A West Virginia University researcher is working to understand and estimate environmental cleanup costs associated with agricultural runoff that causes polluted “dead zones” in downstream coastal systems.
Tag: Gulf Of Mexico
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine award $600K to UAH to join Gulf Scholars Program
The Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has announced The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) has been awarded a $600,000 grant to join the Gulf Scholars Program (GPS). The initiative is part of a five-year, $12.7 million pilot program aimed at preparing undergraduate students to address environmental, health, energy and infrastructure challenges in the Gulf of Mexico.
FAU Experts for the 2024 Hurricane Season
The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1, and forecasts indicate a highly active season. Several Florida Atlantic University faculty experts are available to discuss various issues surrounding hurricane preparedness, evacuation and aftermath.
Nation’s Ocean Observing Network Facing 76% Funding Cut
The President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 proposes funding regional ocean observing associations at $10 million — a 76 percent reduction in the budget for these critically important services.
Marine Heat Waves in the Gulf of Mexico, Emerging Offshore Wind Energy Data Opportunities Take Center Stage at GCOOS Fall Meeting
The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) recently hosted its annual Fall Meeting, focusing discussions on emerging issues related to long-term climate change, including marine heat waves and the development of renewable wind energy platforms in the Gulf.
Research Finds Water Quality in Gulf of Mexico Improves When Adding Social Costs to Carbon Emissions
Research led by the University of New Hampshire took a closer look at what would happen to agriculture if there was an extra cost, or so-called social cost, added to fossil fuels, which are essential for making fertilizer used in farming.
‘It’s hard to imagine, but a fish can drown’
As marine heat waves caused by climate change increase in severity and duration, certain species of fish will suffer the consequences.
Tulane expert available to speak on historic offshore wind sale in the Gulf of Mexico
Tulane University’s Eric Smith, associate director of the Tulane Energy Institute at the A.B. Freeman School of Business and expert on energy markets, including the oil and gas industry and renewable segments, is available to comment on the benefits to Louisiana…
FAU Developed AUTOHOLO Shows Potential as Red Tide Warning System
Current methods to monitor red tide are limited. Using AUTOHOLO, a new autonomous, submersible, 3D holographic microscope and imaging system, a study is the first to characterize red tide in the field and breaks new ground for monitoring harmful algal blooms.
Call for Nominations: GCOOS Board of Directors
Nominations are now open for the GCOOS Board of Directors, who help set policy for the Gulf of Mexico’s certified ocean observing entity.
Ocean Observing in the Gulf of Mexico: The GCOOS Spring Webinar Series
The GCOOS Spring Webinar Series 2023 features an overview of GCOOS-supported ocean observing activities in the Gulf of Mexico.
Tulane expert weighs in on potential threats of Mississippi River water levels
The Mighty Mississippi is experiencing historic low water levels due to drought, and that has one expert at Tulane University concerned about what it could mean for the environment, food supplies and drinking water. “First and foremost, barge traffic of…
Oil Spill Effects on Mahi-mahi Go Far Beyond Initial Survival
New research into oil spills’ effects finds surviving the initial event does not guarantee success for the popular sport fish mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus). Exposed fish faced temporary increased predation and did not spawn for the entire observation time.
FAU Hurricane Evacuation Expert Available to Discuss Hurricane Ian
Florida Atlantic University’s John Renne, Ph.D., is available to discuss evacuation and other hurricane-related issues with the media. Renne is a professor and director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions. He recently published a first-of-its-kind study, “What Has…
FAU Hurricane Evacuation Expert Available to Discuss Tropical Depression Nine/Hurricane Hermine
Florida Atlantic University’s John Renne, Ph.D., is available to discuss evacuation and other hurricane-related issues with the media. Renne is a professor and director of the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions. He recently published a first-of-its-kind study, “What Has…
Climate Warming, Water Management Impacts on West Florida’s Continental Shelf
FAU’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and collaborator conducted a study that provides an assessment of the potential effects of climate warming and water management of the West Florida Shelf dynamics during two particular events that affect its hydrology through the lens of a very high-resolution model.
Using Shared Science to Protect Common Resources and Bridge Diplomatic Divides
Marine species don’t recognize international borders or exclusive economic zones — and a new article says science focused on conserving oceanic species and habitats should also transcend these human boundaries.
Uncrewed Systems are Revolutionizing Hurricane Forecasting
A paper published in the peer review magazine Oceanography shows that robotic ocean observing platforms can improve intensity forecasts for hurricanes and tropical storms and should be supported as a crucial component of the ocean infrastructure designed to protect the lives of coastal residents and mitigate the economic impact from storms.
Gulf of Mexico Loop Current forecasts a devastating run of hurricanes; where and when not clear
Marine scientists and climate experts have sounded an alarm ahead of this year’s hurricane season: the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current, an area of warm water that begins its journey in the Caribbean, is looking a lot like the 2005…
Louisiana Gov. Edwards welcomes participants to Gulf of Mexico Conference (GOMCON)
More than 800 coastal scientists, managers, and professionals from federal and state agencies, academia, non-profits and industry have come together this week in Baton Rouge to network, collaborate and discuss coastal research and management in the Gulf of Mexico as part of the first-ever in-person Gulf of Mexico Conference (#GOMCON).
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards welcomed guests to the state Tuesday, during the opening plenary.
Coastal experts get chance to explore new Gulf-wide research tools and information
Over 800 coastal researchers and managers will get the chance to explore more than 25 regional tools on display April 26 at the Gulf of Mexico Conference (#GOMCON) in Baton Rouge, La. The Tools Café gives participants a unique opportunity to access some of the newest and best tools for coastal resilience, data management, and conservation while learning about these resources directly from developers who created each tool.
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution-led team awarded $7.6M to support Gulf of Mexico Loop Current research
A Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution-led research team has been awarded $7.6 million from the Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). The project, “An Operational System Using Real-time Subsurface Observations to Improve Loop Current Forecasts”, is one of three consortia that will undertake the third phase of the Understanding Gulf Ocean Systems (UGOS) program (UGOS-3), helping address forecasts of important currents of the Gulf of Mexico.
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Releases Governors’ Action Plan IV for Healthy and Resilient Coasts
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance has released the Governors’ Action Plan IV for Healthy and Resilient Coasts, signed by the governors of all five Gulf states: Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. This is the fourth in a series of collaborative work plans that identifies priority issues, focus areas, and actions to enhance the environmental and economic health of the Gulf of Mexico.
New Report Lays Out a Strategic Approach to Red Tide Communications
For the first time, researchers have developed a communication model to provide a variety of Florida’s agencies with a statewide strategic infrastructure. The model also includes recommendations on how to streamline the process of providing red tide information to users in varying formats.
Red Tide Respiratory Forecast is Now Operational
The Red Tide Respiratory Forecast developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NOAA-NCCOS) in partnership with the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS), the state of Florida and others, is now fully supported and available to the public.
FAU Lands $736,000 from NASA to Study the Coastal Carbon Budget from Space
If successful, this research in the Gulf of Mexico’s hypoxia region off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana may demonstrate not just the ability, but also the utility, of remote sensing as an observational technique for characterizing potentially critical but often neglected carbon cycle processes related to marine sediments. Researchers will use satellite images, hydrodynamic modeling and field work in seeking a better understanding of the ocean’s role in the Earth system.

FSU researchers find most nitrogen in Gulf of Mexico comes from coastal waters
Almost all of the nitrogen that fertilizes life in the open ocean of the Gulf of Mexico is carried into the gulf from shallower coastal areas, researchers from Florida State University found.
GCOOS Spring Meeting Includes Hurricane Update, Board Election Results
The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) recently hosted its annual Spring Meeting online, providing updates to members and supporters about the ocean observing system focused on the Gulf of Mexico.
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Encourages Residents to Get Ready for Hurricane Season Using Disaster Preparedness Resources
In support of National Hurricane Preparedness Week, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance encourages all Gulf Coast residents to get ready for the upcoming hurricane season. Individuals, families, and communities all have a role to play in reducing their risk from hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Over 1,200 Coastal Scientists and Managers Engage During Virtual Gulf of Mexico Conference
Today, over 1,200 coastal scientists, managers, and professionals from federal and state agencies, academia, non-profits, and industry came together for a virtual event launching the new Gulf of Mexico Conference (GoMCon). The Gulf of Mexico Alliance hosted this event in partnership with the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative and Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies.

Drifter or Homebody? Study First to Show Where Whitespotted Eagle Rays Roam
It’s made for long-distance travel, yet movement patterns of the whitespotted eagle ray remain a mystery. Between 2016 and 2018, scientists fitted 54 rays with acoustic transmitters and tracked them along both the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic coasts of Florida, which differ in environmental characteristics. Results of the study reveal striking differences in travel patterns on the Atlantic coast compared to the Gulf coast. Findings have significant conservation and adaptive management implications for this protected species.
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance Continues to “Embrace the Gulf” Through Action in 2021
Building on the success of the “Embrace the Gulf” 2020 campaign, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance is continuing the initiative this year with a new focus on improving the health of the Gulf. This year’s goal is to turn awareness into action through easy steps that make a difference in coastal communities, habitats, and wildlife.

Restoring wetlands near farms would dramatically reduce water pollution
Study examines the positive effects of wetlands on water quality and the potential for using wetland restoration as a key strategy for improving water quality, particularly in the Mississippi River Basin and Gulf of Mexico regions

Gulf of Mexico Mission: ‘Ocean Blue Holes Are Not Created Equal’
Scientists recently got a unique glimpse into the “Green Banana” Blue Hole thanks to gutsy divers and a 500-pound autonomous, benthic lander. Together with hand-picked, elite scuba divers, the research team is unraveling the structure and behavior of these marine environments by examining geochemistry, hydrodynamics, and biology. Findings from this exploration also may have important implications for phytoplankton in the Gulf of Mexico, including blooms of the Florida Red-tide species Karenia brevis.

Heavy rainfall drives a third of nitrogen runoff, according to new study
Extreme rain events that occur on nine days a year drive around a third of all nitrogen yields on farmland in the Mississippi River basin, according to a new study. The research could inform how and when farmers apply nitrogen fertilizer to their fields and has environmental implications for the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
FSU researchers track nutrient transport in the Gulf of Mexico
Researchers from Florida State University found no evidence that nitrate from the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River System is mixing across the Northern Gulf shelf into the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The findings are consistent with recent modeling work by fellow scientists that indicates 90 percent of Mississippi River nutrients are retained in the near-shore ecosystem, which implies that nutrients from the Mississippi River do not leave the Gulf.

Tulane selected for one of three $27 million U.S.-Israel Energy Centers
The goal of the Center is to help propel energy security and economic development, while facilitating cooperation among U.S. and Israeli companies, research institutes and universities.
Marco and Laura: Two storms join pandemic and ongoing recovery as crises in the Gulf of Mexico
The University of Delaware has several experts who can comment on disaster response and the challenge of dealing with multiple crises as two major storms churn simultaneously in the Gulf of Mexico. Jennifer Trivedi: Has a new book about the 15th…
Hurricane Katrina, 15 years later: Lessons learned could help as Tropical Storms Marco and Laura approach
This week marks 15 years since Hurricane Katrina, an ominous anniversary as communities in the Gulf of Mexico prepare for the arrival of Tropical Storms Marco and Laura. The storms combine to add even more woes for folks dealing with the…

Study First to Show Tiger Sharks’ Travels and Desired Hangouts in the Gulf of Mexico
Using sophisticated satellite telemetry, a study is the first to provide unique insights into how tiger sharks move and use habitats in the Gulf of Mexico across life-stages. Data provide an important baseline for comparison against, and/or predicting their vulnerability to future environmental change such as climate variability or oil spills.
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Kicks Off Virtual Tools Café in August
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance Tool Time with Dave starts August 4th. Sponsored by Esri, the virtual series features 8 interactive webinars on 24 of the latest resources for Gulf of Mexico.

A New Look at Deep-Sea Microbes
Microbes found deeper in the ocean are believed to have slow population turnover rates and low amounts of available energy. But microbial communities found deeper in seafloor sediments and around hydrocarbon seepage sites have now been found to have more energy available and a higher population turnover. Deeper sediments in the seepages are most likely heavily impacted by the material coming up from the bottom, which means that the seep could be supporting a larger amount of biomass than previously thought.

Tulane study calls for alternatives to Bonnet Carré Spillway to improve river management
The study underscores the urgency of identifying alternatives to improve river management and confront the new normal of more frequent river floods.
Homeowner Handbooks Help Prepare for Natural Disasters
The Homeowners Handbook to Prepare for Natural Disasters is a critical resource for anyone wanting to reduce the risks to their family and property from natural hazards. The handbook covers essential information on emergency preparedness, evacuation planning, flood/wind insurance, and steps to protect life and property.

FSU RESEARCHER DETECTS UNKNOWN SUBMARINE LANDSLIDES IN GULF OF MEXICO
A Florida State University researcher has used new detection methods to identify 85 previously unknown submarine landslides that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico between 2008 and 2015, leading to questions about the stability of oil rigs and other structures, such as pipelines built in the region.
FSU researchers study Gulf of Mexico in international collaboration
Florida State University and partner universities investigated current baseline conditions in the southern Gulf of Mexico to create a series of maps and guides that detail the distribution of carbon, nitrogen and the carbon-14 isotope.
New Studies to Uncover the Costs of Florida’s Red Tide
GCOOS and NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) are funding two new studies designed to uncover the full costs of harmful algal blooms (HABs) across numerous sectors — from tourism and seafood to industries where impacts are less visible, such as healthcare and construction.

What did scientists learn from Deepwater Horizon?
In a review paper published in the journal Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, WHOI marine geochemists Elizabeth Kujawinski and Christopher Reddy review what they— and their science colleagues from around the world—have learned from studying the spill over the past decade.
A DECADE OF RESEARCH: FSU EXPERTS AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Ten years ago, an estimated 200 million gallons of oil flowed into the Gulf of Mexico from a damaged well below the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig. Scientists and first responders scrambled to predict where the released…
Gulf of Mexico Alliance Gulf Star Program Yields Cumulative Results
The Gulf of Mexico Alliance released the 2019 Gulf Star Program annual report. It showcases the successful results of the regional public-private partnership. Gulf Star funds projects related to seafood, habitat, water resources, and much more.