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From the Director:

Dear IOOS Community,

We closed out September with some big announcements and a down-to-the-wire passing of a continuing resolution to fund the U.S. Government though November 17th. 

On September 29th, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced the availability of $100 million to support climate resilience projects through the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Regional Associations as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and funding from the Inflation Reduction Act. This investment is an opportunity for us to address coastal community needs and priorities within regional footprints, as well as system-wide priorities for all regions. It prioritizes system longevity, underserved and frontline communities, as well as our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Earlier that same week on September 25th, we had the opportunity to announce our new collaboration with the Marine Technology Society in tandem with the opening of the MTS OCEANS 2023 conference in Gulfport, Mississippi. This 4-year project will build a framework defining requirements and market opportunities to advance public-private partnerships in support of the Ocean Enterprise, workforce development, and coastal and ocean climate resilience. 

Lastly, this week we announced a new Notice of Funding Opportunity for the FY2024 Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed (COMT) Project. The COMT aims to support projects that facilitate and accelerate the transition of models and model based technologies from research environments toward operational readiness. The U.S. IOOS Program is seeking to fund projects which advance new or existing solutions that address long standing and emerging coastal modeling and forecast product development challenges. 

I'm so excited for all of these opportunities and I am so proud of our U.S. IOOS Office team for all the hard work they have put in to make these opportunities available. We look forward to sharing our progress and successes with you in the near future!

Thanks,
Carl

From the U.S. IOOS Office:

  • IOOS Advisory Committee is Seeking New Members: NOAA is seeking new members for the IOOS Advisory Committee. The Notice of New Member Solicitation has been published in the Federal Register to fill ten vacancies that will occur in September 2024. New members will serve for one three-year term and may subsequently be appointed for an additional three-year term. NOAA encourages individuals with expertise in Great Lakes; philanthropy; non-governmental organizations; scientific institutions (Academic); IOOS regional interests; state, local and tribal interests; renewable energy, including offshore wind; blue economy; social science; public-private partnerships; marine technologies industries; data management and architecture; ocean and coastal leadership; and other science-related fields to submit applications for Committee membership. To learn more about eligibility and requirements to apply, please refer to the federal register notice (FRN). Nominations should be submitted no later than January 2, 2024. Information on the committee and the current board members can be found here:https://ioos.noaa.gov/community/u-s-ioos-advisory-committee/.
  • IOOS Advisory Committee Public Meeting - Dec 4-5, 2023: The IOOS Advisory Committee will hold a public meeting December 4th and 5th in College Park, MD. Information about the meeting has been published to the Federal Register Notice. The meeting will be held both virtually and in person and sessions will occur from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) on December 4, 2023 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST) on December 5, 2023. Written public comments should be received by the Designated Federal Official by November 27, 2023. 
  • ORISE Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program Applications open! The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program, funded by the Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), has opened cohort applications for 2024. Under the program, you will conduct research at both your academic institution and at an external hosting facility (including IOOS!) carrying out research in marine energy (ME) and supporting the research plan you submit at the time of application.Want to know more? Click here and remember to join the informational webinar on October 24th! 
  • IRA supports Climate Resilience in IOOS Regional Associations: Under a new request for applications, NOAA will provide $100 million to the eleven U.S. IOOS Regional Associations via non-competitive cooperative agreements to fund “Climate Ready Coasts" coastal resilience services. This investment will enable the RAs to address coastal community needs and priorities within their regional footprints, and system-wide priorities for all regions with a focus on recapitalization and modernization. It prioritizes underserved and frontline communities through enhanced stakeholder outreach and partnerships, backing a system-wide commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The outcomes of this investment will enhance capabilities across the system; improve equity of services within and across communities; and enable advancements to the IOOS ocean information network capacity to combine and organize regional data collection, management, and information services to users. Read more here.
  • NOAA Awards $20.1M for Harmful Algal Bloom Research: NOAA announced approximately $20.1 million in funding for harmful algal bloom and hypoxia research in Fiscal Year 2023. These projects will advance new methods for HAB toxin measurement in seafood to prevent human illnesses; enhance HAB monitoring and response at all scales (local to national); continue development of the Gulf of Mexico HAB forecasting testbed; support making  fisheries threatened by hypoxia resilient to climate change; and improve the understanding of effects of hypoxia – and potential synergies with other stressors – on marine ecosystems. The $20.1 million investment in these projects represent a coordinated effort between NCCOS and the U.S. IOOS Office to advance our nation's ability to observe, monitor, forecast and manage blooms and hypoxia. Read more here.
  • NOAA Announces Award for Ocean Observing Community Engagement: NOAA announced a new $3.9 M cooperative agreement with the Marine Technology Society to build a framework defining requirements and market opportunities to advance public-private partnerships in support of the Ocean Enterprise, workforce development, and coastal and ocean climate resilience. This opportunity, funded under the Inflation Reduction Act, is a 4-year project beginning in September 2023. Through virtual discussions, in-person meetings, workshops, and other events, the MTS will assess the needs of the Ocean Enterprise community and its alignment with societal needs, paving a path for better understanding of the Ocean Enterprise and greater opportunities for public-private partnerships along with building an assessment of workforce needs. Read the NOAA press release here, and the MTS press release here.
  • From the IOOS Association: 
    • Call for Cariad Award nominees open! The IOOS Association created the Caraid Award in 2020 as an annual award to recognize those who have made outstanding contributions to observing and understanding our oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes through vision, leadership, friendship. Candidates can be any person who has contributed to observing and understanding the ocean, coasts, and/or Great Lakes through collaboration, innovation, and/or a commitment to working with stakeholders. Nominations from the previous years will not roll over. Nominations due 10/27/23. See more details here!

Observation Subsystem and Sensor Technologies:

  • Surface Current Mapping
    • HFRNet Replacement: Request for Information (RFI): Your input to the Request for Information (RFI)prior to 10/15/2023 would be most appreciated—regarding desired features in the upcoming replacement and upgrade of the IOOS Surface Currents Program’s “HFRNet” HF-radar data assembly center.  Please direct all questions about this RFI and your responses to Senior Contract Specialist Alice Park (alice.park@noaa.gov), since IOOS Office staff will be unable to respond directly due to Federal procurement policy.
    • SCCOOS's Cal Poly SLO team deploys New Dome Antenna: In August, SCCOOS PIs, Ryan Walter and Ian Robbins at Cal Poly SLO upgraded the HFR near Pt. Sal on Vandenberg Space Force Base, deployed in 2007, with a new combined transmit-receive dome-style radar antenna. The new dome antenna will provide upgrade capabilities including extended range and reduced interference as the network moves to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) band frequencies.
  • Gliders 
    • UG2 Updates: 
      • Many Thanks to Bill Lingsch: On behalf of the UG2 executive liaisons, the U.S. IOOS, and the entire UG2 Community, we send a heartfelt thank you and express deep appreciation for Bill’s service to the Underwater Glider User Group. Over the past 3 years, Bill’s leadership and dedicated service to the UG2 mission have been instrumental in bringing the UG2 from an idea initially discussed at the 2017 Glider Workshop to the highly successful community of practice that it is today. As our first UG2 Coordinator, Bill paved the way for this success. Thanks to his efforts, the community now has a focused means of interacting and sharing information. Bill was honored for his leadership and dedication to the group at the UG2 Town Hall during the MTS OCEANS 2023 conference where Carl Gouldman presented him with a letter of appreciation and gift. Bill has officially handed over the reins to Georgia Coward who we welcomed to the role in our last newsletter. 
  • Buoys & Moorings
    • Backyard Buoys Alaska Summer 2023 Update: AOOS and partners reached several milestones with the project this summer. In August, whaling captains deployed a total of 13 wave buoys in Alaska’s Arctic. Michael Tuzloyruk placed three near Point Hope, John Hopson Jr. positioned three near Wainwright, and Michael Quuniq Donovan deployed seven near Utqiagvik. Read the full update here.
    • PacIOOS Pauwela Wave Buoy Redeployed: On Saturday, September 16, PacIOOS Wave buoy team members Travis Vick and Olivia Hughes employed the help of Erik Bergmeyerʻs vessel to redeploy the wave buoy at our Pauwela station approximately 9 miles offshore Kahului Harbor, Maui. This PacIOOS wave buoy will record and transmit data on wave height, period and direction, as well as sea surface temperature. This information promotes safe transit entering and exiting Kahului Harbor, offers real-time data to recreational ocean users, and provides critical information for coastal hazard and low-lying inundation forecasts for north-facing shores. Data are managed by the Coastal Data Information Program(CDIP) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography of the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). Long-term partnerships between PacIOOS, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and CDIP enable data streaming into the PacIOOS website and PacIOOS Voyager. After nearly a year without a buoy at this station, we hope the community is just as happy to have the buoy back online as we are!
    • Catching Up with Russ Green at the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary: Two years ago, GLOS posted an article about the newest NOAA national marine sanctuary and its three spotter buoys. As you can imagine a lot can happen in two years, so we are catching up with Russ Green, Superintendent at the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary (WSCNMS), to learn about how the communities within the sanctuary are influencing where the buoys are being moored today and how the sanctuary’s observation network is expanding.  Catch up here!
  • Harmful Algal Blooms 
    • Alaska Summer HABs Update: Since May 2023, several Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) have been detected in Alaska. HABs can be detected through the identification of harmful algae (primarily phytoplankton in the genus Alexandrium or Pseudo-nitzschia) or by the testing of food items such as shellfish for algal toxins, such as paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs). Read the full update here.
    • NHABON Webinars: 
      • NHABON Webinar #9 Recording Now Available: Thank you to those who attended NHABON Webinar #9: HAB Observing Data Needs for Socio-Economic Analysis! If you were not able to attend please view the recording here. Resources provided during the webinar are below. 
      • Save the Date! NHABON Webinar #10 - Sargassum Observing: Please join us for our next webinar on Sargassum Observing December 13, 2023 at 3-4pm ET. https://ioosassociation.org/nhabon/ 
  • Marine Life
    • New Summary Reports of Seabirds and Ocean Conditions Now Available on SCCOOS Website: In the California Current Ecosystem (CCE), changes in seabird relative abundance, breeding success, diet, and foraging behavior have shown to be sensitive to shifts in climate-ecosystem states. Since 2011, SCCOOS has funded the Farallon Institute to provide seabird reports as indicators of habitat and food web changes in the Southern California current. These reports address the need for further data and studies to enhance the scientific basis for understanding of coupled climate-ecosystem-seabird fluctuations. The Spring and Summer 2023 reports can be found on the SCCOOS website.

Data Management and Cyberinfrastructure (DMAC) Subsystem and Tools Built on IOOS Data:

  • 2023 IOOS DMAC Annual Meeting September 26 - 28, 2023: For the first time since the pandemic, IOOS hosted a hybrid Annual DMAC meeting, and greeted in-person partners at the Civic Building in Silver Spring, MD. This year we had 151 participants from across the Regional Associations, NOAA, and other Federal agencies both in-person and virtually. For this year's meeting, the daily schedule included presentations, followed by concurrent breakout sessions on DMAC topics of interest. The agenda and presentations from this year’s event can be found at https://ioos.noaa.gov/project/dmac/.   
  • SCCOOS Led New Machine Learning and Deep Learning Automated Plankton Image Classification Training Sets: A group of scientists, including SCCOOS plankton experts Clarissa Anderson, Kasia Kenitz, Melissa Carter, Dave Caron, and Rebecca Shipe - have created training sets that employ machine learning and deep learning to perform automated image classification of plankton images. This effort was featured in ASLO’s Bulletin of Limnology and Oceanography. This project highlights the importance of facilitating a dialog between taxonomists and engineers to better integrate ecological goals with computational constraints, and encourage continuous involvement of taxonomic experts for successful implementation of automated classifiers. 
  • QARTOD
    • No update.
  • Artificial Intelligence
    • NOAA Hackathon Registration is Open: Together with NVIDIA Corporation and the OpenACC organization, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) organizations will host a hybrid Open Hackathon from February 21 - 29, 2024. Open Hackathons provide exciting opportunities for scientists to accelerate their Artificial Intelligence (AI) or High Performance Computing (HPC) based research under the guidance of expert mentors from national laboratories, universities, and industry leaders in a collaborative environment. This hybrid format allows teams to participate either in-person at NOAA's David Skaggs Research Center located in Boulder, Colorado, or remotely via a digital experience supported by online tools. Please submit applications to participate by Dec 7, 2023.
    • 5th NOAA AI Workshop on Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in Environmental Sciences: NOAA held the 5th NOAA AI Workshop September 19-21, 2023. The recording of the sessions and Demo session will be available here. https://noaaai2023.sched.com/. 

 

Modeling and Analysis Subsystem:   

  • National Ocean Service Releases Modeling Strategy: The NOS Modeling Advisory Board has released a five-year strategy to improve prediction of risks to coastal and Great Lakes communities facing the physical and economic threats posed by climate change. As part of this strategy, NOS will work with partners across NOAA, other federal agencies, academia, industry, nonprofits, and local, state, and tribal governments to advance models that will meet the public’s need for reliable predictions of coastal conditions.
  • FY2024 COMT funding opportunity: The Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed aims to support projects that facilitate and accelerate the transition of models and model based technologies from research environments toward operational readiness. The U.S. IOOS Program is seeking to fund projects which advance new or existing solutions that address long standing and emerging coastal modeling and forecast product development challenges. https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=350456 
  • New Model Under Development Addressing Cross Border Water Quality: Falk Fedderson, a physical oceanographer at Scripps, is leading a study to develop a model to forecast the presence of pathogens in San Diego coastal and tidal waters. In addition, Clarissa Anderson, Andrew Barton, Jeff Bowman, Bruce Cornuelle, Sarah Giddings, and Uwe Send will be working on this project. Once developed, the forecasts will be directly accessible to the public and decision-makers on the SCCOOS website. SIO August 25th press release is available here.
  • Ocean Visions Seeks Ocean-Climate Experts to Serve in a Variety of Roles: Are you a deep subject matter expert (defined as at least 5 years of relevant educational and practical experience) looking to apply your knowledge to help advance ocean-based climate solutions? If yes, Ocean Visions wants your expertise. Ocean Visions maintain a database of subject matter experts from which they select individuals from a range of disciplines (engineering, physical sciences, social sciences, etc.) to participate in key Ocean Visions initiatives, such as development of the Framework for Global Research of Macroalgae Cultivation and Sinking for Carbon Sequestration and as advisors to ocean-based CDR startups through the Ocean Visions Launchpad. To be considered for involvement, please fill out this brief questionnaire. If appropriate, we will add you to the Ocean Visions Expert Database and contact you should there be a need that fits your expertise. If you have any questions, please contact info@oceanvisions.org. Complete the questionnaire here.

Around the Regions:

  • AOOS seeks Coastal Resilience Projects: The Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) will be receiving funds from the NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for the period of January 1, 2024-December 30, 2028. To prepare for this funding, AOOS is now accepting project proposal ideas for financial support in the range of $10,000 up to $100,000. These funds will be used for subsidizing new ocean observations on existing projects, purchasing equipment for observing efforts, or helping to implement new projects. Project length can be 1-5 years. Short proposals due no later than Monday, October 30, 2023. Read more here. 
  • Save the Date: Celebrating Ocean Observing in California: SCCOOS, CeNCOOS, and CalCOFI announced they will be co-hosting a three-day meeting and anniversary celebration from May 14-16, 2024 in San Diego, CA. The California OceanObserving Systems (SCCOOS & CeNCOOS) will be celebrating 20 years of ocean observing and 75 years of CalCOFI. 
  • 69th Annual Eastern Pacific Ocean Conference: Each fall, EPOC brings the research community who study the Eastern Pacific Ocean together for two-and-a-half days to share and discuss new findings through oral and poster presentations, to develop innovative collaborations, and to foster the next generation of ocean scientists. This year, SCCOOS, CeNCOOS, and NANOOS led a session to discuss How can the community respond to ocean observing needs related to marine Carbon Dioxide Removal (mCDR) and Offshore Wind Energy. Clarissa Anderson, SCCOOS Director, also presented "Managing Expectations and Imperfect Information in Regional Forecasts of California HAB Events" and how every bloom has its own story, making prediction and response challenging. Clarissa also serves as EPOC President.  
  • SCCOOS at Channel Islands NMS Sanctuary Advisory Council: Clarissa Anderson and Megan Medina were invited to present on a Domoic Acid Panel at the September 8th CINMS SAC meeting. Clarissa, alongside Ruth Dover (CIMWI) and Michelle Kowalewski (CIRCU), presented on the large domoic acid event that occurred from May to July 2023 in southern and central California and the unprecedented number of marine mammal strandings. You can learn more about the event in the CA HAB Bulletin May-July 2023 special issue. 
  • Navigating Safely: How the Marine Exchange of Alaska Supports Mariners: “While AOOS and the Marine Exchange do great work independently to improve safety throughout Alaska, together we maximize our benefit and influence,” said Executive Director Steve White. Read the full story here.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility:

  • Meet the Winners of SECOORA’s 2023 Drone Course Request for Proposals: Meet the winners of the Attending Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Science Courses Request for Proposals! These twelve individuals have been selected to participate in three Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS) executive education courses offered by the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. Drones are rapidly-growing components of research, assessment, and monitoring of coastal regions within the U.S. Southeast and the Caribbean. Click here to read more.
  • SCCOOS hosts summer intern: As a part of the Scripps Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF), SCCOOS hosted SURF intern Theresa Nguyen, a USD undergraduate, nominated from the Ocean Discovery Institute. This program seeks to increase the diversity of students who can successfully prepare to pursue Earth and ocean sciences career pathways. Theresa worked to examine our HABMAP records of domoic acid concentration and its relationship to Pseudo-nitzschia abundance during blooms. During her internship, Theresa was introduced to the programming language, R, for statistical computing and graphics, and spent countless hours learning about HAB monitoring. Theresa also had the unique experience of observing water sampling at the Scripps Pier with the COOL lab in support of the Harmful Algal Bloom Monitoring Alert Program.

Interagency and International Collaboration/News:

  • UN Decade of Ocean Science For Sustainable Development Updates: 
    • Call for Nominations for New Expert Members of the Decade Advisory Board is Open: As part of the Decade Advisory Board, the new expert members will play a key part in building the Ocean Decade roadmap to 2030 and have a strong presence at high-level events such as the 2024 Ocean Decade Conference and the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference. The Decade Advisory Board (DAB) is a multi-stakeholder advisory body that assists the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO in performing its function as coordinator of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, 2021-2030 (the ‘Ocean Decade’). The new expert members of the Board will be selected through a call for nominations which is open until the 30th October 2023. Learn more here. 
    • Kick-off Webinar - FishSCORE: Fisheries Strategies for Changing Oceans and Resilient Ecosystems by 2030: Join us to learn more about the FishSCORE program, its planned initiatives, projects aligned to FishSCORE through the UN Decade of Ocean Science, and opportunities to engage. This webinar is open to anyone interested in learning more about the program. Please share this invitation with those you know that might be interested! There are two participation options to accommodate participation from multiple time zones. Each webinar will present identical content. 
      • U.S. East Coast: October 10, 19:00-20:00 EDT (UTC -4 )
      • U.S. Pacific: Oct. 10, 16:00-17:00 PDT (UTC -7)
      • Manila, Philippines: Oct. 11 7:00-8:00am PHST (UTC+8)
  • Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) News:
    • Hosting of the Pacific Islands – Global Ocean Observing System Regional Alliance (PI-GOOS) Secretariat/Office: The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has been selected to host the Pacific Islands – Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Regional Alliance (PI-GOOS) Secretariat/Office. IOC/GOOS Office received several strong applications in response to the call for Expressions of Interest to host the PI-GOOS Secretariat/Office (IOC CL-2922), which is an indication of the high level of interest across the Pacific Islands in advancing sustained ocean observations to address ocean management, coastal hazards warnings, and sustainable development for coastal and island communities. The PI-GOOS Regional Alliance will play a vital role in advancing the sustained ocean observing capacity of the region and ensuring that this fit-for-purpose system meets the needs of the Pacific Islands countries and is an integrated part of the global ocean observing system. Read more here. 
    • Call for IAPSO Best Practice Study Groups: The International Association for the Physical Sciences of the Oceans (IAPSO) is inviting applications for Best Practice Study Groups in the period 2024-2025. Each group will receive up to US$12,000 towards the costs of a meeting. Proposals should reach the IAPSO Secretary General via email by 15 November 2023. The proposers of Best Practice Study Group proposals will be notified by 31 December 2023 of the success or otherwise of their proposals. Learn more here. 
  • Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI) News:
    • NSF Renews OOI for Another Five Years: The National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that it has awarded a coalition of academic and oceanographic research organizations a second, five-year contract to operate and maintain the Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI). The coalition, led by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and including the University of Washington and Oregon State University will continue operations of the OOI. WHOI has led the operations and management aspects of the OOI since 2018 and will continue to serve as the home for the next five years of the OOI Project Management Office, led by Principal Investigator James B. Edson and Sr. Program Manager Paul Matthias. “We look forward to the next five years where we can continue to perfect our collection and serving of data, while encouraging its increased use and collaboration among ocean scientists funded by NSF and other agencies,” said Jim Edson. Read more here: https://oceanobservatories.org/2023/09/national-science-foundation-renews-ocean-observatories-initiative-for-another-five-years/ 
  • NDBC Saildrone: The National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) and Saildrone partnered to replace a moored buoy, Station 46012, in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary with a Saildrone uncrewed surface vehicle (USV) in order to continue critical weather observations and explore more sustainable marine observation methods. Observations at this station inform weather warnings and contribute to maintaining maritime safety in marine transportation, making it an important location for data collection. With its location in a marine sanctuary though, NDBC was seeking alternatives to lessen the environmental impact to the ocean floor with its mooring and anchors. Read the full announcement on NDBC’s website and check out the Saildrone station’s observations, also on NDBC’s website.
  • NOAA’s FY24 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Notice of Funding Opportunity is now open: NOAA issued its FY24 SBIR Phase I Notice of Funding Opportunity on September 28, 2023. SBIR grants provide seed funding to U.S. small businesses to support the development and commercialization of innovative technologies. Topics for this year’s solicitation include Extreme Events and Cascading Hazards; Coastal Resilience; The Changing Ocean; Water Availability, Quality, and Risk; Effects of Space Weather, and Monitoring and Modeling for Climate Change Mitigation. Full applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by December 20, 2023 at 11:59 pm (ET).
  • Marine Energy Photo Contest! Take a closer look at water power, snap a pic or video, & enter to win up to $2,000!  The Department of Energy’s Make A Splash Photo and Video Contest is open to photographers and videographers at all skill levels who can shoot high-impact scenes that document the latest water power advancements. Learn how to contribute your shots to the #MakeASplashContest!
  • Coastal Coupling Community of Practice (CC CoP) Publishes Annual Meeting Report for 2023: The Coastal Coupling Community of Practice has published the report from their annual meeting. From May 23-25, 2023, 196 representatives from 52 organizations discussed the latest breakthroughs in coastal coupling research and modeling and the necessary next actions. The report will be posted to https://www.weather.gov/owp/oh_conferences. For more information, contact laura.rear.mclaughlin@noaa.gov. 
  • Knauss Sea Grant Fellowship Opportunity Now Open! The notice of federal funding opportunity for the 2025 Knauss Marine Policy Fellowship is now open. The fellowship provides a one-year, paid experience for highly-qualified early career professionals to work on issues related to coastal, marine and Great Lakes science and policy in offices within the executive or legislative branch of government in Washington, D.C. Graduate students interested in marine science policy should explore the information about the fellowship as soon as possible and talk to their local Sea Grant program (or the National Sea Grant Office) at least one month prior to the February 15, 2024 deadline. Learn more about becoming a Knauss Fellow and Read the official opportunity on grants.gov.
  • NGS Collects Emergency Response Imagery of Hurricane Lee: NGS collected aerial images in the aftermath of Hurricane Lee. The crew flew over more than 4,566 square kilometers and collected 1,482 images in 9.2 hours. The imagery was collected in specific, NOAA-identified, and Federal Emergency Management Agency-assigned areas in coordination with other federal agencies and impacted states. Aerial imagery is a cost-effective way to better understand both property and environmental damage. The imagery is used to determine the extent of flood and storm damage to major ports and waterways, coastlines, critical infrastructure, and coastal communities. NOAA's aerial imagery also assists with safe navigation. NGS delivers the imagery through this website, which supports both the general public’s needs and advanced applications.
  • NGS Collects Hurricane Idalia Emergency Response Imagery: In the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, NGS collected aerial images in areas identified by NOAA and assigned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in coordination with other federal agencies and impacted states. The crew flew for 19.5 hours over more than 5,030 square kilometers and collected 3,520 images. NGS aerial imagery aids safe navigation and captures coastal area damage caused by storms. Aerial imagery is a crucial tool for determining the extent of damage due to flooding, and for comparing baseline coastal areas to assess damage to major ports and waterways, coastlines, critical infrastructure, and coastal communities. NGS delivers the imagery through this website, which supports the general public as well as advanced applications. The imagery provides a cost-effective way to better understand the damage sustained to both property and the environment.
  • Navigation Response Teams Activated After Hurricane Idalia: The Office of Coast Survey’s navigation response teams launched into action in the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. They focused on the Steinhatchee River and areas further south near Horseshoe Beach, Florida. By concentrating efforts in these areas, the teams freed up U.S. Army Corps of Engineers resources for Port of Tampa Bay response efforts. The navigation response teams identified 15 significant obstructions in the approach channel to the Steinhatchee River. Several channel markers were found to be missing or damaged, but many channel markers were found to be intact. In the Horseshoe Beach approach channel, the team detected several obstructions and found that most of the channel markers were missing or damaged enough to be considered navigation dangers. The data collected helped inform the U.S. Coast Guard’s equipment outloads for response efforts over the Labor Day weekend, which facilitated  vessel movement.
  • Hydrographic Survey Specifications Open for Comment: OCS posted a draft of the new Hydrographic Survey Specifications and Deliverables document to the Federal Register, where it will be available for public comment until October 12, 2023. OCS initiated the document renewal project with the vision of rewriting forward-looking specifications that would incorporate new and developing technology to best facilitate automation. The specifications would also enhance integration with S-100-based standards and the National Bathymetric Source. The new Hydrographic Survey Specifications and Deliverables document will modernize workflows and play a key role in the OCS’s future as a data-driven organization. All interested parties are encouraged to review the draft and provide feedback via the instructions provided in the Federal Register Notice.
  • CO-OPS Gathers Users to Discuss Operational Forecast Systems: CO-OPS convened a user meeting to brief stakeholders on implementation steps and timelines for the new Salish Sea and Columbia River Operational Forecast System, which will launch in 2024. CO-OPS is working closely with OCS and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to develop the system, and NOAA’s National Center for Environment Prediction Central Operations will operate it. Meeting presentations featured a comparison of the new and existing system, 2017 hindcast skill assessment results, and the new model’s setup and configuration. A wide range of stakeholders — including pilots, meteorologists, academics, ecologists, fisheries scientists, and representatives from numerous Native American tribes and federal agencies — attended the meeting. The program office gained valuable insight into user community needs at the meeting. CO-OPS will use meeting feedback to inform the timing and structure of future engagements.
  • Collaborative NOS Team Issues Sea Level Sentinel Site Manual: CO-OPS, OCM, NGS, and the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve  published a new manual, Accurate Elevations for Sea Level Change Sentinel Sites. The report provides guidelines for coastal reserves, parks, refuges, and other coastal habitat management areas to be identified as long-term sea level change sentinel sites. These sites monitor the changes in local water levels and the resulting impacts on the adjacent coastal ecosystem, providing information about climate-change impacts related to water level changes. The new publication is available on CO-OPS’s publications page and in the NOAA Library.
  • Dive into the future of Data! NWS and NOAA Open Data Dissemination (NODD) Team Office Hours on October 18th from 12-1pm EDT: As part of the NOAA Open Data Dissemination (NODD) user engagement series, NODD, NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) Office of Organizational Excellence, and Microsoft Azure are hosting an Office Hours discussion on October 18th from 12-1pm EDT on access to NOAA’s data in the cloud. The Office Hours concept is an engagement opportunity for users to connect with NOAA subject matter experts, share experiences and case studies, and provide feedback to the NODD Engagement team. This virtual discussion is to share information about the National Water Model data and its open access via Microsoft. Please register for the office hours here. 

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