Monday, February 22, 2016

Monday, February 22, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM EC14E-1050: Modulation of residual currents in Rhode Island Sound by stratification and the spring-neap cycle Christina Wertman University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography David Ullman University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Chistopher Kincaid University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Daniel Codiga University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Anna Pfeiffer-Herbert Stockton University Circulation near estuarine-shelf interfaces controls important physical, chemical and biological exchange processes. A component of residual flow, or tidal rectification, can occur due to sloping bathymetry in these coastal areas due to the transfer of momentum from tidal frequencies to subtidal frequencies. Factors controlling rectification include available tidal kinetic energy and summer stratification. Many inner coastal areas have regions where stratification balances tidal mixing creating a mixing front and strong residual flow. In addition to solar insolation and freshwater input, tidal mixing can modulate the position of this front. Rhode Island Sound (RIS) located south of Narragansett Bay and open to continental shelf waters is a convenient area to study different forcing of subtidal residual flow. We analyze data from moored Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers, chains of moored thermistors and conductivity- temperature- depth (CTD) instruments to study hydrography in this area from late 2009 to late 2011. Seasonal differences in the residual flow are observed with an intensification of a surface cyclonic flow around the periphery of RIS in the spring and summer, concurrent with an increase in stratification. Tidal kinetic energy is positively correlated with residual velocities at stations located in RIS. Along the periphery of RIS, residual velocities increase from neap tides to spring tides with the most significant velocity increase occurring in the top 25 % of the water. High amplitude (Spring) tides generate more vertical mixing at the near-shore stations than during neap cycles, corresponding to a significantly stronger RIS periphery current. We hypothesize that an increase in tidal kinetic energy over the spring-neap cycle changes both local hydrography and residual velocities through modification of tidal rectification and tidal mixing. Such changes in the periphery current will influence how, for example, nutrients and larvae from central RIS enter Narragansett Bay and how the semi-diurnal outflow from the Bay is either advected from or re-entrained into the system.

Monday, February 22, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM HE14B-1408: Numerical Simulations of Arctic Surface Ocean Properties: Does Floating Ice Matter? Arash Bigdeli University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Brice Loose University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

The Arctic ocean mixed layer is a dynamic region where momentum, heat and salt fluxes are influenced by presence of seasonal sea-ice. Recent studies have brought particular focus to secular changes in freshwater content, ocean fetch, sea ice drift velocity, and the interactions between sea ice and ocean swell. These processes that take place in seasonally ice-covered waters represent a particular challenge for coupled air-sea-ice modeling. In the MITgcm, a tradeoff has emerged between realistic or the so-called “floating” ice formulation, and the more commonly used “levitating” ice formulation. The levitating formulation avoids changes in the ocean grid and is less-prone to instabilities, but it potentially sacrifices realism by not conserving freshwater and eliminating the effect of sea ice pressure on the water surface. In this study we explored the effect that these two formulations have on reproducing the recent dramatic changes in the Beaufort Gyre. We use Regional Arctic Configuration of MITgcm with different ice-physics -levitating vs. floating to explore how the freshwater buildup , Ekman circulation, and the marginal ice zone evolve using these two formulations We discuss the practical challenges of utilizing the floating ice model, and we compare the results of these two simulation with data from Ice-tethered profilers and current meters on top 200 meters of the Beaufort Gyre. We discuss the results in the context of using regional models to predict future changes to the Arctic marginal ice zone.

Monday, February 22, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ME14B-0604: Observed foraging behaviour of killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the northwest Atlantic Tara Stevens University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Jack Lawson Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada Robert Kenney University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the northwest Atlantic have been observed feeding on a variety of prey types with >35 cases of confirmed consumption and >55 other interactions since 1866. They have been documented harassing, attacking, and eating minke (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), dolphins, porpoises, seals, tuna, birds, and other prey. However, it remains unknown whether killer whales are prey specialists in this region. It is likely that distribution, movement, and residency patterns of killer whales are linked to those of their prey. Some killer whales appear to remain year-round in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) and have been sighted during the spring within pack ice, potentially feeding on breeding seals. Killer whales in southern areas, such as the Gulf of Maine, are sighted less frequently and have historically been in association with Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus). A majority of successful and confirmed attacks involve minke whales in NL during the summer months, suggesting that minke whales may be one of the most important prey for killer whales in this region. Killer whales are apex predators and so detailing their foraging behaviour in the northwest Atlantic is critical for assessing their influence in this marine ecosystem.

Monday, February 22, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM PO14D-2844: Sub-diurnal Variation of SST Gradients in Infrared Satellite Data John Salter University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Peter Cornillon University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Carol Clayson Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Ocean fronts are known to influence many physical, biological, and chemical processes including ocean mixing, air-sea interaction, cloud and wind patterns, and marine productivity. Satellite-derived Sea Surface Temperature (SST) measurements are an invaluable tool in studying ocean fronts because of the large spatial and temporal coverage of satellite data, extending back as far as the early 1980s. One of the limitations to satellite-derived ocean fronts is that they provide no information about the underlying vertical structure; furthermore, the dynamics on sub-diurnal time scales for ocean fronts are poorly understood. In this poster we examine the daily signal of SST gradient magnitudes for the eastern Mediterranean sea as the first step in quantifying a subset of ocean fronts globally and how they vary on sub-diurnal time scales. We find that mean gradient magnitude in summer months increases and peaks around 2-4 PM Local Sun Time (LST). We find that the peak in summer months results from an increase in the magnitude of weaker gradients while the magnitude of the strongest gradients decrease; however, the weaker gradients contribute more strongly to the mean signal, resulting in the increase. The mid-afternoon peak in SST gradient magnitude disappears in winter with only a suggestion of a peak earlier in the day although the paucity of cloud free data in winter precludes making a statistically significant statement in this regard.

Monday, February 22, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM PC14D-2088: The Polar Front in Drake Passage: A Composite-mean Stream-coordinate View Annie Foppert University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Kathleen Donohue University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography D Watts University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

The Polar Front (PF) in Drake Passage is studied using 4 years of data collected by a line of current and pressure recording inverted echo sounders complemented with satellite altimetry. Two preferred locations of the PF are found. A northern and southern PF are separated geographically by a seafloor ridge - the Shackleton Fracture Zone - and hydrographically by 17 cm of geopotential height. Expressed in stream coordinates, vertical structures of buoyancy were determined with a gravest empirical mode analysis. Baroclinic velocity referenced to zero at 3500 dbar, width, and full transport (about 70 Sv) of the jets are statistically indistinguishable; the two jets alternately carry the full transport rather than coexisting. The influence of local bathymetry and deep cyclogenesis manifests as differences in deep reference velocity structures. Downstream reference velocities of the PF-N and PF-S reach maximum speeds of 0.09 and 0.06 m/s, respectively. Buoyancy fields are indicative of upwelling and poleward residual circulation at the PF. Based on potential vorticity fields and mixing length estimates, the northern and southern PF both act as a barrier to cross-frontal exchange.

Monday, February 22, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM PO14C-2802: Sensitivity of Inverse Box Model Estimates to Mesoscale and Interannual Variability David Trossman Goddard Earth Sciences Technology and Research Johns Hopkins University Jaime Palter McGill University University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Loic Jullion MIO-AMU CNRS

Inverse models applied to hydrographic sections provide one of the few observation-based estimates of the global overturning circulation and global-scale mixing, against which ocean models are frequently compared. These inverse models work under the assumptions of a steady-state ocean circulation, that the mesoscale variability that occurs on the time scale it takes to gather hydrographic data is negligible, that the hydrographic data adequately samples mean properties, and that the inverse model’s dynamical constraints are good time-mean approximations. If the presence of eddies or interannual variability in the observations utilized violate these assumptions, the inferred overturning streamfunction and diapycnal diffusivities inferred from the inverse box model may have substantial uncertainty that is not rigorously accounted for in traditional error budgets. Here we assess these sources of error by sampling a strongly-eddying (1/10th degree) climate model as if by a ship and applying inverse methods to the virtual hydrographic transects.

Monday, February 22, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM IS14A-2283: The Wire Flyer Towed Profiling System Christopher Roman University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

The Wire Flyer is an autonomous profiling vehicle that slides up and down a standard towed cable in a controlled manner using the lift created by wing foils. The vehicle is able to create high resolution water-column sections within a specified depth band in an automated manner. The Wire Flyer is different than standard undulating tow bodies in that it decouples the vehicle's motion from the tow cable dynamics. Due to this separation the vehicle is able to profile with nearly 1:1 horizontal to vertical motion. A heavy depressor weight is fixed to the end of the cable and the cable shape remains relatively static during operation. The vehicle uses a closed loop wing angle controller to achieve desired vertical velocities between 0 and 2.5 m/s for ship speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 m/s. During typical operations, updated commands and condensed data samples can be sent to and from the vehicle via an acoustic modem to adjust the profiling pattern to ensure the desired coverage. The current 1000 meter rated vehicle is equipped with a SBE 49 FastCAT CTD, and can carry additional sensors for oxygen, Chlorophyll fluorescence and acoustic echosounding. Results showing the vehicle performance as well as the quality of the processed CTD data will be presented from three test cruises to the New England Shelf Break Front. Many shallow and deep sections were obtained with horizontal resolution that is not otherwise achievable with undulating tow bodies, underway CTDs, standard CTD tow-yos, gliders or free swimming AUVs. A typical survey at ship speeds of 3-4 knots can profile over a depth band between 200 and 600 meters depth with a repeat cycle length of less than 1 km. The vehicle concept is depth independent and could work with a full ocean depth design. Application areas for the system include sub-meso scale observations of fronts, vent and seep plumes, oxygen minimum layers, mixing and mid-water bioacoustics.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM MM21A: Microbial Interactions in Ocean Ecosystems: Ecology to Biogeochemistry I Chairs Tatiana Rynearson University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Dana Hunt Duke University

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM MM23A: Microbial Interactions in Ocean Ecosystems: Ecology to Biogeochemistry II Chairs Tatiana Rynearson University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Dana Hunt Duke University

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 02:30 PM - 02:45 PM MM23A-03: Marine Microscale Interactions: Exploring the Ecological Relationships Between a Cosmopolitan Eukaryotic Diatom Thalassiosira rotula and its Associated Heterotrophic Bacterial Assemblage Olivia Ahern University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Tiffany Williams Duke University Kerry Whittaker Bates College Coastal Studies for Girls Dana Hunt Duke University Tatiana Rynearson University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Interspecies microscale interactions between eukaryotic marine diatoms and heterotrophic bacteria play a role in global oceanic biogeochemical cycling by influencing nutrient and carbon cycling, rates of primary production, and phytoplankton community structure. Studies have shown that marine diatoms carry a specific bacterial assemblage in their phycosphere, but little research has been done to identify these bacterial species and to characterize their ecological relationships despite their strong potential to regulate diatom growth and production. In order to further explore ecological interactions between bacteria and diatoms, we are characterizing the taxonomic composition of phycosphere communities from isolates of the cosmopolitan marine diatom Thalassiosira rotula collected from around the globe and identifying whether environmental factors, different host T. rotula strains, space or season correlate with different phycosphere communities. For our initial analyses, we amplified and sequenced the 16S rDNA v34 region of the phycosphere assemblage of 53 T. rotula isolates from eight locations around the globe and obtained > 420,000 paired-end sequences. We identified > 250 different bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Although many OTUs were shared across populations which identified to members of Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, we identified distinct bacterial assemblages associated with different locations. The presence of distinct phycosphere bacterial communities may regulate diatom growth which potentially affects rates of primary production, nutrient bioavailablity, and, ultimately, energy transfer to higher trophic levels.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM PC24A-2118: The absence of an Atlantic imprint on the multidecadal variability of wintertime European temperature Jaime Palter McGill University University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Ayako Yamamoto McGill University

Multi-decadal variability in North Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SST) is a prominent component of Northern Hemisphere climate: Sahel drought, Atlantic hurricanes, large-scale atmospheric circulation, and summertime European temperature and precipitation all respond sensitively to low-frequency variability in North Atlantic SST. It is therefore surprising that an imprint of North Atlantic multidecadal variability is conspicuously absent in western European temperature in wintertime, despite the fact that Europe's maritime climate is strongly influenced by its neighbouring ocean, where multidecadal variability in basin-average SST persists in all seasons. Here, we trace the cause of the missing imprint of North Atlantic SST multidecadal variability on European wintertime temperature to a dynamic response of the atmospheric circulation that masks its thermodynamic response to SST anomalies. Specifically, the pathways Lagrangian particles take to Europe are sufficiently different during anomalous SST winters to suppress the expected fluctuations in turbulent air-sea heat exchange accumulated along those trajectories. Because decadal variability in North Atlantic-average SST is thought to be driven largely by variability in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), the atmosphere's dynamical adjustment to this mode of variability may have important implications for the European wintertime temperature response to a projected 21st century AMOC decline.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ED24A-1658: Spatial Variability and Structure of Hydrothermal Ecosystems at the Tempus Fugit Vent on the Galápagos Spreading Center Nicole Raineault Ocean Exploration Trust Clara Smart University of Rhode Island Leigh Marsh University of Southampton Tim Shank WHOI Charles Fisher Pennsylvania State University Robert Ballard Ocean Exploration Trust

Our early understanding of hydrothermal vent ecology originated from the historic vent sites along the Galápagos Spreading Center (GSC). In 1977, images of these newly discovered chemosynthetic environments changed the way scientists viewed life at depths beyond which sunlight could penetrate. Since the initial discovery, large-scale disturbances as a result of eruptive and tectonic activity have both destroyed and created vent habitats along the GSC. Four years ago, visual observations during the discovery of the active Tempus Fugit vent site at 86°W revealed a large peripheral field of dead vesicomyid clams, indicative of the persistence of hydrothermal activity at this field, likely for more than 20 years. From our knowledge of succession at these vent communities, the occurrence of juvenile clams amongst mature live clams, bathymodiolus mussels and siboglinid tubeworms indicates that there have been multiple colonization events. Riftia tubeworms only observed in nascent stages of growth in 2011 now have have tubes almost 4 m in length in some cases. In 2015 the E/V Nautilus mapped an area of diffuse flow in the Tempus Fugit field (100 m x 150 m) at centimeter level resolution using the standard ROV Hercules imaging suite, comprised of stereo cameras and a structured light laser sensor. This system, along with ROV HD video, samples, and environmental sensors, documented hydrothermal activity and biological community structure (e.g., Riftia tubeworms only observed in nascent stages of growth in 2011 now, in 2015, have tubes almost 4 m in length). Analysis of the resulting high-resolution photo mosaic and samples will address questions regarding distribution of species surrounding hydrothermal activity. This large-scale cohesive imagery provides us with information about the community structure associated with these ecosystems at a moment in time, while the assessment of fluid flow and associated faunal assemblages will provide a proxy for the temporal and spatial variability of venting activity at the Tempus Fugit site.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM MM24B: Microbial Interactions in Ocean Ecosystems: Ecology to Biogeochemistry III Posters Chairs Tatiana Rynearson University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Dana Hunt Duke University

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM PO24B-2931: Spatial Correlations: A Measure of the Relationship Between SST Fronts and Bottom Topography. Yackar Mauzole University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Peter Cornillon University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Past studies have suggested that bottom topography may play an important role in the spatial distribution of sea surface temperature (SST) fronts. In this study we compare maps of front probability and mean SST gradient (at the frontal locations) with the bathymetric gradient. Front probability and mean SST gradients are based on fronts detected by a slightly modified version of the Cayula-Cornillon algorithm applied to the Level 3 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) 4km Pathfinder SST dataset (1982-2011) between 60°S and 60°N. The correlation between front probability and bathymetry shows that a substantial fraction of submesoscale and mesoscale SST fronts are detected at locations where the bathymetric gradient is significant, with the correlation being particularly strong for coastal fronts, but also observable for the equatorial frontal systems off South America and Africa and for Subpolar fronts. The correlation between mean SST gradient at frontal locations and bathymetry shows that, with the exception of regions associated with strong, large scale currents, such as the ACC and the Gulf Stream, the larger the gradient the tighter the correlation. The seasonal variability of these correlations is also discussed.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ED24A-1652: Enabling the Telepresence Paradigm for the UNOLS Community - Guidance for Scientists and Ship Operators Dwight Coleman University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Alice Doyle UNOLS Telepresence, as applied to ocean science, refers to a suite of communication technologies and methodologies that provide a means for individuals or groups to participate in oceanographic research cruises from remote locations. The implementation of telepresence allows for shore- based users to participate at sea without being physically present on ship. This is not necessarily a new idea, however its application for supporting seagoing ocean research is relatively new, particularly with the advent of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Ocean Exploration and Research (NOAA-OER) Program. Ships such as the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer and the Ocean Exploration Trust’s E/V Nautilus have implemented telepresence-based operations that can serve as models for other ships and programs. The technology has also been tested on several University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) vessels for purposes of conducting remote science and remote cruise participation, in addition to facilitating live interactive educational broadcasts. Coordinated through UNOLS, the Research Vessel Technical Enhancement Committee (RVTEC) and the Ship/Shore Communications Subcommittee, has compiled recommendations for improving satellite bandwidth across the fleet, with an approach toward supporting telepresence operations in the future on certain ships. We will report on the compilation of a document entitled “Telepresence Guidance for Scientists and Ship Operators” to provide recommendations and best practices for groups who seek to support or implement the telepresence paradigm in their operation. The document presents examples for the different levels of telepresence including shipboard equipment provisioning, personnel staffing and bandwidth requirements, and need for various levels of shore-based support, depending on the need.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM PO24B-2941: A Baroclinic Eddy Mixer: Supercritical Transformation of Compensated Eddies Georgi Sutyrin University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography In contrast to many real-ocean rings and eddies, circular vortices with initial lower layer at rest tend to be highly unstable in idealized two-layer models, unless their radius is made small or the lower layer depth is made artificially large. Numerical simulations of unstable vortices with parameters typical for ocean eddies revealed strong deformations and pulsations of the vortex core in the two-layer setup due to development of corotating tripolar structures in the lower layer during their supercritical transformation. The addition of a middle layer with the uniform potential vorticity weakens vertical coupling between the upper and lower layer that enhances vortex stability and makes the vortex lifespan more realistic. Such a three-layer vortex model possesses smaller lower interface slope than the two-layer model that reduces the potential vorticity gradient in the lower layer and provides with less unstable configurations. While cyclonic eddies become only slightly deformed and look nearly circular when the middle layer with uniform potential vorticity is added, anticyclonic eddies tend to corotating and pulsating elongated states through potential vorticity stripping and stirring. Enhanced vortex stability in such three-layer setup has important implications for adequate representation of the energy transfer across scales.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ME24E-0765: Habitat Parameters for Oxygen Minimum Zone Copepods from the Eastern Tropical North Pacific Karen Wishner University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Dawn Outram University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Benjamin Grassian University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Oxygen minimum zones (OMZs) affect zooplankton distributions and may be expanding in worldwide spatial and vertical extent from climate change. We studied zooplankton (especially copepod) distributions in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific (ETNP) OMZ, using day-night vertically-stratified MOCNESS tows (0-1000m). Habitat parameters (temperature, oxygen, depth) were defined for abundant copepod species and groups. Zooplankton layers, with a unique suite of species, occurred at upper and lower OMZ oxyclines. At the mesopelagic lower oxycline, there was a layer with a characteristic species assemblage and a sharp 10X biomass increase compared to nearby depths. The lower oxycline layer occurred within a narrow very low oxygen concentration (2µM). At two stations with different OMZ vertical extents, the lower oxycline layer depth changed with OMZ thickness, remaining at the same oxygen concentration but different temperature. Life history habitat (diapause depth, temperature) of the copepod Eucalanus inermis was also affected. In the upper water column at the two stations, large diel vertical migrators (fish, euphausiids) descended to taxon-specific daytime depths in the mid OMZ, regardless of oxygen level, but copepod species distributions showed more variability and sensitivity to habitat parameters. We predict that, with moderate OMZ expansion, the lower oxycline community will likely shift depth, thus re-distributing midwater biomass, species, and processes. In the upper water column, large vertical migrator distributions may be less affected, while smaller taxa (copepods) will likely be sensitive to habitat changes. At some point, the ability to withstand these changes may be exceeded for particular taxa, with consequences for assemblages, trophic webs, and export. In keeping with the session theme, we hope to compare our oceanic findings with others’ results from coastal hypoxic situations.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ED24A-1659: Engaging the Public in the 38th Voyage Of The Whaling Ship the Charles W. Morgan with Coastal Telepresence Technology Ivar Babb University of Connecticut at Avery Point Dwight Coleman University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Matthew Lawrence NOAA

The world’s last remaining sail-powered whaling ship, the Charles W. Morgan, conducted her 38th voyage in 2014 traveling from Mystic, CT to NOAA’s Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary (SBNMS) as a symbolic journey to one of the world’s premier whale watching sites. This voyage captured the renaissance of the Morgan from a whale hunting ship to an emissary of ocean conservation. Low cost, microwave-based telepresence technology was installed aboard the Morgan, her support ship the M/V Rohan (a fishing vessel) and linked to the Pilgrim Monument to enable ship-to-shore webcasts that featured Sanctuary researchers, historians, artists and authors onboard the Morgan highlighting their research and outreach activities. A partnership NURTEC at UConn, the Inner Space Center at URI, NOAA, SBNMS and the Mystic Seaport developed comprehensive research and historical content that was incorporated into the broadcasts, which were delivered to thousands of viewers. The concept of telepresence as envisioned for the Morgan’s voyage was not simply broadcasting a single camera feed, but to turn the Morgan into a mobile “news studio” that allowed multiple cameras onboard to focus on the business of sailing the ship, interviews with experts in maritime history and marine science onboard, and other onboard programming. In addition, an onshore studio was set up at the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, MA that integrated additional historians, scientists and archaeologists into the webcasts. The public was able to follow the Morgan’s visit to the sanctuary on OceansLIVE (oceanslive.org) that broadcast three live shows daily from the vessel and other locations from July 11-13th. Each of the shows featured interviews and commentary with historians, scientists, authors and artists discussing the shift from whale hunting to whale watching in New England. This talk will review the range of science presented and provide an overview of the enabling technologies.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ED24A-1662: Increasing Shore-based Participation of Scientists & Students in Telepresence-enabled Nautilus Expeditionsf Katherine Bell Ocean Exploration Trust Nicole Raineault Ocean Exploration Trust Steve Carey University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Gregor Eberli University of Miami Barbara John University of Wyoming Michael Cheadle University of Wyoming

As the US oceanographic research fleet shrinks, reducing seagoing opportunities for scientists and students, remote participation in cruises via telepresence will become increasingly vital. The Nautilus Exploration Program is improving the experience of shoreside participants through the development of new tools and methodologies for connecting them to expeditions in real time increasing accessibility to oceanographic cruises. The Scientist Ashore Program is a network of scientists around the world who participate in Exploration Vessel Nautilus expeditions from their own labs or homes. We have developed a suite of collaboration tools to allow scientists to view video and data in real time, as well as to communicate with ship-based and other shore-based participants to enable remote participation in cruises. Post-cruise, scientists and students may access digital data and biological and geological samples from our partner shore-based repositories: the University of Rhode Island Inner Space Center, Harvard Museum of Comparative Zoology, and URI Marine Geological Samples Lab. We present examples of successful shore-based participation by scientists and students in Nautilus expeditions. In 2013, Drs. Cheadle and John stood watch 24/7 with ten undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Wyoming, recording geologic features and samples, during a cruise to the Cayman Rise. The Straits of Florida & Great Bahama Bank cruise was co- led by Dr. Eberli at the University of Miami in 2014, greatly complementing existing data. That same year, the ISC hosted four early career scientists and their twelve undergraduate students who led dives from shore in collaboration with Dr. Carey, Lead Scientist at sea on the Kick’em Jenny Volcano & the Barbados Mud Volcanoes cruise. In 2015, 12 Scientists Ashore worked in collaboration with the ship-based team on the exploration of Galapagos National Park, and more than 20 are working with OET on post-cruise data & sample analysis.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ED24A-1660: Piloting Telepresence-Enabled Education and Outreach Programs from a UNOLS Ship - Live Interactive Broadcasts from the R/V Endeavor Dwight Coleman University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Shannon Donovan Scituate High School, RI Richard Sanders US Coast Guard Academy Andrea Gingras University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Alex DeCiccio University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography MarieAlyse Pereira University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Erin Bilbo University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

The University of Rhode Island’s R/V Endeavor was recently equipped with a new satellite telecommunication system and a telepresence system to enable live ship-to-shore broadcasts and remote user participation through the Inner Space Center. The Rhode Island Endeavor Program, which provides state-funded ship time to support local oceanographic research and education, funded a 5-day cruise off the Rhode Island coast that involved a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, students, educators and video producers. Using two remotely operated vehicle (ROV) systems, several dives were conducted to explore various shipwrecks including the German WWII submarine U-853. During the cruise, a team of URI ocean engineers supported ROV operations and performed engineering tests of a new manipulator. Colleagues from the United States Coast Guard Academy operated a small ROV to collect imagery and environmental data around the wreck sites. Additionally, a team of engineers and oceanographers from URI tested a new acoustic sound source and small acoustic receivers developed for a fish tracking experiment. The video producers worked closely with the participating scientists, students and two high school science teachers to communicate the oceanographic research during live educational broadcasts streamed into Rhode Island classrooms, to the public Internet, and directly to Rhode Island Public Television. This work contributed to increasing awareness of possible career pathways for the Rhode Island K-12 population, taught about active oceanographic research projects, and engaged the public in scientific adventures at sea. The interactive nature of the broadcasts included live responses to questions submitted online and live updates and feedback using social media tools. This project characterizes the power of telepresence and video broadcasting to engage diverse learners and exemplifies innovative ways to utilize social media and the Internet to draw a varied audience.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 09:45 AM - 10:00 AM ME31B-08: ----High-Resolution Mapping of Kick‘em Jenny Submarine Volcano and Associated Landslides Tyler Ruchala Texas A&M University Steve Carey University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Laney Hart Michigan State University Max Chen Texas A&M University Carly Scott Michigan State University Masako Tominaga Texas A&M University Frederic Dondin University of the West Indies Masakazu Fujii Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute University of Tokyo To understand the physical and geological processes that drive the volcanism and control the morphology of Kick‘em Jenny (KEJ) volcano, the only active submarine volcano in the in the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc, we conducted near-source, high-resolution mapping of KEJ and its subsurface using the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Hercules during cruise NA054 of the E/V Nautilus (Sept.-Oct. 2014). Shipboard bathymetric data (EM302 system) and slope analysis maps were used to decipher the detailed seafloor morphology surrounding KEJ. Multiple generations of submarine landslides and canyons were observed, suggesting the area has been hosting dynamic sediment transport systems at multiple scales over time. Some of them might have been associated by past eruptions. Clear contacts between partially lithified carbonate sediments and volcanic formations were identified from ROV videos at the middle of the landslide slope face. Detailed observations of facies on these exposures provide constraints on the time intervals between landslide events along the western slope of KEJ. ROV video imagery also identified outcrops of columnar basalts located in the middle of the landslide deposits. These are similar in appearance to those observed in the KEJ crater during previous ROV dives, indicating a possible travel distance of volcanic materials from the crater region along landslide path. High-resolution photo mosaics, bathymetry, and magnetic data acquired by ROV Hercules were used to investigate geological processes and the possible volcanic source of landslide material within the KEJ crater. Mapping in the northwestern part of the crater floor revealed distinctive regions, including (i) microbial mats, (ii) active hydrothermal vent sites; (iii) landforms curved by channelized bottom current where seafloor is outcropped; and (iv) coarse scree the distribution of which may correlate with the distance from the crater rim. Near-bottom magnetic profiles show coherent magnetic signatures with correlatable high amplitude anomalies located in the middle of the KEJ crater.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM ED33A: Integrating Ocean and Climate Science across the Pipeline: K-Graduate Level and Informal Education Initiatives I Primary Chair Gail Scowcroft University of Rhode Island Chairs David Lustick University of Massachusetts Lowell William Spitzer New England Aquarium Rachel Luther University of Southern Mississippi

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 02:45 PM - 03:00 PM ME33A-04: Same same but different - quantifying the importance of intra-specific variability to plankton biodiversity Susanne Menden-Deuer University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Julie Marie Rowlett Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden

Planktonic microbes are vastly more diverse than theoretically explicable (Hutchinson 1961). We recently suggested that intra-specific variability was the key characteristic that allowed co- existence of dozens of planktonic species because the outcome of competitions between individuals with variable competitive abilities was unpredictable (Menden-Deuer and Rowlett 2014). Building on this game-theoretic model, here we examine the quantitative consequences of different degrees of intra-specific variability on species survival and co-existence probability. Frequency distributions of species competitive abilities (i.e. species behavior distributions SBD) vary, including invariant distributions with each individual’s competitive ability identical to the mean to entirely bimodal distributions, consisting only of individuals with the highest and lowest competitive ability. In total, we explore the effect of 14 different SBDs on species survival probability in individual-based competition model simulations across varying durations and population sizes. We find that particularly at small population sizes intra-specific diversity enhances survival probability and for some SBDs extinctions are not observed. These results have implications for anticipating species ability to withstand changing environmental conditions and understand diverse planktonic communities in a seemingly uniform ocean.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 03:15 PM - 03:30 PM HE33A-06: The response of the biogeographic distribution of the copepod Calanus glacialis to a changing Arctic marine environment Zhixuan Feng Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Rubao Ji Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Carin Ashjian Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Jinlun Zhang University of Washington Robert Campbell University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

The Arctic marine environment has been undergoing dramatic change in the past few decades, especially in terms of sea ice loss and ocean warming, which may modify the phenology of marine plankton and have potential cascading impacts on upper trophic levels. Here, we seek to understand how the biogeographic distribution of an Arctic endemic copepod species, Calanus glacialis, may respond to substantial inter-annual variability in ocean circulation, ocean temperature, sea ice, and its phytoplankton prey. We use a copepod individual-based model that is coupled to an ice-ocean-ecosystem model to simulate temperature- and food-dependent life history development for C. glacialis from 1980 to 2014. Annual biogeographic distributions of successfully diapausing C. glacialis individuals are analyzed in conjunction with four critical factors in copepod development: reproduction timing, growth season length, ambient temperature and food conditions. Model results agree with observed biogeographic distributions that show C. glacialis is a shelf and slope species and cannot colonize the vast majority of the central Arctic basins. Both capital- and income-breeding reproductive strategies are implemented in the model by inferring initial egg release timing from the occurrence of two primary production blooms (i.e. ice algal and phytoplankton blooms), in order to test the hypothesis of the impact of timing match-mismatch between emergence/reproduction of C. glacialis and snow melt, ice retreat, and availability of food on C. glacialis population success.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM PO34A-3040: Surface Currents and Tidal Ellipses from Hourly Variations of Suspended Sediment from Geostationary Ocean Color Imager Data Kyung-Ae PARK Seoul National University Ji Eun Park Seoul National University Min Sun Lee Seoul National University David Ullman University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

The significant capability of Geostationary Ocean Color Imager (GOCI) observations in space and time has enabled us to retrieve hourly variations of surface currents under clear sky conditions, which had long been impossible from numerous other satellite images. One of the most commonly used methods to retrieve these current vectors was the normalized maximum cross-correlation (NMCC) method, in which a location was estimated with a NMCC coefficient from sequential images. NMCC currents typically show good agreement with in-situ measurements in some cases; however, in many other cases, the level of agreement has been very poor, specifically with highly random current vectors. To resolve such potential problems and for a better definition of the limitations of NMCC currents, we applied this method to time- varying suspended sediment measurements to estimate surface flows in the coastal regions of Korea with strong tidal currents. Preliminary current vectors were filtered out by applying a series of quality-control procedures. The current vectors resulting from the tests were compared with the currents from a tide model and from the Ekman drift. It was found that the NMCC currents were more similar to the currents caused by both tide and wind rather than by the tide only. A high degree of discrepancy was detected in the tidal frontal zone, where the fundamental assumption of horizontal movement was violated due to the dominant vertical tidal mixing in the shallow region. The rotations of the current vectors with time within a day were clarified by a comparison of the time-varying tilting angles of tidal ellipses. The emphasis on the limitations of the NMCC method in this study provide information about how to use this method for a better understanding of surface flows using hourly satellite data.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM EC34B-1178: Spring High Tides and Inundation Risk at Four Northeastern Coastal National Parks Nicole Statler University of Portland University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography SURFO 2015 Amanda Babson National Park Service Narragansett

This project analyzed spring high tides by using the tidal datum mean high water spring (MHWS) and determined inundation risk at four northeastern coastal national parks. We created two tools in the statistical program R, to find MHWS. The first compares elevations of the desired location to a control station. The second and more accurate tool finds and averages all the spring high tides. Record length (between 3-9 months) for various parts of the year at three stations was tested to determine how long of a record is needed to produce an accurate MHWS value. For six months of record length, 87% of the MHWS values had an error of 10 cm or less when compared to the MHWS value found over an entire tidal epoch. The ratio of MHWS to mean high water (MHW) at all the locations except Buntings Bridge at Assateague Island National Seashore had similar ratios. Buntings Bridge’s ratio was smaller, approximately half the size of the other locations including other microtidal sites. The inundation risk due to sea level rise (SLR) for MHWS was then compared to that of MHW to see if there was a difference between the datums under scenarios of 60 cm, 1 m, and 2 m of SLR. Buntings Bridge was the only location where the land was inundated under MHWS but not MHW; this occurred for SLR of 60 cm. SLR trends in MHWS and MHW were compared by looking at long term annual averages.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ED34A: Integrating Ocean and Climate Science across the Pipeline: K-Graduate Level and Informal Education Initiatives II Posters Primary Chair Gail Scowcroft University of Rhode Island Chairs David Lustick University of Massachusetts Lowell William Spitzer New England Aquarium Rachel Luther University of Southern Mississippi

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ED34A-1677: Building a Global Ocean Science Education Network Gail Scowcroft University of Rhode Island Peter Tuddenham College of Exploration Romy Pizziconi University of Rhode Island

It is imperative for ocean science education to be closely linked to ocean science research. This is especially important for research that addresses global concerns that cross national boundaries, including climate related issues. The results of research on these critical topics must find its way to the public, educators, and students of all ages around the globe. To facilitate this, opportunities are needed for ocean scientists and educators to convene and identify priorities and strategies for ocean science education. On June 26 and 27, 2015 the first Global Ocean Science Education (GOSE) Workshop was convened in the United States at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. The workshop, sponsored by the Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement (COSEE) and the College of Exploration, had over 75 participants representing 15 nations. The workshop addressed critical global ocean science topics, current ocean science research and education priorities, advanced communication technologies, and leveraging international ocean research technologies. In addition, panels discussed elementary, secondary, undergraduate, graduate, and public education across the ocean basins with emphasis on opportunities for international collaboration. Special presentation topics included advancements in tropical cyclone forecasting, collaborations among Pacific Islands, ocean science for coastal resiliency, and trans-Atlantic collaboration. This presentation will focus on workshop outcomes as well as activities for growing a global ocean science education network. A summary of the workshop report will also be provided. The dates and location for the 2016 GOES Workshop will be announced. See http://www.coexploration.net/gose/index.html

Wednesday, February 24, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM IS34A-2338: Hidden diversity: Resolving annual and seasonal community composition of a diatom genus in Narragansett Bay through long-term data and molecular analysis Sarah Flickinger University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Tatiana Rynearson University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Diatoms generate 40-50% of oceanic primary production. Understanding the ecology of individual diatom species is essential for generating predictions of phytoplankton community composition, production, export and phenology. Here, we examine the diatom genus Thalassiosira, using data from the Narragansett Bay Long Term Phytoplankton Time Series. This data set is comprised of weekly microscope counts of phytoplankton, physical water column data and nutrient and Chlorophyll a concentrations. We analyzed these data in conjunction with newly generated high-throughput sequencing data obtained from archived DNA samples. Due to limitations of taxonomic identification using light microscopy, an average of 47% of the Thalassiosira species counted over the past 15 years (1999-2014) could not be identified to the species level. Just three species of Thalassiosira could be identified to the species level in this data set through visual counts. In contrast, taxonomic studies have identified 11 different species from Narragansett Bay. Preliminary results utilizing molecular barcoding at the highly-variable V4 region of the 18S ribosomal gene successfully identified multiple Thalassiosira species from the long term time series over a 6 year time period (2009- 2014). The incorporation of new technologies into long-term time series requires extensive validation. A set of experiments designed to examine the extent of 18S copy number variation in the genus Thalassiosira may allow for the integration of microscopy counts and high-throughput sequencing data in a quantitative fashion. Inclusion of methods that provide high-resolution species identification into long term time series has the potential to reveal annual and seasonal variations in species composition that were previously “hidden,” allowing for new insights into the factors that drive both short- and long-term variation in phytoplankton communities.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Thursday, February 25, 2016 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM PC41A: Ocean Heat and Carbon Uptake and Storage: Observations, Mechanisms, and Feedbacks I Primary Chair Thomas Froelicher ETH Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich Chairs Jaime Palter McGill University University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Sarah Purkey Columbia University Adele Morrison Princeton University

Thursday, February 25, 2016 08:30 AM - 08:45 AM HE41A-03: Springtime Renewal of Chukchi Sea Plankton by Northwards Advection from the Bering Sea Carin Ashjian Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Robert Pickart Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Robert Campbell University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Stephen Okkonen University of Alaska Fairbanks Frank Bahr Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Chukchi Sea plankton are primarily comprised of populations that have been advected northwards from the Northern Bering Sea through Bering Strait. Whether populations persist in- situ in the Chukchi Sea or are renewed annually following harsh, overwintering conditions remains un-described. Here we use data from two bio-physical surveys of the Chukchi Sea -- one in early-winter 2011 and the other in late-spring 2104 -- to describe the planktonic distributions and relate them to the seasonal hydrographic conditions. The zooplankton populations in early-winter showed differences in population structure, species abundances, and species occurrence between locations characterized by Canada Basin water types versus Chukchi Sea Winter Water and Bering Sea water. A similar situation existed during the first part of the late-spring cruise, with population structure, species abundance and occurrence being fairly uniform across the middle-northern Chukchi Sea, in Chukchi Sea Winter Water. However, conditions were distinctly different at stations near the shelfbreak that are influenced by Arctic waters. During the latter portion of the late-spring cruise, high abundances of meroplankton, including the previously absent younger copepodid stages of the copepod Calanus glacialis, were observed in the mid-Chukchi Sea. We investigate how the boundary between these different community types is related to the seasonally varying hydrography, and how this Arctic- Subarctic interface progresses northward in time through the Chukchi Sea. Such movement substantially impacts both the planktonic and, through settlement of meroplankton, benthic communities, as well as the prey available for a range of seabirds and marine mammals.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 02:00 PM - 02:15 PM MM43A-01: Multi-Omics Profiling of Phytoplankton Community Metabolism: Linking Meta-Transcriptomics and Metabolomics to Elucidate Phytoplankton Physiology in a Model Coastal System Elizabeth Kujawinski Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Krista Longnecker Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Harriet Alexander MIT-WHOI Joint Program Sonya Dyhrman Columbia University Bethany Jenkins University of Rhode Island Tatiana Rynearson University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Phytoplankton blooms in coastal areas contribute a large fraction of primary production to the global oceans. Despite their central importance, there are fundamental unknowns in phytoplankton community metabolism, which limit the development of a more complete understanding of the carbon cycle. Within this complex setting, the tools of systems biology hold immense potential for profiling community metabolism and exploring links to the carbon cycle, but have rarely been applied together in this context. Here we focus on phytoplankton community samples collected from a model coastal system over a three-week period. At each sampling point, we combined two assessments of metabolic function: the meta-transcriptome, or the genes that are expressed by all organisms at each sampling point, and the metabolome, or the intracellular molecules produced during the community’s metabolism. These datasets are inherently complementary, with gene expression likely to vary in concert with the concentrations of metabolic intermediates. Indeed, preliminary data show coherence in transcripts and metabolites associated with nutrient stress response and with fixed carbon oxidation. To date, these datasets are rarely integrated across their full complexity but together they provide unequivocal evidence of specific metabolic pathways by individual phytoplankton taxa, allowing a more comprehensive systems view of this dynamic environment. Future application of multi- omic profiling will facilitate a more complete understanding of metabolic reactions at the foundation of the carbon cycle.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM PC43A: Ocean Heat and Carbon Uptake and Storage: Observations, Mechanisms, and Feedbacks II Primary Chair Thomas Froelicher ETH Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich Chairs Jaime Palter McGill University University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Sarah Purkey Columbia University Adele Morrison Princeton University

Thursday, February 25, 2016 02:45 PM - 03:00 PM AH43A-04: pCO2 Effects on Species Composition and Growth of an Estuarine Phytoplankton Community Jason Grear US EPA Tatiana Rynearson University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Amanda Montalbano University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Breea Govenar Rhode Island College Susanne Menden-Deuer University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Ocean and coastal waters are experiencing changes in carbonate chemistry, including pH, in response to increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration and the microbial degradation of organic matter associated with nutrient enrichment. The effects of this change on plankton communities have important implications for food webs and biogeochemical cycling. However, conflicting results have emerged regarding responses of phytoplankton species and communities to experimental CO2 enrichment. We performed winter “ecostat” incubations of natural plankton communities from lower Narragansett Bay at ambient bay temperatures (5-13 C), light, and nutrients under three levels of CO2 enrichment simulating past, present and future conditions (mean pCO2 levels were 224, 361, and 724 uatm). Major increases in relative diatom abundance occurred during the experiment but were similar across pCO2 treatments. At the end of the experiment, 24-hr growth responses to pCO2 varied as a function of cell size. The smallest size fraction (<5 µm) grew faster at the elevated pCO2 level. In contrast, the 5-20 µm size fraction grew fastest in the Present treatment and there were no significant differences in growth rate among treatments in the > 20 µm size fraction. Cell size distribution shifted toward smaller cells in both the Past and Future treatments but remained unchanged in the Present treatment. These non-monotonic effects of increasing pCO2 may be related to opposing physiological effects of high CO2 vs low pH both within and among species. Interaction of these effects with other factors (e.g., nutrients, light, temperature, grazing, initial species composition) may explain variability among published studies. The absence of clear treatment-specific effects at the community level suggest that extrapolation of species-specific responses would produce misleading predictions of ocean acidification impacts on plankton production.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM PC44B: Ocean Heat and Carbon Uptake and Storage: Observations, Mechanisms, and Feedbacks III Posters Primary Chair Thomas Froelicher ETH Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich Chairs Jaime Palter McGill University University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Sarah Purkey Columbia University Adele Morrison Princeton University

Thursday, February 25, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM MM44B-0493: Insight into metabolic potential of carbon-poor pelagic sediments derived from the abundance and composition of organic carbon Emily Estes Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Colleen Hansel Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution William Orsi Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Chloe Anderson Boston University Richard Murray Boston University Scott Wankel Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Dana Johnson Northwestern University Dennis Nordlund Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource Arthur Spivack University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Justine Sauvage University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Claire McKinley Texas A & M University College Station Kira Homola University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Theodore Present California Institute of Technology Robert Pockalny University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Steven D'Hondt University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Pelagic marine sediments are often carbon-limited, with oxic sediments bearing exceedingly small concentrations of metabolizable organic carbon (OC) and anoxic sediments lacking electron acceptors to drive heterotrophy. This OC is typically considered recalcitrant and presumed to be of limited bioavailability as much of it is difficult to characterize molecularly. Here, we utilize a combination of spectrometry, spectroscopy, and fluorescent assays to characterize the OC content and composition of sediment cores from the western subtropical North Atlantic collected during R/V Knorr expedition 223 in November 2014. We find that OC concentrations decrease linearly over ~15m burial depth from ~0.15 to 0.075 mol OC/kg sediment, beyond which this lower OC level persists to depths approaching 30m. The ratio of organic carbon to nitrogen (C/N) varies but is consistently close to Redfield values of ~6. Further, protein concentrations within the suboxic sediments are ~1.75 to 4.90 µg protein/mg sediment, values in excess of predicted cell abundance in subsurface sediments. After an initial decrease in concentration between 0-3 meters below core top, protein content increases and stabilizes at ~4 µg protein/mg sediment. RNA is detectable throughout the core and profiles (as µg cDNA amplified/g sediment) generally correlate with the shape of protein profiles. Combined, these results imply a small but active microbial community and the potential for these proteins to fuel heterotrophy at depth. Near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy finds that amide and carboxyl C functionalities comprise ~25% of total spectral area, with the remainder dominated by aromatic C and O-alkyl-C groups. These findings suggest that sedimentary OC contain identifiable components, including a substantial concentration of intact proteins that may fuel heterotrophic microbial communities.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ME44A-0839: Linking Movement to Feeding Behavior in Gyrodinium spirale: Does Prey Type Matter? Sean Anderson University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Susanne Menden-Deuer University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Microzooplankton (<200 µm) are significant grazers of primary production and thus play an important role in oceanic food webs. The athecate dinoflagellate Gyrodinium spirale is known to feed on a wide range of prey items including much larger chain-forming diatoms. Grazing experiments were combined with behavioral studies to investigate the feeding response of G. spirale to different prey. Swimming behavior and population distribution of G. spirale exposed to chemical prey stimuli were tracked via high-resolution video analysis. Maximum growth rate of G. spirale was higher when fed the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa triquetra (0.46 d-1) versus the diatom Skeletonema maranoi (0.19 d-1). G. spirale had a higher maximum ingestion rate (4.48 ng C grazer-1 d-1) when fed H. triquetra. Responses of G. spirale to different prey stimuli will help identify potential prey-specific movement and feeding behavior. Determining prey preference of G. spirale through swimming metrics and growth and ingestion rates may help to infer feeding strategies in situ.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ME44A-0838: Doing More with Less? Toward Increasing the Resolution of Protistan Grazing-rate Measurements. Françoise Morison University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Susanne Menden-Deuer University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

The dilution method is the standard protocol to quantify phytoplankton grazing-mortality rates and has been key in developing an understanding of protistan grazing impact on ocean primary production. Although the method’s extensive use has facilitated the acquisition of a global dataset, its laborious application hinders the sampling resolution needed to fill knowledge gaps remaining at the geographical, seasonal, and vertical scales, and of the effects of climate- related factors influencing grazing magnitude. Here we present a rigorous assessment of an abbreviated method known as the 2-point. We analyzed unpublished results from 77 dilution experiments performed using a series of up to 5 dilutions under a wide range of chlorophyll concentrations and temperatures. We quantified the difference between estimates of both phytoplankton growth and grazing-mortality obtained based on the full dilution series and those obtained when the number of dilutions was reduced to 2. We considered the effect of non- linearity and chlorophyll concentration, and generated quantified estimates of trade-offs when choosing the fraction of seawater in the diluted treatment. Ultimately, we provide an assessment of the reliability of the 2-point method and recommendations on how to apply it.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ED44B-1725: Marine Technology for Teachers and Students: A Multi-modal Approach to Integrate Technology and Ocean Sciences Instruction Andrea Gingras University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Christopher Knowlton University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Gail Scowcroft University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Ivar Babb University of Connecticut at Avery Point Dwight Coleman University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Holly Morin University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

The Marine Technology for Teachers and Students (MaTTS) Project implements a year-long continuum of activities beginning with educators reading and reporting on peer-reviewed publications, followed by face-to-face, hands-on weekend workshops and virtual professional development activities. Teams of teacher and student leaders then participate in an intensive, residential Summer Institute (SI) that emphasizes hands-on building of marine related technologies and exposure to career pathways through direct interactions with ocean scientists and engineers. During the school year, teachers integrate ocean science technology and data into their classrooms and participate, along with colleagues and students from their schools, in science cafes and webinars. Student leaders transfer knowledge gained by engaging their district’s middle school students in ocean science activities and technologies by serving as hosts for live broadcasts that connect classrooms with ocean scientists and engineers though the Inner Space Center, a national ocean science telecommunications hub. Communication technologies bridge formal and informal learning environments, allowing MaTTS participants to interact with their fellow cohort members, scientists, and engineers both during and outside of school. Evaluation results indicate that for teachers both the weekend workshops and SI were most effective in preparing them to integrate ocean science and technology in STEM curricula and increase their ocean science content knowledge and leadership characteristics. For students the SI and the middle school interactions supported gains in knowledge, awareness, leadership skills and interest in ocean sciences and technologies, and related STEM careers. In particular, the connections made by working directly with scientists have positively impacted both student and teacher leaders. This presentation will provide an overview of the MaTTS model and early evaluation results.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM AH44A-0076: Flushing Time Estimates for Estuarine Sub-Regions using Numerical Circulation and Box Models David Ullman University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Hypoxia in estuaries and shelf regions develops when biological oxygen demand exceeds the rate at which oxygen is resupplied by biological and physical processes. An estimate of the timescale for oxygen resupply due to physical processes is the flushing time of the region of interest. The temporal variability of flushing time in various sub-regions of Narragansett Bay, a partially mixed estuary that experiences episodic summertime hypoxia, is investigated using numerical model tracer-based estimates. High-resolution numerical dye simulations, performed using the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS), are used to determine property exchange among the elements of a two-layer ecological box model of the Bay for a two-year period. These results are used to estimate daily flushing times of the ~5 km scale box model elements, and combinations of elements, using several methods. Flushing times of salt and freshwater, while highly correlated, are generally not equal. Median freshwater flushing time for most elements of the Bay is 1-2 days, but in a shallow side embayment in which hypoxic conditions are often observed, the median flushing time is much larger (4-5 days). Fluctuations in river discharge and wind stress are shown to influence the flushing time on timescales of weeks and days respectively. Estimates of the timescale of oxygen drawdown due to respiration suggest that physical processes are an important contributor to the development of hypoxia in this system.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM B44B-0384: Cross-frontal processes and the transport of physical and biogeochemical tracers into the North Pacific and North Atlantic subtropical gyres Ayako Yamamoto McGill University Carolina Dufour Princeton Univ Jaime Palter University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography McGill University Stephen Griffies Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Ivy Frenger Princeton Univ Daniele Bianchi University of California Los Angeles Mariona Claret McGill University John Dunne Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Eric Galbraith McGill University ICREA Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies

Cross-frontal exchange at the boundaries of the subtropical gyres is an important source of nutrients fueling subtropical primary productivity. Exchange across the fronts bounding the subtropical gyres has been shown to occur principally near the surface by Ekman transport and at the critical levels beneath the jet core via mesoscale structures, such as rings shed from frontal systems. Here, we quantitatively assess the role of each of these cross-frontal processes for the transport of physical and biogeochemical tracers across the boundaries of the North Pacific and North Atlantic subtropical gyres using a preindustrial control simulation of an eddying climate model (GFDL's CM2.6) coupled to a biogeochemical model (mini-BLING). The role of mesoscale coherent vortices in the cross-frontal exchanges of the tracers is diagnosed using a recently published algorithm that detects and tracks such mesoscale structures. We address the similarities and differences between the gyres, with a particular focus on the mechanisms supplying nutrients across the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio, motivated by conflicting reports of the importance of ring formation across each of these western boundary currents.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM HE44D-1546: Characterizing the Mechanisms Underlying Southern Ocean Diatom Community Composition Shifts Laura Filliger University of Rhode Island Tom Delmont Marine Biological Laboratory Anne-Carlijn Alderkamp Stanford University Anton Post University of Rhode Island Bethany Jenkins University of Rhode Island

Diatoms play an important role in Southern Ocean (SO) primary production and biogeochemical cycling. We characterized in situ diatom community composition across varying regions of the SO, including a latitudinal transect from Rothera Station to the Ross Sea (RothR), within the Ross Sea Polynya (RSP), and in a bloom observed in the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC). This was accomplished via high-throughput sequencing of the variable V4 region of the 18S rDNA amplified with diatom-targeted primers. Either Pseudo-nitzschia spp. or Fragilariopsis spp. dominated most sampled areas, although community shifts were apparent. A shift from Thalassiosira sp. to Fragilariopsis sp. was detected in the RothR transect. The abundance of Fragilariopsis sp. declined in the RSP, where sequences from Pseudo-nitzschia sp. were the most prevalent and chlorophyll a concentrations were high compared to the RothR transect and the ACC bloom. In the ACC bloom, the diatom community was dominated by two Fragilariopsis spp., while the larger community was composed mainly of haptophytes. We are currently determining how the diatom distributions in these three SO regions correlate with various physicochemical parameters. To develop ecologically relevant laboratory models, we established a culture collection of >300 isolates from two austral summer and winter cruises conducted in 2013-2014. By comparing isolate and community amplicon data, we have determined our culture collection contains representatives of the major taxa identified with molecular barcoding. This will allows us to conduct physiology experiments with relevant and recent culture representatives. With these representatives, we can begin to probe the physiological status of diatoms important in different regions of the SO.

Thursday, February 25, 2016 06:30 PM - 07:30 PM Promoting OceanSTEM and Blue Economy Workforce Development Chair Gail Scowcroft University of Rhode Island Primary Contact Liesl Hotaling Eidos Education/Marine Technology Society Presenters Bradley Moran University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Carlie Wiener Schmidt Ocean Institute Deidre Sullivan Monterey Peninsula College Drew Trent Oceaneering Synopsis As the BlueTech/Blue Economy grows, how will we cultivate a workforce to support the sector? To tackle these needs effectively, partnerships between the research, business, military and education communities are needed to provide skills development opportunities. To be inclusive, these opportunities must also encourage transnational, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility. During this session, we will explore several topics: ● clarifying the definition of a STEM capable workforce ● new, innovative and dynamic education and training pathways ● the voice of the employers ● the role of K-12 education ● developments in university education and their impact on STEM workforce readiness

Friday, February 26, 2016

Friday, February 26, 2016 08:00 AM - 10:00 AM HI51A: Marine Renewable Energy: Resource Characterization, Environmental Impacts, and Societal Interactions I Primary Chair Simon Neill Bangor University Chairs M Reza Hashemi University of Rhode Island Ann Bull Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Zhaoqing Yang Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Friday, February 26, 2016 08:15 AM - 08:30 AM ME51B-02: Seasonal Diversity Patterns of a Coastal Synechococcus Population Kristen Hunter-Cevera University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Heidi Sosik Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Michael Neubert Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Kasia Hammar Marine Biological Laboratory Anton Post University of Rhode Island

Understanding how environmental and ecological factors determine phytoplankton species abundances requires knowledge of the diversity present within a population. For the important primary producer Synechococcus, clades demonstrate differences in temperature tolerance, light acclimation, grazer palatability, and more. Marine Synechococcus populations are often composed of more than one clade, and overall population dynamics will be governed by the types of cells present and by their individual physiological capabilities. We investigate the diversity of the Synechococcus assemblage at the Martha’s Vineyard Coastal Observatory with high-throughput sequencing of the V6 hypervariable region of the 16S rRNA gene. Small nucleotide differences within this region allow for resolution of distinct phylotypes that can have a direct correspondence to the well-defined Synechococcus clades. From a three-year time series, we find that the Synechococcus population is dominated by 5 distinct phylotypes, and that each type exhibits a repeatable, seasonal pattern in relative abundance. We use compositional data analysis techniques to investigate the relationships between these patterns and environmental factors. We further interpret these patterns in the context of Synechococcus population dynamics assessed by automated, submersible flow cytometry (FlowCytobot). Observed diel changes in cell size distributions, coupled with a validated matrix population model, provide estimates of in situ population division rates. We find strong evidence that the main seasonal diversity patterns are governed by temperature, but that biological loss agents likely shape the diversity structure for certain times of year. For some phylotypes, relative abundance patterns are also related to light and nutrients. The composition of Synechococcus over the annual cycle appears to directly affect seasonal features of cell abundance patterns, such as the spring bloom.

Friday, February 26, 2016 08:45 AM - 09:00 AM HI51A-04: The Effect of Waves on the Tidal-Stream Energy Resource Matt Lewis Bangor University Simon Neill Bangor University Peter Robins Bangor University M Reza Hashemi University of Rhode Island

The tidal-stream energy resource is typically estimated using depth-averaged “tide-only” hydrodynamic models and do not consider the influence of waves. We find that waves will reduce the available resource, and the wave climate needs to be considered when designing a resilient and efficient tidal-stream energy device. Using well-validated oceanographic models of the Irish Sea and Northwest European shelf, we show tidal-stream energy sites with quiescent wave climates are extremely limited, with limited sea-space and limited scope for future development. To fully realise the potential of tidal-stream energy and to ensure globally deployable devices, the influence of waves on the resource and turbines must be considered. The effect of waves upon the tidal current was investigated using observations (ADCP and wave buoy time-series), and a state-of-the-art, 3-dimensional, dynamically coupled wave-tide model (COAWST). The presence of waves reduced the depth-averaged tidal current, which reduced the potential extractable power by ~10% per metre wave height increase. To ensure resilience and survivability, tidal-stream energy device may cease to produce electricity during extremes (often called downtime), however the wave conditions threshold for device shut-down is unknown, and requires future work. The presence of waves will also effect turbine performance and design criteria; for example, the presence of waves was found to alter the shape of the velocity profile, and wave-current misalignment (waves propagating at an angle oblique to the plane of tidal flow) was found to occur for a significant amount of time at many potential tidal-stream energy sites. Therefore, waves reduced the available resource, furthermore the influence of waves on the interaction between tidal energy devices and the tidal- stream resource needs to be characterised in physically-scaled tank experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical models.

Friday, February 26, 2016 09:30 AM - 09:45 AM HE51B-07: On the Long-term Stability of the Lofoten Basin Eddy H Rossby University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

In recent years several studies have identified an area of intense anticyclonic activity about 500 km straight west of the Lofoten Islands at 70°N in the northern Norwegian Sea; it is now recognized as the coherent Lofoten Basin Eddy (LBE). While we normally think of coherent eddies as short-lived (months to a few years), we infer here that the eddy may have been in existence for hundreds of years if not longer. First, we show from five acoustic Doppler current profiler surveys that it is quite stable with a rotating solid body core ~1000 m deep and ~8 km radius with relative vorticity close to its theoretical limit –f. The surveys also show the LBE typically has a >60 km radius with maximum swirl velocities at about 17-20 km radius. From the velocity field we estimate the dynamic height amplitude at the surface to be about ~0.21±0.03 dyn. Second, and as others have noted from both hydrography and altimetry, the LBE is maintained by a supply of anticyclonic eddies that break away from the Norwegian Atlantic Current where it appears to go unstable over the steep Lofoten Escarpment. Third, altimetry from the last 20 years shows the extremum in sea surface height relative to the surrounding waters to be about the same over time, 0.2 dyn. m. Altimetric analysis also shows the LBE to undergo a cyclonic wandering over the deepest (>3000 m) part of the Lofoten Basin. Lastly, three hydrographic sections from the 1960s show the dynamic height signal to be virtually the same then as it is now. From these observations we conclude that the LBE is a permanent feature of the Nordic Seas and plays a central role in maintaining the pool of warm water in the western Lofoten Basin. The fact that it is fed and maintained by a continual and plentiful supply of pinched-off eddies from the warm Norwegian Atlantic Current at the Lofoten Escarpment leads us to suggest that the LBE has been in existence for hundreds of years if not longer.

Friday, February 26, 2016 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM A52A-01: Ocean Model Impact Study for Coupled Hurricane Forecasting: An HFIP Initiative Hyun-Sook Kim IMSG at EMC/NCEP/NOAA George Halliwell NOAA Miami Vijay Tallapragada NOAA College Park Peter Black Naval Research Lab Monterey Nicolas Bond University of Washington Sue Chen Naval Research Lab Monterey, Marine Meteorology Joseph Cione Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory Meghan Cronin NOAA Seattle Isaac Ginis University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Bin Liu IMSG at EMC/NCEP/NOAA Laury Miller NOAA Center for Satellite Applications and Reserch Steven Jayne Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Elizabeth Sanabia US Naval Academy Lynn Shay University of Miami Eric Uhlhorn Hurricane Research Division Lin Zhu IMSG at EMC/NCEP/NOAA Established in 2009, the NOAA Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project (HFIP) is a ten-year project to promote accelerated improvements hurricane track and intensity forecasts (Gall et al. 2013). The Ocean Model Impact Tiger Team (OMITT) consisting of model developers and research scientists was formed as one of HFIP working groups in December 2014, to evaluate the impact of ocean coupling in tropical cyclone (TC) forecasts. The team investigated the ocean model impact in real cases for Category 3 Hurricane Edouard in 2014, using simulations and observations that were collected for different stages of the hurricane. Two Eastern North Pacific Hurricanes in 2015, Blanca and Dolores, are also of special interest. These two powerful Category 4 storms followed a similar track, however, they produced dramatically different ocean cooling, about 7.2oC for Hurricane Blanca but only about 2.7oC for Hurricane Dolores, and the corresponding intensity changes were negative 40 ms-1 and 20 ms-1, respectively. Two versions of operational HWRF and COAMPS-TC coupled prediction systems are employed in the study. These systems are configured to have 1D and 3D ocean dynamics coupled to the atmosphere. The ocean components are initialized separately with climatology, analysis and nowcast products to evaluate the impact of ocean initialization on hurricane forecasts. Real storm forecast experiments are being designed and performed with different levels of the ocean model complexity and various model configurations to study model sensitivity. In this talk, we report the OMITT activities conducted during the past year, present preliminary results of on- going investigation of air-sea interactions in the simulations, and discuss future plans toward improving coupled TC predictions. Gall, R., J. Franklin, F. Marks, E.N. Rappaport, and F. Toepfer, 2013: THE HURRICANE FORECAST IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 329-343.

Friday, February 26, 2016 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM P52A-01: Marine Spatial Planning Applied to the High Seas – Process and Results of an Exercise Focused on the Sargasso Sea Amy Siuda Sea Education Association Tiffany Smythe Rhode Island Sea Grant The Sargasso Sea, at the center of the North Atlantic gyre, is recognized by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity as a globally unique ecosystem threatened by anthropogenic activity. In its stewardship capacity, the Sargasso Sea Commission works within the current system of international organizations and treaties to secure protection for particular species or areas. Without a single governing authority to implement and enforce protective measures across the region, a coordinated management plan for the region is lacking. A research team comprised of 20 advanced undergraduate scientists participating in the spring 2015 SEA Semester: Marine Biodiversity and Conservation program of Sea Education Association (Woods Hole, MA) engaged in a groundbreaking simulated high seas marine spatial planning process resulting in A Marine Management Proposal for the Sargasso Sea. Based on natural and social science research, the interdisciplinary Proposal outlines goals, objectives and realistic strategies that encompass ecological, economic, human use, and future use considerations. Notably, the Proposal is the product of a classroom-based simulation intended to improve emerging scientists’ understanding of how research is integrated into the policy process and how organizations work across disciplinary boundaries to address complex ocean management problems. Student researchers identified several discrete management areas and associated policy recommendations for those areas, as well as strategies for coordinated management across the entire Sargasso Sea region. The latter include establishment of a United Nations Regional Ocean Management Organization as well as provisions for monitoring and managing high seas traffic. To make progress toward these strategies, significant attention to the importance of high seas regions for global-scale conservation will be necessary.

Friday, February 26, 2016 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM HI52A: Marine Renewable Energy: Resource Characterization, Environmental Impacts, and Societal Interactions II Primary Chair Simon Neill Bangor University Chairs M Reza Hashemi University of Rhode Island Ann Bull Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Zhaoqing Yang Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Friday, February 26, 2016 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM HI52A-03: Wave Power Assessment in the Presence of Currents: an Overview of Analytical Versus Complex Numerical Approaches M Reza Hashemi University of Rhode Island Stephan Grilli University of Rhode Island Simon Neill Bangor University

Resource characterization studies at wave energy sites generally ignore the effect of tidal currents, due to the difficulties associated with running coupled wave-tide models. Further, there is a need to estimate the significance of wave-tide interaction effects on the wave power using simplified methods, before investing in time consuming and costly numerical models. Additionally, many wave buoy measurements are collected in deep waters, where wave-current interaction effects may not be significant; this makes validation of coupled models more challenging. Here, we give an overview of the application of simplified analytical methods as well as fully coupled wave-tide models to address this problem. Firstly, we present and validate a simplified analytical method, based on linear wave theory, to estimate the influence of tidal currents on the wave power resource. The method estimates the resulting increase (or decrease) in wave height and wavelength for opposing (or following) currents, as well as quantifying the change in wave power. Results demonstrate a high level of accuracy for the simplified analytical approach, which can thus be used as an efficient tool for making rapid estimates of likely tidal effects on the wave power resource. Secondly, we discuss the application of a coupled modelling system, COAWST (Coupled-Ocean-Atmosphere-Wave- Sediment Transport), and present issues such as computational cost, as well as the success of this approach in characterizing wave power in the presence of currents.

Friday, February 26, 2016 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM ME52B-04: Patterns of Genetic Diversity and Co-Existence in Open Ocean Diatoms: the Effects of Water Mass Structure, Selection and Sex Tatiana Rynearson University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Gang Chen University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

The open ocean North Atlantic spring bloom influences regional ecology and global biogeochemistry. Diatoms dominate the peak of the bloom and significantly impact productivity and export of organic carbon from the bloom. Despite their key role in a yearly event with global impacts, the genetic diversity and population structure of diatoms that comprise this open ocean bloom are unknown. Here we investigated the population genetics of the diatom Thalassiosira gravida sampled during the 2008 North Atlantic Bloom Experiment using newly-developed microsatellite markers. Here, we show that the genetic diversity of open ocean diatoms is high and that their population structure differs dramatically from coastal diatoms. High levels of genetic diversity were observed across all water samples and did not change during the bloom. Four genetically distinct populations were identified but were not associated with different water masses, depths or time points during the bloom. Instead, all four populations co-existed within samples, spanning different water masses, stages of the bloom and depths of over >300 m. The pattern of genetically distinct, co-existing populations in the open ocean contrasts dramatically with coastal habitats, where distinct populations have not been observed to co-exist at the same time and place. It is likely that populations originate via transport from disparate locations combined with overwintering capacity in the water column or sediments. The pattern of co- existence suggests that the open ocean may serve as a gene pool that harbors different populations that are then available for selection to act upon, which may contribute to the ecological and biogeochemical success of diatoms and influence their long-term evolutionary survival.

Friday, February 26, 2016 11:30 AM - 11:45 AM PO52B-05: A Numerical Investigation of the Interannual-to-Decadal Variability of the Along-shelf Transport in the Middle Atlantic Bight Shuwen Zhang University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Yiyong Luo _ Ocean University of China A numerical simulation with the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) indicates that there is significant interannual-to-decadal variability of along-shelf transport and water properties over the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) from 2004-2013. To examine the relative contribution from local atmospheric forcing versus remote oceanic open boundary forcing to such low-frequency variability, we implement a suite of process oriented numerical experiments. Results show that the interannual variability is dominated by remote forcing from the open boundaries of the region rather than by the local forcing from the atmosphere. The penetration of the Labrador Current into the region contributes to a significant increase of along-shelf transport in the winters of 2009 and 2010. By contrast, the anticyclonic mesoscale eddies associated with Gulf Stream have negative impacts on the along-shelf jet, and in certain cases, even reverse the along-shelf transport. In addition, the along-shelf transport appears to have a decadal transition, i.e., weaker during 2004-2008 but stronger during 2009-2013.

Friday, February 26, 2016 12:00 PM - 12:15 PM HI52A-07: Assessment of the Great Lakes Marine Renewable Energy Resources: Characterizing Lake Erie Surge, Seiche and Waves Ali Farhadzadeh Stony Brook University M Reza Hashemi University of Rhode Island

Lake Erie, the fourth largest in surface area, smallest in volume and shallowest among the Great Lakes is approximately 400 km long and 90 km wide. Short term lake level variations are due to storm surge generated by high winds and moving pressure systems over the lake mainly in the southwest-northeast direction, along the lakes longitudinal axis. The historical wave data from three active offshore buoys shows that significant wave height can exceed 5 m in the eastern and central basins. The long-term lake level data show that storm surge can reach up to 3 m in eastern Lake Erie. Owing its shallow depth, Lake Erie frequently experiences seiching motions, the low frequency oscillations that are initiated by storm surge. The seiches whose first mode of oscillations has a period of nearly 14.2 hours can last from several hours to days. In this study, the Lake Erie potential for power generation, primarily using storm surge and seiche and also waves are assessed. Given the cyclic lake level variations due to storm-induced seiching, a concept similar to that of tidal range development is utilized to assess the potential of storm surge and seiche energy harvesting mechanisms for power generation. In addition, wave energy resources of the Lake is characterized -. To achieve these objectives, the following steps are taken : (1) Frequency of occurrence for extreme storm surge and wave events is determined using extreme value analysis such as Peak-Over-Threshold method for the long- term water level and wave data; (2) Spatial and temporal variations of wave height, storm surge and seiche are characterized. The characterization is carried out using the wave and storm surge outputs from numerical simulation of a number of historical extreme events. The coupled ADCIRC and SWAN model is utilized for the modeling; (3) Assessment of the potentials for marine renewable power generation in Lake Erie is made. The approach can be extended to the other lakes in the Great Lakes region.

Friday, February 26, 2016 12:15 PM - 12:30 PM IS52A-08: Turn up the lights: Deep-sea in situ application of a high-speed, high- resolution sCMOS camera to observe marine bioluminescence Brennan Phillips University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography David Gruber City University of New York John Sparks American Museum of Natural History Ganesh Vasan The John B. Pierce Laboratory Chris Roman University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Vincent Pieribone The John B. Pierce Laboratory Observing and measuring marine bioluminescence presents unique challenges in situ. Technology is the greatest limiting factor in this endeavor, with sensitivity, speed and resolution constraining the imaging tools available to researchers. State-of-the-art microscopy cameras offer to bridge this gap. An ultra-low-light, scientific complementary-metal-oxide-semiconductor (sCMOS) camera was outfitted for in-situ imaging of marine bioluminescence. This system was deployed on multiple deep-sea platforms (manned submersible, remotely operated vehicle, and towed body) in three oceanic regions (Western Tropical Pacific, Eastern Equatorial Pacific, and Northwestern Atlantic) to depths up to 2500m. Using light stimulation, bioluminescent responses were recorded at high frame rates and in high resolution, offering unprecedented low-light imagery of deep-sea bioluminescence in situ. The kinematics and physiology of light production in several zooplankton groups is presented, and luminescent responses at different depths are quantified as intensity vs. time.

Friday, February 26, 2016 02:00 PM - 04:00 PM HI53A: Marine Renewable Energy: Resource Characterization, Environmental Impacts, and Societal Interactions III Primary Chair Simon Neill Bangor University Chairs M Reza Hashemi University of Rhode Island Ann Bull Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Zhaoqing Yang Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Friday, February 26, 2016 02:45 PM - 03:00 PM A53A-04: Langmuir turbulence and its parameterization in tropical cyclone conditions Tetsu Hara University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Brandon Reichl University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Dong Wang University of Delaware Isaac Ginis University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Tobias Kukulka University of Delaware

The upper-ocean turbulence is significantly modified by the Stokes drift of the surface waves because of the Craik-Leibovich vortex force (Langmuir turbulence). Under tropical cyclones the contribution of the surface waves varies significantly depending on complex wind and wave conditions. Therefore, turbulence closure models used in ocean models need to explicitly include the sea-state dependent impacts of the Langmuir turbulence. In this study the K Profile Parameterization (KPP) 1st order turbulence closure model is modified to include the Langmuir turbulence effect, and its performance is tested against concurrent Large Eddy Simulation (LES) experiments under tropical cyclone conditions. First, the KPP model is retuned to reproduce LES results without Langmuir turbulence to eliminate any implicit Langmuir turbulence effects that is included in the standard (default) KPP model. Next, the Eulerian currents are replaced by the Lagrangian currents in the KPP equations for calculating the bulk Richardson number and the vertical turbulent momentum flux. Finally, an enhancement to the turbulent mixing is introduced as a function of the non-dimensional turbulent Langmuir number corrected for misaligned wind and waves. The retuned KPP, with the Lagrangian currents replacing the Eulerian currents and the turbulent mixing enhanced, significantly improves the prediction of the upper-ocean temperature and currents compared to the default (unmodified) KPP model under tropical cyclones. This modified KPP model also shows improvements over the default KPP at moderate winds.

Friday, February 26, 2016 02:45 PM - 03:00 PM HI53A-04: Lesson learned from monitoring the environmental effects of construction of the first offshore wind farm in the US James Miller University of Rhode Island Gopu Potty University of Rhode Island John King University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Dennis Gallien HDR, Inc. Anwar Khan HDR, Inc. Kathleen Vigness Raposa Marine Acoustics, Inc. Jennifer Giard Marine Acoustics, Inc. Adam Frankel Marine Acoustics, Inc. Tim Mason Subacoustech Environmental Ltd. Arthur Popper University of Maryland Anthony Hawkins Loughine Ltd. Steven Crocker Naval Undersea Warfare Center - Newport

Noise radiation from pile driving activities were monitored using multiple sensors during the construction of the USA’s first offshore wind farm located 3 nm off Block Island, RI. The 30- megawatt Block Island Wind Farm (BIWF) consists of five turbines in water depths of approximately 30 m and is scheduled to be online in 2016. The substructure for these turbines consists of jacket type construction with piles driven to pin the structure to the seabed. Pile driving operations generate intense sound, impulsive in nature at close range, which radiates into the surrounding air, water and sediment. The underwater acoustic measurement platforms consisted of a towed array consisting of eight hydrophones, two fixed moorings with four hydrophones each, a fixed sensor package for measuring particle velocity, and boat-deployed dipping hydrophones. The hydrophone array was towed from a position 1 km from the pile driving location to 15 km distance from the construction. The fixed moorings were deployed at 10 km and 15 km from the pile location. The fixed moorings consisted of four hydrophones each at depths of 10, 15, 20 and 25 m. Near field measurements of the underwater acoustic signals from the pile driving were collected with a tetrahedral array deployed at 500 m from the pile driving location about 1 m above the seabed. The boat-deployed dipping hydrophones sampled the acoustic field at locations from 0.5 km to 20 km from the pile driving locations. Based on these acoustic measurements and propagation modeling, the acoustic pressure field as a function of range and depth from the pile is estimated. The transition from fast-rise-time impulsive signals at close range to slow-rise-time non-impulsive signals at longer ranges will be addressed. This study will provide the required information to qualify the different zones of potential marine mammal effects (zones of injury, behavioral effects etc.) and to estimate exposure to fishes and other species. [Work supported by Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)]

Friday, February 26, 2016 03:00 PM - 03:15 PM ME53B-05: Resolving Microzooplankton Functional Groups In A Size-Structured Planktonic Model Darcy Taniguchi MIT Stephanie Dutkiewicz MIT Michael Follows Massachusetts Inst Tech Oliver Jahn MIT Susanne Menden-Deuer University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Microzooplankton are important marine grazers, often consuming a large fraction of primary productivity. They consist of a great diversity of organisms with different behaviors, characteristics, and rates. This functional diversity, and its consequences, are not currently reflected in large-scale ocean ecological simulations. How should these organisms be represented, and what are the implications for their biogeography? We develop a size- structured, trait-based model to characterize a diversity of microzooplankton functional groups. We compile and examine size-based laboratory data on the traits, revealing some patterns with size and functional group that we interpret with mechanistic theory. Fitting the model to the data provides parameterizations of key rates and properties, which we employ in a numerical ocean model. The diversity of grazing preference, rates, and trophic strategies enables the coexistence of different functional groups of micro-grazers under various environmental conditions, and the model produces testable predictions of the biogeography.

Friday, February 26, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM HI54A: Marine Renewable Energy: Resource Characterization, Environmental Impacts, and Societal Interactions IV Posters Primary Chair Simon Neill Bangor University Chairs M Reza Hashemi University of Rhode Island Ann Bull Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Zhaoqing Yang Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Friday, February 26, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM ME54B-2391: Variability of Marine CDOM and Chlorophyll Fields Near Barrow, Alaska Stephen Okkonen University of Alaska Fairbanks Robert Campbell University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Carin Ashjian Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Late summer (2005-2015) in situ measurements of CDOM and chlorophyll fluorescence acquired from the western Beaufort shelf near Barrow, Alaska show that the pigment concentrations vary in response to changes in local river discharge and wind conditions. When winds are weak and shelf waters are stratified, the highest concentrations of CDOM and chlorophyll are often observed near bottom or at mid-depth. Under moderate-to-strong prevailing easterly winds, Ekman transport moves nearshore waters seaward, the water column becomes well-mixed and pigment concentrations increase in surface waters over the outer shelf. Because decaying tundra vegetation is the principal source of local CDOM, the correlation between CDOM and chlorophyll pigment concentrations decreases with increasing river discharge. These results have implications for satellite-based characterization of the nearshore Arctic marine environment and for designing the proposed field component of the NASA Arctic- COLORS Program.

Friday, February 26, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM HI54A-1844: Detailed observations and modelling highlight the importance of micro- siting of tidal-stream arrays: A case study off northwest Wales, UK Peter Robins Bangor University Marco Piano Bangor University Sophie Ward Bangor University M Reza Hashemi University of Rhode Island Matt Lewis Bangor University Simon Neill Bangor University

We investigate variability of the tidal-stream energy resource over a licenced demonstration site at high spatial and temporal resolutions. The site, off northwest Wales, UK, is regarded as one of the most attractive in the UK in terms of extractable energy, and requires a broad understanding of the entire resource to be managed appropriately for device testing at different scales and for different specifications. A rigorous field campaign has been conducted between 2013 and 2015 (http://www.seacams.ac.uk), consisting of comprehensive (and repeated in places) multibeam echo sounder (MBES) bathymetric surveys, geophysical surveys, seven ADCP deployments, a Waverider wave buoy active deployment (http://cefasmapping.defra.gov.uk/Map), and various sediment sampling surveys. In addition, a coupled tide-wave-sediment model (Telemac Modelling System) has been applied to simulate the high-resolution spatial distribution of tidal currents, wave-tide interactions, and sediment transport in the region. We find that topography, bathymetry, morphology, and wave-tide interactions result in markedly different flow and turbulence fields over the ~40 km2 site, leading to significant spatial and temporal variance in power generation. Some areas are ebb-dominant, while others flood- dominant. The vertical velocity profile varies in accordance with bed friction and this may impact upon device performance. Furthermore, arrays can be optimised to minimise scour. Our results suggest that careful consideration should be given to micro-siting of devices; in our case, potential annual energy yield varies by 180% based on depth-averaged velocities of the undisturbed resource.

Friday, February 26, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM A54C-2735: Evaluation of WAVEWATCH III Wave Model under Tropical Cyclone Conditions Joshua Port Tufts University Tetsu Hara University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Brandon Reichl University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Isaac Ginis University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

In order to best prepare coastal regions for incoming storms, the ability to model tropical cyclone (hurricane) track and intensity has never been more vital. The ocean surface wave field (sea state) may significantly impact the storm intensity forecast because it modifies the air-sea momentum and heat fluxes as well as the upper ocean turbulent mixing. Therefore, it is important to include accurate sea state predictions in hurricane prediction models. The WAVEWATCH III (WW3) is one of the most skillful surface wave models and NOAA plans to incorporate it in the next generation hurricane prediction models. However, WW3 performance under hurricane conditions has not been thoroughly tested and requires further validations against observational data. This study compares the significant wave height (SWH) predicted by WW3 with satellite and Scanning Radar Altimeter (SRA) observational results during Hurricanes Irene (2011) and Edouard (2014). The WW3 data is generated with and without considering ocean currents and with different wind forcing products. The inclusion of currents generally reduces the predicted SWH and improves the correlation between WW3 predictions and observational data. While both SRA and satellite data offer reasonably good correlations with the WW3 data, the standard deviation of the satellite data from the WW3 data is significantly smaller than that of the SRA data. The generally good correlation found between the observational SWH readings and the SWH values from WW3 supports the validity of the WW3 wave model results under tropical cyclone conditions.

Friday, February 26, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM A54C-2729: Impact of Sea-State Dependent Langmuir Turbulence on the Ocean Response to a Tropical Cyclone Brandon Reichl University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Tetsu Hara University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Isaac Ginis University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Tobias Kukulka University of Delaware Dong Wang University of Delaware

Tropical cyclones are fueled by the air-sea heat flux, which is reduced when the ocean surface cools due to deepening of the mixed layer and upwelling. Wave-driven Langmuir turbulence (due to interaction between Eulerian current vorticity and the Stokes drift) may significantly modify these processes. This study investigates the ocean response to tropical cyclones using the Princeton Ocean Model (POM), which is coupled to the WAVEWATCH-III wind-wave model. This version of POM uses the KPP vertical mixing scheme. We examine three KPP set-ups. The first, KPP-nw, is tuned to conditions of shear turbulence only. The second, KPP-df, is tuned to typical ocean conditions (with typical Langmuir turbulence) but includes no explicit sea-state dependent modifications. The third, KPP-LT, includes explicit sea-state dependent Langmuir turbulence effects by parameterizing the vertical turbulent momentum flux using the Lagrangian current (Eulerian current plus Stokes drift) with an enhanced vertical mixing coefficient based on the turbulent Langmuir number. We find that both KPP-df and KPP-LT enhance sea surface cooling due to vertical mixing at all locations compared to KPP-nw because the Langmuir turbulence enhances deepening of the mixed layer. For quasi-stationary storms, the additional cooling due to upwelling (caused by storm-induced horizontal divergence of near surface current) is reduced with KPP-LT compared to KPP-df. This is because KPP-LT reduces the near surface current and its horizontal divergence by increasing the vertical diffusion of momentum. As the storm translation speed increases, the sea-state dependent LT effects become more complex as the upwelling becomes less important but the reduced near surface currents significantly modify the horizontal advection within the cold-wake. These results are also sensitive to storm characteristics, such as storm size and ocean vertical temperature profile.

Friday, February 26, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM A54C-2740: Sea-state Dependence of Sea Surface Temperature Cooling and its Feedback on Tropical Cyclone Intensity Austen Blair University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Brandon Reichl University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Isaac Ginis University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Tetsu Hara University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Biju Thomas University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography

Air-sea momentum and heat fluxes underneath tropical cyclones (TCs) are important controls on storm intensity. Increased upper ocean mixing due to TC winds can upwell cooler waters to the surface, reducing the heat flux from the ocean and weakening the storm. Therefore, improved representation of the wind forcing and the resulting sea surface temperature cooling in coupled ocean-wave-atmosphere models can help increase the accuracy of intensity predictions. However, the impact of surface waves (sea state) on these processes is not fully understood. The three most significant sea state dependent effects on upper ocean processes are the Coriolis-Stokes forcing, the air-sea flux budget (effect of growing/decaying surface waves), and the Langmuir turbulence (enhancement of the upper ocean mixing due to surface waves). In this study we focus on the first two effects. To examine these two effects a comparison is made using a series of idealized storms, with a range of translation speeds, with individual and combined implementations of these two components in a fully coupled ocean-wave-atmosphere model. The Princeton Ocean Model is used with a 1/12th degree resolution and 23 half-sigma levels and an initial temperature profile based on the Gulf of Mexico climatology. It is coupled to the WaveWatch III wave model, also at 1/12th degree resolution. The atmospheric component is the NOAA/GFDL hurricane model, which has 42 vertical levels and a three-level nested mesh. The inner two meshes are 1/18th and 1/6th degree resolution, with the finer inside the coarser, and move with the storm. It is found that both the Coriolis-stokes forcing and the sea state dependent air-sea flux modify the magnitude and the spatial distribution of the sea surface cooling, and that the combined effect may significantly modify the storm intensity predictions.

Friday, February 26, 2016 04:00 PM - 06:00 PM IS54A-2367: Rapid instrument prototyping with open source hardware and software: Application to water quality in hypersaline estuaries. Brice Loose University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Ryan O'Shea MIT/WHOI Joint Program We describe the design and deployment of a water quality sonde that utilizes mobile phone networks for near-real time data telemetry. The REOL or Realtime Estuary Ocean Logger has the unique and valuable capability of logging data internally and simultaneously relaying the information to a webserver using a cellular modem. The internal circuitry consists of a GSM cellular modem, a microcontroller, and an SD card for data storage – these components are low cost, and backed up with circuit diagrams and programming libraries that are published under open source license. This configuration is versatile and is capable of reading instrument output from a broad spectrum of devices, including serial, TTL, analog voltage (0 - 5V), and analog current (typically 4-20 mA). We find the greatest challenges lie in development of smart software that is capable of handling the conditions brought on by this harsh environment. We have programmed the sonde to first determine whether it is submerged by water, and record the temperature on the electronics before deciding whether to telemeter measurements over the cellular network. The Google App EngineTM provides an interactive visualization platform. We have tested the REOL with a variety of water quality sensors. In the configuration described here, we use a thermistor, depth gauge and torroidal conductivity sensor to measure water temperature, water level and conductivity up to 200 mS/cm. The latter is necessary for studies in hypersaline estuaries, where porewater salinity can exceed 100 g/kg. We present data from two estuaries in West Africa and from a longer-term deployment in the Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island.

Friday, February 26, 2016 07:30 PM - 07:45 PM PO54B-3248: Canary in the coal mine: Historical oxygen decline in the Gulf of St. Lawrence due to large scale climate changes Mariona Claret McGill University Eric Galbraith McGill University Jaime Palter McGill University University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography Denis Gilbert Institute Maurice-Lamontagne Daniele Bianchi University of California Los Angeles John Dunne Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

The regional signature of anthropogenic climate change on the atmosphere and upper ocean is often difficult to discern from observational timeseries, dominated as they are by decadal climate variability. Here we argue that a long-term decline of dissolved oxygen concentrations observed in the Gulf of S. Lawrence (GoSL) is consistent with anthropogenic climate change. Oxygen concentrations in the GoSL have declined markedly since 1930 due primarily to an increase of oxygen-poor North Atlantic Central Waters relative to Labrador Current Waters (Gilbert et al. 2005). We compare these observations to a climate warming simulation using a very high-resolution global coupled ocean-atmospheric climate model. The numerical model (CM2.6), developed by the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, is strongly eddying and includes a biogeochemical module with dissolved oxygen. The warming scenario shows that oxygen in the GoSL decreases and it is associated to changes in western boundary currents and wind patterns in the North Atlantic. We speculate that the large-scale changes behind the simulated decrease in GoSL oxygen have also been at play in the real world over the past century, although they are difficult to resolve in noisy atmospheric data.