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MAPPING MATTERS
VOL. 4 | ISSUE 3 | July 2024
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From COMIT Director, Steve Murawski:
This Year Three report of COMIT activities details but some of the activities undertaken in the five themes addressed by the Center – Uncrewed Systems, Geodetic Observations, Applied Hydrography, Forecasting and Remote Sensing Technologies, and Development of a Coastal Network. In addition to showcasing the achievements of our researchers and students, this report serves as an invitation to potential partners. We welcome collaboration on exciting ventures, including joint projects, technology transfer, or co-development initiatives.
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Florida High Tech Corridor Internship Wrap-Up | |
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HTC interns (clock-wise from top left):
Riley Benson, Zoe Brooker, Katherin Abreus Rodriguez, and Shana Korn
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The Florida High Tech Corridor (HTC) Grant allowed COMIT to recruit four paid undergraduate interns for the 2024 Spring Semester. Katherin, Riley, Zoe, and Shana worked on independent projects - ranging from processing bathymetry data to creating visual guides for water sample processing. They also participated in bi-weekly professional development sessions which included a mini-presentation boot camp, a science communications module, and a module on professional writing, soft skills, and career pathways. The internship experience encompassed some ship time too - which you can read about in a beautifully written article by intern, Riley Benson, here. | |
Zoe (left) and Katherin (right) by the water processing set-up on the R/V Hogarth | |
New Beginnings, Fond Farewells | | |
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Sarah Grasty-Prueitt has embarked on a new journey across the country - as a science communicator at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington state. Sarah has left her mark on the full spectrum of COMIT initiatives, and we are extremely grateful for her hard work, dedication, personality - and the countless contributions that she gave to COMIT and the USF / College of Marine Science community over the last 10+ years! She will be missed. | | |
We would like to welcome Dr. Haibo Xu, Dr. Kaili Qiao, and Dr. Sieu-Cuong San to the Ocean Circulation Lab! These researchers bring a wealth of knowledge in ocean circulation model visualization, coastal dynamics, and wave-current interactions to the COMIT team and will be working with COMIT Co-PI Yonggang Liu. | | |
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Dr. Kaili Qiao,
Research Associate
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Dr. Sieu-Cuong San,
Post-Doc
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Kristin Erickson is embracing a new role within the Florida Coastal Mapping Program (FCMaP) / COMIT collaboration, assisting with the Crowdsourced Bathymetry (CSB) Program as Data Processor and GIS Data Publisher. Ms. Erickson joined the Florida Institute of Oceanography (FIO) team in January 2023 as the FCMaP Coordinator, where her involvement with COMIT was initiated due to the similar seafloor mapping missions and goals of the two programs. | |
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Jaden Crute (recent bachelor's graduate), Emily Brown (undergraduate, rising junior), and Garrett Miller (recent master's graduate) spent a week aboard the NOAA research vessel Nancy Foster (July 15 - 17, 2024) - where they assisted with the collection of water column data, multibeam bathymetry, and acoustic backscatter. In addition to providing students with operational skills and proficiency to support the development and long-range mission of hydrography, data collected from the cruise will be used to update NOAA's nautical charting products. | |
Emily, Jaden, and Garrett in their protective 'gumby' suits. | |
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Margaret Hanley (master's student) is currently aboard the NOAA ship - the Okeanos Explorer (July 18 - August 12, 2024). The expedition is mapping unexplored areas of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument - the largest, contiguous, fully protected American conservation area, and one of the largest marine conservation areas in the world. Margaret is a Mapping Watch Lead, running acquisition and training to support the current explorers-in-training for which Margaret and former master's student (and graduate) Catalina Rubiano are alumnae! | | |
Margaret, in the Mission Control room of the Okeanos Explorer | |
Margaret, on deck, replenishing the expendable bathythermographs (XBTs) in the XBT launcher. XBT probes measure ocean temperature data. | |
Dr. Stephan O'Brien attended the Canadian Hydrographic Conference in late May, in St. John's. In addition to exploring historic and breathtaking sites (and participating in some peculiar local traditions), Dr. O'Brien presented on the work that he is doing to establish a backscatter calibration site in the Gulf of Mexico. The title of the talk: Establishing a Multibeam Backscatter Calibration Site in Proximity of Tampa Bay. | |
St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada | | |
Steve, Sherryl, and Chad at the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping / NOAA-UNH Joint Hydrographic Center's Annual Review | |
Dr. Steve Murawski (COMIT PI and Director), Sherryl Gilbert (COMIT Assistant Director), and Chad Lembke (COMIT Co-PI and Lead Engineer) attended the Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping / NOAA-UNH Joint Hydrographic Center's Annual Review. CCOM/JHC was founded in 1999! Their lasting success and collective expertise lend instrumental guidance and inspiration to the COMIT team's many aligned objectives.
(Durham, New Hampshire, 7/16 - 7/17, 2024)
| Dr. Yonggang Liu was invited to serve on the Scientific Committee of the 55th Liège Colloquium on Ocean Dynamics – Ocean Extremes. He gave a presentation on the topic of coastal ocean modeling of storm surges during Hurricanes Ian and Idalia. (Liege, Belgium, 5/27 - 5/31, 2024) | | |
A sneak peek at the newly painted, logo'd and lettered – 34' SeaArk Dauntless | |
We have a boat! The Hillsborough Sheriff's Office gifted the USF College of Marine Science a 34' SeaArk Dauntless late last year. We have spent the past several months getting the vessel primed for marine research, and look forward to sharing how this incredible new tool will enhance operations at the Center. Sea trials are scheduled for the coming weeks, with an official announcement and naming ceremony soon to follow.
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Honohu tide sensor readings and forecasts from August 3rd - August 4th, amidst Tropical Storm Debby | |
In coordination with FCMaP, a Honohu tide measuring sensor was installed at John's Pass in Madeira Beach, FL earlier this year, and water level readings started coming in on May 17th. The sensor measures tides every second and webpage data refreshes every six minutes. One way this Tampa Bay install is being used is to validate USF College of Marine Science / COMIT ocean circulation models. Check out the latest Honohu predictions and observations here. | |
Dr. Steve Murawksi (left), with Dr. Cisco Werner - Chief Science Advisor for NOAA Fisheries and Ms. Carrie Selberg Robinson - Director of the Office of Habitat Conservation | |
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Our fearless leader, Dr. Steve Murawski has joined the NOAA Science Advisory Board (SAB). Dr. Murawski is among other preeminent scientists, engineers, educators, and science policy experts who are tasked with advising the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere on long- and short-range strategies for research, education, and the application of science to resource management and environmental assessment and prediction.
Dr. Murawski attended the 82nd Meeting of the NOAA Science Advisory Board (July 31 - August 1, 2024) at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory in Ann Arbor, MI.
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140 7th Avenue South,
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
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