Research Agenda

POLE-TO-POLE KELP STUDY

RESEARCH WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA, DR. MAYCIRA COSTA

S/V One Ocean’s crew will conduct an unprecedented pole-to-pole study on kelp forests. This study will scrutinize kelp forests’ spatial, density, and temporal dynamics from Alaska to Patagonia. Its primary objective is to elucidate the environmental factors driving changes in kelp populations, such as ocean temperature fluctuations, and to provide valuable insights for restoration and conservation efforts.

Imaging FlowCytobot for phytoplankton study

Lead scientist: Ali Chase, Senior Oceanographer, Applied Physics Lab at the University of Washington

Phytoplankton, the single-celled autotrophs that form the base of the marine food web and play a key role in the global carbon cycle, are found ubiquitously in near-surface ocean waters. Phytoplankton populations are highly diverse and the variability in their community composition affects numerous ocean ecosystem processes. Distributions of phytoplankton communities can be investigated using automated, high-throughput microscopy. These data can be used directly to investigate patterns and changes in phytoplankton communities, as well as used to validate satellite-based estimates of phytoplankton populations. Remote-sensing measurements made by Earth-observing satellites are rapidly advancing due to space-based instrument technology, and data on phytoplankton populations collected directly from ships are greatly needed to assess and improve satellite algorithms for studying ocean ecosystems and relationships between biology and physical ocean properties on broad scales.

Buoy deployment for wave studies and ocean/atmosphere properties

For wave buoys: Jim Thomson, Senior Principal Oceanographer, APL

For ocean/atmosphere buoys: Ignatius Rigor, Senior Principal Research Scientist, APL

The microSWIFT buoy is a small, expendable wave buoy developed by Jim Thomson’s group at APL. The microSWIFTs are described here: https://doi.org/10.1080/21664250.2023.2283325 

These buoys are typically deployed to measure waves in tropical cyclones (hurricanes) and in the polar regions.  In the polar regions, we have been documenting a strong increase in wave activity that is directly related to reductions in sea ice.  We are particularly interested in how the wave increases are affecting the coasts and the people who live there.  The effects include increases in erosion and increases in risks for those transiting through coastal zones.