National Ocean Service

About: National Ocean Service is a government organization based out in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Algal bloom & Population. The organization has 500 authors who have published 643 publications receiving 46096 citations.

An assessment of temporal, spatial and taxonomic trends in harmful algal toxin exposure in stranded marine mammals from the U.S. New England coast.

Abstract: Despite a long-documented history of severe harmful algal blooms (HABs) in New England coastal waters, corresponding HAB-associated marine mammal mortality events in this region are far less frequent or severe relative to other regions where HABs are common. This long-term survey of the HAB toxins saxitoxin (STX) and domoic acid (DA) demonstrates significant and widespread exposure of these toxins in New England marine mammals, across multiple geographic, temporal and taxonomic groups. Overall, 19% of the 458 animals tested positive for one or more toxins, with 15% and 7% testing positive for STX and DA, respectively. 74% of the 23 different species analyzed demonstrated evidence of toxin exposure. STX was most prevalent in Maine coastal waters, most frequently detected in common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), and most often detected during July and October. DA was most prevalent in animals sampled in offshore locations and in bycaught animals, and most frequently detected in mysticetes, with humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) testing positive at the highest rates. Feces and urine appeared to be the sample matrices most useful for determining the presence of toxins in an exposed animal, with feces samples having the highest concentrations of STX or DA. No relationship was found between the bloom season of toxin-producing phytoplankton and toxin detection rates, however STX was more likely to be present in July and October. No relationship between marine mammal dietary preference and frequency of toxin detection was observed. These findings are an important part of a framework for assessing future marine mammal morbidity and mortality events, as well as monitoring ecosystem health using marine mammals as sentinel organisms for predicting coastal ocean changes.

National high frequency radar network: Update

Abstract: One of the primary efforts for the NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) Program office is the development of a national high frequency radar (HFR) network for measuring ocean surface currents throughout the coastal United States. After experiencing rapid growth for several years, the number of HF radars deployed in the United States is now approximately 100 with modest annual growth. NOAA IOOS has funded the development and deployment of a trio of redundant data servers located at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Rutgers University and the NOAA National Data Buoy Center that deliver data files in standard format (netCDF) and are Climate and Forecast (CF) metadata conventions-compliant. In keeping with the IOOS intent to deliver data in standardized ways that allow for interoperability and ease of access, NDBC delivers the HF radar data via Web Coverage Services (WCS). As the NOAA IOOS Program continues to support the development and enhancement of a national HF radar data management and distribution system, new capabilities are developed and implemented by Scripps prior to national deployment, allowing for the system to evolve in a build-test-build environment, yet retain pre-operational status. Numerous success stories over the past several years in the application of HF radar-derived surface currents to real-world problems have spurred the creation of a plan, published September 2009, to build a comprehensive national ocean surface current mapping system based on HF radar. The success stories and the scope of the national plan will be discussed.

Swath Mapping Data Management Within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Abstract: In 1983, the United States proclaimed the establishment of a maritime Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extending beyond the territorial sea to a distance of 200 nautical miles from its coastline. The proclamation reserved for the U.S. the sovereign right to explore for, exploit, conserve, and manage all natural resources within this new 3.4 million square nautical mile territory, an area roughly 1.2 times the total U.S. land mass. In order to help determine the characteristics and resources of the U.S. EEZ, a detailed program was developed to systematically map the entire area using multi-beam swath sounding systems. The program is under the direction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), United States Department of Commerce. Field operations commenced in early 1984 as two NOAA ships, equipped with advanced bathymetric swath mapping and precision navigation capabilities, began surveying off the coast of central California. Two additional ships have been added since and, to date, 36,000 square nautical miles of bathymetric mapping have been completed, a product of 95,000 lineal nautical miles of swath sounding. With such an enormous amount of data produced by swath mapping systems, the necessity for a comprehensive data management program was recognized early in the project. This paper describes the two-level data management system that has evolved, the lower level utilized aboard NOAA ships that acquire and initially process swath data, and the upper level employed by the Ocean Mapping Section, which is responsible for receiving, verifying, final processing and archiving all bathymetric swath data.

Error analysis of water level measured from a bottom mounted ocean platform

Abstract: The U.S. NOAA National Ocean Service Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) has been pursuing an effort to develop and test a real-time oceanographic and meteorological observing system, named “The Hermit,” for collection and transmission of real-time measurements at remote coastal sites with limited infrastructure. One of The Hermit's primary sensors is a conductivity, temperature, pressure sensor (CTP), for measuring water level. The CTP sensor is mounted onto a platform that is lowered to the seabed and left for a period of 90 days or longer. The identification of potential sources of water level measurement error from this system is critical in mitigating errors in final data products. Additionally, because of the broad range of CO-OPS' water level data applications, identifying measurement error sources is critical for assessing the applications for which a new measurement system type may or may not be suitable. This paper presents and evaluates four sources of water level measurement error associated with bottom mounted pressure sensors: long-term sensor drift, vertically referencing water level, biofouling, and platform settling.

Toxicity comparison of the shoreline cleaners Accell Clean® and PES-51® in two life stages of the grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio

Abstract: Oil spills are a significant source of coastal pollution. Shoreline cleaners, used to remove oil from surfaces during spill response and remediation, may also act as toxins. Adult and larval grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, were tested for lethal and sublethal impacts from two shoreline cleaners, Accell Clean SWA® and PES-51®, alone and in combination with crude oil using Chemically Enhanced Water Accommodated Fractions (CEWAFs). Median lethal toxicity values determined for the individual cleaners were similar. However, when tested in mixture with oil as CEWAFs, Accell Clean SWA resulted in greater hydrocarbon concentrations in the water column and greater toxicity than PES-51. Increased glutathione levels were observed for adult shrimp exposed to Accell Clean SWA, and glutathione was elevated in shrimp exposed to both CEWAFs. Larval shrimp development was delayed after exposure to both CEWAFs. These findings may have implications for managing and mitigating oil spills.