning about estuarine chemistry and the effects of acidifying waters on marine habitats and biota. Join educators from the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (CBNERR-VA) and MACAN to learn about the coastal acidification module and available resources.
Gavin Fay, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth; Genevive Nesslage, Associate Research Professor, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Chesapeake Biological Laboratory; Joshua Stoll, Assistant Professor, University of Maine; John Wiedenmann, Assistant Professor, Rutgers University
Title: Enhancing Linkages Between Ecosystem Research, Stock Assessment, and Management: Presentations by CINAR Fellows in Quantitative Fisheries and Ecosystem Science (EBM/EBFM)NOAA Central Library Seminars
Presenter(s):
Gavin Fay, Associate Professor, Department of Fisheries Oceanography, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST)
Genevive (Genny) Nesslage, Associate Research Professor, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Chesapeake Biological Laboratory
Joshua Stoll, Assistant Professor of Marine Policy, School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine
John Wiedenmann, Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University
Accessibility: Captions are added to the recordings of presentations once uploaded to the NOAA Central Library YouTube Channel. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.
Abstract: The goal of the Cooperative Institute of the North Atlantic Region (CINAR) fellowship program in Quantitative Fisheries and Ecosystem Science is to engage early-career scientists in research that supports the training and education of the next generation of stock assessment scientists, ecosystem scientists, and economists, and that improves the assessment and management of vital living marine resources in the Northeast U.S. This program supported two-year fellowships for four early career faculty from CINAR partner institutions who partnered with a scientist at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center to further strengthen links among research, assessments, and management. Join us for this seminar as our four CINAR fellows present an overview of their research and educational activities and its impact.
Keywords: stock assessment, ecosystem research, social sciences
Bio(s): Dr. Gavin Fay is an Associate Professor in the Department of Fisheries Oceanography at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST). Gavin's work focuses on using statistical and mathematical models for better ecosystem-based decision making for fisheries and our oceans. He is also interested in how open data science tools can empower communication of scientific results for application to management and policy.
Genevive (Genny) Nesslage is an Associate Research Professor at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. Her research focuses on stock assessment as well as fish, wildlife, and invasive species population dynamics.
Joshua Stoll is an Assistant Professor of Marine Policy in the School of Marine Sciences at the University of Maine. He is an applied social scientist who uses qualitative and quantitative methods to study questions about ocean governance, coastal community resilience, and seafood systems.
John Wiedenmann is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources at Rutgers University. His research focuses on the population dynamics of marine fish, stock assessment, and fisheries management, with a particular focus on the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions.
Remote Access:https://meet.goto.com/537213725Or by phone Access Code: 537-213-725 United States: +1 (646) 749-3129 Canada: +1 (647) 497-9391 Location: WebinarAbstract Glacial meltwater is an important environmental variable for ecosystem dynamics along the biologically productive Western Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) shelf. This region is experiencing rapid change, including increasing glacial meltwater discharge associated with the melting of land ice. To better understand the WAP environment and aid ecosystem forecasting, additional methods are needed for monitoring and quantifying glacial meltwater for this remote, sparsely sampled location. Prior studies showed that sea surface glacial meltwater (SSGM) has unique optical characteristics which may allow remote sensing detection via ocean color data. In this study, we develop a first-generation model for quantifying SSGM that can be applied to both spaceborne (MODIS-Aqua) and airborne (PRISM) ocean color platforms. In addition, the model was prepared and verified with one of the more comprehensive in-situ stable oxygen isotope datasets compiled for the WAP region. The SSGM model appears robust and provides accurate predictions of the fractional contribution of glacial meltwater to seawater when compared with in-situ data (r = 0.82, median absolute percent difference = 6.38%, median bias = '0.04), thus offering an additional novel method for quantifying and studying glacial meltwater in the WAP region.
Bio(s): Jack Pan is a Postdoctoral Fellow at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Jack received his Ph.D. from Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO, UCSD). Prior to SIO, he worked as a consultant and team lead at JPL and led the development of satellite remote sensing projects on coastal ocean monitoring. Jack has also participated in several polar research expeditions to Antarctica and is a recipient of the Antarctica Service Medal for his instrumentation work and sampling in extreme environments. Jack is also an avid traveler and photographer.
Abstract: By incorporating trophic interactions and temperature-dependent bioenergetics, multi-species models such as CEATTLE (Climate-Enhanced Age-based Model with Temperature-specific Trophic Linkages and Energetics) are a step towards ecosystem-based assessment and management for species such as Pacific hake (Merluccius productus) in the California Current Ecosystem. Hake are generalist predators, and previous studies have determined that their diet consists of approximately 30% cannibalism. We used CEATTLE to include cannibalism in a model of hake population dynamics and re-examined hake diet data from 1980 onwards to determine the cannibalism proportions. Cannibalism rates were highly variable, ranging between 0 and 80% of stomach contents by weight. The estimated spawning stock biomass, total biomass, and recruitment increased by 16%, 31%, and 197% relative to the single-species model when cannibalism was included in the CEATTLE model, due to the increased mortality, primarily for age-1 hake.
Bio(s): Sophia is a new member of the GAP Bering Sea team and was previously a postdoc in the Punt Lab at UW, working on two projects. The first was a mixed-species management strategy evaluation of groundfish in the Bering with colleagues at the AFSC and the other, which she's talking about today, was applying the CEATTLE model to cannibalism in Pacific hake with the NWFSC. She received her PhD from the University of Galway in Ireland.
Title: Why Should We Care About Freshwater Acidification? Science and Stewardship in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Presenter(s): Dr. Reagan Errera, NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory; and Stephanie Gandulla, NOAA's Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Sponsor(s): NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Abstract: Rising freshwater acidification levels have the potential to severely impact the Great Lakes environment. In 2022, scientists began an important research initiative to monitor acidification levels in Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. The research will improve our understanding of lake acidification and its potential impacts to natural and maritime heritage resources in the Great Lakes. The data generated from this ongoing research in Thunder Bay sanctuary will result in the first baseline study specific to freshwater acidification in Lake Huron. During this webinar, learn about the working partnership with NOAA's Ocean Acidification Program and the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab, Thunder Bay sanctuary, and the local northern Michigan community. Find out what freshwater acidification is, why we should care, how acidification research is conducted, and how the community is involved in this effort to create a baseline of data. We will also discuss resilience to climate change in the Great Lakes.
Abstract: The NOAA/NESDIS operational snowfall rate (SFR) product is derived from a constellation of polar-orbiting satellites. Recent advancements have substantially improved the SFR product through the integration of machine learning techniques. This observation-based product is generated locally at GINA, University of Alaska Fairbanks using direct broadcast satellite data received at GINA, resulting in low latency and making it well-suited for nowcasting applications.
Bio(s): Dr. Huan Meng is a physical scientist at NOAA/NESDIS/Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR). Her research area is in satellite remote sensing of precipitation and precipitation-related products. She has been working with a team of scientists from the Cooperative Institute for Satellite Earth System Studies (CISESS) at University of Maryland to develop satellite-based data products including snowfall rate.
Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.
Sponsor(s): This webinar is sponsored by the NERRS Science CollaborativeSeminar Contacts: Doug George (douglas.george@noaa.gov) or Nick Soberal (nsoberal@umich.edu)
Remote Access:https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3275595106750311258Abstract The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is an open-source, international network of community hosted radio-telemetry receivers and wildlife researchers designed to investigate a wide variety of wildlife movement questions. Volunteer partners host and operate receiving stations across the world that autonomously listen for flying migratory animals equipped with transmitters called nanotags. Researchers rely on the receivers for movement data for a diversity of tagged wildlife, including birds, bats, and insects. Despite widespread interest in wildlife tracking and research within and beyond the Reserve system, this technology has only been used sporadically at a few reserve sites to date.In 2018, the ACE Basin NERR received private funding to implement a Motus receiver station at partner State Park, which sparked interest from potential collaborators. Since 2020, a multi-reserve project led by the ACE Basin Reserve has held a series of workshops to provide guidance and assistance on siting, construction, installation, and interpretation of Motus sites at participating reserves. In this webinar, project lead Jessica Kinsella will share how this effort has created new partnerships and positioned the Reserve as a regional leader for the Motus initiative, while enabling partners to increase their contribution to coastal bird research and engage their end users in coastal bird conservation and management.
Bio(s): Please visit here for more information about the webinar.Subscribe to the One NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email:Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!
Title: Unique ways to connect kids and teens to the ocean and engage them as science communicators
Presenter(s):
Nora Nickum, Senior Ocean Policy Manager at the Seattle Aquarium and author of Superpod: Saving the Endangered Orcas of the Pacific Northwest
Patricia Newman, award-winning author of Planet Ocean: Why We All Need a Healthy Ocean, Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem , and A River's Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn
Esteban Camacho Steffensen, international muralist with major works created throughout the Pacific Northwest, Costa Rica, China, and Spain
Abstract: How do we connect kids and teens to the ocean and empower them to act? Story"in all its forms. Humans are hard-wired to spin tales to create emotional connections that help us better understand the world. Join nonfiction storytellers Nora Nickum and Patricia Newman, artist Esteban Camacho Steffensen, and educator Alicia Keefe, who each have ways of translating their passion for ocean conservation and complicated ocean science into forms that entice kids and teens to ask questions, dig deeper, and engage with their communities. Together we will discover new ways to visualize concepts like climate change, ocean acidification, pollution, habitat loss, food web disruption, and underwater noise using an interdisciplinary approach that includes science, art, writing, and speaking.Patricia and Nora will share examples from their written work as well as their live presentations with children and educators. NOAA Fisheries Outreach & Education Coordinator Alicia Keefe will highlight NOAA's interdisciplinary Southern Resident curriculum, other NOAA educational resources, and how NOAA works with artists to advance conservation. Esteban Camacho will share images of his murals and talk about the process of creating them while working with children and youth in a variety of educational settings. His environmental murals tell stories about the crisis while also inspiring the public with the beauty of the natural world that we are striving to protect. His style also explores symbiotic relationships and the humane role we can play in the web of life. His slideshow will break down the process of creating large scale murals and encourage others to undertake their own climate mural projects!Are our seminars recorded? Yes, you can find them here https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/webinar-series-archives.html
Abstract: We will review recent and current climate conditions around Alaska, discuss some forecasting tools, and finish up with the Climate Prediction Center's forecast for November 2023 and the winter season. Join the gathering online to learn what's happened and what may be in store with Alaska's seasonal climate.
Bio(s): Rick Thoman is the Alaska Climate Specialist with ACCAP and has many years of experience producing reliable Alaska climate change information and graphics describing Alaska's changing environment. His work spans the bridge between climate modeling, Alaska communities, and the media.
Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.
Abstract: In the Bering Sea, rapid climate change may be causing more intense storms, flooding and erosion. As a modern example, Typhoon Merbok made landfall in Western Alaska in September 2022, necessitating disaster declarations at the state and federal level to facilitate repairs in 40 western Alaskan communities. Little is known about how the frequency of intense storms may vary in the region on multidecadal to centennial timescales, given that storminess composites in the Bering Sea region only extend back approximately 40 years. To better understand how storm scenarios will play out in the future, a collaborative team of researchers is reconstructing the prehistoric record of extreme events from ancient sediment samples to improve our understanding of how storm intensity and frequency has changed through time. During this webinar, we will discuss findings from samples collected along the Aleutian Islands chain on the R/V Sikuliaq during the summer of 2022.
Bio(s): Reyce Bogardus earned his B.S. in Geoscience at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, concentrating in landscape analysis and climate change with a minor in Geographic Information Systems. Since graduating in 2018, he has been in the graduate program at UAF where his research includes coastal geomorphology, numerical modeling, and oceanography. Reyce is interested in measuring and forecasting the effects of climate change on ocean conditions, which drive coastal change in the Arctic.
Vladimir Alexeev is research faculty at the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He uses a hierarchy of models and observational data to study large-scale dynamics of climate. His research focuses include climate dynamics, atmospheric large-scale circulation, and permafrost.
Slides, Recordings, Other Materials: Slides, links shared during the presentation, and a recording may be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.
Abstract: There exist a myriad of project management methodologies, but none is focused solely on scientific research. Research projects are unique compared to other types of projects, including software development and manufacturing; research projects inherently have unplanned risk. These risks provide a challenge to managing resources, developing schedules, and providing team ownership while still achieving project goals. Agile, a popular framework for the management of software development, can be modified to work for scientific research projects and help mitigate these risks.
Bio(s): Nicole Wayant is a research project manager at the Engineer Research and Development Center's Geospatial Research Laboratory. Nicole has a background in mathematics and geography, specializing in the spatio-temporal study of vector-borne diseases. She has lead a variety of research projects ranging from the study of vector-borne diseases and civilian annoyance to military blast noise to the creation of automatic tools for the development of foundational geospatial data. When Nicole is not working she enjoys hiking, reading, playing her cello, and spending time with her family.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Abstract: Heat continues to be the leading weather-related killer with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimating an average of 1,220 heat-related deaths occurred in the United States annually (2019 "2021) based on information reported in death certificates. However, the true mortality burden is higher because heat exposure is a contributing factor to deaths resulting from many causes. NOAA's global analysis shows that the 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 2005, and 7 of the 10 have occurred just since 2014. Not only are heat waves occurring more frequently, but are also more intense and longer-lasting with less cooling overnight, leading to more strain on the human body.
This webinar will focus on the convergence of heat and health, specifically exploring the challenges and opportunities around the analysis of heat mortality and emergency department information.
Bio(s): Rish Vaidyanathan is a senior health scientist with the Climate and Health Program at the National Center for Environmental Health, CDC. Rish's training and work experience covers a wide range of substantive areas, including epidemiology, exposure assessment, and data science. In addition, he has several years of experience planning, coordinating, and implementing strategies to facilitate the conduct of environmental health surveillance and translational research projects. Specifically, he has been able to establish mutually beneficial collaborations with various academic institutions, state and local health departments, and federal agencies on efforts to identify and characterize populations most at risk to extreme heat and other climate-sensitive exposures.
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Title: The Impacts of African Americans/Blacks in Aquatic Sciences, and the Contributions of the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC) to a Diverse Scientific WorkforceNOAA Central Library Seminars
Presenter(s): Paulinus Chigbu, PhD - Center Director, NOAA LMRCSC, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Sponsor(s): NOAA Education and NOAA Central Library
Accessibility: Captions are added to the recordings of presentations once uploaded to the NOAA Central Library YouTube Channel. Sign language interpreting services and closed captioning are available, but need to be requested at least 5 days before the event.
Abstract: Traditionally underrepresented and historically excluded communities are part of and have a deep history with nature and the environment, as well as having a wealth of traditional ecological knowledge, but are underrepresented in the geosciences workforce, including at NOAA. Since the 1960s, the number of African Americans/Blacks in formal aquatic sciences programs has increased, albeit very slowly. This presentation will share highlights of the institutions and programs, such as the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC), that have successfully increased the education and graduation of African Americans/Blacks in aquatic sciences. Information on the contributions of African Americans/Blacks to the advancement of aquatic sciences will also be shared. These advancements are part of the long-standing history that African Americans/Blacks have with the natural environment. The critical role of mentoring and training the next generation of students at the LMRCSC in support of an inclusive and diverse aquatic sciences workforce will be demonstrated.
Keywords: aquatic sciences, nation's workforce
Bio(s): Dr. Paulinus Chigbu is Director of the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center (LMRCSC), and Associate Dean for Research, Development and Graduate Education at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES). Over the past 25 years, he has led major research and educational programs funded by NOAA and NSF. Under his leadership, the NOAA LMRCSC has grown to become a national center of excellence for the development of a diverse body of professionals in marine and sheries sciences.
Sara Hutto, Greater Farallones Association and Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries; Doug George, NOAA Office for Coastal Management
Presenter(s): Sara Hutto, Greater Farallones Association and Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries. Doug George, NOAA Office for Coastal Management.
Abstract: The sediments of the vast ocean floor represent the world's largest non-fossil pool of organic carbon, yet they are not well-studied or protected. The carbon in these sediments can remain stored for thousands to millions of years; however, activities such as mining, oil and gas exploration, and bottom-contact fishing can disturb sediment, resuspending it into the water column and potentially remineralizing carbon into aqueous CO2. Current understanding of marine sediment carbon along the US West Coast is limited, constraining meaningful management and protection of these critically important carbon sinks. The Greater Farallones Association, in partnership with NOAA Office for Coastal Management (OCM) and NOAA's Greater Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries, conducted the first systematic evaluation of marine sedimentary carbon stocks in North-central California. This webinar will discuss the importance of marine sediments in global carbon sequestration and storage. It will also present the results of this study, including an estimate of the carbon stock within the Sanctuaries' marine sediments and identification of carbon hot-spots on the seafloor based on a novel spatial model of carbon density.
Abstract: AFSC scientists, together with academic and fishing industry partners, have completed a third summer of data collection in our Gulf of Alaska cooperative rockfish survey. This project, the Science - Industry Rockfish Research Collaboration in Alaska (SIRRCA), aims to improve rockfish assessment models by increased sampling in the rocky habitats that many rockfish species prefer. These habitats are successfully fished by our industry partners but are deemed untrawlable to the NMFS survey vessels and gear, promoting collaborative sampling. Come learn more about what SIRRCA has accomplished thus far and where we are headed with this ambitious government " industry cooperative research.
Bio(s): Madison is currently a member of the Bering Sea research group at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Seattle. She obtained a Bachelor's of Science in Biology from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a Master's of Science in Zoology from Rhodes University in South Africa, and a PhD in Conservation Biology from the University of Central Florida. None of this work was conducted on fish or fisheries, but it did involve intensive spatiotemporal statistical modeling of the seascape, harrowing fieldwork, and working in large groups of diverse stakeholders. This lead to a postdoc in the Fisheries, Aquatic Science, and Technology lab at Alaska Pacific University, and eventually to her joining AFSC as a research biologist. Over the past few years she has lead the design and execution of a cooperative survey in the Alaskan rockfish fishery entitled the Science-Industry Rockfish Research Collaboration in Alaska (or SIRRCA). Today she will be discussing what the project has accomplished thus far and where they plan to go from here.
Abstract: How can we help build a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive Marine Science workforce? How can we help youth see it so they can be it? Reaching youth in culturally relevant, creative ways that they can relate to, is essential for accomplishing this. STEAM the Streets specializes in producing unique content that promotes career paths in STEM and the Arts (STEAM), and through their experience as educators and youth developers, have a proven recipe for keeping youth engaged.NOAA's Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary Marine Ecologist, Tammy Silva, partnered up with STEAM the Streets to create videos and a learning module to reach, engage, and educate youth about the triumphs and challenges of a career in Marine Ecology. The learning module and videos are included in the free STEAM the Streets mobile app, and the content can be utilized outside of the app to educate students in a classroom setting. In this webinar, educators will hear about the career module content, learn about the app, and receive access to the free materials so that they can implement the app or the lesson with their classes.Are our seminars recorded? Yes, you can find them here: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/webinar-series-archives.html
Title: Estuaries past, present and future: Using elevations and historical maps to characterize estuarine habitats across 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves
Presenter(s):
Kerstin Wasson, Research Coordinator, Elkhorn Slough NERR
Charlie Endris, GIS Specialist, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories
Andrea Woolfolk, Stewardship Coordinator, Elkhorn Slough NERR
Suzanne Shull, GIS Specialist, Padilla Bay NERR
Sponsor(s): This webinar is sponsored by the NERRS Science CollaborativeSeminar Contacts: Doug George (douglas.george@noaa.gov) or Nick Soberal (nsoberal@umich.edu)
Remote Access:https://umich.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_33F-LjrSQpW6qE_1062QiAAbstract Estuaries are coastal gems. To protect and restore them, we need a clear understanding of exactly where they are, where they were, and where they could be in the future. A team led by the National Estuarine Research Reserves (NERRs) recently completed an ambitious effort to map estuarine habitat in and around the 30 NERRs. They used a powerful combination of NOAA resources for elevation and tidal datums to map the reach of tides, historical topographic sheets generated by NOAA's predecessor agency to map past habitat distributions, and compared this to mapping from USFWS's National Wetland Inventory (NWI). Elevation-based mapping revealed that estuary extent is greater than currently mapped in NWI. At more than two-thirds of the Reserves, the team detected tidal forests missed by NWI. Comparison of historical maps to NWI revealed dramatically greater loss of tidal wetland extent on the Pacific coast than in other regions. The results of this investigation suggest that multiple mapping methods complement each other and should be integrated to provide a more accurate understanding of estuaries"past, present and future.
Bio(s): Please visit here for more information about the webinar.Subscribe to the One NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email:Send an e-mail to OneNOAAscienceseminars-request@list.woc.noaa.gov with the word 'subscribe' in the subject or body. Visit the NOAA Science Seminar Series website for more information. We welcome your suggestions and ideas!
Robert Smith, Coastal Coordinator for Wildlife Mississippi; Brandon Waltman, NCRS Assistant State Soil Scientist; Dr. Rocky Lemus, forage research professor, Mississippi State University Extension; and Jim Currie, private landowner
Title: Exploring Livestock Grazing for Coastal Habitat Management Webinar
Presenter(s): Robert Smith, Coastal Coordinator for Wildlife Mississippi; Brandon Waltman, NCRS Assistant State Soil Scientist; Dr. Rocky Lemus, forage research professor, Mississippi State University Extension; and Jim Currie, private landowner
Abstract: Searching for a cost-effective, less intrusive habitat management solution? Discover how to transform livestock grazing from a ubiquitous agricultural practice into a powerful tool for vegetation management and landscape enhancement. In this webinar, you'll hear short presentations from Robert Smith, Coastal Coordinator for Wildlife Mississippi, Brandon Waltman, NCRS Assistant State Soil Scientist, Dr. Rocky Lemus, forage research professor, Mississippi State University Extension, and Jim Currie, private landowner followed by a Q&A session. Topics to be covered include what is conservation grazing, the power of herbivory, herbivory and soil health, wildland forage and its management, and a case study. For more information: https://exploringlivestockgrazingwebinar.eventbrite.com