2008 JIMAR Annual Report
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INE AND A AR TM M O R S P O H F E E R T I C U T R I E T S S E N I A T R N C I H O J ~ UH-NOAA~ JIMAR Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2008 For Cooperative Agreement NA17RJ1230 Thomas A. Schroeder, PhD Director Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research University of Hawai’i at Manoa 1000 Pope Road, MSB 312 Honolulu, HI 96822 USA www.soest.hawaii.edu/jimar INE AND A AR TM M O R S P O H F E E R T I C U T R I E T S S E N I A T R N C I H O J ~ UH-NOAA~ Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2008 Thomas A. Schroeder, PhD Director Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research University of Hawaii at Manoa 1000 Pope Road, MSB 312 Honolulu, HI 96822 http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/jimar JIMAR 2008 Annual Report ii Table of Contents Introduction ______________________________________________________________________________v Accomplishments for Fiscal Year 2008 Equatorial Oceanography ___________________________________________________________________1 Tsunami Research _________________________________________________________________________3 Climate Research _________________________________________________________________________6 Tropical Meteorology _____________________________________________________________________14 Fisheries Oceanography ___________________________________________________________________16 Coastal Research ________________________________________________________________________81 JIMAR Senior Fellow Contributions ____________________________________________________________95 JIMAR Scientist Contributions ______________________________________________________________101 Appendices Appendix I List of Acronyms _____________________________________________________________109 Appendix II Visiting Scientists ___________________________________________________________115 Appendix III Workshops and Meetings Hosted by JIMAR _______________________________________119 Appendix IV JIMAR Personnel ____________________________________________________________120 Appendix V Awards _____________________________________________________________________121 Appendix VI Publication Summary _________________________________________________________122 iii JIMAR 2008 Annual Report iv Introduction The Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) is a cooperative enterprise between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Hawaii (UH). JIMAR research covers six themes, all aligned with the NOAA strategic plan and the Universityʼs Indo-Pacific mission. The themes are equatorial oceanography, tsunamis and other long-period ocean waves, climate, tropical meteorology, fisheries oceanography, and coastal research. The scope of these efforts spans the US affiliated Pacific Islands as well as the broader Pacific and Indian Ocean basins. JIMAR brings together research scientists from NOAA line offices, UH, and the global community to conduct research in the broad interests of NOAA. NOAA line offices collaborating in the JIMAR program include the Environmental Research Laboratories (especially the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory [PMEL], Atlantic Oceanic and Meteorological Laboratory [AOML], and the Earth System Research Laboratory [ESRL]), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Weather Service (NWS), National Environmental Satellite and Thomas Schroeder, Director Data Information Service (NESDIS), and National Ocean Service (NOS). JIMAR also promotes student development, outreach, and supports special training programs. JIMAR intends to be the lead agent for all NOAA research in the Indo-Pacific region and to maintain standards of accomplishment expected of the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) at the UH. Our mission and vision statements are: Mission: To conduct research that is necessary to properly understand and predict the changes in the Indo- Pacific environment and to conserve and manage coastal and marine resources in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands with a special emphasis on the Hawaiian Islands, for purposes of meeting the Nationʼs economic, social, and environmental needs in these regions. Vision: To support NOAAʼs operational and scientific move into the 21st century while recognizing the special character, vulnerabilities, and the role of the Pacific Islands in demonstrating the link between our planetʼs environment and the global and regional economies. During FY 2008 JIMAR continued to expand its role in fisheries and coastal research related to the development of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument. JIMAR has also continued to support the nascent interdisciplinary effort for developing management tools for insular urban water supplies in a changing climate. In addition to the economists, planners, and hydrologists previously involved in the effort, JIMAR is also supporting colleagues at the International Pacific Research Center in the development of regional downscaled climate models for the Hawaiian Islands. We also continue to support the Hawaiian Regional Ocean Observing System, housed within SOEST. The Director continues to advise the University Administration on emergency preparedness and curriculum development. JIMAR is also an element of a proposed Homeland Security Training Center for first responders to natural disasters. This effort has been authorized but not yet funded. The Director of JIMAR is a regular member of the University of Hawaii faculty and is appointed through joint decisions by leaders of the University and NOAA Research. The Director reports to an Administrative Board composed of University and NOAA officials. As both NOAA Research and University research ventures have grown, both agencies have delegated more responsibilities to the field. The Director of NOAA Research has delegated most decision-making authority to the Director of PMEL. The President of the University has delegated his responsibilities as Chair of the Administrative Board to the Chancellor of the Manoa campus. The Director manages day-to-day operations through the administrative staff (fully-supported by the Cooperative Agreement and returned indirect cost funds), Program Managers (Pelagic Fisheries Research Program [PFRP]), and faculty PI/Directors (University of Hawaii Sea Level Center [UHSLC]). A Council, elected among the Fellows, advises the Director on major expenditures on visiting scientists and the selection of new and renewed Fellows. The list of current Fellows and Council members are provided. Although uncertainty continues over the future of JIMAR under the recompetition of the Cooperative/Joint Institutes, we have proceeded to expand the Fellows roster through the addition of scientists specializing in Ocean climate/chemistry. We renewed the appointments of v JIMAR 2008 Annual Report all current Fellows so that all appointments are synchronized. Owing to the long-distance nature of the NOAA/ JIMAR relationship, no single meeting of all Fellows is possible. Business of both the Fellows and the Council are done via e-mail and by visits of the Director to NOAA facilities and professional meetings. JIMAR Senior Fellows from NOAA are Dr. Eddie Bernard (PMEL), Dr. Steven Bograd (PFEL), Dr. Richard Brill (NMFS), Dr. Richard Feely (PMEL), Dr. Ed Harrison (PMEL), Dr. Gregory Johnson (PMEL), Dr. William Kessler (PMEL), Dr. Frank Marks, Jr. (AOML), Dr. Michael McPhaden (PMEL), Dr. Dennis Moore (PMEL), Dr. Jeffrey Polovina (PIFSC), Dr. Samuel Pooley (PIFSC), Dr. Mark Powell (AOML), and Dr. Frank Schwing (PFEL). JIMAR Senior Fellows from the University of Hawaii are Dr. Gary Barnes, Dr. Steven Businger, Dr. Eric DeCarlo, Dr. Eric Firing, Dr. Charles Fletcher, III, Dr. Kim Holland, Dr. Roger Lukas, Dr. Douglas Luther, Dr. Julian McCreary, Dr. Mark Merrifield, Dr. Thomas Schroeder, Dr. John Sibert, and Dr. Bin Wang. Visiting Senior Fellows are Dr. Gerald Meehl, Dr. Jagadish Shukla, Dr. Akimasa Sumi, and Dr. Michio Yanai. JIMAR Council Members from NOAA are Dr. Michael McPhaden, Dr. Dennis Moore, and Dr. Jeffrey Polovina. JIMAR Council Members from the University of Hawaii are Dr. Eric Firing, Dr. Julian McCreary, Dr. Thomas Schroeder, and Dr. Bin Wang. Task I is the base program of JIMAR. It provides research support for the visiting scientist and postdoctoral programs, and the administrative support for the Institute. The University of Hawaii contributes to this task by bearing all indirect costs, and by paying the salary of the Director. Funding percentages by activity are exhibited in the following chart. Distribution of NOAA Funding by Activity Education/Outreach/ Other Research Support 2% Student Support 5% �������������� Post-Docs/Visiting ����������������� Scientists Administration���������� 39% 54%���������������� ������������������ ����������������������� JIMAR science encompasses several dozen subprograms. In the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami, JIMAR has continued to play a leadership role in the development of an Indian Ocean tsunami warning network. The UH Sea Level Center had developed tide gauges that are capable of delivering near-real time high temporal resolution information. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has used our Pacific gauges as part of their warning network. NOAA funds for this effort have been supplemented by grants from the Asia Disaster Preparedness Center and the United Nations. A major transition is underway in the Pelagic Fisheries Research Program (PFRP). Program Manager John Sibert is retiring and an international search is underway for his successor. PFRP has been a