F.G. Walton Smith

All REU participants will have the opportunity to participate in a research cruise to Tampa Bay for the collection of research samples and deployment of research instruments. The primary objective of this research cruise is to investigate turbidity dynamics in Tampa Bay, assess sediment characteristics at key locations inside and outside the bay, and conduct vibracoring of relict coastal features on the West Florida Shelf. The cruise aims to provide insights into sedimentary processes, water quality, and geological features in the study area.

The role of the benthic environment in the life history of red tide blooms ( Karenia brevis ) remains poorly understood. The goal of this effort it to continue a termed data series and reoccupy multiple stations surveyed from previous surveys, in collected benthic material (sediments, cores) and sample the overlying water column.

This award will fund the University of Miami to continue a consensus reference material (CRM) program in support of consistent, high-quality measurements of DOC by the international ocean chemistry community. With the continuation of this work, the US and international communities will create with confidence consistent measurements of a major marine carbon reservoir, thereby advancing society’s ability to assess changes in the marine carbon cycle and the role of the ocean in climate change. With continued strong international efforts to investigate the marine carbon cycle, the existing CRM program provides the necessary benchmark for globally comparable marine DOC measurements. Water from the deep Florida Strait (~42 mol/kg DOC) will be collected, ampoulated, and distributed to the US and international community. Since the program's launch, ~228,000 vials of reference waters have been distributed to ~240 US and international laboratories in 45 nations, currently at a rate of ~27,000 vials/year. With renewal of the reference material program for 3 years of support, distribution of deep ocean water containing biologically refractory dissolved organic carbon and low carbon reference water will continue to aid the analytical work of the DOM community.

Researchers from NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, FL, conduct regular bimonthly hydrographic surveys at 27N in the Florida Straits to monitor the transport and water-mass properties of the Florida Current. The Florida Current is part of the Gulf Stream system, which is the upper limb of the western boundary current system in the North Atlantic Ocean. These cruises are a part of the laboratory’s long-running Western Boundary Time Series (WBTS) project and directly measure the Florida Current at nine locations across the Straits of Florida at 27N, between Jupiter, Florida, and the Little Bahama Bank in the Bahamas. WBTS 27N hydrographic sections, conducted bimonthly throughout the year, are critical to improving our understanding of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre circulation and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Importantly, data collected during these cruises and others are also used to calibrate the 27N submarine cable system which publicly provides daily transport estimates of the Florida Current . The AMOC is a significant factor in climate change, oceanic carbon sequestration, and sustainable fisheries.

FOCUS will investigate the relationship between sea-level changes in coastal Florida and variations in Gulf Stream transport of water and heat through Florida Straits. To address this goal, the project will use in-situ measurements of velocity, pressure and sound signals along a cross-section between Florida and The Bahamas. These measurements will lead to a better understanding of how 'sunny-day' flooding events in South Florida are linked to oceanic conditions offshore. Results will also illuminate links between variations in different components of Gulf Stream transport and the gyre and overturning circulation and heat content at basin scale. Investigators will interact closely with resilience program managers of a county in southeast Florida that is affected by increasingly frequent flooding from the ocean.

FOCUS will investigate the relationship between sea-level changes in coastal Florida and variations in Gulf Stream transport of water and heat through Florida Straits. To address this goal, the project will use in-situ measurements of velocity, pressure and sound signals along a cross-section between Florida and The Bahamas. These measurements will lead to a better understanding of how 'sunny-day' flooding events in South Florida are linked to oceanic conditions offshore. Results will also illuminate links between variations in different components of Gulf Stream transport and the gyre and overturning circulation and heat content at basin scale. Investigators will interact closely with resilience program managers of a county in southeast Florida that is affected by increasingly frequent flooding from the ocean.

Researchers from NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, FL, conduct regular bimonthly hydrographic surveys at 27N in the Florida Straits to monitor the transport and water-mass properties of the Florida Current. The Florida Current is part of the Gulf Stream system, which is the upper limb of the western boundary current system in the North Atlantic Ocean. These cruises are a part of the laboratory’s long-running Western Boundary Time Series (WBTS) project and directly measure the Florida Current at nine locations across the Straits of Florida at 27N, between Jupiter, Florida, and the Little Bahama Bank in the Bahamas. WBTS 27N hydrographic sections, conducted bimonthly throughout the year, are critical to improving our understanding of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre circulation and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Importantly, data collected during these cruises and others are also used to calibrate the 27N submarine cable system which publicly provides daily transport estimates of the Florida Current . The AMOC is a significant factor in climate change, oceanic carbon sequestration, and sustainable fisheries.

This award will fund the University of Miami to continue a consensus reference material (CRM) program in support of consistent, high-quality measurements of DOC by the international ocean chemistry community. With the continuation of this work, the US and international communities will create with confidence consistent measurements of a major marine carbon reservoir, thereby advancing society’s ability to assess changes in the marine carbon cycle and the role of the ocean in climate change. With continued strong international efforts to investigate the marine carbon cycle, the existing CRM program provides the necessary benchmark for globally comparable marine DOC measurements. Water from the deep Florida Strait (~42 mol/kg DOC) will be collected, ampoulated, and distributed to the US and international community. Since the program's launch, ~228,000 vials of reference waters have been distributed to ~240 US and international laboratories in 45 nations, currently at a rate of ~27,000 vials/year. With renewal of the reference material program for 3 years of support, distribution of deep ocean water containing biologically refractory dissolved organic carbon and low carbon reference water will continue to aid the analytical work of the DOM community.

Researchers from NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, FL, conduct regular bimonthly hydrographic surveys at 27N in the Florida Straits to monitor the transport and water-mass properties of the Florida Current. The Florida Current is part of the Gulf Stream system, which is the upper limb of the western boundary current system in the North Atlantic Ocean. These cruises are a part of the laboratory’s long-running Western Boundary Time Series (WBTS) project and directly measure the Florida Current at nine locations across the Straits of Florida at 27N, between Jupiter, Florida, and the Little Bahama Bank in the Bahamas. WBTS 27N hydrographic sections, conducted bimonthly throughout the year, are critical to improving our understanding of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre circulation and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Importantly, data collected during these cruises and others are also used to calibrate the 27N submarine cable system which publicly provides daily transport estimates of the Florida Current . The AMOC is a significant factor in climate change, oceanic carbon sequestration, and sustainable fisheries.

Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division, (NAVUNSEAWARCENDIV) Newport Ranges, Engineering, and Analysis Department, Waterfront Operations Branch (Code 7022) supports at-sea testing for advanced unmanned test vehicles, oceanographic systems, and acoustic communications. Branch personnel maintain expertise in safely conducting at-sea exercises and in the deployment and recovery retrieval of various test equipment and devices. Often, supporting tests of this nature requires assets to be used which are not owned by the Government. Examples of such equipment include fixed and rotary wing aircraft, oceangoing vessels, commercial diving support, vessel mobilization support, and use of various pieces of oceanographic equipment. NUWCDIVNPT is planning a test vehicle exercise from 27 - 28 May 2025 at the Jacksonville Shallow Water Tactics and Training Range (JSWTTR), off the coast of Jacksonville, Florida (FL). Up to sixteen (16) test vehicle are planned for evaluation of Operational Software. Services of multiple vessels and one aircraft will be required.

Researchers from NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, FL, conduct regular bimonthly hydrographic surveys at 27N in the Florida Straits to monitor the transport and water-mass properties of the Florida Current. The Florida Current is part of the Gulf Stream system, which is the upper limb of the western boundary current system in the North Atlantic Ocean. These cruises are a part of the laboratory’s long-running Western Boundary Time Series (WBTS) project and directly measure the Florida Current at nine locations across the Straits of Florida at 27N, between Jupiter, Florida, and the Little Bahama Bank in the Bahamas. WBTS 27N hydrographic sections, conducted bimonthly throughout the year, are critical to improving our understanding of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre circulation and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Importantly, data collected during these cruises and others are also used to calibrate the 27N submarine cable system which publicly provides daily transport estimates of the Florida Current . The AMOC is a significant factor in climate change, oceanic carbon sequestration, and sustainable fisheries.

Researchers from NOAA's Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) in Miami, FL, conduct regular bimonthly hydrographic surveys at 27N in the Florida Straits to monitor the transport and water-mass properties of the Florida Current. The Florida Current is part of the Gulf Stream system, which is the upper limb of the western boundary current system in the North Atlantic Ocean. These cruises are a part of the laboratory’s long-running Western Boundary Time Series (WBTS) project and directly measure the Florida Current at nine locations across the Straits of Florida at 27N, between Jupiter, Florida, and the Little Bahama Bank in the Bahamas. WBTS 27N hydrographic sections, conducted bimonthly throughout the year, are critical to improving our understanding of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre circulation and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Importantly, data collected during these cruises and others are also used to calibrate the 27N submarine cable system which publicly provides daily transport estimates of the Florida Current . The AMOC is a significant factor in climate change, oceanic carbon sequestration, and sustainable fisheries.

FOCUS will investigate the relationship between sea-level changes in coastal Florida and variations in Gulf Stream transport of water and heat through Florida Straits. To address this goal, the project will use in-situ measurements of velocity, pressure and sound signals along a cross-section between Florida and The Bahamas. These measurements will lead to a better understanding of how 'sunny-day' flooding events in South Florida are linked to oceanic conditions offshore. Results will also illuminate links between variations in different components of Gulf Stream transport and the gyre and overturning circulation and heat content at basin scale. Investigators will interact closely with resilience program managers of a county in southeast Florida that is affected by increasingly frequent flooding from the ocean.