NOAA Science Seminar Series

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: El Niño and drought in the U.S. Southern Region - NOAA Drought Seminar Series

Presenter(s): John Nielsen-Gammon, Regents Professor at Texas A&M; Texas State Climatologist

Sponsor(s): NOAA Research's Physical Science Laboratory and National Integrated Drought Information System, and the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center

Seminar Contact(s): Andrew.Hoell@noaa.gov

Remote Access:
Register before the seminar at: https://noaaresearch.webex.com/weblink/register/rada73daad48f9df2fa252b5bfb7c6c76

Accessibility: Live closed captioning

Abstract: Drought in the Southern United States can be brief and intense or long and devastating. Vulnerability arises from the marginally adequate precipitation under normal conditions and the large swings in precipitation on an interannual basis. ENSO is a primary factor contributing to large precipitation variability, with average precipitation during the cool season differing by a factor of two between El Niño and La Niña. Departures from normal precipitation are most predictable during the cool season, a time of recharge and replenishment before summer evaporation takes over. With drought having recently reached near-record extent across the southern United States, the current El Niño provides well-grounded hope for drought relief. Summertime precipitation lacks predictability, however. The worst multi-year drought on record for Texas was in the 1950s, when La Niñas were common and the only El Niño failed to deliver.

Slides, Recordings, Other materials: Available after the talk at https://psl.noaa.gov/drought/seminarseries.html

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Presenter(s): Talia Tamarin-Brodsky , Assistant Professor of Atmospheric Science | Class of 1947 Career Development Professor, MIT

Sponsor(s): Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) Seminar Series

Seminar Contact(s): John Xun Yang, jxyang@umd.edu

Remote Access:

Webinar: https://go.umd.edu/essicseminarwebinars

Zoom Meeting ID: 918 7733 3086
Zoom password: essic
To join the audio conference only:
US Toll: +13017158592
Global call-in numbers: https://umd.zoom.us/u/aMElEpvNu

Abstract: Extreme near-surface moist heat and severe convective storms are among the leading causes of weather-related damages worldwide. Episodes of extreme moist heat and severe convection frequently co-occur across midlatitude land regions, yet the processes that constrain their maximum intensities remain poorly understood. Here, a theoretical framework is developed that links their maximum intensities to preexisting low-level energy inversions in the atmosphere. By accounting for the stored-energy nature of midlatitude severe convection, in which near-surface moist heat and atmospheric instability accumulate before convection initiates, this framework identifies low-level inversions as a critical factor shaping compound extreme heat and convective weather risks. Under climate change, these moist weather extremes are projected to intensify substantially in the midlatitudes, particularly downstream of major highland terrains. This intensification is tightly constrained by changes in low-level atmospheric inversions: amplified warming over western highlands is transported downstream by prevailing westerlies, strengthening inversions and raising the attainable maxima of moist heat and convection. These results highlight low-level inversions as a key regulator of midlatitude moist weather extremes and their response to climate change.

Accessibility / Slides: Closed captions available via Zoom

Miss a seminar? All ESSIC seminars are posted on our YouTube channel within a week of the event: https://www.youtube.com/@ESSICUMD

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Discrete element modeling of sea ice mechanics, with a polygon-based model formulated in spherical coordinates, Part II

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

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

SeminarContact: Alexander.Kurapov@noaa.gov

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

Abstract: Discrete element modeling (DEM) provides a methodology for simulating the dynamics of sea ice from fracture through post-failure granular behavior. Because the approach is designed explicitly to represent the cohesive or frictional forces between distinct floes, it may offer a better representation than continuum-based approaches for some phenomena. As such, discrete element models (DEMs) provide a complementary approach to sea ice modeling at geophysical scales. However, many uncertainties remain regarding best practices in the application of the method. These range from choosing element shape, element scale, contact physics, and numerical implementation. Here we describe a novel polygon-based discrete element sea ice model, developed with careful attention to the implementation details and the fundamental response of interacting element-pairs. The crack patterns that develop as a result of sea ice fracture depend critically on the elastic and dissipative response of the material. Propagation of cracks can depend as much on the characteristics of post-failure element contacts as intact ones. So, distinct parameters are introduced to provide control of the failure rate and timing of transitions in contact response and to constrain the amount of energy and momentum transfer in the contact failure process. Stresses can be communicated over great distances in sea ice due to its rigidity. This can present difficulty in specifying boundary conditions for simulations of localized processes as remote influences may be large. With this in mind, unlike other models in its class, this model is formulated in spherical coordinates, and borrows from finite element mesh generation and refinement techniques that make it possible to simulate across scales up to the planetary without excessive computational cost.

The sensitivity of the model response is first demonstrated here in a set of idealized experiments involving the interactions of a few elements. The model is then applied to realistic simulations of sea ice response to northerly wind stress in the southern Chukchi Sea and Bering Strait. Parameter space is explored along with sensitivity to element size and arrangement through sets of ensemble simulations to explore the phenomenology of ice arching. Post-failure parameters such as the strength of the sea ice at the transition from bonded to frictional sliding, and the residual sea ice strength for heavily impacted ice are demonstrated to significantly impact model response.

Slides, Recordings, Other Materials:

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: FORCE BLUE Veterans Conduct Tour of Duty in Your National Marine Sanctuaries

Series: National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series

Presenter(s): Jim Ritterhoff, Executive Director, Co-Founder, FORCE BLUE with Panelists: Angelo Fiore, Navy Diver, U.S. Navy Veteran, Dan Henderson, Green Beret, U.S. Army Veteran, Ricky Brown, Navy Seal, U.S. Navy Veteran, Stephanie Gandulla, Superintendent, NOAA’s Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary, and facilitated by Kate Thompson, Outreach and Engagement Division Lead, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/952102761419370584

Sponsor(s): NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Seminar Contact(s): Claire.Fackler@noaa.gov

Abstract: All national marine sanctuaries rely on the energy and passion of volunteers. With the mission of healing veterans and healing the ocean, FORCE BLUE redeploys Special Operations veterans and military-trained combat divers to work alongside scientists on conservation projects. When Special Operations veterans team up with NOAA's marine scientists, there's nothing we can't accomplish. The former Special Operations divers of FORCE BLUE are working with top scientists and environmentalists from NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries on a multi-year Sanctuaries Tour of Duty campaign to conduct marine conservation missions in and around each of America's iconic national marine sanctuaries. Learn more about FORCE BLUE, the past and upcoming projects, and get your questions answered from a panel of veterans.

Accessibility: English captions will be provided for the recording.

Recording: The presentation will be recorded; once captioned it will be hosted on the archived webpage: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/webinar-series-archives.html.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Streamflow Forecasting using Physical-Aware AI/DL Models and Improving the Precipitation Forecasts at the Subseasonal-to-Seasonal Scale in Support of Adaptive Reservoir Operation
Great Lakes Seminar Series

Presenter(s): Dr. Tiantian Yang, Associate Professor, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan

Sponsor(s): CIGLR and NOAA GLERL

Seminar Contact(s): Margaret Throckmorton, margaret.throckmorton@noaa.gov

Remote Access:

Please register at:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1571851282521547862
More details at: https://ciglr.seas.umich.edu/event/10082026-tiantian-yang/

Accessibility: Closed captions are available at GoToWebinar during the talk.

Abstract: Reservoirs and lakes are fundamental and multi-functional water infrastructures that collect, store, and deliver surface freshwater for a multitude of uses, including flood and fire control, recreation, wildlife habitat, residential, industrial, agricultural practices, irrigation, hydro-electric power generation, drought mitigation, and more. In recent years, more frequent and severe abrupt weather extremes, natural hazards, aging infrastructure, and increased water demands due to population growth have placed another significant barrier preventing the effective, sustainable, and adaptive operation of the existing reservoir and lake systems. Therefore, new technologies and innovations are critically needed to improve the existing reservoir and lake operation and management of built water systems in our nation. In support of adaptive reservoir operation Dr. Tiantian Yang will present his current research on enhancing streamflow prediction at subseasonal-to-seasonal timescales by improving precipitation forecasts and hydrologic simulations through the integration of physical hydrologic models and physically-aware artificial intelligence and deep learning (AI/DL) tools. These hybrid models aim to retain the interpretability and physical consistency of traditional models while leveraging the pattern recognition and scalability of AI/DL.

Recordings: See this link: https://ciglr.seas.umich.edu/event/10082026-tiantian-yang/

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Hybrid Aviation Weather Climate Interface - HAWCI

Presenter: Drake Valencia, Master’s Graduate Fellow, NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI), NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies II (CESSRST II), Cohort 3, at San Diego State University, San Diego, CA

Sponsor: NOAA EPP Cooperative Science Centers

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

Remote Access: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/cpt-znyu-stw

Or dial: (US)+1 650-535-0912 PIN: 957827 733#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/cpt-znyu-stw?pin=6837475286982

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Crosswind, ceiling, and visibility constrain Southern California aviation, but forecast guidance covers one airfield and one variable at a time, leaving no quantified regional picture. METAR observations from 53 ASOS and AWOS stations (2006 to 2025, 10,403,137records) were paired with FAA NASR runway headings to resolve crosswind trigonometrically, then reduced to lagged conditional probabilities for all ordered station pairs, stratified by wind direction, season, month, and time of day. The domain packs dozens of civilian and military airfields across varied terrain. Calm wind, not wind direction, dominates inland low-visibility conditions, where rates run three to four times the directional-wind rate. Crosswind co-occurrence is strongest among coastal fields, while ceiling and visibility co-occurrence tracks shared elevation and terrain rather than distance.

The results presented are from the NOAA EPP CSC NERTO graduate internship project conducted under the mentorship of Ivory Small, National Weather Service, San Diego Weather Forecast Office. This NERTO experience aligns with the NOAA Cooperative Science Center in CESSRST-II, supporting the Center's goal of conducting NOAA mission-aligned collaborative research to understand and predict changes in weather and atmosphere. This project, titled HAWCI-Hybrid Aviation Weather Climate Interface, addressed the research question: how often do Southern California airfields exceed operational crosswind, ceiling, and visibility thresholds, and which other airfields follow, and after how long? The work provides value to the scientific community and program stakeholders by converting two decades of routine observations into a quantified regional climatology and a standalone operational tool. Through this internship, the student deepened their understanding of NOAA mission areas and gained enhanced skills in large-scale data pipeline development, Python programming, spatial statistics, and operational software delivery.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: From Satellites to Cells: a comparison of methods to measure phytoplankton and Harmful Algal Blooms in Charleston Harbor

Presenter: Emilia Lepe, Master’s Graduate Fellow, NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI), NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies II (CESSRST II), Cohort 3, at Brooklyn College, City University of New York

Sponsor: NOAA EPP Cooperative Science Centers

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

Remote Access: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/udt-cpam-jyi

Or dial: (US)+1 316-789-6405 PIN: 439568 290#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/udt-cpam-jyi?pin=5127991265214

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, isa tidally flushed estuary where phytoplankton respond to both tidal flushing and nutrient inputs from land. Harmful algal blooms (HABs) can degrade water quality, so monitoring must cover both space and time. Point sampling cannot easily track blooms across the harbor, and satellite ocean color is limited in turbid, optically complex water where colored dissolved organic matter and sediment can mask chlorophyll-a signals. This 12-week internship at the Hollings Marine Laboratory provided training in methods that characterize phytoplankton across scales: scanning electron microscopy, flow imaging with a newly installed FlowCam 8100, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)pigment analysis, smartphone-based reflectance measurements with the HydroColorapp, and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery processed with ACOLITE atmospheric correction and the chl_oc2 algorithm. On June 23, 2026, the chlorophyll-a map showed lower values around the Plum Island Wastewater Treatment Plant diffusers than in the surrounding harbor. This pattern may reflect reduced phytoplankton growth where the effluent carries fewer nutrients, or an optical artifact of rising bubbles and fresher water at the diffusers; a time series with optical correction and in-situ validation is needed to tell them apart. Electron microscopy showed that species-level identification depends on fine cell structure that no satellite pixel can resolve, illustrating the trade-off between spatial coverage and taxonomic resolution and why these methods are most useful in combination.

The results presented are from the NOAA EPP CSC NERTO graduate internship project conducted under the mentorship of Steve Morton, NCCOS, Hollings Marine Laboratory. This NERTO experience aligns with the NOAA Cooperative Science Center in CESSRST-II, supporting the Center’s goal of conducting NOAA mission-aligned collaborative research to understand and predict changes in weather and atmosphere, land and water, oceans and coasts. Through this internship, the student deepened their understanding of NOAA mission areas and gained enhanced skills in HPLC pigment analysis, phytoplankton identification, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), FlowCam imaging, satellite image processing, and science communication.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Environmental nucleic acids have expiration dates: multi-omic monitoring and when to trust It

Northwest Fisheries Science Center's Monster Seminar Jam

Presenter(s): Aden Ip, PhD, University of Washington

Sponsor(s): NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Seminar Contact(s): nwfsc.monsterjam@noaa.gov

Remote Access: Online: meet.google.com/wtc-ivfo-jzg
or via phone: (US)+1 224-990-0265, PIN: 915 623 107#

Abstract: N/A

Subscribe to the NOAA Science Seminar Series weekly email:
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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Integrating management-relevant research into the planning of dredge operations in Southeast Florida

Presenter(s): Xaymara Serrano, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, Habitat Conservation Division and Erin Winslow, NOAA NMFS, Office of Habitat Conservation, Habitat Protection Division

Sponsor(s): NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program

Remote Access: https://meet.google.com/pgn-asvi-kgp

Seminar Contact(s): Caroline Donovan, caroline.donovan@noaa.gov

Accessibility: Closed captioning available through Google Meet platform

Abstract: Dredging operations and coastal development pose considerable threats to adjacent, already-stressed coral reef ecosystems. Fostering cross-line office collaboration within NOAA, alongside federal, state, academic, and NGO partners, has proven to be a valuable approach for delivering applied, management-relevant research. Over a decade of survey data shows urbanized reefs retain high conservation value, supporting millions of stony corals within 1.2 km of the Port Everglades channel, including ESA-listed staghorn corals (Acropora cervicornis). Comparative studies across Port Miami and Port Everglades helped establish rapid dive survey methods for sediment deposition and benthic stress indicators to aid real-time decision-making. Coupled with photogrammetry, water quality monitoring, and laboratory turbidity experiments, these findings directly inform ESA Section 7 and EFH consultations in Southeast Florida, refining protective thresholds and improving conservation outcomes.

Recordings: Seminar recording will be available afterward, as requested.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Integrating technology and imagery into evaluations of coral reef condition

Presenter: Neidibel Martínez, Doctoral Graduate Fellow, NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI), NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Earth System Science and Remote Sensing Technologies II (CESSRST II), Cohort 3, at the University of Puerto Rico Mayaguez Campus, Mayaguez, PR

Sponsor: NOAA EPP Cooperative Science Centers

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

Remote Access: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/uoq-gcdw-toa

Or dial: (US)+1 440-482-1466 PIN: 388111 016#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/uoq-gcdw-toa?pin=6558698891650

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: Coral reef structural complexity supports habitat and ecological function, so accurate measurement is essential for monitoring and restoration. In-water surveys face time, logistical, and safety constraints, creating a need for scalable approaches such as large-area imaging (LAI) and Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry. NOAA needs consistent workflows to monitor restoration areas, integrate imagery from different platforms, and distinguish ecological change from methodological variability. Using the SfM section of NOAA’s Mission: Iconic Reefs LAI guidance as a reference, this NERTO project developed a reproducible framework for comparing diver- and ROV-based imagery while quantifying processing variability. The analysis used imagery from reef restoration sites, a relevant setting for fine-scale structural monitoring. We processed images in Agisoft Metashape using different alignment, depth-map quality, and filtering configurations. Reconstructions were screened using checkpoint RMSE, reprojection error, coverage, point density and confidence, completeness, noise, processing time, and file size. We compared leading products as standardized digital elevation models in R using a common region of interest and surface complexity ratio. Higher-detail reconstruction produced approximately four times more points and a larger file but changed surface complexity by only about 3%. Preliminary diver–ROV results showed broadly similar structural patterns, but the areas were not spatially paired and therefore cannot demonstrate platform agreement. These findings provide NOAA with a stronger QA/QC basis for selecting efficient processing settings and designing paired comparisons that support reproducible, scalable coral reef restoration monitoring.

The results presented are from the NOAA EPP CSC NERTO graduate internship conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Shay Viehman at NOAA’s NCCOS Beaufort Laboratory, NC. This project supports the NOAA CESSRST-II mission of understanding and predicting environmental changes, particularly in oceans and coastal ecosystems. The project investigated how variations in SfM processing parameters and diver- versus ROV-based imagery influence the accuracy, consistency, and efficiency of coral reef structural measurements, with the goal of developing standardized workflows for reproducible coral reef restoration monitoring.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: NOAA’s Satellite Land Product Suite: From Observations to Applications
LEO Science Seminar Series

Presenter(s): Dr. Peng Yu, Research Physical Scientist Lead, Satellite Land Product Development Team, NOAA/NESDIS

Sponsor(s): NOAA/NESDIS Office of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Observations

Seminar Contact(s): Amy Leibrand (amy.leibrand@noaa.gov)

Remote Access:
Google Meet joining info
https://meet.google.com/ziu-ihjm-ubu
Or dial: (US) +1 724-271-8483 PIN: 717 119 246#

Abstract: NOAA’s satellite land surface products provide valuable environmental context for weather forecasting, hazard monitoring, and decision support. The NESDIS Satellite Land Product Development Team focuses on a targeted suite of products: Land Surface Temperature, Albedo/Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF), Vegetation Index, Green Vegetation Fraction, Surface Reflectance, and Leaf Area Index. Together, these products characterize land surface conditions that shape exchanges of energy, moisture, and radiation between the land and atmosphere. This presentation will provide an overview of the product suite and its applications.

Slides: Contact Amy Leibrand (amy.leibrand@noaa.gov)

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

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Presenter(s): David Lawrence, CESM Chief Scientist, NCAR

Sponsor(s): Earth System Science Interdisciplinary Center (ESSIC) Seminar Series

Seminar Contact(s): John Xun Yang, jxyang@umd.edu

Remote Access:

Webinar: https://go.umd.edu/essicseminarwebinars

Zoom Meeting ID: 918 7733 3086
Zoom password: essic
To join the audio conference only:
US Toll: +13017158592
Global call-in numbers: https://umd.zoom.us/u/aMElEpvNu

Abstract: The Community Earth System Model (CESM) and Earth system models in general are evolving in response to emerging scientific priorities, growing societal demands for actionable climate information, especially related to risks from changes in extreme events, and transformative changes in computing technologies. This presentation will provide an overview of recent CESM development activities emphasizing evolving Earth system capabilities, and new approaches for accelerating model development and deployment. Meeting the evolving needs from ESMs requires advances in both scientific realism and computational capability, including movement toward high-resolution (10–25 km) and ultra-high-resolution (km-scale) modeling configurations, more seamless prediction systems spanning subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S), seasonal-to-decadal (S2D), and multidecadal climate projections, and exploiting AI through hybrid Machine Learning / Physics model versions and flexibly coupled emulators. The talk will discuss CESM progress in these realms and plans for the future.

Accessibility / Slides: Closed captions available via Zoom

Miss a seminar? All ESSIC seminars are posted on our YouTube channel within a week of the event: https://www.youtube.com/@ESSICUMD

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Empowering Youth to Conserve their Coastal Wetlands – Education, Communication, and Partnership in the Indo-Pacific

Presenter(s): Mary Mar E. Jaleco of the John B. Lacson Foundation Maritime University, Matthew Vincent Tabilog of Mangrove Matters Philippines and Youth Engaged in Wetlands (YEW), and Phebe Fidge of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration Youth Task Force

Sponsor(s): Open Communications for the Oceans (OCTO) with support from the NOAA National MPA Center

Seminar Contact(s): Danielle Becker - danielle.becker@noaa.gov or Sarah Carr - sarah@octogroup.org.

Remote Access: Register at: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MDO2TFwlS1OXevh1Yf9rjA

Abstract: Coastal mangrove and seagrass ecosystems are vital for shoreline protection and coastal livelihoods, yet many are degraded or threatened by human impacts. Engaging youth in conservation and restoration is essential, but barriers such as inadequate support, policy gaps, and unclear pathways for participation limit meaningful, sustained engagement.

This webinar will explore how youth-led and youth-focused initiatives are advancing coastal wetlands conservation across local, regional, and global scales. Speakers will share experiences from immersive, place-based learning; grassroots youth organizing; and international policy engagement.

After the presentations, there will be live Q&A to address questions from webinar participants about how they can empower inclusive and effective youth-centered approaches to coastal wetlands conservation and restoration in their own communities.

Slides / Recordings / Other materials: A recording can be found after the meeting at the URL listed above.

Accessibility: Captioning will be available in over 30 languages.

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

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Developing tools to advance reproductive control in oysters

NOAA Library Seminars

Presenter(s): Lauren E. Vandepas; NWFSC Affiliate/University of Washington School of Aquatic and Fisheries Science; CICOES Fellow

Sponsor(s): NOAA Omics and NOAA Library

Seminar Contact(s): Nicole Miller (nicole.miller@noaa.gov) and Library Seminars

Remote Access: https://vimeo.com/event/6312276

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

Abstract: Reproductively sterile oysters are important for aquaculture. Triploidy, the current method to achieve sterility in shellfish, can have adverse effects on survival. An alternative approach is the disruption of genes essential for gamete formation. To develop this approach in oysters, two challenges must be overcome: 1) characterization of genes underlying bivalve primordial germ cell (PGC) development, and 2) optimization of methods to suppress gene expression. We performed single-cell RNA-sequencing during C. gigas embryogenesis to assess PGC formation and identify PGC-specific genes. Expression data suggest PGCs are sequestered during gastrulation and uniquely express genes that are potential targets for disruption of germ cell development. Using these candidates, we are exploring gene-silencing methods to assess whether suppression of PGCs results in sterile adult oysters. We hope these efforts will generate biotechnological tools for reproductive control in bivalve aquaculture.

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

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

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: New Climate Normals Maps for Alaska and Adjacent Drainages in Canada
VAWS Webinar Series

Presenter(s): Dr. Christopher Daly, Director, PRISM Climate Group, Northwest Alliance for Computational Science and Engineering, College of Engineering, Oregon State University

Sponsor(s): NOAA/OAR/Climate Program Office, Geographic Information Network of Alaska (GINA), and the Alaska Center for Climate Assessment and Preparedness (ACCAP)

Seminar Contact(s): Jessica Ramos, jaramos2@alaska.edu, Christi Buffington, cbuffington@alaska.edu

Remote Access:
Registration link: https://uaf-accap.org/event/vaws-webinar-prism-climate-products/

Accessibility: N/A

Abstract: In the late 1990s, the USDA NRCS collaborated with Oregon State University’s PRISM Climate Group to develop digital, state of the science precipitation and temperature maps for Alaska. This was a landmark project for several reasons. It resulted in the first update of official USDA climate maps since the 1960s. The products were reviewed by experts from Alaska and subsequently became the standard source of spatial climate data for the state. In 2009, with support from the National Park Service, PRISM climate products for Alaska were updated to the 1971-2000 normal period. They were updated to the 1981-2010 normal period in 2018, also sponsored by the National Park Service. Now, under funding from NOAA, the maps have been updated to the 1991-2020 normal period and extended into Canada to encompass upstream reaches of the Yukon River. This presentation will provide an overview of the dramatic spatial variations of climate in Alaska as depicted in the new maps and discuss the mapping process. Topics include acquiring and QC’ing the disparate array of station data, the peer review process, and modeling challenges in this remote and complex region.

Slides, Recordings, Other materials: Recording will be shared after the webinar with all who register

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

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Extreme temperature events in the NW Atlantic Shelf.

Presenter(s): Vincent Saba, NOAA NEFSC

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

Location: Webinar

Abstract: TBD

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

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Seasonal to Decadal Temperatures at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

Presenter: Evalynn Jundt, Doctoral Graduate Fellow, NOAA Office of Education, Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI), NOAA Cooperative Science Center for Coastal and Marine Ecosystems II (CCME II), Cohort 4, at Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, TX

Sponsor: NOAA EPP Cooperative Science Centers

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

Remote Access: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/hda-zxwt-eki

Or dial: (US)+1 978-820-0640 PIN: 519034 379#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/hda-zxwt-eki?pin=2674771777136

Accessibility: Google Meet closed captioning available.

Abstract: The Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGBNMS) is a unique and ecologically significant marine protected area located in the Gulf of America. It is home to the only known deepwater coral reefs in the United States and supports some of the healthiest coral populations globally. As a designated marine sanctuary, long-term ecological monitoring is mandated and has been ongoing since 1989 at the two primary reef systems, East and West Flower Garden Banks. Despite the richnessof this dataset, much of the information has remained underutilized due to challenges with data accessibility, inconsistent formatting, and limited integration into management workflows. This seminar presents results from a NOAA Experiential Research and Training Opportunity (NERTO) conducted at the FGBNMS aimed at revitalizing and leveraging this historical temperature dataset. The project involved compiling, cleaning, and analyzing data collected from temperature loggers deployed across the sanctuary for 35 years from 1989 to the present. The analysis focused on identifying seasonal patterns, detecting temperature anomalies, and quantifying long-term trends. The analyses reveal significant warming trends varying spatially and with depth, with anomalous periods relevant for coral stress. These insights were then translated into user-friendly visualizations, summary tables, and simplified confidence intervals to support sanctuary staff in decision-making processes. The final products are designed to enhance the interpretability of historical data and provide a robust foundation for future monitoring and management efforts.

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NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Leveraging eDNA to inform salmon ecology in the Lake Washington basin

Northwest Fisheries Science Center's Monster Seminar Jam

Presenter(s): Carl Ostberg, PhD, Research Fish Biologist, Western Fisheries Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey

Sponsor(s): NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Seminar Contact(s): nwfsc.monsterjam@noaa.gov

Remote Access: Online: meet.google.com/wtc-ivfo-jzg
or via phone: (US)+1 224-990-0265, PIN: 915 623 107#

Abstract: N/A

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

NOAA Science Seminar Series

Title: Meet Me in the Middle: Humpback Whales Coordinate to Hunt Along the Seafloor

Series: National Marine Sanctuaries Webinar Series

Presenter(s): David Wiley, Ph.D., Research Ecologist, NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3800009401017767509

Sponsor(s): NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Seminar Contact(s): Claire.Fackler@noaa.gov

Abstract: Beneath the surface of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary off Massachusetts, humpback whales work together to capture one of the region's smallest and most elusive fish. A newly published study led by scientists at Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary provides the first direct documentation of humpback whales cooperatively hunting along the seafloor. The whales repeatedly approached one another in coordinated formations, corralling schools of northern sand lance before opening their mouths to capture the fish at nearly the same time. Join Dr. David Wiley to learn more about this research.

Accessibility: English captions will be provided for the recording.

Recording: The presentation will be recorded; once captioned it will be hosted on the archived webpage: https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/education/teachers/webinar-series-archives.html.

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

NOAA Science Seminar Series

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

Presenter(s): Mary Kate Munley & Sarah Salois, NOAA NEFSC

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

Location: Webinar

Abstract: TBD

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