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President’s Corner
Congressional News • Senate Committee Discusses Reauthorization of the Chesapeake Bay Program • Senate Markup of Geospatial, Hypoxia Legislation
Ocean Leadership News • NOPP Announces $20 Million in Research Grants • ORRAP Meeting Next Week in Washington, DC • The Great Marlin Race is Underway • Faculty Professional Development Opportunity at GSA
Ocean Community News • Ocean Sciences 2010 Session: Ocean Technology and Infrastructure Needs for the Next 20 Years • Thinning Cloud Cover Over Oceans Speeds Global Warming • Fish Discovered With Light Sensing Cells • Proposed Algal Biofuel Pilot Facility • Scientists Probe Great Pacific Garbage Patch • Interdisciplinary Climate Change Research Symposium • Application Process For Cohort VII of the MS PHD’s Professional Development Program Now Open • Ridge 2000 Integration & Synthesis Workshop • NOAA and NSF Call For Proposals • Antarctic Climate Evolution Symposium in September • NSF Grant Proposal Deadline: August 15, 2009
Job Announcements To access the job announcements page, go to http://www.oceanleadership.org/about/employment.
No new opportunities this week.
Calendar of Events
President’s Corner The President’s Corner will return next week.
Congressional News
SENATE COMMITTEE DISCUSSES REAUTHORIZATION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM In a Senate Environment and Public works hearing on Monday a panel of agency and industry representatives voiced their support for the reauthorization of the Chesapeake Bay Program, including suggestions to expand federal and state authority, increase funding, and incorporate accountability mechanisms. “We need significant changes if we want to significantly improve the bay” stated Senator Benjamin Cardin (D-MD). John Cosgrove of the Chesapeake Bay Commission and George Hawkins, Director of the Department of the Environment, both praised the use of two year increments in restoration efforts with a 2025 deadline for nutrient sediment reduction. Both panelists recognized the necessity of regulating nutrient sediment runoff as large contributors to Bay pollutants otherwise projected to increase with the growing population. Hawkins stressed the importance of non-point source regulation, recommending a nationally standardized requirement to eliminate inequalities between output standards among industries. As it was recognized that farmers are not the sole contributors to Bay pollution, the committee further emphasized the importance of a Basin-wide approach, including all watershed operations and related parties under the regulatory authority.
SENATE MARK-UP OF GEOSPATIAL, HYPOXIA LEGISLATION The Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Executive committee convened to markup two ocean bills. The Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia Research and Control Amendments Act of 2009 (S.952) would strengthen NOAA’s role overseeing monitoring and control efforts, providing a rapid response mechanism to mitigate the environmentally detrimental effects of marine hypoxia events. The bill would also direct federal officials to create regional action plans that guide state and local governments in preparing for and mitigating the effects of algal blooms.
The Committee also marked up the American View Geospatial Imagery Mapping Program Act (S.1078). The bill authorizes the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to expand the AmericaView program, which is designed to use satellite and remote sensing data to support applied research, K-12 education, workforce development, and technology transfer. During the markup, Senator John Thune (R-SD) expressed concern with the Geospatial Mapping Act citing the fact that Landsat data has already been expanded and made available via the internet. The Senator warned it would be unwise to establish legislation “to solve a problem that has already been solved.” Both bills were ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Ocean Leadership News
NOPP ANNOUNCES $20 MILLION IN RESEARCH GRANTS The National Oceanographic Partnership Program (NOPP) recently announced that it is awarding over $20 million over four years in research grants to 19 research projects that address one of three specific questions. NOPP is a collaboration of federal agencies to provide leadership and coordination of national oceanographic research and education initiatives. In January, NOPP solicited proposals to improve wind wave predictions on global and regional scales, to investigate the ability to create and use biological, bio- optical, optical and chemical sensors in the oceans and to improve tropical cyclone intensity forecasting.
While each of the NOPP research recipients will work in collaboration with other institutions and scientists, the lead researchers for these three research programs are below.
Wind Wave Predications: • Dr. Fabrice Arduin, Service Hydrographique et Oceanographique de la Marine • Dr. Alexander Babanin, Swinburne University of Technology • Dr. Michael Banner, The University of New South Wales • Dr. Tim Janssen, San Francisco State University • Dr. James Kaihutu, Texas A&M University Texas Engineering Experiment Station • Dr. William Perrie, Bedford Institute of Oceanography
Biological, Bio-Optical, Optical and Chemical Ocean Observing: • Dr. Kenneth Johnson, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute • Dr. Alex Chekalyuk, Columbia University • Dr. James Sullivan, WET Labs, Inc. • Dr. Govind Rao, University of Maryland- Baltimore County • Dr. Peter Ortner, University of Miami • Dr. Emmanuel Boss, University of Maine
Tropical Cyclone Intensity Forecasting: • Dr. Wayne Schubert, Colorado State University • Dr. Chris Velden, University of Wisconsin-Madison • Dr. J. Scott Tyo, University of Arizona • Dr. Takemasa Miyoshi, University of Maryland • Dr. Yongsheng Chen, York University • Dr. Michael Reeder, Monash University • Dr. Shuyi Chen, University of Miami and Dr. Isaac Ginis, University of Rhode Island
ORRAP MEETING NEXT WEEK IN WASHINGTON, DC The Ocean Research & Resources Advisory Panel (ORRAP) provides advice and guidance on ocean matters to the heads of federal agencies. The ORRAP will be meeting at Ocean Leadership on August 11 and 12. Principal areas of discussion will be Ecosystem Approaches to Management (regionally focused); Arctic Observing Needs; the No Child Left Inside Coalition; and Industry’s role in offshore science and energy. The complete agenda can be found under the Meetings header on the ORRAP web page www.nopp.org/site/orrap.
THE GREAT MARLIN RACE IS UNDERWAY The Great Marlin Race was established to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament (HIBT). HIBT is collaborating with Stanford University's Dr. Barbara Block, allowing teams competing in the HIBT to sponsor a pop-up satellite archival tag. Dr. Block is a member of the Tagging of Pacific Predators project.
The tags, placed on marlins, will detach from the fish at a pre-programmed date and float to the ocean surface. The tags will then transmit data via the Argos satellite system back to the lab. For the Great Marlin Race, the tags are programmed to pop off after 180 days. At that time, the fish that has traveled the farthest distance will be declared the winner! The team that sponsored the tag on the winning fish will receive free admission to next year's tournament. To learn more about the race, or view how far the marlins have traveled, please visit the Great Marline Race online. (http://thunnus.stanford.edu:81/joomla/index.php/about-gtopp/special-events/the-great-marlin- race.html).
FACULTY PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY AT GSA A short course for university faculty on Teaching Climate Change and Earth History Using Ocean Drilling Data in Introductory Geoscience Courses will be offered in conjunction with the fall GSA meeting on Saturday Oct 17 from 8-5 pm in Portland, Oregon. The workshop cost is $30, and includes continental breakfast and lunch.
This one-day short course is designed for faculty teaching undergraduate introductory geoscience courses in climate change, oceanography, historical geology, or Earth science in which data and content on climate change, geologic time, age determination, and Earth history are important. Learning materials introduced and distributed in the short course will be anchored in fundamental practices and discoveries of scientific ocean drilling research programs (IODP, legacy DSDP and ODP, and ANDRILL), and will infuse essential scientific observational, analytical, and synthesis skills, and critical thinking into inquiry- based classroom exercises for group work in both small and large classes. If you have questions about course content, please e-mail [email protected].
The instructors for the short course are Kristen St. John, James Madison University; Mark Leckie, University of Massachusetts–Amherst; Megan Jones, North Hennepin Community College; and Kate Pound, St. Cloud State University, The U.S. National Science Foundation, the Consortium for Ocean Leadership and GSA’s Sedimentary Geology Division have sponsored this short course. To register for this professional development opportunity please go to the GSA fall meeting short course web page at http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009/courses.htm and select workshop #513.
Ocean Community News View the Ocean Leadership Calendar at, http://oceanleadership.org/event -- if you have any additions, please email submissions to Gregg Schmidt at [email protected].
OCEANS SCIENCES 2010 SESSION: OCEAN TECHNOLOGY & INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS The 2010 Oceans Sciences session will be held in Portland, OR February 22-26. The seminar will cover ocean infrastructure – laboratories, satellites, vessels, sensors, and instruments – as the backbone for oceanographic research. It is required to collect observations at sea, gather remote sensing data, and create predictive models, but it also becomes aged and obsolete, limiting the research enterprise. What are the types of infrastructure and technology investments that are needed to continue cutting-edge oceanography for the next 20 years? How are emerging societal needs directing our future infrastructure requirements? How does technology created for other fields drive advances in oceanography? Can today’s technology and infrastructure be optimized for future research needs, or will current assets (such as ships and satellites) require fundamental changes? This session will explore the technology trends and barriers that impact future ocean research infrastructure. A wide range of viewpoints is encouraged.
Abstracts are due by October 15.
For more information visit (http://www.agu.org/meetings/os10/program/scientific_session_search.php?show=detail&sessid=156)
THINNING CLOUD COVER OVER OCEAN SPEEDS GLOBAL WARMING New research shows thinning clouds over the ocean exacerbate global warming, driving drastic temperature increases. Rather than the predicted global warming induced increase in cloud cover which would reflect radiation back into space, the study found that rising ocean temperatures dissipate cloud cover allowing more sunlight to reach the surface which further warms the oceans and thins cloud cover in a cyclic process. The researchers used satellite data dating back to the 1950s and observational data spanning the 20th century on low-level stratiform cloud cover over the northeast Pacific Ocean. The team then tested eighteen climate models to determine whether they could match the simulation output weather patterns to real-time patterns. Only one of the models used provided accurate outputs, the HadGEM1 from the Met Office’s Hadley Centre. Scientists hope to incorporate cloud cover variations into climate change models to better predict weather changes. The team warns that while their results are important, future cloud patterns are unpredictable and cannot necessarily be translated to high level cloud reaction, encouraging further study.
FISH DISCOVERED WITH LIGHT SENSING CELLS A team of neuroscientists at Johns Hopkins discovered light sensing retinal horizontal cells in fish. Previously discovered in mammals, the scientists set out to determine whether such cells existed in other vertebrates, finding light sensing melanopsin-containing cells in goldfish and catfish retinas. They then took electrical readings from single isolated retinal cells, showing that light alters the electrical current in cone horizontal cells but not in rod horizontal cells in catfish. Catfish posses both bright light sensing cone-connecting cells and low light sensing rod-connected cells. Horizontal retinal cells communicate between neighboring photoreceptor cells to compare the light they sense to allow the brain to piece together contour images. Using variations in wavelengths, the researchers discovered the fish horizontal cells to be thousands of times less light sensitive than cone cells, yet the fact that retinal horizontal cells were able to sense light at all stunned scientists. The team speculates that there might still be other photosensitive cells in the eye undiscovered.
PROPOSED ALGAL BIOFUELS PILOT FACILITY Plankton Power and the Regional Technology Development Corporation (RTDC) recently announced their plans to create a consortium dedicated to the production of renewable algal biofuels, including the Massachusetts National Guard, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL), and the Cape Cod Commission.
The institutions are partnering to found the Cape Cod Algae Biorefinery to produce a pilot, cost effective product to compete with other biofuels on the market. The biorefinery will provide commercial-scale testing of algal biofuels, seeking funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to supplement the consortium’s current $4 million in private funding.
Plankton Power predicts the pilot operation will generate up to one million gallons of biofuel annually, beginning in 2010. The facility’s proximity to MBL and WHOI will additionally provide access to science experts and resources, allowing the company to produce algal biofuels in partnership with two of the top research institutions. The Consortium aims to create local jobs, further research on renewable energies, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions while providing an affordable alternative fuel to the public.
SCIENTISTS PROBE GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH A group of scientists, sailors, journalists and government officials set out from San Francisco Bay to begin studying the large floating garbage patch located 1,000 miles north of Hawaii. Project Kaisei is slated to be a month long research expedition to investigate the patch caught in the North Pacific Gyre, funded by recycling companies and the Bureau of International Recycling. The group seeks to evaluate potential for recycling the debris, particularly the decomposing plastics. Environmentalists praise the effort as an effective partnership between environmental and commercial groups, benefiting both economic and environmental interests. Another ship from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography will help the project over the next thirty days, focusing on the garbage patch’s effect on wildlife and how the decomposing plastic has mixed with plankton species.
Experts claim cleanup efforts would not only be extensive and expensive, but logistically difficult due to the ultraviolet rays breaking the plastic into molecular strains difficult to detect with satellites or the naked eye. Scientists propose focusing efforts on recently amassed garbage within the last three or four years. While The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) supports the mission, the agency is worried the large scale clean-up efforts would pose jurisdictional conflicts between countries. As such, NOAA advocates the expedition to better understand the problem and collect data on persistent ocean pollutants. Scientists hope the project will warrant enough media attention to spurn an initial cleanup effort within the next year, already scheduling two documentary filmmakers to cover the expedition.
INTERDISCIPLINARY CLIMATE CHANGE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM The Interdisciplinary Climate Change Research Symposium to be held from March 13, 2010 to March 20, 2010 in Saguaro Lake Ranch, Arizona is accepting applications for participation through August 21, 2009 for 34 early career scholars. The Dissertations Initiative for the Advancement of Climate Change Research (DISCCRS) connects natural and social scientists engaged in research related to climate change, impacts and solutions. The goal is to broaden perspectives and establish a collegial peer network to address climate challenges at the interface of science and society. During the week-long symposium, participants will present and discuss their research, hone interdisciplinary communication and team skills and discuss emerging research, societal and professional issues with each other and with established researchers invited to serve as mentors.
Eligible applicants must have completed their PhD requirements between April 1, 2007 and July 31, 2009. Selection will favor applicants who plan to engage in interdisciplinary research careers in any subject within or relevant to climate change, its impacts and solutions. Applicants from the natural and social sciences, economics, mathematics, engineering or any other field focusing on climate change encouraged. While the emphasis is on the United States research system, applicants from all countries who are interested in learning about the U.S. research system and connecting with U.S. researchers are welcome. Airfare and on-site expenses are supported by the National Science Foundation.
For more information visit http://disccrs.org/ or [email protected].
APPLICATION PROCESS FOR COHORT VII OF THE MS PHD’s PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IS OPEN The application process for Cohort VII (2009-2011) of the Minorities Striving and Pursuing Higher Degrees of Success in Earth System Science (MS PHD’S) ® Professional Development Program is now open.
The MS PHD’S Professional Development Program provides professional development experiences that facilitate the advancement of minorities committed to achieving outstanding Earth system science related careers. With your assistance in promoting the retention and advancement of underrepresented minority Earth system science students, we anticipate that this professional development activity will facilitate the introduction and full participation of highly talented young minority scientists in the Earth system science and education community.
MS PHD’S programming includes oral and written presentation skill development; mentee/mentor partnerships with minority and non-minority scientists; networking experiences with professionals within academia, industry, federal government and professional organizations; in-depth exposure to leading- edge research and interaction with scientists responsible for these advancements.
Mentor surveys and participant applications for the MS PHD’S Cohort VII are available at www.msphds.org. Please take a few moments to complete the appropriate survey as well as to encourage all qualified and interested individuals to submit the completed forms. The deadline is September 8, 2009.
RIDGE 2000 INTEGRATION & SYNTHESIS WORKSHOP The dates of the 2009 Ridge 2000 Integration and Synthesis Workshop: Developing a holistic view of oceanic spreading center processes in St. Louis, Missouri have been changed to October 1-October 3, 2009, in order to help individuals who would like to also attend the MARGINS Theoretical and Experimental Institute (TEI): Volatiles in the Subduction Factory occurring in Mt. Hood, Oregon from September 28-October 1, 2009).
This workshop will focus on comparisons of results from interdisciplinary studies and models generated from the three Integrated Study Sites (ISS), Time Critical Studies and research at other oceanic spreading centers. The goal of the meeting will be to integrate datasets and to synthesize conceptual and empirical models of oceanic spreading center processes. An important objective is to provide an opportunity for the Ridge 2000 community to discuss and develop cross-ISS and interdisciplinary papers that broaden the scope of individual Ridge 2000 studies. All participants will be required to submit an abstract. There will be an emphasis on the poster session as a venue for presenting results of field programs, laboratory analyses and models. Abstracts will be one-page and must include two parts: 1) a summary of research, and 2) a description of how results of the research could be integrated with other datasets or models. A second page, with a figure or figures that illustrate(s) results relevant to integration and synthesis, is encouraged.
NOAA AND NSF CALL FOR PROPOSALS The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service and the National Science Foundation’s Division of Ocean Sciences are pleased to announce a call for proposals for the Comparative Analysis of Marine Ecosystem Organization (CAMEO) Program, which is implemented as a partnership between the two agencies. The purpose of CAMEO is to strengthen the scientific basis for an ecosystem approach to the stewardship of our ocean and coastal living marine resources. The program will support fundamental research to understand complex dynamics controlling ecosystem structure, productivity, behavior, resilience, and population connectivity, as well as effects of climate variability and anthropogenic pressures on living marine resources and critical habitats. CAMEO encourages the development of multiple approaches, such as ecosystem models and comparative analyses of managed and unmanaged areas (e.g., marine protected areas) that can ultimately form a basis for forecasting and decision support. More information is available at http://cameo.noaa.gov.
Proposals must be submitted no later than October 5, 2009.
For further information, contact: NSF: Cynthia Suchman ([email protected]) or Dave Garrison ([email protected]) NOAA: Mike Ford ([email protected]) or Lora Clarke ([email protected])
ANTARCTIC CLIMATE EVOLUTION SYMPOSIUM IN SEPTEMBER The Antarctic Climate Evolution (ACE) Symposium will establish a framework for future Antarctic margin drilling for sedimentary records of paleoclimate 2013-2023 (in-line with INVEST). This framework will be developed into a full science and operations plan/strategy by a working group/committee to be proposed as an ACE subcommittee.
The workshop will provide the Antarctic climate and paleoclimate community with an overview of proposed and developing drilling projects and will highlight each projects alignment with research priorities that can only be addressed from the Antarctic margin. The workshop will also provide an opportunity for people to (1) get involved with current projects and (2) guide future directions. We will discuss requirements for drilling proposals, and include an overview of key datasets and current techniques, so that members of the community can work to develop drilling projects beyond 2013. We are particularly interested in encouraging and empowering younger members of the community to develop future drilling projects.
The workshop will produce a strategy framework for future activity. Key outcomes will include:
• An outline of strategy components – including science drivers, structure (integrated, regional, thematic), operations, scientific tools, numerical modeling, etc.; • A ‘list’ of proponents who will prepare and manage the strategy – including development of a proposal for an ACE subcommittee on paleoclimate-focused drilling; • A proposed process and timeline for future activity, and a list of key milestones; • An outline of future ‘focused’ drilling workshop(s) for specific projects or regional portfolios; and • A summary of what the community wants to present to INVEST.
The meeting will take place in Granada, Spain, September 12-13, 2009. For more information or to attend this workshop, please email Richard Levy ([email protected]), Laura De Santis ([email protected]), or Tim Naish ([email protected]).
NSF GRANT PROPOSAL DEADLINE: AUGUST 15, 2009 Through its Ocean Drilling Program (OD), the National Science Foundation supports scientific drilling- related research focused on pre-drilling and drilling concurrent activities related to the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP). OD supports the development of downhole instruments and techniques, collection of site survey data, and investigations of potential drilling regions. For extended research, support is also available to address the research objectives of a specific IODP expedition (called Expedition Objective Research). Proposals are due August 15, 2009.
For more information on these opportunities, please visit www.nsf.gov.
Job Announcements To access the job announcements page, go to http://www.oceanleadership.org/about/employment. Reminder: As a service to the ocean community, job announcements from our readers are posted on the Ocean Leadership Web site with the Weekly Newsletter. In an effort to keep our job listing current, announcements will run for 90 days, unless Ocean Leadership receives notification to continue posting a specific job announcement. Notification can be provided to [email protected].
No new opportunities this week.
Calendar of Events If you have additions, please forward to [email protected]. Ocean Leadership’s Calendar of Events is located on the Web site at http://www.oceanleadership.org/event.
Calendar Year 2009
4-8 Aug First World Congress of Environmental History 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark
11 Aug Interagency Working Group on Facilities (IWG-F) Meeting, Washington, DC
11 -12 Aug Ocean Research and Resource Advisory Panel (ORRAP) Meeting, Washington, DC
20 Aug Interagency Working Group on Ocean Observations (IWG-OO) Meeting, Washington, DC
26-28 Aug NOAA's National Sea Grant Federal Advisory Board meeting, Seattle, WA
31 Aug- 4 World Climate Conference, WMO, Geneva Sept
9-11 Sept Offshore Europe 2009, Aberdeen, United Kingdom (www.offshore-europe.co.uk)
19 Sept International Coastal Cleanup (www.oceanconservancy.org)
21-23 Sept Census of Marine Life US National Committee meeting, Honolulu, HI
21-25 Sept OceanObs’09 Conference, Venice, Italy
23-24 Sept NOAA's Hydrographic Services Federal Advisory Committee meeting, Duluth, MN
23-25 Sept INVEST Workshop, Bremen, Germany
1-3 Oct Ridge 2000 Integration & Synthesis Workshop
4-9 Oct Gulf of Maine Science Symposium, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada
13-14 Oct UNOLS Annual Meeting, Arlington, VA
15-16 Oct Board of Trustees Meeting, Washington, DC
18-21 Oct The Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (www.geosociety.org/meetings/2009)
26-29 Oct Oceans 2009, Biloxi, MS (http://www.oceans09mtsieeebiloxi.org/)
1-5 Nov CERF Conference, Portland, OR
9-13 Nov 3rd International Barcode Conference, Mexico City, Mexico
17-18 Nov Group on Earth Observations Plenary Session GEO-VI, Washington DC
23-24 Nov NOAA’s Hydrographic Services Federal Advisory Committee meeting, Duluth, MN
14-18 Dec AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, CA
Copyright © 2009 Consortium for Ocean Leadership. All rights reserved. Individual Ocean Leadership members may use their submitted articles for re-distribution without consent from Ocean Leadership. Otherwise, newsletter material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the expressed written consent of the Consortium for Ocean Leadership. To obtain consent, please contact [email protected].