Projects Explorer
The NCCOS Project Explorer provides a snapshot of our official, discrete lines of research.
Filter by research category, region, and/or contact.
Measuring and Modeling the Photo-oxidation of Floating Oil
Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, ed.wirth@noaa.gov, emily.pisarski@noaa.gov, Oil Spill, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories
Upon release into the environment, oil is subject to a variety of weathering processes, including volatilization, biodegradation, dissolution, and photo-oxidation. Prior to the Deepwater Horizon ...
Measuring the Human Dimensions of Coastal Ecosystems
Alabama, American Samoa, Assessing Human Use, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, Social Science, South Carolina, Texas, theresa.goedeke@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories, U.S. Virgin Islands
We are using social science to better understand the linkages between coastal ecosystems and human health and well-being, with the aim of providing information to ...
Mechanism of Harmful Algal Bloom Initiation in the Western Gulf of Mexico
Forecasting, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Gulf of Mexico, harmful algal bloom, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, Karenia brevis, quay.dortch@noaa.gov, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Texas, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
Blooms of the toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia brevis, threaten human and ecosystem health and local economies around the Gulf of Mexico. Although the blooms mostly prevail ...
Mechanisms Controlling Hypoxia – Glider Application to Gulf of Mexico Hypoxic Zone Monitoring: Pilot Study and Transition to Operations
david.hilmer@noaa.gov, deadzone, gliders, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Hypoxia, hypoxia, nutrients, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Waterbodies
We evaluated the use of gliders to improve Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone monitoring. The efficacy of this technology was determined and we developed a ...
Mechanisms Controlling Hypoxia – Integrated Causal Modeling of the Oceanographic Processes that Cause the Dead Zone in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, Coastal Change, david.scheurer@noaa.gov, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Louisiana, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Texas, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We’re examining the complex physical and biogeochemical relations that control and maintain the low-oxygen dead zone in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM). We are ...
Mercury Hot Spots and Bioaccumulation in Fish
Alabama, bioaccumulation, Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, Florida, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), mercury, methylmercury, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Texas, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We identify which species of fish and which harvest locations expose consumers the most to potentially toxic mercury. With this information, we seek to develop ...
Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems of American Samoa
American Samoa, Coral, coral, coral reef, Ecological and Biogeographic Assessments, kimberly.puglise@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, marine spatial planning, mesophotic coral ecosystems, Other Topics, Pacific Ocean, Regional Ecosystem Science, Sponsored Research, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We are investigating American Samoa’s mesophotic coral ecosystems (40–100 meters or ~130–330 feet deep) to better understand them and their relationship to shallower reefs. Nearly ...
Metabolism and Physiology of Red Tide Toxins in Turtles
Alabama, Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, Florida, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, Louisiana, Mississippi, quay.dortch@noaa.gov, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Texas, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
Endangered sea turtles experience severe mortality during Florida red tides. This project uses non-endangered freshwater turtles as a model animal to determine the effects of ...
Microcystins in Bivalves: Optimizing of Monitoring For and Minimizing Risk From an Emerging Human Health Threat
Atlantic Ocean, bivalves, California, Chesapeake Bay, cyanobacteria, Forecasting, harmful algal bloom, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, Long Island Sound, marc.suddleson@noaa.gov, microcystins, New York, Other Topics, Pacific Ocean, Sponsored Research, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Virginia, Waterbodies
This project addresses an emerging concern across the US - the transfer of freshwater algal toxins into the marine environment where they can infiltrate the ...
Mitigating Microcystis in the Chesapeake Bay
cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins, david.kidwell@noaa.gov, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, Maryland, microcystins, microcystis, myxophyceae, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories
Chitosan, a natural compound, is added to concentrations of local sediments and commercial clays to control harmful algal blooms. We are studying the impacts of ...
Modeling and mapping marine bird distributions on the U.S. Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf to support offshore renewable energy planning
arliss.winship@noaa.gov, Atlantic, Atlantic Ocean, Canada, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Foreign Countries, Georgia, Habitat Mapping, john.christensen@noaa.gov, Maine, marine bird, Marine Spatial Ecology, marine spatial planning, Maryland, Massachusetts, modeling, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Offshore Wind, offshore wind energy, Protected Species, relative density, Rhode Island, seabird, seabird distribution modeling, seabird predictive mapping, South Carolina, U.S. States and Territories, Virginia, Waterbodies
Seabirds and other marine birds are wide-ranging and highly mobile so mapping their at-sea distributions presents a significant challenge. The purpose of this project was ...
Modeling Approach to Predicting Nitrogen Removal by the Eastern Oyster Aquaculture Industry
Coastal Aquaculture Siting and Sustainability, Connecticut, Marine Spatial Ecology, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Water Quality
Burning fossil fuel, applying fertilizers, and other activities have resulted in nutrient-loaded runoff that can cause the overgrowth of algae and seaweeds in coastal waters ...
Modeling Factors that Contribute to Harmful Algal Blooms
Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, Hypoxia, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Waterbodies, wayne.litaker@noaa.gov
Harmful algal blooms that disrupt and degrade coastal aquatic ecosystems are occurring with greater frequency. We developed a model that shows these events are not ...
Modeling Favorable Habitat for Alexandrium catenella in Puget Sound
Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, Coastal Change, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, quay.dortch@noaa.gov, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Washington
In Puget Sound, the toxic alga Alexandrium catenella threatens people who eat shellfish contaminated with the algal toxin. Previous studies identify “seedbeds” of Alexandrium resting ...
Modeling Hypoxia and Ecological Responses to Climate and Nutrients
alan.lewitus@noaa.gov, Chesapeake Bay, CHRP, Climate Impacts on Ecosystems, Coastal Change, Delaware, Hypoxia, Maryland, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We are developing modeling tools that can be used to predict ecological responses to climate and nutrient input management in coastal systems. This project is ...
Modeling Impacts of Hypoxia in the Northern Gulf of Mexico
Biological Effects of Contaminants and Nutrients, david.kidwell@noaa.gov, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Hypoxia, Louisiana, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Texas, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We are determining the effects of hypoxia (low dissolved oxygen) on reproduction of fish (Atlantic croaker) throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico to accurately model ...
Modeling Mesophotic Coral Distributions in the Au’au Channel, Hawaii
bryan.costa@noaa.gov, Habitat Mapping, Hawaii, john.christensen@noaa.gov, Marine Spatial Ecology, Pacific Ocean, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We developed predictive maps of the distribution of selected hard corals living in the mesophotic zone (30–150 meters deep) in and around the Au’au Channel, ...
Modeling Ocean Acidification in the Coastal Zone
Coastal Change, Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico), Hypoxia, Ocean Acidification, ocean acidification, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Waterbodies, wayne.litaker@noaa.gov
Adding carbon dioxide (CO2) to seawater raises the acidity of seawater, which can adversely affect marine life and fisheries. Coastal waters receive both atmospheric CO2 ...
Modeling to Support Blue Crab Resilience in Chesapeake Bay
Critical species that support life and economic activity in the Chesapeake Bay, including the indigenous blue crab (Callinectes sapidus), are facing multiple environmental threats. Understanding ...
Modeling, Visualizing, and Communicating Nor’easter and Hurricane Threats With Sea Level Rise to Support Coastal Management in New England
Atlantic Ocean, Coastal Change, Coastal Change, Maine, Massachusetts, New England, Other Topics, Rhode Island, Sea Level Rise, sea level rise, Sponsored Research, trevor.meckley@noaa.gov, U.S. States and Territories, Waterbodies
We are working to inform and improve coastal resource management and resilience to extreme weather events (e.g., Nor’easters and hurricanes) whose impacts are magnified with ...
Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms in the Lower Great Lakes
blue-green algae blooms, Great Lakes, Harmful Algal Bloom Detection and Forecasting, marc.suddleson@noaa.gov, MERHAB, Stressor Impacts and Mitigation, Waterbodies
Monitoring and Event Response for Harmful Algal Blooms in the Lower Great Lakes (MERHAB-LGL) was the first regional, multi-institution project to examine toxic cyanobacteria in ...