As of January 17, 2017, the NOAA Central Library has hosted 779 lunchtime "Brown Bag" seminars since 1994. This page lists all Brown Bags given at NOAA Central Library. Powerpoint presentations with audio recordings of the seminars are added to the archives, usually within a week of the presentation, if audio is available, and will be maintained for a period of one year.

If you are interested in presenting a Brown Bag seminar, please contact Judith Salter (301-713-2600 ext. 135) or Library Reference (301-713-2600 ext. 157) to schedule a brown bag session. Please send a title of the proposed presentation, an abstract of the presentation and a speaker bio, so that we can reserve your desired presentation time on our NOAA Central Library Events calendar and announce the seminar via the OneNOAA Science Seminar network. Photos and fliers that reflect the topic of the upcoming brown bag seminar are appreciated and will be used to advertise the brown bag seminar in the library, on the NOAA Libraries Facebook page and other NOAA social media as applicable.

2016 Brown Bags

Forecasting the flock: using species distribution models to evaluate the effects of climate change on future seabird foraging aggregations in the California Current System

Date: Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 12:00pm ET

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speakers: Dori Dick, 2016 Knauss Fellow, NOAA Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources

Abstract: Ocean management and conservation in the face of climate change depends on robust understanding of current relationships between species and their environment. This study built spatially-explicit models to identify multispecies seabird foraging aggregations (hotspots) in the California Current System and assessed how locations may shift due to climate change. Models for 30 species were built and validated using 15 years (1997-2012) of seabird survey data. We predicted species-specific relative densities during February, May, July and October under three scenarios and assessed current relationships between SST, sea surface height (SSH) and chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) to predict future scenarios. Standardized predicted means were averaged by foraging ecotype to create scenario-specific multispecies hotspot maps by month. Results suggest suitable foraging habitat will shift offshore and north, diving and surface feeders will be the most sensitive to a changing climate, and some seamounts may retain suitable habitat in the future.

About the Speaker: Dori Dick is a marine spatial ecologist who uses GIS and spatial analyses to understand what factors influence how species use the ocean and improve marine conservation and management decisions. She has a PhD in Geography from Oregon State University and is a Protected Species Program Specialist on Climate Change with NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources

Reducing Bird Collisions with Buildings and Building Glass: Best Practices

Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2017 at 10:45am-11:45am ET

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speakers: Lesley Kordella and Meghan C. Sadlowski, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)

Introductions: Lee Benaka, Fish Specialist, NOAA Fisheries

Opening Remarks: Eileen Sobeck, Assistant Administrator, NOAA Fisheries

Abstract: Glass reflectivity and transparency create a lethal illusion of clear airspace that birds do not see as a barrier. During the daytime, birds collide with windows because they see reflections of the landscape in the glass (e.g., clouds, sky, vegetation, or the ground); or they see through glass to perceived habitat (including potted plants or vegetation inside buildings) or to the sky on the other side. At night, during spring and fall bird migrations when inclement weather occurs, birds can be attracted to lighted structures resulting in collisions, entrapment, excess energy expenditure, and exhaustion. The majority of collisions with both residential and urban buildings happen during the day, as birds fly around looking for food. Annual bird mortality resulting from window collisions in the U.S. is estimated to be between 365- 988 million birds which, according to the latest research, ranks it as the second highest source of direct human-caused bird mortality worldwide. While most people consider bird/glass collisions an urban phenomenon involving tall, mirrored-glass skyscrapers, the reality is that 56% of collision mortality occurs at low-rise (i.e., one to three story) buildings, 44% at urban and rural residences, and <1% at high rises. This brown bag session will focus on explaining some of the major factors involved in building, glass and lighting impacts to birds in buildings we reside and work in every day, and the solutions that can be implemented to help greatly reduce these impacts. Though one of the top human-caused impacts to birds, there are many options for reducing or preventing bird collisions with buildings; several of which are low to no cost or help save in energy and other costs. Join us in learning how you can make a difference in the little things you do everyday to avoid building, glass and lighting impacts to birds.

About the Speakers: Lesley Kordella is a Wildlife Biologist in the Division of Migratory Birds at the USFWS and has spent the past 12 years in the federal government focusing on impacts to wildlife from energy projects. Lesley serves as the UFWS's liaison to the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee, National Environmental Policy Act lead for the proposed rule to authorize incidental take under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and Coordinator for the Council for the Conservation of Migratory Birds—a group of federal agencies dedicated to migratory bird conservation under Executive Order 13186.

Meghan Sadlowski is an Environmental Scientist in the USFWS's Migratory Bird Division, Branch of Conservation, Permits and Regulations. Ms. Sadlowski has worked in the Migratory Bird Division for over six years, providing support in the development of decision support tools, guidance documents, and other resources focusing on minimization of anthropogenic impacts to birds. She holds a Masters of Environmental Science and Policy from the Johns Hopkins University.

Introducing the NOAA Institutional Repository

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

IR One Sheet (PDF version)

Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2017, Webinar from 11:30am-12pm ET

Speakers: Stanley Elswick, Sarah Davis and Jennifer Fagan-Fry, NOAA Central Library IR Team

Abstract: Introducing the newest NOAA Library service: the NOAA Institutional Repository (IR).

Predator effects on host-parasite interactions

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 12:30pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Jennafer Malek, PhD, 2016 Knauss Fellow at the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission

Abstract: Both parasitism and predation may strongly influence population dynamics and community structure separately or synergistically. Predator species can influence host-parasite interactions, either by preferentially feeding on infected (or uninfected) hosts-and thus altering parasite prevalence patterns-or by affecting host behavior in ways that increase host susceptibility to parasites. In this study, we tested if predators (the mud crab Panopeus herbstii and the blue crab Callinectes sapidus) influence interactions between the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica and 2 of its most prevalent parasites, Perkinsus marinus and Haplosporidium nelsoni. Using a combination of field and laboratory experiments, we tested for predatory effects on the prevalence and intensity of parasite infections and on oyster immune response (phagocytic activity). Our results consistently demonstrated that crabs do not influence parasite infections in oysters at either individual or population levels. Thus, even though predators often have strong top-down direct and indirect effects on marine communities, we found their influence on host-parasite interactions to be minimal in this system.

About the Speaker: Originally from Connecticut, Jenna's love of the ocean took her to the University of Maine for her Bachelors before starting a graduate career studying oysters. After completing an MS right down the road in College Park, she earned her PhD at the University of Georgia studying how the environment affects host-parasite interactions in coastal systems.

Performance of Potomac River's "Dominant" Vallisneria americana Genotypes in Greenhouse Mesocosm Competition Experiments

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Shanie Gal-Edd, 2016 Knauss Fellow at the NOAA Research Office of Policy, Planning, and Evaluation

Abstract:The population of Vallisneria americana within the Potomac River appears to be dominated by two genotypes. In order to test the hypothesis that their dominance is due to phenotypic superiority in terms of clonal propagation and growth, a series of greenhouse mesocosm experiments were conducted to compare the "dominant" genotypes with other "rare" genotypes from the Potomac River.

About the Speaker: Shanie is currently a Master's student in University of Maryland's Plant Science program studying Conservation and Restoration Ecology of the Chesapeake Bay. She earned her B.S. in Biology and Ecology while conducting entomology research at the USDA Agricultural Research Station. Prior to studying ecology, she earned a B.A. in Psychology with concentrated coursework in Business and Economics. Most recently, Shanie was a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Directorate Fellow in the Migratory Birds Program Branch of Population and Habitat Assessment, where she initiated and managed Project FlockTogether, a crowdsourcing platform to enable mass-processing of aerial migratory waterbird survey photos.

Two Decades of Science Collaboration with Cuba

Date: Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Fernando Bretos Trelles, Curator of Ecology, Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science

Abstract: The larvae of fish, coral and crustaceans as well as migratory sea turtles, sharks and marine mammals flow between our countries, depending on healthy habitats for survival. The US lies upstream from Cuba and hence depends on Cuban biodiversity for the health of its coastal habitats from south Texas to coastal Massachusetts.In light of the recent rapprochement between the US and Cuba, science diplomacy has proven a powerful force to bring together two countries after decades of isolation. Mr. Bretos will discuss his efforts since 1998 to study Cuba's coral reefs and marine wildlife and discuss the challenges facing Cuba in light of an impending wave of tourism and market pressure.

About the Speaker: Mr. Bretos directs the Cuba Marine Research and Conservation Program CubaMar.org, a Project of The Ocean Foundation. He has directed major marine biodiversity expeditions, coral reef health studies and marine wildlife conservation programs. He has studied a population of green sea turtles on seven beaches at Guanahacabibes National Park located on the extreme western tip of Cuba. Mr. Bretos also directs the Trinational Initiative for Marine Science and Conservation in the Gulf of Mexico and Western Caribbean, a multinational program initiated in 2007 to restore coastal and marine resources shared by the three nations of the Gulf of Mexico: Cuba, Mexico and the United States.

Since 1998 his work has built bridges between our countries through joint research on marine resources shared by countries that are separated by only 90 miles of ocean. The larvae of fish, coral and crustaceans as well as migratory sea turtles, sharks and marine mammals flow between our countries, depending on healthy habitats for survival. The US lies upstream from Cuba and hence depends on Cuban biodiversity for the health of its coastal habitats from south Texas to coastal Massachusetts.

Mr. Bretos is also Director of MuVE (www.miamisci.org/muve) at the Patricia and PhillipFrost Museum of Science (www.miamisci.org) a volunteer based habitat restoration project that empowers South Florida residents to restore urban coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, dunes and tropical hardwood forests. As Curator of Ecology he is also helping design marine science based exhibits for a 250,000 square foot state-of-the-art museum and aquarium where the Museum will soon relocate. A 2011 Kinship Fellow and 2010 Audubon Together Green Fellow, he holds a Master's degree in Marine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science and a bachelor's degree in biology from Oberlin College.

A Look Back at the History of the NOAA Corps

Date: December 2, 2016 from 12:00pm-1:00pm (presentation and webinar)

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

For NOAA Corps meeting info: Contact Eric Johnson and Skip Theberge

Location: NOAA Central Library, 2nd Floor, SSMC#3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring (online access will also be available)

Notes: The NOAA Central Library has reserved the Brown Bag area (from 11AM-2PM) for the NOAA Corps meeting, with the presentation and webinar occuring during 12pm-1pm EST.

Abstract: This presentation will look back at the history of the Commissioned Service of the Department of Commerce, including its origins in the Coast and Geodetic Survey, some of its outstanding leaders, and some of its accomplishments. The time period covered will extend from the Civil War up to 1970 when NOAA came into being and the Commissioned Service became known as NOAA Corps.

About the Speaker:Albert "Skip" Theberge has been with NOAA and its predecessor since 1969. He served twenty-seven years with NOAA Corps, retiring as a Captain in 1995. He became associated with the NOAA Central Library shortly after retirement and is presently Acting Chief of Reference. He commanded two NOAA ships, served as field party chief of both hydrographic and geodetic survey crews, and managed two major mapping projects - a NOAA/DOE mapping geothermal mapping program and the NOAA NOS Exclusive Economic Mapping Program that pioneered many aspects of multi-beam mapping and GPS use within NOAA during his career in NOAA Corps. He has received both Department of Commerce and NOAA awards including a NOAA Distinguished Career Award, a DOC Gold Medal as part of the NOAA Science Team that helped design the Sant Ocean Hall of the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, and recently NOAA Administrator's Awards as part of the teams that discovered and identified the wreck of the Coast Survey Steamer Robert J. Walker and helping recognize the sacrifice of four Weather Bureau personnel lost on an Ocean Weather Station vessel during World War II.

Special webinar: Progress on establishing protected areas in the Southern Ocean: the Ross Sea region MPA (Courtesy post)

Date: Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 1:00pm EST (ONLINE ONLY)

Presentation slides, with audio

Speaker: Mi Ae Kim, Foreign Affairs Specialist, NOAA's Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection (NMFS)

Seminar POC: Lauren Wenzel

Sponsors: Co-sponsored by the NOAA National MPA Center, MPA News, and the EBM Tools Network (co-coordinated by NatureServe and OpenChannels.org)

Abstract: The Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has been working to establish marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean, which would contribute to its objective - the conservation of Antarctic marine living resources. On October 28, 2016, CCAMLR agreed to the establishment of the Ross Sea region MPA, an area of exceptional ecological value and scientific importance. An overview of CCAMLR's MPA efforts will be provided during the webinar, including details about the recently adopted MPA in the Ross Sea.

About the Speaker: Mi Ae Kim is Foreign Affairs Specialist in the Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection, NMFS

Engaging diverse youth in ocean science

Date: Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 12:30pm-1pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Ellen Spooner, 2016 Knauss Executive Fellow, Ocean Science Educator/Communications Specialist with NOAA Fisheries Communications Office

Abstract: From squid dissections to experiments on icebergs, come learn about the ways in which Ellen Spooner has engaged minority and dis-advantaged youth with marine science. Diversity of marine science professionals does not match the diversity of people in the United States. This is due to a variety of reasons but many people are working to change this and make the marine science field reflect the unique and talented population in the U.S. You will hear stories of inspiration, techniques she has gained and challenges faced during her fellowship.

About the Speaker: Ellen went to the University of Arizona for undergrad studying Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the University of Michigan to study conservation ecology. Her current host offices are shared between NOAA Fisheries Office of Communications and Smithsonian Natural History Museum Ocean Education.

CSI Chesapeake Bay: Who Killed the Copepods?

Date: Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 12:00pm-12:30pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Katherine Slater, 2016 Knauss Executive Fellow, Ecosystem Science and Management Specialist with NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology

Abstract: The population of copepod Acartia tonsa, a key species in the Chesapeake Bay's food web, significantly dropped 50% in summer. Since hypoxia, jellyfish bloom and Bay Anchovy spawning are prevalent in summer, the effects of hypoxia, jellyfish predation and anchovy predation were evaluated to understand the reasons for the copepod population decrease. We measured environmental factors and collected zooplankton, jellyfish and fish samples on six cruises in the main channel of the Chesapeake Bay from May to September in 2010 and 2011.

Besides applying the common definition of hypoxia (DO < 2mg/ L), we also estimated whether the temperature-specific oxygen demands were met for supporting the basic metabolism of A. tonsa. By comparing the oxygen supply and demand, we found the hypoxia severity was underestimated with the traditional fixed standard especially in summer. With the new biological standard, the hypoxic water could occupy up to 70% of the water column in the Bay. We found less copepods and less anchovies but more jellyfish under hypoxic conditions. The non-predatory mortality was estimated with neutral red uptake, and predation impacts were estimated from jellyfish and anchovy gut contents. Our results indicated that higher copepod mortalities were due to the combinations of hypoxia and predations, and the relative importance of these stressors varied with environmental conditions. Hypoxia directly caused copepod mortality, but the importance of predation increased with temperature and hypoxia severity. Different hypoxia tolerance also changed the composition of copepod predators, from mostly juvenile anchovies to 50% comb jellyfish when the environment became warm and severely hypoxic. In conclusion, hypoxia in the Bay was underestimated, and temperature and species differences should be considered when evaluating water quality in the future. Hypoxia directly caused copepod mortality, and indirectly boosted predation especially under warmer temperature. Warmth and hypoxia together drove more energy flow to jellyfish instead of to more desirable forage fish.

About the Speaker: Katherine is a doctoral candidate in biological oceanography at the University of Maryland, College Park. She was working at UMCES' Horn Point Laboratory, studying predator-prey interactions between marine species in low-oxygen ecosystems in the Chesapeake Bay. Katherine has a M.S. in marine science from the National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan, where she is from. She is now working as a fishery ecosystem science and management specialist in the NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology

The Global Observing System for Climate Implementation Needs: Focus on the Ocean

Date: Thursday, November 17, 2016 at 10:30am-11:30am EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Dr. Katherine (Katy) Hill, World Meteorological Organisation, Geneva, Switzerland

Abstract: The new GCOS Implementation Plan has been developed by the GCOS Community during 2016, and recently submitted to the UNFCCC COP-22 meeting in Marakech for approval. UNFCCC members have committed to observing the climate, guided by this plan, so recommendations and actions have visibility and weight within national governments. The plan strengthens the focus on observing climate cycles, and also has a stronger focus on impacts, adaptation and mitigation. This talk will summarise the main developments in the new plan, particularly focussing on the ocean chapter, which draws on a strengthened multidisciplinary GOOS programme. It will also highlight challenges for the coming years.

About the Speaker:Dr. Katy Hill works within the international system to support the development of sustained ocean observing systems. She is part of the GCOS and GOOS programme offices as secretariat for Ocean Observations Panel for Climate on observing system requirements, design and evaluation, and also works with JCOMM Observations Coordination Group, members of which are the main globally coordinated networks, on the technical aspects of observing system implementation; she also facilitated the establishment of the Tropical Pacific Observing System, TPOS 2020 Project. Katy has an interest in multi institutional collaborative programmes nationally and internationally, and has worked and studied in the UK, Canada and Australia before her current role. Previously, Katy worked for Australia's Integrated Marine Observing System, and also the International CLIVAR Project Office.

What's New in EndNote X8 and Q&A for NOAA

Date: Tuesday, November 15, 2016 at 1:00pm EST

Duration: 1 hour

Location (Online): Online Registration Link: https://thomsonreuters.webex.com/thomsonreuters/k2/j.php?MTID=t4e10c7313701a22e7084c1a623d6a021

Trainer: Donna Kirking, EndNote Trainer, Clarivate Analytics

Class summary: this class covered the new features in EndNote X8. Then we'll open it up for questions on anything having to do with EndNote.

Download EndNote Product Keys for NOAA staff at: https://sites.google.com/a/noaa.gov/nites-endnote

Note:This online training was not be archived by the library, but we will post the link to the recording our archives as soon as it is available from the trainer.

Out of the Vault: Maps, Weather, & War: NOAA and the Nation's Wartime Weather Needs

Date: Thursday, November 10, 2016 at 11:00AM-2PM EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Facebook album: Maps, Weather & War (Facebook)

Speaker: Albert "Skip" Theberge, NOAA Central Library

Abstract: In honor of Veterans Day, the NOAA Central Library hosted a special exhibit, "Out of the Vault: Maps, Weather,& War" on Thursday, November 10, 2016 from 11AM - 2 PM. This exhibit showcased several unique items from the collection with special significance to the armed conflicts that NOAA and its predecessor agencies have served in.

Acting Head of Reference Albert "Skip" Theberge presented an in-depth collections discussion from 11:30 AM - 12 PM.

Highlights:

British charts from the Revolutionary War

Handwritten coast pilot from the Civil War

WW2 reconnaissance maps gathered by the German and Japanese militaries

1944 map of Omaha Beach West, prepared for D-Day

Copies of "The Buzzard," the C&GS's WW2-era informal interagency newsletter

Personal sketches of the Korean War from Weather Squadron service members

Wartime photos of Weather Bureau staff in action

About the Speaker: Skip Theberge, acting head of reference at the NOAA Central Library, retired from NOAA Corps in 1995 after 27 years of primarily hydrographic surveying and seafloor mapping. He headed the NOS Ocean Mapping Section in the late 1980's during the EEZ mapping program. Since retirement from NOAA Corps he has remained active in the ocean mapping community having served for 12 years on the Advisory Committee for Undersea Features of the United States Board on Geographic Names and for three years on its international counterpart. He was part of the NOAA science team that helped design the Sant Ocean Hall of the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History. He is the history editor of Hydro International magazine and the author of over 80 papers dealing with the history of hydrographic and geodetic surveying, seafloor mapping, and various aspects of oceanography.

Submarine Cable Systems for Future Societal Needs

Date: Tuesday, November 8, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio(PDF)

Speakers: Dr. Bruce M. Howe, Ocean and Resources Engineering, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Abstract: More than a million kilometers of submarine cables traverse the world's oceans, bringing Internet service to billions of people. These remarkable systems connect people, nations, and economies, but this infrastructure could provide even more, adding invaluable environmental data for understanding the ocean above and the Earth beneath the seafloor. In light of this potential, an international joint task force (JTF) of three United Nations agencies (ITU/WMO/IOC) is working to incorporate environmental monitoring sensors into transoceanic submarine cable systems. Adding small external environmental sensors (e.g., temperature, pressure, acceleration) to the optical amplifiers/repeaters (spaced every ~ 60 km) of such systems would provide an unparalleled global network of real-time data for ocean climate and sea level monitoring and disaster mitigation from earthquake and tsunami hazards-a Science Monitoring and Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) network. The SMART cable concept and the effort to bring it to fruition will be described.

About the Speakers: To further ocean observing, Dr. Bruce Howe has worked over the years developing and applying ocean acoustic tomography and sensor network infrastructure. The acoustics work included moving ship tomography, Acoustic Thermometry of Ocean Climate (ATOC) and the North Pacific Acoustic Laboratory, demonstrating both large area high resolution ocean mapping as well as basin-scale heat content observations. Howe helped establish on-going Ocean Observatories efforts, working on fixed infrastructure (cable power systems and moorings), mobile platforms (gliders as acoustic/nav/comm nodes), and hybrids (moored vertical profilers). A long-term goal is to integrate acoustics systems in ocean observing for science, navigation, and communications.

At Station ALOHA 100 km north of Oahu, Dr. Howe installed and operates the ALOHA Cabled Observatory in 4728 m water depth - the planet's deepest plug-and-play cabled science observatory. He is part of an international effort (JTF SMART Cables) to incorporate sensors into commercial trans-ocean submarine telecommunication cable systems.

Dr. Howe is currently a professor at the University of Hawaii. He received engineering degrees from Stanford and the PhD in oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. From 1986 to 2008 he worked at the Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington.

Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER): Informational presentation and Q&A; on the PEER grant program

Date: November 7, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Callie Raulfs-Wang, PEER Program Manager, USAID

Abstract: Last year, NOAA joined USAID and several other US agencies/programs to participate in the Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER) program. Administered by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), PEER is a competitive grants program that invites scientists in developing countries to partner with US government-supported collaborators, and apply for funds to support research and capacity-building activities on topics with strong potential development impacts.This year, the program is soliciting projects in several focus areas relevant to NOAA's mission and work, including: Rapid Assessment of Tuna Fish Stock in the South China and Sulu-Sulawesi Seas; Assessment of Fish Natural History in the Lower Mekong Region; Biodiversity Conservation in Indonesia; Biodiversity and Climate Resilient Development in Madagascar; Climate Resiliency in Bangladesh; among others.

PEER is designed to leverage agency resources and investments in scientific research and training, while supporting the work of developing country scientists. The program creates opportunities for cross-disciplinary and multi-sectoral research collaboration, and aims to expand the scope of research for both US agencies and their partners. In last year's cycle, two projects supported by NOAA-funded scientists were selected for funding. Pre-proposals for this year's cycle are due January 13, 2017.

During this informational presentation, program managers from USAID will explain the PEER program and this year's focus areas, and will be available for questions/answers on the specifics of the program. If you already have active partnerships in this year's priority regions/topics areas, or if you are interested in developing new connections to scientists in developing countries, please attend!

POC: For more information contact, Abby Lunstrum

Evaluating fishery management strategies under different climate change scenarios in the Bering Sea, initial report from the ACLIM Project

Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2016 3:30pm-4:30pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio audio archive unavailable from Alaska (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Location: NOAA Central Library, 2nd Floor, SSMC3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD.

Speakers: Anne Hollowed, Kirstin Holsman, Alan Haynie (NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center); Al Herman (PMEL/JISAO)

Seminar sponsors: NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center and Office of Science and Technology

Seminar POC for questions: Anne Hollowed (NOAA Fisheries Alaska Fisheries Science Center) and Judith Salter (NOAA Central Library).

Abstract: What are the best fishery management strategies for resilient fish stocks and fisheries in a changing climate? The Alaska CLimate Integrated Modeling (ACLIM) project is designed to assess the performance of fishery management strategies under different climate change scenarios in the Eastern Bering Sea. This multi-agency, interdisciplinary project is developing new techniques to link global climate models to regional ocean, ecosystem and social-economic models to evaluate the results of different fishery management strategies under a range climate and ecosystem conditions. This seminar will describe the project framework and initial results of this innovative 3 year project. Seminar POC for questions: anne.hollowed@noaa.gov

About the Speakers: Dr. Anne Hollowed is a Senior Scientist with the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (NOAA Fisheries). She is also an Affiliate Professor with the School of Aquatic and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Washington and has been a member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council Scientific and Statistical Committee for 14 years. Her research is on the effects of climate and ecosystem change on fish and fisheries, and the intersection of fisheries oceanography and fisheries management. She leads the Status of Stocks and Multispecies Assessment program (SSMA link) and has led the design and implementation of large interdisciplinary research programs. She served as a lead author for part of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), and has received numerous awards including Gold and Silver Medals from the US Department of Commerce.

Dr. Kirstin Holsman is a research scientist with the Alaska Fisheries Science Center (NOAA Fisheries). Her current work is developing quantitative methods for ecosystem-based approaches to fisheries management, and methods to assess and manage climate-change impacts on fish and fisheries. Kirstin's work includes climate specific multi-species stock-assessment models for the Bering Sea (AK, USA), Integrated Ecosystem Assessments, bioenergetics and food-web models, and field studies of climate and fishery interactions with marine ecosystems.

Dr. Alan Haynie is an economist at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. Alan's research is focused on the analysis of fisheries under changing environmental, biological, management, and market conditions and improving management in light of this understanding. Alan's work also explores the design and implementation of bycatch reduction incentives and the benefits and costs of dynamic and fixed spatial closures. Alan was a PI in the Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program and is a member of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council's Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Groundfish Plan Team. Alan oversees the spatial economics toolbox for fisheries (FishSET), a NOAA Fisheries initiative to improve the spatial modeling of fisheries.

Dr. Albert Hermann is a Principal Research Scientist with the University of Washington's Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, and an Affiliate Associate Professor with the UW School of Oceanography. As a member of the Fisheries Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (Eco-FOCI) group at NOAA’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, he collaborates with physical oceanographers and biologists on numerical models of circulation, plankton and fish dynamics in the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea and the Pacific Northwest. These models are designed to help synthesize past conditions, and provide both seasonal and multi-decadal projections of the future marine environment. A related body of work centers on immersive 3D visualization of model output. He received a NOAA Gold Medal as a contributor to the Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program.

Environmental Intelligence to support a resilient nation; an ocean of possibilities

Date: Monday, October 24, 2016 at 11am-12pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Carl Gouldman, Deputy Director, U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) Program

Abstract: Carl Gouldman, Deputy Director of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) program, will provide an overview of the IOOS as a national-regional partnership to provide data, tools, and forecasts needed for tracking, predicting, managing, and adapting to changes in our ocean, coastal and Great Lakes environment. IOOS helps to improve safety, facilitate economic activity, and protect the Nation's coastal environment. Mr. Gouldman will share some recent successes and a look forward for the program.

U.S. IOOS is composed of: 17 Federal agencies; 11 regional associations; the Alliance for Coastal Technologies (ACT), a technology validation and verification organization; and the U.S. IOOS Coastal and Ocean Modeling Testbed. The U.S. IOOS Program, housed in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, works to implement the program in collaboration with to the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee, and with partners, including other federal agencies, the IOOS Association, and the IOOS Regional Associations. Authorizing Legislation: ICOOS Act 2009 Public Law No. 111-11 (33 U.S.C. §3601-3610).

About the Speaker: Carl Gouldman is the Deputy Director, U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) Program. NOAA is the lead federal agency for implementing the U.S IOOS as called for in the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009. Carl joined NOAA as a program coordinator at the Coastal Services Center in 2000 and then spent a year at NOS headquarters staffing the NOAA Ocean Council during NOAA's review of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Report before joining the IOOS program full time in 2004. He has been a member of the IOOS team since then and served as a Steering Team member for the U.S. IOOS Summit in 2012 and as Acting Deputy Director for the Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) for 4 months in 2013. He has been IOOS Deputy since 2014.

Prior to NOAA, Carl was a senior manager for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation where he led field programs teaching students about bay ecology and conservation. He holds a B.S. in political science from Duke University and a MEM in Coastal Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences at Duke. Carl lives in Bethesda with his wife and son while his daughter is now off to college. Carl has been a NOAA fan for life and enjoys spending as much free time outdoors as possible.

Climate Change Impacts on Human Health and Community Resiliency in the U.S. Arctic

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Becca Derex, M.S., 2016 Ocean and Coastal Policy Fellow, NOS Policy and Constituent Affairs Division

Abstract: The Arctic is impacted by climate change more severely than any other region on the planet. Unprecedented rates of warming, extensive loss of seasonal sea ice cover, and coastal erosion are only some of the challenges faced by Arctic communities. These environmental changes drive many emerging health risks in both human and wildlife populations. Understanding the intricate linkages between environmental conditions, ecosystem responses to change, and human health is critical to establish long-term community resilience against climate change. A holistic "One Health" approach, which incorporates environmental, animal, and human health factors and engages a diverse group of stakeholders to collectively evaluate risks and develop effective responses, is the most promising strategy for addressing climate-driven health challenges in the Arctic. Many organizations, including the Arctic Council Sustained Development Working Group and the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, are successfully incorporating the One Health concept into regional resiliency efforts.

About the Speaker: Becca Derex received a Master of Science degree from the College of Charleston Graduate Program in Marine Biology, with specializations in Marine Physiology and Aquatic Toxicology. Her graduate research explored the underlying cell signaling pathways involved in crustacean responses to environmental hypoxia. Prior to beginning the Knauss Fellowship, she worked as a research specialist in the Neurosciences Department at the Medical University of South Carolina where her work focused on the cellular mechanics of neurodegeneration in Down's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. Currently, Becca is the Ocean and Coastal Policy Fellow at the National Ocean Service, where she covers a broad portfolio that includes NOAA's Arctic Program and NOAA's One Health Working Group.

How Natural Resource Management Institutions Promote or Detract from Resilience in Socio-ecological Systems: The Copper River Salmon Fishery as a Case Study

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2016 at 12:30pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Erin Shew, 2016 Climate Preparedness Fellow, White House Council on Environmental Quality

Abstract: Institutions, both formal and informal, serve as a link between the social and ecological components of socio-ecological systems (SESs). They determine important factors such as who has rights and access to resources, and when and how those rights can be exercised. Thus, institutions that are a good "fit" to the SES can promote resilience, while those that are not can create vulnerabilities within the system. The Copper River watershed, which stretches from interior Alaska to Prince William Sound, is heavily dependent on the five Pacific Salmon species for ecological sustainability, economic health, and cultural identity. An analysis of salmon management institutions reveals that the formal management system is a good fit for the watershed while the SES is in a steady state, but lacks the robustness to deal with environmental and social changes that are currently stressing the system. Additionally, informal institutions such as cultural norms and economic systems have created a rigidity trap that generates disincentives to adopt more resilient approaches to management.

About the Speaker: Erin Shew is a masters candidate in the University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Arctic and Northern Studies, focusing on Environmental Policy. She spent several years working as a forest ecology researcher, hiking the backcountry of Alaska's boreal forests. Prior to beginning the Knauss Fellowship, she worked as a cultural anthropologist for the State of Alaska, conducting research on the use of wild, subsistence resources in rural Alaska and the impacts that drivers such as climate change, proposed development projects, and cultural shifts have had on food security and health. She is currently the Climate Preparedness Fellow at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, where she works on instituting climate equity considerations in policy, including building resilience in Arctic communities and developing policy to assist communities with relocation and managed retreat as an adaptation response to the impacts of climate change.

Library Brown Bag: EndNote X7.7 Training session

Date: Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 1:00pm EST

Duration: 1.5 hours

Location: Online and in-person NOAA Central Library, 2nd Floor, SSMC#3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring (and online through ThomsonReuters)

Trainer: Donna Kirking, EndNote Trainer, ThomsonReuters

Class summary: This class covered the basics of Using EndNote X7, including:

Creating an EndNote library, importing references using online search, searching for and removing duplicates, creating a journals term list, Cite While You Write in Microsoft Word and EndNote Sync and Library Sharing

Download EndNote Product Keys for NOAA staff at: https://sites.google.com/a/noaa.gov/nites-endnote

Note: You can find a recording of this class here.

Pilot Societal Outcome Indicators for the NWS Weather Ready Nation (WRN) Program

Date: Wednesday, September 28, 9am-11am

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Dr. Lou Nadeau, Ph.D., Economist and ERG Vice President

Abstract: The National Weather Service and The Office of Performance, Risk, and Social Science would like to invite NOAA staff across all line offices for a presentation on societal outcome indicators for the NWS Weather Ready Nation (WRN) Program. This presentation will describe the work being done to design societal outcome indicators for the National Weather Service's (NWS's) Weather Ready Nation (WRN) program. NWS routinely tracks a set of internal performance metrics related to efficiency and accuracy such as "false alarm rates" and forecast accuracy. NWS, however, has become more interested in measuring its impact on societal outcomes. In this presentation, I will discuss the steps we took to design societal outcome measures for the WRN program, including the design and implementation of data collection efforts. We developed four sets of societal outcome metrics under the project: measures of public knowledge, measures of public preparedness, measures of the actions taken by the public once an event occurs, and measures of the reduced impact on weather-related injuries. A key aspect of the design was to leverage existing data sources within NWS for cost-effective long-term implementation. Although the initial focus of the work was on WRN, the results of the project can be seen as having a broader application to many NWS activities that are centered around providing information with the goal of influencing individual behavior.

About the Speaker: Dr. Lou Nadeau, a Ph.D. economist and ERG vice president, is an expert in econometrics, statistical analysis, survey design, and process analysis. Lou developed and currently manages ERG's program evaluation and performance measurement practice, which focuses on two areas: evaluating the impacts of federal programs (including developing performance metrics) and valuing ecosystem services. Government agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Labor, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Commission for Environmental Cooperation have used Lou's services to learn where their programs are making impacts, discover ways to improve program effectiveness, and provide a data-based foundation for enhanced management decision-making.

Sea ice retreat and and ocean surface warming in the Arctic Seas

Date: Monday, September 26, 2016 at 11:00am-12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Dr. Michael Steele, Senior Oceanographer, Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Lab, University of Washington

Abstract: Arctic sea ice extent has been declining in recent years. Many papers tend to focus on interannual variations in the end-of-summer extent and the means to predict this quantity. Here, we instead explore spatial and interannual variations in the pace of sea ice retreat during the spring and summer. We have found that some areas tend to start their ice retreat earlier, relative to other areas at the same latitude, and that this retreat can be predicted with a several month lead time in some cases. We have also found that the ice edge retreats northward at a highly nonlinear rate, i.e., sometimes it moves quite quickly, while other times it "loiters" in place for days on end. This loitering behavior is the result of an interesting interaction between surface winds, sea ice floes, and open water surface temperature. Finally, we find that the maximum ocean surface warming achieved in any given year depends on the timing of sea ice retreat relative to the atmospheric warming cycle, i.e., on the "phenological" or seasonal relationships between sea ice, ocean temperature, and atmospheric warming.

About the Speaker: Dr. Steele is interested in the large-scale circulation of sea ice and water in the Arctic Ocean. He uses observations collected by in situ sensors and by satellites, as well as numerical model simulations to investigate time and space variations in sea ice and ocean properties. His analysis of ocean observations has focused on the upper layers, which are generally quite cold and fresh. Dr. Steele has active field programs in which data are collected in the field by his team and others, using aircraft, ships, and autonomous sensors like buoys and profiling floats. He is also involved with efforts to improve computer models of the arctic marine system, via the Forum for Arctic Modeling and Observational Synthesis, or FAMOS. Funding for his research comes from the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Office of Naval Research, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA). He is involved with many "outreach" programs such as lectures to K-12 and college students. Dr. Steele has been with the Polar Science Center since 1987.

What is a healthy coral: Tissue-loss diseases affecting staghorn corals in the Upper Florida Keys (Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series)

Date: Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speakers: Katheryn W. Patterson, Ph.D., 2016 Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement

Abstract: The combined effects of anthropogenic stressors, including global climate change and ocean acidification, increases in coral diseases, and frequency and duration of coral bleaching, put coral-reef ecosystems at high risk. Tissue-loss diseases have caused dramatic declines in Acropora cervicornis (staghorn coral) populations across the Caribbean and tropical western Atlantic Ocean, resulting in the listing of the species as threatened under the United States Endangered Species Act and critically endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. Tissue-loss diseases affecting A. cervicornis were investigated using histopathological examinations and bacterial 16S rDNA next-generation sequencing. The microbiomes of apparently healthy A. cervicornis, affected A. cervicornis, and adjacent sediment samples were compared. Sediment associated microbial communities were significantly more diverse than those associated with coral tissue, and microbial communities associated with apparently healthy A. cervicornis were more diverse than communities associated with affected coral tissue. This study confirmed the presence of Vibrionaceae and Rickettsiaceae, both of which have been previously associated with coral diseases. Linear Discriminant analysis revealed that communities associated with the tissue-loss margin of a disease lesion were significantly more enriched with Vibrionaceae than apparently healthy communities. This study also supports the notion that coral tissue-loss diseases are polymicrobial diseases associated with an imbalance of residential bacterial populations and proposes that the increase in bacteria from family Vibrionaceae is a biomarker of tissue-loss disease-affected A. cervicornis colonies. Histopathological examinations of all coral tissues, even apparently healthy tissues, revealed moderate to severe hypertrophy in epidermal mucocytes, dissociation of mesenterial filaments, necrosis of cnidoglandular bands, and atrophy of the calicodermis. This study provides histological and molecular evidence that A. cervicornis health was in decline prior to the presentation of a tissue-loss lesion.

About the Speaker: Dr. Patterson is originally from sweet home Alabama but has called Florida home over the last 13 years. Dr. Patterson has over a decade of experience working in marine science, policy, education, and outreach, particularly in the Caribbean. She received her bachelor's degree in biology from Spring Hill College in 2006, her master's degree in environmental science and policy from George Mason University (GMU) in 2010, and a Ph.D. in Environmental Science and Public Policy from GMU (2015).

Carla Hayden is being sworn in as the next Librarian of Congress!

Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Carla D. Hayden, Librarian of Congress

Abstract: Carla D. Hayden will be sworn in as the 14th Librarian of Congress in a historic ceremony in the Thomas Jefferson Building on Wednesday, September 14th at 12PM EST. The ceremony will be broadcast live on the Library of Congress YouTube channel. The YouTube broadcast will be captioned.

The ceremony marks two milestones: Hayden will become the first woman and the first African-American to serve as Librarian of Congress. She plans to take the oath using a book, drawn from Library collections, with historic connections of its own: the Lincoln Bible.

NOAA Central Library, 2nd Floor, SSMC#3, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD

About the Speaker: Hayden has recently overseen the renovation of the central branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, a four-year, $112 million project, and has also led $40 million in renovations to other units within the 22-branch Pratt system. The system is named for the businessman and philanthropist who financed its founding in 1886.

Longtime chief executive of the Enoch Pratt Free Library system in Baltimore and a former president of the American Library Association, Hayden took the helm of the Baltimore system in 1993, winning strong praise for her work to ensure that the city's library system offers a broad array of services to assist citizens from all walks of life, from access to books and other learning materials to computer access and job information. A program of outreach into neighborhoods served by the Pratt libraries included after-school centers for teens, offering homework assistance and college counseling; a program offering healthy-eating information for residents in areas with insufficient access to high-quality food; programming in Spanish; establishment of an electronic library, and digitization of the Library's special collections.

Hayden first served as a children's librarian in the Chicago Public Library system, eventually rising to the post of deputy commissioner and chief librarian in that system. She also taught Library and Information Science at the University of Pittsburgh. She received Library Journal's 1995 Librarian of the Year Award, and served as president of the American Library Association 2003-2004.

Thanks to those of you who joined us in the library to celebrate this historic ceremony! The recording can be viewed on the Library of Congress YouTube channel.

NOAA Line Offices Brown Bag Series: A special session for Knauss Fellows

Date: Wednesday, September 7th 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Louis Uccellini, Director, NWS, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services

Abstract: These brown bags are your opportunity to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about the NOAA Line Offices, and to ask career questions of NOAA leadership in a small group setting.

About the Speaker: Dr. Louis W. Uccellini is the Assistant Administrator for Weather Services NOAA and Director of the National Weather Service. In this role, he is responsible for the day-to-day civilian weather operations for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters, and ocean areas. Prior to this position, he served as the Director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) for 14 years. He was responsible for directing and planning the science, technology, and operations related to NCEP's nine centers. He was the Director of the NWS Office of Meteorology from 1994 to 1999, Chief of NWS's Meteorological Operations Division from 1989 to 1994, and section head for the Mesoscale Analysis and Modeling at the Goddard Space Flight Center's Laboratory for Atmosphere from 1978 and 1989.

Knowledge Exchange and Stakeholder Engagement in Natural Resource Science and Management (Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar)

Date: Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Laura Ferguson, 2016 Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, NMFS Office of Science and Technology

Abstract: Natural resource science and management is complex and increasingly requires transdisciplinary approaches which integrate diverse scientific and societal bodies of knowledge to ask and answer questions that are relevant to both spheres. I compare and contrast three transdisciplinary science strategies to outline how, in what context, and to what end transdisciplinary science is conducted. I discuss how including indigenous and local ecological knowledge in natural resource science extends disciplinary coverage to answer broader ecological questions. Then I explore the NOAA Fisheries Cooperative Research Program as it works with stakeholders to gather data to answer fisheries management questions. Finally, I examine a university-based stakeholder engagement process within a water modeling project. Each transdisciplinary science strategy combines different knowledge types to arrive at an answer greater than the sum of its parts with a greater impact than simply increasing disciplinary or interdisciplinary scientific knowledge. Working with stakeholders and societal knowledge-keepers to ask and answer conservation questions can increase scientific literacy, produce more relevant science, and encourage buy-in of the results and resulting conservation policies. Knowledge exchange through stakeholder engagement can engage citizens, encourage behavior change, improve compliance with policies, integrate multiple disciplines, and promote long-term collaboration through network formation.

About the Speaker: Laura Ferguson is serving her Knauss Fellowship as the Ecosystem and Sea Turtle Coordinator in NMFS Office of Science and Technology. She comes to us from Oregon State University where she earned an M.S. in Marine Resource Management in September 2015. Her thesis was an Oregon Sea Grant-OSU collaboration studying the way in which research team members engage with diverse stakeholders to develop a relevant model of water availability and ecosystem processes in the Willamette Valley. She focused on the experiences of the engagement process participants to identify the challenges and successes of the process. Laura earned a B.S. in marine biology and a B.A. in Spanish from the College of Charleston in 2010. From there she served in the United States Peace Corps in the Peruvian Andes as a community-based environmental management volunteer. Laura is interested in responsible resource use and conservation, scientific outreach and engagement, and marine and aquatic ecosystem dynamics, including one of their most influential members, humans. Outside of the office Laura has too many interests to fit into her free time including: running races, playing volleyball, yoga, singing, playing music, knitting, baking, hiking, and camping. This talk attempts to meld some of her thesis research with her work this year.

Drivers of Peatland Soil Carbon Composition and Potential Greenhouse Gas Production: A Global Perspective (Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar)

Date: Thursday, August 18, 2016 at 12:30pm-1:00 EST

Presentation Slides (pptx)

PDF version, without audio (PDF)

Speaker: Anna Normand, 2016 Knauss Marine Policy Fellow in the Senate Commerce Committee, Minority Staff

Abstract: With the onset of climate change, there has been increased focus on the drivers of soil carbon (C) cycling. Peatlands store up to 20% C (~529 Pg C) of the global terrestrial soil. While all peatlands store C, the composition of the soil C may vary, which in turn influences the stability of soil organic matter (SOM), potential production of greenhouse gasses (GHG) and associated soil processes. We used 13C Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (ssNMR) to quantify organic matter composition from 110 freshwater peatlands across the globe. Redundancy Analysis (RDA), constrained 52% of data variation along axis 1 representing a decomposition and stability. The model showed statistical significance of the dominant drivers - climate zone, vegetation inputs, land use, and C to nitrogen (N) ratio, but not pH. We incubated soils from peatlands spanning climate, vegetation, and land use in the laboratory under aerobic and anaerobic conditions to measure potential carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) production. Regression models of C chemistry from all sites predicted greenhouse gas production underscoring the importance of C chemical composition on carbon cycling. Understanding peatland stability and GHG production aids in projecting the fate of peat SOM chemical composition. Therefore, results of this study concerning the drivers and contrasting chemical composition of peatland SOM should be considered when developing management strategies and postulating peatland soil stability and response to climate and anthropogenic changes.

About the Speaker: Originally from southwest Louisiana, Anna attained a B.S. degree in Chemistry at Louisiana State University. As a NSF Graduate Research Fellow, Anna is in the final stages of her PhD program at University of Florida in the Soil and Water Sciences Department. With a love of wetlands and outreach, Anna focuses on wetland biogeochemistry with a minor in extension education.

Improving Estimates of Earth's Energy Imbalance

Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio (pptx)

Speaker: Dr. Gregory C. Johnson, Oceanographer, NOAA/Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory

Abstract: Earth is gaining energy owing to increasing greenhouse gas concentrations and the ocean's large thermal inertia. This energy gain, an essential diagnostic of global warming and attendant sea level rise, is difficult to measure directly, being the small difference of absorbed incoming solar radiation and thermal infrared radiation emitted to space. With over 90% of this energy gain warming the oceans, the most accurate way to quantify it is to measure increases in ocean temperatures (along with the smaller contributions from other parts of the climate system). In 2005 the international global Argo array of autonomous robotic profiling floats first achieved sparse near-global coverage of the upper half of the ocean volume. Combining the heat uptake in the upper half of the ocean volume from 2005 through 2015 from Argo with previously published estimates of heat uptake trends in other parts of the climate system, primarily the deep ocean, allows an estimate of the total heat uptake rate for Earth's climate system over that decade. This rate anchors a satellite-observed estimate from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES), which requires an in situ baseline. Year-to-year variations of upper ocean heat uptake and CERES energy imbalance are well correlated during this time. This agreement between two completely independent and complementary measures of Earth's energy imbalance bolsters confidence in each. The next biggest (and growing) term and uncertainty in the global energy imbalance is deep ocean warming. Measurements there could be improved by implementing Deep Argo.

About the Speaker: Dr. Gregory C. Johnson is an Oceanographer at NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. He received his Ph.D. from the MIT/WHOI Joint Program in Oceanography in 1991. His research group observes the global ocean both from ships (WOCE, CLIVAR/CO2 repeat hydrography, GO-SHIP) and profiling floats (Argo). He analyzes observations from a variety of instruments and platforms to study large-scale ocean distributions of temperature, salinity, other water properties, currents, and their variability, as well as the ocean's roles in climate. He is a lead or co-author of over 100 refereed scientific journal articles. He has contributed to the Global Oceans chapter of annual State of the Climate Report as an author since 2005 and an editor since 2014. He served as a lead author for the contribution of Working Group One to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change from 2010-2013. In 2013 he was elected a Fellow of the American Geophysical Union and awarded the Georg Wüst Prize by the German Society for Marine Research.

Cetacean Research and Conservation in Taiwan, with a focus on the Chinese White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis) population

Date: Monday, August 15, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio(pptx)

Speaker: Lien-siang Chou, Ph.D., Professor, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Abstract: The presentation starts with a summary of whale and dolphin resources in the seas around Taiwan and a brief history of cetacean research and conservation there. The discussion then focuses on the studies and current status of the IUCN critically endangered population of the East Taiwan Strait (ETS) Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis), also known as the ETS Chinese white dolphin, off the west coast of Taiwan. In addition, the talk highlights some recent conservation progresses on the marine protect area for the ETS Chinese white dolphin population, concerns on potential impacts from planned offshore wind farms construction in the area, and proposed monitoring and mitigation measures as well as future conservation studies.

About the Speaker: Dr. Lien-siang Chou is a professor at the National Taiwan University's Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the founder and past president of the Taiwan Cetacean Society. Professor Chou's research interests include cetacean morphology and genetic phylogeography, comparative study of life-history strategies, fisheries interaction, and impacts from whale watching. Since 1990, Professor Chou and her lab have been actively involved in both research and conservation of cetaceans, as well as operating a cetacean stranding response network in Taiwan. Professor Chou received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in zoology from the National Taiwan University and her Ph.D. degree in Ecology from the University of California, Davis.

The Past, Present, and Future of Ecosystem Services Research And Practices

Date: Thursday, August 11, 2016 at 10:00am-11:00am EST

Presentation Slides, with audio(pptx)

Speaker: Dr. Robert Costanza, Australian National University, Canberra Australia

Abstract: Ecosystems are connected to human well-being in a number of complex ways at multiple time and space scales. The challenge of ecosystem services science (ESS) is understanding and modeling these connections, with a range of purposes including raising awareness and providing information to decision-makers to allow them to better manage our natural capital assets. In order for ecosystem services to occur, natural capital must interact with other forms of capital including: built or manufactured capital, human capital and social capital. Thus ESS is inherently an integrated, transdisciplinary science that is concerned with the way these four forms of capital contribute to human well-being and the synergies and trade-offs among them. The process of valuation of ecosystem services is about quantifying and modeling these synergies and trade-offs. This talk will summarize progress on ecosystem services valuation and management and future directions, including spatially explicit modeling of regional landscapes and new approaches to integrating these models with sophisticated game interfaces to both inform players about system dynamics and to elicit valuation information based on player choices. The talk emphasizes that valuation of eco-services (in whatever units) is not the same as commodification or privatization. Many eco-services are best considered public goods or common pool resources, so conventional markets are often not the best institutional frameworks to manage them. However, these services must be (and are being) valued, and we need new, common asset institutions, like common asset trusts, to better take these values into account. The seminar describe ongoing initiatives in this area as well.

About the Speaker: Professor Robert Costanza is a Vice Chancellor's Chair in Public Policy at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. He is also currently a Senior Fellow at the National Council on Science and the Environment in the US, a Senior Fellow at the Stockholm Resilience Center, an Affiliate Fellow at the Gund Institute for Ecological Economics, and a DeTao Master of Ecological Economics at the DeTao Masters Academy, China. Professor Costanza's transdisciplinary research integrates the study of humans and the rest of nature to address research, policy and management issues at multiple time and space scales, from small watersheds to the global system. He is co-founder and past-president of the International Society for Ecological Economics, and was founding editor of the society's journal, Ecological Economics. He currently serves on the editorial board of ten other international academic journals. He is also founding editor in chief of The Solutions Journal a unique hybrid academic/popular journal.

NOAA Line Offices Brown Bag Series: A special session for Knauss Fellows

Date: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at 1:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio(pptx)

Speaker: Richard Merrick, Scientific Programs and Chief Scientific Advisor, NOAA Fisheries

Abstract: These brown bags are your opportunity to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about the NOAA Line Offices, and to ask career questions of NOAA leadership in a small group setting.

About the Speaker: Dr. Merrick began serving as Director of Scientific Programs and Chief Science Advisor in 2011. In this capacity, he leads NOAA Fisheries' efforts to provide the science needed to support sustainable fisheries and ecosystems and to continue the Nation's progress in ending overfishing, rebuilding fish populations, saving critical species, and preserving vital habitats. As the head of NOAA Fisheries' scientific operations, Dr. Merrick directs NOAA's six regional Fisheries Science Centers, including 30 laboratories. He joined NOAA Fisheries in 1985 as a marine mammal staff scientist at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center. In 1997, he transferred to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, where he initially served as Branch Chief for Protected Species, and then as Chief of the Resource Evaluation and Assessment Division where he directed the Center's assessment, ecological, and social science research for fish and protected species. He has led various regional and national efforts to improve fishery and protected resources science, and has broad experience in dealing with a wide variety of controversial fishery and protected species issues. Dr. Merrick holds a Ph.D. in Fisheries from the University of Washington; M.S. degrees in Biological Oceanography and in Marine Resource Management from Oregon State University; and an M.S. in City and Regional Planning and a B.S. from Clemson University.

A presentation on Risk Communication Strategies and Research by Dr. Timothy L. Sellnow and Dr. Deanna D. Sellnow, sponsored by NOAA's Chief Economist and the Office of Performance, Risk and Social Science (PRSS)

Date: Thursday, August 4th 2016 from 10:00am-11:30am

Presentation Slides, with audio(pptx)

Speakers: Dr. Timothy L. Sellnow and Dr. Deanna D. Sellnow, Nicholson School of Communication at the University of Central Florida

Abstract: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Chief Economist and the Office of Performance, Risk, and Social Science would like to invite NOAA staff across all line offices for a presentation on effective risk communication. The objectives of this presentation are: Develop an understanding of risk communication key concepts: including inoculation, uncertainty reduction, and self-efficacy. Discuss specific risk communication recommendations for communication practitioners. Advance knowledge of social science to create effective impact based messaging. Participants can expect to: 1. Identify/list/document the key concepts and topical research areas associated with risk communication. 2. Identify the needs of the user community related to risk. 3. Identify steps to move forward.

About the Speakers: Timothy L. Sellnow is a professor of strategic communication in the Nicholson School of Communication at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Sellnow's research focuses on bioterrorism, pre-crisis planning, and strategic communication for risk management and mitigation in organizational and health settings. He has conducted funded research for the Department of Homeland Security, the United States Department of Agriculture, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the United States Geological Survey. He has also served in an advisory role for the National Academy of Sciences and the World Health Organization. He has also published numerous referred journal articles on risk and crisis communication and has co-authored five books on risk and crisis communication. Dr. Sellnow's most recent book is entitled, Theorizing Crisis Communication. Dr. Sellnow is a recipient of the National Communication Associations Gerald M. Phillips Award for Distinguished Applied Communication Research.

Deanna D. Sellnow is a professor of communication in the Nicholson School of Communication at the University of Central Florida. Dr. Sellnow's research focuses on strategic instructional communication in a variety of contexts including risk, crisis, health, and online settings. She has conducted funded research for the United States Geological Survey, Department of Homeland Security, and Centers for Disease Control and Protection. She has also collaborated with agencies such as the International Food Information Council about food security across the globe. She has published her work in numerous refereed articles in national and international journals, as well authored or co-authored several textbooks including Effective Speaking in a Digital Age, Communicate!, and The Rhetorical Power of Popular Culture.

Library Brown Bag documentary viewing: West of the West: Tales from California's Channel Islands (Part 3 of 3)

Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2016 at 12:00pm-1:00pm EST

Directors: Peter S. Seaman and Brent Sumner

Producer: Sam Tyler

Presented by: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and Santa Cruz Island Foundation

About the film:Often called the Galapagos of North America, the eight Channel Islands lie in plain sight of millions of people off the Southern California Coast. Yet few know their names or even how many there are. And fewer still know the fascinating tales of those who've lived, worked, discovered, surfed, dived, rached, wrecked or were rescued on these unique and beautiful islands.

Part 3: Return The dramatic efforts to restore and preserve the Channel Islands. From Eagles guitarist Joe Walsh's devotion to saving Santa Cruz Island to the confrontation of preservationists and animal rights activists over the fate of unique Island species.

Hunting the Rift - Finding Fracture Zones: The First Heezen-Tharp Map

Date: Friday, July 22, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio(pptx)

Speaker: Albert “Skip” Theberge, NOAA Central Library

Abstract:Various histories, both in published books and found on the Internet, give Bruce Heezen, Marie Tharp, and Maurice Ewing credit for the discovery of the central rift valley of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and by extension the world-wide rift system. According to Heezen and Tharp, they discovered the rift valley both by developing bathymetric profiles of the North Atlantic seafloor and by tracking earthquake epicenters. However, a little known paper published prior to World War II by the German scientist Gunter Dietrich, clearly establishes Dietrich's priority of discovery of the Mid-Atlantic rift valley. It will be shown that Heezen was aware of this paper and engaged in a form of bathymetric plagiarism by following Dietrich's tracklines throughout the North Atlantic and claiming Dietrich's discoveries for himself and Marie Tharp. Ironically, in doing so, Heezen was the first to encounter large Atlantic fracture zones, but because of confusion and possibly fear of ridicule suppressed this information for over ten years. As a result, the first Physiographic Map of the Atlantic Ocean had errors approaching 100 nautical miles in the location of the rift valley and no indication of fracture zones. Heezen and Tharp ignored their own data in production of this map and followed the time-honored method of placing the legend over their area of greatest confusion. Surprisingly, Heezen's apparent fascination with Dietrich continued into the 1960's when he formed a polygon with ship trackline that enclosed Dietrich's "most striking depression" and declared the existence of the Kane Fracture Zone.

About the Speaker: Skip Theberge, presently acting head of reference at the NOAA Central Library, retired from NOAA Corps in 1995 after 27 years of primarily hydrographic surveying and seafloor mapping. He headed the NOS Ocean Mapping Section in the late 1980's during the EEZ mapping program. Since retirement from NOAA Corps he has remained active in the ocean mapping community having served for 12 years on the Advisory Committee for Undersea Features of the United States Board on Geographic Names and for three years on its international counterpart. He was part of the NOAA science team that helped design the Sant Ocean Hall of the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History. He is the history editor of Hydro International magazine and the author of over 80 papers dealing with the history of hydrographic and geodetic surveying, seafloor mapping, and various aspects of oceanography.

Economic Consequence Analysis Tool (E-CAT) for Natural Disasters

Date: Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 1:30pm-3:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio(pptx)

Speaker: Dr. Adam Rose, University of Southern California

Abstract: The Economic Consequences Analysis Tool (E-CAT) is intended for policymakers and analysts who need rapid estimates of the economic impacts of natural disasters, technological accidents, and terrorist attacks. It is programmed in Excel and Visual Basic to facilitate its use. This presentation will explain the E-CAT framework, its theoretical and empirical underpinnings, and illustrate its derivation and use for the cases of an oil spill and a flood disaster. E-CAT is the culmination of 10 years of research at the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE) in advancing Economic Consequence Analysis (ECA) by incorporating resilience and behavioral responses to a broad range of threats. The theme of this research has been integrating broader features of consequences into the state-of-the-art tool of macroeconomic simulation and policy analysis -- computable general equilibrium (CGE) modeling. The essence of the methodology involves running numerous CGE simulations that yield synthetic data for regression equations for each threat based on the identification of key explanatory variables, including threat characteristics and background conditions. This transforms the results of a complex model, which is beyond the reach of most users, into a "reduced form" model that is readily comprehensible. We have built functionality into E-CAT such that users can switch various impact "drivers" on and off in order to generate customized profiles of economic consequences of numerous disaster events. E-CAT involves a 7-step process beginning with the enumeration of a broad range of potential impacts for each threat, quantification of direct impact drivers, linkage of these drivers to variables in a national CGE model, running the CGE model hundreds of times while varying key parameters particular to each threat, generating regression estimates from the CGE simulation results, incorporating uncertainty, and transporting the reduced-form regression results to a user-friendly spreadsheet program. E-CAT can meet policy-makers' needs for a tool to evaluate the magnitude of various threats in order to make decisions on how to allocate budgets across interdiction, mitigation and resilience options. E-CAT can also be used to provide rapid estimates of recent events that require immediate disaster assistance. A book on E-CAT will be available from Springer Publishers in autumn of this year.

Sponsors: This event is sponsored by NOAA's Chief Economist and the Office of Performance, Risk, and Social Science

About the Speaker: Dr. Adam Rose is a Research Professor in the University of Southern California (USC) Sol Price School of Public Policy, and a faculty affiliate of USC's Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE). His primary research interest is the economics of disasters, including natural hazards, terrorism and technological accidents. He has spearheaded the development of CREATE's comprehensive economic consequence analysis framework and has done pioneering research on resilience at the level of the individual business/household, market/industry and regional/national economy. He has also completed dozens of case studies of disaster consequences and recovery, including the September 11 terrorist attacks. He is currently the PI on an NSF grant to study dynamic economic resilience to disasters, with an application to SuperStorm Sandy, and on a contract for FEMA with formulate a deductible for post-disaster assistance. He is also the project leader of the Economic Consequence Analysis Working Group on Maritime Cyber Security. He recently served as an advisor on disaster resilience to the United Nations Development Programme and to the World Bank on financing disaster risk management. He was the research team leader on the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council report to the U.S. Congress on net benefits of FEMA hazard mitigation grants. His other major research area is the economics of energy and climate change policy, where he has done extensive work on international burden sharing and on the economic impacts of state-level climate action plans in the U.S. Professor Rose is the author of several books and 200 professional papers, including most recently The Economics of Climate Change Policy (Elgar) and Economic Consequence Analysis Tool (Springer). He has been appointed to the editorial boards of Environmental Hazards, Journal of Integrated Disaster Risk Management, International Journal of Disaster Risk Science, The Energy Journal, Resource and Energy Economics, Energy Policy, Pacific and Asian Journal of Energy, Journal of Sustainable Energy Engineering, Resource Policy, and Journal of Regional Science. Professor Rose has served as the American Economic Association Representative to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a member of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Building Sciences Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council and a member of the Advisory Board of the Center for National Policy Resilience Forum. He is the recipient of a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, East-West Center Fellowship, International Society for Integrated Disaster Risk Management Outstanding Research Award, American Planning Association Outstanding Program Planning Honor Award, Applied Technology Council Outstanding Achievement Award, Regional Economic Models Outstanding Economic Analysis Award, and DHS/CREATE Transition Product of the Year Award.

Co-Authors: Zhenhua Chen (University of Southern California), Fynn Prager (California State University, Dominguez Hills) and Sam Chatterjee (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series: South American summer monsoon variability since the last ice age

Date: Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 12:30pm-1:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio(pptx)

Speaker: Kyrstin Fornace, 2016 Knauss Marine Policy Fellow, Integrated Water Coordinator, NOAA Research (joint position between Sea Grant/OWAQ/CPO)

Abstract: The South American summer monsoon (SASM) is a dominant feature of South American climate, producing widespread precipitation across the Amazon basin, central Andes, and southern Brazil during peak monsoon season in austral summer. Characterizing SASM dynamics on geological timescales provides critical context for identifying different influences on South American precipitation patterns and investigating present and future hydroclimate trends. I will present on my work reconstructing hydrologic variability in tropical South America over the past ~50,000 years and discuss current understanding of the controls on SASM precipitation on glacial-interglacial, orbital, and millennial timescales. In general, existing climate records suggest increased SASM precipitation during cold periods in the Northern Hemisphere high latitudes or periods of high local summer insolation. However, discrepancies between records from different regions within the SASM domain also point to complex expression of local and remote forcing during the last glacial period.

About the Speaker:Kyrstin is a Knauss Fellow in NOAA Research in a joint position between Sea Grant, Office of Weather and Air Quality, and Climate Program Office. She received PhD in chemical oceanography from the MIT/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program in 2015. Her dissertation research focused on past monsoon variability and the effects of past climate change on terrestrial carbon cycling in tropical South America.

Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series: Migrating without a map: How a non-homing fish finds a suitable river

Date: Thursday, July 21, 2016 at 12:00pm-12:30pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio(pptx)

Speaker: Trevor Meckley, Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at NOS-National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science(Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research-CSCOR)

Abstract: The sea lamprey spawning migration in river systems and the role larval odor and sex pheromones play in tributary and mate selection behavior have been immensely studied. By comparison, virtually nothing is known about lamprey behavior in large lacustrine and oceanic environments. We made an unprecedented attempt to understand how sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, return to coastal environments, locate river plumes and enter rivers of the Laurentian Great Lakes during their spawning migration. VEMCO acoustic arrays provided high resolution (30s intervals, <5m accuracy) 3D paths of sea lamprey movement in an offshore array with 3 km2 of coverage over 3 km from a coastline and on the coast in front of the Ocqueoc River (2 km2 of coverage). The offshore array revealed that 81% of individuals arrived at the nearest coast within 72 hours and sea lamprey achieved arrival by following local bathymetric contours towards shallower water. The coastal array captured sea lamprey movement in front of a river under two conditions, (1) a low larval sea lamprey population following removal (2010); and, (2) higher larval population following larval recruitment (2011). Although larval odor did not significantly influence river plume encounter or river mouth localization, the coastal array revealed that larval odor does influence the decision of sea lamprey to enter rivers.

About the Speaker: Originally from Gettysburg Pennsylvania, Trevor attained a B.S. degree in Biology at Millersville University (PA). He received a M.S. and Ph.D. at Michigan State University from the Fisheries and Wildlife Department while studying under the guidance of Dr. Mike Wagner. At MSU Trevor studied many aspects of the invasive Great Lakes sea lamprey migration

https://msu.edu/~meckleyt/index.html

Note: Following Meckley's presentation, Kyrstin Fornace presented her research: "South American summer monsoon variability since the last ice age."

Library Brown Bag documentary viewing: West of the West: Tales from California's Channel Islands (Part 2 of 3)

Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2016 at 12:00pm-1:00pm EST

Directors: Peter S. Seaman and Brent Sumner

Producer: Sam Tyler

Presented by: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and Santa Cruz Island Foundation

About the film: Often called the Galapagos of North America, the eight Channel Islands lie in plain sight of millions of people off the Southern California Coast. Yet few know their names or even how many there are. And fewer still know the fascinating tales of those who've lived, worked, discovered, surfed, dived, rached, wrecked or were rescued on these unique and beautiful islands.

Part 2: Settlers: Tales of the adventurers and dreamers who came to the Channel Islands. Included are chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr.'s vision for Catalina Island and the wreck of the gold buillion filled steamer Winfield Scott.

Library Brown Bag documentary viewing: West of the West: Tales from California's Channel Islands (Part 1 of 3)

Date: Friday, July 15, 2016 at 12:00pm-1:00pm EST

Directors: Peter S. Seaman and Brent Sumner

Producer: Sam Tyler

Presented by: Santa Barbara Maritime Museum and Santa Cruz Island Foundation

About the film: Often called the Galapagos of North America, the eight Channel Islands lie in plain sight of millions of people off the Southern California Coast. Yet few know their names or even how many there are. And fewer still know the fascinating tales of those who've lived, worked, discovered, surfed, dived, rached, wrecked or were rescued on these unique and beautiful islands.

Part 1: Ancient Peoples: The earliest history of the Channel Islands. Beginning with the discovery of the oldest human remains ever found in North America, 13,000 year old Arlington Springs Man, to the true story of the Lone Woman of San Nicolas, the inspiration of the best selling children's book Island of the blue Dolphins.

Insights into Earth's energy imbalance from multiple sources

Date: Monday, July 11, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Kevin E Trenberth, Distinguished Senior Scientist, NCAR

Abstract:The current Earth's energy imbalance (EEI) is mostly caused by human activity, and is driving global warming. The absolute value of EEI represents the most fundamental metric defining the status of global climate change, and can best be estimated from changes in ocean heat content (OHC), complemented by radiation measurements from space. Sustained observations from the Argo array of autonomous profiling floats and further development of the ocean observing system to sample the deep ocean, marginal seas and sea ice regions are crucial to refining future estimates of EEI. New estimates of EEI and corresponding rates of change of OHC will be presented to highlight major outstanding issues that include lack of sufficient continuity in many OHC estimates. The energy imbalance problem can also be done locally and the framework provides a new way of dealing with surface fluxes in the context of a fully coupled ocean-atmosphere system. For instance, we can estimate observed meridional ocean heat transports observed by the Rapid Array indirectly. Combining multiple measurements in an optimal way holds considerable promise for estimating EEI and thus assessing the status of global climate change, improving climate syntheses and models, and testing the effectiveness of mitigation actions. Progress can be achieved with a concerted international effort.

About the Speaker: Dr. Kevin E. Trenberth is a Distinguished Senior Scientist in the Climate Analysis Section at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. He was a lead author of the 1995, 2001 and 2007 Scientific Assessment of Climate Change reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize which went to the IPCC. Recently his primary research has focused on the global energy and water cycles and how they are changing. His work mainly involves empirical studies and quantitative diagnostic calculations. Trenberth is a primary advocate for the need to develop a climate information system that is an imperative for adaptation to climate change.

Note: a recording of this presentation is not archived as Dr. Trenberth's research publication is forthcoming (see http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0339.1. The current citation is: Trenberth, K., J. Fasullo, K. von Schuckmann, and L. Cheng, 2016: Insights into Earth's energy imbalance from multiple sources. J. Climate. doi:10.1175/JCLI-D-16-0339.1, in press.

Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series: Hanging by a thread: Seasonal weakening of mussel attachment strength is predicted by high temperature and low pH.

Date: Thursday, July 7th, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides, with audio(pptx)

Speaker: Laura Newcomb: Program Analyst Fellow with NOAA Research Office of Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes

Abstract: Hanging by a thread: Seasonal weakening of mussel attachment strength is predicted by high temperature and low pH. Mussel aquaculture is an economically important industry worldwide, where mussels are commonly farmed on lines suspended beneath rafts or long lines. Mussels mold individual tethers, known as byssal threads, forming stretchy attachments to the aquaculture rope or other mussels. These byssal threads are critical in keeping mussels attached to the lines. Weakened byssal threads increase the chance of "fall-off" from aquaculture lines, reducing farm yields. We use laboratory studies to identify two environmental conditions, low pH (below 7.6) and high temperature (above 18° C), that weaken byssal threads in the mussel M. trossulus (native to the eastern Pacific). However, it is unknown whether these conditions are encountered in the field, or if they lead to weak mussel attachment. Therefore, we measure mussel attachment strength and a suite of water conditions including temperature and pH. We find mussel tenacity is stronger in the winter than in the summer. We find high temperature (> 14° C) and low pH (< 7.5) best predict periods where attachment strength is weak. These results suggest ocean warming and ocean acidification may increase fall-off and threaten mussel aquaculture. Monitoring these conditions near farms can identify periods when attachment is expected to be weak and adapting alternative farming practices could produce higher yields.

About the Speaker: Laura Newcomb is a Knauss Fellow in the NOAA Research Office of Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes. Dr. Newcomb received her PhD in Biology from the University of Washington in 2015.

Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series: Mesopelagic fish responses to environmental discontinuities in the California Current Ecosystem: oxygen minimum zones and oceanic fronts.

Date: Thursday, July 7th, 2016 at 12:30pm EST

Presentation Slides(pptx)

Speaker: Amanda Netburn: Ocean Exploration Fellow with NOAA Research Office of Ocean Exploration and Research

Abstract: Mesopelagic fish responses to environmental discontinuities in the California Current Ecosystem: oxygen minimum zones and oceanic fronts. Throughout the ocean, there are abundant and diverse fishes aggregated at mesopelagic (200-1000 m) depths that are critical for pelagic food webs and carbon transport. Understanding their vulnerabilities to predicted environmental changes can inform ecosystem-based management efforts.These animals encounter environmental gradients, including reduced oxygen at depth and oceanic fronts. There is evidence that mesopelagic fish habitat is limited by hypoxia at depth, and studies have shown that fronts can influence abundance, composition, and reproduction of marine animals. For the first study I will present, I measured activities of metabolic enzymes in mesopelagic fish in varied oxygen conditions throughout the southern California Current Ecosystem to investigate response to declining oxygen. For the second study, I compared the abundance, compositions, and reproduction of mesopelagic fish assemblages at frontal systems. My results suggest that deoxygenation may cause metabolic suppression, while fronts can alter the assemblage structure and reproduction of mesopelagic fishes.

About the Speaker: Amanda Netburn is a Knauss Fellow in the NOAA Research Office of Ocean Exploration and Research where she leads the effort to develop water column priorities and sampling protocols within the exploration context. Dr. Netburn also provides policy, engagement, and scientific support to the program. Netburn received her PhD in Oceanography from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego in 2016 and her Masters in Marine Conservation and Biodiversity in 2010.

NOAA Line Offices Brown Bag Series: A special session for Knauss Fellows

Date: Wednesday, July 6, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides(pptx)

Speaker: Russell Callender, Assistant Administrator, National Ocean Service.

Abstract: These brown bags are your opportunity to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about the NOAA Line Offices, and to ask career questions of NOAA leadership in a small group setting.

About the Speaker: Dr. Russell Callender is the Assistant Administrator for NOAA's National Ocean Service. Dr. Callender brings more than 20 years of science, policy, and management experience that includes senior positions in Sea Grant and two line offices in NOAA.

Brown Bag: NOAA's Risk Roadmap: Possible Routes to Success

Date: Thursday, June 30, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides(pptx)

Speakers: Dr. Tony Wilhelm, Chief Risk Officer and Director of NOAA's Performance, Risk, and Social Science and LaTaiga Proctor, PMP, Enterprise Risk Management Program Manager, U.S. Census Bureau

Abstract: Effective Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) allows visibility and management of risks that exist at every level of an organization and enables organizations to generate greater value in achieving strategic and operational priorities. Dr. Wilhelm will update us on the status and maturation activities of NOAA's ERM program. LaTaiga Proctor, U.S. Census Bureau's ERM Program Manager, will describe the leading-edge ERM Playbook the Census Bureau has rolled out.

About the Speakers: Dr. Tony Wilhelm, Chief Risk Officer and Director of NOAA's Performance, Risk, and Social Science Office within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer. Tony oversees our efforts to develop a sustainable, robust and efficient risk management program at the corporate/enterprise level. He most recently worked in the private sector on enterprise strategic planning and risk analysis in cloud application services. Prior to that, Tony served as Chief of Staff (Acting) of DOC's National Telecommunications and Information Administration where he spearheaded performance management, risk analysis, and strategic planning for the agency and ran its Recovery Act broadband grant programs. Tony earned his Ph.D. in public policy from the Claremont Graduate University's School for Politics and Economics, and his M.A. in Government from the University of Virginia.

LaTaiga Proctor, Enterprise Risk Management Program Manager, Office of Risk Management Program Evaluation, U.S. Census Bureau. Ms. Proctor developed a model ERM program for the Census Bureau that is advanced, award winning, and recognized across the federal government. The framework includes an ERM plan, policy, and system. Ms. Proctor has nearly 20 years of Federal Government experience, and 10 years of private sector experience. Ms. Proctor has a BA in Sociology and a MS in Finance from the University of Maryland.

Library Brown Bag: Getting started with EndNote

Date: Thursday, June 16, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Duration: 1 hour

Location: Online and in-person

Trainer: Donna Kirking, EndNote Trainer, ThomsonReuters

Class summary: This class will cover the most commonly used functions in EndNote, showing how to import references from online databases and use them in a Microsoft Word document with Cite While You Write.

NOAA Line Offices Brown Bag Series: A special session for Knauss Fellows

Date: Friday, May 27, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides(pptx)

Speaker: Craig McLean, Assistant Administrator, NOAA Oceanic & Atmospheric Research

Abstract: These brown bags are your opportunity to learn everything you've ever wanted to know about the NOAA Line Offices, and to ask career questions of NOAA leadership in a small group setting.

About the Speaker: Craig McLean is the Assistant Administrator for NOAA's Oceanic and Atmospheric Research having served as Deputy Assistant Administrator for OAR's Programs and Administration. He is responsible for daily operations and administration of NOAA's research enterprise including a network of research laboratories and the execution of NOAA programs including the Climate program, National Sea Grant, and Ocean Exploration. He has previously served in NOAA as Executive Officer of the National Ocean Service, and was the founding Director of NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration. McLean served in uniform for nearly 25 years, retiring from NOAA's Commissioned Corps in the grade of Captain after service at sea, underwater, and in operational, legal, and marine resource management positions. McLean served aboard hydrographic, oceanographic, and fisheries research ships and was the first commanding officer of NOAA's largest fisheries research vessel, the 224-foot Gordon Gunter. He led NOAA's innovation and planning for the Smithsonian Institution's Ocean Hall, and achieved a National Ocean Action Plan goal of securing a permanent, dedicated ship for the national ocean exploration program, the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. A lifelong diver, he began exploring deep shipwrecks through decompression diving while in junior high school. These experiences have taken him to the Amazon River searching for freshwater dolphins, and to the USS MONITOR and RMS TITANIC searching for solutions in historic shipwreck management. Craig McLean is also an attorney and has practiced marine resource law for NOAA. He has been awarded the Departmental Silver and Bronze Medals, the NOAA Corps Commendation Medal, and Special Achievement Medal. He is a frequent speaker on ocean related subjects, rooted in his diverse NOAA career experience in fisheries, coastal and marine area management, directing research, law, and both surface and submerged marine operations. He is a Fellow of the Explorers Club, and of the Marine Technology Society, and a Past-President and Chairman of the Sea-Space Symposium.

Unmanned Maritime Systems and Advancements in Adaptive Autonomy

Date: Thursday, May 26, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides(pptx)

Speaker:Andrew Ziegwied, ASV Global Scientific Sales Manager - Americas

Abstract: The presentation will showcase our unmanned and autonomous maritime systems benefit to scientific applications, research capabilities, and ocean observations. Whether it be forecasts to help to protect the public from harmful algae blooms or integrated environmental and water quality monitoring of the ecological impacts of climate change and acidification, ASV's provide an ideal platform for multiple fully integrated sensors and payloads, such as: ADCP (current meter), CTD, Multi-beam Sonar, Acoustic Telemetry, and Passive Acoustic Sonar (PAM) for marine mammal detection, allowing for bespoke solutions. Autonomous behaviors can now integrate sensor data and interpretation methods to enable adaptive, multi-vehicle missions using combinations of USV, UUV and Glider assets to reduce the complexity and frequency of operator input when supervising large fleets of autonomous systems from the shore. Autonomous Surface Vehicles can offer considerable reductions in cost, an increase in operational flexibility, improved data timelines and quality, whilst mitigating safety concerns of manned vessels.

About the Speaker: Andrew Ziegwied, ASV Global Scientific Sales Manager - Americas, is an applied oceanographer with extensive government and commercial consulting experience providing integrated instrumentation solutions with the international MacArtney Underwater Technology Group. Andrew is a University of Washington School of Oceanography graduate. His background includes field work and project management with Evans-Hamilton, Inc. and application engineering with instrument manufacturer Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc.

Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series: Climate Change Related Impacts on Food Insecurity and Governance in the U.S. and Canadian Arctics

Date: Thursday, May 19, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides (pptx)

Speaker: Monique Baskin, M.S., M.A.I.A, Knauss Marine Policy Fellow in the Arctic Research Program, Climate Observation Division

Abstract: Arctic communities have shifted from being relatively self-sufficient to being a mixed subsistence based community - relying on traditional and nontraditional food to survive. Dramatic physical impacts from climate change have rendered the region extremely vulnerable to food insecurity. The way governing organizations deal with food insecurity and other factors may directly affect food insecurity.

About the Speaker: Monique Baskin, a 12 year Air Force Veteran, is a George Washington University graduate where she received her masters in International Affairs, with an Environmental focus and graduate certificate in Environmental Health, Science and Policy. A lifelong learner, she has two other master's degrees in Exercise Physiology and National Security Affairs. She speaks Japanese and is the mother of a five-year old little girl.

Get Ready for Bike to Work Day!

Date: Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Regina Spallone, Fishery Management Specialist

Presentation Slides (pptx)

Abstract: NOAA SSMC bicycle commuters will share tips on equipment, planning, safety, laws, health benefits, and SSMC logistics, such as routes, parking, showers and lockers. This presentation is perfect for bikers considering riding to work for their first time on Bike to Work Day, Friday, May 20, 2016. While this talk will be geared specifically towards Silver Spring bicycle commuters, some tips may be applicable to others outside the area. A special hands-on demonstration will be included on gear, clothing, helmet fit, and more.

About the Speakers: Regina Spallone works for NOAA Fisheries in the Domestic Fisheries Division within the Office of Sustainable Fisheries. Since 2005, Regina bike commutes about one or two days each week year round from her suburban Maryland home to the NOAA offices in Silver Spring. Regina is active in the NOAA Bike Team since 2008, addressing the concerns of local bike commuters and managing the bike commuter incentive program, Bike Bucks. For this, Regina has been awarded the NOAA Green Steward Award in 2009 and the DOC Energy and Environmental Stewardship Award in 2013.

Coral reefs, climate change, and atoll sustainability: will Micronesians become the US's first climate change refugees?

Date: Thursday, May 5, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Curt Storlazzi, USGS

Presentation Slides (pptx)

Abstract: Although absolute rates of sea-level rise (SLR) and projected 2100 global sea levels are still under deliberation, the models consistently suggest that eustatic sea level will be considerably higher by the end of the century and rates of SLR will far outstrip vertical coral-reef accretion rates, which will have a profound impact on coral reef-lined islands. Atoll islands are low-lying carbonate Holocene features, many of which have maximum elevations of less than 4 m, that support 1000 year-old cultures, yet the amount of land and water available for human habitation, water and food sources, and ecosystems is limited and extremely vulnerable to wave-driven flooding and inundation from SLR. The USGS, NOAA, Deltares, and academia are carrying out a multidisciplinary effort to understand how SLR and climate change may impact low-lying atoll islands in Micronesia using field observations and global climate model outputs to drive coupled hydrodynamic and hydrogeologic models for a number of SLR and climate change scenarios. Rising sea levels and climate change will reduce the ability of coral reefs to mitigate wave-driven flooding in the future, leading to more frequent, persistent, and extreme marine flooding and overwash on atoll islands, damaging infrastructure, habitats, and agriculture. More importantly, the increased marine flooding, along with decreased precipitation, will result in salinization the islands' limited freshwater drinking supplies with such frequency that the freshwater lenses will not be able to recover. Our findings suggest that such "tipping points" - when the islands can no longer sustain a freshwater lens and thus human habitation - will likely occur in decades, not centuries as previously thought. This will result in significant geopolitical issues if mitigation efforts are unsuccessful and it becomes necessary to abandon and relocate island-states.

About the Speaker: Curt Storlazzi is a research geological oceanographer who specializes in coastal hydrodynamics and sediment transport. He presently leads a U.S. Geological Survey team of 8 PhD researchers and 10 operational staff examining the geologic and oceanographic processes that affect the growth and vitality of coral and bedrock reefs, along with their role in enhancing the resiliency of coastal communities and ecosystems. Curt is the author or co-author of 132 peer-reviewed scientific papers and reports, and currently serves on the Monterey Bay Sanctuary's Research Activity Panel.

Benthic Nitrogen Cycling and Nutrient Bioextraction in a Chesapeake Bay Oyster Aquaculture Farm.

Date: Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 12:30pm EST

Speaker: Abby Lunstrum, 2016 John Knauss Fellow, Office of International Affairs, NOAA

Presentation Slides (pptx)

Nitrogen Animation (YouTube)

Abstract: Oyster aquaculture is recently being considered as a tool to mitigate coastal eutrophication via "Nutrient Bioextraction". While nutrients- for example, nitrogen (N)- extracted directly by harvest are easily quantified, indirect removal by sediment denitrification and burial are poorly studied. These processes, along with related benthic N pathways, were measured seasonally at an off-bottom oyster (Crassostrea virginica) farm in a Chesapeake Bay tributary. Both enhanced denitrification and burial within the farm contributed to N extraction, but were small in comparison to harvested N, which accounted for 90% of total N extraction. Denitrification was limited by sediment anoxia and enhanced dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). As a result, sediment NH4 flux was the highest measured N emission from the farm, exceeding total N lost via bioextraction.

About the Speaker: Abby received a M.S. in Environmental Sciences from University of Virginia in 2015. Prior to that, she was a Fulbright fellow at Xiamen University, China, where she studied carbon sequestration in mangrove reforestation projects.

The influence of environmental factors on the age, hatch dates, and growth of juvenile Atlantic menhaden in Choptank River, MD.

Date: Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Alex Atkinson, 2016 Knauss Fellow, NOAA NMFS Office of Habitat Conservation

Presentation Slides (pptx)

Abstract: Since 1993 Atlantic menhaden has experienced sustained low juvenile production (recruitment) in the Chesapeake Bay. Factors controlling growth, abundance, and mortality of larval and juvenile menhaden change throughout ontogeny such that larval growth rates could carry over to juvenile growth and survival. The effects of winter thermal conditions on the hatch dates and growth of larval and juvenile Atlantic menhaden in Atlantic shelf and Chesapeake Bay habitats were examined using otolith (ear-stone) increment analyses and growth models. For 2010-2013, truncated hatch-date distributions provided evidence for a winter recruitment bottleneck in Atlantic menhaden in Atlantic shelf and Chesapeake Bay habitats were examined using otolith (ear-stone) increment analyses and growth models. For 2010-2013, truncated hatch-date distributions provided evidence for a winter recruitment bottleneck in Atlantic menhaden caused by cold temperatures. Hatch-dates of surviving juveniles were skewed towards warmer months for years characterized by colder temperatures. Reduced larval growth rates, influenced by reduced temperature and food availability, carried over to juvenile growth rates. A growing degree-day model performed well in simulating observed juvenile growth rates in the Choptank River tributary of Chesapeake Bay. 3 highlights: Hatch-dates of surviving juveniles are skewed towards warmer winter months, Increment analysis shows larval growth rates could carry over to juvenile growth rates and skewed hatch-date distributions provide evidence of a winter recruitment bottleneck in Atlantic menhaden.

About the Speaker: Alex is originally from a suburb of Chicago and completed her undergraduate biology degree at the University of Rochester. She gained exposure to marine science through SCUBA diving and internships researching gray whale populations in British Columbia and benthic communities in Florida. This past January, she completed her Masters degree in Fisheries science at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

The California Underwater Glider Network

Date: Friday, April 8, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Dr. Daniel L. Rudnick, Scripps Institution of Oceanography.

Presentation Slides (pptx)

Abstract: The overarching goal of the California Underwater Glider Network is to sustain baseline observations of climate variability off the coast of California. The technical approach is to deploy autonomous underwater gliders in a network to provide real-time data. The CUGN uses Spray underwater gliders making repeated dives from the surface to 500 m and back, repeating the cycle every 3 hours, and traveling 3 km in the horizontal during that time. The CUGN includes gliders on three of the traditional cross-shore CalCOFI lines: line 66.7 off Monterey Bay, line 80 off Point Conception, and line 90 off Dana Point. The glider missions typically last about 100 days, and cover over 2000 km, thus providing 4-6 sections on lines extending 300-500 km offshore. Since 2005 the CUGN has covered 206,000 km over ground and 223,000 km through water in over 9900 glider-days, while doing 91,000 dives. The last two years have been unusually warm in the California Current System, starting with the warm anomaly of 2014-2015, and continuing through the El Niño that started in 2015 and is currently on the wane. The causes of the warming are studied using a climatology of glider data. In particular, the effects of atmospheric forcing and oceanic advection are addressed. NOAA support through the Climate Observation Division and the Integrated Ocean Observing System is gratefully acknowledged.

About the Speaker: Daniel L. Rudnick earned his Ph.D. in oceanography in 1987 from Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and his B.A. in physics in 1981 at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Rudnick is currently a professor and director of the Climate Ocean Atmosphere Program at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. Dr. Rudnick is an observational oceanographer whose research focuses on processes in the upper ocean. Topics of note include fronts and eddies, air-sea interaction, the stirring and mixing of physical and biological tracers, boundary currents and coastal circulation. Dr. Rudnick is keenly interested in observational instrumentation, having been involved in the use and/or development of moorings, towed and underway profilers, and autonomous floats and underwater gliders. Dr. Rudnick has sailed on over 25 oceanographic cruises, over half as chief scientist. Dr. Rudnick has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Rudnick was a member of the Ocean Studies Board of the National Research Council, and has served on various panels and committees for NSF, NOAA, and ONR. Dr. Rudnick is Chair of the Executive Steering Committee of the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS), a component of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).

Life on Ice: Seasonal variation in antifreeze protein concentration from a species of Antarctic fish.

Date: Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Lauren Fields, PhD - Knauss Marine Policy Fellow at NMFS Office of International Affairs and Seafood Inspection

Presentation Slides (pptx)

Abstract: McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, is almost constantly at its freezing point of about -1.9°C but data from temperature loggers located at various locations throughout the Sound show some seasonal temperature variability depending on location. Blood samples from a species of fish collected from three locations within McMurdo Sound and at different times during the austral summer were analyzed to determine differences in antifreeze glycoprotein (AFGP) concentration and activity. Conductivity, temperature, depth (CTD) casts were performed at time of sampling to directly compare environmental temperature with blood antifreeze concentration and activity. Fish collected from a location where no seasonal warming occurs exhibited high concentrations of AFGP while fish collected from a location late in the season after the onset of seasonal warming possessed significantly less AFGP. High AFGP levels and activity were correlated with freezing temperatures while lower AFGP levels were observed in late-season specimens when warmer summer water temperatures were recorded via temperature loggers.

About the Speaker: Lauren Fields received her PhD in 2015 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her dissertation work focused on Antarctic fish physiology. A Massachusetts native, she did her undergraduate work at Mount Holyoke College.

Discovery of a spawning ground reveals diverse migration strategies in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus)

Date: Friday, March 11, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Dr. David Richardson, Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Abstract: Atlantic bluefin tuna are a symbol of both the conflict between preservationist and utilitarian views of top ocean predators, and the struggle to reach international consensus on the management of migratory species. Currently, Atlantic bluefin tuna are managed as an early-maturing eastern stock, which spawns in the Mediterranean Sea, and a late-maturing western stock, which spawns in the Gulf of Mexico. However, electronic tagging studies show that many bluefin tuna, assumed to be of a mature size, do not visit either spawning ground during the spawning season. Whether these fish are spawning in an alternate location, skip-spawning, or not spawning until an older age affects how vulnerable this species is to anthropogenic stressors including exploitation. We use larval collections to demonstrate a bluefin tuna spawning ground in the Slope Sea, between the Gulf Stream and northeast United States continental shelf. We contend that western Atlantic bluefin tuna have a differential spawning migration, with larger individuals spawning in the Gulf of Mexico, and smaller individuals spawning in the Slope Sea. The current life-history model, which assumes only Gulf of Mexico spawning, overestimates age-at-maturity for the western stock. Furthermore, individual tuna occupy both the Slope Sea and Mediterranean Sea in separate years, contrary to the prevailing view that individuals exhibit complete spawning-site fidelity. Overall, this complexity of spawning migrations questions whether there is complete independence in the dynamics of eastern and western Atlantic bluefin tuna and leads to lower estimates of the vulnerability of this species to exploitation and other anthropogenic stressors.

About the Speaker: David has been a Research Fisheries Biologist at the Northeast Fisheries Science Center since 2009. His research addresses the ecology of marine fishes, with a specific focus on the early life stages. Research at the NEFSC has addressed mechanisms underlying multi-decadal patterns in the abundance of small pelagic species, and the effects of these patterns on predator species such as Atlantic cod. Prior to joining the NEFSC, David was a PhD student at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. David's PhD research addressed the physical and biological characteristics of sailfish and marlin spawning grounds at both fine scales, such as sub-mesoscale eddies, and at larger regional scales.

Preserving the Working Waterfront: Stories from Around the Nation

Date: Thursday, March 10, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Stephanie Showalter-Otts, National Sea Grant Law Center and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program at the University of Mississippi School of Law, sshowalt@olemiss.edu

Abstract: In 2014, the National Sea Grant Law Center, Maine Sea Grant, and NOAA's Office for Coastal Management received funding through the NOAA Preserve America Initiative to capture and preserve oral histories showcasing working waterfront preservation efforts. Ten working waterfront champions were invited to share the story of their community's working waterfront initiative. The resulting "Preserving the Working Waterfront" oral history collection, archived with NOAA's Voices of the Fisheries, includes audio recordings of the full interviews, transcripts of the interviews and audio slideshows highlighting key elements of their stories. This presentation will provide an overview of the project, discuss the value oral histories can add to working waterfront outreach efforts, and feature a screening of several audio slideshows. The presentation will also provide information on the related Sustainable Working Waterfronts Toolkit and its existing case studies and tools. For more information on the project and to view the slideshows, please visit the National Working Waterfront Network's website at: http://www.wateraccessus.com/oralhistory.cfm.

About the Speaker: Stephanie Showalter Otts is the Director of the National Sea Grant Law Center and the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program at the University of Mississippi School of Law. Stephanie received a B.A. in History from Penn State University and a joint J.D./Masters of Studies in Environmental Law from Vermont Law School. She is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and Mississippi. As Director, Stephanie oversees a variety of legal education, research, and outreach activities, including providing legal research services to Sea Grant constituents on ocean and coastal law issues. Her duties also include the supervision of law student research and writing projects and providing assistance to organizations and governmental agencies with interpretation of statutes, regulations, and case law. Stephanie also teaches a foundational course on ocean and coastal law at the University of Mississippi School of Law. Her research on natural resources, marine, and environmental law issues has been published in a variety of publications.

Introduction to Enterprise Risk Management

Date: Tuesday, February 23 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Liz Ryan, on detail to the NOAA CFO Risk Office

Presentation Slides (pptx)

Abstract: This is an introduction to Enterprise Risk Management. Learn what it is, why it is coming up in the federal sphere, and some best practices on how some agencies have approached it. We will highlight basic frameworks and stories from other agencies on how Enterprise Risk Management has helped their organizations.

About the Speaker: Liz Ryan is currently completing an assignment in Enterprise Risk Management for the NOAA CFO Risk Office. She is a member of the National Marine Fisheries Service Buyback Program and is currently participating in the Executive Leadership Development Program at the Department of Commerce.

Note: This seminar was sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Training and Capacity Building Committee

The Impact of Lightning on Intensity Forecasts Using the HWRF Model: Preliminary Results

Date: Wednesday, February 17, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Ms. Keren Rosado, Graduate Research and Training Scholar, NOAA EPP/MSI CSC. Keren Rosado is a doctoral candidate at Howard University's NOAA Center for Atmospheric Science.

About the Speaker: Keren Rosado is a PhD candidate in Atmospheric Science at Howard University under the supervision of her academic advisor Dr. Gregory Jenkins. Miss Rosado is a fellow of the NOAA Educational Partnership Program (EPP) with Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) Graduate Research and Training Scholarship Program (GRTSP). Miss Keren Rosado research interest is tropical cyclone intensification and its correlation with lightning. Miss Rosado is currently doing her thesis research at NOAA NCEP under the supervision of Dr.Vijay Tallapragada. Her research involves the implementation of a lightning parameterization into the HWRF with the goal of use this tool as corroboration of the intensity forecast of the model.

Abstract: In this research we are investigating the role of lightning during the life cycle of tropical cyclones using the HWRF hurricane model. The hypothesis is that an improvement in the forecast of lightning will lead to corresponding reductions in the HWRF hurricane model intensity bias. This research is designed to address the following two questions: "How well does the HWRF model forecast lightning spatial distributions before, during, or after tropical cyclone intensification?" and "What is the functional relationship between atmospheric moisture content, lightning, and intensity in the HWRF model?" In order to address these questions a lightning parameterization called the Lightning Potential Index (LPI) was implemented into the HWRF model. A 120 hours simulation of an Idealized tropical cyclones and Atlantic hurricane Earl 2010 was performed. Preliminary results from this investigation had shown: the correlation between lightning and intensity changes exists; the potential for lightning increase to its maximum peak hours prior to the tropical cyclone reach it maximum speed.

NOAA Sponsors: Jacqueline Rousseau and Audrey A. Trotman, OEd EPP

The physical basis for decadal climate predictions and the GFDL decadal climate prediction system

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2016 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Thomas L. Delworth, PhD, NOAA/Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, NJ

Abstract: There have been remarkable changes in the climate system over the last few decades, ranging from a rapid reduction in Arctic sea ice to changes in Atlantic hurricane actvity to prolonged drought in the western U.S. These changes are a combination of the response of the climate system to anthropogenic forcing and natural climate variability. There is tremendous societal interest in understanding the nature of such decadal scale climate changes, and the extent to which they can be predicted in advance.

In this talk we present the physical basis for making predictions of how the climate system will change over the next decade due to both natural variability and anthropogenic radiative forcing changes. We summarize what parts of the climate system may be predictable on such timescales, and the physical processes that create such predictability. We then describe a prototype decadal prediction system that has been developed at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), and present results from experimental decadal predictions that have been performed over the last several years.

About the Speaker: Dr. Delworth is a Research Scientist at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) and member of the GFDL Science Board. He is also on the faculty of the Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences Program at Princeton University.

1994-1997 Brown Bags

• 07/14/94 - "Implementing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure," Millington Lockwood, NOS
• 09/13/94 - "Encore Presentation: Implementing the National Spatial Data Infrastructure," Millington Lockwood, NOS
• 10/11/94 - "Natural and Anthropogenic Events Impacting Florida Bay: 1910-1994 Time Line," Adriana Cantillo, ORCA
• 01/24/95 - "Internet, Gophers, and the World Wide Web," Patrick Stingley, NWS
• 02/28/95 - "Efforts to Access GIS Through Libraries," Marilyn Lutz, University of Maine
• 09/20/95 - "Unique and Historical Material at the NOAA Central Library - Part 1," Skip Theberge, NOS
• 09/26/95 - "Unique and Historical Material at the NOAA Central Library - Part 2," Skip Theberge, NOS
• 04/18/96 - "NOAA's Photo Library,"Carla Wallace, NOAA Central Library
• 06/06/96 - "NODC's 35th Anniversary," Don Collins et al., NODC
• 10/21-22/96 - "A Twister film presentation," comments by Joe Golden, OAR
• 01/09/97 - "The Wreck of the Historical World War II Japanese Submarine I-52," Dave Jourdan and Jeff Burns, Meridian Sciences, Columbia, MD
• 02/12/97 - "National Marine Sanctuaries Program 25th Anniversary; Outreach and Special Project," Stephanie Thornton, Sanctuaries and Reserves Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management
• 04/17/97 - A "To Fly" film presentation in honor of Kurt Stehling
• 07/8/97 - "Global Oceanographic Data Research (GODAR) Project," Sydney Levitus, NODC
• 08/19/97 - "Red Tides and the Federal ECOHAB Program," Kevin Sellner, Coastal Ocean Program
• 10/02/97 - "Mapping the Ocean Floor from Space," Walter Smith, NODC Laboratory for Satellite Altimetry
• 10/30/97 - "2000 and Beyond - A New Millennium of Disasters," Bill Hooke, OAR, U.S. National Weather Program
• 12/04/97 - "Acid Rain: Science and Policy Issues," Michael Uhart, OAR
• 12/18/97 - "Update on El Niño: Getting Better or Getting Worse?" with John Kermond, Office of Global Programs

1998-1999 Brown Bags

• 01/22/98 - "NOAA's Role in the TWA Flight 800 Investigation," Sam Debow, Office of Coast Survey
• 02/05/98 - "Encore Presentation: NOAA's Role in the TWA Flight 800 Investigation," Sam Debow, Office of Coast Survey
• 03/19/98 - "Salmon and the Endangered Species Act," Joseph Blum, National Marine Fisheries Service
• 04/09/98 - "Women in Meteorology - A Global Perspective," Dian Gaffen, OAR
• 04/21-23/98 - Open House for National Library Week (10 a.m. - 3 p.m.) Highlights: Tour Special Collections, Tips for desktop searches, Plot historical maps, Discover the weather on your day of birth
• 06/16/98 - "NOAA's Role in the Development of the Civil Uses of the Global Positioning System (GPS) - Past, Present, and Future" by Dave Minkel, National Geodetic Survey
• 07/30/98 - "The Dynamic Ocean - Tracking Ocean Surface Temperature Features Through Time, as Tracked by Satellite Sensing Systems," Richard Legeckis, NESDIS Office of Research and Applications
• 08/27/98 - "Large Marine Ecosystems: Theory and Application," Ned Cyr, National Marine Fisheries Service
• 10/01/98 - "Is the United States Arctic Contaminated?" by Jawed Hameedi, National Ocean Service
• 01/15/99 - "Remote Sensing of Coral Reefs," Heather Holden, University of Waterloo
• 02/23/99 - "Protecting Endangered Right Whales from Ship Strikes," Gregory Silber, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS
• 03/25/99 - "The Environmental History of Biscayne Bay," Adriana Cantillo, National Ocean Service
• 04/13/99 - "A Plan for Global Coral Reef Monitoring," Clive Wilkinson, Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Gregor Hodgson, Reef Check
• 04/29/99 - "Climate Network Contributions to the Global Ocean Observing System Michael Johnson, Office of Global Programs
• 05/20/99 - The Ecological History of the Potomac River Fisheries," James Cummins, Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin,~ Past President of the Potomac Chapter of American Fisheries Society
• 06/08/99 - "Fellowship Programs of Japan's Science and Technology Agency," Katsuhisa Sagisaka, Deputy Director, Office for International Exchange Programs (STA) and Izumi Iketani, Chief Researcher, Division of International Affairs, Japan Science and Technology Corporation (JST)
• 07/29/99 - "NEXRAD Project," Robert Saffle, National Weather Service
• 08/05/99 - "May's Fury - Video Footage of the May 3, 1999 Oklahoma City Tornadoes," with comments by Joe Golden, OAR [This particular Brown Bag had at least five presentations over a 2-month period.]
• 10/19/99 - "Prince William Sound - Ten Years After the Exxon Valdez Disaster," Jeep Rice and Ron Heintz, NMFS Auke Bay Laboratory
• 11/04/99 - "Clouds, Rain, and Wonder," Hank Robinson, NWS
• 11/18/99 - "Mapping Oyster Habitat in Chesapeake Bay," Gary Smith, Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
• 12/16/99 - "Update on El Niño- Getting Better or Worse?" John Kermond, Office of Global Programs.

2000 Brown Bags

• 02/02/00 - "The History and Science of Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide; NOAA's Involvement," Dr. Lester Machta, former head of the Air Resources Laboratory
• 02/24/00 - "Maximum Sustainable Yield Reborn," Dr. Pamela Mace, NMFS Woods Hole Laboratory
• 03/09/00 - "Exploring Innerspace," Barbara Moore, Director of National Undersea Research Program
• 03/23/00 - "My Stamp on History," Rear Admiral Evelyn Fields, Director of the Office of Marine and Aircraft Operations
• 04/10/00 - "Alaska Predator Ecosystem Experiment and Findings," Bruce Wright of the NMFS Auke Bay Laboratory
• 04/11/00 - "Ecological Impacts of the EXXON VALDEZ Oil Spill," NMFS Auke Bay Laboratory
• 04/20/00 - "TIROS 40th Year Anniversary," Gregory Withee, Assistant Administrator for NESDIS
• 05/25/00 - "NOAA's Program on Noise and the Effects on Marine Animals," Dr. Roger Gentry, NMFS Office of Protected Resources

• 06/29/00 - "NOAA - Past, Present, and Future," Dr. D. James Baker, Administrator of NOAA

• 07/12/00 - "Weather Satellites: History and Future for Operational Use and Climate Research," Dr. S. Fred Singer, first Director of the U. S. Weather Satellite Service

• 08/31/00 - "OAR - Past, Present, and Future," Dr. David Evans, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

• 09/26/00 - "Where the Detritus Hits the Alluvial Fan - The National Estuarine Research Reserves," Dr. David Niebuhr of the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

• 10/26/00 - "Selling and Transforming Time," Dr. Ian Bartky (formerly of the National Bureau of Standards)

• 11/14/00 - "Adventures Under the Ozone Hole," Dr. Susan Solomon, OAR Aeronomy Laboratory

• 11/30/00 - "Review of East Coast Winter Storms," Dr. Louis Uccellini, National Centers for Environmental Prediction

• 12/07/00 - "Warming of the World Ocean," by Syd Levitus, Ocean Climate Laboratory, NODC

• 12/19/00 - "Nino, Nina, and NAO - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly," John Kermond, Office of Global Programs

2001 Brown Bags

• 01/09/01 - "NWS - How We Serve the Nation," General Jack Kelly, Assistant Administrator for Weather Services and Director of the National Weather Service

• 03/13/01 - "The Future of NOAA - A Vision for the Twenty-First Century," Scott Gudes, Acting Administrator of NOAA

• 03/28/01 - "Horseshoe Crab Conservation Efforts," Dr. Carl Shuster, Jr., et al., Virginia Institute of Marine Science

• 04/10/01 - "The GLOBE Program: Environmental Science and Education for K-12 Students Worldwide at Over 10,1000 Schools in 96 Countries, Sponsored by NOAA, NASA, and EPA," Tom Pyke, Chief CIO, Director HPCC, and Head of the GLOBE Program

• 04/13/01 - "Declining Sea Otters and Ecosystem Changes in Alaska," Dr. James Estes, United States Geological Survey and University of California at Santa Cruz

• 04/19/01 - "Ocean Exploration in NOAA," Commander Craig McLean, Director of the Office of Ocean Exploration Michael Kelly, Deputy Director of the Office of Ocean Exploration

• 05/03/01 - "Environmental Satellite Remote Sensing of Snow Cover," Bruce Ramsay, NESDIS ORA

• 05/17/01 - "Our Positioning History," Charlie Challstrom, NOS NGS

• 05/30/01 - "Federal ECOHAB Program," Kevin Sellner, NOS, CSCOR

• 06/12/01 - "NOAA's Ocean Exploration Heritage," Skip Theberge, NESDIS, Library

• 06/28/01 - "Interactions among Systematics, Fisheries Agencies, and Marine Biodiversity," Dr. Michael Vecchione, Director NMFS National Systematics Laboratory

• 08/02/01 - "The Importance of Seaweed Aquaculture," Dr. Charles Yarish of the University of Connecticut at Stamford.

• 09/18/01 - "Socioeconomic Costs and Benefits of Marine Protected Areas," Betsy Nicholson of the NOS Coastal Ocean Program.

• 09/28/01 - "Estuary Live an Internet Presentation," the NOS National Estuarine Research Reserves

• 11/01/01 - "GIS Applications to Support Fishery Management," David Ball of the Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute of the Australian State of Victoria

• 11/28/01 - "Ocean Science Programs of the National Science Foundation," Dr. Alexander Shor of the National Science Foundation

• 12/14/01 - "Overview of the Ocean Exploration 2001 Expedition Season," Captain Craig McLean, Director of the Office of Ocean Exploration

• 12/18/01 - "AOGP, Education, and the World Wide Web," Dr. John Kermond of the Office of Global Programs

2002 Brown Bags

• 01/24/02 - "The Race to Save the Monitor," Dr. John Broadwater, Manager of the Monitor National Marine Sanctuary.

• 02/07/02 - "Weather and the Olympic Winter Games," Dr. John Kelley of the NOS Office of Coast Survey, Coast Survey Development Laboratory.

• 03/28/02 - "Climate Services in the U.S.: Some Historical Perspectives," Dr. Bob Reeves of the National Weather Service

• 04/11/02 - "Problems in Paradise--Water Quality and Coral Reef Health on the Caribbean Island of Tobago," Dr. Robert Reeves of the Buccoo Reef Trust.

• 04/16/02 - "Tampa Bay Bathy/Topo Project," by Robby Wilson of the Office of Coast Survey.

• 05/02/02 - "The Ocean Biogeographic Information System (OBIS)," Dr. Fred Grassle of Rutgers University.

• 05/16/02 - "Arctic Ice," Dr. Konstantin Vinnikov of the University of Maryland

• 05/23/02 - "Art, Adventure, and Discovery Down Under," a discussion of scientific exploration and discovery in the Antarctic, Dr. Michael Van Woert of the National Ice Center

• 05/29/02 - "Going ... Going... Gone? Earth's Melting Tropical Glaciers", Bob Leffler, NWS Climate Services Division

• 06/05/02 - "Climate Controls on Sedimentation and Stratigraphy," Dr. Terry Edgar of the USGS

• 06/19/02 - "The Black Sea Oceanographic Observing System," Dr. Alexander Suvorov of the Marine Hydrophysical Institute of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences

• 06/20/02 - "The North American Monsoon," Dr. Wayne Wiggins, Principal Climate Scientist of the Center for Climate Prediction and of NCEP

• 08/29/02 - "Sound Velocity Fluctuations and their Effect on Multibeam Echosounder Surveys," Mr. Jorgen Eeg of the Royal Danish Administration of Navigation and Hydrography

• 09/12/02 - "Can We Make Essential Fish Habitat Both Ecologically Meaningful and a Useful Management Tool," Dr. Peter Auster of the University of Connecticut

• 09/19/02 - "ARGO -- the Global Array of Profiling Floats," Dr. Stan Wilson, Senior Scientist of NESDIS

• 09/25/02 - "Innovations in Aquaculture," Dr. Jim McVey of NOAA Research Sea Grant

• 10/10/02 - "The First Shot of the WWII Pacific Theater: The Role of the Japanese Imperial Navy's Midget Submarine," Al Kalvaitis of the NOAA Research National Undersea Research Program

• 10/17/02 - "IQ (Information Quality) Guidelines, a discussion of the "Data Quality Act," Carla Steinborn of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Dr. Bonnie Ponwith of the National Marine Fisheries Service.

• 11/1/02 - "The Rapid Environmental Assessment Programme at the NATO SACLANT Undersea Research Centre," Dr. Bob Tyce, Oceanography Department Head, at the NATO SACLANT Undersea Research Centre at La Spezia, Italy

• 11/8/02 - "Ecological Forecasting: Definitions, Examples, and Prospects," Dr. Don Scavia, Chief Scientist of the National Ocean Service

• 11/13/02 - "Meteo-Management of the Steve Fossett Around-the-World Balloon Flight," Dr. David Dehenauw of the Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium

• 11/21/02 - "Biogeoinformatics of Corals, Sea Anemones, and Their Allies," Dr. Daphne Fautin, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Curator of the Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Research Center at the University of Kansas

• 12/04/02 - "Capabilities of the NOAA Fish LIDAR," Dr. James Churnside of the NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory

• 12/05/02 - "Ocean Exploration 2002," Captain Craig Mclean, Director of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration

• 12/17/02 - "EPIC/TAS/NOAA/NSF -- Acronym Soup that Equals High Adventure," Dr. John Kermond of the Office of Global Programs

2003 Brown Bags

• 09/25/03 - "The Greatest Untold Story in America: The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana's Cajun Coast," Mike Tidwell
• 01/09/03 - "Tides and Their Effect on Some Events in History," Dr. Bruce Parker, Director of the Coast Survey Development Laboratory

• 01/29/03 - "Environmental Distance Learning," David Conrod of Conrod Communications Associates, a NOAA Fisheries Habitat Restoration Partner

• 02/06/03 - "Strike a Chord with Admiral Lautenbacher," Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, Administrator of NOAA

• 03/06/03 - Women's History Month seminar - " "Women in Cold War Oceanography: a Personal Perspective," Dr. Kathy Crane of the NOAA Arctic Research Office, as presented in her recent book, Sea Legs.

• 03/19/03 - "JASON XIV: From Shore to Sea," a visual journey through this year's JASON Project featuring the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and Channel Islands National Park," Claire Johnson of the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary

• 03/20/03 - "The Grounding of the QUEEN ELIZABETH II and How It Changed Hydrography," Captain Nick Perugini, Chief of the Nautical Chart Division of the Office of Coast Survey

• 04/03/03 - "Arctic Exploration Today," Dr. Kathy Crane of the NOAA Arctic Program Office

• 04/23/03 - "Jaguars, Pumas, Prey Base, and Cattle Ranching in the Llanos Altos of Venezuela: Implications for Conservation," Dr. Michael Polisar of the United States Department of State

• 05/08/03 - "Disaster - American Style," Dr. Bill Hooke, Director of Atmospheric Policy Program and Senior Policy Fellow of the American Meteorological Society
• 05/12/03 - "Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority Representative Areas Program (RAP)," George Baldwin of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority of Australia
• 05/13/03 - "Monitoring Climate Change with an Arctic Seabird: The Response of Black Guillemots to a Warming Climate in Northern Alaska," Dr. George Divoky.of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks
• 05/22/03 - "What's Culture Got To Do With It? Blue Crab Research and Management in the Chesapeake Bay," Dr. Michael Paolisso of the University of Maryland Anthropology Department
• 06/03/03 - "A Land on Fire," James Fahn of the Ford Foundation
• 06/05/03 - "Women in Meteorology - An Update," Mary Glackin, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Policy, Planning, and Integration
• 06/26/03 - "Seaweed Aquaculture," Dr. C. H. Sohn of South Korea and of the University of Connecticut
• 07/22/03 - "The Role of Nearshore Ecosystems as Fish and Shellfish Nurseries," Dr. Michael W. Beck of UC Santa Cruz and Michael P. Weinstein of the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium
• 09/25/03 - "The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana's Cajun Coast," author Mike Tidwell
• 10/02/03 - "Blue Frontier/Saving America's Living Seas," author David Helvarg
• 10/07/03 - "Scuba-diving in the Barents Sea - The Invasion of the King Crab,s" Dr. Aleksey Zuyev of the Murmansk Marine Biological Institute and visiting scientist at NODC
• 10/14/03 - "The New Frontier for Aquaculture in New England: Offshore Farming of Finfish and Shellfish with Museel Tasting Session," Dr. Richard Langan, University of New Hampshire
• 11/06/03 - "Climate - A NOAA-Centric Tour," Dr. Dave Goodrich of the NOAA Climate Office
• 11/13/03 - "Exploring Alaskan Seamounts with the Submersible Alvin" by Dr. Brad Stevens of the NOAA Fisheries Kodiak Laboratory
• 11/20/03 - "The Hunt for the Alligator - the Union Navy's First Submarine," Catherine Marzine of the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and Lt.(j.g.) Jeremy Weirich of the Office of Ocean Exploration
• 12/03/03 - "The United Nations Atlas of the Oceans," Dr. Frances Michaelis of NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and the Australia Department of Sustained Fisheries
• 12/04/03 - "Adventure at Sea - Experiences on the NOAA Ship KA'IMIMOANA," Dr. John Kermond of the Office of Global Programs. Pre-seminar holiday music was provided by Aurelie Shapiro and Nikki Case of NOS.

2004 Brown Bags

• 01/06/04 - "The GhostNet Project: A High-seas Search for Derelict Fishing Nets," Dr. Jim Churnside of the OAR Environmental Technology Laboratory
• 01/23/04 - "Earth Observation Summit and the Work of the Group on Earth Observations," NESDIS Assistant Administrator Greg Withee
• 01/13/04 - "Climate and Society - Linking the Past to the Future," Dr. Ants Leetma, Director of the OAR Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
• 03/03/04 - "The NWS Telecommunications Gateway," Fred Branski of the National Weather Service (NWS)
• 03/05/04 -"Climate and the Environment," Dr. Philip Reid, Director of the Sir Alistair Hardy Foundation for Ocean Science in Plymouth, United Kingdom (View the Powerpoint Slides)
• 03/10/04 - "Sea Grant meeting NOAA's needs: A Case Study of Fisheries Technology Transfer," Gary Graham, from NOAA's Texas Sea Grant program
• 03/25/04 - "CMORPH: A New High-resolution Global Precipitation Analysis System," Dr. John Janowiak of NCEP
• 04/13/04 - "Weird deep-sea squids and the nature of Natural History," Michael Vecchione of the NMFS Systematics Laboratory
• 04/14/04 - "Rescue at Sea: The American Experience," a video presented by Christopher D. Parris, a Telecommunciations Specialist in the National Weather Service
• 05/06/04 - "Global Sea Level Rise: The past decade versus the past 100 years", Dr. Laury Miller of the NESDIS Satellite Altimetry Laboratory
• 05/13/04 - "NOAA participation and cooperation in the development of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Hall of the Oceans," Captain Craig McLean, Director, Office of Ocean Exploration
• 05/14/04 - "Highlights of the April 2004 Submarine Ring of Fire Expedition to the Mariana Arc Submarine Volcanoes - Sulfurous Pits, CO2 Vents and Chemosynthetic Life in the Upper Ocean," Dr. Robert Embley of NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) and Chief Scientist of the Pacific Ring of Fire Expedition
• 05/10/04 - "The Alaska Earthquake Tsunami," a video highlighting the Alaska Good Friday Earthquake of March 27, 1964, with Kurt Byers, from NOAA's Alaska Sea Grant programli>

• 06/03/04 - "World War II Contributions of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey," Dr. John Cloud, historian associated with the NOAA Central Library, in honor of the 60th Anniversary of D-Day, discussed This presentation was accompanied by a Library display of World War II documents published by the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Weather Bureau.
• 06/07/04 - Marine parameter data dictionaries, an important element of accessibility between holdings of multidisciplinary oceanographic data," Roy Lowery of the British Oceanographic Data Center
• 06/16/04 - "Rip Current Education, Awareness, and Forecasting: A NOAA partnership," Dr. Wendy Carey, Coastal Processes Specialist with NOAA's Delaware Sea Grant Program
• 06/18/04 - "The Bifurcation of the North Pacific Equatorial Current and its Significance in Climate," Dr. Tangdong Qu of the International Pacific Research Center, University of Hawaii
• 06/30/04 - "Late Summer Chlorophyll Blooms in the Oligotrophic North Pacific Subtropical Gyre," Dr. Cara Wilson of the Pacific Fisheries Environmental Laboratory
• 07/09/04 - "Studying the Coelacanth - A Microbiologist's Adventures with Old Four-Legs," Dr. Rosemary Dorrington of Rhodes University, Union of South Africa
• 08/03/04 -"A Celtic Shark in the Making," a seminar on marine science research and advances in Ireland and the European Union in general, with Dr. Peter Heffernan of the Marine Institute at Galway, Ireland
• 09/17/04 - "The activities of the Korean Oceanographic Data Center," Dr. Seung Heo of the Korean Oceanographic Data Center and the West Sea Fisheries Institute

• 09/30/04 - "U.S. Climate Change Science and Technology Programs," Dr. James Mahoney, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, NOAA Deputy Administrator, and the Director of the Climate Change Science Program

• 10/14/04 - "Lessons from the Titantic," Lt. J.G. Weirich, a NOAA Corps officer working for NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration (OE) as the maritime archaeological program officer. He was a member of NOAA's June 2004 "Return to the Titanic" expedition. (View the Powerpoint Slides)
• 10/19/04 - "Invasive Species in the Great Lakes," Dr. Phil Moy of the University of Wisconsin Sea Grant
• 10/21/04 - "Bluefin Tuna Farming in the Mediterranean," Dr. John Dean of the University of South Carolina
• 10/29/04 - A new seminar series, the NOAA Education Seminar Series, a partnership between the NOAA Education Council and the NOAA Central Library, was kicked-off with "Research and Education: Volcanoes, Exploration and Life" by Veronique Robigou, Director of the REVEL Project at the University of Washington.
• Tuesday, November 2 - "An Ocean Apart", a sometimes irreverent look at how cultural differences between the United Kingdom and the United States affect our weather perceptions, with John Teather, former editor of the BBC Weather Centre, and Sir Bill Giles, formerly Senior Weatherman of the BBC
• 11/04/04 -"NOAA and the Preserve America Initiative," Cheryl Oliver of the National Marine Sanctuary Program
• 11/08/04 - "Meteorology, Oceanography and Polynesian Voyaging", accounts of long-distance Pacific voyaging in traditional craft using Polynesian navigation methods, with Bernard Kilonsky of the University of Hawaii
• Wednesday, November 10 - "NOAA Homeland Security Activities," Commander Phil Kenul, Director of the NOAA Homeland Security Office
• Wednesday, November 17 - "Greatest Hits of Lake Michigan Seamount Studies," Dr. Russell Cuhel of the University of Wisconsin at Madison
• Thursday, November 18 - "The Global Ocean Observing System," Michael Johnson of NOAA's Office of Global Programs (OGP) discussed
• 12/01/04 -"Revolution in Earth and Space Science Education," hosted by The NOAA Education Seminar Series, a partnership between the NOAA Education Council and the NOAA Central Library, with Dennis M. Bartels, President of TERC, and former director of the Center for Teaching and Learning (TERC) at the San Francisco Exploratorium, and Daniel Barstow, Director of TERC's Center for Earth and Space Science Education

• 12/10/04 - "Above and Beyond," the Library Annual Holiday Brown Bag seminar and extravaganza, with Dr. John Kermond of NOAA's Office of Global Programs (OGP). Refreshments for all as well as door prizes for lucky Library patrons.

2005 Brown Bags

• 01/07/05 - "North Pacific Climate Regimes and Ecosystem Productivity," Dr. Jeff Napp of NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, and Dr. Phyllis Stabeno of NOAA Research, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
• 01/12/05 - "Lighthouses Across America," Elinor Dewire, lighthouse expert, author, and educator
• 01/27/05 - "Air Resources Laboratory Programs," Dr. Bruce Hicks, Director of the Air Resources Laboratory
• 02/02/05 - "Natural Disasters in International Affairs: Formulating Reconstruction Planning in NOAA," Dr. Nikola Garber of NOAA Research
• Discover the Treasures of NOAA's Ark during the First Annual NOAA Heritage Week, February 7-11, 2005, a week of exhibits and learning dedicated to celebrating NOAA's rich heritage in the NOAA Science Center in Silver Spring, 11 am-2 pm Monday - Thursday and 10am -4pm on Friday.
• 02/09/05 - "NWS Forecast Office Operations over Time" John Jones, Deputy Assistant Administrator, NOAA Weather Service, in celebration of the First Annual NOAA Heritage Week (View the Powerpoint Slides)
• 02/11/05 - RADM Sam DeBow, Director NOAA Corps, NOAA Marine and Aviation Operations, presented the evolution of survey technology over time and how modern survey technology helped them locate and map the wreck site of TWA flight 800.
• 03/03/05 - Dr. Peter A. Rona, Professor of Marine Geology and Geophysics at the Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, presented "Volcanoes of the Deep Sea: The Science Behind the IMAX Films." The film, and another IMAX film, "Aliens of the Deep," illuminate discoveries of hydrothermal vents and vent ecosystems in the deep ocean. You can check out Volcanoes of the Deep Sea from the NOAA Central Library.
• 03/10/05 - Chet Arnold and Dave Dickson of the University of Connecticut presented "Helping Coastal Communities Balance Growth and Natural Resource Protection: NEMO, the NEMO Network and NOAA." The National NEMO Network is a network of education programs teaching local land use decision makers about the relationship between land use and natural resource protection. Chet Arnold is the Associate Director of the University of Connecticut Center for Land Use Education and Research, and a Water Quality Educator with UConn Department of Extension and Connecticut Sea Grant. Dave Dickson is the National NEMO Network Coordinator, and a Natural Resource Management Educator with UConn Department of Extension.
• 03/17/05 - Dr. Jim Sanchirico of Resources for the Future presented ""No-take Zones as Optimal Fishery Management."
• 04/07/05 - Dr. Jamie L. King of NOAA's Cheasapeake Bay Program Office presented "A New Oyster for Chesapeake Bay? Status of the Asian Oyster EIS and NOAA's Research Initiative." The talk focused on the Asian oyster C. ariakensis and the issues surrounding the possible introduction of this species into Chesapeake Bay. (View the Powerpoint Slides)
• 04/14/05 - Dr. Thomas Chen of the University of Connecticut Department of Molecular and Cell Biology presented "Manipulation of Innate Immunity Genes for Enhancement of Resistance to Bacterial and Viral Pathogens in Finfish and Shellfish Aquaculture."
• 04/21/05 - Roger L. Gentry, Ph.D., NOAA Office of Protected Resources, presented "How NOAA Helped Reveal the Lives of Diving Animals Through Instruments," an historical review of the evolution of instrumentation and marne mammals.
• 05/12/05 - Dr. Wayne Coats of the Smithsonian Institution presented "Microbial Controls of Chesapeake Bay Phytoplankton."
• 05/19/05 - Dr. Grier, Associate Professor in the Center for International Science and Technology Policy at George Washington University, presented "When Computers Were Human."
• 06/02/05 - Dr. Spencer Weart of the American Institute of Physics Center for History of Physics presented "The Discovery of Global Warming." See also Dr. Weart's comprehensive history, The Discovery of Global Warming.
• 06/09/05 - Vincent Mudrake, Director of the USFWS Warm Springs Regional Fisheries Center, Warm Springs, Georgia, presented "Recovering the Endangered Shortnose Sturgeon through Innovative Techniques and Interagency Partnerships."
• 06/16/05 - John Frece of the National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education presented "Growth and Development on the Coast: What Does it Mean for You?" This was the first of a series of Seminars on Smart Growth.

• 06/23/05 - "Movie Time", the Library presented "Volcanoes of the Deep Sea", originally an IMAX movie, and a historic look back at a major NOAA science program, "GATE:Global Atmospheric Research Program."

• 06/26/05 - Dr Cicin-Sain, Director of the Gerard J. Mangone Center for Marine Policy at the University of Delaware, discussed the Center's Offshore Aquaculture Policy Framework project. More information on the work of the Center is available on the Internet at http://www.ocean.udel.edu/cmp.

• 06/28/05 - John Bailey, Director of the Urban Institute's Smart Growth Institute, presented "Lessons from Reality Check and Success Stories from Around the Metropolitan DC Region”.

• 08/10/05 - Dr. Rennie Holt, Director of the Antarctic Ecosystem Research Division at NOAA Fisheries’ Southwest Fisheries Science Center, discussed "Antarctica: The Last Great Place on Earth, NOAA Fisheries' Role in Preserving its Marine Living Resources: The U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources Program."

• 09/15/05 - Mel Tull and Gary Stith, both from the Montgomery County Silver Spring Redevelopment Office, discused the revitalization of Silver Spring. This was the third Smart Growth Seminar.
• 09/20/05 - Susan Carlson, director of Environmentors, introduced NOAA staff to EnvironMentors and the opportunity to serve as a mentor. Mentors work with a D.C. high school student and teacher on developing environmental science projects over the academic year.
• 09/21/05 - Stephanie Showalter, Director of the National Sea Grant Law Center, presented "An Overview of the Law Center's Services and Role in the Sea Grant Community as it Serves NOAA and the Nation." She will present the results of recent Law Center research efforts and encourage dialogue between Law Center staff and NOAA attorneys.
• 10/1/05 - Kristen M. Fletcher, Roger Williams University School of Law, and Paul C. Ticco, Coastal States Organization, presented "Kelo v. New London: Implications for Coastal Management."
• 10/18/05 - Members of the NOAA Mediators Cadre, NOAA Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, presented "Have your work relationships run aground?" Ever wondered how to resolve your differences at work easily? Hear how your NOAA Alternative Dispute Resolution Program works and watch a mediation.

• 10/20/05 - David Kuykendall of Montgomery County's Department of Permitting Services presented "Water quality issues in downtown Silver Spring redevelopment project." This was the 3rd seminar in the joint NOAA/EPA Smart Growth Seminar Series.
• 10/19/05 - Dr. Franklin Schwing, NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center, presented "Climate Variability in the California Current Ecosystem: Implications for Marine Populations."

• 11/19/05 - The fourth seminar in our series of Seminars on Smart Growth featured Tom Gallas from TortiGallas, presenting "Working to build better places: Bringing the public and private sectors together."

• 12/01/05 - Tundi Agardy, member of the federal advisory committee on Marine Protected Areas, presented "MPA Networks: Are They Important? More Importantly, Are They Feasible?" Dr. Agardy presented her views on what constitutes a regional network of Marine Protected Areas, and why such large scale networks are a crucial step in moving towards more effective, ecosystem-based management. She will also speak to the growing interest in ocean zoning, and how MPA networks form a logical basis for zoning plans. Finally, she addressed feasibility and whether the world is ready for such ambitious marine protection. (View the Powerpoint Slides)

• 12/08/05 - Peter Leigh, of NOAA's Office of Habitat Conservation, presented "The ecological crisis, the human condition, and community-based restoration as an instrument for its cure." The full-text of Peter's paper on this topic is available online: http://www.int-res.com/articles/esep/2005/E60.pdf.

• 12/12/05 - Dr. Tony Ribbink, Director, African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, presented "The African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme: Biodiversity and Biomass."

• 12/15/05 - The 4th in our series of NOAA/EPA Smart Growth and Coastal Communities Speaker Series will featured Lynn Richards from EPA's Development, Community & Environment Division. Ms. Richards discussed the environmental benefits of smart growth development practices. The talk will cover many of the air and water quality issues that result from conventional development practices and how smart growth approaches can help lead to better environmental outcomes.

• 12/21/05- Dr. John Kermond presented the traditional Library Holiday Seminar. This was the eighth installment of giveaways, quizzes, and great information concerning climate, global programs, and Teacher at Sea.

2006 Brown Bags

• 01/26/06 - Lt. Jeff Shoup, NOAA Corps, presented "SARSAT 101," a discussion of NOAA's Search and Rescue Satellite communication system.
• 02/07/06 12:00 – 1:30 pm in the NOAA Science Center SSMC#4 - Dave Alberg, Hans Van Tilburg, and Dede Marx presented "Maritime Heritage in NOAA’s National Marine Sanctuaries". (presented as part of NOAA Heritage Week.)

• 02/08/06 12:00 – 1:30 pm in the NOAA Science Center SSMC#4 - Taylor Morrison, author and artist of "The Coast Mappers" presented: "Bringing NOAA's History to Life Through the Art of the Picture Book." (presented as part of NOAA Heritage Week.)

• 03/06/06 - Steve Reilly, Director, Protected Resources Division, and Lisa Ballance, leader of the Ecosystems Studies Group, both of the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center, discussed "Protected Species Ecosystem Approaches to Management."

• 03/1306 - The Czech Hydrometeorological Institute And Flood Warning Services In The Czech Republic" by Jan Danhelka, Milan Salek, Tomas Vlasak of the Czech Hydrometeorological Institute (Prague – Brno - Ceske Budejovice).
• 03/14/06 - Ed Melvin, Marine Fisheries Specialist from the Washington Sea Grant Program, presented "Reducing Seabird Bycatch in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska Longline Fisheries."
• 03/16/06 - Dr. John Cloud, historian at the NOAA Central Library presented "Oceanography between the wars: The Coast and Geodetic Survey and the contested discovery of the deep sound channel in the ocean." This was be presented as part of the prestigious Historical Seminar on Contemporary Science and Technology series at the National Air and Space Museum.
• 03/28/06 - Barbara A. Block, of the Tuna Research and Conservation Center of Stanford University, presented "Electronic Tags Reveal the Migrations, Behaviors and Population Structure of Northern Bluefin Tuna in the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean" by Dr. Barbara Block of the Tuna Research and Conservation Center of Stanford University.

• 03/30/06 - Timothy Keeney, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, presented "Ocean and atmospheric observations and NOAA's relevance". The powerpoint slides for this presentation are available at http://www.pco.noaa.gov/presentation.htm. This was a joint NODC/NOAA Central Library seminar to be presented at the NOAA Central Library.

• 04/04/06 - Dr. Timothy Essington of the University of Washington and Dr. David Conover of Stony Brook University, New York, presented "The Unforeseen Ecosystem and Evolutionary Impacts of Fishing: Applying Lessons Learned to Magnuson Reauthorization." Note: This seminar will be from 10:00 - 11:00 am.
  Abstract: New findings in fisheries science are revealing unexpected consequences of fishing. These include simultaneous depletion of many species within the same ecosystem (risking ecosystem collapse) and rapid evolution of heavily fished species towards smaller, less fit individuals. By targeting the biggest fishes and removing them from the breeding population, ‘human selection’ is affecting the productivity of commercial fisheries. Fifty years ago the mean length of cod in the Gulf of Maine was 32 inches – today the mean length is only 12 inches. The impending reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act is a critical opportunity to incorporate what science now teaches us into a new ecosystem approach to fisheries management. Dr. Essington and Dr. Conover, scientists at the forefront of evolutionary biology and fisheries ecology, will present their recent research and discuss its implications for fisheries management.

• 04/10/06 - Captain Albert Theberge (Skip) of the NOAA Central Library, presented "NOAA: 200 Years of Science and Service." (View the Powerpoint slides in pdf format)

• 04/13/06 - Dr. Richard W. Spinrad, Assistant Administrator of NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), presented "Contribution of NOAA to the U.S. and International Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS)".
• 05/04/2006 - Dr. David Pawson, a Senior Research Scientist at the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History presented a NOAA Heritage Seminar "Austin Hobart Clark, Naturalist on the “Albatross” in 1906 and Smithsonian Curator 1908-1950: here’s a guy who put NOAA and the Smithsonian on the map in more ways than one!"
• 05/09/2006 - Roy Mendelssohn, Supervisory Operations Research Analyst at NOAA Fisheries, SWFSC, Environmental Research Division, Pacific Grove (http://www.pfeg.noaa.gov), presented "A Reanalysis of North Pacific Sea Surface Temperatures Using State-Space Techniques: The PDO Redefined." The first part of the talk will be a non-technical overview of the state-space related methodologies that are used to analyze oceanographic and atmospheric series, and a discussion of some of the issues in accurately identifying shifts or non-stationarities in time series. In the second part of the talk, the speaker will present a reanalysis of the North Pacific sea surface temperatures (SST) used in estimating the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) using a combination of state-space decomposition and subspace identification techniques.
• 05/11/2006 - Dr. Carlos Cotlier, Director, Remote Sensing Center, National University of Rosario, Argentina (www.fceia.unr.edu.ar/csr), presented a seminar "Comparative Research Between NOAA and Feng Yun Satellite Images for Determining the Capabilities of Land covers Studies with aid of SAC-C (Argentina) and Landsat 5 TM USA Images-Study Area: Salado River Source."
• 05/22/2006 - In honor of National Maritime Day, 5 high school students from the Ballard Maritime Academy at Ballard High School in Washington state discussed NOAA's role in supporting the academy, how students have benefited from the program, and an overview of the academy's curriculum and history. NOAA awards a grant each year to the academy to fund curriculum development and a trip to Washington, D.C. for 5 Ballard students and 2 teachers.
• 06/06/06 - Christine Keiner, Associate Professor of Science, Technology and Society, Rochester Institute of Technology, presented ""Debating the Deliberate Introduction of Non-Native Oysters to the Chesapeake Bay: A Historical Analysis"."
• 06/28/06 - A presentation was made by Theodoris Corbett, program manager of the Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program. This will be the first of three presentations on this important program.

• 07/06/06 - Dr. Dale Haidvogel, Professor of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, presented "Global Drivers, Local Impacts: New Models and Methods in Support of Ecosystem-based Management".
  Abstract: The last decade has seen an unprecedented improvement in our ability to observe, to model and to understand the global ocean circulation and its accompanying chemical, biological and geological systems. Here we review recent progress in understanding the effects of global climate variability on regional ecosystems dynamics, with a particular focus on the legacy of the US GLOBEC program. In particular, we note the evolution and successful deployment of end-to-end systems for high-resolution coupled studies of regional climate impacts. Illustrations are drawn from the US East and West Coasts, and the Bering Sea. New approaches to, and opportunities for, ecosystems-based management are highlighted.

• 07/13/06 - Scott Rayder, NOAA Chief of Staff, presented a seminar on NOAA's Vision and Future. (View the Powerpoint slides) This was a joint NODC/NOAA Central Library seminar.
• 07/27/06 - Naomi Oreskes, Ph.D., History Department & Program in Science Studies, University of California, San Diego, presented "Consensus in Science: How Do We Know We're Not Wrong?" Dr. Oreskes gave this talk at the 2004 AAAS Sarton Memorial Lecture.

• 07/27/06 - 08/23/06 - Karen Kohanowich, Deputy Director of NOAA's National Undersea Research Program, spoke about her week-long adventures with NASA astronauts on board the Aquarius, the NOAA underwater sea lab based off the coast of Florida in the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary. Karen and the NASA astronauts conducted center of gravity tests to determine optimal weights for spacesuits for fights to the Moon and Mars. The tests were conducted as part of a NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NeeMO) expedition. (View the Powerpoint slides)

• 09/20/06 - Lee Larkin and Vicki Clark of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) have developed a new NOAA collection of education products on the Bridge, an online Sea Grant Ocean Sciences Education Center. "Helping to BRIDGE the Gap between NOAA Science and K-12 Education", presented a discussion of their work in setting up this online database of NOAA education products.

• 10/12/06 - John Hessler of the Library of Congress discussed the Martin Waldseemuller Map. Acquired by the Library of Congress in 2003, "Waldseemuller's map supported Amerigo Vespucci's revolutionary concept of the New World as a separate continent, which, until then, was unknown to the Europeans. It was the first map, printed or manuscript, to depict the lands of a separate Western Hemisphere and with the Pacific as a separate ocean. The map reflected a huge leap forward in knowledge, recognizing the newly found American land mass and forever changing mankind's understanding and perception of the world itself."
• 10/25/2006 - "Whatever happened to Terrestrial Magnetism?" was presented by Greg Good, historian of geophysics and geomagnetism at West Virginia University; Associate Editor, Geology and Geophysics journal

  Abstract:
  In 1900, researchers interested in Earth's magnetism generally proclaimed all facets of magnetic phenomena to be within their purview. Most researchers, including those at the Coast Survey and its successor agencies, called themselves 'magneticians' first and physicists or geologists second. From the time of the second superintendent of the Coast Survey, AD Bache, until the mid-20th century, Earth's magnetism was a major focus of Survey activity. After WW II, specialization both in the agency and outside it increased. Distinct magnetic research areas appeared: geodynamo theory and the study of the core-mantle boundary; palaeomagnetism and its growing connection to geology; and the magnetism of near space, among others. The earlier unity dissolved and Terrestrial Magnetism fragmented. The US government redistributed the activities of the old Coast Survey among ESSA, NOAA, the US Geological Survey, NASA, and other new players. Fragmentation — both institutional and conceptual — produced a loss of community and of memory. The 200th anniversary of the founding of the Coast Survey is an appropriate time to reflect on these large scale and complex changes.

• 10/26/2006 "West Coast Marine Managed Areas: Trends in Place-Based Ocean Management" with Dr. Charles Wahle, Director, Science Institute, National Marine Protected Areas Center and Dr. Brian Jordan, Maritime Archaeologist, National Marine Protected Areas Center

  Abstract:
  Marine managed areas (MMAs) are special places in ocean, coastal and estuarine ecosystems where vital natural and cultural resources are given greater protection than in surrounding waters. Currently, there are more than 1,500 MMAs documented in U.S. marine waters and the Great Lakes, managed by hundreds of distinct federal, state and tribal authorities. This seminar will present information on MMAs in California, Oregon and Washington, where the National Marine Protected Areas Center is initiating a West Coast Pilot project with federal, state, and tribal partners to facilitate the use of area-based management as a tool for conserving important marine resources and support the development of a regionally-based national system of marine protected areas. Data will be presented on the number, area, type, and level of protection within MMAs nationally and on the West Coast. In addition, a subset of located historic and non-historic submerged shipwrecks and aircraft has been analyzed to identify the number of known cultural resources within and outside West Coast MMAs, and the degree to which cultural resources are protected by current MMAs authorities.

• 11/02/06 - Doubleheader! Seminars at 12 noon AND 2 pm!

  12 noon: Sea Grant seminar: "Sea Grant Cooperative Efforts After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita"

  Presenters include:
  Mike Liffman, NOAA/Sea Grant - Louisiana Sea Grant Extension Leader
  Rusty Gaude, NOAA/Sea Grant - Louisiana Sea Grant Extension Fisheries agent
  Eric Olsson, NOAA/Sea Grant - Washington Sea Grant Marine Oil Spill Prevention specialist
  Wayne and Nancy Weikel - private citizens and FEMA volunteers

  Abstract:
  In the days and months that followed the devastation of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf of Mexico region, NOAA Sea Grant was among the many NOAA partners that responded. As a national program, Sea Grant has the unique ability and university infrastructure to bring resources to bear from across the nation, and the post-hurricane response was no exception. This seminar will highlight Sea Grant's cooperative efforts in the Gulf and will touch on some of the numerous partnerships that made them possible, including work with FEMA and other agencies. One specific example that will be highlighted is the national effort that was led by Alaska Sea Grant, Washington Sea Grant, Louisiana Sea Grant, and private citizens to transport a ship travel lift from Alaska to the Gulf region.

• 2 pm: "Studying Bahamian ecological and human seascapes to model networks of marine protected areas in coral reef ecosystems" discussion by Dr. Dan Brumbaugh, Senior Conservation Scientist at the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (New York, NY). Sponsored by NOAA's Office of Education.

  Abstract:
  Little research to date has addressed how networks of ecologically-connected marine protected areas (MPAs) should be designed to function across realistic seascapes that include both natural and human dimensions. The Bahamas Biocomplexity Project (BBP; see http://bbp.amnh.org), a large collaborative project, was initiated to address this important need for integrated, interdisciplinary research in the context of recent management initiatives in The Bahamas. Drawing on approaches from oceanography, population genetics, ecology, anthropology, and economics, the BBP is integrating theory and data in statistical, analytical, and computational models about Bahamian coastal dynamics. Major areas of interest include the critical seascape dimensions for conservation planning and the crucial interactions and feedbacks among physical, biological, and social systems that can influence how marine protected areas (MPAs) and MPA  networks function. In The Bahamas, several lines of evidence, including variation in species-habitat relationships, population genetics, and sociopolitical considerations, suggest that primary conservation planning for coral reef ecosystems should occur at the scale of major islands. Data and models also suggest that MPA planning for biodiversity and fisheries objectives will benefit from greater consideration of the dynamic feedbacks that may result from the implementation of MPAs in ecological and human seascapes. This presentation provides an overview of certain BBP research objectives, approaches, and results about seascape structure and function and their significance for MPA planning across the Bahamian archipelago and, by extension, archipelagic coral reef ecosystems elsewhere.  The presentation will also highlight a few research and educational tools that have been produced by the AMNH and are available via the internet.

• 11/16/06 - "Riding the World’s Biggest Wave: Stories of the Survival and Recovery of People and the Marine Environment from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami" presented by Dwayne Meadows, Ph.D. Fishery Management Specialist, National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources

  Abstract:
  At the time of the 2004 tsunami Dwayne was a coral reef ecologist at the National Marine Fisheries Services’ Pacific Islands Fishery Science Center in Hawaii. After a three day SCUBA diving vacation trip, he stayed the night in Khao Lak, Thailand; the worst hit part of Thailand where 80% of the 10,000 deaths occurred. At the time of the tsunami he was in a bungalow 50 feet from the ocean. Our group of 1000 survivors was cut off from assistance for over one day. This presentation is the story of the survival and recovery of many heroic and inspirational people during those horrible those days. It is also the story of how the NOAA and professional medical and ecosystem restoration training he had was able to be used to aid the survivors and the country. After the tsunami Dwayne returned twice to Thailand to advise and assist in the process of marine debris removal from around sensitive coral reefs throughout Thailand, something he had experience with working for NOAA in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Dwayne will also discuss work he assisted in to restore hard and soft corals in some marine parks.

• 11/29/06 - "What Americans Really Think About Climate Change: Attitude Formation and Change in Response to a Raging Scientific Controversy," presented by Jon A. Krosnick, Professor in Humanities and Social Sciences, Stanford University. Many of Dr. Krosnick's publications can be viewed on his faculty website. Other articles:
  "American opinion on global warming: The impact of the Fall 1997 debate" appeared in the journal Public Understanding of Science, 2000, vol. 9, no. 3. Abstract is available for free.
  "The Origins and Consequences of democratic citizens' Policy Agendas: A Study of Popular Concern about Global Warming" appeared in the journal Climatic Change, July 2006, vol. 77, no. 1-2. Abstract is available for free.

Abstract:
During the past decade, many scientific experts have been frustrated by the American public's apparent indifference to climate change and the threats it may pose. Just a few weeks ago, a headline on newspapers across the country proclaimed: "Scientists and the American Public Disagree Sharply Over Global Warming." Is it really true? Do Americans really not yet accept the opinions of scientific experts on climate change? In this presentation, Professor Jon Krosnick will present findings from a series of national surveys that he has designed and conducted since 1996, tracking what Americans do and do not believe on this issue and what they do and do not want to have done about it. The survey results are surprising in many ways.

• Friday, December 8, 2006 - Library Holiday Extravaganza includes refreshments and the annual presentation by Jon Kermond of NOAA's Climate Office.
• Wednesday, December 13, at 11:30 a.m. - Brigadier General D.L. Johnson, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), Assistant Administrator for Weather Services and Director, NOAA National Weather Service, will present "Services Evolution: Evolving the National Weather Service Concept of Operations" in the NOAA Auditorium. View the Powerpoint Slides (pdf;2MB)

  Abstract: Our Nation's needs for weather, water, and climate information are evolving. The post-9/11, post-Hurricane Katrina environment requires robust climate and environmental/health services and public awareness efforts to prepare for and respond to manmade and natural disasters.

  The NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) of the future must provide greater value by being a flexible and efficient service organization that gives local forecast offices the freedom to focus on high-impact events, collaborates with other NOAA components and external partners, increases IMET-type support for events beyond fire weather, and maximizes the value of new science and technology.

The NWS is in the process of prototyping three Services Evolution Initiatives that will position the agency for the future and may lead to fundamental changes in the way the agency operates. Join General Johnson in this brown bag session to learn about the exciting period of discovery the agency is currently undertaking.

• Thursday, December 14 - Kimberly Davis and Mike Osmond of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)will present "WWF's Smart Gear International Competition" in NOAA Central Library at 12 noon.

  Abstract: WWF 's International Smart Gear Competition, created in 2004, brings together the fishing industry, research institutes, universities, and government, to inspire and reward practical, innovative fishing gear designs that reduce bycatch -the accidental catch and related deaths of sea turtles, birds, marine mammals, cetaceans and nontarget fish species in fishing gear such as longlines and nets. This most pressing threat to marine life needs a wide-ranging, multidisciplinary response, and WWF believes the Smart Gear competition will help catalyze that response by encouraging creative thinkers everywhere to share their ideas. Applicants are asked to submit their ideas for modified fishing gears and procedures that increase selectivity for target fish species and reduce bycatch for other species. The competition is open to eligible entrants from any background and a diverse group responded in the first year, including gear technologists, fishermen, engineers, chemists, and inventors. More than 50 entries were received from 16 countries during the first year of the competition. These entries were judged by an international panel made up of gear technologists, fisheries experts, representatives of the seafood industry, fishermen, scientists, researchers and conservationists. The competition awards a $25,000 first prize and two $5,000 runner-up prizes for the best ideas.

2007 Brown Bags

• Thursday, January 11, 2007 - Repeat Presentation! For those who missed this compelling eyewitness account of surviving the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, Dr. Dwayne Meadows, NOAA NMFS Office of Protected Resources , will present "Riding the Worlds Biggest Wave: Stories of the Survival and Recovery of People and the Marine Environment from the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami."
• Thursday, January 25, 2007 - Doctoral Student Joseph Bassi presented "How NOAA Got to Boulder", a discussion of the beginnings of the NOAA Boulder Laboratories.
• Thursday, February 1, 2007 - Author and former NOAA employee Sandy Burke discussed her new book, "Let the River Run Silver Again", an account of the saving of the shad fishery on the Potomac River and a guidebook for citizen participation in helping the recovery of endangered fisheries. This seminar was co-sponsored by the NOAA Office of Education.
• Monday, February 12, from 2:30 to 3:30 pm - Admiral Hector Soldi, Director of IMARPE in Lima, Peru (Peruvian Institute for Study of the Sea), presented a "The role of IMARPE in the management of the Peruvian Fisheries."

  Abstract: The ocean off the west coast of South America is notable because it produces more fish per unit area than any other region in the world oceans. However, this area is intimately linked to the ocean-atmosphere coupling over the tropical Pacific, and therefore subject to large year-to-year and decade-to-decade fluctuations in regional ocean climate. Operational fisheries management is the main role of IMARPE. This task is now evolving away from a monospecific to an "Ecosystem-Based" paradigm. This new approach appears to be particularly appropriate for the Humboldt or Peru Current System, where the uncertainty associated with high ocean variability and regime shifts represent major challenges for Ecology and Fisheries research. After many years of managing the main anchovy fisheries stocks in Peru, IMARPE has developed several tools using experience and existing models to manage this complex ocean ecosystem and its main fisheries. However, several conditions like the large fishing fleet and the impact of warm periods associated with El Nino in the anchovy stock are still important challenges in the management of the Peruvian Fisheries.

• Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - Presentation by Nolan Doesken and Henry Reges, of the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS). CoCoRaHS is a recipient of NOAA's Environmental Literacy Grants Program. This brown bag was sponsored by the NOAA Office of Education.

  Abstract: What do meteorologists, hydrologists, farmers, emergency managers, newspaper reporters, golfers and baseball players have in common? They all keep track of precipitation! Precipitation is one of the most important of all climate elements for daily life. Yet, precipitation varies tremendously from place to place and from month to month and year to year. These variations have widespread impacts. This seminar will describe a project where people of all ages, using very simple and low cost instruments, are helping scientists study storms and precipitation patterns. Volunteers provide valuable data for NOAA applications while learning directly about climate processes, impacts and research. Methods for measuring rain, hail and snow will be demonstrated, and CoCoRaHS results will be shown including precipitation patterns from recent storms.

• Thursday, March 1, 2007 - Doria Grimes, NOAA Central Library, presented "George Washington Carver – Voluntary Weather Observer."

  Abstract: From Nov. 1899 through Jan. 1932, daily weather observations were submitted from Tuskegee, Alabama, on government Form 1009 as part of the Cooperative Observer Program. Most of these daily observations were handwritten and signed by George Washington Carver. How was he able to execute daily weather observations in conjunction with his teaching, travel, and research activities with peanuts, pecans, soybeans, fertilizers, cotton, etc? Did he labor as meticulously with this data as he did with his agricultural products? Not really! A review of correspondence to and from Carver and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Weather Bureau reveal interesting facets of his personality and accomplishments during this period. The Tuskegee weather observations have been imaged and are now available online at http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/gw_carver_tuskegee/data_rescue_tuskegee_observations.html.

• Thursday, March 8, 2007 - Dr. Richard Langan, Director, University of New Hampshire Open Ocean Aquaculture Program, presented "Advancements in Open Ocean Aquaculture."

  Abstract: This presentation will review the current status, opportunities and challenges for further development of open ocean aquaculture in the U.S. Aquaculture development in the U.S. and worldwide is facing constraints on expansion in protected, near shore marine environments where sea conditions are favorable for surface-referenced culture. In some areas, the carrying capacity of embayments has been exceeded, while in others, concerns about environmental impacts, multiple use conflicts, and resistance by shorefront property owners has limited opportunities for growth. Moving culture operations to open ocean environments where more space is available and environmental impacts can be minimized has been proposed as a possible solution. While offshore waters offer ample opportunity for expansion, the high-energy environment of the open ocean presents significant technical and operational challenges, requiring new approaches to sea cage and shellfish farming. An additional factor for the U.S. is the recent federal government directive to implement ecosystem-based management. Therefore, in addition to overcoming the technical challenges, offshore aquaculture must be developed in a manner consistent with the goals of integrated coastal and ocean management.

• Wednesday, May 2, 2007 - Helen Wood, NOAA's GEOSS Integration Manager, presented "What is GEOSS and Why Do We Care?" Powerpoint presentation (pdf; 2.2MB) to accompany talk.

  Abstract: GEOSS stands for the Global Earth Observation System of Systems. The intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations (GEO) is leading a worldwide effort to build a GEOSS. This is an activity that NOAA and the United States initiated in 2003. Its purpose is to provide comprehensive, coordinated Earth observations from thousands of instruments worldwide, transforming the data they collect into vital information for society.

Since then over 65 governments and more than 40 international organizations have joined the activity from around the World. Back home, the US has formed a national, interagency planning and coordination committee, the "USGEO", that reports to the President's National Science and Technology Council. NOAA Administrator Conrad Lautenbacher is the US co chair of GEO. In June 2005 he named Helen Wood as the NOAA GEOSS Integration Manager. Earlier she served as Director of the Secretariat for the intergovernmental Group on Earth Observations, from its formation in 2003 until September 2005. Recently she was appointed co-chair of the USGEO.

• Thursday, May 3 - Dr. Scott Gende, ecologist of the Glacier Bay Field Station of Glacier Bay National Park discussed "The Whales and Cruise Ships of Glacier Bay".

  Abstract: With abundant marine wildlife and numerous tidewater glaciers, Glacier Bay National Park is a coveted destination for cruise ships in Alaska. On average, about 95% of the approximately 350,000 visitors per year that visit Glacier Bay arrive aboard cruise ships. Regulation of ship entries into the park is guided by the recently completed Vessel Quota and Operating Requirements Final EIS. The FEIS maintained the maximum of 2 ship entries per day, but allowed for an increase of up to 32% in the number of seasonal entries. The decision to allow for an increase in ship entries will be based, in part, on studies that examine the potential impacts that the increase may have on resources in the park. Dr. Gende will briefly describe mandates of the park and management of vessel traffic. He will also describe the suite of studies currently under way addressing potential impacts from cruise ships, including an effort intended to quantify the encounter rate (how often and how close) between cruise ships and humpback whales using data collected from shipboard observers. The encounter rate data will be folded into probabilistic-based models to estimate the probabilities of a ship strike under different conditions (locations within the park, whale densities, ship speed, weather, behavior of whales at time of encounter, etc.). Many of these studies are currently under way and thus the focus will be on describing their progress, methods, and types of effects examined.

• Wednesday, May 16 - Dr. John Cloud, NOAA Central Library Historian, will present "The Creme of American Cartography 'Greatest Hits' from the Coast and Geodetic Survey's Library and Archives Collection", a NOAA Heritage Seminar. Powerpoint Presentation.

  Abstract: Behind the charts published by NOAA there has always existed an understructure of precise geodetic networks and original manuscript maps and other data, which converge in the charts. NOAA's system traces back directly to practices developed by Ferdinand Hassler, A.D. Bache and their staffs in the 1830s and 1840s for the Survey of the Coast. For more than a century, all these elements were gathered in the Coast and Geodetic Survey's Library and Archives Collection. The Library remains, but the Archives were dispersed--until now! Highlights from the former Archives now in the National Archives have been scanned through NOAA's Climate Data Modernization Program (CDMP) and will be presented, including many rare original graphics unseen for decades. Amongst other matters, they reveal that today's "One NOAA" was fully functional in the 19th century.

• Thursday, May 17 - Ballard Maritime Academy students return! Don't miss this engaging presentation by 5 high school students from the Ballard Maritime Academy, Seattle, Washington. Students will discuss NOAA's role in supporting the academy, how students have benefited from the program, and an overview of the academy's curriculum and history. NOAA awards a grant each year to the academy to fund curriculum development and a trip to Washington, D.C. for 5 Ballard students and 2 teachers. This seminar was sponsored by NOAA Teacher at Sea Program.

• Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - "An Update on the Smithsonian Ocean Initiative/Ocean Hall" - presented by Fred Gorell of the NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration, Davida Remer and Mike Shelby of the NOS Special Projects Office.
• Thursday, May 24, 2007 - NOAA's National Marine Protected Areas Center - "MPAs and MPA Networks: Progress in the U.S. and Internationally." Annie Hillary, NOS Office of International Affairs and Joe Uravitch, Director, NOS, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National MPA Center. Powerpoint Presentation
• Tuesday June 5, 2007 - Mike Kelly of NOAA Fisheries presented "FishWatch and its Development." FishWatch is NOAA's new seafood consumer awareness program. Powerpoint presentation (pdf; 134 KB)
• Wednesday, June 13, 2007 - Dennis Donahue, Operations Director, NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab presented "Being Green While Studying the Blue." Powerpoint Presentation

  Abstract: Dennis Donahue, Operations Director, NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Laboratory, discussed how NOAA was able to convert three Great Lakes research vessels from petroleum-based products to bio-fuels and lubricants. Donahue's efforts resulted in a 2006 award from the U.S. Department of Energy and a 2007 White House Closing-the-Circle award. The conversion of the ships reduced costs and has a positive impact on the environment as well as provides a better work situation for the ships' crews and researchers. The Great Lakes laboratory's Ship Operations Group has focused their efforts on innovative ways to engineer, operate, and maintain these vessels to not only support scientific missions but to advance NOAA's larger mission as a steward of the marine environment. The work follows a 1998 Executive Order calling for the "greening" of Government agencies through waste reduction, recycling, and environmentally friendly and sustainable products, including bio-products.

• June 21, 2007 - Training offered on Endnote bibliographic software tool, presented by ISI Thomson Research Training Consultant. 2 classes will be offered in the morning and repeated in the afternoon.
  
  9:00 - 10:30 am - Introduction to Endnote and How to Create an Endnote Library
  10:45 - 12:15 noon - Using Endnote in Microsoft Word; Searching an Endnote Library; Create a Subject Bibliography
  1:00 - 2:30 pm - Introduction to Endnote and How to Create an Endnote Library
  2:45 - 4:15 pm - Using Endnote in Microsoft Word; Searching an Endnote Library; Create a Subject Bibliography
  Please R.S.V.P. to Mary.Lou.Cumberpatch@noaa.gov, 713-2600 ext 129.

  NOAA has an agency-wide site license for these applications. Visit the NOAA IT Electronic Store (NITES) web site's "NOAA Site License with ISI ResearchSoft for Bibliographic Management Tools" page: http://www.nites.noaa.gov/bpa/display.asp?bpaID=6. These tools are great for program or office-wide sharing of citations, documents, and images. Network and web versions are available.

• June 27, 2007 - Guifang (Julia) Xue, Law of the Sea Institute, Ocean University of China, presented "Cooperative Management for the Shared Fisheries Resources of the China Seas." Sponsored by NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology.
  Powerpoint Presentation
  Abstract: The Yellow Sea and East China Sea (China Seas) are semi-enclosed seas where the fish stocks are mainly shared among China, Japan, and South Korea (the China Seas states). The shared nature of fish stocks makes their conservation and management difficult, and efforts by any single state are incomplete and ineffective. The LOSC grants coastal states sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the resources of their EEZs, but the China Seas states have not reached agreement on their EEZs boundaries due to overlapping claims. Fisheries disputes have been common and the cooperative management of the shared resources needs to be promoted. The seminar will firstly review: 1) the existing bilateral fisheries agreements between China and Japan, and China and South Korea; 2) the necessity for cooperative management of the shared resources and the LOSC frameworks applicable to such cooperation; and 3) the challenges from a Chinese perspective. The second part of the seminar will provide a case study of fisheries co-operation between China and Vietnam for the Gulf of Tonkin. It will review the management measures pertaining to the Agreed Zones under the Agreement, and will highlight the achievements of the Agreement and pinpoints the crucial role of implementation to the success of the fisheries co-operation.
• Friday, July 13, 2007 - "NOAA's Virtual World: Experiencing the Edge of Space to the Bottom of the Ocean" presented by Eric Hackathorne of NOAA's Earth Systems Research Laboratory.

  Abstract:
  Soar through a hurricane on the wing of a research aircraft, rise gently through the atmosphere atop a weather balloon or search for hidden underwater cave on a side trip from a NOAA submersible. These and other virtual adventures are attracting large numbers of "avatars," or virtual selves, to one of the first government-sponsored, Earth-science "island" in the rapidly growing online world Second Life. The NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory developed the site for visitors to collectively share experiences in a virtual world they may not have in the physical world, and learn about the cutting-edge science that NOAA conducts regularly. Eric Hackathorn is the chief architect for NOAA's virtual world and will present an overview of the project. He and his much handsomer counterpart Hackshaven Harford (a virtual representation of himself) will discuss their vision of how NOAA could potentially use this technology in its future infrastructure.

  Video - Tour NOAA's Virtual Island: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=is8YX32GAyQ
  More information: NOAA's ESRL Virtual World website

• July 19, 2007 - Dr. Ed Miles, Professor of Marine Affairs and Public Affairs at the University of Washington, Seattle, presented "Climate Impacts on the World Ocean: The Challenge of Multiple Stresses."
• 08/09/07 - 12:00 - 2:00 ET- An Inconvenient Truth (NOAA Auditorium, SSMC5)
  

• 08/23/07 - Laura Taylor Singer of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute presented "New England’s Marine Resource Education Program - Bridging the Gap among Fishermen, Scientists and Managers."

  Abstract:
  It has been widely acknowledged that the complex system of fisheries science and management is difficult for many fishermen and others to navigate. Fishermen attending fishery management council meetings, serving as advisors to the management processes, or partnering in collaborative research, require baseline information to be effective in their roles. In addition to information challenges, there are cultural differences among those interested in fisheries management. Often, the issues that arise in a management setting are based on a lack of understanding and trust. In New England, the Marine Resource Education Program (MREP) was created by fishery activists in the region to address these issues. The curriculum, tailored specifically for fishermen and relevant stakeholder groups, covers two topic areas: a three-day Fishery Science Module, followed by a three-day Fishery Management Module. MREP has become a recognized training program for fishermen, managers, scientists and environmentalists in the region and has recently gained national interest.

• Friday, September 7 - Dr. Steven Swartz, NOAA Fisheries'Office of Science and Technology Marine Ecosystems Division, presented "Sentinals of the Sea: Gray Whales' Response to Climate Change" - Powerpoint slides
• Monday, September 10 - Celeste Leroux, a graduate student at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences and the Alaska Sea Grant College Program, presentd an "Introduction to the Alaska King Crab Research, Rehabilitation & Biology Program." - Powerpoint slides
• Friday, September 14, 2007 the NOAA Central Library will present a NOAA Heritage Seminar "The Age of the BLAKE" by Thomas Jackson of the NOS Office of Coast Survey. NOTE! The seminar will be held in the Fourth Floor Conference Room of SSMC #3 between 10 A.M. and 11 A.M.

  Abstract:
  The Coast and Geodetic Survey Steamer BLAKE was among the most innovative and prolific of Nineteenth Century oceanographic research vessels. Besides holding records for number of deep sea soundings taken by any oceanographic ship of the era, it also pioneered: 1) the use of steel rope (as opposed to hemp rope) for over-the-side operations; 2) deep-sea anchoring; 3) piano-wire deep sea sounding technologies; and 3) data presentation techniques such as 3-D seafloor diagrams. The BLAKE conducted research along the Atlantic coast of the United States, in the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea and is commemorated by the name Blake Plateau off the southeast United States and such names as the Sigsbee Escarpment, named for its most famous captain, in the Gulf of Mexico. A scale model of the Blake will be on display that was constructed by Mr. Jackson.

• Wednesday, September 19 - Zdenka Willis, director of NOAA's Integrated Ocean Observation System (IOOS) Program presented an overview of the program.
  Powerpoint slides
• Thursday, September 20 - Dr. John M. Miller of NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory presented the "Science and the Cold War."
• Thursday, October 11 - Kevin H. Amos, Aquatic Animal Health Coordinator, NOAA Aquaculture Program, presented "Disease Interactions between Farmed and Wild Fish – Fact and Fiction."
  Abstract: Although farmed seafood is a safe and healthy choice for U.S. consumers, concerns have been raised about potentially negative environmental impacts associated with aquaculture operations. Concerns usually focus on marine finfish cultured in nets in costal areas, or cages in the open ocean. This presentation will separate fact from fiction when it comes to disease interactions between farmed and wild fish.
  Powerpoint slides
• Thursday, October 18 - Tim Owen, NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, presented an overview of the U.S. Drought Portal (drought.gov), the new U.S. interagency portal providing critical and updated information on drought to stakeholders.
  Abstract: Drought.gov is an integral element of the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS). Championed by the Western Governors' Association (WGA), NIDIS was established by federal legislation in 2006. NIDIS is a dynamic and accessible drought risk information system that provides users with the ability to determine the potential impacts of drought, and the decision suppport tools needed to better prepare for and mitigate the effects of drought. The U.S. Drought portal will utilize common data and metadata standards to assure optimal interoperability as well as leveraging the Federal Enterprise Architecture (FEA).
  Powerpoint slides
• Friday, 19 October - Dave Hardy, of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service Systematics Laboratory at the Smithsonian, presented "Why study biodiversity? An example from the Island of Tobago, West Indies." This was a joint NODC-NOAA Central Library seminar.
  Abstract: Since 1962 Dave has been conducting a study of bodiversity on the Island of Tobago, West Indies. This effort has resulted in the discovery of 52 new taxa (1 family, 2 genera, and 52 new species). During the same time period (1962 to present), ten species (5 birds, 3 reptiles, 1 mammal, and 1 crustacean) have apparently become extint on the Island. The impact of extinction on the environment will probably not be fully understood until we have identified as many un-discovered species as possible. There is thus an urgent need for in-depth studies of biodiversity not only in Tobago, but throughout the World.
  Powerpoint Slides
• Thursday, November 1 - Dr. Thomas S. Lowry, Senior Member of the Technical Staff, Sandia National Laboratories, presented "Converting Information into Insight: A Multi-Platform Decision Support Tool for Systems Level Management".
  Abstract: The Computer Assisted Dispute Resolution system (CADRe) is a web-based tool that offers a single, unified framework and system architecture capable of serving as the cornerstone for communicating results of science-based analyses. Initially built and tested through an interactive stakeholder process to aid in public-mediated water resource planning in the central Texas region, CADRe is designed to support shared vision planning processes. CADRe is a core modeling and negotiation system that combines spatially explicit numerical models, system dynamics models, and a tabu meta-heuristic search algorithm to maximize outcomes from participatory dialogues by turning detailed information into systems level insight; facilitating group decisions concerning complex, integrated systems.
  Powerpoint slides

Tuesday, November 27 - Pam Rubinoff, Coastal Management Extension Specialist, University of Rhode Island Sea Grant program, and Lynn Richards, Senior Policy Analyst EPA Smart Growth program, will discuss "Waterfront Smart Growth Elements".
Abstract:
In 1996, the Smart Growth Network developed 10 Smart Growth Principles based on the characteristics of communities considered to be thriving, diverse and successful. The 10 principles, however, do not directly address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by coastal and waterfront communities. To help fill this gap, an EPA-NOAA Sea Grant collaborative team drafted additional waterfront and coastal smart growth elements. The waterfront and coastal smart growth elements distill waterfront-related aspects of the smart growth principles, providing context-sensitive development approaches to help communities address their unique waterfront characteristics. Like the smart growth principles, these elements are intended as guidelines for communities to consider incorporating into new development projects, or as retrofits to existing development. Coastal and waterfront communities across the U.S. have found they achieve better economic, environmental, community and public health outcomes by incorporating aspects of these 10 elements. The elements provide guidance for communities, helping them highlight their natural assets in order to create great locations for residents and visitors alike.
Link: University of Rhode Island Sea Grant
Powerpoint slides (ppt, 33 MB)

Thursday, December 13 at 11:30 - Annual Holiday Brown Bag Seminar featuring NOAA Administrator Vice Admiral Lautenbacher and the "One NOAA Holiday Band and Chorus." Please join library staff in enjoying treats, coffee, and the holiday spirit. NOTE: To be held in SSMC#3, Conference Room #4527.
Abstract:
On December 13, NOAA’s Administrator, Vice Admiral Lautenbacher will present “Positioning NOAA for Tomorrow's Opportunities” as part of the NOAA Central Library’s brown bag luncheon series. Come join VADM Lautenbacher as he shares his thoughts on how NOAA has evolved during his tenure and how NOAA can be prepared for the transition from his administration to the next. He will highlight many of NOAA’s recent accomplishments and discuss some of the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead for NOAA.

2008 Brown Bags

• Thursday, January 10 - Dr. John M. Miller of NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory spoke about the 50th Anniversary of NOAA's Mauna Loa Observatory. The Observatory is located on the north flank of Mauna Loa Volcano, on the Big Island of Hawaii. The observatory is best known for its measurements of rising anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in the atmosphere. This trend is sometimes referred to as the "Keeling Curve" or "Mauna Loa Curve."

Thursday, February 7
Dr. Dwayne Meadows of NOAA Fisheries made a presentation on shipwrecks of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands as part of NOAA Heritage Week. This seminar will take place in the NOAA Central Library.

Friday, February 15
CoCoRaHS, the Communty Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network! presented by Henry Reges and Nolan Doesken of Colorado State.

Abstract: What do meteorologists, hydrologists, farmers, emergency managers, newspaper reporters, golfers and baseball players have in common? They all keep track of precipitation! Precipitation is one of the most important of all climate elements for daily life. Yet, precipitation varies tremendously from place to place and from month to month and year to year. These variations have widespread impacts. This seminar will describe a project where people of all ages, using very simple and low cost instruments, are helping scientists study storms and precipitation patterns. Volunteers provide valuable data for NOAA applications while learning directly about climate processes, impacts and research. Methods for measuring rain, hail and snow will be demonstrated, and CoCoRaHS results will be shown including precipitation patterns from recent storms.

Henry Reges is the National Coordinator for CoCoRaHS at Colorado State University. He was formerly with the American Meteorological Society in Boston, MA. Nolan Doesken is the State Climatologist for Colorado and has worked for the Colorado Climate Center at Colorado State University since 1977. He initiated the CoCoRaHS project after an extremely localized storm in 1997 dropped over 14 inches (350 mm) of rain near his home but was not well detected by existing observing systems. Nolan Doesken has worked closely with National Weather Service headquarters on several snow measurement projects.

Wednesday, March 5
Dr. Gunnar Knapp, University of Alaska-Anchorage presented "Implications of Aquaculture for Wild Fisheries: The Case of Alaska Wild Salmon."

Abstract:

Worldwide aquaculture production is growing rapidly. The experience of Alaska wild salmon suggests that aquaculture may have significant and wide-ranging potential implications for wild fisheries. Salmon farming exposed wild salmon’s natural monopoly to competition, expanding supply and driving down prices. Wild salmon has faced both inherent as well as self-inflicted challenges in competing with farmed salmon. The economic pressures caused by competition from farmed salmon have been painful and difficult for the wild salmon industry, fishermen and communities. However, these pressures have contributed to changes which have helped make the salmon industry more economically viable. Farmed salmon has greatly expanded the market and created new market opportunities for wild salmon. Farmed salmon has benefited consumers by lowering prices, expanding supply, developing new products, and improving quality of both farmed and wild salmon. Salmon farming has had no apparent direct effects on Alaska wild salmon resources, but could have indirect effects on wild salmon resources which might be positive or negative. The experience of Alaska wild salmon suggests that anyone interested in wild fisheries should pay close attention to what is happening in aquaculture. No wild fishery market—especially for higher valued species—should be taken for granted.

Tuesday, March 11
Dr. Daniel R. Brooks, Professor, Department of Zoology, University of Toronto and Fellow, Royal Society of Canada, will present "Emerging Infectious Diseases: Evolutionary Accidents Waiting to Happen." Sponsored by NOAA Restoration Center.

Powerpoint slides

Abstract:

Today’s bio-diversity crisis is not just one of lost habitats and extinct species. It is also a crisis of emerging infectious diseases (EID’s), such as HIV in humans, Ebola in humans and gorillas, West Nile virus and Avian Influenza in humans and birds, chytrid fungi in amphibians, and distemper in sea lions. There is every reason to take these events seriously, because EID’s appear to have a long evolutionary history. Geographical restriction and specialized transmission mean that in most time periods, most pathogens occur in a small number of host species, often only one, but retain the ability to infect more. However, climate change alters everything. Species move out of their areas of origin and ecosystems change. Pathogens come into contact with susceptible hosts that they have never before encountered, and that never had the opportunity to evolve resistance. As a result, EID’s are not just possible; they are inevitable. Indeed, every episode of climate change has produced them. If EID’s were rare, management through crisis response might be cost-effective. But EID’s are not rare at all. Rather, they are a common outcome of geographic dispersal associated with large-scale environmental changes.

We face a potential crisis, however, that stems from our fundamental ignorance about the biosphere, for it is impossible to be proactive about species of pathogens whose existence has not been documented. This makes many pathogens “evolutionary land mines” awaiting us as we relocate to novel habitats, move species around, and alter existing ecosystems. Nevertheless, most resources are still being allocated for responses to known EID’s rather than to assessing the risk of potential EID’s. Simply put, we must complete the global inventory of pathogenic species. Now. The question is whether we find them before they find us.

About the Speaker: Professor Daniel R. Brooks is a parasitologist of world renown and teaches in the Department of Zoology at the University of Toronto, Ontario, CANADA. He was conferred the honor of Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 2004 and has received numerous awards and honors for his research contributions from organizations and institutions of higher learning in Canada, the U.S., and other countries. He has conducted research in Canada, the U.S., Colombia, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil,, Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Ecuador. In addition to his teaching and mentoring duties at U.T., he is coordinator of the Inventory of Eukaryotic Parasites of Vertebrates in the Area de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica, a World Heritage Site. He studies parasites in many countries and is interested in the dynamics of emerging infectious diseases around the world. He is currently amassing a database of parasites which will contain all published phylogenetic trees for parasitic helminths (worms) of vertebrates (including DNA information), in an effort to recognize, predict, and prevent parasitic infestations in humans in the future. He views unknown parasites and pathogens as “evolutionary land mines” awaiting us as we relocate to novel habitats, move species around, and alter existing ecosystems.

Thursday, March 20 from 11:30 - 1:00
The key speaker was G. Carlton Ray, a research professor from the University of Virginia. Professor Ray has years of experience monitoring Arctic populations of marine mammals and their habitats. He will speak on how "Climate Change Places Ice-Dependent Beringian Mammals At Risk."
Powerpoint Slides (all images are copyrighted)

Friday, March 21 at 12 noon
Dr. Brandon Southall Director, NOAA Ocean Acoustics Program, presented "Behavioral Response Study (BRS) of Deep-Diving Cetaceans in Tongue of the Ocean, Bahamas."

Abstract: Initial results are reported from a study designed to provide science-based approaches for mitigating risk of sonar to beaked and other whales. The study on beaked and other whale behavioral responses to mid-frequency sonar and other sounds was conducted at the AUTEC range near Andros Island, Bahamas, where Blainvilles beaked whales (/Mesoplodon densirostris/) can regularly be detected using passive acoustic monitoring of their echolocation clicks. Tags recorded sound at the whale and behavior of the whale. Data were collected from 10 tags; 6 on Blainvilles beaked whales, 4 on pilot whales. 109 hours of data were collected from tags; 74h from beaked whales; 34h from pilot whales. Playbacks of mid-frequency sonar and killer whale sounds were performed on 1 tagged beaked whale and 2 tagged pilot whales.The tagged beaked whale responded to both sonar and killer whale sounds by premature cessation of clicking during foraging dives (RL = ~117 dB re 1 µPa for the killer whale sound, ~145 dB for the sonar), with unusually slow and long ascents. Following the two exposures, the beaked whale exhibited sustained and directed avoidance of the area for at least 10 hours.

Thursday, April 10 at 11:30 am
"Exploration of Hudson Submarine Canyon Region Offshore New York and New Jersey" presented by Peter A. Rona, Ph.D., Professor of Marine Geology and Geophysics, Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University.

Thursday, April 10 at 12:45 pm
"Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary as a Case Study for Characterizing and Managing Regional Underwater Noise Budgets" presented by Dr. Leila Hatch, Regional Marine Bioacoustic Coordinator for Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary.

Wednesday, April 16 at 12 noon
"The IPCC Assessment Process: Future Projections of Climate Change" presented by Ronald J. Stouffer, Senior Research Meteorologist, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory
About the speaker: Ronald J. Stouffer is a senior research meteorologist in the Climate Dynamics Group of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), Princeton, NJ, a federal research laboratory within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Stouffer is one of the leading climate modelers in the world, and uses complex numerical models to study and predict the behavior of the earth's climate system. Because of his scientific contributions to climate research over the past two decades, he has been a central contributor to each of the assessment reports for the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) and has been a chapter author for the three most recent reports.
Powerpoint slides (MS Powerpoint, 10,169 KB; download free Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer)

Thursday, April 17 at 12 noon
"Bottom-up control of the eastern Bering Sea ecosystem: implications for integrated ecosystem assessment during a period of climate change" presented by Dr. Jeffrey Napp from the Alaska Fisheries Science Center and Dr. Phyllis Stabeno from the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory.
Powerpoint slides (MS Powerpoint, 68,840 KB; download free Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer)

Abstract: The eastern Bering Sea is responding to climate change which is having a profound impact on all levels of the food chain, including commercial and protected species and humans. Changes in the presence of sea ice (timing, extent, and thickness) impacts the heat content and stratification of the water column, nutrient supplies, the timing and magnitude of the spring bloom, zooplankton biomass and species composition, and fish distributions. NOAA’s North Pacific Climate Regimes and Ecosystem Productivity program (NPCREP) is working with academic and other partners to measure and quantify these changes and synthesize the results. Our research will provide key observations and the understanding necessary to infer how future changes in climate will impact the abundance and production of ecosystem goods and services.

Wednesday, April 23 at 12 noon
Dr. John Everett, formerly Chief of the Division of Research of NOAA Fisheries, will present " Going Against the Flow - Non-Conventional Wisdom in the Management of Fisheries." Dr. Everett will discuss his findings concerning the menhaden fisheries and the effects of scallop dredging.
Powerpoint Slides (MS Powerpoint, 68,840 KB; download free Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer)

Wednesday, April 30 at 12 noon
Darin Figurskey, NWS MIC, Raleigh, NC spoke on Sea Grant’s role and relationship with the "NOAA in the Carolinas" effort and the initiative’s continued success, while Suzanne Van Cooten, NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) will discuss the development of the Coastal & Inland Flood Observation and Warning (CI-FLOW). Sponsored by the NOAA SeaGrant Program.
Powerpoint Slides - NOAA in the Carolinas
Powerpoint Slides - CI-FlOW

Abstract: The programs of the national Sea Grant network partner with other NOAA programs and offices throughout the country in many ways. In an effort to formalize and better facilitate such relationships, the "NOAA in the Carolinas" initiative was launched to promote regional partnership development, coordination, and communication among NOAA programs.

Two speakers discussed "NOAA in the Carolinas" and some of its successes on April 30th at the Ralph Rayburn Beltway Brown Bag seminar, which will take place at noon in the NOAA Library, second floor of SSMC 3. Darin Figurskey, NWS MIC, Raleigh, NC will speak on Sea Grant’s role and relationship with the "NOAA in the Carolinas" effort and the initiative’s continued success, while Suzanne Van Cooten, NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) will discuss the development of the Coastal & Inland Flood Observation and Warning (CI-FLOW), which began after the massive flooding associated with Hurricane Floyd in North and South Carolina. The research staff at NSSL in Norman, Oklahoma along with a Sea Grant network outreach team began working on CI-FLOW in 2000 to create a "mountains to the sea" precipitation, flood and surge observing system to better monitor, model and ultimately forecast, in association with the NOAA NWS, inland flooding and storm surge often associated with tropical storm systems.

"NOAA in the Carolinas" was conceived in 2004 by the North Carolina Sea Grant program as a way to demonstrate NOAA’s presence in the state and highlight how NOAA offices cooperate and collaborate with each other across the region. All of these relationships pre-date "One NOAA" and clearly demonstrate how programs do and must continue to work together to achieve mutual goals. Four successive annual meetings have been conducted and the effort is now formally associated with NOAA’s regional program in the southeast-- SECART.

Thursday, May 1 at 12 noon
Sebastian Belle, Executive Director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, presented "Lessons Learned for Aquaculture in Maine." Sponsored by the NOAA Aquaculture program.

Abstract: Maine has the most extensive and diverse marine aquaculture sector of any state in the nation. Maine also has some of the strictest aquaculture environmental regulations and monitoring requirements in the world. Based on farm gate sales – worth over $80 million dollars annually – Maine has been the number one marine aquaculture state for 10 of the last 15 years. On a per acre basis, farm raised salmon, oysters, mussels, and baitfish are the most valuable agricultural crops raised in Maine. But, like any human activity, aquaculture involves risk and can have environmental impacts. The Maine Aquaculture Association and its member growers are widely recognized as pioneers in the development of innovative and sustainable farming methods designed to enhance their stewardship of Maine's marine environments. Through a 14-point set of environmental guiding principles, cooperative bay management and a comprehensive code of practice, Maine’s aquatic farmers are leading the way in a new, environmentally sustainable way to produce seafood. With good science, political will and technical expertise, achieving a balance between conservation and economic development has been possible in Maine.

Speaker Bio: Sebastian Belle is the Executive Director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, the oldest state aquaculture association in the country. He has been working in commercial fishing and aquaculture for over 30 years. He has worked in 14 different countries growing over 15 species using a number of different production methods.

Monday, May 12 at 12 noon
Ballard Maritime Academy students return! Don't miss this engaging presentation by 5 high school students from the Ballard Maritime Academy, Seattle, Washington. Students will discuss how they have benefited from the program, an overview of the academy's curriculum, and how NOAA plays a role in supporting the academy. There will be a game at the end...with prizes!

Wednesday, May 21
Dr. Eddie Bernard, Director of NOAA's OAR Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, will present ""The 3 things you need to know about tsunamis".

Tuesday, June 3
Tom Knutson, a research meteorologist at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, New Jersey, presesnted "Have Humans Affected Atlantic Hurricane Climate?"
Powerpoint Slides(MS Powerpoint, 6.33 MB; download free Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer)
Audio (mp3, 66 MB; download free Windows Media Player)

Wednesday, June 11
Author/Illustrator Taylor Morrison presented "Illustrating and Interpreting NOAA's Work for Kids"
Powerpoint slides (MS Powerpoint; download free Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer)
Abstract:
This presentation by award winning author Taylor Morrison explained the process behind researching and writing science books for children and painting the accompanying book illustrations. Topics include five books on NOAA and it's rich history of Geodetic Surveying, Nautical Charts, Tsunami Warnings, Fire Weather, Tides, and Fisheries. Taylor has given many presentations around the country at many elementary and middle schools to raise awareness about NOAA and its programs. Mr. Morrison has published 10 books since 1996. Awards include Natural History Magazine best books of 2007,The Boston Globe Horn Book Award for Children's non-fiction 2006, The Texas Blue Bonnet Award 2002, The Society of Illustrators Book Art Award 1997, Smithsonian Magazine best books of 1998, Los Angeles Times Best Books of 2000, Award from the Secretary of The State of Washington for The Coast Mappers, and many others.

Thursday, June 12
John S. Friedman will present a discussion of his new book "Out of the Blue: A history of lightning, science, superstition, and amazing stories of survival."

Friday, June 13 at 11:00 am
Mary Glackin, Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, presented "The Transition: Challenges and Opportunities" a "OneNOAA Science Discussion Seminar".
Presentation (pdf)
Abstract:
The topic of the transition between Administrations is front and center on many people’s minds. During the seminar I will provide an overview of the changes we expect to see over the next year and address the proactive measures that NOAA is taking to capitalize on the opportunities associated with these changes. Specific topics to be discussed include: personnel changes; priority issues for the public; NOAA’s external environment; and leadership priorities.

Wednesday, June 25th
Dr. Jack Harlan from NOS/ASTADM will discuss high frequency radar and mapping coastal currents.
Abstract:
This seminar will give participants an in-depth look at High Frequency Radar (HFR) - a technology for measuring ocean surface current velocities (speed and direction) and surface waves in near real time. This information can be used during search and rescue operations to track the probable path of victims and drifting ships. HFR data can also be used to support oil spill response, harmful algal bloom monitoring, and assessment of coastal water quality. The information can additionally provide value in ecosystem assessment and fisheries management, when evaluated retrospectively.

Unlike many other techniques, HFR is unaffected by weather conditions such as clouds, fog or precipitation. Because its signal hugs the ocean’s surface, and is conducted by it, HFR can observe the ocean at distances far beyond the line-of-sight (distances often exceed 200 km). Also, this surface-hugging mode makes the placement of HFRs more flexible, in that they can be located almost anywhere along the shoreline. By combining data from two HFRs, a two-dimensional map of surface currents can be produced, spanning thousands of square kilometers.

Currently, about 100 HFRs are operating on US coastlines. Nearly all are owned by research universities working in partnership with NOAA IOOS. NOAA’s current HFR efforts are led by the IOOS Program in partnerships with NOS/CO-OPS and NWS/NDBC. This technology was developed in the 1970’s and 1980’s in a NOAA Research laboratory in Boulder, Colorado and was referred to as Coastal Ocean Dynamics Applications Radar (CODAR). After that development, a commercial company was spun off that markets the HFRs under the name CODAR Ocean Sensors SeaSondes®. More than 90 percent of the HFRs in the US are of the CODAR type. The seminar will give an HFR overview including details on the national HFR data server and management system, regional capabilities and future plans.

Thursday, June 26
Dr. Jawed Hameedi, NOS/NCCOS/Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, will present "We and Nitrogen: Explosives to Eutrophication".
Powerpoint slides
Abstract:
For centuries, availability of the naturally-occurring, reactive forms of nitrogen have significantly influenced human behavior and societies through festivals, agricultural ingenuity, global trade, resource-use conflicts and war. Key milestones during this odyssey have included impromptu discovery of crackling bamboos (B.C.); protracted but initially accidental invention of gunpowder (600 to 900 A.D.); a well-designed, progressive and benevolent system of crop rotation, engineered irrigation, and cash-marketing for crops (8th to 13th centuries); and the very elegant and momentous Haber-Bosch process of nitrogen fixation (1909-13). Global use of nitrogen in recent years has become unprecedented and is largely responsible for nutrient over-enrichment in coastal bays and estuaries. Nitrogen pollution is largely a consequence of increasing biological production in order to feed the human population along with emissions of millions of tons of nitrogen oxides from combustion of fossil fuel, high density animal farming, industrial processes, and natural sources. Despite provisions in federal legislation and agency directives during the past three decades, there are no numerical criteria to limit nitrogen input to coastal bays and estuaries. In part, this is due to nitrogen’s occurrence in various chemical forms and cycling in different parts of the environment. It is also due to its many effects, which include unsafe drinking water, soil acidity, smog, ozone depletion, eutrophication, and greenhouse warming. This presentation also points out certain limitations in understanding nitrogen deposition and budgets in the biosphere. They include knowledge of the structure and activity of the enzyme nitrogenase, scenarios of carbon sequestration in forests, significance of nitrogen fixation in the ocean, release of carbon dioxide from bogs and wetlands, ocean acidification, and whether nitrogen is the limiting nutrient in the sea.

Wednesday, July 2
Dr. Robert Simpson Will Be Honored as a NOAA Environmental Hero for 2008
Dr. Simpson will be presented the 2008 NOAA Environmental Hero Award for Longtime Achievement by Dr. Richard Spinrad, NOAA assistant administrator for oceanic and atmospheric research. Following the presentation, Dr. Simpson will give remarks "Remembering Mauna Loa".
Many are familiar with Dr. Simpson as the other half of the Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale. But few know that the idea to locate an atmospheric observatory high atop a Hawaiian volcano was his as well. Because of that vision which also gave us the iconic Keeling Curve showing the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, Dr. Simpson will receive the 2008 NOAA Environmental Hero Award for Longtime Achievement.
More information: NOAA Press Release

Thursday, July 17th at 12 noon
Zdenka Willis, Director of NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) program, will present "IOOS: Our Eyes on the Oceans, Coasts, and Great Lakes."
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract:
As "our eyes on the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes", the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is a tool for tracking, predicting, managing, and adapting to changes in our marine environment. IOOS delivers the data and information needed to increase our understanding of our waters, so decision makers can take action to improve safety, enhance the economy, and protect the environment.

NOAA is proud to lead a national partnership of 17 federal agencies and 11 regions working together to link marine data in an easy-to-use standard format that will provide users with a composite picture of our nation's waters in an accurate and timely manner. This seminar will discuss some of the complexities of the national IOOS efforts, what NOAA and its partners are doing to integrate our ocean and coastal data, and IOOS benefits to data users, the general public, and the nation.

Thursday, July 24 at 12 noon

Marine Policy Issues: First in a Series of Panel Presentations given by Knauss Sea Grant Fellows

Anatomy of a Good Policy: Legislation & Community management of Marine Resources in West Hawaii
Powerpoint slides (pdf)
Presented by Paulo Maurin, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program:

Abstract: This presentation examines Act 306, which went into effect in 1998 and established large Fish Replenishment Areas in West Hawaii. The Act was a response to increasing aquarium fish collecting activities and local community concern over exploitation of the Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens). The research reexamines tropical aquarium fish collecting patterns in the area and presents key policy and management elements that implemented the West Hawaii Fisheries Council, a successful and sustained structure for the co-management of local marine resources involving fish collectors, government, university and grassroots organizations.

The Proposed Oregon Coast National Marine Sanctuary: A Case Study in Marine Management
Powerpoint slides (pdf)
Presented by Christopher Holmes, Office of Policy, NOAA Fisheries:

In late 2005, Governor Ted Kulongoski proposed that the Oregon Ocean Stewardship Area should be designated a National Marine Sanctuary. He then consulted with the Oregon Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC), and asked that body to determine the feasibility, extent and public support for his proposal. This presentation will examine the background, objectives and progression of the proposal as it developed since its inception. The policy process will be compared to models offered by Kingdon (1995) and Sabatier & Mazmanian (1983).

Examining Effectiveness in Regional Ocean Governance Regimes
Powerpoint slides (pdf)
Presented by Kateryna M. Wowk, NOAA National Marine Protected Areas Center:

Abstract: The research examines regional ocean governance regimes including the United Nations Environment Programme’s Regional Seas Programmes and efforts underway by the Global Environment Facility, International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in managing Large Marine Ecosystems and linked watersheds. The research applies international relations theory, and specifically regime theory, to expand the knowledge base regarding the formation, dynamics and effectiveness of such regimes in an effort to understand when, how and why they work, or conversely, fail.

Tuesday, August 5 at 12 noon
AUVfest 2008: Navy Mine-Hunting Robots help NOAA Explore Sunken History

Abstract: Come and see a High-Def Documentary Film on the Partnership between Office of Naval Research, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research, and the Naval Undersea Warfare Center. Learn more about the "fest" at http://www.oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/explorations/08auvfest/welcome.html.

Thursday, August 7 at 12 noon
Chesapeake Bay Studies: Second in a Series of Panel Presentations given by Knauss Sea Grant Fellows

Microbial Carbon and Nitrogen Cycling in Euphotic Estuarine Sediments: A Case Study from Chesapeake Bay
Presented by Frank M. Parker, Office of the Assistant Administrator, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
Powerpoint slides

Abstract:Understanding fundamental relationships with respect to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) flows in estuarine sediments is critical if we are going to mitigate the effects of eutrophication caused by increased N loading to coastal systems. Given the shallow nature of estuaries, a large fraction of the benthos may lie within the photic zone (e.g., ~ 21 % of the Chesapeake Bay is < 2 m deep) and account for as much as half of total estuarine primary production. Here I present results from seasonal dual stable isotopic tracer (DI13C and 15NH4+) experiments that quantify benthic microbial production (e.g., bacteria and benthic microalgae) in terms of C and N, partition that production between water column and porewater nutrient sources in the light and dark, and trace the fate of that production into secondary consumers. Results show that euphotic sediment microbes are an important link in estuarine benthic-pelagic coupling, benthic microalgae play a critical role in the euphotic sediment microbial loop, and benthic bacteria are the dominant microbial pool for C and N immobilization into biomass.

Laurie McGilvray, Chief, Estuarine Reserves Division, NOS Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, provided an overview of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System and the Graduate Research Fellows Program.

Thursday, August 28
Third in a Series of Panel Presentations given by Knauss Sea Grant Fellows

Sea Grant Fellow Marselle Alexander-Ozinskas, Legislative Assistant to Congresswoman Boradallo, will present "Denitrification Contributes to Nitrogen Loss in Fertilized Arctic Tundra Sites". Sea Grant Fellow Ed Gorecki, Office of the Assistant Administrator, NOAA Fisheries Service, will present "Back from the Beach: A Quantitative Analysis of Beachfront Values and Tax Base".

Abstracts:
DENITRIFICATION CONTRIBUTES TO NITROGEN LOSS IN FERTILIZED ARCTIC TUNDRA SITES
Marselle Alexander-Ozinskas, Legislative Assistant, Congresswoman Boradallo
Powerpoint slides
Powerpoint slides for Questions
About 30% of the global soil carbon pool is stored in northern latitudes (40-70°N), which have experienced larger temperature increases due to atmospheric warming than equatorial regions over the past few decades. Soil temperature increases affect carbon and nitrogen cycling and could alter net ecosystem carbon balance. To examine the future of arctic soil carbon pools following climate-driven changes, the potential for denitrification, nitrification, and mineralization were measured in several ecosystems surrounding the Toolik Lake Long-Term Ecological Research station near Toolik Lake, Alaska, after manipulation to simulate the effects of climate warming. Results indicate that denitrification may contribute to large, observed net nitrogen losses in these systems, suggesting a pathway of potential soil carbon loss following the effects of climate warming.

BACK FROM THE BEACH: A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF BEACHFRONT VALUES & TAX BASE
Ed Gorecki, Office of the Assistant Administrator, NOAA Fisheries Service
The devastation caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita resulted in record losses of life and property, and elevated concerns for coastal protection to their highest levels. In addition to rising sea levels over the last several decades, increases in extreme weather events in the Gulf of Mexico have led to substantial beach erosion along the Gulf coast. In 2007 the Nueces County Commissioners Court adopted a 350-foot building set-back along the North Padre Island, TX, coastline. Prior to its implementation, landowners and developers claimed substantial financial losses as a result of this land development restriction. This lecture reviews the economic implications of coastal and environmental protection along the Gulf of Mexico, particularly along the Coast of Nueces County, to determine the significance of this effect on property values, and the potential loss of revenue to the community and local tax base.

Thursday, September 4
Legislative Day: Fourth in a Series of Panel Presentations given by Knauss Sea Grant Fellows

Using GPS collars to monitor the activity and habitat use of Canada lynx in Minnesota
Powerpoint slides (as pdf)
Presented by Julie Palakovich Carr, Office of Senator Maria Cantwell
Since direct observation of free-ranging animals is difficult, remote methods for monitoring animal behavior have been developed. Recent advances in GPS collars allow for both the location and activity of an animal to be recorded internally in the collar. Although several studies have validated the activity counter portion of GPS collars for large herbivores, this has not been done to date on a small carnivore. Methods to relate animal activity level and habitat use were developed by observing a captive Canada lynx wearing a GPS collar. These methods were then applied to data collected from seven free-ranging lynx in northeastern Minnesota. Differences in habitat selection when lynx were active or inactive were analyzed. Additionally, I will be highlighting my research on the effects of maternal characteristics on Atlantic cod recruitment and the effects of a restored oyster reef on water quality.

The Decay of Particulate Organic Matter in the Ocean and of Bills in the U.S. Senate
Lynn Abramson, Office of Senator Barbara Boxer
What do the biological carbon pump and the legislative process have in common? Both concern some form of progression or transport: the biological carbon pump involves the movement of particulate organic matter through the water column, whereas the legislative process involves the movement of bills through Congress. A predictive understanding of either of these processes requires investigation of the source, alteration, and exchange of “material” during transit. In this seminar, Lynn Abramson will draw parallels between her dissertation work on the marine carbon cycle and fellowship work in Senator Barbara Boxer’s office, discussing her perspective on some of the strategies and obstacles involved in affecting science-based policy decisions.

Regional adaptation in feeding preference for chemically-rich seaweeds by the marine herbivore, Ampithoe longimana
Powerpoint slides (as pdf)
Amanda McCarty, Legislative Fellow, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and the Coast Guard
Field and laboratory manipulations and molecular analysis were used to better understand the ecology and evolution of marine seaweed-herbivore interactions. This work focused specifically on comparisons between populations of the amphipod Ampithoe longimana from cold-temperate New England, warm-temperate North Carolina, and subtropical Florida. Populations from throughout this distribution are exposed to locally distinct seaweed communities, exhibit regional variation in tolerance for a chemically-defended seaweed, and have limited gene flow between regions. Therefore, A. longimana serves as a unique example of a locally adapted marine organism.

Wednesday, September 10
Anand Gnanadesikan, an oceanographer at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, Princeton, N.J., will present "Carbon sequestration through ocean iron fertilization: A review of the major issues".
Powerpoint slides Note: the audio will be available on the NOAA Research site at http://www.research.noaa.gov/podcast/
Abstract:
Fertilizing the ocean with iron ("the Geritol solution") has been proposed as a method of removing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. This talk will discuss how ocean biology stores carbon in the ocean, how iron fertilization might enhance this storage, consider some of the challenges to verifying changes in storage, and highlight some potential unintended consequences of fertilization.

Tuesday, September 16 at 11:00
Jacklyn Shafir, Program Manager, D.C. Environmentors Program, will present a review of the benefits to NOAA employees in serving as a mentor to area Senior High School Students, development of a science project and many other volunteer opportunities to help high school students consider careers in the environmental sciences. It is a great opportunity for NOAA employees to share their expertise.

Thursday, September 18 at 12 noon
Corals/Marine Protected Areas: Fifth in a Series of Panel Presentations given by Knauss Sea Grant Fellows

Fine scale genetic population structure in the threatened Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis in Southwest Puerto Rico
Joselyd Garcia, Marine Mammal Commission
Powerpoint slides (as pdf)
During the 1980s and 1990s, populations of Acropora palmata and Acropora cervicornis experienced region-wide declines of up to 95% or more in some areas due mostly to disease. Once considered the most important reef builders in the Caribbean, their rapid decline prompted their listing as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2006. To understand the genetic connectivity between reefs in southwestern Puerto Rico, sequences of the mitochondrial control region were recovered from geographically adjacent and distant populations of A. palmata and A. cervicornis. Results suggest that there is fine scale population structure and recovery of these reefs might rely on the survival and sexual reproduction of local populations rather than replenishment from distant reefs. In this presentation, I will also discuss my current project and the experiences gained through the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission.

Do closed fishing areas in New England qualify as marine protected areas?
Christine Patrick, Ocean Exploration and Research Program
Powerpoint slides (as pdf)
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are often presented as a new addition to the “traditional toolkit” of fisheries management measures used by the U.S. federal government. However, temporary or rotational closed areas have been used in New England since before the creation of the federal exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the expanded federal power to manage fisheries. Despite this fact, the MPA canon does not acknowledge New England closed fishing areas as MPAs, or even as the theoretical ancestors of MPAs. Is this exclusion justified? What are the differences between New England closed fishing areas and MPAs?

October 2 at 12 noon
Dr. John L. "Jack" Hayes, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Weather Services and Director, National Weather Service presented "Leading the Way to Better Services."

Abstract: This is a one year retrospective by Jack Hayes, Director of NOAA National Weather Service. Jack will discuss accomplishments and outline some of the record-breaking weather, water, and climate events the agency has seen during the past year. He will also explore how the NWS is planning to meet the growing demands for weather, water and climate services. Jack has a wealth of domestic and international experience to draw on in this brown bag luncheon. He has held several SES positions within NOAA (NOS, OAR, and NWS), as well as domestic and international experience working for the Air Force and the United Nations' World Meteorological Organization.

On October 7 at 12 noon
Dr. Roger Hewitt, Assistant Center Director for Ships and Infrastructure, of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center spoke on ""The Fishery on Antarctic Krill: Defining an Ecosystem Approach to Management".
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Estimates of the standing stock of Antarctic krill ( Euphausia superba ) have ranged from less than 100 million tons to over a billion tons. While considerable uncertainty is associated with these estimates, the fishery on Antarctic krill has the potential to be among the largest in the world. The harvest of Antarctic krill is currently managed by the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), part of the Antarctic Treaty system. In this discussion the following will be reviewed: the political context and management approach of CCAMLR; the current understanding of natural controls on population growth of the resource; and future options for CCAMLR. It is concluded that the political foundation for the CCAMLR mandate of an "ecosystem approach to management" is sound; that substantial progress has been made toward interpreting and implementing the Convention; and that environmental factors may exert a substantial influence on krill recruitment and population growth. A general outline for the development of a management scheme based on ecosystem process monitoring is presented.

October 9 at 12 noon
Dr. Nancy Knowlton of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and holder of the first endowed ocean science chair at the Smithsonian Institution Sant Ocean Hall, presented "Coral Reefs: Canaries in the Environmental Coal Mine."
Abstract: Coral reefs are the most diverse of all marine ecosystems. Estimates range from 1-9 million species globally, although these estimates are based on very tenuous assumptions. Coral reefs are also among the most endangered of all marine ecosystems. In the Caribbean, for example, 80% of all coral cover has been lost in the last three decades. The causes of loss are varied, and they operate on local, regional and global scales, often synergistically. Coral bleaching is a stress reaction that results in the loss of symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) from coral tissues; if prolonged, corals starve to death. One serious source of stress is global warming; when seawater temperatures exceed 1o C above local seasonal maxima, bleaching occurs. In 1980, massive bleaching was seen around the world; in the Indian Ocean 80% bleaching and 20% mortality occurred. Fortunately, some zooxanthellae are more heat tolerant than others, but climate models suggest that mass bleaching will become more and more common. Another major source of coral loss is disease, about which we still know very little in terms of pathogens. Some diseases have already had catastrophic effects. In the Caribbean, for example, two once dominant corals are now officially listed as endangered. Other stresses include destructive fishing, over-fishing (especially of herbivores), sedimentation (often caused by deforestation), predator explosions, storm damage, and now ocean acidification. Complete reproductive failure due to scarcity of mates is also a possibility. Studies of reefs across a gradient of human disturbance indicate that loss of resilience – the capacity to recover – is one of the first consequences of human impacts. Fortunately, actual extinctions are so far limited. Reefs can be thought of as canaries in the environmental coal mine, because they are so sensitive to a diverse array of human impacts, but all marine ecosystems are suffering. Business as usual is not an option if we are to address these problems.

October 23rd at 12 noon
Steve Piotrowicz, Oceanographer, NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), presented "Argo - Observing the Ocean in Real-time."
Abstract: In a period of less than 8 years the Argo Array of profiling floats has revolutionized the ability to observe the ocean, annually providing on the order of 100,000 high-quality profiles of upper (2000 m) ocean temperature and salinity, without temporal or spatial biases, free and openly to operational centers and the research community worldwide.

October 30 at 12 noon

Emily McDonald, Sea Grant Fellow, Office of Ocean Exploration & Research presented:
APPLICATION OF OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEMS IN AIDING PREDICTIVE WATER QUALITY MODELING IN LONG BAY, SOUTH CAROLINA
Powerpoint slides (in ppt format)
Abstract:
Ocean observing systems are capable of providing data relevant to water quality modeling efforts along South Carolina’s beaches. Beach advisories protect public health but must be balanced with the area’s economic needs as well. There is a need by coastal managers to accurately determine when beach advisories for water quality should or should not be posted. Applying near-real time data from coastal ocean observing systems off the South Carolina coast to a simple Classification and Regression Tree (CART) model analysis allows for earlier and more accurate indicators of when bacterial counts reach unhealthy levels.

Luis Leandro, Sea Grant Fellow, Office of Legislative Affairs presented:
TROPHIC TRANSFER OF THE MARINE ALGAL BIOTOXIN DOMOIC ACID TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC RIGHT WHALE, EUBALAENA GLACIALIS
Powerpoint slides (in pdf format)
Abstract:
In addition to ship strikes and fishing gear entanglements, recovery of the highly endangered North Atlantic right whale has been challenged by reproductive abnormalities and compromised health. Of the several factors hypothesized as contributing to the observed reproductive dysfunction in right whales, exposure to biotoxins produce by marine algae, such as domoic acid (DA), has received comparatively little consideration. This study assessed the occurrence of DA in right whales, their prey, and phytoplankton collected in the whales’ spring and summer feeding grounds. The results of this study confirm that right whales were exposed to DA for several months, likely through ingestion of their prey.

15th Annual Library Book Fair on November 5 from 10-3
Donations of used items and books are welcome for the NOAA Central Library Fifteenth Annual Book Fair and Flea Market. Please deliver donations to the NOAA Central Library, 2nd Floor, SSMC 3, or call 301-713-2607 X-122. Proceeds from the Flea Market will benefit the Friends of the NOAA Library, a tax-exempt charitable organization dedicated to support the library through acquisitions, preservation, and information dissemination.

November 6 at 12 noon
Sea Grant Fellows will present "How the Hill Works: Legislative Knauss Fellows Explain Congress"
Presentation (pdf)

November 19 at 12 noon
Laura Oremland of NMFS/Office of Science and Technology will present "Sea Scallop Surveys in the 21st Century: Could advanced optical technologies ultimately replace the dredge-based survey?"

Powerpoint slides (ppt format)

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)

Abstract:Atlantic Sea Scallops (Placopecten magellanicus), valued at $385 million (ex-vessel value) in 2007, support the top revenue generating commercial fishery in the United States. Found on the seafloor in Northwest Atlantic waters ranging from Newfoundland to North Carolina, they are typically harvested using a New Bedford style scallop dredge, that is dragged along the seafloor bottom by a fishing vessel. The Northeast Fisheries Science Center has been conducting sea scallop surveys aboard the R/V Albatross IV (and more recently the R/V Sharp) with a modified New Bedford style dredge annually since the late 1970s as a means to help estimate scallop population sizes and structure and provide management advice. In recent years however, optical survey methods using cameras to photograph and analyze scallop populations have emerged as a potential alternative to the dredge survey. One such optical survey method, Habcam, short for Habitat Mapping Camera System, was developed as a collaborative project between the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the fishing industry, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Habcam, unlike a dredge is non-invasive. It is towed above the seafloor by a commercial scallop boat and can collect as many as 300,000 high resolution images per day. In 2007, calibration experiments between the NMFS dredge survey and Habcam were conducted, in which sea scallop abundances and size class distributions were measured at the same stations by both dredge and Habcam surveys. This presentation will provide an overview of the different sea scallop survey methods and 2007 calibration experiment, as well as discuss preliminary results of the 2007 calibration experiments, with an examination of how optical and dredge survey methods compare, and the potential impacts measurement errors can have on optical survey methods.

Lora Clarke (Office of Science and Technology, NMFS) will present "High Connectivity in a Locally Adapted Marine Fish Species: A possible scenario?"

November 20 at 12 noon
Knauss Sea Grant Fellows Lecture Series: Connectivity in Marine Fish Species (Postponed: Short-term Climate Variability Impact on Pacific Ocean SSTs talk by Sandy Lucas)
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: High connectivity, or the exchange of individuals among subpopulations, is assumed in most marine species due to life histories that include widely dispersive stages. However, evidence of local adaptation in marine species, such as the Atlantic silverside (Menidia menidia), raises questions concerning the degree of connectivity. Geochemical signatures of adult fish were compared to groundtruthed signatures of juvenile fish to determine natal origin. From this information, migration distances and the degree of mixing were estimated. Results suggest high connectivity and demonstrate marine species with largely open populations are capable of local adaptation despite apparently high gene flow.

December 2 at 12 noon
Dr. Richard Methot of NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science and Technology, will present "Stock Synthesis: an integrated analysis model to enable sustainable fisheries."

Powerpoint slides

Abstract:
Integrated analysis is a powerful approach to statistical modeling of survey, catch, and biological data to estimate fish abundance and fishing mortality. The Stock Synthesis (SS) implementation of integrated analysis provides a high level of flexibility to adapt to a great diversity of assessment situations. The inner layer of SS is an age-structured population model which incorporates density-dependence in a spawner-recruitment relationship. The observation layer translates population estimates into expected values for the available data while taking into account various observation processes such as age determination imprecision and time-varying changes in catchability. The statistical layer then quantifies the goodness-of-fit between these expected values and the available data and searches for the set of parameters that maximizes this goodness-of-fit. The population model can also be extended past the last year of data to provide a forecast that is fully linked to the quantities estimated by the model. SS can be scaled down to mimic a simple biomass production model or scaled up to incorporate many complex factors such as multiple areas with movement, time-varying growth, and environmental effects on model parameters.

December 4 at 12 noon
Stephanie Showalter, Director of the National Sea Grant Law Center, will present "The National Sea Grant Law Center: Reducing Barriers and Conflicts through Legal Extension."

Abstract: The National Sea Grant Law Center was established in 2002 to provide legal research, education, and outreach services to the National Sea Grant College Program and its constituents. Through a quarterly newsletter, a monthly e-mail case alert, and a bi-annual scholarly journal, the Law Center helps Sea Grant extension agents, coastal managers, and the general public stay informed of developing legal issues and recent court opinions. The Law Center's groundbreaking Advisory Service provides non-biased legal research and analysis to the Sea Grant, its partner agencies, and their constituents. Through its Advisory Service, the Law Center has informed the debate over ballast water regulation in the Great Lakes and water quality trading in Chesapeake Bay. The Law Center has increased understanding of and reduced opposition to coastal projects around the country by providing easy-to-understand information on the existing permitting and liability regimes. Current projects include an education and outreach project on offshore alternative energy siting and permitting and a symposium on water quantity. This presentation will provide an overview of the Law Center, its services, and recent projects.

Bio: Stephanie Showalter received a B.A. in History from Penn State University and a joint J.D./Masters of Studies in Environmental Law degree from Vermont Law School. As Director for the Sea Grant Law Center, Stephanie advises Sea Grant constituents on ocean and coastal law issues, researches and publishes papers on natural resources, marine, and environmental law issues, and supervises law student research and writing projects. Her main areas of research include invasive species, aquaculture, and coastal development. Stephanie also teaches as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Mississippi School of Law offering courses such as ocean and coastal law, wetlands law and policy, and wildlife law.

December 9 at 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
The Library's Annual Holiday Brown Bag Extravaganza will feature:

11:00-11:30: "Hunting Hurricanes -- Now and Then",
featuring Dr. Rick Spinrad, Assistant Administrator NOAA Research, who will discuss his adventures while flying into Hurricane Ike aboard a NOAA P-3. He will be joined by Colonel James R. Cumberpatch (USAF Ret., USMA class 1944) who will share his experience of hunting down a hurricane in 1946 between Guam, the Phillipines and Okinawa after the Loran navigation in his B-29 bomber failed.

Followed by the NOAA Holiday Band and Treats and Coffee!

Hurricane Ike Powerpoint slides

B-29/Guam Hurricane Powerpoint slides

December 10 at 12 noon
Gabe Vecchi, Research Scientist Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, will present "The Trifecta: Use of observations, theories, and models to predict hurricane activity."

Powerpoint slides (in pdf format)

Abstract:The relationship between sea surface temperature (SST) and Atlantic hurricane activity has been explored in several recent scientific publications and it has been the subject of much debate. A causal relationship between /absolute/ SST and Atlantic hurricanes implies a continued and dramatic increase in hurricane activity, and implies that the recent increase is partly man-made. A causal relationship between /relative/ SST and hurricane activity implies a future similar to the past (with big variability and small trend), but the recent increase cannot be attributed to human actions. This talk will show the importance of applying our dynamical understanding of tropical cyclones, in addition to the observed record, to address this question.

Bio: Gabe has been a research oceanographer at NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, N.J. since June of 2006. He was a visiting scientist at the lab from 2003 to 2006. His research interests include ocean-atmosphere coupling and climate change and variability. He earned his degrees from Rutgers University and the University of Washington and has won many awards for his work, including the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) and a 2007 NOAA/OAR Outstanding Paper award.

December 11 at 12 noon
Laura Oremland of NMFS/Office of Science and Technology will present "NEMO and NOAA in Washington, D.C: How NOAA's Project "NEMO" led Washington, D.C. public school students to their first National Ocean Sciences Bowl competition"

Abstract: On February 23, 2008, three teams of students from the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) made history by becoming the first DCPS students to participate in a National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) competition. NOSB is a national academic competition for high school students in the ocean sciences. Each year thousands of students across the country take part in the competition but until recently, DCPS students had never participated. These DCPS students and their teachers were part of NOAA's pilot project "NEMO" designed to interest students in the ocean sciences and initiate DCPS participation in the NOSB program. NEMO is primarily an after school program that includes a weekly meeting between students and teachers (using activities provided by NOAA) and field trips opportunities coordinated by NOAA every other month. This presentation will provide an overview of NOAA's project NEMO, program evaluation methods and results, lessons learned on engaging inner city high schools in the ocean sciences and initiating their participation in a NOSB competition, and NEMO's future direction.

December 18 from 12 noon - 1 p.m.
Brandon Southall, Phd, Director, NOAA Ocean Acoustics Program, will present "Cetacean behavioral responses to simulated military sonar and other sound exposures"

Powerpoint slides (in pdf format)

Brief Description: A two-year study to study on how some marine mammals, including beaked whales, respond to various sounds, including simulated military sonar signals, was recently completed on an underwater listening range in the Bahamas. This project, called the Behavioral Response Study (BRS), was spearheaded by NOAA's Office of Science and Technology in collaboration with the U.S. Navy and scientists from several institutions and many countries. Diving and vocal behavior in four cetacean species was measured before, during, and after sound exposure to obtain measurements of how the animals react to human sounds in their environment.

Abstract: Beaked whales have mass stranded during a few military exercises involving the transmission of active, mid-frequency tactical sonar, but the cause is unknown. A recent series of experiments on a specialized acoustic range [including 80+ elements capable of recording up to ~48 kHz covering ~600 sq. miles] were conducted in the Tongue of the Ocean (TOTO), Bahamas to provide empirical measurements of the behavioural responses of beaked whales and other odontocete cetaceans. A total of nine playback sequences (including measurements during "control" and "exposure" intervals) were conducted on four species of odontocete cetacean [Blainville's beaked whale, /Mesoplodon densirostris/ (n=2); Melon-headed whale, /Peponocephala electra/ (n=1); short-finned pilot whale, /Globicephala macrorhynchus/ (n=4); false killer whale, /Pseudorca crassidens/ (n=2)]. In addition, observations were made of odontocete vocalizations at a coarser (group) level using the hydrophone array during playback sequences. The results demonstrated that one of the tagged Blainville's beaked whales responded to playbacks of simulated naval sonar once the (gradually increasing) received levels (RL) reached 136 dB re: 1µPa and killer whale RL reached 102 dB re: 1µPa by interrupting foraging dives, prematurely ceasing vocalizations, and sustained avoidance of the playback area after exposure to the killer whale sounds. The other beaked whale playback included a single exposure to a pseudo-random noise signal of comparable level in the mid-frequency band; measurements of the response were limited by the premature disattachment of the tag, but there were some apparently similar responses in cessation of vocalizations and foraging. The other species tested appear to be categorically less sensitive to MFA and control sounds than beaked whales, demonstrating some changes in vocal and movement behaviour but nothing like the clear avoidance responses to relatively low-level sound exposures in the beaked whales. That beaked whales appear to have a particular sensitivity to acoustic exposure is not surprising, given their disproportionate occurrence in the stranding events that have apparently resulted from sonar training exercises. However, considerable uncertainty remains regarding the specificity of responses as a function of signal-type and context. Our results demonstrate that useful scientific information can be obtained through controlled exposure experiments on beaked whales and a range of other species without causing serious negative effects on the target or non-target species. Subsequent consideration is now on how best to optimize methodologies to increase sample sizes, expand the species tested, and integrate these results with complimentary opportunistic studies.

2009 Brown Bags

January 26 at 12 noon
Michael J. McPhaden of NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, Seattle, Washington, will present "Progress in Climate Science: NOAA's Tropical Moored Buoy Array Program"
Powerpoint slides

Abstract: NOAA's Tropical Moored Buoy Array Program is a coordinated, multi-national effort to implement a sustained moored buoy observing system in the global tropics for climate research and prediction. The array addresses NOAA Strategic Plan goal of "Understanding climate variability and change to enhance society's ability to plan and respond." This presentation will review the scientific background motivating development of the program, highlight progress in understanding and forecasting climate variability originating in the tropics, and describe plans for completing and sustaining the array.
Bio: Curriculum Vitae

January 27 at 12 noon
Carlos Cotlier of the University of Rosario, Argentina, will present "Comparative evaluation between Feng Yun 1D, NOAA AVHRR, MODIS and LandSat 5 TM images working as a satellite constellation for burned areas detection on Paraná Medio Flooding Valley in Argentina."
Powerpoint slides

January 29 at 12 noon
NOAA OAR Office of SeaGrant will host LSU researcher Dr. Jack Losso who will discuss "Oysters and Breast Cancer".

Abstract: A compound in the fats found in Louisiana oysters could be a key ingredient in treating and preventing cancer according to LSU AgCenter food science researcher Dr. Jack Losso. Dr. Losso has found that ceramide found in oysters can restrict blood vessel growth and development of cancer cells in test tubes. It can also inhibit blood vessel growth in rats. By preventing the formation of blood vessels, called angiogenesis, the compound keeps cancer cells from multiplying because they can't grow without nutrients from the blood. Ceramide works on human breast cancer cells both in test tubes and in laboratory rats. When breast cancer cells come in contact with ceramide, they begin dying within 48-hours. These findings and other significant human health findings related to oysters will be presented at this seminar.

February 4 from 10-12 EST and 1-3 EST - Endnote Training
Doug Nguygen, Customer Education Specialist for Thomson Reuters, will present free Endnote training for NOAA staff and contractors who work full-time at a NOAA facility.

Abstract: Endnote is a bibliographic management tool that allows researchers, students, and librarians to search online bibliographic databases, organize their references, images and PDFs, and create bibliographies and figure lists instantly. This class will cover all the basics of using Endnote, Endnote for Web, and using Endnote to insert and cite references as you type your paper. NOAA has a site-wide license for Endnote. To download Endnote, see NOAA NITES site.

Registration is required:
Send an email to Library.Reference@noaa.gov to reserve your spot in either the 10-12 session or the 1-3 session. Indicate if you will be attending in person or logging in to the webinar. If you are attending in person, the sessions will be held in the NOAA Central Library, SSMC#3, Room 2501.
Remote access: The presentations will also be available remotely as a webinar. Registration is needed. Please send an email to Library.Reference@noaa.gov to register for the webinar. Indicate if you will be attending the 10-12 session or the 1-3 session. Information on how to access the webinar will be mailed to you in advance of the February 4 date.

Class Syallabus:

• Get acquainted with EndNote and learn about the user interface.
• Learn four ways to add references to your library including manual data entry, online search, direct export, and importing text files downloaded from online sources
• Cite While You Write in Microsoft Word
• Edit citations to suppress author names, years, or both
• Change styles instantly

Note: This training is open only to NOAA employees or contractors who work full-time at a NOAA facility. To set up training and access to Endnote for your agency or organization, please contact:

Doug Nguyen, Customer Education Specialist, ResearchSoft, Scientific Thomson Reuters, O: +1 415 344 3985
doug.nguyen@thomsonreuters.com, thomsonreuters.com, scientific.thomsonreuters.com/researchsoftware

February 11 from 12 noon - 1 pm
Dr. David J. Newman, D.Phil., Chief, Natural Products Branch, National Cancer Institute, will present "National Cancer Institute's Marine Collection Programs: Problems, pratfalls and lessons learned."


Powerpoint slides

Abstract: The National Cancer Institute's Natural Products Branch (http://dtp.nci.nih.gov/branches/npb/index.html) located at Fort Detrick, Maryland, is a high-tech prospector for natural marine products which could help fight or cure cancer. Dr. Newman, a world leader in this line of investigation, will discuss the work of the Natural Products Branch which acquires crude natural materials from both terrestrial and marine environments, usually via competitive contracts world-wide, for extraction and screening of chemicals and compounds which could be of value in the fight against cancer. The responsibilities of his research branch include the selection and evaluation of the materials to be tested, and the procurement of large quantities of raw materials necessary to produce sufficient quantities of those active agents selected for preclinical and clinical evaluation.

February 19 from 12 noon - 1 pm
Steve Springer, Director of the Human Capital Planning Division, Corporate & Strategic Initiatives (CSI), of NOAA’s Workforce Management Office (WFMO), will present "Free Consulting Services – Resources and Solutions You Can Leverage to Enhance Your Organizational and Staff Effectiveness."
Powerpoint presentation (ppt)

Abstract: There are numerous questions NOAA managers must face when it comes to managing their staff:

• How do I retain valuable employees?
• How do I find the right candidates for open positions, or what kinds of employment programs are available to help me fill those positions?
• What kind of employees, how many, and what skill sets will I need next year or perhaps in 5 to 10 years?
• How can I most effectively and efficiently train my staff especially when they are in different locations?

If you arent sure of the answers to these and other workforce-related questions, CSI can help. As part of its commitment to have the scientific, technical, and mission support expertise necessary to accomplish its mission, NOAAs Workforce Management Office established CSI. CSI employs internal consultants with a wide variety of specialized expertise areas like recruiting, workforce planning, competency modeling, instructor-led training, e-Learning, alternative dispute resolution, and instructional design. This presentation will provide an overview of the various services CSI provides and give NOAA managers the tools they need to develop, value and sustain a world-class workforce.

Bio: Mr. Springer has over 20 years of experience in both the private and public sectors helping organizations use their most valuable resource, people, more effectively. He has worked as both an internal and an external consultant to a wide range of organizations including Fortune 100 companies, local and Federal public sector organizations, and national associations. His areas of expertise include performance management, competency modeling, career development, staffing, compensation/classification, and organizational development.

Feb. 23 at 12 noon
Dr. Lin H. Chambers, a physical scientist in the Climate Science Branch at the NASA Langley Research Center, will present "The CERES S'COOL Project: Bringing Cloud Science and Satellite Data to the K-12 Classroom.
Powerpoint slides

Abstract: This presentation will provide an introduction to the CERES S'COOL Project, a 12-year-old NASA K-12 education project which brings the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) project into schools to motivate authentic science experiences for students. The project emphasizes sky and weather observations, introduces remote sensing and validation, and involves students as part of the CERES research team.

Bio: Dr. Lin H. Chambers - Dr. Chambers is a physical scientist in the Climate Science Branch at the NASA Langley Research Center. She received her Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1991. Dr. Chambers has worked in a variety of radiative transfer applications, including nonequilibrium flows and cloud inhomogeneity effects. She is a member of the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) Science Team. Research activities have focussed on assessing the effect of inhomogenous clouds on satellite remote sensing and cloud/radiation parameterizations, as well as on better understanding the radiative properties of Tropical cloud systems.

Dr. Chambers is also director of the outreach component of the CERES effort, the Students' Cloud Observations On-Line (S'COOL) Project, and she was the Contrail Scientist for the GLOBE program. She leads the MY NASA DATA project at the Langley Atmospheric Science Data Ceter to make real NASA earth-observing data accessible to the K-12 and citizen science community.

Feb. 26 at 12 noon
Three NOAA Coral Managemeant Fellows who are working on Coral Management issues in American Samoa, CNMI and Guam, will present talks abouttheir work and projects in the islands.

Thursday, February 26 at 12 noon: Three of NOAA's Coral Management Fellows from the Pacific will be giving a lecture about their program-supported environmental work in the region.

Kathleen M. Herrmann will present "Conservation Action Plans in CNMI."
Abstract: Ms. Herrmann has facilitated the completion of a Conservation Action Plan for Laolao Bay and is working with agency staff to implement the plan. She is facilitating a capacity building training for local staff to design and implement socioeconomic monitoring in Laolao Bay. She has also facilitated the Talakhaya Watershed Restoration project; a multiagency partnership which in 2008 planted 31,473 seedlings, employed 25 community members through the Luta Livelihoods Initiative, and has documented statistically significant improvement on adjacent coral reefs.
Powerpoint slides

Alyssa Edwards will present "American Samoa Population Growth and its Impacts on Coastal Resources."
Abstract: An ecological treasure in the South Pacific, the U.S. Territory of American Samoa consists of five volcanic islands, plus two atolls, all of which are surrounded by fringes of coral reefs. American Samoa is the only jurisdiction to identify population pressure as a key threat to local coral reefs. NOAA Coral Reef Management Fellow Alyssa Edwards is currently working with the government's Coral Reef Advisory Group to identify ways of reducing rapid population growth and its impact on coastal resources.
Powerpoint slides

Elaina Todd will present "RARE Pride Environmental Campaign in Guam"
Abstract: Elaina works with the Guam Coastal Management Program where she coordinated the Guam Year of the Reef, planning a recreational user stewardship workshop, coral bleaching training, children’s snorkeling & educational fair and the grand finale event including a free screening of the 11th hour, a reef stewardship awards ceremony and movie in the park for kids! She is currently training at Georgetown University to launch a Rare Pride campaign focused on conserving Guam’s coral reefs.
Powerpoint slides

March 11 from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Dr. Kirk Bergstrom will present the NSF-funded "Interactive Earth: Tools for Earth System Science" program and the preview the new PBS special "Nourish". He will also discuss an upcoming project "Education for the Green Economy."

Bio: Dr. Kirk Bergstrom is founder and President of WorldLink, a media and education group based in San Francisco, California. In this capacity, he has directed special projects for the National Science Foundation, PBS, Walt Disney Imagineering, State of the World Forum, California Science Center, and Tech Museum of Innovation. Recently, Kirk completed production on a new PBS special entitled Nourish: Food + Community which explores the possibilities of a sustainable food system. He also directed the award-winning PBS program Power Shift: Energy + Sustainability and a companion traveling exhibit. Kirk received two national Emmy Awards for his film Spaceship Earth: Our Global Environment.

Dr. Bergstrom also serves as principal investigator of a NSF-funded project entitled Interactive Earth: Tools for Earth System Science. A digital mapping tool, the program includes more than 100 global data sets and an interdisciplinary curriculum organized around real-world issues. He also designed the Eye on Earth multimedia exhibit that explores the art and science of remote sensing.

Kirk’s work in interactive media originated in 1982 with the critically acclaimed Los Angeles TeleVote, one of the first large-scale experimentsin teledemocracy. In 1985, he was invited by Walt Disney Imagineering to participate in designing future interactive facilities and exhibits for the EPCOT theme park in Florida. From 1992-96, Kirk served as Executive Director of the Global Youth Summit, a week-long educational program that brings together young leaders from around the world. Convened in Rio de Janeiro during the 1992 Earth Summit and later in San Francisco as part of the State of the World Forum, the Global Youth Summit has served youth from over 40 nations.

Kirk earned a B.A. degree in Cinema Production from the University of Southern California and a M.A. in Futures Studies from the University of Hawaii. He received his Doctorate in Education from the University of San Francisco.

March 12 at 12 noon
John C. Bortniak (Commander NOAA Corps (Retired), will present "Recollections on Wintering Over at The South Pole 1979 on The 30 Year Anniversary." The seminar is part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).

March 17 at 11-12 and 1:30-2:30
An Overview of How to Use Lexis-Nexis will be offered to NOAA staff in Silver Spring and remotely via webinar by Mairin Van Shura, Esq., Government Consultant, Lexis-Nexis.
Two identical sessions are offered: 11 am to noon session and 1:30 to 2:30 session. You may bring your lunch.
Please register for the training by sending an email to Library.Reference@noaa.gov.
Indicate your name, email, phone number, NOAA office, preference for in-person or webinar.
For in-person attendees, the seminar will be in SSMC#3, 2nd floor, 2501. For webinar attendees, you will recieve an email with a GoToMeeting invitation the day prior to the training.

Lexis-Nexis is a global information service providing access to thousands of news, legislative, business and legal information sources. Includes major newspapers, law journals, international news, intellectual property records, industry and market reports, and more. Available for NOAA staff in Silver Spring via www.nexis.com. Available to all NOAA staff outside Silver Spring via user id and password. Contact your NOAA Library for more information. Contact Library.Reference@noaa.gov if you are a patron of the NOAA Central Library. For a list of NOAA libraries see http://www.lib.noaa.gov/about/lib_network.html.

March 18 at 12 noon
Kathy Crane (NOAA Arctic Research office, Climate Program Office), will present "Collaborative NOAA-Russia Ocean Observations in The Bering and Chukchi Seas (tentative)." The seminar is part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).

March 19 at 12 noon
Stephane Vrignaud, NOAA Fisheries Service Liaison to the European Union, and Tom Asakawa, NOAA Fisheries Service Liaison, will present "International Fisheries Trade Trends".
Exporting Seafood to the European Union Powerpoint slides
Us Exports to NE Asia Powerpoint slides

Abstract: Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated - How these fishing practices can affect the seafood you consume NOAA Fisheries Service international trade experts speak on this and other U.S. seafood fisheries management issues.

POSTPONED: March 25 at 12 noon
Dr. John Walsh, Professor of Climate Change and chief scientist at the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, will present a seminar on Arctic modeling from a systems perspective. The seminar is part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).

Abstract: Observations of different parts of the Arctic system present a coherent picture of change over the past half century. The climate models used to project future changes capture the past variations to varying degrees Here we survey the performance of global climate models in simulating Arctic climate, with particular attention to simulations of the seasonal cycle, natural variations and greenhouse-driven changes. The role of low-frequency variations in confounding future projections will be given special attention, as will the impacts of deficiencies in model simulations of sea ice and the Arctic terrestrial surface. We will then address the downscaling of Arctic climate simulations by presenting the results of initial attempts to produce high-resolution scenarios of climate change for Alaska.
Remote access

March 26 at 12 noon
Troy W. Hartley, Ph.D., Virginia Sea Grant Director, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary will present "The Hope for Integrated Management: Network governance in fisheries and watershed management."
Powerpoint slides
Remote access:
Audio: 866-631-5469, passcode: 3958086; slides available at http://www.lib.noaa.gov/about/news/brownbagseminars.html.

Abstract: Increasingly, coastal and marine resource managers are asked to enhance communication, coordination and integration across ecological, jurisdictional, and sector boundaries. But was would such integrated, ecosystem-based management look like in operation? How do we implement integrated management across the watershed-estuary-ocean divide? This research employs communication network analysis methods to examine the governance networks underlying cases of collaborative watershed planning and Atlantic herring fisheries management. Specifically, the focus is on the extent of collaboration, roles of network leaders and managers, and the enhancement potential of the existing networks. Ramifications for integrated, ecosystem-based management are discussed.

Bio: Troy Hartley is a Research Associate Professor in coastal and marine policy and the Director of Virginia Sea Grant at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS). Dr. Hartley's research interests are in coastal, marine and fisheries policy and management, specifically in the communication networks and stakeholder processes underlying integrated planning and management, adaptive management, collaborative management, ecosystem-based management, and other forms of governance networks.

April 3 at 12 noon
Dr. Yi Ming of NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Lab will present "Formation and Climate Impacts of Arctic Haze."

Abstract: Arctic climate is changing at a pace faster than the global average in the recent decades. Arctic haze - an accumulation of long-range transported aerosols - exerts substantial surface warming in winter by interacting with clouds. The formation of Arctic haze and its influence on local climate are poorly understood. Here we find, with the help of a state-of-the-art global climate model, that the poleward transport of European air pollution is controlled strongly by the second climate mode of the North Atlantic - European region. This is supported by the strong correlation of measured surface aerosol concentrations and longwave downward radiative flux with the second mode. A shift of the mode from negative to positive phases doubles the abundance of Arctic haze. This finding is essential for understanding Arctic climate variability and change. The seminar is part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).

April 2 from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm
"Tips on improving your resume" presented by Charly L. Wells, Director of NOAA Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management For all employees who are interested to learn more about those tips that improve their resumes.
Presentation notes

Bio: Mr. Wells is an ex-marine who has been a Federal employee for 37 years. For the past 31 years, he has worked exclusively in the Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Management arena. Mr. Wells studied at the University of Hawaii, Chaminade, where he received his B.S. degree in Political Science. Mr. Wells has been involved in many aspects of the Federal EEO Program and the Diversity Management process (e.g. EEO Counseling, Investigations, Complaint Adjudication, FEORP, Affirmative Employment Programs, Disability issues, (Reasonable Accommodations, Accessibility, etc.), Community Outreach, Special Emphasis Programs, Student Programs, Upward Mobility, EEO and Diversity Management Training, and development of online EEO and Diversity Management training.

April 8 at 11:30 AM
Shirl Desormeaux, a Department of Credit Union employee will present the seminar "Sound Retirement Planning."

April 15 at 12 noon
Dr. Igor Krupnik, Smithsonian Institution, will present "IPY and Indigenous People: Local Knowledge Contributes to the Study of Arctic Change." The seminar is part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).

April 21 at 12 noon
Eric Hackathorn, NOAA's Virtual Program Manager, will present on "Virtual Alaska".

April 22 at 12 noon
Ivy Washington, Employee Development Program Manager, Learning Resources Division, NOAA Workforce Management Office, will present "Individual Development Plans and Career Planning."

April 23 - Bring a Child to Work Day

April 28 at 12 noon
Dr. Tom Miller and Dr. Mike Wilberg, Assistant Professors of Fisheries Science at the Center for Environmental Science, University of Maryland, will present "Project FishSmart: A stakeholder-centered approach to improve fisheries conservation and management."


Powerpoint slides

Abstract: Despite increasing dissatisfaction among many stakeholder groups, fisheries management often does not allow for a meaningful exchange of information and ideas between stakeholders and managers. Stakeholders in several prominent U.S. fisheries have been frustrated by a perceived lack of inclusion of their views in fishery management decisions, which has led to distrust of management and the potential for problems with compliance. Our objective was to develop a process that allowed stakeholders to develop recommendations to 1) improve the fishery through voluntary measures and 2) provide management recommendations that they supported. We developed a “stakeholder-centered” process that allowed stakeholders to evaluate how well alternative options could achieve their goals using a decision analysis model. The first application of this collaborative process was to the king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) fishery off the southeastern Atlantic coast of the U.S. The stakeholder workgroup developed objectives for the fishery, performance measures to guage whether objectives were reached, and options that could be used to reach the objectives. Objectives included traditional and non-traditional goals such as maintaining high and stable catches and retaining the ability to catch large fish, and options included both voluntary changes in fishing practices (e.g., adoption of techniques that reduce catch and release mortality) and mandatory regulations (e.g., size limits or bag limits). Through an iterative process, stakeholders assisted in developing a model to allow them to compare how well their options met their vision for a quality fishery. The workgroup developed a consensus suite of recommendations, including more conservative length and bag limits than those recommended by the Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee, based on the results of the decision analysis. The immersion of stakeholders in the available science and model development and evaluation eventually led to recognition that more conservative management was necessary to achieve their objectives. This project demonstrated that stakeholders can be included in a meaningful participatory process that can improve fisheries management, but inclusion requires increased time and an effort to provide science without jargon or condescension.

Bios: Tom Miller is a Professor of fisheries science at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Dr. Miller's research focuses on a range of fisheries topics including fisheries ecology with emphasis on early life history, population dynamics and stock assessment, and quantitative methods in ecology with emphasis on modeling, and experimental design and statistics. Mike Wilberg is a Professor of fisheries science at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. Dr. Wilberg's research focuses on fisheries management, development and evaluation of stock assessment methods, fisheries population dynamics, decision analysis, survey design, and statistical estimation and modeling in ecology.

April 29 at 12 noon
Briefing by the Pacific Risk Management Ohana (PRiMO) team: Adam Stein, PRIMO Executive Director, Penny Larin, PRIMO Coordinator, Kristina Kekuewa, Deputy Director. PRIMO is made up of multi-agency partners, including NWS, NESDIS, NOS, and NMFS. Hosted by NOAA Pacific Services Center.

Powerpoint slides

April 30 at 12 noon
Dr. Kelly K. Falkner (Program Director, Antarctic Integrated System Science, Office of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, will present "The Antarctic Integrated System Science on the Antarctic Peninsula." The seminar is part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).

April 30 from 2:00 - 3:15 pm
Learn how to use these journal article databases: Aquatic Science and Fisheries Abstracts, Toxline, Meteorological and Geoastrophysical Abstracts, Oceanic Abstracts, Water Resources Abstract, Conference Papers Index, and BioOne Abstracts and Indexes.
Training will be available via webinar and in-person in NOAA Central Library, SSMC#3, 2501. Please register by sending an email to Library.Reference@noaa.gov. Indicate preference for in-person attendance or webinar.

May 4 at 12 noon
Arlene Blum will present "The Fire Retardant Dilemma: Fire Safety, Human Health and the Global Environment."

Powerpoint slides


Abstract: Arlene Blum, a biophysical chemist, carried out research in the 1970s that contributed to removing brominated and chlorinated tris, cancer-causing flame retardants, from children's sleepwear. Chemicals such as tris can cause neurological and reproductive impairments, thyroid abnormalities, endocrine disruption, and/or cancer. They often bio- accumulate up the food chain and persist in humans, wild animals, and the environment. Blum will describe her interdisciplinary research and policy work to protect health and the environment while maintaining fire safety. Currently, Blum is working with a global team of scientists and NGOs to stop hundreds of millions of pounds of unneeded toxic fire retardant chemicals being added to consumer products worldwide. If time permits, Arlene Blum will share also dramatic images and stories from her historic mountaineering expeditions and will relate how her climbing career led to her current work in environmental health and public policy.

May 5 at 12 noon
George R. Cutter of NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center will present "High-resolution bathymetric mapping with the new broad-bandwidth, split-beam, scientific, multibeam sonar installed on the new NOAA FSVs."

Abstract: The Simrad ME70 is a new multibeam-echosounder system that was designed for quantitative fisheries research and is installed on each of the new, acoustically-quiet, NOAA Fisheries survey vessels (FSVs). The ME70 has configurable beams and transmits in the range of 70-120 kHz to provide calibrated, acoustic backscattering data throughout the detection range (Fisheries Mode). With hardware and software add-ons, the ME70 can also collect soundings that are expected to meet IHO S-44 Order 1 standards (Bathymetric Mode). Furthermore, with custom algorithms and software, bathymetric data can be obtained from the ME70 operating in Fisheries Mode, and volume backscatter can be sampled from the ME70 operating in Bathymetric Mode. This flexibility may allow data to be concurrently and efficiently collected on fish and their seabed habitat. Here, we describe a method to process the echo amplitude and phase data from multiple split-beams formed in Fisheries Mode to estimate seabed range, slope, roughness, and normalized surface scattering strength (a hardness metric). We compare the resulting bathymetry to that collected with the ME70 operating in Bathymetric Mode in the same area of the Bay of Biscay. (Authors for this paper include: George R. Cutter, David A. Demer (NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center) and Laurent Berger (IFREMER, France).

May 6 at 12 noon
Dan Seidov, PhD and Igor Smolyar, PhD, of NOAA's NODC Ocean Climate Laboratory, will present "Barents Sea Warming." The seminar is part of the NOAA International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series

May 7 at 12 noon
Jon Kurland (NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Region) and Mike Sigler (NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center) will present "NOAA's Role in the Science and Management of Arctic Fish and Marine Mammals." The seminar is part of the NOAA International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series
Abstract: NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is actively involved in a variety of research and management activities related to the conservation of Arctic fish and marine mammal populations. NOAA Fisheries' Alaska Regional Office and Alaska Fisheries Science Center have been involved in Arctic projects for many years, but the scope and breadth of our work in the Arctic has expanded substantially in the past few years and will continue to grow with climate change. This presentation will provide an overview of NOAA Fisheries' current science and management activities in the Arctic as we begin addressing the consequences of climate change and the associated loss of sea ice, and as we prepare for the resource management challenges that lie ahead.

May 14 from 11:30-12 and 1-1:30
Book Signing!!! NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program is pleased to announce the release of its fourth and final book of its series. Written at the middle school level, "Mr. Tanenbaum Explores Atlantic Fisheries" on the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, is filled with fun and exciting facts about fisheries research. To celebrate the release, we are happy to have the authors, Dr. Diane Stanitski and CDR John Adler, as well as illustrator Bruce Cowden, here to sign books. The book signing will be held in the NOAA Library on Thursday, May 14th from 11:30-12:00 and from 1:00 - 1:30. There is no cost for the book.

May 14 at 12 noon (originally scheduled for March 25)
Dr. John Walsh, Professor of Climate Change and chief scientist at the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, will present a seminar on Arctic modeling from a systems perspective. The seminar is part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).
Abstract: Observations of different parts of the Arctic system present a coherent picture of change over the past half century. The climate models used to project future changes capture the past variations to varying degrees Here we survey the performance of global climate models in simulating Arctic climate, with particular attention to simulations of the seasonal cycle, natural variations and greenhouse-driven changes. The role of low-frequency variations in confounding future projections will be given special attention, as will the impacts of deficiencies in model simulations of sea ice and the Arctic terrestrial surface. We will then address the downscaling of Arctic climate simulations by presenting the results of initial attempts to produce high-resolution scenarios of climate change for Alaska.
Remote access

May 19 at 12 noon
Drs. Linwood Pendleton (Senior Fellow, The Ocean Foundation and Director of the Coastal Ocean Values Center ) and David K. Loomis (University of Massachusetts Amherst, Director of the Human Dimensions of Marine and Coastal Ecosystem Program), will present "Measuring the Effects of Coastal Restoration on Coastal Uses." Hosted by NOAA Fisheries, Office of Habitat Conservation.

Powerpoint presentation - Loomis
Powerpoint presentation - Pendleton


Abstract: Many studies have used valuation techniques to predict the potential effect of coastal restoration on human uses, but few provide empirical evidence that restoration indeed affects the way people use and perceive the coast. We take two approaches to examining how coastal restoration affects uses and perception.

May 21 at 10 am in the NOAA Science Center
Larry Schweiger, President of the National Wildlife Foundation, and Dr. Amanda Stoudt, a member of the NWF staff, will present "Safeguarding Fish, Wildlife, and Natural Systems in the Face of Climate Change: A New Era for Conservation." The call-in information for this seminar is
1-888-790-2029
Access code: 60987

Abstract: The unprecedented challenge that climate change poses to fish, wildlife, and natural systems has led to an ongoing transformation of the conservation agenda. This seminar will provide an overview of efforts within the conservation community to reorient their mission, show some practical examples of how natural resources adaptation to climate change is taking place on the ground, and share an update on relevant federal legislation. In addition, opportunities for NOAA and other federal agencies to partner with non-governmental organizations will be discussed, highlighting in particular how NGOs can help make connections with grassroot constituencies and governments at the state and local levels. This seminar is co-hosted with the NWS Office of Hydrologic Development.

May 21 at 12 noon
Albert E Theberge Jr, of the NOAA Central Library, will present "Seeing into the Sea: How the Seafloor Was Discovered." The call-in information for this seminar is
1-866-631-5479
Access code: 39580806

Powerpoint Slides

Abstract: Up until about 160 years ago, the surface of the 70% of our planet covered by water was totally unknown except for small areas bordering the fringes of most continents. Since that time there has been an explosion of knowledge concerning our view of the seafloor. Many individuals and organizations were responsible for this. This presentation will introduce some of the significant individuals and their accomplishments in the history of seafloor mapping. It will also track the evolution of seafloor mapping technologies and how they influenced our view of planet Earth.

May 27 at 12 noon
Dr. Taneil Uttal, NOAA Earth Systems Research Laboratory, will present a seminar as part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).

May 28 at 12 noon
Dr. John Cloud, of the NOAA Central Library, will present on "NOAA work in the high latitudes and the International Polar Year 2007-2008 seminar series." The seminar is part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).

May 20 at 12 noon
Bob Bailey, Oregon Coastal Program Manager, will present "Ocean Resources Management and Marine Spatial Planning for Wave Energy and Marine Reserves in Oregon," Hosted by NOAA Office of Coastal and Resource Management, Coastal Programs Divisions.

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Although the state of Oregon has had an ocean resources management program for more than 20 years, recent events have converged to drive new program activities and create synergies to solve ocean management problems that are expanding the state's ocean management capacity and reach. Bob Bailey, Oregon Coastal Program Manager, will discuss current ocean planning work on marine reserve designations, ocean wave energy development proposals, the West Coast Governors Agreement on Ocean Health, and initiatives with coastal fishermen, local governments, NGOs, universities, and state and federal agencies to apply science, marine spatial databases, and GIS capacity to problems of ocean management. Along the way he will discuss the key roles of various NOAA programs ...as well as blind luck and good timing(!)...in moving these issues forward.

May 29 at 12 noon
Dr. Pablo Clemente of the National Snow and Ice Data Center, will present a seminar as part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).

June 3 at 12 noon
Seminar by Marcia Brown, Vinaya Swaminathan and Lou Ann Dietz from the Foundations of Success-University of Maryland Course in Adaptive Management for Conservation Projects.
Powerpoint slides (in pdf)

Abstract: Foundations of Success (FOS) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the practice of conservation through Adaptive Management - working with practitioners to test assumptions, adapt, and learn. The University of Maryland's Master's Program in Sustainable Development and Conservation Biology (CONS) provides students with the multidisciplinary, conceptual and experiential learning experience necessary to address the biodiversity crisis that now faces the planet. This presentation will provide an overview of Adaptive Management and will introduce attendees to FOS's 2009 training program, Adaptive Management for Conservation. The content of this training program follows the steps of the Conservation Measures Partnership's Open Standards for the Practice of Conservation, which are quickly becoming an industry standard.

June 4 at 12 noon
Ms. Peggy Leung, Deputy Director for the Office of Training and Knowledge Management (OTKM), Department of Commerce, will present "E-Learning: Anytime, Anywhere".

June 5 at 12 noon
Mr. Doug Nguyen from Thomson Reuters will conduct a seminar on how to use Endnote, Endnote Web, and Reference Manager, software tools for publishing and managing bibliographies on the Windows and Macintosh desktop. Using these products, writers save countless hours of typing and interpreting style requirements when creating bibliographies for curricula vitae, manuscripts, thesis/dissertations, grant proposals, reports and other publications. EndNote Web is a Web-based tool for managing and citing references in papers and creating bibliographies. Integrated seamlessly with EndNote desktop and the ISI Web of Knowledge research platform, EndNote Web provides an online collaborative environment for EndNote users. NOAA has an agency-wide site license for these products. For information on how to download these applications, visit the NOAA IT Electronic Store (NITES) web site's "NOAA Site License with ISI ResearchSoft for Bibliographic Management Tools" page: http://www.nites.noaa.gov/bpa/display.asp?bpaID=6. REMOTE ACCESS via WEBINAR will be provided for this library instruction seminar:

June 8 at 12 noon
Dr. Elliott Norse, President and Founder of Marine Conservation Biology Institution, will present "The End of the Blue Frontier: Managing Places in the Sea".
Powerpoint slides (in pdf)
Abstract: Dr. Norse received his Ph.D. in marine ecology, and since 1978 he's focused on environmental policy at the US Environmental Protection Agency, White House Council on Environmental Quality, Ecological Society of America, The Wilderness Society, and Ocean Conservancy. MCBI is a conservation advocacy organization focusing on ecosystem-based management including marine reserves, destructive fishing methods and ocean zoning as ways to protect, recover and sustainably use places in the sea. Elliott's 140+ publications include Global Marine Biological Diversity: A Strategy for Building Conservation into Decision Making (1993), Marine Conservation Biology: The Science of Maintaining the Sea’s Biodiversity (2005), "Resolving mismatches in U.S. ocean governance" in Science (2006) and "Essential ecological insights for marine ecosystem-based management and marine spatial planning" in Marine Policy (2008). He's a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation and recipient of NOAA's Nancy Foster Award for Habitat Conservation. The seminar is hosted by NOAA OAR Office of Communications.

June 9 at 12 noon
Charles Stock, a research oceangrapher with NOAA's Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), will present "From Phytoplankton to Fish: Global Patterns in the Energy Flow through Marine Ecosystems." GFDL's joint institute is hosting a workshop with NMFS and the larger community of fisheries and climate scientists in mid-June, to see how global climate models can help fisheries management.

Powerpoint slides (in pdf)

Abstract: Predicting the impact of climate change on higher trophic levels in marine ecosystems (e.g., fisheries) is hampered by uncertainties in the factors controlling the propagation of primary production through the marine food web. A marine ecosystem model and two compilations of observed and derived phytoplankton and mesozooplankton productivity estimates are thus used to diagnose the factors controlling global patterns in the ratio of mesozooplankton productivity to primary productivity (referred to as the z-ratio). Results suggest a modest yet significant (/r/ = 0.4) increasing trend in /z/-ratios with productivity, from values of ~0.01-0.04 in the oligotrophic sub-tropical gyres to >0.1 in highly productive upwelling regions. Two mechanisms were responsible: 1) zooplankton gross growth efficiencies increased as ingestion rates far exceeded basal metabolic costs in productive regions; and 2) the increasing dominance of large phytoplankton in such systems shortened the trophic distance between primary producers and mesozooplankton. Results suggest that climate-driven changes in primary production may be amplified at higher trophic levels.

June 10 at 12 noon
Teresa Turk, NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science and Technology, Office of International Affairs, will present "Capacity Building and Partnerships in West Africa."

Powerpoint slides (in pdf)

Abstract: The 2007 Magnuson-Stevens Act calls on the United States to promote improved monitoring, control, and surveillance for high seas and Regional Fisheries Management Organization (RFMO) fisheries; improve the effectiveness of RFMOs through adoption of IUU vessel lists, stronger port state controls, and market-related measures; and build capacity in other countries to ensure sustainable fisheries and regulatory enforcement. To further NOAA Fisheries Service efforts in Africa, we have been collaborating with the U.S. Navy's African Partnership Station (APS) to improve maritime safety, security, and resource stewardship. We participated in an on-board, fisheries-focused reception in Senegal in 2007, including a speech by a representative of the Senegalese Ministry of Fisheries on the importance of fisheries to maritime security in the region. In early April 2008, NOAA Fisheries coordinated a 10 day observer training workshop on board APS vessel, HSV2 Swift, in Tema, Ghana. We worked with the Ghanaian Ministry of Fisheries to offer a training program for up to 35 fishery observers. The program trained observers to improve the ways they collect data for scientific research and monitoring of fish stocks and bycatch within domestic and international fisheries. NOAA Fisheries also provided Ghana with safety and scientific equipment for use by observers while performing their duties. In February 2009, NOAA Fisheries in coordination with the Ministry of Fisheries Senegal and through the US Navy's APS, USS Nashville, provided a second observer training to 40 Senegalese observers and several interested NGO's and university students. The presentation will discuss these ongoing activities and future plans for a coordinated engagement working with a variety of partners dedicated to improving fisheries management and combating IUU fishing in West Africa.
Bio: Teresa Turk is a fisheries biologist with NOAA Fisheries, Office of International Affairs and serves as the coordinator for international observer programs and capacity building projects in W. Africa. She also works for the Office of Science and Technology, National Observer Program and serves as the National Coordinator for the development of the Fisheries Scientific Computing System (FSCS). She received her B.S. in Zoology and M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Arkansas and her M.S. in Fisheries Science from the University of Washington. She has been working toward improving observer programs for the past 20 years. Most recently, she has been actively engaged in assisting the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) efforts to develop and implement a regional observer program for transshipment vessels in the Atlantic Ocean and coordinating the development of international observer training for West Africa.

June 17 at 12 noon
Presentation by Dr. Jackie M. Grebmeier, Assistant Professor Evolutionary Bioinformatics, University of Tennessee. This seminar is part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).
Dr. Grebmeier is a research professor at the Chesapeake Biological Laboratory. Her research interests are related to pelagic-benthic coupling, benthic carbon cycling, and benthic faunal population structure in the marine environment. Over the last 20 years, her field research program in both the Arctic and Antarctic has focused on such topics as understanding how water column processes influence biological productivity in Arctic waters and sediments, how materials are exchanged between the sea bed and overlying waters, and documenting longer-term trends in ecosystem health of Arctic continental shelves.

June 18 at 12 noon
David B. MacNeill, Fisheries Specialist, New York Sea Grant, SUNY College at Oswego, Oswego, New York andPaul R. Bowser, Professor of Aquatic Animal Medicine, Aquatic Animal Health Program, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, will present "NY Sea Grant's Proactive Research and Extension Responses to Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS)."

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Historically, Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS) has been described as one of the most devastating fish diseases on a worldwide basis and has decimated fresh-water reared rainbow trout in the European continent for many years. Disease events known as early as the 1930's were thought to have a viral cause (a viral etiology), but it was not until the early 1960's when the techniques of fish cell culture became available, that the virus was cultured and proven as the cause of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia. A major event in the history of VHS occurred in 1988 and 1989 when VHSV was isolated from apparently normal returning sea-run chinook and coho salmon in the Puget Sound area of Washington State in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Discovery of VHSV in marine fish made the fish health community think of VHSV as a pathogen of marine fish that somehow moved into the freshwater trout culture facilities of Europe in the 1930's. The emergence of VHSV in the Great Lakes Basin of North America in 2005 marked another major milestone in the history of this virus and the disease it causes. Of additional concern is the fact that VHSV has also been isolated from Atlantic herring, Striped bass and mummichog in the Northwest Atlantic (Gulf of Maine, Bay of Fundy). These isolations revealed the presence of a virus that was genetically most closely related to the Pacific Northwest genotype. This discovery presents a potential a risk to Atlantic species, in that the no one knows the relative susceptibility of these species to infection and possible losses due to disease from VHSV. As a pathogen that is listed by the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health) as reportable, the finding of VHSV in these new locations has significant trade implications on a national and international level and has already demonstrated economic impacts to bait dealers, and commercial fish processors in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.

In response to the discovery of a freshwater form of VHSV in the Great Lakes and a Pacific genotype in Northwest Atlantic, New York Sea Grant proactively and effectively responded to the issue through sponsored research integrated with extension outreach on a statewide, regional and national scale. These efforts include pioneering research on VHS diagnostics, technical/policy discussions with legislative offices, an information workshop for marine Sea Grant colleagues, facilitated meetings between regulatory authorities and affected businesses, partnerships with regulatory agencies and fish health experts to develop a national outreach plan and applied research with prominent fish health experts.

June 24 at 12 noon
Matt Austin, NOS Office of Coast Survey Cartographic and Geospatial Technologies Program, will present "Development of the Fishing Ecosystem Analysis Tool (FEAT)."

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The Fishing Ecosystem Analysis Tool (FEAT) is a system for analyzing and spatially displaying commercial and recreational catch data in combination with the place-based approach to defining and measuring fishing communities envisioned by National Standard 8 of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. Fishing communities in Hawaii are currently defined at the island level, which is overly broad for conducting social impact analysis. A suitable scale for many analyses is Zip Code Tabulation Area, which the U.S. Bureau of the Census developed by aggregating census blocks. We refer to these areas as Socioeconomic Zones because they can be characterized using Census socioeconomic variables such household income, poverty level, education, ethnicity and many others. Socioeconomic zones can be linked to commercial marine license catch data and recreational catch data using anglers' zip codes. This allows for spatial analysis and reporting of catch variables such as species, pounds landed, port of landing, gear used, and fishing area location. We can then associate any of these variables with socioeconomic zones and characteristics. Data from 10 years of commercial marine license catch reports and 7 years of recreational catch data currently are entered into the database. We will provide a number of examples of possible analyses that can be conducted with FEAT, which has the capability to tie in with other Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC) data systems and to be used for many purposes other than analysis of human dimensions data.

June 30 at 12 noon
John Lupton, PhD, NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Lab, will present "Venting of liquid carbon dioxide on a Mariana Arc submarine volcano: A natural laboratory for studying effects of ocean acidification."

Powerpoint presentation (Lupton_063009.ZIP, 100 MB including ppt and video clips)

Powerpoint only (ppt)

Abstract: The NOAA Vents Program has recently been studying activity on submarine volcanoes along volcanic arcs. These studies have revealed that several of these submarine arc volcanoes are venting fluids highly concentrated in carbon dioxide. One in particular, NW Eifuku volcano in the northern Mariana Arc, is releasing droplets of pure liquid CO2 into the ocean at about 1600 m depth, about one mile under the ocean surface. The high CO2 concentrations at this vent site, which is appropriately named Champagne, locally produce acidic or low pH conditions that affect the mussels and other organisms that inhabit the volcano. Five other volcanoes on the Mariana and Tonga-Kermadec Arcs have also been found to be venting CO2 as a pure gas phase. These sites represent valuable natural laboratories for studying the effects of acidic CO2-rich environments on marine ecosytems.

July 1 at 12 noon
Anna Fiolek, NOAA Central Library, will present "Polar Resources in the NOAA Central Library Network." This seminar is part of the NODC International Polar Year (IPY) Seminar Series (http://www.nodc.noaa.gov/General/NODC-About/Outreach/NODC-seminars09.html#IPYSeminars).
Abstract: Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, the NOAA Central Library (NCL) networks over thirty NOAA libraries nationwide. NCL is considered the most comprehensive multidisciplinary and historically richest scientific collection in hydrographic surveying, oceanography, ocean engineering, atmospheric sciences (climatology and meteorology), meteorological satellite applications, living marine resources, geophysics, cartography, and mathematics in the United States. It incorporates holdings of NOAA’s predecessor agencies, including the Coast and Geodetic Survey, National Weather Service, and the Bureau of Fisheries. The collections reflect the history of these organizations, their scientific research, observations and data from 1820 to the present. The NOAA Library Network collections are unique; over 40% of the items in NOAALINC (the online catalog) and their manual catalogs are not found anywhere else. Unique polar research includes historic and current reports from the various polar expeditions, and research and observations from both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. The presence of these unique and historical resources in NOAA impelled the Library to participate in the 4th International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 activities. Many unique and historically valuable NOAA polar research documents and scientific data, in the forms of digital videos, still images, and datasets, have been entered into the NOAALINC, the National Oceanographic Data Center Ocean Archive System (OAC), and other oceanographic information catalogs and databases. This was possible thanks to the Library’s collaboration with several NOAA projects and programs, including the Video Data Management System (VDMS), Climate Data Modernization Program (CDMP), and NODC Cruise Report Program. Over two hundred thirty of these unique and historically valuable documents were selected, cataloged, imaged and entered into NOAALINC to assure online, open access to their full-text files. A comprehensive bibliography has been prepared to provide an additional access point to the polar related resources via the Library’s home page. This online bibliography also serves as an Internet locator for printed and remote resources in polar research. It is located at: http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/Bibliographies/IPY2007.pdf. During the 4th IPY, the NOAA Library Network collections serve as an important resource for polar data and research. The Library’s IPY home page and the Polar Poster developed in NCL serve as an additional access point to the library’s polar resources. The library's IPY home page and Polar Poster are located at: http://www.lib.noaa.gov/collections/ipy.html ; http://docs.lib.noaa.gov/rescue/Bibliographies/IPY2007_poster.pdf.

TO BE RESCHEDULED
Ed Kruse, International Affairs Specialist, NOS International Program Office, and Doctoral candidate, University of Maryland, Marine Estuarine and Environmental Science program, will present "Reducing Threats of Land-based Sources of Pollution to Human and Ecosystem Health: A case study for the Island of Dominica."

Abstract: Dominica is the northern most windward island in the Caribbean Sea. It’s economy is mainly supported by agriculture however the importance of tourism and specifically eco-tourism is a growing economic sector. A preliminary assessment of the vulnerability of the Springfield catchment area to impacts from anthropogenic pollutants was conducted to identify potential threats to the watershed and the drinking water supply. The Springfield catchment area serves as the drinking water source for the City of Roseau and the surrounding environs. Data were collected on water flow, land use, and basic physical/chemical parameters (DO, pH, nitrogen, dissolved solids) to establish an initial baseline. A preliminary inventory of point and nonpoint sources of pollution was obtained and the data were geocoded for analysis by the geographic information system. Data on landuse, soils, vegetation and topography were also collected and brought into ArcGis. Analysis of the data collected revealed several potential anthropogenic sources of contamination which could pose detrimental impacts to the catchments water quality. Important threats identified by this study included: (1) heavy erosion and sedimentation during high rainfall periods, (2) migration of pesticide and fertilizer residues into raw drinking water; (3) unregulated trash disposal within the catchment area, (4) potential high levels of disinfection by products (trihalomethanes and haloaetic acid) from chlorination of the drinking water., and runoff from road surfaces (oil,grease). Anthropogenic effects observed in the field or documented in the data review ranged from pesticide and fertilizer residues from farming practices, sedimentation, disinfection by products resulting from chlorination of organic rich water, and poorly planned human development development in the headwaters of the catchment area. The catchment is traversed by a major road connecting Roseau with the primary airport at Melville Hall. All drainage form the road drains directly into the catchment basin through a series of culverts and through direct runoff from the road surface. It is recommended that a source water protection plan be developed and implemented in combination with additional monitoring of water quality for disinfection byproducts, herbicides/pesticides, and microbiological contaminants particularily parasites that are resistant to disinfection by chlorinati.

July 16 at 12 noon
John C. Bortniak (Commander NOAA Corps (Retired), will present "Recollections on Wintering Over at The South Pole 1979 on The 30 Year Anniversary.
Powerpoint presentation (pdf format)

Thursday, July 16 from 2:00 - 3:00 EST
YOUR ONLINE NOAA LIBRARY: Three webinars featuring customized training for NOAA staff on effective use of library electronic resources.

Session #1, Thursday, July 16, 2-3pm EST: An Overview of CSA Illumina Databases:

• Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA)
• BioOne Abstracts and Indexes
• Conference Papers Index
• Meteorological and Geoastrophysical Abstracts (MGA)
• Oceanic Abstracts
• Water Resources Abstracts
• TOXLINE
Search across thousands of journals on topics such as wave and current energy, climate change, marine spatial planning, habitat restoration, ecosystem management, and more.

These databases are available to all NOAA staff nationwide via the NOAA Central Library's databases page. (Note MGA is available only to NOAA staff in Silver Spring, Camp Springs, Miami, Boulder, and Seattle.) Featured will be an introduction to CSA Illustrata, a database employing "deep indexing" to categorize and enable searching of tables, figures, graphs, charts and other illustrations from the scholarly research and technical literature. The webinar will be presented by a Customer Training Specialist from CSA.
Please register by sending email to Library.Reference@noaa.gov. You will be sent a confirmation email with link to join the Webinar. NOAA staff and contractors nationwide are welcome to register.

Thursday, August 6
Marine Spatial Planning and Ecosystem Based Management --The Rhode Island Example, presented by
Grover Fugate, Executive Director, Coastal Resources Management Council, Oliver Stedman Government Center, Wakefield, Rhode Island.
Powerpoint slides (ppt format)

Abstract: The Rhode Island Ocean SAMP, or Ocean Special Area Management Plan, will define use zones for Rhode Island's offshore waters through a research and planning process that integrates the best available science with open public input and involvement. From 2008 to 2010, through a public policy process that includes scientific research and stakeholder involvement, the Ocean SAMP will make Rhode Island the first state in the nation to zone its offshore waters for diverse activities including renewable energy development. This process will also protect current uses and habitats through zones for commercial fishing; critical habitats for fish, marine animals, and birds; marine transport; and more.

Leading this project is the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC), the state's coastal management agency. Among other responsibilities, CRMC is charged with managing the state's submerged lands. CRMC has already zoned Rhode Island's near-shore waters for a variety of uses, from industrial ports to conservation areas. CRMC is leading the SAMP effort with the support of the University of Rhode Island (URI). Federal agencies such as the Minerals Management Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which have authority in federal waters, will participate, as will state agencies including the R.I. Department of Environmental Management. Research projects undertaken by URI scientists will provide the essential scientific basis for Ocean SAMP policy development. These projects assess wind speeds, appropriate technologies, marine life, geology, meteorology, and more. Information about each project is available on the Ocean SAMP web site.

Tuesday, August 11 at 10:30 am EST
"Massachusetts Ocean Management Planning" presented by
Bruce Carlisle, Deputy Director, Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management
Powerpoint slides

Abstract: On May 28, 2008 Governor Deval Patrick signed the Oceans Act of 2008. The Oceans Act requires the Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs to develop a comprehensive ocean management plan, following a scientific and stakeholder process that leads to a draft plan by summer of 2009, and the final promulgation of the plan by December 31, 2009. The plan will use comprehensive science-based planning to assure long-term protection and sustainable use of ocean resources and to accommodate the siting of appropriate scale offshore renewable energy facilities. The draft plan was released for public comment on June 30, 2009. Mr. Carlisle will talk about the process for developing the plan and the information it contains. More information on the Ocean Management Plan can be found on the Massachusetts CZM Program web site: http://www.mass.gov/czm/czm.htm. Sponsored by the NOAA NOS Office of Coastal and Resource Management, Atlantic Coastal Management Programs and Planning/Budgeting.

Bio: Bruce Carlisle is the Assistant Director of the Massachusetts Coastal Zone Management Program in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. Mr. Carlisle has been with CZM since 1993, serving in several positions, including coordinator of the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program and manager of the Wetlands Restoration Program, before being promoted to Assistant Director in 2005. Mr. Carlisle has a masters in Environmental Policy from Tufts University.

Wednesday, August 12 at 12 noon
"Investigation of the Hurricane Katrina Case in New Orleans: National Weather Service Environmental Risk Communications Across Cultures" presented by Curtis D. Cary, director of Communications and Executive Affairs for NOAA's NWS, and Vankita Brown, doctoral student in Mass Communications and Media Studies at Howard University in Washington, DC. Vankita was awarded a NOAA Graduate Scientist Fellowship in 2007 and is assigned to the National Weather Service.

Abstract: Today, the National Weather Service has some of the most thorough products and precise lead times for predicting weather events; yet, with all its definitive data some people, because of adverse risk behavior, still succumb unnecessarily to weather incidents. This paradox has caused NWS to consider employing methods, thought to be unconventional in an empirical scientific environment that will examine this challenge. NOAA and the National Weather Service representatives recognize the importance of social science research and integrate disciplines such as, anthropology, psychology, sociology, economics, and communications to meet their goals and mission. This interdisciplinary approach will provide an opportunity to enhance and improve the ability of the NWS to protect life and property. As a part of this initiative, NWS has undertaken the task of investigating the impacts of culture on weather related risk communication on diverse and vulnerable populations. NWS Communications Director, Curtis Carey, Ph.D. and NOAA Graduate Scientist, Vankita Brown, are working together to discover ways in which culture influences risk perception and behavior during times of severe weather events and natural disasters. In June, Brown traveled to New Orleans for two weeks to talk with emergency management personnel, academic professionals, and residents for phase one of her ongoing research project on communicating risk across cultures. She will present her initial findings in this brown bag luncheon. Her study will serve as a framework or model to assist forecasters in developing more effective protocols and mechanisms for communicating risks to diverse and vulnerable publics.

Bios: Curtis D. Carey, Ph.D., has a unique combination of international and domestic communications experience, serving in a variety of commercial broadcasting, government, military, and academic positions. He is currently the director of Communications and Executive Affairs for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Weather Service. He has served as a national press officer for NOAA and the Department of The Interior, managing media relations on issues ranging from domestic energy policy to environmental sciences Dr. Carey has a B.A. (cum laude) in Asian Studies with a minor in Communication from the University of the State of New York; a Graduate Certificate in Integrated Marketing Communication from the University of Denver; a M.A. in Communication from the University of Oklahoma; and a Ph.D. in Communication and Culture from Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Vankita Brown is a doctoral student in Mass Communications and Media Studies at Howard University in Washington, DC. She was granted the prestigious NOAA Graduate Scientist Fellowship in 2007 and is assigned to the National Weather Service. Her current research involves understanding how culture affects decision making and behavior in the threat of natural disasters.Prior to pursuing her Ph.D., Brown worked for various non-profit agencies in public relations. She is a member of Community Service Public Relations Council and CORO Women in Leadership. Brown is a recent recipient of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication's Inez Kaiser Graduate Student of Color Award. She has a M.A. in Media Communications Management from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri and a B.A. in Mass Communications from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Friday, August 21, at 12 noon
Title: Chart the Future: NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan
Speaker: Paul Doremus, Deputy Assistant Administrator & Director of Strategic Planning, NOAA Program, Planning and Integration
Speaker Bio: http://www.ppi.noaa.gov/PPI_Organization/paul_doremus.html
Remote access via webinar will be available.

Abstract: It’s time to "Chart the Future" to better prepare for the external developments and challenges we face while continuing to serve as the nation’s most trusted source on environmental leadership. Join us in our commitment to reassess and renew the mission, vision, and goals of NOAA as part of the Next Generation Strategic Plan. The objective of the Next Generation Strategic Plan is to inform and respond to the priorities of the new administration; to engage and respond to stakeholders; to respond to the long-term external challenges facing the agency; and to meet the GPRA and related requirements. This initiative aims to support our role in helping understand and predict changes in Earth's environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation's economic, social, and environmental needs.
Powerpoint Slides (ppt format)

Thursday, September 10 at 12 noon
Title: The 7th Framework Program for Research of the European Commission - Transatlantic opportunites for research cooperation.
Speaker: Astrid Koch, European Commission Science and Technology Counselor

Powerpoint slides (pdf, 1,380 KB)


Abstract: With this brown bag seminar the European Commission would like to increase the knowledge within NOAA about our 7th Framework Programme and lay the foundation for developing ways to collaborate on research and policy topics (Examples, but not limited to: space weather, earth observation, data management, modelling, ocean management, climate change impacts). The European Commission launched new calls for research proposals in a variety of areas -- all open to partnerships with countries from outside the European Research Area, including the United States. U.S. research institutions, universities and industry are invited to join research proposals under the Cooperation, Capacities and People Programme of the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Development (FP7). Sponsored by NOAA Research, International Activities Office.

Tuesday, September 15 at 12 noon
DC EnvironMentors will present a review of the benefits to NOAA employees in serving as a mentor to area Senior High School Students in developing a science project, as well as many other volunteer opportunities to help high school students consider careers in the environmental sciences. It is a great opportunity for NOAA employees to share their expertise.
Speakers: Jacklyn Shafir, DC EnvironMentors Program Manager; Ed Gorecki, former Mentor.
Powerpoint slides (pdf>

Wednesday, September 16 at 12 noon
Title: Communicating NOAA's Science and Data Through Social Media Tools
Speakers: Bradley Akamine, NOAA Director of Online Communications, Ron Jones, NWS Internet Projects Specialist and Chair, DoC Social Media Working Group, Pat Erdenberger, NOAA Records Officer, Kate Naughten, NOAA Fisheries, and Emily Crum, NOAA National Ocean Service.
Powerpoint slides (pdf; 1014 KB)

Abstract: Panel Discussion on best practices, policies, and innovative use of social media tools within NOAA and Department of Commerce. Has your program considered using YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Addthis.com, Flickr, or other Web 2.0 tools? Lively discussion promised on using these new technology and communications tools to make NOAA data and science more useful, more efficient and more transparent to the public.

Thursday, September 17 at 12 noon
Title: "Building Partnerships to Improve Climate and Drought Monitoring on the Southern Colorado Plateau" presented by the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS) RISA team. Sponsored by Climate Program Office.
Speakers: Daniel Ferguson, Program Manager, CLIMAS, University of Arizona, Powerpoint slides (pdf; 1228KB)
Mike Crimmins, Climate Science Extension Specialist, University of Arizona, Powerpoint slides (pdf; 2313KB)
Arnold Taylor, Hopi Department of Natural Resources, Powerpoint slides (pdf; 798KB)

Abstract: Over the last several years, the Climate Assessment for the Southwest (CLIMAS) program, based at the University of Arizona, has worked with a wide variety of stakeholders in the Southwest to increase their capacity to cope with ongoing drought conditions. In recent years, stakeholders have become increasingly concerned with understanding and planning for anticipated climate changes, including the possibility of prolonged drought conditions throughout the region. The warmer and drier conditions already experienced in the Southwest are resulting in significant cultural and socioeconomic impacts that are expected to worsen with increased warming. In Arizona and New Mexico, American Indian Nations are managing large areas of land and water resources, yet they often lack robust climate data and information to inform their decisions. This presentation will focus on emerging CLIMAS efforts to partner with the Hopi Nation and Navajo Nation to: 1) help develop a network of natural resource managers that ensures better access to drought and climate information and 2) improve climate and drought monitoring on the southern Colorado Plateau. This emergent work with Native Nations is part of ongoing CLIMAS efforts to build the long-term partnerships necessary to foster climate adaptation capacity throughout the Southwest.

September 22 at 12:00 noon
"A Program Evaluation Network for NOAA" presented by Cassandra Barnes, Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, OAR
Powerpoint slides (pdf; 1,316 KB)

Abstract: Program Evaluation is a tool used to describe why your program is seeing the results it is. Join me as I describe the tools and pointers I learned from a detail assignment at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Evaluation Support Division. The presentation will provide some ideals that NOAA can adapt to build capacity to conduct program evaluation. What other organizations in NOAA are interested in Program Evaluation? Please, sign-up for the new Program Evaluation Network during the presentation.

September 24 at 12:00 noon
"Web Training Through the Federal Acquisition Institute," presented by Department of Defense, Federal Acquisition Institute. Hosted by NOAA Fisheries EEO/Diversity Committee.
Powerpoint slides (pdf)

Tuesday, September 29 at 12:00 PM
Title: "Oceans for Life: Enhancing Cultural Understanding through Ocean Science" will be presented by the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS) and the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF).
Speakers: Jonathan Shannon, Oceans For Life 2009 program director, ONMS Education Liaison, Michiko Martin, ONMS Communications and Outreach Division head, Letise LaFeir, NMSF Director of Education and Government Relations

Powerpoint slides (pdf)

Abstract: All life in the ocean is connected and in the same way our human cultures are all connected. Diversity is a strength in the ocean world. So too in ours. The goal of the Ocean for Life program is to bring better understanding of the diverse marine world and of the diverse peoples of the world. Our lives depend on close connections to the ocean -- and on the close connections that link us all. During two field studies, one to the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (July 15-30) and the other to the Cordell Bank, Gulf of the Farallones, and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuaries (July 29-Aug 9), high school students from Western and Middle Eastern countries worked together to learn more about marine science and each other's cultures. The students captured their experience by creating youth media projects based upon the three themes of Ocean for Life: a sense of place, interconnectedness, and ocean conservation and stewardship. These projects will be shared along with highlights from the two field studies. Upon returning to their home communities, the participants are encouraged to use their experience to become better stewards of their local environment, promote its connection to the ocean, and strengthen the links they have built to the communities and cultures of their fellow participants. We will also discuss how you can help this effort, through serving as a mentor and/or forum moderator on www.oceanforlife.org.

Tuesday, October 6 at 12 noon
Title: "How Charts Have Played a Role in American History"
Speakers: Captains Steven Barnum and John Lowell, Office of Coast Survey; Albert Theberge, NOAA Central Library
Captain Barnum slides - NOAA Charts Make History
Skip Theberge slides - A Look Back: NOAA Charts in History
Captain Lowell slides - Past and Future of NOAA's Nautical Chart System
Abstract: NOAA is the nation's chartmaker. Since the early 1800s, cartographers developing nautical charts for NOAA predecessor organizations have played a vital -- but usually unrecognized -- role in major historical events. This presentation will provide a fascinating look at how charts and other Coast Survey graphical products were involved in American history, from 1807 to 1945, with highlights from the Civil War, the two World Wars, and an analysis of the 1927 Mississippi River flood. Coast Survey will briefly describe the "chart of the future." Note: Following the seminar, there will be a special presentation to show appreciation for the assistance provided by NOAA Library to Office of Coast Survey.

Wednesday, October 14 at 12 noon
Title: The Australian Rip Current Problem: Research, outreach and politics
Speaker: Dr Rob Brander, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
Abstract: It is estimated that at any given time, approximately 18,000 rip currents operate on Australia's 11,000 beaches. It is therefore not surprising that the vast majority of the 90 coastal drownings and 90% of the more than 15,000 rescues each year are related to rip currents. Unfortunately, the incidence of rip related drownings has not changed in the last decade suggesting that whatever rip education is in place is not working. For example, results from ongoing research has shown that 60% of Australian beachgoers cannot recognize a rip current. One of the fundamental limitations is that findings from scientific rip research have not translated successfully into beach safety programs and interventions. Furthermore, existing rip education in Australia is largely ad hoc, inconsistent and hindered by politics. This seminar describes Australian rip current systems and the challenges and limitations facing the improvement of rip current research, education and awareness.
View the YouTube video Don't get sucked in by the rip..

Thursday, October 15 at 12 noon
Title: Program Evaluators' Network: The PEN is a voluntary, informal network that meets monthly to 1) share best practices and lessons learned in evaluation and 2) explores the theory, practice, and policy of evaluation.
Contact: Cassandra.Barnes@noaa.gov, 301-734-1190, Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, OAR
Abstract:
Introduction (Ice Breaker)
What is Program Evaluation?
Where is Program Evaluation in NOAA?
Discuss Future Monthly Meetings: topics of interest
Possible examples:
* peer review article discussion
* logic models
* program evaluation methodology
* outcome vs. output
* overcoming evaluation resistance
More information: Cassandra's Library Presentation on 9/22/09 (pdf format)

Tuesday, October 20 at 12 noon
Title: The Structure and Progress of the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)
Speakers: Jennie Lyons (IOOS Communications) and April Black (IOOS Legislative Affairs)
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: As "our eyes on the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes", the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) is a tool for tracking, predicting, managing, and adapting to changes in our marine environment. IOOS delivers the data and information needed to increase our understanding of our waters, so decision makers can take action to improve safety, enhance the economy, and protect the environment. NOAA is proud to lead a national partnership of 17 federal agencies and 11 regions working together to link marine data in an easy-to-use standard format that will provide users with a composite picture of our nation's waters in an accurate and timely manner. This seminar will discuss some of the complexities of the national IOOS efforts, what NOAA and its partners are doing to integrate our ocean and coastal data, and IOOS benefits to data users, the general public, and the nation.

Thursday, October 22 at 12 noon
Title: "Methods and measurements of relative sea level and monitoring its long-term trends and anomalies, with emphasis on the June-July 2009 East Coast event"
Speaker: William Sweet, Ph.D., NOAA NOS/CO-OPS Oceanographer
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: NOAA's Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) has been measuring sea level (SL) for over 150 years. Historically tasked with providing a reference for charting and marine boundaries, the national network tracks relative regional SL trends that are location-specific and vary by +/-1 cm/yr nationwide. The network also detects variability about the mean seasonal SL cycle that CO-OPS derives and incorporates into its tidal predictions. An extreme in this variability occurred during June and July 2009 when SL was ~0.3 m higher than predicted along most of the U.S. East Coast. Near-peak levels in the latter half of June coincided with a perigean-spring tide that added to the observed SL anomaly and flooded many coastal areas in the absence of coastal storms normally causing these conditions. The June - July 2009 SL anomaly was the most extreme event to occur simultaneously over the entire East Coast during a summer period as far back as 1980.

Friday, October 23 at 12 noon
Title: Marine Biodiversity Research in Canada: the Canadian Healthy Ocean Network (CHONe; www.chone.ca)
Speaker: Dr. Paul Snelgrove, Memorial University in Canada, and Program Director for the Canadian Healthy Ocean Network (CHONe; www.chone.ca).
Abstract: With about 15 academic institutions and over 100 PIs, CHONe is the largest Canadian research program focusing on marine biodiversity. The Network focuses particularly on geographical patterns in biodiversity, population connectivity and ecosystem functionality, and management support is an important element in the CHONe approach. Discussion on considering how activities within NOAA might be coordinated with those of CHONe.

Wednesday, November 4 from 10-3
Library Book Fair - The NOAA Central Library will host its 16th Annual Book Fair and Flea Market on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at the NOAA Central Library. The Library is located on the 2nd Floor of SSMC #3 in Silver Spring.
Four separate events are scheduled at the Library on November 4th:
1) Association Book Exhibit will display new publications in all fields of interest to NOAA. Please offer your suggestions regarding books to be displayed to Steve.Quillen@noaa.gov. The exhibit will give us an opportunity to evaluate the books before purchasing.
2) Duplicate copies of Library material will be on display and available for the taking.
3) A Flea Market is being sponsored by the Friends of the NOAA Library. Donations are still being accepted for the Flea Market. Proceeds will be used to benefit the Friends of the NOAA Library which is a tax-exempt charitable organization dedicated to support the library through acquisitions, preservation and information dissemination. Drop off your donations with Steve Quillen at the NOAA Central Library (301-713-2600 x122) or Doria Grimes, a Friends member, at Room 6214 SSMC 1 (301-713-1055 x157)
4) Brown Bag Seminar - rescheduled for Nov. 5

Thursday, November 5 (rescheduled from Nov 4) at 12 noon
Title: NOAA's Gulf of Mexico Marine Debris Project: Accomplishments and Lessons Learned
Speaker: Nir Barnea, NOAA Office of Response and Restoration, Seattle
Abstract: During the 2005 hurricane season, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita inflicted severe damage on the Gulf of Mexico coastal region and deposited huge amounts of debris over large areas of the Gulf coastal waters. This submerged debris posed a persistent hazard to commercial navigation, fishing activities, recreational boating, and living marine resources. With Congressional funding, NOAA's Office of Coast Survey (OCS) and Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R;) launched a joint project to address marine debris impacts on the Gulf Coast. Collaborating with Federal, State, and local agencies, the project conducted side scan sonar surveys and mapping of nearshore waters, coordinated multi-agency review of marine debris to facilitate removal, and posted survey results and other information on the project website at http://gulfofmexico.marinedebris.noaa.gov/. Partnering with Sea Grant, the project conducted an extensive public outreach campaign to fishing communities and the general public. Since August, 2006, the project has surveyed 1580 square nautical mile, mapped 7,000 submerged items, developed a model to predict marine debris dispersion, and collaborated with its regional partners to generate a document containing lessons learned from the response to this large-scale marine debris dispersion, as well as recommendations and best practices to address future such event. Sponsored by NOAA Marine Debris program.

Tuesday, November 17 at 12 noon
Title: Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Center Databases - Applications and Uses
Speakers: Jordan Gass and Mimi D'Iorio, NOAA National Marine Protected Areas Center, Monterey, California
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: The MPA Center maintains various databases on state, federal, territorial and tribal marine protected areas throughout the US. The MPAs are classified based on the types of protection, and coupled with the geospatial boundary data, these data can be used to support a number of NOAA programs and partners. This talk will describe the MPA Center databases including the types of data, and examples of applications and uses for the coastal, marine and Great Lakes environments of the US.

Wednesday, November 18 at 12 noon
The NOAA NMFS Office of Habitat Conservation will present the 2009 Dr. Nancy Foster Habitat Conservation Award and seminar. The annual award, which honors a commitment of excellence in service to habitat conservation, will be presented to Charles ("Si") Simenstad, Research Professor and Coordinator, Wetland Ecosystem Team, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington. Mr. Simenstad will then present a library brown bag seminar:
Title: The Need for More Strategic Estuarine/Marine Restoration and Conservation: The Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP) Approach
Abstract: Most opportunistic restoration and conservation of estuarine/marine ecosystems are presumed to be universally beneficial to ecosystem functions, goods and services. However, limited resources and focused objectives (e.g., essential fish habitat) would dictate that we need to be more strategic in selecting what restoration/conservation actions and where and how we deploy them in the coastal landscapes. Lessons learned from many of the larger ecosystem restoration projects suggest that it is challenging to plan and implement a comprehensive ecosystem approach. The Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP) is designing restoration and conservation of nearshore beaches, estuaries and deltas around the entire ~4000 km of the Sound's shoreline. Our approach is based on: (1) documenting historic changes of geomorphic and ecological structure in shoreline landforms; (2) assessing to what extent these changes have resulted in the impairment of nearshore ecosystem processes and the implications of degraded ecosystem functions, goods and services; (3) developing spatially-explicit inventory of restoration/conservation needs; (4) designing strategies for optimal recovery and conservation of nearshore processes in specific nearshore "process units"; (5) evaluating the risk to these strategies of future population growth and development, and climate change, anticipated for the Puget Sound region; and, (6) assembling portfolios of restoration/conservation actions that would provide optimal ecosystem benefit, persistence and resilience. If and when implemented, rigorous monitoring and scientific assessment will be nested in an adaptive management framework that will allow us to test and refine the outcomes of such a strategic approach.

Tuesday, December 1 at 12 noon
Title: Program Evaluators' Network: The PEN is a voluntary, informal network that meets monthly to 1) share best practices and lessons learned in evaluation and 2) explores the theory, practice, and policy of evaluation.
Contact: Cassandra.Barnes@noaa.gov, 301-734-1190, Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, OAR.
Remote access available. See above.

Thursday, December 10 at 11:30
Holiday Party and Seminar for all NOAA staff and contractors!
NOAA Holiday Band from 11:30 - 12 noon along with refreshments and mixing and mingling!
Speaker at 12 noon: Mike Ford, Oceanographer, Office of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service
Title: Jellyfish: Swimming, Eating, and Getting Eaten
Powerpoint slides

Abstract: This seminar will look at two research areas: i.) the functional morphology of gelatinous zooplankton and its relationship to swimming, feeding, and ecology, and ii.) trends in gelatinous zooplankton over the entire Northeast Shelf of the US. These two lines of research would ultimately intersect to better understand the size and type of impact gelatinous zooplankton has on this system.

Morphology and kinematics of scyphomedusae and hydromedusae generate flow fields that entrain prey. Swimming resulted in a pulsed series of toroids which travel along the medusan oral arms and tentacles. Prey was entrained in this flow and the location of encounter was influenced by the phase of the pulsation cycle during which entrainment occurred. Flow-field velocities, measured by tracking particles adjacent to the bell margin during contraction, increased with bell diameter. Differences in body design produce differing flow patterns and capture strategies. These relationships can provide insight into prey selection.

The number of ctenophores found in approximately 60,000 stomachs of the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) over the last 30 years provided an estimate of the abundance of ctenophores across the Northeast Continental Shelf of the US. There have been a few such major increases in ctenophores in enclosed (e.g. Caspian Sea) and semi enclosed (e.g. Mediterranean Sea) ecosystems, with concomitant significant effects on those ecosystems and the productivity of their fishery resources.

2010 Brown Bags

Wednesday, January 20 at 12 noon
Speakers: Paul Boyle, Senior Vice President for Conservation at Association of Zoos and Aquariums, Bill Mott, Director of The Ocean Project, and Douglas Meyer, consultant with Bernuth and Williamson
Title: America, the Ocean, and Climate Change: New Insights for Conservation, Awareness, and Action.
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: The Ocean Project advances ocean conservation in partnership with zoos, aquariums, and museums. Part of its work is to conduct market research and strategic communications tools for its Partner network of 1,000 institutions and organizations. This presentation will focus on the market research that The Ocean Project completed this past year. It's the single largest, most comprehensive public opinion research project ever undertaken on behalf of any environmental concern, with findings that are helping those in the ocean conservation community connect more strategically with the public for positive change. With support from NOAA through an Environmental Literacy Grant, the national study was conducted for The Ocean Project by IMPACTS in collaboration with the Monterey Bay Aquarium and the National Aquarium in Baltimore. This study was completed in November 2008 with responses by 22,000 American adults. Additionally, The Ocean Project completed the first of four semi-annual tracking surveys in September 2009. The tracking surveys are helping measure changes in opinions and test messages to the public. This presentation will provide an overview of the research findings, implications, and how The Ocean Project Partners and others are using the findings to improve ocean literacy.

Thursday, January 28 at 12 noon
Title: 5 Years After the Indian Ocean Tsunami: Where Are We now?"
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Speaker: Dr. Dwayne Meadows of the NMFS Office of Protected Resources
Abstract: Dr. Meadows, A NOAA Fisheries biologist, survived the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami in Khao Lak, Thailand; the worst hit part of Thailand where 80% of the 10,000 deaths occurred. He used his NOAA advanced first-aid training to lead response efforts for group of 1000 survivors who were cut off from assistance. He later used his expertise in marine debris removal and coral restoration to help in the recovery efforts and became an advisor to the Hawaii Civil Defense Office and NOAAs National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program on preparedness and mitigation issues. Dr. Meadows will update the status of the recovery of human and ecological communities in the area. He will also provide a summary of international, national, and NOAA accomplishments and outstanding needs to develop improved tsunami preparedness programs. Preliminary lessons from the Samoan Tsunami of 2009 will be highlighted.
Remote access will be available.

Wednesday, February 3 at 11:00 AM
Title: Leadership Attitudes and Public Attitudes on Climate Change
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Speaker: Jon D. Miller, John Hannah Professor of Integrative Studies at Michigan State University
Abstract: Professor Jon D. Miller, of Michigan State University, will discuss his analyses of leadership attitudes and public attitudes toward climate change and the challenges of effectively communicating scientific concepts and data to these audiences. For more than two decades, Professor Miller has conducted national surveys of science policy leaders and American adults on a wide array of scientific and technological subjects, and he has collected measures of both scientific literacy and substantive policy attitudes over this period. He continues to collect new information from both of these populations. In this presentation, Professor Miller will suggest that on issues that are scientific and technical in character, the process of policy formation involves a dynamic interaction between policy leaders and citizens who are attentive to the issues involved. It is important for policy and communications planners to understand the structure of the public policy process in regard to issues that are partially or substantially scientific, and he will outline a framework for thinking about this process. The presentation will involve a short PowerPoint presentation followed by a period for discussion and dialogue.
Remote access will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, February 3 at 12 noon
Title: How U.S. Technology is Revolutionizing the Design of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS)
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Speaker: Dr. Ronald F. Malone, Distinguished Professor in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Louisiana State University
Abstract: This seminar presentation will highlight technical advances that led to a new design for the Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) being used in commercial aquaculture facilities in the United States. In addition to efficient water treatment, this new technology supports critical design objectives for large-scale recirculating systems including low water loss, solid waste reduction or reuse, energy conservation, and long term economic sustainability. An ongoing research program, with funding from NOAA Sea Grant and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, has demonstrated the application of this water-conserving RAS filtration approach in marine finfish applications. Development of high volume, modularized closed marine RAS fingerling production facilities are viewed as critical to the development of a commercially viable finfish grow out production industry based on netpens, ponds, or RAS technologies. This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Aquaculture Program.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, February 4 at 12 noon EST
Title: Reducing the Threat of Ship Strikes to North Atlantic Right Whales
Speakers: Shannon Bettridge and Greg Silber, NMFS/OPR/MMCD
Abstract: Perhaps long underestimated as a factor in large whale recovery, collisions with large vessels are now regarded as a significant threat to several endangered large whale populations. Vessel collisions, or "ship strikes", is one of the main causes of death for the highly depleted the North Atlantic right whale. Their vulnerability to ship strikes is compounded by exposure to human activities near population centers in waters along the U.S. and Canadian east coasts, slow swimming speeds, and a natural positive buoyancy. In a population consisting of only 300-400 individuals, an average of about two right whales are struck and killed by vessels annually. Drs. Shannon Bettridge and Gregory Silber will discuss NOAA’s management actions and some research advances in the course of the last decade aimed at reducing the threat of ship strikes to right whales and other large whales. The talk will include two presentations made at a recent international conference.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Tuesday, February 9 at 12 noon EST
Title: "The critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal: a mysterious past and an uncertain future"
Speaker: Jennifer Schultz, Department of Zoology, Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii
Abstract: Genetic studies indicate that the Hawaiian monk seal diverged from its Mediterranean cousin 10-13 million years ago. At some point, it colonized the Hawaiian archipelago, but beyond that, very little is known about its early history or the first human-seal interactions. There is no mention of the species in the Kumulipo, the ancient Hawaiian chant of creation. The first description of the Seal was in 1807, when Lisianski explored the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. By the end of that century, the Hawaiian monk seal had been hunted to near extinction. The extremely low genetic diversity of the species offers some clues to its past and raises concern about its future. Dr. Jennifer Schultz will speak about previous research on the genetic diversity and stock structure of the Hawaiian monk seal and describe current efforts to understand the seal’s mating system, diet, and its susceptibility to infectious diseases.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.
NOTE: Seminar cancelled due to severe snow.

Wednesday, February 10 at 12 noon EST
Title: "International...NOAA Style"
Speaker: Dr. James Turner, Director of the Office of International Affairs and Senior Advisor to the NOAA Administrator
Abstract: NOAA's Mission is driven by Science, Service, and Stewardship. Each of these drivers includes significant international aspects. We work collaboratively with other nations to make measurements and observations and share that data to develop, test, and evaluate our models. Our science and understanding are enriched through interactions with international peers. Besides providing information services to decision and policy makers domestically, NOAA also shares these services and others not only with our neighbors, but globally as well. Stewardship involves both conserving and preserving our domestic resources and protecting those resources from external threats. In the broader picture, stewardship extends to protecting resources in the world-wide ecosystem since national borders are not barriers to phenomena in the oceans and atmosphere. The relationship between the Office of International Affairs, the Line Offices, Goal Teams, and International Affairs Council will be described. What will be presented includes examples of international activities which significantly support NOAA's Mission and opportunities for enhancing international contributions.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.
NOTE: Seminar cancelled due to severe snow.

Thursday, February 11 at 12 noon EST
Title: "Characterization of Water Reflectance Spectra Variability: Implications for Hyperspectral Remote Sensing in Estuary Waters"
Speaker: Dr. Chunlei Fan, Morgan State University
Abstract: A series of airborne hyperspectral remote sensing campaigns were conducted from 2002 to 2005 at five U.S. estuaries: Apalachicola Bay, FL; ACE basin, SC; Grand Bay, MS; Delaware Bay, DE; and Chesapeake Bay, MD. 151 field stations were occupied within the flight tracts where the following were obtained: (1) water reflectance R(λ) spectra were acquired by a pair of ocean optic 2000 spectroradiometers, simultaneously, the concentration of (2) chlorophyll a and (3) total suspended solid, and the (4) absorption of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) were measured at these stations. A principal component analysis was conducted to characterize the general variability of these water reflectance R(λ) spectra, and explore the factors that drive the variability of water reflectance in optically complex coastal environments. The results suggested that water reflectance spectra in turbid estuarine waters are the results of complex interactions of phytoplankton pigments, total suspended solids, and CDOM. The first principal component, which represents 72% of total variance of R(λ), is strongly affected by scattering of total suspended solids and the absorption of CDOM at the green region of spectra; while the second principal component represents 20% of total variation of R(λ) spectra is mainly driven by phytoplankton biomass e.g. Chl a concentrations in red and near infrared spectral regions. Furthermore, the results of this study could provide a framework for using hyperspectral remote sensing as a cost effective method to characterize water quality in optically complex coastal waters.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.
NOTE: Seminar cancelled due to severe snow.

Wednesday, February 24 at 12 noon EST
Topic: Introduction to Library E-Resources: Journals, Research Databases, E-Books, and more!
Trainers: Mary Lou Cumberpatch, Outreach and Education Librarian, and Chris Belter, Customer Education and Marketing Graduate Student Assistant, NOAA Central Library
Audience: NOAA staff and contractors serviced by the NOAA Central Library in Silver Spring, Md.
Abstract: The NOAA Central Library offers a wide variety of electronic resources to NOAA staff. These resources include online access to the full text of peer-reviewed journals, online databases indexing millions of scholarly publications, digitized versions of materials from the library's historical collection, and more. This seminar will present an overview of what electronic resources are available to NOAA staff through the NOAA Central Library and will demonstrate how to access them from your NOAA computer.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, February 25 at 12 noon EST
Title: Global Fever, A Compelling, Hands-on Experience For K-9th Grade Classrooms
Speaker: Daniel Shaw, President and CEO, High Touch High Tech, www.ScienceMadeFun.net
Abstract: The Global Fever program profoundly and dramatically helps kids understand our climate change. Students will learn about Climatology, the Greenhouse Effect and the impact of their Carbon Footprint.

Wednesday, March 10 at 12 noon EST
Title: "International...NOAA Style"
Speaker: Dr. James Turner, Director of the Office of International Affairs and Senior Advisor to the NOAA Administrator
Abstract: NOAA's Mission is driven by Science, Service, and Stewardship. Each of these drivers includes significant international aspects. We work collaboratively with other nations to make measurements and observations and share that data to develop, test, and evaluate our models. Our science and understanding are enriched through interactions with international peers. Besides providing information services to decision and policy makers domestically, NOAA also shares these services and others not only with our neighbors, but globally as well. Stewardship involves both conserving and preserving our domestic resources and protecting those resources from external threats. In the broader picture, stewardship extends to protecting resources in the world-wide ecosystem since national borders are not barriers to phenomena in the oceans and atmosphere. The relationship between the Office of International Affairs, the Line Offices, Goal Teams, and International Affairs Council will be described. What will be presented includes examples of international activities which significantly support NOAA's Mission and opportunities for enhancing international contributions.
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, March 11 at 12 noon EST
March Meeting of the NOAA Performance Evaluation Network (PEN). The PEN is a voluntary, informal network that meets monthly to 1) share best practices and lessons learned in evaluation and 2) explores the theory, practice, and policy of evaluation. Contact: Cassandra.Barnes@noaa.gov, 301-734-1190, Policy, Planning, and Evaluation, OAR.
March Agenda:
1) Performance Management in NOAA - open discussion
2) An Introduction to Bibliometric Research - Chris Belter, Customer Education and Marketing Graduate Assistant, NOAA Central Library
Abstract: Bibliometrics is the process of using citations to evaluate the contribution an article, author, or institution has made to the realm of scientific discussion. Because a citation usually indicates that the citing article relates to and expands upon the contributions of the cited article, analyzing the number of citations a particular work receives can yield a fairly accurate measure of the impact that article has had on its field of study. This presentation will provide an introduction to the methods and limitations of bibliometric research, discuss various techniques for conducting bibliometric research, and provide examples of how to use bibliometrics to evaluate the output of a particular author or institution.
3) Document Sharing/PEN website – Sandra Giger, NOAA CIO office
4) American Evaluation Association conference in November 2010 - discussion of ideas for a collaboration to submit a paper.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Monday, March 15 at 12 noon ET
Title: AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Program at NOAA - Information Session with Current AAAS Fellows and AAAS Program Staff
Powerpoint slides
Speakers: Gabrielle Dreyfus, Christine Jessup and Laura Petes (current AAAS &: T Policy Fellows); Kira Mock and Sage Russell (AAAS Fellowship Program Staff)
Abstract: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellows are competitively selected scientists and engineers at the post-doctoral level from a broad range of disciplines. These Fellows are available for placement in federal agencies for a 1-2 year term (renewal year can include details outside of the DC area). The Program has been in existence since 1973 and has an outstanding reputation. Many former Fellows currently occupy some of the highest positions in science policy throughout the government. AAAS partners with nearly 15 federal agencies, many Congressional offices and committees, and nearly 30 professional scientific societies to operate the Science & Technology Policy Fellowships.
NOAA has hosted five AAAS Fellows since it began participating in the Fellowship Program in 2007. The Fellows offer scientific and technical expertise as they assist with projects, program management, or policy analysis. Fellows start work after two weeks of intense training in science policy (including ethics, the legislative process, and the budget process) and are supported throughout their two years with professional development activities. AAAS Fellows also serve as a link to a network of science and science policy professionals across academia and the government, including the network of over 2,000 current and former Fellows.
The recruitment process for 2010-2011 AAAS Fellows is already underway, and prospective host offices must act soon participate. At this Brown Bag information session, current AAAS Fellows and AAAS program will share details about the program, insights about their experiences, upcoming deadlines in the recruitment process, and answer your questions. Because the renewal year of the Fellowship can include details outside of the DC area, regional offices and labs are encouraged to participate via webinar.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Tuesday, March 16 at 12 noon ET
Title: Decoupling of the temperature-nutrient relationship in the California Current Ecosystem with global warming
Speakers: Dr. Ryan R. Rykaczewski and Dr. John P. Dunne, NOAA Research Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL)
Abstract: In the California Current Ecosystem (CCE), an inverse relationship between temperature and nitrate is evident over the observational period at interannual to decadal time scales. This robust relationship has encouraged use of temperature as a proxy for nutrient content and allowed extension of nutrient time series backwards in time over multiple decades. Understanding of this relationship has also been extrapolated to suggest that nutrient supply to the euphotic zone of the CCE will be inhibited in the future as the pycnocline strengthens with global warming, and primary and secondary production are expected to decrease in response to decreased nutrient supply. Here, we explore the effect of global warming on the production and nutrient supply of the CCE using a basic biogeochemistry model (TOPAZ) coupled to an ocean-atmosphere general circulation model (GFDL CM 2.1). We find that nutrient supply to the euphotic zone and primary production in the CCE increase as surface ocean temperatures rise. The mechanism relating physical factors to production at multi-decadal to centennial periods differs from that at shorter time scales, and the interannual and multidecadal relationship between nitrate and temperature should not be extrapolated to predict the response of the CCE to global warming. Although contrary to the traditional understanding of interannual and decadal variability in the CCE, this result is consistent with trends in the longest observations of chlorophyll content, nutrient content, and water clarity (as a proxy for chlorophyll content) which show that production has increased over the past 30 to 40 years despite an increase in surface temperatures. We find that the increase in nutrients in the euphotic zone of the CCE is the result of changes in the nutrient content and ventilation of the deep source waters to the region rather than a change in the rate of upwelling, mixed layer depth, or horizontal advection in the surface layers. This change is a consequence of increased stratification and weaker atmospheric circulation over the subtropical gyre. In addition to the long-term increase in primary production, increased temporal and spatial variability in production are predicted in the CCE. Further consideration of the ramifications of such changes to fisheries is warranted.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, March 18 at 12 noon ET
Title: The new NOAA Climate Services line office
Speaker: Mary Glackin, Deputy Under Secretary
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, March 24 at 12 noon ET
Title: Marine conservation on the high seas: strategies to move forward with limited knowledge
Speaker: Jeffrey Ardron, Director, High Seas Program, Marine Conservation Biology Institute (MCBI)
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: In this presentation, an overview of international developments in high seas conservation will be provided. Examples of ongoing scientific research / analyses relevant in applying various internationally-accepted conservation planning criteria will be provided, as well as opportunities and challenges ahead.
Working in the high seas, it is impossible not to be faced with issues surrounding incomplete data / knowledge, and how we can make decisions in such situations. Of course, to various extents, incomplete knowledge of ecosystems plagues the daily lives of marine conservation scientists, practitioners and decision-makers everywhere, and there is little sign that this will change soon... So, how do we balance the need to know with the need to act? Addressing ever-mounting environmental problems requires moving beyond habitually calling for more sectoral research, laudable though that may be, to learning how to deal collaboratively with what little we’ve got. In this part of the presentation, I would like to put forward some preliminary ideas developing as part of a collaborative research effort with James Cook University (Australia) on “adaptive Maritime Spatial Planning” (aMSP).
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, March 25 at 12 noon ET
Title: Overview of Dr. Spinrad's Career with NOAA: Challenges, Opportunities
Speaker: Dr. Richard W. Spinrad, Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Tuesday, March 30 at 12 noon ET
Title: The Kittlitz’s Murrelet: Alaska's Next Polar Bear or a Total Misunderstanding?
Speaker: Scott Gende, National Park Service, Glacier Bay Field Station, Juneau, Alaska
Abstract: The Kittlitz’s murrelet (KIMU) is one of the rarest seabirds in North America, found only in Alaska and the Russian Far East. Historical population estimates are highly variable due in part to difficulties in monitoring this species: typical counts at nesting colonies do not work for this species because they are solitary nesters. What’s more KIMU are small and roost on the water which has resulted in imprecise or biased at-sea abundance estimates. Nevertheless, best estimates suggest a range-wide population decline of up to 84% over the past several decades provoking the USFWS to upgrade the species to a Candidate 2 listing priority under the Endangered Species Act. They are also considered “critically endangered” (IUCN Red List 2006). Because KIMU are closely associated with glacial habitats there is speculation that global climate change and loss of glacial habitat may be linked to population declines. However, because so little is known about this species, causal factors associated with the declines are highly speculative.
For the past five years we have been studying Kittlitz’s murrelets in and adjacent to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, southeastern Alaska. This area, combined with Glacier Bay National Park supports upwards of 15-20% of the global population of this species, with Icy Bay, adjacent to Wrangell-St.Elias, supporting the highest density of KIMU found in the world. Each of these areas is characterized by large glacial habitats, tidewater glaciers, and early successional landscapes. At the onset of this project less than 25 nests of this species had ever been found, with only a subset of those scientifically investigated. Less than 20 individuals had been captured and radio-tagged with very little known with regards to even their most basic life-history (movements, habitat use, nesting ecology, population structure, etc). Not surprisingly the Birds of North America consider the Kittlitz’s murrelet one of the least know species that breeds in North America.
We have since captured over 300 Kittlitz’s murrelets and radio tagged and tracked over 100 individuals from 205-2009. Eight nests have been found, some as far as 4500’ in elevation over hanging glaciers; all have been in early successional habitats. Nesting attempts and success in this area appears to be very low, despite very little direct anthropogenic impacts. At several nests we placed cameras capturing footage of behavior rarely, if ever, recorded for this species. Perhaps more importantly, adult survival during the breeding season may be strongly influenced by predation rates from several raptor species. The uncertainty in factors driving abundance, their implications for management, and possible mechanisms by which climate change may (or may not) be a major driver in population dynamics will be discussed.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, March 31 at 12 noon ET
Title: "Ross Sea, the Last Ocean: a Multimedia Presentation"
Speaker: Dr. David Ainley, Senior Marine Wildlife Ecologist, H. T. Harvey & Associates
Abstract: The recent analysis of anthropogenic alteration of the world ocean by Halpern et al. (2009, Science) identified the Ross Sea, Antarctica, as the least affected stretch of open ocean on the planet. A compilation of interviews of noted scientists and splendid imagery tells the Ross Sea story, and the story of efforts to set it aside as a marine reserve under the Antarctic Treaty.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, April 1
Title: Key to Submitting a Successful AAAS Symposium Proposal
Speaker: Carolyn Sotka, Senior Science-Policy Analyst, NOAA’s OHHI (NOS)
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: To provide guidance on how to submit successful symposia to AAAS, Carolyn Sotka with NOAA’s Oceans and Human Health Initiative (OHHI) will share what factors need to be considered in order to develop a strong symposium proposal.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, April 1 at 12 noon ET
Title: The Hydrographic Survey Meta Data Base (HSMDB)
Speaker: Mr. Daniel Neumann, NOAA Office of Coast Survey
Abstract: NOAA and its predecessor agencies have completed over 16,300 hydrographic surveys, dating back to 1837. Digital metadata capture from these surveys began in 1997 with the inception of the hydrographic survey descriptive report preservation project. Metadata recovered from the hydrographic survey descriptive reports was entered into a database implemented in DB3, and subsequently migrated to Microsoft Access. Metadata was gradually expanded to reflect the how, where and why of each survey. Migration to a new Oracle platform was achieved in 2004, through a partnership with the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC). Since 2004, hydrographic survey metadata presentation and query has increased in sophistication to the present day offerings on the NGDC Map Service Web Browser. The newest metadata product is the Hydrographic Survey Rap Sheet, a user-friendly summary metadata view which came on line in late January of 2010 and is now available for surveys from 1982 to the present. This brown bag seminar illustrates how to access NOAA’s hydrographic survey metadata and data through the NGDC site.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Tuesday, April 6 at 12 noon ET
Title: "Financial Blunders; Lessons We Can't Afford Not To Learn"
Speaker: Jonathan Lee, President, Society for Financial Awareness (SOFA)
Abstract: Learn the top financial mistakes most Americans make and how to aviod them, increase your wealth by hundreds of thousands of dollars with this simple technique, keep more of your money in your pocket and away from Uncle Sam, and many more practical and useful tools.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, April 15 at 12 noon ET
Title: "Characterization of Water Reflectance Spectra Variability: Implications for Hyperspectral Remote Sensing in Estuary Waters"
Speaker: Dr. Chunlei Fan, Morgan State University
Powerpoint sllides (pdf format)
Abstract: A series of airborne hyperspectral remote sensing campaigns were conducted from 2002 to 2005 at five U.S. estuaries: Apalachicola Bay, FL; ACE basin, SC; Grand Bay, MS; Delaware Bay, DE; and Chesapeake Bay, MD. 151 field stations were occupied within the flight tracts where the following were obtained: (1) water reflectance R(λ) spectra were acquired by a pair of ocean optic 2000 spectroradiometers, simultaneously, the concentration of (2) chlorophyll a and (3) total suspended solid, and the (4) absorption of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) were measured at these stations. A principal component analysis was conducted to characterize the general variability of these water reflectance R(λ) spectra, and explore the factors that drive the variability of water reflectance in optically complex coastal environments. The results suggested that water reflectance spectra in turbid estuarine waters are the results of complex interactions of phytoplankton pigments, total suspended solids, and CDOM. The first principal component, which represents 72% of total variance of R(λ), is strongly affected by scattering of total suspended solids and the absorption of CDOM at the green region of spectra; while the second principal component represents 20% of total variation of R(λ) spectra is mainly driven by phytoplankton biomass e.g. Chl a concentrations in red and near infrared spectral regions. Furthermore, the results of this study could provide a framework for using hyperspectral remote sensing as a cost effective method to characterize water quality in optically complex coastal waters.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Monday, April 19, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: The role of tourism in fisheries crises: the case of Newfoundland and applications to Maine
Speaker: Natalie Springuel, Marine Extension Agent with Maine Sea Grant
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Tourism is increasingly touted as a development opportunity for coastal and rural areas affected by natural resource decline. As commercial fisheries face depletion the world over, people look to tourism to help coastal communities recover from economic crisis, but little work has been done to explore if the investment in tourism can ever replace the full human ecological value of the fishery, including its impacts on a region’s culture, economy, and environment. Springuel's sabbatical in Newfoundland examined the impact of the 1992 cod moratorium on Newfoundland's coastal communities over the last 16 years, and particularly how marine heritage tourism has emerged as a model in the province's revitalization attempts. Dozens of interviews with Newfoundlanders involved in tourism and fisheries (including current and former fisherman and fish plant workers, boat captains, tour operators, community development and government representatives, residents, community leaders, academics, and front line staff at tourism destinations, visitor centers and museums) and first hand observations of marine tourism destinations show that marine heritage, in particular, has contributed to both the revitalization of devastated outports and the rise of tourism in these coastal communities. Though tourism will never replace an exhausted natural resource, it can play an important role in the future of coastal and rural areas. Maine’s reliance on a single marine fishery (lobster) mirrors Newfoundland’s reliance on cod. This presentation will highlight the Newfoundland experience and touch on how lessons learned can be applied in Maine.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Tuesday, April 20 at 12 noon ET
Title: "Is NOAA for the Birds? An Overview of NOAA Fisheries National Seabird Program."
Speaker: Kim Rivera, National Seabird Coordinator, NOAA Fisheries
Is NOAA for the Birds? An Overview of NOAA Fisheries National Seabird Program (pdf format)
Abstract: Several of NOAA’s Fisheries Science Centers and Regional Offices have been working on a broad suite of seabird issues since the early 1980’s. This work involves seabird bycatch monitoring and reporting, coordination with other Federal Agencies (US Fish and Wildlife Service and US Geological Survey), addressing Endangered Species Act issues, and collaborative work (with industry and academia) to develop seabird bycatch reduction approaches. Some work also explored or described the role of seabirds in marine ecosystems and how they quickly respond to changes in the ocean environment. Seabird work was being developed independently at several sites and with few resources. The need for coordination, continued international work, and development of funding sources led to the establishment of a National Seabird Program in 2001. With very limited resources, the program supports studies on fisheries bycatch of seabirds and the development of solutions to mitigate and reduce fishing gear impacts on seabirds both domestically and internationally. The program is also expanding its scope to provide better support to Regions and Centers in their work to understand seabirds exclusive of bycatch issues. We know that seabirds are important indicators of marine ecosystem health. Seabird distribution and abundance can reflect physical and biological oceanography, abundance and distribution of mid trophic-level organisms, and the effects of climate change on apex predators. Contaminant levels in seabirds can provide insight into the health of a particular ecosystem. And, unlike so many marine organisms, seabirds are relatively easy and cost-effective to sample. With the ever increasing recognition of the vital role seabirds have within the marine ecosystem, and the continued importance of bycatch monitoring and mitigation, NOAA scientists and managers acknowledge the need for continued support of seabird studies. This brown bag seminar will offer highlights of some of the key activities of the NOAA Fisheries’ Seabird Program, including describing some of its projects, as well as touching on other seabird work within NOAA.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednedsday, April 21 at 12 noon ET
Title: Resume Writing Workshop
Speaker: Charly L. Wells, Director, National Weather Service Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: With 32 years of Federal service as an EEO specialist working with Upward Mobility, disability issues, counseling, investigations, community outreach, and many other aspects of EEO, the Weather Service's Charly Wells has the knowledge and experience to help you win that job!
This brownbag is sponsored by the NOAA Fisheries Employee Worklife and Diversity Committee, Professional Development Subcommittee
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Speakers: Mandy Lindeberg, NMFS, Alaska Fisheries Science Center; Steve Lewis, NMFS, Alaska Region; Cindy Hartmann Moore, NMFS, Alaska Region
Title: An Introduction to ShoreZone Coastal Habitat Mapping and the Nearshore Fish Atlas of Alaska
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: This seminar will describe the Alaska ShoreZone coastal habitat imaging and mapping project: what it is, how to access it, and what practical applications it serves. This seminar will also present the Nearshore Fish Atlas database and demonstrate the integrated ShoreZone/Fish Atlas web site.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Quantifying Ecosystem Interactions of a FLUPY-Based Oyster Nursery

• Quantifying Ecosystem Interactions of a FLUPSY-Based Oyster Nursery (pdf format)

Speakers: Mark S. Dixon, Yaqin Li, and April N. Croxton, NOAA Northeast Fishery Science Center Milford Lab
Abstract: Increasing global demand for seafood is being, and will continue to be, met by increased aquaculture production. Suspension-feeding shellfish, a premium aquaculture product, obtain nutrition directly from phytoplankton primary production and are considered to have environmental benefits beyond human food value. Relatively-recent innovations, Floating Upwelling Systems (FLUPSYs) are now a common and important component of many shellfish-aquaculture operations. A FLUPSY is an in-situ nursery system designed to increase water flow, and therefore microalgal food delivery, to post-set shellfish. Typically the system is incorporated into a floating dock array and deployed in a productive, coastal waterway. The widespread use of FLUPSYs is a testament to their success. The placement of FLUPSYs, however, leads to questions about their potential impacts -- negative, neutral, or ecosystem service -- upon the local environment. This presentation will include preliminary results of this study, including methodologies that are transferable to other aquaculture settings.
This OneNOAA Science Seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Aquaculture Program and the NOAA Central Library.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: The Pacific Sardine (Sardinops sagax) Fishery: Federal Regulation Alternatives
Speaker: Karen Carlson, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Program Planning and Integration Office
Download: View the PowerPoint slides(pdf) or the WebEx Recording(wrf format, requires you to download the free WRF player).
Abstract: The largest volume fishery in the Western Hemisphere, Pacific sardine (Sardinops sagax) has collapsed and rebounded to levels now considered well-managed utilizing sustainable fishing practices. Recent scientific egg surveys suggest the fishery is entering another decline while fishermen report large schools of sardines in higher latitudes.
The sardine industry is primarily a high-volume, low-value export industry with low domestic food value. Declining quotas and increased competition are putting pressure on the viability of high volume sardine fishermen and bulk export processors.
Four alternatives are explored in the paper: #1 Status Quo – continue with Harvest Guideline rule and tri-annual percentages with quotas closures. #2 Short-Term – initiate permit equity between the regions, add a domestic catch allowance, #3 Catch Shares - Individual Transferable Quotas (ITQ) and #4 Catch Shares - Community Property Rights (CPR). Regulations are needed which reduce regional rivalry and encourage industry innovations to adjust to lower volume catch.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010 at 12:30pm ET
Title: "Reactive iron in the Alaska Coastal Current and a Kenai Eddy in the Gulf of Alaska: the delivery of iron to high-nutrient, lower than expected chlorophyll waters"
Speaker: Sherry Lippiatt, NOAA Marine Debris Program, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow
Download: View the PowerPoint slides(pdf), or the WebEx Recording(wrf format, requires you to download the free WRF player).
Abstract: Coastal waters in the northern Gulf of Alaska (GoA) are considered iron-rich and nitrate-poor, in contrast to the iron-poor high nutrient, lower than expected chlorophyll (HNLC) waters of the central GoA. The degree of mixing between these two regimes is essential to the high productivity observed in the GoA. In the Alaska Coastal Current, suspended leachable particulate Fe is available for exchange to the dissolved phase and is suggested to maintain a relatively constant (~ 2 nM) source of dissolved Fe. Kenai Eddy core water reactive Fe concentrations were up to 15 times greater than basin waters, reflective of the eddy’s coastal origin. GoA eddies can be a source of Fe to HNLC waters when they propagate into the central GoA and eventually relax or rebound. This work emphasizes the importance of considering the leachable particulate Fe phase, in addition to dissolved Fe, when quantifying biologically available Fe in coastal regions.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: NMFS's Voices from the Fisheries Project
Speaker: Susan Abbott-Jamieson, Ph.D., Senior Social Scientist, NOAA Fisheries (NMFS)
View the Powerpoint Slides (pdf format) or the WebEx Recording (wrf format, requires you to download the free WRF player).
Abstract: The Voices from the Fisheries Database (VFF Database) is a unique resource available to the public to inform, educate, and provide primary information for research for all who are interested in our local, human experience with the surrounding marine and Great Lakes environment. The Voices from the Fisheries Oral History Project builds its collection in two ways: 1) by locating existing collections and persuading their owners to donate copies, and 2) by encouraging the collection of new oral histories for donation. This presentation describes the project in detail. Initial support for the VFF Project came from a NOAA Preserve America Initiative Grant and continued support has come from the NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Speaker: David Helvarg, President of the Blue Frontier Campaign
Abstract: Long time ocean enthusiast, journalist and founder of the Blue Frontier Campaign (http://www.bluefront.org) David Helvarg talks about his life's journey to the sea as told in his latest book, Saved by the Sea: A Love Story with Fish. From bodysurfing Central American war zones, diving barrier reefs with his tragically fated love Nancy, or being bumped by a whale off Antarctica Helvarg has lived a life often as endangered as the ocean he now works to protect. The journey he recounts over the last half-century is a profound, startling and sometimes surprisingly funny reflection on the state of our seas and the intimate ways in which our lives are all linked to the natural world around us. According to Henry David Thoreau "Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads." According to Helvarg it's also under our flippers.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: The Black Swan Shipwreck Case
Speaker: Jim Goold, Of Counsel, Covington and Burling LLP
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Mr. Goold will tell us about the process by which Spain investigated the report and prosecuted legal action in the United District Court in Tampa that led to a December 2009 ruling for Spain that the site is the Mercedes, a Spanish Navy Frigate that exploded and sank in the October 1804 Battle of Cape Saint Mary, and that, as the "natural and legal patrimony" of Spain, the ship and its contents are protected by sovereign immunity from unauthorized disturbance. Odyssey Marine Exploration, Inc. v. Unidentified, Shipwrecked Vessel, 675 F.Supp.2d 1126 (M.D.Fla. 2009). The district court has ordered Odyssey to return to Spanish custody all artifacts taken from the site. The case is now on appeal, with Odyssey, the Republic of Peru and five groups of individuals who claim to be descendants of persons who owned property on the Mercedes, all seeking to overturn the district court ruling. The United States Department of Justice with the support of NOAA and the State Department filed a "friend of the court" brief supportive of Spain's legal position in the district court litigation and is likely to do so again in the appeal.
Sponsored by NOAA Office of General Council International Affairs
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, May 27, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Upper-Air Temperature Trends: History of a Controversy
Speaker: Dian J. Seidel, NOAA Air Resources Laboratory (R/ARL)
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
View the WebEx Recording of the Seminar (wrf format, requires you to download the free WRF player).
Abstract: Changes in the vertical profile of atmospheric temperature have a particular importance in climate change research, because climate models have long predicted a distinctive response to increases in greenhouse gases and stratospheric ozone changes. Twenty years ago, analysis of a ten-yr record of satellite observations of tropospheric temperature by Spencer and Christy (Science, 1990) found no evidence of warming, calling into question the credibility of observations of surface temperature increases and the validity of climate model simulations. These issues have spurred both a long-running scientific controversy and a considerable body of scientific research. This seminar will survey the evolution of our understanding of upper-air temperature trends from the 1970s to present. Both theoretical and observational advances will be reviewed, with a focus on major concepts rather than on technical details. A fresh perspective on the controversy will be provided by addressing both tropospheric and stratospheric temperature trend studies, which have some common issues as well as some significantly different challenges. Lessons learned and approaches for future progress will be discussed.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: "Tracing Planktonic Colonization and Community Structure in Freshwater Lakes from Paleoecological Records"
Speaker: Mike Allen, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, OAR Office of Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: When multiple new habitats are created, community assembly may follow independent trajectories, since the relative importance of dispersal limitation, priority effects, species interactions, and environmental gradients changes as assembly proceeds. Unfortunately, tracking community colonization and composition across decades is challenging. We compiled a multiyear community composition dataset using planktonic water column samples and reconstructed past communities with remains from sediment cores to investigate cladoceran assembly dynamics in six older (1920s) and two more recently formed (1950s) lakes. We found that current communities cluster along a stratification gradient related to predation intensity. Assembling communities showed evidence for a greater influence of species sorting and a reduced influence of spatial structure since the first colonizations. However, lake colonization sequences and community trajectories varied considerably, reflecting the influence of the earliest colonizers on changing community composition through time. In the older lakes, small-bodied cladocerans often arrived much earlier than large-bodied cladocerans, while the two younger lakes were colonized much more rapidly, and one was quickly dominated by a large-bodied species. Thus, by combining contemporary community data with paleoecological records, we show that assembly history influences natural community structure for decades while patterns of ecological sorting develop.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at 12:30pm ET
Title: A Social Landscape Analysis of Land Use Decision Making in the Towns of the Lamprey River Watershed
Speaker: Erika Washburn, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, NOAA International Affairs
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: This presentation discusses the results of dissertation research funded through a NOAA Social Science Fellowship in coastal New Hampshire. This region has experienced substantial population increase which has resulted in land use decisions contributing to increased impervious surfaces, sprawl and deteriorating water quality in the Great Bay estuarine system. A mixed qualitative methodology will be presented which examined the landscape of decision making and the potential for moving towards an EBM, watershed-scaled spatial planning approach.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 11:15 AM ET
Title: Coastal Louisiana Habitats: Problems, Issues and Opportunities
Speaker: Richard (Rick) Hartman, Fishery Biologist and Team Leader, NOAA Fisheries SE Region, Habitat Field Office, Baton Rouge, LA
Powerpoint slides not available
Abstract: This presentation discusses NOAA’s regional efforts in coastal Louisiana in response to hurricanes, wetland loss, and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. Emphasis will be on post-Katrina/Rita hurricane protection efforts, wetland restoration programs under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA), and the Louisiana Coastal Area Program, the Roadmap for Restoring Ecosystem Resiliency and Sustainability, and how these programs fit into the scheme of things. Other civil works programs will be discussed including the Louisiana State request for a barrier berm to block oil movement in the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
Note: This seminar is part of the NOAA Fisheries, Office of Habitat Conservation Brown Bag Series
Note: This semiar will be held in Room 4527, on the 4th floor of SSMC-3. Remote access will NOT be available.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 12:30 PM ET
Title: "Hurricanes in Maryland"
Speaker: Rick Schwartz, author of Hurricanes in the Mid-Atlantic States No powerpoint available
Abstract: This presentation will explore local hurricane risks in the Mid-Atlantic region including high winds, flooding in tidal sections, flash and generalized flooding and tornadoes. Hurricanes Hazel, Camille and Agnes are just a few of the storms examined. Characteristics, as well as similarities and differences of the "big ones," will be discussed and illustrated by track maps and photographs. The region's hurricane history portends what might be expected in the future.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Using sensory cues to reduce sea turtle and shark interactions with fishing gear
Speakers: John H. Wang and Melanie Hutchinson, University of Hawaii – Joint Institute of Marine and Atmospheric Research; Shara Fisler, Ocean Discovery Institute, San Diego, CA; and Yonat Swimmer, NOAA- Pacific Island Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, HI
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Many sea turtle and shark populations are in decline. Bycatch in fisheries has been implicated as a significant source of mortality and subsequently as source of these population decreases. Recent studies have raised concerns regarding the high rates of incidental capture and mortality of sea turtles in coastal gill net fisheries as well as the high rates of mortality of shark species in longline fisheries. A variety of sensory cues play important roles in the behaviors of target species and bycatch species. These cues most likely influence their interactions with fishing gear. As such, altering these cues may be a useful strategy to reduce the incidental catch of sea turtles in various fisheries.
We examined the potential effectiveness of three visual cues in reducing green sea turtle interactions with nets: shark shapes, nets illuminated by LED lights, and nets illuminated with chemical lightsticks. We then adapted these potential deterrents into commercial bottom gill net fishery to quantify their effects on target fish catch rates and the catch value. Our results indicate that the presence of shark shapes significantly reduced the mean catch rates of green turtles by 54% but also reduced target catch and catch value. In contrast, nets illuminated by LED lights significantly reduced mean sea turtle catch rates by 40% while having negligible impacts on target catch and catch value. Similarly, nets illuminated by chemical lightsticks also significantly reduced mean sea turtle catch rates by 60% while having no significant impact on target catch and catch value. These results illustrate the potential for modifying fishing gear with visual deterrents to effectively reduce sea turtle catch rates.
Sharks and other elasmobranches can detect minute electric fields. We conducted two experiments to test the ability of electropositive metals to deter sharks from feeding. In one experiment we utilized a shark-viewing cage to film and observe choice experiments with Galapagos (Carcharhinus galapagensis) and sandbar sharks (Carcharhinus plumbeus). Results indicate that bait associated with lead metal was eaten over bait associated with electropositive metal. In addition, sharks exhibited more aversion behaviors as they approached bait associated with the electropositive metal. In a second study, we conducted paired fishing experiments to determine the effects of Nd/Pr (Neodymiun/Praseodymium) alloy on the catch rates of sharks on bottom set longline gear. Preliminary results from longline field trials in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii suggest that catch rates of juvenile scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) are reduced when a Nd/Pr weight is attached to the branchline. Taken together, these results suggest that electropositive metals do influence feeding behavior in sharks and could be potentially used to reduce the incidental capture of sharks in longline fisheries.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Influence of Habitat and Life History of Reef Fish on the Effectiveness of a Network of Marine Protected Areas to Replenish Aquarium Fish
Speaker: Delisse Ortiz, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Identifying and incorporating habitats important to vulnerable life stages of reef fish is necessary for the effective design and management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). However, data on habitat requirements for most fish species are very limited, hindering the efficacy of MPAs to protect targeted fish species. Dr. Ortiz’s research examines the ontogenetic patterns of habitat use by reef-fish and provides information whereby the effectiveness of a well-studied MPA network can be evaluated relative to the distribution and abundance of habitats important to aquarium fish species in Hawaii.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 at 12:30 PM ET
Title: Feeding and growth rates among native and non-native apple snails (Ampullariidae) in the United States
Speaker: Wendy Morrison, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: The United States hosts one native and five non-native species of aquatic apple snails, with all species currently located in or around the Everglades ecosystem in South Florida. These introduced apple snails have devastated wetlands in Southeast Asia, but little is known about their impact on the Everglades. To evaluate potential impacts of introduced apple snails, we investigated plant preference, consumption rates, growth rates, and growth efficiencies for four introduced and one native species across six to eight aquatic plants native to South Florida. Three of the non-native snails are invasive, one has shown no tendency to expand (innocuous), and one has minimal impact on macrophytes due to its diet. All macrophyte consuming snails exhibited similar feeding preference, with Utricularia being the highest preference, Bacopa, Sagitaria, and Nymphaea being intermediate preference, and Eleocharis, Pontederia, Panicum and Typha being avoided. The invasive species Pomacea insularum and P. canaliculata tended to eat more, grow more, and have higher conversion efficiencies than the native species P. paludosa or the non-invasive P. haustrum. These contrasts were more often significant for P. insularum than for P. canaliculata. Consumption and growth were minimal for P. diffusa on all macrophytes; this species is mainly an algivore. In general, invasives showed greater rates of feeding and growth, and sometimes increased efficiency, compared to native and innocuous non-native species - suggesting a mechanism for greater rates of expansion by invasive species.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Monitoring and Modeling Water Quality in an Urban Watershed
Speaker: Keith Cialino, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, National Marine Fisheries Service Office of International Affairs
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: This presentation will discuss a research plan for conducting high resolution sampling within a watershed to assess the influence of stormwater runoff on water quality. The research project intends to: create an adaptive monitoring network in a watershed to capture rain events; integrate hydrological flows and water quality information into a predictive watershed model; and extend these approaches to a second urban watershed/estuary to determine the validity of the approach. Ways to communicate the results of the research to decision makers will also be discussed.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at 12:30pm ET
Title: Willingness-to-Pay for Ecosystem Services: Do Payment Elicitation Mechanisms Matter?
Speaker: Jacky Haskell, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Many ecosystem services, such as wildlife habitat and scenic views, are examples of public goods that may be produced by private landowners. These landowners privately manage their property and may face an opportunity cost if they choose to enhance ecosystem services. Many payments for ecosystem services programs exist, but few have attempted to transfer private payments from consumers to producers; as a result, ecosystem services frequently are not provided at levels that would most benefit society. One solution to this problem is to create a market for ecosystem services. This study employs a stated preference choice experiment framework to examine the tradeoffs between forest ecosystem services in Rhode Island and to compare the performance of payment elicitation mechanisms that can be used in a market for ecosystem services.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Monday, July 19, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Atlantic – Pacific Relationships of Deep-Sea Octocorals
Speaker: Les Watling, Professor of Zoology, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Abstract: We have been sampling deep-sea octocorals in the Atlantic since 2001 and in the Pacific since 1995. Samples were first obtained on an opportunistic basis, but since 2003 our expeditions have been funded by NOAA Ocean Exploration in the Atlantic, and the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument and the National Marine Fisheries Service in the Pacific. All octocorals obtained are preserved for both molecular and morphological analysis. Early on we noticed the genetic signature of some gorgonians from the Atlantic were very similar to others from off Hawaii. Morphologically, these specimens were almost indistinguishable. We now have documented a large number of these sister taxa in several families. Most represent undescribed species. Hypotheses explaining the existence of these sister taxa will be offered and evaluated. The most promising explanation involves understanding palaeo-circulation of deep water in the Atlantic and Pacific and the fate of the land mass separating them.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: The Maritime Industry: Friend or Foe?
Speaker: Kathy Metcalf, Director of Maritime Affairs, Chamber of Shipping of America
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: This presentation will discuss topics where the American Chamber of Shipping and NOAA have worked collaboratively to reach a common agreed-upon goal, such as with respect to ballast water management, particularly sensitive sea areas, North Atlantic right whale ship strike avoidance measures, marine debris and commercial shipping noise.
Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA International Law Office of General Counsel
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY AND STRESS RESPONSES OF THE PACIFIC WHITE SHRIMP, Litopenaeus vannamei: IMPACTS OF HYPOXIA AND HYPERCAPNIC HYPOXIA
Speaker: Kolo Rathburn, Sea Grant Knauss Legislative Fellow
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Many crustaceans inhabit estuarine ecosystems where they are frequently exposed to hypoxia (H) and elevated levels of CO2 (hypercapnia). These factors may impair the ability of crustaceans to maintain optimal metabolic processes and immune defense. Marine crustaceans employ various tactics to cope with environmental hypoxia and hypercapnia, which can require changes in biochemistry such as altered activities and concentrations of metabolic enzymes. Furthermore, by regulating their gene expression marine crustaceans may coordinate specific and general stress responses to H and hypercapnic H (HH) which may include metabolic depression. The molecular mechanisms that underlie these responses to H and HH stress in marine crustaceans are poorly understood. This study set out to determine the impacts of moderate H and HH on the basic physiology of the Pacific white shrimp, L. vannamei. We tested the hypothesis that H and HH elicit down-regulation of genes associated with metabolic depression, specifically protein synthesis and transcription, as well as immune defense. Shrimp were held in H, HH, or normoxia (N) for 4 h or 24 h. RNA from hepatopancreas of individual animals was hybridized to microarrays containing 21,864 unigenes expressed by L. vannamei. Transcriptional profiles of H and HH animals were compared to respective 4 and 24 h N controls. Genes involved in amino acid metabolism, RNA metabolism, and translation (including numerous tRNA synthetases) were down-regulated in 4 h H, 24 h H and 4 h HH shrimp. Few regulated genes could be assigned to immune defense, except for several in 24 h H shrimp, which included immune genes encoding crustins and penaeidins. Additionally, unique patterns of gene expression such as increased lipid metabolism and initiation of apoptosis were tied to specific treatments and times, revealing effects of duration and added CO2 stress in altering the transcriptome of L. vannamei. Overall, these results suggest that crustacean molecular responses to environmental changes in O2 and CO2 pressure involve both general and stress-specific gene sets, with characteristic shifts to metabolic depression. This work contributes insight to the effects human perturbations might have on estuarine organisms.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, July 28, 2010 at 12:30pm ET
Title: Measurement and modeling of multi-generational gene flow from transgenic to wild fish under varying environments
Speaker: Kelly Pennington, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Transgenic fishes are nearing commercialization for aquaculture around the world. Farmed transgenic fish would likely escape from typical production facilities and interbreed with wild relatives. Models could help risk assessors predict the likelihood and consequences of transgene flow; however, predictions from existing models have not been confirmed using real populations of transgenic fish. We introduced growth-enhanced transgenic Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) and wild-type medaka into four environments: (A) high food availability, no predation; (B) high food availability, simulated predation; (C) low food availability, no predation; and (D) low food availability, simulated predation. We maintained 24 populations of wild-type and transgenic fish under these environments for approximately three generations and measured population size and frequency of transgenic fish at 210 days. In experimental populations, final transgenic population size was greater in Environment A than in all other Environments. The final frequency of transgenic fish in Environment A was greater than that in Environment C or D. Both models predicted that transgenic fish frequency in Environment A would be the highest, but also overestimated the frequency of transgenic fish compared to observed results. We created deterministic and stochastic versions of a demographic simulation model, parameterized with fitness trait values collected under the same environmental conditions, to predict frequency of transgenic fish under each environment, and compared observed results to model predictions. Models predicted transgenic fish frequencies that overlapped with observations in Environments B and C but not in the more extreme Environments A and D. Our results illustrate the danger of measuring fitness traits in one sterile environment to parameterize a deterministic model, and using model outcomes to inform risk assessment decisions. We recommend building uncertainty analysis into gene flow models, at least by incorporating parameter variability, and confirming model predictions with data collected under relevant environmental conditions before using such models to inform ecological risk assessments.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 10:00 AM ET
Title: Story Proof: The Science Behind the Power of Story
Speaker: Kendall Haven
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Storytelling is often described as “Best Practice” for science outreach communication. Effective stories change beliefs and attitudes. They sway popular and decision-maker opinions and mindset. But why? When compared to delivering the same information through other narrative structures, what is it about the form and structure of story that:

• Makes people listen more attentively (pay attention),
• Makes them understand information and concepts better,
• Creates more accurate and personal meaning from information,
• Creates relevance and context for story information and concepts,
• Makes people remember information and concepts better and more accurately,
• Helps people recall information out of memory more readily and accurately.

Neural and psychological research over the past fifteen years has confirmed that story architecture accomplishes each of these feats.
Two key questions emerge:
1. Why?
2. What does this research conclude that defines and characterizes the structure of effective stories?

Finally (and most importantly) what does that mean for scientists who want to communicate their findings and results?
This session explores what science has shown us about the explicit elements of effective story architecture and how to harness their communications power to make your points and case. Neural sciences have revealed an exacting and explicit definition for story architecture that links directly to how human brains and minds process incoming narrative information. In this session I will demonstrate both the elements and limits of that structure and lay out the process for using it to improve the success of science outreach communication.
Specifically, attendees will receive:
1. A summary of the science behind effective story structure: how does the human mind process incoming narrative information—and what does that mean for you and your message/information?
2. The identify of, and a demonstration of, the Eight Essential Elements of story structure: what they are, what they do, and how you effectively use them to design, organize, and structure your communication.
3. A brief review of the major misconceptions (myths) about story—that is, what a story Isn't (and why the word "story" carries such negative connotation—and yet, at the same time, generates such incredible allure and power).
4. An introduction to why it is essential to consider the intended audience for each story
5. An overview of the Process—how to effectively apply the core architectural elements of story to create memorable and powerful central themes and lasting images for your communication whether or not you formally “tell a story.”

Note: This seminar will be held in the NOAA Science Center. For further information please contact LuAnn Dahlman.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Recruitment dynamics of a coral reef fish in the Florida Keys
Speaker: Tauna Rankin, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Coral Reef Conservation Program
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Processes that influence the early life stages of fishes can significantly impact population dynamics, yet they continue to be poorly understood. Knowledge of what mechanisms influence recruitment and subsequent juvenile survival may provide important information for predicting year-class strength. This dissertation examined relationships between the environment, early life history traits (ELHTs), behavior, and post-settlement survival for a coral reef fish, Stegastes partitus, in the upper Florida Keys. Otolith analysis of settlers and recruits coupled with environmental data revealed that S. partitus surviving the early juvenile period settled at larger sizes and grew slower post-settlement. Water temperature influenced these ELHTs as well as mortality. Behavioral observations of newly settled juveniles revealed that the relationship between size-at-settlement, early juvenile growth and survival is behaviorally-mediated. A six-year time series of recruitment densities revealed substantial temporal and spatial variability in recruitment. As a whole, these results reveal processes associated with larval supply and post-settlement life that collectively shape the composition of recruits.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 12:30pm ET
Title: The Inner Workings of a Market for Transferable Fishing Privileges in the Florida Spiny Lobster Fishery
Speaker: Kari MacLauchlin, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, NOAA Fisheries Office of Policy
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: With the national policy on catch shares in progress in the United States and increasing use of transferable fishing privileges in fisheries worldwide, it is important to understand how the markets created by these programs function in the real world. This paper, part of my dissertation research, presents information collected from interviews with Florida spiny lobster fishermen on how the market for transferable fishing privileges (called lobster trap certificates in this program) works, how they make decisions to buy and sell certificates, and their perceptions of the program. The interviews indicate that the fishermen participate in the market in ways we expect, but may be hindered by cultural and social differences that impede transfers; program provisions that affect decision-making in transfers; and the emergence of brokers in the market. The study also revealed how information about certificate prices and availability circulates within and between fishing communities, and how this affects the market and the outcomes of the program. When compared to results from previous analyses of transactions data, the interviews also provide information on validity of conclusions, and offers alternative explanations uncovered when the fishermen themselves explain the trap certificate market. The results of this paper suggest that management and regulating agencies should directly address these issues that could affect the market when developing and amending transferable fishing rights programs. Additionally, it exemplifies the importance of combining interviews with fishermen with economic analyses in monitoring and evaluation in order to gain a better understanding of how these programs work.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, August 12, 2010 at 10:00 AM
Title: Seeing Climate, Seeing Change: Communicating Climate Science in a Changing Media Landscape
Speaker: Heidi Cullen, CEO & Director of Communications of Climate Central
Abstract: The past year brought major changes in the economic, political, and media landscapes. This talk will explore how recent events impacted the public’s perception of climate science as well as discuss the challenges and opportunities facing scientists and journalists as the media undergoes a large-scale transformation.
Topics for discussion and hands-on practice will include new tools for science communication. Examples will be provided.
Note: This seminar will be held in the NOAA Science Center. For further information please contact LuAnn Dahlman.
Remote Access: Go to the Registration Page a few minutes before the seminar begins. Fill out the registration form and click on "Register Now". The passcode is: storyteller. Audio will be available over the internet.

Thursday, August 19, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Living in Fear: An Individual Based Model of a killer whale-dusky dolphin behavioral game
Speaker: Mridula Srinivasan, Program Manager/Marine Biologist, National Marine Fisheries Service
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
View the WebEx Recording (wrf format, requires you to download the free WRF player).
Abstract: Dolphins are apex predators, but occasionally they are prey to a more powerful predator like the killer whale (Orcinus orca). While killer whales may seek other prey, they can intimidate dolphins into making different lifestyle choices about when and where to rest, or when to feed. These anti-predator choices can occur because of predator threats rather than actual predator presence. Alternatively, due to heightened and imminent predation threat, dolphins may use drastic tactics to flee or hide to avoid a deadly encounter. Off Kaikoura, New Zealand, dusky dolphins (Lagenorhynchus obscurus) adopt short and long-term anti-predator strategies to avoid potential killer whale attacks. We developed a spatially explicit, individual-based model (IBM) to capture the dynamic behavioral interaction between a fierce predator and a scared prey, and to elucidate evolutionary costs vs. benefits of making anti-predator decisions. Despite species and habitat specific questions driving model development, the model can be adapted to different species and environments to answer complex ecological questions including predator-prey relationships.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Broader implications of voluntary participation in fisheries management: Does showing up matter?
Speaker: Danielle Brzezinski, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Office of Senator Maria Cantwell (D - WA)
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
View the WebEx Recording of the Seminar (wrf format, requires you to download the free WRF player).
Abstract: Voluntary participation has troubled policy makers since Aristotle’s time. Its perceived benefits in input and policy acceptance make it highly attractive as a method to be used in management. The Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976 created a regional system of fishery governance and included opportunities for public participation, which lawmakers, like Senator Edward Kennedy, believed would provide these benefits of local knowledge for fisheries management. However, research has shown that participation tends to occur among those that are more financially-able and opinionated, producing a condition of overall low participation and nonparticipation of moderates. Coupled with the high costs of participation in time and monetary loss, the actual participant makeup is uncertain as to whether it fulfills the implicit assumptions of the law. I studied the overall trends of voluntary participation in the New England Fishery Management Council general meetings from 2003-06. Additionally, I analyzed and compared three key fisheries, the groundfish, herring, and scallop fisheries, for their differences in participation levels. I compared the spatial distributions of the industry’s attendees to that of its fishing permits and landings data. The attendee data showed a significant and negative relationship between number of attendees and distance traveled; however, no significant differences existed among the attendees and the industry distributions, except between the scallop permits and landings within New England down to the Washington, DC area. While temporal constraints limited the study, the methods present an opportunity to quantify the effects of a participating but non-voting population.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010 at 12:30 PM ET
Title: Vertical distribution, transport, and delivery of barnacle larvae in the nearshore environment
Speaker: Joe Tyburczy, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Office of Representative Mike Thompson (D - CA)
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Understanding of processes that influence transport and settlement of marine larvae is invaluable for management and conservation, including the design and effects of marine protected areas. My dissertation research uses barnacles as a model organism and integrates biological and oceanographic sampling to investigate this important "black box." One key study was conducted in northern Monterey Bay, California in July-August 2007 as part of a large collaborative effort by the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO). Sampling included deployment of four acoustic Doppler current profilers and onshore settlement collectors at four sites, as well as depth-stratified larval traps on six moorings.
Flux of mature larvae (cyprids) of one barnacle species (Balanus crenatus) was greatest at depth, and at two sites their transport was associated with the alongshore movement of a buoyancy front. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between onshore settlement of barnacles and passage of the buoyancy front at these two sites, but at two other sites settlement was associated with diurnal upwelling. Preliminary results from a simple model are consistent with onshore transport of passive particles at depth in contrast to those near the surface. These results provide insight into processes involved in transport and settlement of marine larvae, likely important determinants of recruitment, population connectivity, and community structure.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Practical Tools, Techniques & Experiences for Conducting Meaningful Evaluation
Speakers: Jason Chasse, Analyst, PPI; Thanh Vo, Analyst, PPI; Bill Popovich, Analyst, PA&E; Susie Holst, Analyst, NOS; Nick Salafsky, Co-Founder/ Co-Director, Foundations of Success; Cory Riley, Program Specialist, OOCRM; Dwight Trueblood, Program Manager, OOCRM; and Liz Davenport, Program Analyst, NOS
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Panel discussion highlighting tools, techniques and practical experiences for conducting a variety of reviews and evaluations in environmental science centric projects, programs or strategies. The panel will share professional perspectives of the strengths, weaknesses and overviews of beneficial outcomes associated to evaluation efforts. Specific tools to be discussed will include Logic Models, Logical Frames and feature an open source software product demonstration of the Miradi Software for Adaptive Management.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: eLearning: Anytime, Anywhere
Speaker: Peggy Leung, Deputy Director, Office of Training and Knowledge Management (OTKM)
Abstract: This brown bag will show employees how to enhance their career development by taking advantage of e-learning (on-line) courses. Participants will be shown the types of courses available, how to find them, and how to navigate the system. Some available courses are: Business Writing/Communications, Management and Leadership, IT/Computer, and many more. This technology is a perfect alternative to off-site training, since courses can be taken at an employee's desk. Other benefits are is the ability to work at your own pace, and the training is absolutely free. Please attend this worth while brown bag. It could afford you the opportunity you have been looking for.
Note: The Professional Career Development Sub-Committee is hosting this brown bag at the library on behalf of the Employee Worklife and Diversity Committee, sponsored by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: “Make Your Dreams Take Flight” with the TIP TOP/NOAA TOASTMASTERS District 36, Division F, Club No. 632
Speaker: Robert Gunderson, President of Toastmaster's Chapter 632
Attend a Toastmasters meeeting and find out what Toastmasters is all about!

About Toastmasters:The Vision of Toastmasters International empowers people to achieve their full potential and realize their dreams. Through our member clubs, people throughout the world can improve their communication and leadership skills, and find the courage to change. Toastmasters International is the leading movement devoted to making effective oral communication a worldwide reality. Through its member Clubs, Toastmasters International helps men and women learn the arts of speaking, listening and thinking – vital skills that promote self-actualization, enhance leadership, foster human understanding, and contribute to the betterment of mankind. It is basic to this mission that Toastmasters International continually expand its worldwide network of Clubs, thereby offering ever-greater numbers of people the opportunity to benefit from its programs. The mission of a Toastmasters club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every member has the opportunity to develop communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth. Toastmasters International’s core values are integrity, dedication to excellence, service to the member, and respect for the individual. These are values worthy of a great organization, and we believe we should incorporate them as anchor points in every decision we make. Our core values provide us with a means of not only guiding but also evaluating our operations, our planning, and our vision for the future.
For more information, please visit:
Tip Top/NOAA Toastmasters: http://noaa.freetoasthost.com
Capital Area District 36 Toastmasters: http://www.district36.org
Toastmasters International: http://www.toastmasters.org

Remote access via webinar will NOT available.

Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 10 AM EST
Title: My Experiences at at Channel Islands National Park Made Possible By the Our World Underwater Society Scholarship
Speaker: Brianne Billups, National Park Service "Our World Underwater Society" scholarship intern
Abstract: Brie will discuss her experiences this summer as an intern at the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. She she participated in the "Live Dive" underwater video program held at Anacapa Island. She also taught school groups and the public about the Channel Islands and the marine life found there. She is interested in education, outreach, marine biology and ecology. Brie looks forward to sharing her experiences and newfound knowledge with NOAA staff.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Dressing for Success
Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
Speaker: Salim Abddeem, Manager for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations' Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Management.
Abstract: Have you ever wondered: what's the difference between "dressing to impress" and "dressing for success," what to wear at that job interview, or even how to dress casually at work? Insights to these and other questions about appearances in the work environment will be shared by our guest speaker, Salim Abddeen. Mr. Abddeen, Manager, Manager for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations' Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Management serves as senior advisor to the directors, managers, supervisors, employees, and applicants for employment on issues regarding responsibilities under Federal civil rights laws, EEO laws, EEO regulations, and Diversity Management processes.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, September 23, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: A Visit to the Reframing Shop: Learning from the Past
Speaker: Stephen Garber, NASA History Division
Abstract: Policymakers and other Government workers are often looking for discrete "lessons learned." While these certainly can be defined many ways, there is no doubt that historical thinking can help inform the decisions that all of us make on a daily basis. Often just consciously analyzing the past can provide an insightful new perspective on current events. In this seminar, Steve Garber will present some highlights in NASA history, explain what he and other NASA historians do, discuss some notable areas of NOAA-NASA cooperation, and most importantly, talk about the potential usefulness of history for everybody.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Offshore Wind Energy: Its place in the US Power Mix
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Speaker: Amardeep Dhanju, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
Abstract: Humans have a long history of tapping the kinetic energy stored in the wind; yet for more than 100 years the mobility and energy density of fossil fuels have made them the first choice energy source underpinning the entire structure of modern society. This dependence has come with political, economic and social costs that are highlighted in daily newscasts. Now as the society explores a transition to alternative energy resources, wind power has emerged as a preferred option. Lower price per energy unit, wide geographic availability, and very large resource size have led to development of wind resources on a larger scale than other renewable resources. As of 2010, with the exception of conventional hydroelectric power, wind power leads all other US renewable generation in installed capacity.
All wind power development in the US to date has been on land. Many coastal states along the eastern sea board and the Great Lakes have been left out of the fast-paced wind power growth because they either lack significant land-based resources, or development is constrained due to conflicting land-uses. In such states offshore wind power offers a viable alternative that can be developed on a large-scale using existing and emerging technology.
This presentation will examine the potential of offshore wind to meet the energy demands in the coastal regions now satisfied by coal, petroleum and natural gas. It will provide a broad overview of the technical, policy and regulatory challenges in large-scale deployment and integration of offshore wind power and discuss innovative strategies to address these issues.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010 at 12:30 pm ET
Title: A socio-economic assessment of the environmental impact of livestock operations: Integrating the environment, economics, and renewable energy
Speaker: Kornelia Dabrowska, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Office of Science and Technology, NMFS
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Communities living in close proximity to livestock operations may be subjected to economic externalities (third party or spillover effects) like pollution or odors originating from these facilities. Direct environmental contamination is of considerable concern since waste is frequently stored in stacks or pits and may leach or spill into the surrounding environment. There is also the danger that waste may be transported even further across the landscape or into water bodies via runoff. But adequate information about the social costs associated with livestock operations is scarce. Addressing this informational gap constitutes the first objective of this work. Here, economic modeling combined with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) based mapping has been used to analyze the impact of animal agriculture on the environment and local communities.
Results reveal that decreasing these impacts by 10% to 25% (by employing anaerobic digestion for example) would result in welfare gains of over $500 to $1,100 per household, respectively, across the affected regions. Furthermore the dairy sector in Ohio has the potential to power almost 20,000 homes assuming only 25% of the waste material produced is collected and used for generation purposes. Using anaerobic digestion to generate power could decrease greenhouse gas emissions from 1% to almost 14% state wide (depending on what assumptions are made about methane content and conversion efficiency), which is about 45 to 512 thousand tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, respectively (utilizing only ¼ to ½ the available material). Lastly it should be noted that using animal waste to produce renewable energy would not entail removing crop residue from harvested lands and thus potentially decreasing the agricultural productivity of these lands.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: NOS Hydrographic Survey Bottom Sample Recovery
Speaker: Daniel Neumann, IT Specialist, National Ocean Service Hydrographic Survey Division
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Ocean Service (NOS) Hydrographic Survey Division (HSD) and National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC) recently completed a joint project to provide web access to hydrographic survey metadata from the NOS Hydrographic Survey Metadata Database (HSMDB). The new online metadata display is offered on the NGDC web site under the product name Rap Sheet. One innovative feature of this view is a link to the growing database of seabed "bottom type" derived from samples collected during surveys. These samples provide seabed type annotations for nautical charts, but also have applications outside the navigation community.
Bottom samples must have a source with adequate geographic location and description. This seminar examines the four sources of HSMDB bottom samples: Oceanographic Log "M" Sheets, Descriptive Report tabular listing, digital feature files in CARIS .hob format, and survey Detached Position plots. Preliminary results of the presenter's ongoing review suggest that adequate bottom type information exists for only seventy percent of the 8,400 surveys with verified metadata in HSMDB (H08000, c.1952, to the present).
This seminar will discuss efforts to address the remaining thirty percent of surveys for which there is currently incomplete and/or conflicting bottom sample information in the database. Specifically the discussion will focus on: 1) Auditing the current post-H08000 HSMDB bottom sample holdings, 2) Finding "M" log sheets or survey tabular lists for uncorroborated data and resolving NGDC cruise and HSMDB display conflict, 3) Extracting bottom sample metadata from modern survey digital feature files in CARIS .hob format, and 4) completing all HSMDB Rap Sheet bottom samples with matching NGDC display and NOS count from the best available source
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Tuesday, October 12, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Liability for Transboundary Environmental Harm and Emerging Global Environmental Law
Speaker: Robert Percival, Robert F. Stanton Professor of Law and Director, Environmental Law Program, University of Maryland School of Law
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: This presentation will explore why public international law has not been terribly successful in holding polluters liable for transboundary environmental harm, efforts to overcome obstacles to environmental liability, and the growth of private transnational litigation over everything from climate change to oil spills. I will argue that the rise of global environmental law that includes "bottom up" and private initiatives has become an important complement to traditional "top down" efforts to develop international liability norms. As countries strengthen their own domestic liability standards to redress environmental harm, transnational private litigation will help provide further impetus of the development of global liability norms for environmental harm that will become an important part of the new architecture of global environmental law.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: United States' effort to delimit its extended continental shelf
Speaker: Megan Campbell, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Department of State Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs
Abstract: The juridical continental shelf is an important maritime zone, one that holds many resources and vital habitats for marine life. Much of the world's continental shelf is unknown and unmapped. Even so, the responsible use and preservation of this area depends on the collection of data to better understand exactly where a coastal state's continental shelf is, and consequently, where it can exercise its rights under international law. Given these important aspects, it is critical for the United States to accurately define the full extent of its continental shelf. Determining the extent of the continental shelf is a bit different than other maritime zones, such as the territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone, because it is not simply a matter of distance from the baseline. Under customary international law, as reflected in the Convention on the Law of the Sea, every coastal State automatically has a continental shelf out to 200 nautical miles from its shore (or out to a maritime boundary with another coastal State). In some cases, a coastal State can have a continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles if it meets certain criteria. Typically, the portion of continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles is called the extended continental shelf or simply the ECS. This presentation will discuss the legal, policy, and technical aspects of delimiting the ECS, some interesting questions that arise in the context of delineating the outer limits of the ECS, and the process of making a submission to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 12:30pm ET
Title: Surface Currents and Turbulent Dispersion in the Tropical North Atlantic
Speaker: Long Zhou, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation, OAR
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: A proper understanding of turbulent dispersion of ocean currents is fundamental to predicting the fate of pollutants on local scales as well as for their accurate representation of sub-grid processes in numerical studies of climate. This presentation is a story of surface currents in the tropical North Atlantic, including mapping currents, how they vary in space and time, and turbulent dispersion of in-situ and numerical drifters.
Daily sea level anomaly (SLA) maps are computed from multiple satellite altimeter along-track measurements via objective analysis with a specified data-derived space-time correlation model. In a 2200km-wide domain in 2°N-13°N, the mesoscale flow field demonstrates meridional gradient, and an alternating pattern with a seasonal cycle. Lagrangian statistics of turbulent velocities are found to be anisotropic from two datasets: surface drifter observations in NOAA’s Global Drifter Program, and trajectories of numerical drifters dispersed by the mapped currents. Between 73% -90% of the drifter-resolved total turbulent diffusivity is contributed by the altimeter-based mesoscale flow.
The major technical contributions of this project are: the mapping of currents with optimized resolution and parameters for a specific region, and a standardized method to estimate mean flow and turbulent velocities based on optimal numbers of independent drifter observations.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE 21ST CENTURY--A FEASIBILITY STUDY
Speaker: Kyle VanderLugt, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Office of the Assistant Administrator, OAR
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Continued growth of the aquaculture industry is needed in the 21st century in response to increasing demand from inflated populations and declining wild fisheries capture. Meeting this demand will require bridging the gap between industrialized countries including the United States, and developing and least developed countries (e.g. Mexico, Uruguay, and Uganda). As the aquaculture industry becomes more globally interconnected, industrialized nations will likely be pressured to develop more sustainable practices which are natural resource conservative while developing countries will be pressured to increase production capacity and develop more intensive operations. Albeit with many inherent challenges, a globalized strategic plan is needed to bridge this gap. This presentation will briefly identify several of these inherent challenges and a present a case study of how information technology can be utilized to integrate small-scale farms in multi-national agribusiness models. This presentation will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of new systems of aquaculture technology that are resource conservative and also have the potential to be scaled to meet industry needs. Re-circulating integrated agriculture-aquaculture (RIAA) systems combine fish and plant production whereby the nutrient rich aquaculture effluent is utilized to irrigate plants. While further research is needed to maximize the benefits of RIAA technology, results demonstrate that these systems provide both economic and environmental benefits over traditional farming methods. Ultimately, this research explores how novel technology can be implemented in strategic locations to provide a sustainable food supply capable of promoting economic growth through the distribution of seafood products to satisfy domestic and global demand.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 12:30 PM ET
Title: A Spatial Analysis of Coastal Development in Cozumel, Mexico and Curaçao, the Netherlands Antilles.
Speaker: Carl Nim, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, NOAA Coral Reef Watch
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: In recent decades there has been substantial infrastructural and/or economic development in coastal areas throughout the world. This is especially the case in scenic tropical locations, such as the Caribbean, where tourism is a primary driver of many economies. Political and economic forces shape this development, however, resulting in a variety of outcomes for the inhabitants of these areas and the ecosystems that surround these development projects. This presentation will discuss coastal development research that took place in Cozumel, Mexico and Curaçao, N.A. to explain some of the caveats and spatial analysis methods used to understand and evaluate the impact development has had on local communities and nearby ecosystems. Findings reinforce the importance of utilizing marine spatial planning analyses, soliciting stakeholder involvement early in the decision making process, and creating or abiding by policies designed to protect natural resources from development activities.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Friday, October 22, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Exxon Valdez oil spill: looking back at oil persistence and effects after 20 years
Speaker: Dr. Stanley "Jeep" Rice, Auke Bay Laboratories, Division of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA Fisheries in Juneau Alaska
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Although the Exxon Valdez oil was 21 years ago, what lessons have we learned that might inform us on what to expect with the Deep Water Horizon spill in the gulf. First, it takes a long time for these spill events to play out. Effects to some populations are still evident from the initial exposures in 1989, oil still persists in intertidal sediments in Prince William Sound, and effects from the lingering oil are still evident with several species. Litigation relative to the spill continues. Second, there were predictable effects- thousands of birds and marine mammals died, some populations are still impacted, fisheries were closed. All spills have these predictable effects in the short term. The surprise in Alaska was the long term persistence of oil in the intertidal zone, and the long term effects that have been documented. Exxon Valdez was the most studied spill in history and has yielded the best insight into long term impacts from a spill. This talk will give examples of the long term effects (Orcas, sea otters, pink salmon, herring). The good news is that recovery continues, is a work in progress, but the productivity of the Prince William Sound is quite healthy for most species, with the recovery of herring being a major disappointment. All spills are different, yet there are principles learned with Exxon Valdez that will apply to DWH.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: The effects of predators and habitat on sea urchin density and behavior in southern California kelp forests
Speaker: Katie Nichols, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Office of the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: It is well documented that sea urchins can have vast impacts on kelp forest community structure as a result of kelp grazing. Despite the ecological importance of sea urchins, direct field studies on the relative effects urchin predators have on shaping urchin populations are rare for southern California. We conducted surveys at three kelp forest sites near San Diego, CA, including heavily fished and marine reserve sites, to measure sea urchin size, abundance, and habitat use as well as the abundance of potential sea urchin predators. We also examined whether purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) proportional mortality varied with urchin density, time of day, and algal cover in the La Jolla Ecological Reserve, where densities of potential predators such as sheephead and spiny lobsters are high. Transect surveys showed urchin behavioral changes among the three sites with urchins tending to be more cryptic inside the reserve as compared to sites adjacent to the reserve and in heavily fished areas. Examining whether urchin mortality from predation is density-dependent and how habitat complexity influences this relationship is imperative because behavioral changes and increases in urchin populations can have vast ecological and economic consequences in kelp forest communities.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Wednesday, October 27, 2010 at 12:30pm ET
Title: Reproductive physiology and ecology of loggerhead and Kemp's ridley sea turtles: temperature-dependent sex determination and hatchling predation
Speaker: AnneMarie Eich, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Branch of Aquatic Invasive Species, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: Sea turtles have an interesting reproductive biology highlighted by long-distance migrations, high fecundity, prolonged age to sexual maturity, and temperature-dependent sex determination. Results will be presented from studies of sea turtle hatchling sex ratios and natural predation. The first study focuses on hatchling sex ratio production of threatened loggerhead sea turtles on Blackbeard Island National Wildlife Refuge. The second study addresses reproductive ecology of endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtles at their primary nesting beach in Rancho Nuevo, Mexico. The nests of Kemp's ridleys have historically been moved to corrals (i.e., hatcheries) due to extremely low nest numbers to protect them from predation, poaching, and erosion. However, as the number of nests increases due to conservation efforts, more nests are now being left in their original location. This study examines how these activities affect hatchling sex ratio production and predation rates.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Tuesday, November 2, 2010 at 12 noon ET
Title: Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill 2010: How Sea Grant – Land Grant Extension Met the Deepwater Horizon Challenge
Speaker: Julie Falgout, Louisiana Sea Grant Extension Agent
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: To respond to natural or technological disasters, Sea Grant/Land Grant programs can employ unique capabilities via university infrastructure and knowledge of local geographic, social, cultural, and government conditions. This presentation will look at the extension response to the Deepwater Horizon event and the benefit of having a Sea Grant-Land Grant agent positioned in the Incident Command System. This unique opportunity has demonstrated how multi-agency partnerships have improved extension response to this disaster and promoted the Gulf Coast’s human and environmental recovery.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 12 noon EST
Title: Nitrogen and salinity distributions in a river dominated estuary
Speaker: Galen Kaufman, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: This study is focused on the dynamics of salinity and nitrogen distribution along the length of the Altamaha River estuary, Georgia. An initial nutrient budgeting exercise showed that nitrogen in the Altamaha River estuary is dominated by inputs from the river. The distribution of salinity and nutrient concentrations in the estuary under different river flows can be seen using data from a long term water quality monitoring program. The relationship between river input and salinity is explored using a relatively user-friendly hydrodynamic modeling tool, SqueezeBox. Continuing investigations involve using the USEPA Water Quality Analysis Simulation Program (WASP), an integrated hydrodynamic and water quality model, to understand the mechanisms that affect the distribution of nutrients in the estuary.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Wednesday, November 10, 2010 at 12:30pm EST
Title: American Alligator Bacterial Source Tracking In Coastal South Carolina
Speaker: Michelle Johnston, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)
Abstract: The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in recreational and shellfish harvesting waters is a major public health concern as elevated bacterial levels suggest the presence of pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Traditional microbial techniques do not allow specific identification of bacteria sources, thus reducing the ability to target management practices that reduce bacterial contamination. Due to the large number of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) inhabiting coastal waterbodies in the southeastern United States, these animals may be an unrecognized source of fecal coliform bacteria in surface waters. Bacteria were isolated from the cloaca of American alligators as well as adjoining surface water samples in coastal South Carolina. The predominant enteric bacteria isolated from alligator cloacae and water samples included: Plesiomonas shigelloides, Edwardsiella tarda, Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter braakii, Enterobacter cloacae, and Salmonella choleraesuis. The identified bacteria were analyzed with REP-PCR, a bacterial source tracking tool that produces distinct DNA fingerprints. By matching alligator fecal coliform bacteria fingerprints to those found in the water samples, findings increased our understanding of poikliothermic fecal coliform wildlife sources, and indicated that alligators are a fecal pollution source in coastal surface waters. These results demonstrate that REP-PCR genomic fingerprinting was able to identify not only indicator bacteria, but potential pathogenic bacteria in aquatic environments from a poikilothermic source, allowing resource managers to utilize these tools to identify and manage these specific sources to keep bacterial water quality levels below regulatory thresholds.
Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 12 noon EST
Title: Ocean Acidification: The Other CO2 Problem
Speaker: Dick Feely, Senior Scientist, Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
Powerpoint Slides available to NOAA staff
Abstract: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the most important "green-house" gases in the atmosphere affecting the radiative heat balance of the earth. As a direct result of the industrial and agricultural activities of humans over the past two centuries, atmospheric CO2 concentrations have increased by about 100 ppm. The atmospheric concentration of CO2 is now higher than experienced on Earth for at least the last 800,000 years, and is expected to continue to rise, leading to significant temperature increases in the atmosphere and oceans by the end of this century. The global oceans are the largest natural long-term reservoir for this excess heat and CO2, absorbing approximately 85% of the heat and 30% of the anthropogenic carbon released into the atmosphere since the beginning of the industrial era. Recent studies have demonstrated that both the temperature increases and the increased concentrations of CO2 in the oceans are causing significant changes in marine ecosystems. Many marine organisms are already affected by these anthropogenic stresses, including impacts due to coral bleaching and ocean acidification. Dr. Feely will discuss the present and future implications of ocean acidification on the health of our ocean ecosystems and related ocean-based economies.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at 12 noon EST
Title: The Power of the Sea – Tsunamis, Storm Surges, Rogue Waves, and Our Quest to Predict Disasters
Speaker: Dr. Bruce Parker, former Chief Scientist, National Ocean Service, NOAA, and presently Visiting Professor, Center for Maritime Systems, Stevens Institute of Technology
Abstract: Dr. Parker will tell the story of our long struggle to understand the physics of the sea so we can use that knowledge to predict when the sea will unleash its power against us (so we can get out of its way and survive). The talk is based on his newly published book which interweaves compelling stories of unpredicted natural disasters with fascinating stories of scientific discoveries, beginning with ancient mankind's strange ideas about the sea and working up to our latest technological advances in predicting the sea's moments of destruction. Over the centuries, while scientists and mariners were trying to learn how to predict the motions of the sea, the sea has killed millions, destroyed untold billions of dollars in property, and had more than one impact on history. The 300,000 lives lost to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the millions lost to storms surges in Bangladesh and India over the centuries, and the thousands of ships lost at sea to rogue waves, are but a few tragic examples portrayed in his book. The book also includes the history of how we learned to predict the tides, El Nino, and certain aspects of climate change.
Note: This seminar will be held in the large conference room, room 4527, on the 4th floor of SSMC3.
Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Ocean Iron Fertilization

Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Speaker: Alison Reed, NOAA Office of International Affairs

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

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Holiday Brown Bag: A Lifetime of Growth, Service and Success through Mentoring

Date: Tuesday, December 7, 2010 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Kenneth Carey, Senior Principal Systems Engineer, Noblis Center for Sustainability

Abstract: Serving as a mentor is a challenging endeavor but one that has the opportunity to change lives, and sets the stage for a fulfilling career. A mentor gets the satisfaction in knowing they had an impact on someone’s professional and personal development, and the opportunity develop a mentee’s leadership, scientific, and communicative skills, and build confidence. They also can gain a fresh perspective from the mentee, and a link with a future generation. Mentees can gain an ally to help them find jobs, and navigate life’s “challenges”. They can benefit immensely from a mentor’s experiences, and expand their professional and personal network.

One of the greatest tools for a mentee’s success will be the relationships that are established with more experienced and seasoned people. The mentor/protégé relationship has been used throughout history, setting the stage for advancements in science, medicine, technology and politics. Strategies and helpful hints will be presented, followed by suggestions on getting started. Concepts on moving forward and opportunities for you to informally mentor will be discussed, and motivation for being a part of a mentoring relationship are presented.

Note: This will be our annual Holiday Brown Bag Seminar, featuring performances from the NOAA Holiday Band from 11:30am to noon and from 1:00pm to 1:30pm. Refreshments and treats will be served.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Transport of contaminants from sediments to the water column and environmental remediation strategies

Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Priscilla Viana, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Division of Ocean Sciences at the National Science Foundation (NSF)


Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and heavy metal contaminants have accumulated on the bottom of rivers and lakes due to chemical interactions and transformations and due to their relatively long environmental persistence. Gas ebullition, in addition to normally occurring diffusive and advective transport of contaminants, increases contaminant availability to the bioactive zone and water column. Increased incidences of fish disease and decreased species biodiversity in pollution-impacted benthic/aquatic environments are some of the costs to ecological and human health posed by these contaminants.

My study focuses on quantifying and modeling the transport of contaminants from sediments to the water column and on investigating the effectiveness of active capping as a mitigation strategy to minimize the release of these contaminants. Active capping both isolates contaminated sediments from the water phase while offering degradation and/or sequestration of contaminants by the active materials. I modeled the transport of Cd, Cr, Pb, Ag, As, Ba, Hg, CH3Hg and CN through sand (25 cm), granular activated carbon (GAC, 2 cm), organoclay (2 cm), shredded tires (10 cm) and apatite (2 cm) caps by deterministic and Monte Carlo methods. Sand caps performed best under diffusion due to the greater diffusive path length. Apatite had the best advective performance for Cd, Cr and Pb. Organoclay performed best for Ag, As, Ba, CH3Hg and CN. Organoclay and apatite were equally effective for Hg. Monte Carlo analysis was used to determine output sensitivity. Sand was effective under diffusion for Cr within the 50% confidence interval (CI), for Cd and Pb (75% CI) and for As, Hg and CH3Hg (95% CI). Under diffusion and advection, apatite was effective for Cd, Pb and Hg (75% CI) and organoclay for Hg and CH3Hg (50% CI). GAC and shredded tires performed relatively poorly. Although no single cap is a panacea, apatite and organoclay have the broadest range of effectiveness.

I am also quantifying and modeling metal contaminant and PAH transport from the sediment to the water column due to gas ebullition as recent research suggests that another important factor affecting cap performance is gas ebullition due to organic matter biodegradation primarily under methanogenic conditions. Gas bubbles may damage the cap layer, opening preferential holes in the cap or even rupture the cap. Additionally, my results demonstrate that gas ebullition may be an important pathway for release of PAH and heavy metal pollutants to the water column. Comparison of diffusive and advective release rates (measured through a benthic chamber study) to field ebullition facilitated rates suggest that PAHs are released at >10 times greater rates by biogenic gas production. Although the increase in release rate is not as great for metals, ebullition facilitated release rates are frequently much greater.

Using our field study and modeling results, we worked with the Wetlands Initiative and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD-GC) to improve the stewardship of the highly contaminated local aquatic resources. We proposed placement of an organoclay mat with an underlying sloped sand layer and a high permeability gas venting system to allow biogenically-produced gas migration to shoreline collectors through an innovative support grid. The project design included an overlaying wetland to remove nutrients from the adjoining Chicago River and to provide a public recreational space.

Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Ingredients for Protection: How Guangzhou, China Can Learn from Boston and New York City’s Experiences with Surface Drinking Water Source Protection

Date: Wednesday, December 8, 2010 at 12:30pm EST

Speaker: Shannon Cosentino-Roush, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, NOAA Office of Law Enforcement


Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Today more than 1 billion people around the globe and nearly a quarter of China’s total population lacks access to clean drinking water. This raises the question: what can be done to ensure clean and safe drinking water not only on a global scale, but more specifically in the context of this research, in Guangzhou, China?

Historically, many communities used preventative measures to maintain the quality of their local drinking water. They took water from non-polluted upstream areas, passed regulations limiting polluting activities, and preserved land around the drinking water source. Yet, over time as technology improved, many communities began to rely more heavily on treatment and other methods rather than on drinking water source protection. Today, though treatment remains a vital tool, it is important to recognize that the value of source water protection in the struggle to ensure clean drinking water cannot be overlooked.

As China struggles to deal with its large population, an increasingly polluted environment, and water shortages, it must figure out an effective and efficient way to ensure clean drinking water. Specifically, the interest in source water protection became increasingly apparent when a professor from Sun Yat-Sen University in Guangzhou, China approached Vermont Law School’s China Program with the question: How does the United States protect its surface drinking water sources? Thus, the mission began: to research examples of United States’ cities engaging in drinking water source protection and to assess how their experiences might be applied in Guangzhou, China.

This presentation discusses the two primary pieces of federal legislation underlying surface drinking water source protection in the United States: the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. It then explores how two United States’ cities, Boston and New York, incorporate and expand on the federal approach, in order to extrapolate effective themes and strategies useful for implementing and improving upon source water protection. Subsequently, this presentation discusses the current water pollution situation in the Pearl River Delta region in China, particularly the urban center of Guangzhou, and analyzes the relevant national and local laws governing over drinking water source protection. Finally, this presentation concludes by applying the extrapolated themes to Guangzhou in order to provide suggestions for improving the city’s source water protection efforts in the future.

Note: This seminar is part of the Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Unwanted Medicines and Educating our Communities: What Have we Learned, How are we Doing and What are the Next Steps? Experiences from the Great Lakes States

Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Susan Boehme, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program Outreach Coordinator and Liaison to the U.S. EPA Great Lakes National Program Office

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Medicines are produced in increasing volumes every year. With this growth comes concern regarding environmental fate of unwanted medicines. Recent studies identified pharmaceutical compounds in fresh and marine waters nationwide, and several of these bioactive compounds are potentially harmful to aquatic organisms, even in small quantities. Additionally, improper medicine disposal poses poisoning risks to children, the elderly and pets and can lead to drug/identity theft. Unused medicines may accumulate in homes or be flushed, placed in the trash, or given to others, all of which have significant disadvantages. One approach for decreasing amounts of unwanted medicines reaching the environment is the organization of collection programs that ensure safer methods of disposal. This presentation will describe the status of our efforts in the Great Lakes Region including collection programs, outreach and education with an eye toward what is still needed, and what should be our next steps to expand the program nationally. Should we focus more on the front end of the cycle including drug manufacturing, and reducing the amounts of waste from the home, or should we focus on non-residential waste of pharmaceuticals including confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), hospitals and clinics? Where do we go from here?

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Turning Japanese: A Year in Japan as a Mansfield Fellow

Date: Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Michael Clark, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, NMFS

Abstract: I participated in the Mansfield Fellowship between September 2008 and September 2010. This two-year fellowship provides Federal government employees with the opportunity to learn Japanese and then spend a year working in Japan on issues relevant to their expertise and interests. The first year was spent learning Japanese in DC and the second year was spent in Japan working at a variety of offices, including: the Fisheries Agency, with a member of the Japanese Legislature (Diet), at a seafood trading company, with a fisheries economist at Tokyo University, and at their Fisheries Research Agency.

In terms of value and volume, Japan is one of the world's most significant consumers of seafood; over 60 percent of which is imported from countries like the United States. The cultural significance and economic importance of seafood have led to efforts by the Japanese Fisheries Agency to try and increase Japan's self-sufficiency rate for seafood products, however; overfished stocks, aging fishermen and migration from coastal communities, and the decreasing price of imports have made it difficult to achieve this goal.

Significant differences exist between Japan and the United States concerning their approach to fisheries management. These differences stem from a unique history in Japan where fishermen have traditionally maintained more autonomy concerning management decisions, resulting in a more "bottom-up", co-management regime between fisheries cooperatives and government. Furthermore, commercial fishermen are the predominant stakeholder in Japan meaning environmental NGOs, recreational fishermen, and the general public are not as involved in the management process as they are in the United States.

Japan is a country unlike any other I have visited: a wealthy country where you can still experience culture shock. Japan is modern, but not at all western. A country that has been responsible for numerous technological advancements in a variety of industries while adhering to rigid cultural norms that are will not likely change anytime soon. Please consider joining me on December 16th to learn about this experience.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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2011 Brown Bags

Biological and Behavioral Response Studies (BRS) in southern California (SOCAL-10)

Date: Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Brandon Southall, President and Senior Scientist for Southall Environmental Associates, Inc. and Research Associate with the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC)

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: SOCAL-10 was a scientific research project conducted in Aug-Sept 2010 in important biological areas near southern California. It extended previous studies in the Bahamas (2007-08) and Mediterranean Sea (2009) of whether and how marine mammals change their behavior when they hear different sounds. Each of these studies have integrated behavioral response studies to controlled sound exposures with ongoing research on diving, foraging, and social behavior. The overall objective was to provide a better basic understanding of marine mammal behavior, while providing direct scientific information for the Navy and regulatory agencies to estimate risk and minimize the impact of human sounds, particularly military sonar. SOCAL-10 was the first in a five-year dedicated effort to study a variety of marine mammal species in areas around the southern California coast and Channel Islands.

SOCAL-10 involved an interdisciplinary collaboration of experts in marine mammal biology, behavior, and communication, as well as underwater acousticians and specialized field researchers. During a preliminary scouting phase and two research legs on different research vessels, SOCAL-10 observed, photographed, and/or tracked in detail, individuals of 21 different marine mammal species. Sixty-two tags (of six different varieties) were successfully secured on 44 individual animals of nine different marine mammal species, including several which had never been studied using tag technologies previously. Scientists also conducted 28 controlled sound exposure experiments; in these experiments, animals were monitored with suction cup acoustic sensors, remote listening devices and specialized observers with high-powered binoculars. Sounds were then played to the animals under specific protocols and protective measures (to ensure animals were not harmed) and changes in behavior were measured.

Preliminary results based primarily on clearly observable behavior in the field and from initial data assessment indicate variable responses, depending on species, type of sound, and behavioral state during the experiments. Some observations in certain conditions suggest avoidance responses, while in other cases subjects seemed to not respond, at least overtly. Additional analysis and interpretation is underway of the nearly 400 hours of tag data from the project, as well as thousands of marine mammal observations, photographs, tissue samples, and acoustic measurements.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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UNEP, the Arctic, and the Law of the Sea

Date: Monday, January 10, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speakers: Amy Fraenkel, Regional Director and Representative for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and Dr. Yannick Beaudoin, Head of the Marine Programme at the Global Resource Information Database Center in Arendal, Norway (UNEP/GRID-Arendal)

Presentation (QuickTime format, 610 MB)

Abstract: Ms. Fraenkel will address UNEP’s work on current and possible future Arctic environmental issues. In 2008, UNEP’s Governing Council encouraged UNEP “to cooperate, as requested, with the Arctic Council, relevant Multilateral Environmental Agreements and other relevant regional and international bodies, as appropriate,” in addressing Arctic environmental issues. In implementing the 2010-11 Programme of Work, UNEP is collaborating with GRID-Arendal, UNEP’s Polar Collaborating Centre, to carry out a number of activities related to polar issues, some of which are conducted in close cooperation with the Arctic Council’s working groups. Pursuant to its existing mandate, UNEP wishes to ascertain where it might best serve governments and other stakeholders to identify and address environmental issues in the Arctic region and the linkages between Arctic and global issues. To this end UNEP plans to consult with Arctic country governments, key multilateral entities such as the Arctic Council and the International Maritime Organization, indigenous peoples and civil society. This discussion presents one such opportunity for providing input to UNEP. A Concept Note is attached as background.

Dr. Beaudoin will discuss UNEP Shelf Programme's work on continental shelf mapping and how UNEP/GRID-Arendal, as implementing institution, advises countries in preparing their submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. His presentation will mainly focus on the recent intensive efforts in West Africa and with 11 Pacific Island Countries. Over the past 5 years, the UNEP Shelf Programme has been mandated with assisting countries in their delineation effort. In addition, as part of a continuing effort to assist developing coastal states in the sustainable use of their marine environment and resources, UNEP/GRID-Arendal is currently in the development phase of new major initiatives, two of which, a Blue Carbon initiative and an ocean management programme, will be briefly presented. UNEP/GRID-Arendal is particularly interested in expertise from and collaboration with NOAA.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the Office of General Counsel for International Law.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Training the next generation of scientists and engineers

Date: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Sarah Hammond, Marine Educator, MIT Sea Grant

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The Sea Perch program is an innovative underwater robotics initiative that trains teachers—who then train their students—to build a remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The program, started by MIT Sea Grant (MITSG) in 2003, is designed to encourage students' enthusiasm for science, technology, and engineering. MITSG educators have been able to train nearly 500 teachers around the world.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowships: Plug the Power of Science into Public Policy

Date: Tuesday, January 18, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speakers: Laura Petes, Gabrielle Dreyfus, Erin Seney, Melissa Kenney, Brandon Sitzman, Jen Boehme, and Ariana Sutton-Grier, NOAA AAAS fellows

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellows are competitively-selected, post-doctoral scientists and engineers (PhD, MD, DVM) from a broad range of disciplines. These Fellows are available for placement in federal agencies for a 1-2 year term (renewal year can include details outside of the DC area). The Program, in existence since 1973, has an outstanding national reputation with many former Fellows occupying some of the highest positions in science policy throughout the federal government. AAAS currently partners with over 15 federal agencies, many Congressional offices and committees, and nearly 30 professional scientific societies to operate the Science & Technology Policy Fellowships.

NOAA has hosted 10 AAAS Fellows since it began participating in the Fellowship Program in 2007. The Fellows offer scientific and technical expertise as they assist with projects, program management, or policy analysis. Fellows start work after two weeks of intense training in science policy (including ethics, the legislative process, and the budget process) and are supported throughout their two years with professional development activities. AAAS Fellows also serve as a link to a network of science and science policy professionals across academia and government, including a network of over 2,300 current and former Fellows.

The recruitment process for 2011-2012 AAAS Fellows is already underway, and prospective host offices must act soon to participate. At this Brown Bag information session, current AAAS Fellows and AAAS program staff will share details about the program, insights about their experiences, upcoming deadlines in the recruitment process, and answer your questions. Because the renewal year of the Fellowship can include details outside of the DC area, regional offices and labs are encouraged to participate via webinar.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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NOAALink 101 Training

Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 from 11:00am to 12:30pm EST

Speaker: Dexter Fredericks, IT Project Manager, Enterprise Projects Division, OCIO

Abstract: NOAALink 101 Training introduces contracting personnel and other interested attendees to the NOAALink PMO, as well as the processes and benefits that NOAALink offers to the Department of Commerce (DOC), and particularly NOAA, in IT contracting. This training is for contracting personnel and others who manage and support IT contracts. The training will provide a detailed walk through of what contracting and IT personnel need to know to engage and work with NOAALink.

NOAALink offers DOC, NOAA and all of the NOAA Line Offices better opportunities for IT products and services, including cost savings, time savings and better, more comprehensive IT products and services, all through a streamlined acquisition process supported by the NOAALink PMO.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Assisting Great Lakes Coastal Communities with Climate Change Adaptation

Date: Friday, February 4, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Shauna Casey, Danielle Forsyth, Rebecca Held, Sara Katich and Cybelle Shattuck, Masters Students at the University of Michigan's School of Natural Resources and Environment

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The Great Lakes region is predicted to experience significant coastal impacts due to global climate change that are different than impacts being predicted for our ocean coasts. Specialized education, training and community planning will need to be developed to assist Great Lakes coastal communities in adapting to changes resulting from climate change. This project resulted in three educational modules that can be delivered individually or as a unit to prepare local officials to develop climate change adaptation plans for their communities. These outreach modules will be delivered by Sea Grant Program Extension Staff, USDA Extension Staff, Coastal Zone Management Programs, and other trained outreach professionals who work with local community decision makers in the Great Lakes region. Modules were designed to allow for maximum flexibility and adaptability and can easily be modified to include future research and tools that increase the body of information useful for local decision makers.

The student team from SNRE completed this project with the help of NOAA Great Lakes Regional Collaboration team members and Sea Grant professionals as part of a mini-grant funded by the National NOAA Sea Grant College Program. The SNRE team will present an overview of the project and the educational tools they developed, including examples of materials from the modules. Please join us for a discussion about educational outreach related to climate change adaptation.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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NOAALink 101 Training

Date:Tuesday, February 8, 2011 from 11:00am to 12:30pm EST

Speaker: Dexter Fredericks, IT Project Manager, Enterprise Projects Division, OCIO

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: NOAALink 101 Training introduces contracting personnel and other interested attendees to the NOAALink PMO, as well as the processes and benefits that NOAALink offers to the Department of Commerce (DOC), and particularly NOAA, in IT contracting. This training is for contracting personnel and others who manage and support IT contracts. The training will provide a detailed walk through of what contracting and IT personnel need to know to engage and work with NOAALink.

NOAALink offers DOC, NOAA and all of the NOAA Line Offices better opportunities for IT products and services, including cost savings, time savings and better, more comprehensive IT products and services, all through a streamlined acquisition process supported by the NOAALink PMO.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Coral Reef Management Fellowship: Conservation Projects in the Caribbean and the Pacific

Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speakers: NOAA Coral Reef Management Fellows

Abstract: The NOAA Coral Reef Management Fellows from the Pacific and the Caribbean regions will present on their various projects projects in a series of short sessions during this one-hour seminar. These projects include: Facilitating community participation in marine reserves (PR); Developing guidelines for marine operators (USVI); Coordination of maritime and construction industry permitting (FL); Large-scale watershed revegetation in coral areas (CNMI); and Climate Change island action strategies (AS).

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Sargasso Sea Project

Date: Monday, February 28, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Dr. David Freestone, Executive Director, the Sargasso Sea Alliance

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Sylvia Earle has called the Sargasso Sea "the golden rainforest of the ocean." It is a unique pelagic ecosystem based on species of Sargassum that are able to develop without contact with land. It is a crucial habitat for a number of species including fish, turtles and eel on the IUCN red list of endangered species. There is also an emerging recognition of the crucial role it plays in the wider ecosystem ranging from the Atlantic to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. The threats to the Sargasso include garbage and plastics cast overboard from boats, oil discharges, overfishing, the extraction of Sargasso for bio fuels, and climate change.

Dr. Freestone will discuss the Alliance and their approach to sectoral organisations with relevant competences to encourage them to adopt new protection measures in accordance with the 1982 Law of the Sea Convention. These might include the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), in relation to ship discharges and the designation of a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area, as well as fisheries bodies such the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) and the International Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) (which already has agreed to monitoring and reporting requirements for Sargassum impacts).

Dr. Freestone is a world-renowned legal expert on international environmental law with extensive experience, including as a senior legal adviser at the World Bank and as a professor at the Law School of George Washington University, the University of Hull in the UK and the UN University Institute of Advanced Studies. Dr. Freestone has written widely on international environmental law and Law of the Sea and is the founding editor of the _International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law_. More information about Dr. Freestone and the Sargasso Sea Alliance is available at http://www.greenrock.org/news/bermuda/399-director-appointed-sargasso-sea-alliance.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the Office of General Counsel for International Law.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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NOAALink 101 Training

Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2011 from 11:00am to 12:30pm EST

Speaker: Dexter Fredericks, IT Project Manager, Enterprise Projects Division, OCIO

Abstract: NOAALink 101 Training introduces contracting personnel and other interested attendees to the NOAALink PMO, as well as the processes and benefits that NOAALink offers to the Department of Commerce (DOC), and particularly NOAA, in IT contracting. This training is for contracting personnel and others who manage and support IT contracts. The training will provide a detailed walk through of what contracting and IT personnel need to know to engage and work with NOAALink.

NOAALink offers DOC, NOAA and all of the NOAA Line Offices better opportunities for IT products and services, including cost savings, time savings and better, more comprehensive IT products and services, all through a streamlined acquisition process supported by the NOAALink PMO.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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An investigation of the socio-economic aspects associated with the restoration of Muskegon Lake, MI

Date: Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Dr Paul Isely, Assistant Professor, Economics, DeVos Center, Grand Valley State University

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Muskegon Lake, located in Muskegon, MI, was designated as a Great Lakes Area of Concern by the US EPA in 1987. The Great Lakes Commission through NOAA received a $10 million grant for habitat restoration along the southern shoreline of the lake, which includes the removal of hardened shoreline and contaminated sediments. We compare the estimated benefits of a stimulus funded remediation over time in Muskegon Lake, MI with the direct costs of the remediation. Using travel cost surveys, contingent valuation surveys, and hedonic valuation of residential property, we estimate the economic values of the ecosystem services associated with the restoration of wetland habitat in this Great Lakes Area of Concern. The travel cost survey uses a statistically random sample of over 200 recreational users of Muskegon Lake at multiple recreational access points before and during the remediation. The contingent valuation survey samples a similarly sized random sample of Muskegon County residents via an in person stated preference questionnaire as in Whitehead et al (2009). The hedonic analysis uses proximity to the first and second closest shoreline segments, and their associated lengths, to both natural and hardened shoreline from each house before and after the restoration. The estimates from all three methods are then used to find the economic impact on the Muskegon region. Results find that the return on investment is greater than the cost of remediation.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Restoration Center, Office of Habitat Conservation (NMFS).

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Closing the Gap: How Scientists Can Connect with the Public

Powerpoint Slides

Date: Tuesday March 22, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Aaron Huertas, Press Secretary for the Union of Concerned Scientists

Abstract: Americans’ appreciation for science is "a mile wide and an inch deep" as one researcher put it. The decline in science journalism and the proliferation of niche media outlets is making it more difficult for scientists to have their voices heard. Meanwhile, the nature of science reporting often conflicts with science education goals. Using best-practices from communications and public relations, scientists and science-based institutions can gain a greater understanding of how the public views their work. When scientists hone their communications skills, they can broaden and deepen public understanding of science. In particular, the concept of "message discipline" can be applied in a scientifically-rigorous way that enhances public understanding of science. Additionally, narrative forms of communication hold great promise for helping people understand why they should care about the work scientists are doing.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Preparing for the Rising Tide: Helping Coastal Communities Cope with the Impacts of Climate Change

Date: Monday, April 4, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Juliette Finzi Hart, Regional Research and Planning Specialist, USC Sea Grant

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)
View the WebEx Recording (wrf format, requires you to download the free WRF player).

Abstract: The University of Southern California (USC) Sea Grant program, located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, tackles issues relating to the "Urban Ocean." Climate change and its impacts on a highly urbanized coast and the surrounding aquatic and marine coastal ecosystems is now one of our major areas of focus. USC Sea Grant has a number of ongoing local, statewide and national research, outreach and education projects. We are coordinating an effort with multiple Sea Grant programs to administer a climate change adaptation barriers and needs assessment survey to all coastal states. We are working with local scientists to develop a clearinghouse of oceanographic data from the Southern California Bight that relates to climate change; and, then working to develop workshops and products to link these data to policy-makers and community members. And, we have partnered with the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary to train sanctuary docents on climate change to continue educating the interested public about the constantly developing science of climate change. These projects will be presented along with a discussion of next steps and opportunities for collaboration within the NOAA family.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Building a data center from scratch - the Integrated Ocean Data and Information Management System (ZSPDO) at the Institute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Sciences (IOPAN) and The state of atmospheric research at IOPAN

Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speakers: Marcin Wichorowski and Tymon Zielinski, Institute of Oceanology, Warsaw, Poland

Abstract: The Institute of Oceanology, PAS (IOPAN) maintains huge archives of information gathered during research activities performed for more than 50 years. To enable cooperation in data exchange on a higher level IOPAN has decided to develop a data center and deploy a system for management of data and information, using well defined and widely used standards of data processing defined within the SeaDataNet project.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Effect of Salinity on Experimental Infections of Hematodinium sp. in Blue Crabs, Callinectes sapidus

Date: Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Anna Huntley Coffey, Policy Specialist, Water Power Program, Department of Energy

Abstract: The parasitic dinoflagellate Hematodinium sp. parasitizes blue crabs along the Atlantic seaboard of the USA. Infections in blue crabs have only been reported from waters >11psu salinity. Blue crabs maintain a hyperosmotic internal concentration at low salinities (0-5psu) and, thus, should be capable of maintaining an infection in low salinity waters, even if Hematodinium cells are intolerant of low salinities. We tested this by observing the effect of low salinity on the progression of disease in crabs experimentally infected with the parasite. Blue crabs were acclimated to 5-psu or 30-psu salinity treatments. They were inoculated with Hematodinium sp. and necropsied 3, 7, 10, and 15 days post-inoculation. The low salinity treatment did not have an effect on the proliferation of Hematodinium infections in blue crabs; moreover, a greater proportion of infections in crabs in the low salinity treatment developed into the dinospore stage than in the high salinity treatment, indicating that salinity may affect the development of the parasite. Dinospores in in vitro cultures rapidly became inactive when held in salinities <15psu. Our experiments indicate that Hematodinium can develop in blue crabs at low salinities, but that the parasite is incapable of transmission in this environment, which may explain the lack of natural infections in crabs at low salinities.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Microbial Response to Potential Soil-Stabilizing Amendments for Coastal Wetland Restoration

Date: Thursday, April 21, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Lauren Land, Focus Team Coordinator, Sustainable Coastal Development and Hazard Resilience in Coastal Communities, National Sea Grant Office, NOAA

Abstract: During metabolism of organic matter, microbes release extracellular polymeric substances, which accumulate to bind particles and increase soil aggregation. A similar concept might be implemented on a larger scale to aid wetland restoration. Hypothetically, amending hydraulically dredged sediment with polymer prior to deposition on subsiding marshes can lead to sediment stabilization until plants become established. However, adding a simple carbon source to the sediment can potentially affect microbial activity. This study determined the effect of addition of two commercially available natural polymers (xanthan gum and guar gum) on microbial biomass and activity in three types of hydraulically dredged sediments (clay, silty clay, sandy loam) saturated under a range of salinity regimes (1 and 5 ppt, 5 and 10 ppt, and 15 and 25 ppt, respectively) for four time periods (1, 8, 16, and 26 weeks). The CO2 evolved in response to added polymer suggests that microbial communities rapidly degraded the polymers. Addition of polymers provided a readily available source of carbon that induced a priming effect on the microbial biomass leading to increased activity. Microbial activity accelerated beyond background (control) respiration leading to a loss of as much as 8.7 times the native soil carbon. Therefore, polymer additions to wetland sediments can lead to a significant increase in native soil carbon loss with a concomitant decrease in soil quality.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Australian Approaches to Coastal Climate Change Adaptation

Date: Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Bruce Thom, Chair of the Australian National Coasts and Climate Change Council

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Australian governments (federal, state and local) are taking very seriously the highly likely threats from global warming on coastal settlements and habitats such as the Great Barrier Reef. Approximately 85% of the Australian population lives in coastal regions, and considerable economic and recreational values are dependent on sustained coastal conditions into the future. A national effort is underway in Australia to assess risks to coastal assets, both built and natural. Cooperation between federal and state governments is a challenge given their respective constitutional powers. Local governments are demanding technical and financial support, as well as greater powers to constrain developments in vulnerable locations. At this stage, the emphasis is on both assessing risks due to slowly rising sea levels and increased storm wave attack, as well as on developing a practical set of adaptation planning options acceptable to communities and property owners.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Comparative Phylogeography of the Coral Triangle and Implications for Marine Management

Date: Thursday, May 12, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Dr. Kent Carpenter, Professor of Biological Sciences at Old Dominion University and the Manager of the IUCN Global Marine Species Assessment (GMSA) project

Abstract: Extreme concentration of marine biodiversity and exploitation of marine resources in the Coral Triangle pose challenges to biogeographers and resource managers. Comparative phylogeography provides a powerful tool to test biogeographic hypotheses evoked to explain species richness in the Coral Triangle. It can also be used to delineate management units for marine resources. After about a decade of phylogeographical studies, patterns for the Coral Triangle are emerging. Broad connectivity in some species support the notion that larvae have maintained gene flow among distant populations for long periods. Other phylogeographic patterns suggest vicariant events resulting from Pleistocene sea level fluctuations, which have, at least occasionally, resulted in speciation. Divergence dates ranging back to the Miocene suggest that changing land configurations may have precipitated an explosion of species diversification. A synthesis of the marine phylogeographic studies reveals repeated patterns that corroborate hypothesized biogeographic processes and suggest improved management schemes for marine resources.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Influence of Surface Atmospheric Stability on Air-Water Interface Modeling over Lake Michigan

Date: Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Joe Fillingham, Labs and Cooperative Institutes, NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmostpheric Research

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The Laurentian Great Lakes make up one of the largest areas of surface freshwater in the world. They have a profound influence on the weather of the United States, and as a vital natural resource supporting an intricate ecosystem, present complex and interdisciplinary challenges to both scientists and managers. The surface of the Great Lakes spans 94,000 square miles. As the interface between the overlying atmosphere and the 6 quadrillion gallons of fresh water the lakes contain, this massive area represents its own set of unique questions. The project presented here attempts to illustrate the influence of surface atmospheric stability on the exchange of mass and energy across the air-water interface. Through a wind-wave modeling experiment and a comparison of different CO2 gas flux models over Lake Michigan, it is shown that the stability of the atmosphere near the water surface caused by the difference between the air and water temperatures plays an important role in these physical processes. It is found that if not accounted for in modeling research, the influence of stability may lead to large errors in wave height forecasting and determining net carbon flux between the lakes and the atmosphere. Other unique issues of this physical environment are explored as they apply to this type of modeling such as fetch limitation and feedback on the ecological system.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Habitat Connectivity Controls Species Richness, Similarity and Rates of Community Development: Results from an Experimental Marine Metacommunity

Date: Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: James Reinhardt, Damage Assessment Remediation and Restoration Program, NOAA Office of Habitat Conservation

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Connectivity is an important property to understand in the context of our stressed and ever changing marine environment. Experiments and theory elucidating the importance of habitat connectivity can help us make informed decisions in regards to practical applications such as coastal development and MPA creation. Using the shallow hard-substrate benthic community of Southern New England as a model system, I examined species dynamics using the 'metacommunity' framework. A metacommunity is a system of independent local communities that interact (i.e., are connected) through dispersal. Specifically, I sought to increase our understanding of interacting regional (dispersal) and local dynamics (competition) and how processes at these two scales influence species richness. I did this by augmenting the connectivity of interacting experimental local communities via distance between communities. Connectivity between habitats significantly influences the timing of community development, alpha species richness and community similarity. Some of these results have been supported by others findings, while other results are non-intuitive.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Constitution and the Law of the Sea

Date: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Michael P. Socarras, Esq. of the law firm of McDermott, Will & Emery LLP

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Mr. Socarras will discuss how confusion about the nature and status of customary international law is affecting U.S. federal courts and their approach to the law of the sea. The Restatement (Third) of the Foreign Relations Law of the United States and some recent lower federal court decisions on the law of the sea are materially wrong when measured by the standard of how the Supreme Court applies customary international law. For two centuries the Supreme Court has found customary international law in the practices and not in the promises of States, and has enforced customary international law as the highest form of domestic U.S. law that is neither derived from nor limited by the U.S. Constitution. Among the implications of this are that: 1) the customary international law of the sea in practice today is more clearly binding as U.S. domestic law than a ratified Law of the Sea Convention could ever be as a treaty, and 2) what States do not customarily do in practice is not likely to be enforced by the federal courts even if the U.S. were to become a party to the Law of the Sea Convention.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the Office of General Counsel for International Law.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Projecting the response of an endangered marine vertebrate to climate change: Reconciling terrestrial versus oceanic impacts

Date: Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Vincent S. Saba, Ph.D., Associate Research Scholar, Princeton University, and post-doctorate researcher, NOAA GFDL

Abstract: The impacts of anthropogenic induced climate change on ecosystems and biodiversity is one of the key topics for the upcoming fifth assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Critically endangered leatherback turtles in the eastern Pacific Ocean are excellent candidates for this assessment because they have been extensively studied in terms of their sensitivity to present-day climate variability at both their terrestrial and oceanic environment. If incidental fisheries mortality of leatherback turtles is reduced or eliminated, the population still faces the challenge of recovery in a rapidly changing climate. However, the synergistic impacts of climate change at their terrestrial and oceanic habitats have yet to be reconciled. Here I combine the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory's Earth System Model (GFDL-ESM 2.1), IPCC climate model projections, and a leatherback population dynamics model to estimate a 7% per decade decline in the population over the next century. Whereas changes in ocean conditions had no effect on the population, the warming of the nesting beach was the primary driver of the decline via decreased neonate recruitment. Therefore, even with the elimination of incidental fisheries mortality, the population still faces extirpation. This study highlights the potential for human intervention at nesting beaches to prevent the population collapse; climate mitigation of leatherback nests may be able to negate the precipitous population decline.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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What’s It All About, OMB? Performance! Discover the NEW Government Performance and Results Act Modernization Act of 2010

Date: Thursday, May 26, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speakers: Liz Davenport, NOS Office of Management and Budget and Thanh Vo, NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration

Abstract: Particularly in lean budget times, it is critical for the Federal government to effectively plan and perform. To that end, strategic planning and performance management must be dynamic and successful. A potential aid is the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) Modernization Act, enacted January 4, 2011. GPRA MA reforms the original 1993 GPRA with 150 changes. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has recently begun the first actions of a 3-year implementation.

How will GPRA MA impact you, your program, your line or staff office, NOAA, DOC, and other Federal agencies? Much of the 1993 GPRA is extended, but with substantial new requirements that will impact how agencies plan, budget, monitor, evaluate, and report performance. This law portends a new partnership between OMB, the Executive Branch, and Congress for results-based budgeting and execution of mandates and authorities to benefit the Nation. Please join us to explore answers to these questions:

• How does GPRA MA affect the "LINE OF SIGHT" from your personal performance plan to the highest Federal performance goals? What new opportunities to tell NOAA’s performance "stories" are potential under GPRA MA?
• How does GPRA MA drive improved performance? Why will alignment of strategic priority projects, programs, goal and enterprise objectives, and overarching Federal performance goals be more important than ever?
• In lean budget times, how will GPRA MA empower agencies to "manage, meet, and message" performance expectations/needs?
• How will www.performance.gov educate Congress and the public about how NOAA is achieving expected performance results?
• How might GPRA MA encourage agency engagement with Congress resulting in better "performance-based" program mandates and Federal budgets?

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Keeping Working Waterfronts at Work: A National Perspective on Coastal Communities

Date: Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speakers and Abstracts:

Ryck Lydecker, Assistant Vice President for Government Affairs for Boat US
In the early 2000s, Lydecker witnessed a "waterfront land rush", which led to a loss of marinas, boatyards, and service businesses. Around 2005 and 2006, local solutions to the problems in northern Virginia prompted Lydecker to recognize the need for a larger group effort. Lydecker worked with Tom Murray, from Virginia Sea Grant, to plan the Working Waterways and Waterfronts Symposium in May 2007. Organizers brought together policy makers who had successfully dealt with local problems to share strategies and successes that could be used elsewhere. Today, Lydecker will lead the panel by defining a working waterfront as accepted by the 2007 symposium community.

Dave Knight, Transportation Specialist with the Great Lakes Commission
The Great Lakes Commission’s involvement in efforts to preserve and grow working waterfronts has been consistent for much of its 55-year history. Recently, this involvement has been focused on supporting the creation of the Great Lakes Small Harbors Coalition representing federally authorized Great Lakes harbors, both recreational and commercial. The Coalition’s primary emphasis has been on maintaining navigational access to these working waterfronts, impeded in recent years by inadequate dredging. Other stressors to Great Lakes working harbors include threats to the Lakes’ sport and commercial fishery from invasive species. As the Great Lakes states and provinces look to the value of the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence freshwater resource in their job development strategies, the health and welfare of working ports and harbors has emerged as both a regional and national priority.

Thomas Hymel, Environmental Specialist with LSU AgCenter and Louisiana Sea Grant
Thomas Hymel and Scott Saunier, an alderman from the Port of Delcambre, will provide a reference to oil ports and the mix of communities surrounding those ports. They will talk about how working waterfronts fit into community sustainability and how, specifically, residents of the Port of Delcambre make a living and where they want to go in the future. Hymel and Saunier will discuss how their seafood marketing technique has increased the sustainability of a small fishing community as well as the expansion of this program to other Gulf Coast fishing communities.

Heather Mann, Executive Director of Community Seafood Initiative
Heather will provide a west coast perspective on seafood initiatives and preserving working waterfronts. The Community Seafood Initiative is a 501c(3) organization with offices in Astoria and Newport, Oregon. The Seafood Initiative services the west coast and all of North America. Current projects include Pacific Fish Trax (serving the Pacific, Gulf and Atlantic regions), the Community-Based Education Collaborative, Preserving Seafood-Related Waterfronts, 45° Northwest Fisheries Reports, and the Seafood for Health Project.

Hugh Cowperthwaite, Fisheries Project Director at Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
Hugh will highlight two programs that were created within the Maine legislature to support commercial fishing access to the water. The Maine Working Waterfront Coalition successfully helped policy makers to craft Maine’s Working Waterfront Tax Law and the Working Waterfronts Access Pilot Program. The impacts of these two programs on Maine’s coastal communities will be highlighted and both programs have now become national models for preserving working waterfront access. More recent efforts have been focused on the creation of a Nationwide Working Waterfront Coalition and programs that can help all coastal and Great Lake states assure strong working access to the water.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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TITANIC 2010

Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: James Delgado, Director, Maritime Heritage, NOS Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Abstract: James Delgado, Director of the Maritime Heritage Program in the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries, was the chief scientist for the 2010 scientific mapping and documentation of the Titanic wreck site. That project, in cooperation with RMS Titanic Inc./Premier Exhibitions, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the National Park Service, and NOAA, mapped 25 square miles of seabed and imaged area of the Titanic site never before mapped. The expedition also conducted a detailed three-dimensional scan and completed 3D imaging of Titanic's bow and stern sections. Delgado will share insights into the ongoing saga of Titanic and the documentation of the wreck site as well as preliminary results of the 2010 expedition.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The AMS DataStreme Education Program: NOAA’s Impact on K-12 Teachers

Date: Thursday, June 2, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: John D. Moore and the NJ Local Implementation Team

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)

Abstract: See how the work of NOAA and NOAA’s educational resources are making a difference in promoting STEM Education in the classroom! Join a group of leaders and teachers from New Jersey and Pennsylvania who participate in the education programs of the American Meteorological Society. This Local Implementation Team for DataStreme Atmosphere, DataStreme Ocean, and Earth Climate System will discuss how they incorporate content, resources, and pedagogy in their classrooms, as well as other collaborative activities in this unique learning community. These education programs are supported through generous contributions from across the NOAA line and staff offices, as well as by NASA and the National Science Foundation.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Collision at the End of the Line: Shipwrecks and Commercial Bottom Fishing

Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Joyce Steinmetz, doctoral student, East Carolina University

Abstract: Ms. Steinmetz's research examines the site formation processes of commercial fish trawling and dredging impacts on mid-Atlantic outer continental shelf shipwrecks. Exploring this human-related interaction required multi-disciplinary sources, including historical research, maritime archaeologists, fishermen who experience damage and loss of gear, and recreational divers who observe shipwreck damage.

From diver observations 75 to 235 ft. deep, statistical analysis showed 69% of 52 sample shipwrecks had 1 to 5 snagged nets or dredges. The economic loss to the fishing gear owner ranges from $10 to $50K per lost system. Conservatively, $76 million of gear has been lost over 25 years on shipwrecks from Maine to Cape Hatteras. Case studies include the 1847 sidewheel paddle steamer Admiral DuPont, Civil War and early 20th century wrecks, the U.S. Navy tugs Nina and Cherokee, the 1920 submarine USS S-5, and the steam yacht and WWII patrol boat St. Augustine. The last four cases are protected from salvage under the Sunken Military Craft Act of 2005 but commercial fishing is exempt from liability for any damage it causes to such wrecks. Off Delmarva, three rotational scallop gear-restricted areas concentrate gear losses and cultural resource damage.

Interviews with trawl netters, scallop dredgers, and clam dredgers reveal that each gear type has a different cost and probability of loss. Fishermen cited the accuracy of obstruction locations as a risk factor. Despite the increasingly common use of advanced technologies (hang logs, global positioning systems and chart plotters) by the commercial fishing industry, diver observations confirm that fishermen continue to lose gear. Gear impacts accelerate structural wreck deterioration and scramble or extract historic wreck contents. The purpose of Ms. Steinmetz’s research is to bring factual awareness and provide a foundation for solutions. A successful collision prevention solution could provide economic benefits for fishermen, conserve essential fish habitat, preserve recreational tourism, and safeguard non-renewable underwater cultural resources.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Through a Fish's Eye: The Status of Fish Habitats in the United States, 2010. An assessment from the National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP)

Date: Wednesday, June 15, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Joe Nohner, NOAA/NMFS Office of Science and Technology

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP) coastal assessment represents an unprecedented nationwide effort to describe the status and threats to estuarine, coastal and marine habitats in the continental United States. The coastal assessment complements a national assessment of inland fish habitat conducted concurrently by scientists at Michigan State University. This study synthesizes existing nation-wide data sets on anthropogenic disturbance and natural drivers affecting estuarine and coastal ecosystems, and includes indicators of land cover, hydrology, eutrophication, and water quality. A quantitative assessment of habitat components was nested into a multiscale spatial framework for the coastal Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf of Mexico using NOAA’s Coastal Assessment Framework (CAF). A relative disturbance index was developed for each of the four indicators in each estuary spatial unit within the CAF. Composite habitat condition scores were then calculated for each unit by combining the four individual indices to determine the total current risk of habitat degradation. Results of this analysis allow regional and subregional comparisons to be made and identify major sources of habitat degradation in estuarine and coastal habitats. Data limitations prevented some sources of habitat indicator data from being included in the national coastal assessment. Information on sedimentation, shoreline armoring, fish tissue contaminants, and biogenic habitat status will be included in further coastal assessment efforts at the regional level. Next steps for the NFHAP coastal assessment include testing how these scores predict fish species composition and abundance metrics of well-studied stocks. Additional analyses within regions will be completed to further refine habitat conditions and assist in establishing critically degraded areas.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Biology and Conservation of the Diamondback Terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin, in Alabama

Date: Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Andrew T. Coleman, U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard (Minority Office)

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The diamondback terrapin, Malaclemys terrapin, is the only North American turtle that is an obligate inhabitant of brackish water environments of salt marshes, bays, and estuaries. The terrapin represents a keystone predator in these habitats and can contribute to maintaining salt marsh integrity. This species has experienced a rich cultural history as it once was considered a gourmet delicacy, even being a required course at White House events. However, many populations were over harvested in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and they have not been able to rebound due to a number of current threats including crab pot mortality, habitat loss, nest predation, and road mortality. In 2004, a comprehensive study commenced in Alabama with the purpose of gathering baseline data on the survival status of the state’s diamondback terrapin population and the threats it faces. Through a number of field survey methods, it was concluded that the Alabama population existed in several isolated remnant aggregations. The largest aggregation was found to inhabit Cedar Point Marsh, which was the location of a large terrapin farm in the late 1800’s. Because crab pot mortality and nest predation were determined to be the largest threats in Alabama, a recovery strategy was initiated that attempted to address these threats. By-catch reduction devices (BRDs) were developed by Wood (1997) to prevent terrapin entry into pots without inhibiting crab capture, and their efficacy in Alabama was examined. Although crab capture was higher in non-BRD crab pots, BRDs reduced terrapin catch in crab pots by 90%. Also, a head-start program began in 2008, and, by the end of 2011, over 200 turtles will be returned to Cedar Point Marsh where the aggregation was estimated from mark-recapture data to be approximately 340 individuals.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Loggerhead Sea Turtles: Beyond the Beach

Date: Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 12:30 PM EDT

Speaker: Katrina Phillips, NOAA OAR Office of Communications

Powerpoint slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The beaches of state of Florida host one of just two rookeries in the world that support more than 10,000 loggerhead nests a year and represent over half of all western Atlantic nesting for the species. Loggerhead nest counts on Florida’s vital nesting beaches have shown a marked decline in the past decade – but what does this tell us about the Atlantic population? While coastal development, erosion and recreational use put a strain on nesting habitats, nest counts for other species which share the same nesting beaches with loggerheads have increased over the same period. To help explain the drop in loggerhead nesting we must look at other factors, such as population dynamics and offshore habitat selection. Very few night-time saturation tagging projects exist in the state of Florida; in-depth evaluation of the long-term datasets that are available may shed light on broader population trends.

For this study a twenty year mark-recapture dataset from the loggerhead nesting beach on Keewaydin Island, off the southwest coast of Florida, was analyzed using a two-state open robust design model in Program MARK. Parameters such as survival, encounter probability, population size and residence time for this nesting assemblage were estimated and examined for trends over time. The relatively low survival rate estimated for this assemblage shows population decline is an important factor to consider in explaining declining nest counts and highlights the need for specific management to enhance the survival of Florida nesters. The mark-recapture analysis was supplemented with a satellite tracking component to identify the offshore foraging areas utilized by Keewaydin nesters. Eleven nesting females were outfitted with platform terminal transmitters. The released turtles transmitted for 42 to 300+ days, including interesting intervals and subsequent migration to foraging grounds. Site fidelity tests and density kernel home range analyses were used to identify and describe foraging habitats. Females foraging in the eastern Gulf of Mexico were within the recent 64 m bottom longline fishery restriction. While the loggerhead females from this particular nesting beach do not frequent the same foraging area, the sites they selected are near those used by other loggerheads tracked from the western coast of Florida. Areas identified as important habitats during the remigration interval may be used to create targeted management strategies and aid population recovery without the use of broad fishery closures.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Marching with the Survey: Mapping and Charting the Civil War

Date: Tuesday June 21 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm

Speaker: Skip Theberge and John Cloud, NOAA Central Library

Abstract: The United States Coast Survey was an intrinsic part of the Union effort to quell the rebellion of the Southern States. Coast Survey hydrographers, topographers, and cartographers served the Union in the field in all theaters of the war and in the national capital producing thousands of maps and other products for the Union forces. The Coast Survey developed tactical maps for battlefield commanders, surveyed hostile harbor entrances, and piloted Union vessels in major naval actions of the war. Strategically, the Coast Survey helped plan the Union blockade through the Blockade Strategy Board and then implement it through its "Notes on the Coast of the United States." Even prior to hostilities, the Coast Survey was planning for the eventual conflict and had produced the best available maps of the coastline and major port cities of the South from Chesapeake Bay to the Texas-Mexico border. As in future wars of the United States, Coast Survey skills helped move men and materiel, helped plan major actions, and provided skilled surveyors, engineers, and scouts on the battlefield. This presentation will be an introduction to the Civil War service of the Coast Survey.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Race Against Time: Greek and U.S. Efforts to Protect the Critically Endangered Mediterranean and Hawaiian Monk Seals

Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Dr. Alexandros Karamanlidis, MOm/ Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal

Abstract: Monk seals are the only completely tropical species of seal in the world and are in trouble. Centuries of human exploitation and habitat destruction have caused the remaining populations of Mediterranean monk seals (Monachus monachus) and Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi) to drop to perilously low numbers, while the Caribbean monk seal (Monachus tropicalis) has become extinct. Scientists from Greece and the U.S. are in a race against time and are working together from opposite sides of the World to save the remaining monk seals. The MOm/Hellenic Society for the Study and Protection of the Monk Seal is a non-profit, non-governmental organization with over 20 years of experience in the research and conservation of Mediterranean monk seals in Greece and abroad. Researchers at MOm have gained rare insights in the biology and behavior of the Mediterranean monk seal, including recent innovative technology that has enabled the seals to be monitored remotely inside their breeding caves. Current and future collaborations with U.S. scientists who study Hawaiian monk seals will provide important insights into new ways to help the two remaining species of monk seals survive into the future.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Steps towards a Web Data Laboratory: data analysis for the 21st Century

Date: Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Benno Blumenthal, Data Library Manager, Climate Monitoring and Dissemination, International Research Institute for Climate and Society

Abstract: Scientific progress is increasingly predicated on accessing and analyzing increasingly larger datasets with increasingly complicated descriptive-metadata and use-metadata. Jointly-analyzing datasets frequently involves a multitude of transformations, different formats, different time and spatial resolution, different projections, and different systems for expressing that necessary use-metadata.

Our working example is composed of the datasets and some of the metadata in the IRI/LDEO Climate Data Library. These data services enable access and analysis by providing data in a framework which allows format translation, rendering, and application of a variety of analysis functions, including sampling, averaging, regridding, EOFs, and statistical operators. Datasets are both local and remote, allowing a federation of data servers to appear in a uniform space of data access and functionality.

Describing the library's contents requires concepts like datasets, units, dependent variables, and independent variables. These datasets have been provided under diverse frameworks that have varied levels of associated metadata. We have created an RDF expression of a taxonomy that forms the basis of a dynamic earth data search interface. The concepts include location, time, quantity, realm, author, and institution. We have also started cross-walking these metadata into various existing metadata schema, so that our data can be found in the corresponding systems.

Building and expanding upon such systems, one can envision a future where not only are definitive versions of datasets and standard analyses of ever-larger datasets rapidly available on request, but that chains of analysis can be built non-programatically with equally accessible results.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Scientists, Watermen, and Conflict in the Maryland Chesapeake Oyster Fishery, 1880-2011

Date: Friday, June 24, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Christine Keiner, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Science, Technology, and Society/Public Policy Department, Rochester Institute of Technology

Abstract: Dr. Keiner will discuss her book The Oyster Question, for which she relied upon the valuable resources of the NOAA Central Library. Using insights from the history of biology, environmental history, agricultural history, and other fields, the book challenges standard interpretations of the oyster fishery as the epitome of the "tragedy of the commons," and addresses the role of historical knowledge in influencing contemporary estuarine resource-use policymaking. The Oyster Question: Scientists, Watermen, and the Maryland Chesapeake Bay since 1880 (published by the University of Georgia Press) won the 2010 Forum for the History of Science in America Prize and co-won the Maryland Historical Trust's Heritage Book Award, as well as Honorable Mention for the Frederick Jackson Turner Award from the Organization of American Historians.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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An assessment of radionuclide activity and associated human health risks in the United States Arctic

Date: Thursday, July 7, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Jawed Hameedi, Ph.D., National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science

Abstract: Different sources of artificial radionuclides have contaminated the United States Arctic coastal and marine environments during the past several decades, including nuclear weapon tests fallout, discharges from nuclear reprocessing plants, leakage from underground nuclear tests, and dumped research materials. Ecological and human health concerns about radionuclide contamination in the region were heightened by the April 1993 disclosure of widespread dumping of nuclear reactors and wastes in the Arctic and northern Pacific Oceans by the former Soviet Union. Responding to those concerns, NOAA participated in a study to characterize the marine environment and biota of the US Arctic in terms of artificial radionuclides. Surficial sediment and biological samples, both vertebrate and invertebrate, from the Beaufort Sea, Norton Sound and Bristol Bay were analyzed for the anthropogenic radionuclides 137Cs, 90Sr, 238Pu, 239Pu, 240Pu and 241Am; a few naturally occurring radionuclides (40K, 212Pb, and 214Pb) were also measured. Tissue samples from animals of subsistence value were analyzed to determine the radiation exposures and health risks to coastal inhabitants of the North Slope Borough. The activity of anthropogenic radionuclides in biological samples was very low; for example 137Cs activity levels, measured by both high resolution gamma spectroscopy and on chemically isolated Cs, in animals of the marine food chain were predominantly less than 1 Bq/kg. In contrast, 137Cs activity levels in caribou tissues (muscle, liver, kidney and rumen) were between 24 and 36 Bq/kg. Radioactivity data, combined with per capita consumption of subsistence-harvested foods in three villages (Barrow, Kaktovik and Nuiqsut) were used to derive age-dependent committed effective dose from 137Cs and 90Sr exposure through ingestion. The calculated dose levels for 137Cs were: 2.2 µSv (Barrow), 5.91 µSv (Kaktovik) and 9.06 µSv (Nuiqsut) for adults; levels for 90Sr were much lower. Caribou meat consumption contributed more than 95% of the dose in the case of 137Cs, and fish consumption contributed more than 60% of the 90Sr dose. In all cases, the estimated dose was very small; 0.01 mSv dose is considered negligible in terms of human health risks. The results also indicate that the internal radiation doses from subsistence foods are due to natural background and fallout from atmospheric nuclear weapons testing. In terms of source attribution of the radionuclides, the measured 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in sediment from the Beaufort, Norton Sound and Bristol Bay samples were very close to the generally accepted ratio from global fallout (0.180 ± 0.014): 0.19 ± 0.02 in Beaufort Sea (n=14), 0.20 ± 0.01 in Norton Sound (n=15), 0.19 ± 0.01 off Yukon River Delta (n=6), and 0.20 ± 0.01 in Bristol Bay (n=12). 241Am activity was low and when detected at significant levels, its ratio with 239+240Pu alpha activity was indicative of global fallout. There was no detectable 238Pu activity. These data, as originally intended, serve as a baseline about radionuclide activity in the region against which future changes may be assessed.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Among Giants, a Life with Whales

Date: Friday, July 8, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Flip Nicklin, Whale Trust

Abstract: In the early days of live cetacean research, scientists were trying to learn more, to take whales from fantasy to reality, but they only got glimpses when the animals surfaced to breathe. Only a diver could see these enormous animals in their own world, and a diver who could, like the whales, take a great gulp of air and move into the depths without scuba gear, because the bubbles might disturb the animals. There was a young diver who did that well - and one day in 1979 he dove down to a humpback "singing" in the waters off Maui and took a picture of it. The whale was Frank. The young diver was Flip Nicklin. And that day with Frank led to a career that opened new ground not just in under-water photography but in the whole field of marine mammalogy.

Widely regarded as the world’s leading cetacean photographer, Flip Nicklin grew up around his father’s small dive shop on the California coast. He went on to become National Geographic’s premiere whale photographer and marine mammal specialist. In the past 30 years Flip has photographed more than thirty species of whales and dolphins, some so endangered their survival is in question. In 2001 he co-founded Whale Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to research and public education. He has most recently been named North American Nature Photography Association’s (NANPA) Outstanding Nature Photographer of the Year, 2012. For three decades, Flip has photographed sperm whales in the Indian Ocean; minke whales off the Great Barrier Reef; belugas, bowheads, and narwhals in the High Arctic; right whales off Patagonia; blue whales in the Pacific…not to mention many, many humpbacks off Maui. Flip will show some of these images and discuss his recently published book "Among Giants, a Life with Whales".

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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An Ecosystem Perspective for Fisheries Management

Date: Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Jason Link, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: In a recent study, Dr. Jason Link and colleagues reviewed options for incorporating realistic estimates of predation mortality into stock assessments. They concluded that traditional, single-species population models generally underestimate the effects of predation on target species when predation is assumed to be low and constant rather than variable as predator and other prey populations change. The researchers found that including predation leads to more accurate estimates of total population size and more conservative biological reference points, or stock-specific benchmarks. The authors recommend adopting some of the existing methods they reviewed in order to incorporate ecological interactions into stock assessments.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership: Strategic Conservation on a Regional Scale

Date: Friday, July 29, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Emily Greene, Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership Coordinator, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, Arlington, VA

Powerpoint Slides

Abstract: The Atlantic Coastal Fish Habitat Partnership (ACFHP) is a coast-wide partnership of fish habitat resource managers, scientists, and communications professionals from 30 different state, federal, tribal, and non-governmental entities. Working from the headwaters of coastal draining rivers to the edge of the continental shelf, and from Maine to the Florida Keys, ACFHP seeks to accelerate the protection, restoration, and enhancement of habitat for native Atlantic coastal, estuarine dependent and diadromous fishes. ACFHP is developing goals, objectives, action strategies and priorities to guide conservation efforts along the Atlantic coast. Its draft goals include protecting and maintaining healthy aquatic systems, preventing further degradation of aquatic habitats, and restoring degraded aquatic habitats. Towards this end, the Partnership seeks to secure, leverage, and distribute resources for on-the-ground fish habitat conservation projects. This presentation will summarize its strategic planning efforts, to date and highlight progress on the Partnership’s initial restoration work.

Remote access via webinar will NOT be available.

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An Introduction and Update of the Urban Water Federal Partnership

Date: Thursday, August 11, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Simeon Hahn, Regional Resource Coordinator, National Ocean Service, Office of Response and Restoration

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: The Urban Water Federal Partnership (UWFP) is 11 Federal Agencies, jointly signing a statement of Vision, Mission and Principles on June 24, 2011 to help urban and metropolitan areas, particularly those that are under-served or economically distressed, as they restore and protect urban water quality, revitalize adjacent neighborhoods, and reconnect to their urban waterways. With the application of federal, state and local tools, the partnership will leverage existing assets to promote short-term and long-term actions towards local urban water revitalization goals. The Guiding Principles of the Partnership are to:

• Promote clean urban waters.
• Reconnect people to their waterways.
• Promote Water conservation.
• Use urban water systems as a way to promote economic revitalization and prosperity.
• Encourage community improvements through active partnerships.
• Be open and honest, and listen to the communities, knowing this is the best way to engage them and learn from them.
• Focus on measuring results and evaluation will fuel future success.

The Partnership chose seven locations in which to start work:

• Anacostia River Watershed (Washington DC/Maryland)
• Patapsco River Watershed ( Baltimore, Maryland)
• Bronx & Harlem River Watersheds (New York)
• South Platte River (Denver)
• Los Angeles River Watershed (California)
• Lake Pontchartrain Area (New Orleans, LA)
• Northwest Indiana Area/ Calumet River

The presentation will present more background on the initiative, including information on the pilots, and discuss NOAA participation to date as well as future considerations.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Life history pattern diversity, movements, and habitat use of juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the Grays River Estuary, WA

Date: Thursday, August 18, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Bethany E. Craig, Fisheries Scientific Advisory Coordinator, Office of Science and Technology, NOAA Fisheries

Abstract: Recent studies suggest that juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) exhibit a variety of life history patterns in addition to the "stream-type" freshwater rearing life history traditionally thought to dominate coho salmon populations. Sub-yearling downstream migrants or "nomads" represent one of these alternative life history patterns. Recent work suggests that nomads may contribute substantially to adult coho salmon populations. Over the duration of two cohorts (2008-2009), we used catch data, diet and growth, and scale analyses to document the composition, outmigration chronology and habitat use of juvenile coho salmon among their freshwater spawning habitats and tidal freshwater estuary rearing habitats. Catch data shows bimodal migrations of subyearling nomad coho salmon into the estuary and suggests that spring migrating nomads rear in the estuary for an extended period of time. Nomads used a variety of estuarine habitats, but were most frequently caught within off-channel habitats including tidal freshwater forested wetlands and emergent wetlands. Scale pattern analysis showed that nomads have significantly higher growth rates than their subyearling counterparts who remain and rear in freshwater upriver habitat. We observed similar life history patterns among years, suggesting that these patterns are relatively stable, even if the benefits of any particular pattern may vary. Scale pattern analysis of adult scales verified evidence of a variety of juvenile life history patterns. The presence of available and productive wetland habitat in the lower reaches of the river may allow for expression of these nomad life history patterns. These results point to the importance of the preservation, conservation, and restoration of a diverse network of interconnected habitat throughout a watershed.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Coastal CHARM and the We-Table: New Technology for Participatory Democracy on the Coast

Date: Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: John Jacob, Texas Sea Grant and Texas A&M University

Abstract: Powerful tools such as geographic information systems (GIS) enable the analysis of ever more complex layers of data, making it possible to facilitate much more rational, science-based decisions about coastal planning than previously possible. But this complexity makes it ever more difficult for coastal citizens to meaningfully engage in the community planning process. Without the full engagement of coastal citizens, even what appears to be the best choice based on unbiased science may turn out to be completely un-implementable. What is urgently needed are what the philosopher Ivan Illich referred to as “tools for conviviality.” These are tools that facilitate participatory democracy, tools that enable non-expert citizens to engage complex data sets in meaningful ways.

The Texas Coastal Watershed Program, part of Texas Sea Grant and Texas AgriLife Extension, has been working with two new tools that show considerable promise as tools of conviviality. The first is the We-Table, which transforms an ordinary tabletop into an interactive computer interface. This very affordable participation tool allows teams to collaboratively explore and use computer-based data and programs in a workshop setting. The We-Table enhances what people use daily--tables and pens-- while the supporting technology works quietly in the background. This means that participants can easily use the interface with very little instruction, and it allows them to work with what matters most in a meeting: data, maps, and their fellow participants.

The second tool is the Coastal CHARM (Community Health and Resource Management) model. Coastal CHARM is built with CommunityViz software, a plugin to the well-known ARC GIS software. CommunityViz is itself a “convivial” adaptation of ARCGIS that facilitates development of scenarios. CHARM uses the CommunityViz platform to array a wide spectrum of coastal natural resource and demographic data in a user-friendly framework. CHARM incorporates many different impact coefficients for different kinds of development patterns, including, for example, impervious surfaces, water usage, polluted runoff loadings, flood proofing costs, hurricane surge impacts, etc. Participants use the CHARM interface to “paint” different future development patterns on the landscape, and then evaluate the overall impact of each development scenario.

I review here the initial piloting of the We-Table/CHARM tools at a workshop enabled by the recent Sea Grant Coastal Community Climate Adaptation Initiative. In this exercise, participants were instructed to place the projected 410,000 people expected within 30 years on the western shores of Galveston Bay. Five We-Tables enabled over 40 participants to paint the target area with various gradations of diffuse auto-oriented development and more compact, walkable patterns onto a landscape they knew well. Participants compared their scenarios immediately after the exercise in terms of impacts to the placed population (e.g., flooding and storm surge) as well as impacts to the environment (e.g., wetland loss, nitrogen loadings). A sea-level-rise slider allowed the participants to see how much more area would be flooded under real (e.g., Carla, Ike) or hypothetical storms (e.g. Carly) and various SLR scenarios.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Coastal and Island Watershed Management Tools and Initiatives - an Update from the Center for Watershed Protection

Date: Thursday, September 1, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speakers: Karen Cappiella (Director of Research) and Dave Hirschman (Program Director), Center for Watershed Protection

Abstract: The Center for Watershed Protection will provide an update on the results and progress of several coastal and island watershed management initiatives over the past few years. With funding from the Cooperate Institute for Coastal and Estuarine Environmental Technology (CICEET), we developed tools to manage the impacts of land use and stormwater runoff on water resources of the Atlantic coastal plain. The resulting Coastal Plain Watershed Information Center contains products such as an article series on adapting watershed protection tools for the coastal plain, a coastal community watershed management self-assessment checklist, case studies of successful low impact development (LID) application in the coastal plain, and a photo library and slideshow for use in educating decision makers about the importance and applicability of LID in the coastal plain. Other coastal watershed work has included refinement of techniques for detecting illicit discharges in coastal waters, and, working with Maryland Sea Grant, efforts to assist coastal communities with adapting to climate change.

Our island watershed work includes efforts to improve watershed and stormwater management on Pacific Islands working with the Horsley Witten Group and NOAA's Coral Reef program. The work has involved developing a watershed plan framework for the Piti-Asan watershed in Guam, revising (soon to be adopted, we hope!) Guam's erosion control and stormwater regulations, adapting stormwater BMP designs to island applications, conducting pollution prevention training in Saipan, CNMI, and providing watershed training for various audiences. Most recently, the Center, Horsley Witten, and NOAA hosted the Pacific Island Watershed Institute in Hawaii. In the Caribbean, we have been working with NOAA Restoration Partners and NFWF to coordinate implementation of the watershed management plan for Guanica Bay in Puerto Rico- including studies to evaluate the potential effects of restoring the Guanica lagoon, a feasibility study for constructing a treatment wetland to enhance pollutant removal at the Guanica wastewater treatment plant and startup of a roundtable to discuss how to improve the market for shade grown coffee in Puerto Rico- as well as implementation of stormwater retrofits in La Parguerra, PR.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Pedaling Climate: A bike trip across the country, talking about climate

Date: Wednesday, September 7, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: David Goodrich, NOAA Climate Program Office (retired)

Abstract: After retiring from the NOAA Climate Program Office in January, the author left on a coast-to-coast bicycle ride in May. The trip ran 4205 miles, with quite a few adventures, including holding Lincoln's axe in Illinois, having a tornado party in Missouri, climbing a 10,200' pass in Colorado and camping at a uranium ghost town in Wyoming. In the process there were presentations to 17 groups at 11 different venues about climate change. Some of the impacts of climate change along the way were hard to avoid: sea level rise in Delaware; drought in Kansas; and forest loss in the Rockies. Some ideas and strategies for communicating the issues of climate will be proposed.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Okinawa Dugong: Application of Section 402 of the National Historic Preservation Act

Date: Tuesday, September 13, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Mark Spalding, President of the Ocean Foundation

Powerpoint Presentation

Abstract: Please join us on Tuesday, September 13th, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the NOAA Central Library (SSMC3, 2nd Floor) for a brown bag presentation by Mark Spalding, President of the Ocean Foundation, on Okinawa Dugong v. Gates. The case involves the application of Section 402 of the National Historic Preservation Act to a federal project outside of the United States likely to affect the Okinawa Dugong, a marine mammal classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

In Dugong, plaintiffs challenged the U.S. Defense Department’s plan to build an airbase off the coast of the Japanese island, Okinawa, and DOD’s failure to consider – as required by section 402 of the National Historic Preservation Act - the impacts of its plans on the Okinawa Dugong, a marine mammal species listed as a protected "natural monument" on the Japanese Register of Cultural Properties. The case presents an unusual example of the use of U.S. historic preservation law to protect natural heritage outside of the United States. Mr. Spalding will discuss the case, and more broadly the relationship between domestic and international law.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the Office of General Counsel for International Law.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Blue Carbon – Another Reason to Love Coastal Habitats

Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Linwood Pendleton, Acting Chief Economist, NOAA PPI; and Emily Pidgeon, Conservation International

Linwood Pendleton's Powerpoint Slides

Emily Pidgeon's Powerpoint Slides

Abstract: Did you know that coastal habitats such as mangroves, salt marshes, and sea grasses store significant amounts of carbon and have great potential for greenhouse gas mitigation? Dazzle your colleagues and friends with your newfound knowledge of international and U.S. efforts to better understand and protect the use of these coastal habitats for carbon storage and sequestration. You’ll learn the answers to questions including:

• What do we know about how coastal habitats affect global carbon fluxes?
• How can "blue carbon" help protect coastal habitats?
• What are some of the hot national and international opportunities related to "blue carbon"?
• What is NOAA’s role with respect to “blue carbon”? How might blue carbon play a role in your office?

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Foraging behavior and habitat associations of newly independent northern fur seal pups (Callorhinus ursinus)

Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Olivia Lee, Integrative Programs Section in the Division of Ocean Sciences at the National Science Foundation

Abstract: Northern fur seal pups and juveniles experience the highest mortality rates at sea compared to other age groups, but our knowledge of this life stage remains limited because individuals may not return to shore for 2 years after leaving their rookeries. The foraging behavior and habitat associations of 35 newly independent pups from Bering Island, Russia were investigated using Mk-10AL satellite tags to track pup locations and diving behavior between November 2007 and March 2008. Stomach temperature telemetry was used to identify the duration and timing of ingestion events for the first time in wide-ranging pups. Pup locations were compared to the distribution of several oceanographic features using remotely sensed data including: chlorophyll a concentrations, bathymetry, sea surface temperature, and eddies. Monte Carlo logistic modeling was used to identify the habitat associations of pups, and we compared pup behavior to the known habitat associations of adult females. Pups showed a strong association with regions with high chlorophyll a concentrations, high sea surface temperatures, and greater distances from shore. There was a negative correlation between pup locations and water depth, and pups had no association with eddies. However, pups that encountered eddies during their migration had the longest ingestion events near eddy peripheries. The results indicate that although pups are attracted to certain oceanographic features that may indicate higher prey abundance, they may have not yet learned to take advantage of prey-rich regions associated with eddies.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Halophyte Hydroponics: Exploring the Feasibility of Extracting Excess Nitrogen from Shrimp Aquaculture with Atriplex hortensis, an Edible Crop

Date: Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 12:30 PM EDT

Speaker: Hui Rodomsky, Coastal Conservation Policy Specialist, NOAA NOS Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management

Abstract: The vast majority of the world’s shrimp supply comes from industrial shrimp farms in the coastal areas of tropical developing countries. Shrimp farming practices degrade tropical coastal ecosystems in many ways, including conversion of mangrove forests, soil salinization, and eutrophication of coastal waters. Shrimp pond water quality is maintained by constant water exchange with the surrounding environment. This constant water exchange stresses freshwater resources in the area, and the discharged effluent alters the water chemistry of coastal ecosystems. This research addresses the eutrophication of coastal waters and explores the feasibility of growing halophytes hydroponically to extract excess nitrogen from the pond water before it is discharged into the surrounding environment.

This study was conducted in Hilo, Hawai’i, situated within the tropics. Five plant coverage levels of the halophyte Atriplex hortensis were tested to examine the effect of relative plant biomass on nitrogen levels in shrimp aquaculture water. Complete block design was implemented with each treatment represented once per block. There were six blocks total, and each block consisted of five 20-gallon glass aquaria nested in a 300-gallon plastic tank filled with freshwater for temperature control. Each glass aquarium was stocked with Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, at 100 animals per m2, the stocking density of intensive shrimp farming. The water in the glass aquaria was a mixture of seawater and Hawai’i county water to achieve 20ppt salinity. The only nutrient input to the system was the daily feeding of L. vannamei. A. hortensis was grown hydroponically in floating platforms resting on top of the water. Three forms of nitrogen – nitrate, nitrite, and ammonia – were measured via spectrophotometer weekly over seven weeks.

The observed rates of decrease for nitrate levels were 1.7 to 2.2 times greater in treatments with plants than in the control treatment. This suggests that incorporating A. hortensis into the shrimp aquaculture system can lower the concentration of nitrate in the water. As A. hortensis is edible, a second crop could be produced from this nitrate mitigation method with no additional nitrogen input. There is potential for halophyte hydroponics to be developed as a way to remove excess nitrate from shrimp farm effluent.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Modeling Ecosystem Service Values of Wetlands in Delaware: an Application of the InVEST Model

Date: Thursday, September 22, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speakers: Maura Flight, Senior Associate at IEc and Chip Paterson, Principal at IEc

Powerpoint Slides

Abstract: Wetlands cover over 30 percent of the State of Delaware. These ecosystems are being threatened, in particular, by development associated with the growing state population. Wetlands serve a variety of ecosystem functions, including surface water retention, nutrient transformation, coastal storm surge detention, species habitat, and carbon sequestration. Our analysis links wetland functions in Delaware to ecosystem services - the contributions that these functions make to the well-being of human populations - for purposes of economic valuation.

There is little disagreement that wetland ecosystem functions provide valuable services. The relationship of some services, such as recreation, to wetlands is more apparent than others, for example, flood protection. From a social welfare perspective, failure to incorporate the values of as full a suite of ecosystem services as possible may result in inefficient resource management (i.e., the total value of goods and services provided by the landscape is not maximized). Our analysis demonstrates a framework designed to evaluate tradeoffs in multiple ecosystem services of land and resource management scenarios. Specifically, we apply the Natural Capital Project’s Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs (InVEST) tool to quantify changes in carbon storage and sequestration, water purification, flood protection, and biodiversity associated with projected wetland losses in Delaware. The InVEST approach advances the science of ecosystem services assessment and valuation by employing spatially-explicit ecological production functions to quantify net changes in the delivery of ecosystem services resulting from specified land use or management changes. Quantifying the net change as opposed to the absolute value of services allows decision-makers to consider tradeoffs associated with marginal changes in ecosystem functions, and provides more meaningful estimates to inform policy. The results of our analysis, both biophysical and economic endpoints, provide additional information regarding less transparent ecosystem services of wetlands to support efficient landscape-level land use planning.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The ecology of narwhals in Baffin Bay and the impacts of a warming climate

Date: Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Kristin Laidre, arctic ecologist at the Polar Science Center, Applied Physics Lab, University of Washington

Abstract: The offshore pack ice is one of the most important habitats for narwhals (Monodon monoceros), yet few data are available to quantify ecological relationships. Winter movements of narwhals (n=34) satellite-tagged between 2003 and 2005 on Baffin Island were combined with data on distribution and abundance collected from a visual aerial survey on the wintering grounds conducted in April 2008 to examine habitat use in the pack ice. Continuous high-resolution digital photographic sea ice images (n= 2,685) and downward-looking video were also collected on the survey tracklines facilitating a detailed description of the habitat. A fully corrected abundance estimate of 17,239 narwhals (cv=0.58) was calculated for the 9,500 sq. km area, which had only 2% open water. Narwhals ranged most widely and had the highest velocities in years with the most dense sea ice cover, but remained stationary over their preferred foraging grounds in years with low sea ice cover. This may suggest heavy sea ice requires whales to conduct compensatory movements to keep up with leads and cracks that move up to 25 km/day. Some whales were tagged with transmitters which collected and transmitted water column temperature profiles from dives >1,000 m between December and April 2005-2007, a project funded by the NOAA Ocean Exploration program. Data from these tags suggest the previously documented warming in Baffin Bay continued through 2007 and is associated with a warmer West Greenland Current in both of its constituent water masses. Understanding narwhal habitat use in the pack ice is critical to this species given climate change induced sea ice loss rates of 9% decade in Baffin Bay.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The XML Hydrographic Metadata System and the Hydrographic Survey Metadata Data Base (HSMDB)

Date: Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Daniel Neumann, IT Specialist, Hydrographic Surveys Division, NOAA Office of Coast Survey

Abstract: Metadata is crucial for the efficient archiving and retrieval of hydrographic survey data. Currently, hydrographic metadata is created in multiple formats and housed in manually populated databases. NOAA’s Office of Cost Survey (OCS) is developing tools, using eXtensible Markup Language (XML), to enable NOAA to provide structured XML packaging of information that will allow metadata to be constrained and parsed more efficiently for multiple outputs. When completed, this will support a more efficient, semi-automated workflow for capturing metadata throughout the hydrographic survey lifecycle. This lifecycle is from initial project instructions to final descriptive reports and other supporting documents. Part of the improved workflow is eliminating the manual input of metadata to the authoritative HSMDB at the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC). Timely automated update will free Hydrographic survey Division (HSD) data control resources to focus on HSMDB population of archived hydrographic surveys. This will in turn enable different user communities to easily query and harvest more historic hydrographic survey information. This presentation will first offer an overview of the current status and proposed end product of the XML system. Secondly, the interaction of this XML as an extract and insert tool for the HSMDB will be explored stressing the notion that "enter once, use multiple times" approach greatly reduces errors, while also increasing efficiency and usability.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Tales and Tails - 41 Sea Years of Texas Sea Grant

Date: Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Gary Graham, Texas Sea Grant extension agent

Powerpoint Slides

Abstract: Gary Graham, longtime fisheries specialist with the Texas Sea Grant Program will present his experiences with the early years of interaction with marine resource users. An overview of cooperative work with the fishing industry to identify and plot trawl obstructions, development of more environmentally acceptable fishing gear and the emotional times which ultimately yielded successes with turtles and TEDs will be discussed. Graham will describe adaptations in working with different minority groups within the fisheries as well as challenges in engaging industry to solve their own problem.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Law and Policies that Apply to NOAA International Agreements

Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Hugh Schratwieser, NOAA’s Office of General Counsel for Weather

Presentation Slides

Abstract: Please join us on Wednesday, October 19th, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the NOAA Central Library (SSMC3, 2nd Floor) for a brown bag presentation on the law and policies regarding international agreements and memoranda of understanding between NOAA and counterpart agencies in foreign countries. Hugh Schratwieser of NOAA’s Office of General Counsel for Weather (GCW) will provide an overview of the Case- Zablocki Act and its implementation by NOAA GC. Authority for making determinations under the Case-Zablocki Act for NOAA international agreements was recently delegated to the NOAA General Counsel by the Department of Commerce General Counsel. Angelia Talbert-Duarte of the General Law Division of the Department of Commerce Office of General Counsel will explain the role played by her office in reviewing NOAA’s international agreements as well as an provide an overview of the law and policies that apply when such agreements involve the transfer of funds. There will be ample time for questions from the audience.

Additional background information is available at http://www.gc.noaa.gov/gc_case_zablocki.html and http://www.commerce.gov/os/ogc/model-agreements.

Note: This seminar is intended for NOAA employees only. Sponsored by the Office of General Counsel for International Law.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Impacts of El Niño Conditions on California Sea Lion Health and Fisheries Interactions: Stranding Hotspots and Management Implications

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Amanda Keledjian, Office of Protected Resources in NOAA Fisheries Service

Abstract: California sea lions, Zalophus californianus, are often viewed as a sentinel species whose health can be affected by prevailing oceanographic conditions and environmental quality. For this reason, it has become increasingly important to study the natural stressors and anthropogenic impacts that can lead to diminished health and survival among individuals of this coastal species. In this study, just over 36,000 sea lion stranding records spanning 1983-2010 were used to first identify regional and seasonal fishing interaction "hotspots" in California, and second, to examine how these hotspots might change under additional environmental stress induced by El Niño oceanographic conditions that can affect prey availability. Analyzing mean monthly fisheries interactions cases (n=2,380) revealed that (1) the number of fisheries interactions has risen over time (as much as 20% in some areas) but the frequency of these strandings relative to abundance estimates has not changed significantly throughout the study period; (2) regional hotspots were identified in Monterey, Los Angeles, and Orange counties; (3) seasonal peaks in fisheries interactions occur May-August along the coast; and (4) fisheries interactions are significantly greater during El Niño periods in all regions studied. These results indicate that over a twenty-seven year period, sea lion health is impacted by oceanographic conditions and anthropogenic stressors that may be heightened in early summer following the weaning period. Spatially- and temporally-explicit data such as these can be useful in dynamically mapping marine mammal health within spatial planning tools. This study could inform adaptive management measures designed to minimize incidental take for this and other pinniped species where they overlap with fisheries on the U.S. West coast.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Melting Glaciers: A Probable Source of DDT to the Antarctic Marine Ecosystem

Date: Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Heidi Geisz, Legislative Fellow with the House Natural Resources Committee subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs

Abstract: Persistent organic pollutants reach polar regions by long-range atmospheric transport and biomagnify through the food web accumulating in higher trophic level predators. We analyzed Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) samples collected from 2004-2006 to evaluate current levels of ∑DDT (p,p’-DDT + p,p’-DDE) in these birds, which are confined to Antarctica. Ratios of p,p’-DDT to p,p’-DDE in Adélie penguins have declined significantly since 1964 indicating current exposure to old rather than new sources of ∑DDT. However, ∑DDT has not declined in Adélie penguins from the Western Antarctic Peninsula for more than 30 years and the presence of p,p’-DDT in these birds indicates that there is a current source of DDT to the Antarctic marine food web. DDT has been banned or severely restricted since peak use in the 1970s, implicating glacier melt-water as a likely source for DDT contamination in coastal Antarctic seas. Our estimates indicate that 1-4 kg*y^-1 ∑DDT are currently being released into coastal waters along the Western Antarctic Ice Sheet due to glacier ablation.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Effects of temperature and latitude on the reproduction of an invasive crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, in northern and southern New England

Date: Friday, November 4, 2011 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Emily Gamelin, Congressional Analysis and Relations Division in NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

Presentation Slides

Abstract: The Asian shore crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus is native to the western Pacific and was first found in the U.S. in 1988. The species is currently distributed from North Carolina to mid-coast Maine, and has become the dominant intertidal crab in areas south of Boston Harbor, pushing out the previous dominant, the European Green crab (Carcinus maenas). H. sanguineus populations were studied in northern and southern New England to determine if crabs differ in reproductive behavior or characteristics between these regions. Additionally, effects of temperature on reproductive activity were quantified through laboratory experiments.

Number of broods per season increased with temperature, but the seasonal total was limited to three broods per female crab in laboratory experiments. Broods experienced limited success at the lowest temperature tested, 10°C. The reproductive season was longer at lower latitudes, and females at this site had smaller average ovigerous size. Patterns of ovigery varied between the regions, suggesting the production of one brood per season for most female crabs in New Hampshire, compared to two to three broods per season per female in Rhode Island. Overall, temperature may limit the possibility and degree of reproductive output by females, which may slow the spread or limit establishment of this species in northern latitudes.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Below the surface of the salt marsh: How water and nutrients move through estuary wetlands

Date: Friday, November 4, 2011 at 12:30 PM EDT

Speaker: Matthew Lettrich, Estuarine Reserves Division (NOAA/NOS/OCRM)

Presentation Slides

Abstract: Coastal wetlands serve as sources and sinks of nitrogen to surrounding estuarine waters through advective drainage and denitrification. The advective nitrogen flux of three intertidal estuary wetlands in the New River Estuary in North Carolina was determined using two approaches; 1) Darcy-derived drainage measurements; and 2) Calculating the difference between tidal ebb and tidal flood flux. The magnitude of drainage was greatest and most closely linked to tidal elevation in the most down-estuary site and was least in the up-estuary site ranging from a daily mean drainage of 0.34 L m shoreline^-1 day^-1 in the up-estuary site to 87 L m shoreline^-1 day^-1 in the down-estuary site. Nitrogen concentrations in the marsh porewaters peaked in late 2009. N flux was determined as a function of drainage (water flux) and porewater N concentration. Advective N flux showed a seasonal pattern that increased in the summer and the winter. Drainage was found to be correlated to tidal elevation within each site and trended with tidal amplitude within the estuary, providing proxies for estimating advective N flux at other sites when given those easily measured parameters combined with porewater N concentration.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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New Business Models for Small-Scale Fishermen and Processors

Date: Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speakers: Barry Nash, Seafood Technology and Marketing Specialist, NC Sea Grant; and Susan Andreatta, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina Greensboro Department of Anthropology

Presentation Slides (pdf format)
View the WebEx Recording (wrf format, requires you to download the free WRF player).

Abstract: Historically, small-scale fishermen and processors along the southeastern United States have been an invisible industry. They earned a steady living supplying local residents and metropolitan areas of the Eastern Seaboard of the United States with quality, seasonal seafood without a well-recognized commercial image to identify their commodities or trade. As globalization began opening domestic markets to less expensive products, price became a deciding sales factor in consumer choices. Facing significant declines in market share and income, fishermen began abandoning their industry. Over the last decade, the demand for local seafood has grown stronger as consumers become more conscious of the origins of their food. The growing public demand for local seafood offers opportunities for producers to tap niche markets to stabilize and increase their incomes. This presentation will discuss how the Sea Grant network can offer practical guidance to help fishermen and processors build market-focused enterprises that create competitive advantages over foreign producers.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The future of NOAA’s Technology Transfer: Meeting the President's challenge

Date: Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speakers: Henry Wixon and Mark Madsen, DOC Legal Counsel for NIST

Abstract: The goal of Federal technology transfer is to promote public/private sector partnerships that enhance U.S. competitiveness and leverage the Nation’s investment in Federal Research and Development. The Presidential Memorandum, Accelerating Technology Transfer and Commercialization of Federal Research in Support of High-Growth Businesses, issued October 28, 2011, directs that each agency with Federal laboratories develop plans that establish performance goals to increase the number and pace of effective technology transfer and commercialization activities in partnership with non federal entities, including private firms, research organizations, and non-profit entities.

This seminar will cover the impact of President Obama’s directive on NOAA Managers and Scientists. Questions and answers are expected to address exactly what technology transfer is, why the President has addressed its importance and what mechanisms are available within NOAA.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Does Tidal Management Affect Sub-adult Fish Assemblages in South Carolina’s Historic Impounded Marshes?

Date: Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Ben L. Carswell, East Coast Regional Coordinator, NOAA Marine Debris Program, Office of Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: As much as 14% (28,593 ha) of South Carolina’s coastal marshes are restricted by impoundments. Most impounded marshes in South Carolina are relics of rice agriculture that flourished in many areas of the coastal Southeast circa 1760 – 1860. Near Beaufort, SC, the Nemours Wildlife Foundation (NWF) manages 809 hectares of impounded marshes and wetlands with the primary goal of maximizing waterfowl habitat. A minority of the Nemours impoundments are managed to maximize recreational fisheries. Water-level in the impoundments is central to each strategy and is controlled with a system of tide gates. "Waterfowl" management promotes production of habitat for migratory birds, a goal that demands prolonged restriction of tidal connectivity. "Fish" management aims to promote an abundance of sport fish and allows daily tidal exchange. Tidal restriction raises concerns about how fragmentation and habitat change may affect nursery function for fishes. Our research examined assemblage composition, diversity, and abundance of fishes during early life stages, a phase that has received little attention in studies of coastal impoundments. We used light traps and a push net to sample two impoundments of each management type monthly for 10 months. We collected 61,527 sub-adult fishes, representing 21 species and 16 families, in light traps and 12,670 sub-adult fishes, representing 13 species and 11 families, in push net samples. The effective number of species detected at larval stages in "fish" impoundments (summer mean=2.52±0.20, winter mean=2.02±0.66) was greater than in "waterfowl" impoundments (summer mean=1.27±0.14, winter mean=1.06±0.09); confidence intervals are 90%. Species richness did not differ between management types, but hierarchical linear modeling predicts differences in assemblage composition. Our findings underscore the importance of daily water exchange in promoting nursery function for transient fishes in managed coastal impoundments.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Waterscape genetics of the yellow perch (Perca flavescens): Patterns across large connected ecosystems and isolated relict populations

Date: Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 12:30pm EST

Speaker: Jhonatan Sepulveda Villet, NOAA Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Program

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Comparisons of a species’ genetic diversity and divergence patterns across large connected populations versus isolated relict areas, provide important data for understanding potential response to global warming and other perturbations. Aquatic taxa offer ideal case studies for interpreting these patterns, because their dispersal and gene flow often are constrained through narrow connectivity channels that have changed over geological time and from contemporary anthropogenic alterations. Our research objective is to understand the interplay between historic (climate change, lake basin formation, and channel connectivity shifts during and after the Pleistocene glaciations) and modern-day factors (fishery exploitation, stocking supplementation, and habitat loss) in shaping population genetic patterns of the yellow perch Perca flavescens (Percidae: Teleostei) across its native North American range. We employ a dual genome and modified landscape genetic approach, analyzing complete sequences from the mitochondrial DNA control region (912 base pairs) and 15 nuclear DNA microsatellite loci of 664 spawning adults from 24 locations. Results support contribution from three primary glacial refugia to contemporary northern populations; the Missourian refugium founded the Northwest Lake Plains and western Lake Superior, the Mississippian refugium colonized most of the Great Lakes, and the Atlantic refugium contributed to the lower Great Lakes and founded the northern Atlantic seaboard. Genetic diversity is highest in southern unglaciated populations, and is appreciable in northern areas that were founded from multiple refugia. Divergence is greater in isolated population sites, both north and south; the southern Gulf coast relict populations are the most divergent, reflecting their long history. Understanding the influence of past and current waterway connections on the genetic structure of yellow perch populations may help us to assess the role of ongoing climate change towards conserving aquatic biodiversity.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Annual Holiday Brown Bag Seminar

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A NOAA Top Ten List from Mary Glackin’s Perspective

Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Mary M. Glackin, Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, NOAA

Powerpoint Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Deputy Under Secretary for Operations Mary Glackin will share ten stories from her tenure that demonstrate different aspects of "NOAA pride."

Note: This seminar is the library's annual Holiday Brown Bag Seminar, also featuring music from the NOAA Holiday Band and Chorus at 11:30 and, of course, refreshments.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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A Sustainable Idea: Virginia Sea Grant's Seafood Education for the Culinary Community

Date: Wednesday, December 14, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Vicki Clark, Marine and Seafood Education Specialist, Virginia Sea Grant

Abstract: One of Sea Grant’s National Focus Areas is a "safe sustainable seafood supply." Seafood is central to the culture and economy of our coastal regions, and nowhere is this more apparent than in Virginia. Virginia Sea Grant has become well-known for its research, advisory work and education activities focusing on seafood resources. VASG educators began providing science-based seafood information to consumers and culinary professionals over 20 years ago, and the opportunities and needs in this area have never been greater. Currently there is an unprecedented interest in culinary careers, and chefs as well as consumers are looking for information on sustainable, locally sourced seafood. Ms. Clark will present an overview of VASG’s seafood education program, describing its evolution from an event-based design to its current integrated approach involving numerous industry, agency, and educational partners and target audiences. There will be recipes and fish stories too!

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Life Line for the Dead Zone: Nutrient Retention in the Atchafalaya Basin, LA

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Amy Scaroni, National Sea Grant Office, Coordinator for Safe and Sustainable Seafood Supply and Healthy Coastal Ecosystems focus areas

Abstract: The Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers are the major sources of freshwater and nutrients to the Gulf of Mexico. Increased nutrient loads from these rivers exacerbate eutrophication in coastal receiving waters and contribute to the large area of hypoxia that develops seasonally in the Gulf. Levees along the Mississippi River have reduced contact between the river and the historic floodplain; this limits the ability of floodplain wetlands to naturally mitigate excess nutrients. However, the Atchafalaya River diverges from the Mississippi 217 km from the Gulf and enters a large river floodplain with a widely spaced levee system. This enhances the ability of the Atchafalaya River Basin to remove and sequester nutrients, potentially reducing downstream eutrophication. Overbank flow spreads river-water and sediment across the floodplain. Over time, sedimentation has filled in many of the open water areas on the floodplain, such that lakes are transitioning to baldcypress swamps and bottomland hardwood forests. These habitats differ in their available nutrient reservoirs and the rates at which they transform and store nutrients.

We investigated the major retention and removal mechanisms for carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the three major habitat types of the Atchafalaya River Basin. These reservoirs include denitrification, sedimentation, and assimilation by aboveground biomass. Total retention and removal for the entire basin is on the order of 1,177,605 - 1,561,805 t C yr^-1, 46,049 - 47,603 t N yr^-1, and 20,040 - 20,175 t P yr^-1. Rates varied by habitat, highlighting the need to consider habitat change when developing management strategies to improve water quality. Data from this study can be used to parameterize nutrient models for the Atchafalaya River Basin, as well as for river diversions and floodplains with similar habitat types.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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2012 Brown Bags

Inspiring Innovation by Capitalizing Creativity

Date: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Michael Osmond, Senior Program Officer, World Wildlife Fund

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Bycatch is among the most problematic aspects of modern fishing from a conservation perspective. In addition to the sheer volume of bycatch globally, unselective fishing poses an extinction threat to numerous species of ocean wildlife and threatens the commercial viability of a number of mainstream fisheries. In recent years, improvements to fishing gear and practices have played an important role in reducing bycatch, as modifications have increased the chances for non-target species to escape or avoid capture altogether. In response to the bycatch concern, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) initiated the first International Smart Gear Competition in 2004-2005, with the goal of identifying innovative and practical modifications, to currently used gear with potential for significantly reducing bycatch. The competition, which now offers cash prizes totaling $57,500, has been held five times and attracted more than 330 entries from 50 countries worldwide. It has also served as a positive way for conservation interests to cooperate with industry and a cornerstone for cross-sector collaboration between NGOs, industry and government.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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How do catch shares affect marine resources? Insights from a global comparative analysis

Date: Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Dr. Tim Essington, Associate Professor, Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, University of Washington

Research Papers:
Ecological indicators display reduced variation in North American catch share fisheries: Summary, Research Paper
Can catch share fisheries better track management targets? Summary, Research Paper

Abstract: NOAA issued its Catch Share Policy in November 2010 to provide guidance and direction on these programs as fishery management tools to build and maintain sustainable and prosperous U.S. fisheries and healthy ocean ecosystems. Yet, we still don’t know the types of ecological benefits they provide to fisheries, and the types of fisheries where these benefits are most likely. Dr. Timothy Essington, Dr. Mike Melnychuk and their colleagues, supported by the Lenfest Ocean Program, conducted the most comprehensive study to date on the effectiveness of catch share programs in achieving fisheries management objectives, comparing the impacts of catch shares for 345 stocks around the world, including many U.S. stocks. The team was the first to discover that the most prominent effect of catch shares was more predictability and less variability in ecological metrics.

Using statistical approaches to tease out the impacts of catch shares from other factors influencing fisheries health, the researchers found no evidence that catch share programs significantly improved the population size of the fish. They did find, however, that catch share programs often increased the predictability of hitting quota targets and can reduce the frequency of overfishing, making catch shares useful tools for better managing fisheries.

The results of this body of research may help guide NOAA and the regional fishery management councils in decisions about new policies or management options for implementing catch share programs.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Do You Have a Flag? Arctic Governance and the perceived "race" for resources

Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Christina Hoefsmit, U.S. Coast Guard, Marine Transportation System Directorate

Abstract: The Arctic’s extremes, both in climate and geography, have shielded it from many of the modern advances that have influenced much of the world. However, time is quickly catching up with the Arctic. Promising prospects and the decreasing extent of summer sea ice have heightened interest in Arctic offshore oil and gas resources, commercial shipping, tourism and other activities, providing new opportunities and a longer seasonal window. Increasing access and a changing geopolitical status has prompted some commentators to suggest a global "race" for Arctic resources and the need for a comprehensive Arctic treaty analogous to the Antarctic Treaty System that governs Antarctica. Despite the similarities that exist between Antarctica and the Arctic they are fundamentally distinct such that the application of governance mechanisms similar to Antarctica’s would be inappropriate. Rather than a global "race," current governance mechanisms, chiefly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), provides for the orderly resolution of most Arctic issues. In addition, several other international agreements and organizations exist to resolve issues not covered under UNCLOS. Consequently, a new comprehensive governance mechanism akin to the Antarctic Treaty System is unnecessary.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Danger, desire, and governance: a political ecology of Vibrio vulnificus

Date: Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 12:30pm EST

Speaker: Becky Blanchard, Office of Marine Conservation, Department of State

Abstract: Oysters are often imbued with qualities of danger and desire. Yet these affective and sensory elements are increasingly imbricated with the technical and mundane: interstate commerce rules, laboratory testing, and food processing technologies. In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration proposed a ban on the sale of raw oysters harvested from the Gulf of Mexico from spring through fall. The proposal, which has led to dramatic changes in shellfish management and processing, was spurred by public health concerns related to Vibrio vulnificus, a bacterial pathogen that causes the deaths of approximately 15 U.S. consumers each year. This presentation is based on 14 months of ethnographic fieldwork in Apalachicola Bay, Florida, a community that produces 10% of the nation’s oysters. The proposed ban, and the measures that have been taken to prevent it, may have a particularly significant impact on oyster harvesters in Apalachicola Bay due to the historical effects of resource tenure regimes on local industry structure. Debates about food safety are also debates about society and governance. This presentation examines the discourses of risk and freedom underlying the controversy over V. vulnificus and its control, as well as implications for particular actors, livelihoods, identities, and ecologies.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2011 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Information management: the value of embedded librarians in NOAA programs

Date: Tuesday, January 24, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speakers: Trevor Riley, NOAA PPI; Joan Moumbleaux, NMFS Habitat Restoration Division; and Chris Belter, NOAA Central Library

Abstract: In today's information-rich environment, effectively managing information is critical to success. Embedded librarians and information professionals can assist in this process by creating information management solutions tailored to unique organizational needs. This seminar will present three case studies of how embedded librarians are already assisting NOAA program offices. Trevor Riley will discuss his work within the office of Program Planning and Integration, including the management of shared electronic workspaces, research, and development of new information architecture public websites. Joan Moumbleaux will discuss her information management work on the Deepwater Horizon Oil spill; specifically how she identified the Restoration Center’s business needs, determined information governance and management, and insures security in a litigation hold environment. Finally, Chris Belter will discuss his role in tracking, publicizing, and performing bibliometric analyses on publications supported by NOAA's Office of Ocean Exploration and Research in order to help demonstrate the Office's value to NOAA.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Regulating Carbon Emissions from Ships

Date: Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Bryan Wood-Thomas, Vice-President, World Shipping Council

Presentation Slides

Abstract: Please join us on Wednesday, January 25, 2012, from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the NOAA Central Library (SSMC3, 2nd Floor) for a brown bag presentation on regulating carbon emissions from ships. Bryan Wood-Thomas, Vice-President of the World Shipping Council and former Associate Director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, will address the current global debate on how to regulate carbon emissions from shipping with a focus on the primary options under debate, the economic motivation of the parties, and the political and legal questions that arise in certain scenarios. Bryan will also discuss the anticipated impacts of the North American Emission Control Area, an area designated by the International Maritime Organization in 2010 that encompasses coastal and ocean waters around North America out to 200 nautical miles. Beginning in August 2012, ships in this area must comply with more stringent air pollution limits for NOx, SO2 and particulate matter

More information about the North American Emission Control Area can be found at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/regs/nonroad/marine/ci/420f10015.htm.

Bryan Wood-Thomas’ bio can be found at http://www.worldshipping.org/about-the-council/council-management/bryan-wood-thomas.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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A Dialogue with the NOAA Administrator on Future NOAA Science

Date: Friday, January 27, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Dr. Jane Lubchenco, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator

Presentation Slides (in pdf format)

Abstract: Dr. Lubchenco invites all NOAA employees to participate in an open dialogue on future NOAA science. What should our research priorities be given ongoing fiscal challenges? How can we improve the climate for NOAA science? As we face increasingly challenging economic and social times, we must be selective and strategic in delivering the greatest value to the Nation. We also must communicate the merit of NOAA science effectively to decision makers and the public. Dr. Lubchenco will offer some thoughts on future NOAA science, including how we might better frame it for the public and decision makers. Please bring your ideas for future NOAA research priorities and ways we can strengthen the way we talk about and share our science with the world.

Note: This seminar will take place in SSMC3, room 4527. This seminar celebrates the 500th Brown Bag Seminar given at the NOAA Central Library since the seminar series' inception in 1994.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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AAAS Fellowship Program and NOAA: Opportunities to Host a Fellow

Date: Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speakers: Current NOAA AAAS S&T Fellows and their mentors; AAAS staff

Presentation Slides (in .pptx format)

Abstract: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellows are competitively-selected, Ph.D. level scientists, social scientists, and engineers from a broad range of disciplines. These Fellows are available for placement in federal agencies for a 1-2 year term (renewal year can include details outside of the DC area). The Program, in existence since 1973, has an outstanding national reputation with many former Fellows occupying some of the highest positions in science policy throughout the federal government. AAAS currently partners with over 15 federal agencies, many Congressional offices and committees, and nearly 30 professional scientific societies to operate the Science & Technology Policy Fellowships.

NOAA has hosted 12 AAAS Fellows since it began participating in the Fellowship Program in 2007. The Fellows offer scientific and technical expertise as they assist with projects, program management, or policy analysis. Fellows start work after two weeks of intense training in science policy (including ethics, the legislative process, and the budget process) and are supported throughout their two years with professional development activities. AAAS Fellows also serve as a link to a network of science and science policy professionals across academia and government, including a network of over 2,500 current and former Fellows.

The recruitment process for 2012-2013 AAAS Fellows is already underway, and prospective host offices must act soon to participate. At this information session, current AAAS Fellows and AAAS program staff will share details about the program, insights about their experiences, upcoming deadlines in the recruitment process, and answer your questions. Because the renewal year of the Fellowship can include details outside of the DC area, regional offices and labs are encouraged to participate via webinar.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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How to Give a Truly Terrible Talk, Briefing, or Workshop: An Homage and Update

Date: Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Dwayne Meadows, Species of Concern National Program Coordinator, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Do you want to learn how to give better talks and presentations? Impress leadership with your thoughts and ideas? But you find yourself bored by typical self-help manuals and presentations by droll experts? Do you forget all that sage advice when crunch time on your next presentation arrives? Then come hear Dwayne Meadows update of a classic tongue-in-cheek guide for giving better presentations and learn from the (mostly real) mistakes of others.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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International Programs and Legal Authorities of the Department of the Interior

Date: Thursday, February 9, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speakers: David Downes, Assistant Director for Policy in DOI's Office of International Affairs; and a panel from DOI's Office of the Solicitor

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: We will begin with an brief overview of DOI international programs ranging from migratory bird conservation to Earth observation, presented by David Downes, Assistant Director for Policy in DOI's Office of International Affairs. A panel from DOI's Office of the Solicitor will discuss legal issues relating to DOI international programs, with particular reference to marine issues and law of the sea. Speakers will include Michael Young, Assistant Solicitor for Fish and Wildlife; Maria Lurie from the Parks Branch; and Milo Mason from the Division of Mineral Resources.

Additional information about DOI's Office of International Affairs is available at http://www.doi.gov/intl/index.cfm.
Additional information about DOI's Office of the Solicitor is available at http://www.doi.gov/solicitor/index.html.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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State Agency Engagement with Habitat Conservation

Date: Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Ron Regan, Executive Director, Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: This seminar will focus on the work of state fish and wildlife agencies in habitat conservation through the lenses of the North American Model of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, the National Fish Habitat Partnership, and the work of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Policy and state-federal partnership opportunities will be explored.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Exploring Social Media Tools: A Case Study of One Office's Journey to Implement a Blog

Date: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Sara Eckert and Becky Wynne, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, NCCOS

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

How to Write a Blog (pdf format)

Creating a Blog with Wordpress (pdf format)

Abstract: NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)/Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA) is launching the NOAA Coastal Ocean Science (COS) Blog. The goal of this seminar is the talk about the process NCCOS underwent to review, select and execute a new social media tool to promote their active, ongoing research. This overview is intended to be a case study of one office's approach to the social media planning and implementation. This presentation will outline the process of developing a blog for your organization, including how NCCOS was able to work within the guidelines of social media activities within the context of a federal agency. Additionally, we hope to provide insights on using social media for the promotion of science, and some key questions each office should consider before embarking on this process.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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When Adults Read with Children, Everybody Wins!

Date: Thursday, March 8, 2012 at 12 noon EST

Speaker: Lyn McGann, Program Manager - Power Lunch

Abstract: Everybody Wins! DC Power Lunch Program at Highland View Elementary School brings adults together with elementary school students, one to one, to read for pleasure and to share conversation. The program is not a tutoring model; adult Reading Mentors are trained to act as role models, using literature as a means of sharing thoughts, feelings and aspirations. Highland View has a small but fully engaged program that meets two days per week; more sessions will open as a greater number of Reading Mentors are brought on board.

While there is no formalized tutoring, students strengthen their reading-related skills through practice in an environment of encouragement and enjoyment. While reading themselves or being read to by their adult partners, students are supported fully in their efforts to open a dialogue about the greater world glimpsed in the pages of shared literature. They learn to appreciate their abilities for what they are; they interact with a caring adult for an hour a week. Thus, trust and self-esteem are also bolstered by the program.

The Power Lunch Program occurs during the student’s lunch and recess hour. It is a turnkey program, supremely simple for busy professionals to access. At program time, students are waiting in the reading space for the Reading Mentors to arrive; the program is staffed by a School Coordinator who is an employee of Everybody Wins! DC. The School Coordinator is charged with seamless operation of the program at the school site, and is supported by the Program Manager, who supervises the program, as well as by the administrative team in the Organization Office in D.C. The School Coordinator will communicate directly with Reading Mentors, and can help them with cancellations, reschedules, or program questions and issues.

A broad array of books at all reading levels is available in the program, and reading pairs are encouraged to explore all kinds of subjects. Activities and events punctuate regular reading sessions, but the focus is the written word. Mentors can read solo with a child, or can decide to alternate reading responsibility with another mentor, reducing their obligation to once every other week.

Prospective Reading Mentors can apply to the program via the organization’s website, http://www.everybodywinsdc.org, and will receive an email detailing student information, session day and time, and contact information for the program at the school site.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Regulating Ocean Acidification through International Law

Date: Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 12 noon EDT

Speaker: Mark Spalding, President, Ocean Foundation

Abstract: Fundamental changes in sea water chemistry are occurring throughout our oceans. Serving as the world’s largest natural carbon sink, the ocean absorbs about a quarter of the CO₂ released into the atmosphere each year. As carbon emissions increase, a greater amount of carbon dissolves in the ocean, altering the pH level and causing the ocean to be more acidic. This relatively sharp increase in acidity has significant implications for marine ecosystems and the human activities dependent upon such resources. Unfortunately, no specific international law targeting the regulation of ocean acidification exists today. This seminar will discuss the regulatory gaps and the possible application of extant legal tools to regulate the carbon emission behavior of key nations to address ocean acidification.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Little Fish, Big Impact: Managing a Crucial Link in Ocean Ecosystems

Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Ellen Pikitch, Executive Director of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science and Professor at the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Forage fish, or small schooling fish such as anchovies and sardines, play a critical role in the marine food web as prey for larger fish, seabirds, and marine mammals. Markets for fish meal and fish oil to support the growing aquaculture and farm animal industries have placed these species under increasing commercial pressure. The Lenfest Forage Fish Task Force was established to develop and recommend ecosystem-based standards for the sustainable management of forage fisheries.

Thirteen preeminent scientists with expertise in a wide range of disciplines conducted a comprehensive examination of the science and management of forage fish populations. Their research explored whether conventional management of these species poses substantial risks of population crashes and contributes to declines of their predators. Ellen Pikitch, the Task Force Chairperson, will share key results from the report, which include specific management recommendations for forage fish species.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Designing Evaluations

Date: Thursday, April 5, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Stephanie Shipman and Valerie Caracelli, Applied Research Methods Team, Government Accountability Office

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Dr. Stephanie Shipman and Dr. Valerie Caracelli of the Government Accountability Office (GAO) will discuss the recently released report, Designing Evaluations: 2012 Revision, (GAO-12-208G) (pdf) which will serve as a reference in GAO and federal agency evaluation offices. This revision reflects performance measurement and evaluation thinking and practice post-GPRA, and the expansion of program evaluation to the full range of federal programs and policies. The guide introduces key issues in planning evaluation studies of federal programs and describes a variety of evaluation designs for answering different types of questions about program performance - from examining the implementation of national programs to assessing the effectiveness of specific practices and interventions. The guide is a tool for planning useful evaluations and developing educated consumers of evaluation.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Current Legal and Policy Issues Related to Antarctic Diplomacy

Date: Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Evan Bloom, US Department of State

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Mr. Bloom will speak on "Current Legal and Policy Issues Related to Antarctic Diplomacy" and provide an overview of the Antarctic Treaty system with a focus on topics such as establishment of marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean, regulation of tourism, and enforcement of environmental regulations, including liability rules.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Flounder Stock Enhancement: Post-Release Performance and Assessment of Cage Conditioned Japanese Flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, in Wakasa Bay, Japan

Date: Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Michelle Walsh, NOAA NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries - Domestic Fisheries Division

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Conditioning is the process of providing individuals reared for stock enhancement with some degree of "natural" experience prior to release. Conditioning flatfish in predator-free cages may help adjustment to the wild. From 2008-2010, Obama Laboratory conducted pre-release, experimental cage conditioning for Japanese flounder in both the Takahama and Obama portions of Wakasa Bay, Japan. Recaptured fish were acquired through a cooperative effort between researchers and local fishermen. The objectives were to describe how characteristics of released flounder changed with cage exposure and to determine how recapture rates compared between conditioned and non-conditioned fish. Significantly more conditioned fish were recaptured than non-conditioned fish in Obama Bay in 2010 (p < 0.05). In 2008 and 2009, recapture rates of conditioned and non-conditioned flounder followed the same trend, although these were not significantly different. Laboratory experiments revealed that conditioned fish had significantly better burying abilities (p < 0.001) and enhanced feeding abilities compared to non-conditioned fish. This study is the first to examine flatfish conditioning strategies using market data and shows that cage conditioning can favorably alter the attributes and recapture rates of released fish.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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By-catch in the Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron commercial trap net fishery

Date: Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Eric MacMillan, NOAA NMFS Office of Habitat Conservation

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: This study provides species-specific catch and baseline mortality estimates of non-target species (by-catch) for the Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron commercial trap net fishery. By-catch can represent a significant mortality source that is often unknown. By-catch and by-catch mortality rates in the Saginaw Bay commercial trap net fishery, which primarily targets lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), are currently unknown. From May through August 2010, we observed onboard commercial trap net vessels and took species-specific counts of by-catch and estimated initial bycatch mortality (i.e., morbid or floating fish). The high levels of walleye (Sander vitreus) catch and mortality observed within inner Saginaw Bay have not been previously documented in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Walleye by-catch averaged 127.3 individuals per trap net lift and 42% of those caught were morbid. The levels of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) catch observed were within the range observed in previous studies, but mortality (percent) was higher than has been previously observed. Lake trout by-catch averaged 39.4 individuals per lift and 39.2% of those were morbid. Through the use of generalized linear models, this analysis also indicated factors that most influenced catch of non-target species including time of year and soak time (i.e., time interval between trap net lifts). Surface water temperature and trap net depth most influenced mortality. These results may inform fishers and fisheries managers and highlight the need for comprehensive by-catch monitoring throughout the Great Lakes.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Taking the Pulse: A proposed framework for Assessing and Reporting on the Status and Trends in Ocean and Coastal Health in Canada

Date: Friday, April 20, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Dr. Colleen Mercer Clarke, coastal ecologist and landscape architect, University of Ottawa

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: For over 100 years governments, academia, industry and community-based organizations throughout the world have monitored oceanic and coastal environments by collecting and recording data on multiple biological, chemical and physical parameters. Yet despite advances in fisheries management, pollution abatement technologies, and the creation of marine protected areas, conditions in most of the world's oceans continue to decline, sometimes dramatically. In 2010, to tackle these complexities, and disparities, and to ensure that the knowledge gained from CHONe research was effectively applied to policy and decision-making, CHONe embarked on an initiative to develop a framework for oceans and coastal health for Canada. Efforts concentrated on the standardization of widely used, but too often ambiguous terminology, and on the identification and incorporation of useful approaches and tools derived from the efforts and experience of Canadian as well as international initiatives. The proposed Framework is a science-based approach to defining, monitoring, assessing, rating and reporting on the status and trends in ocean and coastal health in Canada.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Endangered Elkhorn Coral Population Dynamics and Predictions for Recovery

Date: Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Tali Vardi, NOAA NMFS Office of Science and Technology

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: Fossil data from multiple locations indicates that Atlantic elkhorn coral, Acropora palmata, formed shallow reefs throughout the Caribbean Sea since the Pleistocene. Beginning in the 1980s A. palmata has declined to a small fraction of its formerly vast extent throughout the region. In 2006, elkhorn coral was the first coral, along with its sister species, staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis), to be included on the U.S. Endangered Species List. We used size-based matrix modeling to parameterize annual A. palmata population dynamics in Florida, over the course of one severe hurricane year (2005) and six calm years (2004, and 2006-2010), incorporating environmental stochasticity as inter-annual variability. We predicted that benthic cover would remain at current levels (4%) for the foreseeable future (until 2030) and beyond (until 2100), suggesting a lack of resilience following the 2005 hurricanes. Standard metrics for the quantification of number and size of individuals are essential to endangered species management. These usually straightforward tasks can be challenging for clonal, colonial organisms. Acropora palmata presents a particular challenge due to its plastic morphology and frequent fission. We quantified three-dimensional colony surface area (CSA), the most ecologically relevant measure of size, for 14 prototypically arborescent A. palmata colonies using three-dimensional digital imaging software. To relate CSA to simple field metrics, we compared log-likelihood values and determined that planar projection was the best predictor. The, tight, linear relationship between planar projection and CSA enables ecological rates, such as reef accretion and gamete production, to be calculated from field data. Finally, we expanded the matrix population model to compare population dynamics in several locations across the Caribbean. The general trend for Acropora palmata is further reductions in population size by 2030. The most striking difference we quantified was between Jamaica, where population size is projected to increase, and all other locations, where population size is projected to remain stable or decline. Density of a key herbivore, the sea urchin Diadema antillarum, was an order of magnitude greater in Jamaica than in any other location. These increases are occurring 30 years after a devastating die-off suggesting that herbivory by urchins may facilitate A. palmata recovery.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Impacts of Karenia brevis Harmful Algal Blooms on Piscivorous Birds in Sarasota Bay, Florida

Date: Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Deborah Fauquier, NOAA NMFS Office of Protected Resources, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Program,

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: Harmful algal blooms (HABs), especially those caused by the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, a dinoflagellate that produces brevetoxins, occur frequently along Florida’s west coast, causing episodes of high mortality in fish, sea turtles, birds, bottlenose dolphins and manatees. Although K. brevis blooms are known to cause episodes of mass mortality among marine vertebrates, it is not known whether this disturbance results in significant declines in bird populations or changes in community structure. This study investigated the extent that brevetoxicosis contributed to morbidity and mortality in stranded sea birds and we investigated the impact K. brevis blooms had on the local abundance and habitat use of piscivorous birds in the Sarasota Bay estuary. Blood or fecal samples were collected from debilitated birds on admission to a rehabilitation hospital from 4 February 2005 through 28 November 2006. Dead birds were necropsied and tissues collected for histopathology. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect brevetoxins was performed on all collected samples. For the field study, data were obtained by conducting boat-based seasonal surveys of birds, K. brevis cell counts, and water quality during red tide and non-red tide conditions. Summer and winter surveys were conducted in four habitats between 20 June 2006 and 2 September 2009. Periods of high K. brevis concentrations (>10⁵ cell l^-1) occurred during February to December 2005, summer 2006, and winter 2007. Testing of blood, biological fluids, and tissues for brevetoxin by ELISA found toxin present in 69% (n=95) of rehabilitating sea birds with the highest values reported in double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus). Among sea birds that died or were euthanized the highest brevetoxin concentrations were found in bile, stomach contents, and liver. Most dead birds had no significant pathologic findings at necropsy, thereby supporting brevetoxin-related mortality. In the field over 34,000 bird observations were obtained involving over 20 different species. The most abundant bird species were double-crested cormorants, laughing gulls (Larus atricilla), and brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis). Overall bird densities were lower during red tide conditions than they were during non-red tide conditions. In particular, the abundance of double-crested cormorants decreased in all habitats during red tide conditions. In contrast, brown pelicans and laughing gulls increased in abundance in certain habitats during red tide conditions and rebounded to lower abundances by 2008. It is probable that cormorants are consuming different prey than pelicans and gulls and may be exposed to a higher dose of toxin leading to increased morbidity and mortality and lower abundances during red tide events.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Sea Grant’s Army of Volunteers: Taking on Turtles and Other Hurdles

Date: Friday, May 4, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Logan Respess, Associate Director of the Texas Sea Grant College Program

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: Hurricane recovery, endangered species, harmful algal blooms, invasive species, habitat degradation - there is no shortage of critical issues facing our nation’s coasts. The sheer scope of these issues far surpasses NOAA Sea Grant’s capacity to respond to them with its human capital alone, so we developed and trained a corps of master volunteers to help. Individually, these dedicated people could achieve small successes, but as a group they have provided far-reaching education, outreach and service projects. Join us in learning about the extraordinary impacts these master volunteers provide and how NOAA Sea Grant "raises me to the power of we!"

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Physiological and Growth Response of a Polar Diatom to Shifts in Iron and Irradiance: Implications for biogeochemical cycles

Date: Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Jennifer Bennet, NOAA OAR Ocean Acidification Program Office

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: The Ross Sea, one of the most productive Southern Ocean regions, accounts for a substantial proportion of global primary production and is responsible for up to one fourth of the C0₂ export in this ocean. Both primary and export production in this region are thought to be mediated by the interaction of light and iron (Fe) bio-availability. Future climate change may produce significant changes in the mixing-irradiance regime, and in the supply of macro- and micro-nutrients, in the highly productive waters of the Antarctic continental shelf. In this context, there is a pressing need to understand the responses of the major groups of Antarctic phytoplankton to such environmental changes. The diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus is a prolific species on the Antarctic shelf, inhabiting both sea-ice (low irradiance) and open-water (high irradiance) regimes. Laboratory culture experiments were performed to examine the growth and physiology of this diatom under nutrient-replete conditions at irradiances of 5-500 µE m^-2 s^-1, on both acute and long term timescales. These allowed the sub-optimal, optimal, and supra-optimal irradiance for growth (5, 100, and 500 µE m^-2 s^-1, respectively) to be assessed for this species, under which growth at varying Fe concentrations (0 - 1000nM Fe-EDTA) could then be examined. Cell number, biovolume, photosynthetic efficiency (F_v/F_m) and effective absorption cross section of PSII (S_PSII), photosynthetic and photoprotective pigments, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and intracellular particulate dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSPP) were measured in these experiments. The results indicated that F. cylindrus maintained relatively high growth rates (µ= 0.1-0.4) over a wide range of irradiance levels under nutrient replete conditions, probably using various physiological mechanisms including xanthophyll cycling and decreasing effective absorption cross section at higher irradiance. These mechanisms were also employed during iron manipulation experiments at the various irradiances, accompanied by an approximate 25% decrease in growth rate (µ) values. DMSPP levels (up to 60 mM) may also be serving as an antioxidant free-radical scavenging pool under both iron and light stress, thereby preventing oxidative damage, within the photosynthetic apparatus. DMSP is readily converted to dimethyl sulfide (DMS) which serves as cloud condensation nuclei, contributing to the climate feedback loop. These higher than previously recorded intracellular DMSPP concentrations, in addition to the ability of F. cylindrus to grow at higher irradiances could have implications for regional carbon and sulfur cycles.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Managing and Modeling Fisheries at Small Spatial Scales: A Case Study Using Giant Clams

Date: Thursday, May 17, 2012 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Annie Yau, NOAA OAR Office of the Assistant Administrator

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: Many marine populations are managed at small spatial scales (tens to hundreds of kms), as in the example of small-scale fisheries. A major difficulty in managing and modeling marine populations at small spatial scales is the unknown amount of self-recruitment occurring: larvae that settle within a small spatial area may have come from local adults (self-recruitment), or may be offspring of adults outside of the small spatial area (external recruitment). Without knowing where larvae are coming from, it is difficult to model patterns in population abundance. I modified an ecological population model (Integral Projection Model, IPM) to account for uncertainty in self-recruitment at small spatial scales, and used that model to determine that a small-scale fishery for giant clams in French Polynesia is sustainable at the present rate of fishing. I also determined a method for setting a minimum size limit that maximizes harvest while sustaining population abundance, despite uncertainty in self-recruitment. I generalized this method beyond giant clams to organisms with a variety of different life history characteristics. Overall, size limits can optimize (or nearly optimize) harvest in small-scale fisheries, and populations can be modeled and managed at small spatial scales in the face of uncertainty regarding the amount of self-recruitment.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Ocean-related commitments at the Rio+20 Conference

Date: Thursday, May 24, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Susan Lieberman, Deputy Director of International Policy, Pew Trusts

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: In June 2012, governments will meet in Rio de Janeiro to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 1992 Rio Conference (Rio+20). For this historic meeting, States have committed to secure renewed political commitment for sustainable development, assessing progress to date and remaining gaps in the implementation of the outcomes of major summits on sustainable development and addressing new and emerging challenges. As a result of advocacy by non-governmental organizations and some governments, the ocean is now one of the top Rio+20 priorities, and there are intense negotiations underway. Ms. Lieberman's talk will explore ocean-related commitments at previous global summits (Rio in 1992, Johannesburg in 2002), the gaps in implementation, and the potential for meaningful outcomes in Rio. The talk will also discuss efforts underway to address the conservation of high seas biodiversity and sustainable fisheries.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Office of General Counsel- International Section

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Processing Large Data Streams Using Massive Online Collaboration

Date: Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Benjamin L. Richards, NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: NOAA's use of advanced sampling technologies has been increasing. While these advanced technologies promise to greatly enhance our ability to collect data, they present a variety of challenges given the shear volume of data they produce. On a recent two week survey mission by the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center to American Samoa, an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle produced 52,000 benthic images and 42 and half hours of video footage. On the same mission, stationary remote camera stations recorded over 90 hours of video footage. Towed-Diver surveys routinely produce close 100,000 benthic images per year. How do we handle these data streams? Currently we make do by processing only a small subset of the available data or by allowing for long lag times between data collection and data processing. Work on computer algorithms that can automate certain portions of data processing is ongoing, but the human brain is still far superior for pattern recognition and processing visual data. Massive Online Collaboration, where image data is served to many independent volunteer human analysts through the internet, may be an answer. Massive online collaboration has already been used to digitize books, process Hubble deep field imagery as well as images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, to transcribe weather logs from WW1 Royal Navy ships, as well as to process video data to understand the distribution of marine species and to increase our understanding of deep-sea ecosystems and how they change in response to human disturbance. If properly implemented, this tool can fulfill two key NOAA objectives: processing increasingly large optical data streams in a rapid and cost effective manner and education and outreach by involving the public in the processing of scientific information.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Spatial analysis of anthropogenic competition and overlap between critical sperm whale habitat in the Gulf of Mexico

Date: Thursday, June 07, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Alyson Azzara, Committee on the Marine Transportation System

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: The Gulf of Mexico is home to two of the world’s ten busiest ports by cargo volume, the Port of New Orleans and the Port of Houston; in 2008, these ports hosted a combined 14,000 ships. Past research shows that this increase in shipping worldwide has historically lead to an increase in ambient noise level of 3-5dB per decade. Sperm whales in the Gulf of Mexico are considered a genetically distinct, resident population. They have a preference for the Louisiana-Mississippi Shelf region which directly overlaps with the entrance to the Mississippi River and the Port of New Orleans. Disruptions from vessel noise could influence feeding and breeding patterns essential to the health of the stock. Historic sperm whale distribution data are combined with current distribution data to show continued habitat use on the scale of centuries. Automatic identification system (AIS) data overlain with this distribution data documents the bifurcation of key habitat for sperm whales along the Mississippi – Louisiana shelf by shipping lanes apparent through AIS ship track positions. Options for addressing this conflict are discussed.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Evaluating Statistical Methods for Maximizing Classification: An Application using Otolith Tracers from Spotted Seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus)

Date: Thursday, June 07, 2012 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Stacy Beharry, National Science Foundation - Division Ocean Sciences

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: Developing a classification model that accurately identifies the provenance of individuals is central in understanding the dynamics of any population. Otolith-derived tracers, such as trace element chemistry, stable isotope composition, and otolith microstructure have been widely used to determine origin, as each offer a unique habitat description. Despite widespread use, the statistical approaches to handle these data have been slow to develop, and limited guidelines are offered in choosing the most useful discriminatory variables collected from the otolith. Variables are frequently selected because they are easily obtained, widely used by other investigators, or because their mean concentrations differ among areas. These selection methods do not address the information conveyed by each variable, nor the overlap in information that may occur in variable combinations. In this study, Rao’s test for additional information was used to identify the most useful discriminatory variables for identifying the nursery seagrass habitats for spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) in Chesapeake Bay. We found that all variables did not convey useful information and classification accuracy was heavily dependent on the type and number of variables used. Two variables from a suite of 12, barium and δ13C, conveyed sufficient information to classify fish with over 80% accuracy. By employing the correct statistical approaches, we show that classification success can be maximized, and natal origin of juvenile fish can be identified with greater accuracy.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Development of an Integrated Benthic Ecosystem Survey

Date: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Dvora Hart, NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: The NEFSC is transitioning its traditional dredge-based sea scallop survey into an integrated benthic ecosystem survey. Central to this transition is deployment of a towed camera system known as HabCam. The HabCam vehicle houses stereo digital still cameras with synchronized strobes, a synthetic aperture side-scan sonar, and an array of oceanographic instruments, including sensors for chlorophyll, dissolved oxygen, water color (spectra) and a CTD. Some dredge tows will continue to be performed, in order to ensure continuity of the time series and to obtain physical samples. A prototype HabCam survey of Georges Bank was conducted in 2011 that collected over 2.5 million images of the sea floor. HabCam will be deployed in both the Mid-Atlantic and Georges Bank starting in 2012. I will discuss results from the traditional dredge survey, the prototype 2011 HabCam survey and preliminary results from the 2012 surveys, and the insights they provide on sea scallop and benthic community dynamics.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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South-South Exchanges, Fishing Cooperatives, and Managing Fishery Resources for Multiple Industries: The Banco Chinchorro Perspective

Date: Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Liam Carr, NOAA Office of Communications and External Affairs

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: The Banco Chinchorro Biosphere Reserve is a 25-mile long coral atoll off the Yucatan Peninsula near the Belize border. Famed for its shipwrecks and scuba diving opportunities, the reserve also supports three Mexican fishing cooperatives, who are granted access in an agreement with local management authorities. Despite fishing and tourism interests, the nearshore ecosystem is under-studied and little knowledge exists on how local physical and geographic characteristics of the atoll system support reef life. In May 2012, researchers from Texas A&M; University and COBI (Conservidad y Biodiversidad) trained local partners in low-cost reef and fish community assessment methods. This training and focused data collection increased the knowledge base of the Banco Chinchorro system while simultaneously strengthening collaborative partnerships between scientists and non-scientists.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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When good intentions are not enough … marine protected areas in the Gulf of California

Date: Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Alexis Rife, NOAA NMFS Office of International Affairs

Abstract: Marine protected areas (MPAs) hold great potential to provide biological and socioeconomic benefits, but many have failed to fulfill these objectives. The rush to establish MPAs without proper resources does not resolve conservation problems, but creates a false sense of protection that may worsen the degradation of marine ecosystems at a regional scale. We reviewed MPA efficacy in the Gulf of California, Mexico in order to exemplify this phenomenon. We found that despite sufficient budgets, MPAs (with one exception) have not met conservation or sustainability goals. Here, I will examine two of these MPAs closely: Loreto Bay National Park (LBNP), a large, multi-use MPA where several types of small-scale commercial and recreational fishing are allowed, but where less than 1% of the park is totally protected from fishing and Cabo Pulmo National Park (CPNP), where the entire park has been closed to fishing by the local community. These examples allow us to conclude that MPAs have been unsuccessful due to insufficient no-take zones, little enforcement, and lack of good governance and community involvement. In order to fill these gaps and prevent continued degradation, we recommend a new philosophy for MPAs: no-take MPAs managed under co-management schemes with better intra-government cooperation, enhanced socioeconomic incentives, and improved enforcement.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Japanese tsunami debris and invasive species - lessons learned in Oregon

Date: Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Dr. Samuel Chan, Oregon Sea Grant, Oregon State University

Presentation Slides

Abstract: The devastating 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011 claimed nearly 16,000 lives, injured 6,000, destroyed or damaged infrastructure and caused between $195-$310 billion in damages. It also released a pulse of debris estimated to be over 5 million tons, of which approximately 30% (~1.5million tons) is likely to still be afloat. As of June 2012, the floating debris, predicted to begin arriving with the Fall 2012 storms, has begun to come ashore on the west coast of North America, with a large ~165 ton floating dock appearing on Agate beach in Newport on June 5. The dock and its fouling community garnered extensive media coverage, and turned international attention to Oregon as a site of tsunami debris research and management. The threat of invasive species attached to tsunami marine debris is a critical and unforeseen risk that emerged with the beaching of the 66’ long dock that drifted from Japan. Dr. Chan will discuss the response and management of the risk of invasive species introduction in Oregon, and lessons learned from the beaching of the dock on Agate Beach.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Governance in West African Fisheries

Date: Wednesday, July 11, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: John Virdin, Senior Natural Resource Management Specialist, World Bank

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: The West Africa Regional Fisheries Program is a regional program of nine coastal countries from Mauritania to Ghana, financed by the World Bank and Global Environment Facility, aiming to sustainably increase the economic benefits generated by the marine fisheries for the region. The program includes three main components: (i) strengthening governance of the fisheries, (ii) reducing illegal fishing and (iii) increasing local value added from the fisheries. To date, 6 countries have joined the program, for a total investment of some $125 million over 5 years (Cape Verde, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Sierra Leone). Mr. Virdin’s talk will focus on results and lessons learned to date in Liberia and Sierra Leone, two of the first countries to join the program. The talk will, in particular, highlight some of the key policy, institutional and legal challenges in reforming governance and fisheries management of these fisheries.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Office of General Counsel- International Section

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Flying with Albatross: What Black-footed Albatross are teaching us about the ocean

Date: Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Speaker: Pam Michael, NOAA NESDIS National Oceanographic Data Center

Abstract: The advent of satellite tagging in the late 1990s has provided novel insights into the movements and habitat use patterns of North Pacific Albatrosses, which has greatly informed resource managers and stimulated ocean stewardship. This research has revealed that these far-ranging seabirds range across the entire North Pacific Ocean, crossing international boundaries and venturing into marine protected areas in U.S. territorial waters. In particular, investigating albatross movements at sea has advanced our understanding of 'hotspots' within NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries and Marine National Monuments. Studying their diets has raised the alarm about the pervasive occurrence of plastics in the marine food web. NOAA and Oikonos are incorporating these research findings into outreach and educational products through the eyes of albatross. New classroom lessons will provide a rich resource for educators to teach STEM topics, promote ocean stewardship, and inspire tomorrow's scientists, artists, engineers, and resource managers.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Evolution of a latitudinal body size pattern in a marine isopod

Date: Thursday, July 19, 2012 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Anna Manyak, NOAA NOS Marine Debris Program

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Organismal body size strongly affects individual fitness, with larger body sizes generally being positively correlated to mating success and fecundity. It has been widely observed that organisms from higher latitudes tend to be larger than their lower latitude counterparts (termed Bergmann’s Rule). For most body size patterns, however, it remains unclear whether this reflects a genetic or phenotypically-plastic response, and what co-grading environmental variable(s) maintain the pattern. In order to answer some of these questions, I examined the marine isopod Idotea balthica, whose populations along the East Coast of the United States conform to Bergmann's rule. Using lab- and field-based experiments, I explored the evolutionary mechanism for the pattern, as well as co-grading environmental variables, namely temperature and predation, that may have led to the observed pattern. In this presentation, I outline the results of these experiments, showing that the body size pattern is adaptive and both predation risk and temperature may be important evolutionary forces in its development.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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RipCur: Smartphone App for Rip Current Reporting

Date: Thursday, July 26, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Dr. Jon Miller, Coastal Processes Specialist at New Jersey Sea Grant and Research Assistant Professor at Stevens Institute of Technology

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: The RipCur smartphone app was developed by a group of computer science senior design students at Stevens Institute of Technology. The project was guided by researchers at Stevens, the NJ Sea Grant coastal processes specialist, National Weather Service personnel, and former lifeguards enrolled at Stevens. The app provides a way for lifeguards to communicate with one another in real-time and to relay that information to interested parties including the NWS, and the US Coast Guard. Access to the app is restricted via a username and password and is not intended for distribution to the public. Authorized lifeguards simply identify a rip and input a few details and the app does the rest. The cell phone’s GPS is used to locate the rip, and the app automatically queries nearby buoys and tide gauges to obtain auxiliary information. Once input, the rip becomes a part of the active dataset and is viewable either in a list format or on a map by other lifeguards and researchers. The data also populates a database which is fully searchable. This allows lifeguard administrators and researchers the ability to identify the rips occurring at specific times or during specific conditions. The pilot version is currently being used by about a dozen beach patrols in New Jersey; however interest in the app has come from as far away as Israel and Australia.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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How NESDIS Contributes to NOAA's Strategic Goals

Date: Thursday, August 2, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Mary Kicza, NOAA Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: NESDIS satellite observations and data center products and services are the foundation of a large number of NOAA's key mission offerings. NESDIS Assistant Administrator Mary Kicza will outline how NESDIS supports the activities of each NOAA line office, and supports the goals of NOAA's Next Generation Strategic Plan.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The use of autonomous underwater vehicles in studies of mesophotic and deep water corals

Date: Thursday, August 9, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Roy A. Armstrong, NCAS, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Recent studies on mesophotic coral ecosystems (30-150 m) throughout the US Caribbean describe, for the first time, abundant and structurally complex coral reefs on low-gradient platforms. Information on deep coral ecosystems (>150 m depth) in this region is even more scarce and largely limited to taxonomic listings from incidental collections by coral entanglement devices. The Seabed autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), which was designed for high-resolution underwater optical and acoustic imaging, has provided unprecedented information on the distribution, community structure, and status of mesophotic reefs throughout the U.S. Caribbean. Preliminary surveys of deep coral ecosystems off western Puerto Rico show diverse azooxanthellate coral and invertebrate fauna at depths of over 200 m. For both mesophotic and deep coral ecosystems, the AUV benthic assessments can provide the required qualitative and quantitative data for selecting unique areas of high biodiversity and structural complexity for habitat protection and ecosystem based management.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Heat Transport and Dynamics of Past Climates

Date: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Fern Gibbons, US Senate Commerce Committee

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Studying past oceanic conditions can give us insight into global climate dynamics. Records of direct temperature measurement often only span the last 150 years; in many cases they are much shorter. Proxies are measurements that allow us to infer climatic conditions, and thus can be used to supplement and extend climate records. 20,000 years ago massive ice sheets covered large portions of North America and Western Europe. The transition from that glacial climate to our modern conditions was not a continuous warming. There were several abrupt coolings that interrupted the warming trend. Our proxy reconstructions suggest that oceanic and atmospheric circulations were different during abrupt coolings than they were during either glacial conditions or during the modern. During the abrupt coolings the oceans likely transferred less heat to the northern latitudes, while the atmosphere transferred more. This switch displaced the major tropical rain belts and caused widespread drought along the equator, demonstrating that tropical rainfall amount and patterns can be extremely sensitive to temperature changes.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Effects of Life History Strategy and Uncertainty on a Probability-Based Approach to Managing the Risk of Overfishing

Date: Wednesday, August 15, 2012 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Emily Susko, National Sea Grant Office

Abstract: Recent U.S. legislation applies a precautionary approach to setting catch regulations in federal fisheries management. A transparent approach to compliance proposes that managers choose an allowable risk of overfishing, P*, which specifies the probability that scientists’ catch recommendation exceeds the true value of the overfishing limit (OFL). This approach aims to manage the risk of overfishing explicitly, but a chosen "allowable risk" does not alone provide sufficient information on the real risks associated with the resulting control rule. Rather, the ramifications of selected allowable risk levels depend on the amount of uncertainty in the stock assessment and on the life history of the species in question. To evaluate the risks associated with P*-based rules, my study simulated fishing three example species under three levels of uncertainty.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Impacts of student research: What I gained from my work at NOAA

Date: Thursday, August 16, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Heather Eberhart, 2010 Recipient of the NOAA Award at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Research is often touted as a quintessential part of the college experience. My research began well before college, culminating in the Design and Development of a Portable Light Trap for Sampling Brachyuran Crab Larvae, which I entered in the 2010 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. Selected as the winner of "The Pulse of the Planet" award given by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), I earned a fully-paid internship at one of NOAA’s facilities during the summer of 2012. Based on my career and professional goals, I elected to take an assignment with the Center for Oceanographic Products and Services’ Ocean System Test and Evaluation Program (OSTEP), which is comprised of a small group of physical scientists and marine technicians focused on research, development, and testing of new and improved oceanographic and meteorological measurement systems. While in OSTEP, my research was extremely varied. Time was spent testing and evaluating ultrasonic wind sensors, plotting and analyzing current data to assist with field test planning for a new Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP), assisting with preparation for lab testing with new microwave radar water level sensors, and processing environmental data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Field Research Facility at Duck, NC to assist with field test planning for visibility and microwave radar level sensors. During this seminar, my various research projects will be discussed in further detail and ultimately I will consider how each impacted my career plans and interests.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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E-reader Access: Making NOAA Technical Memoranda Available on Mobile Devices

Date: Friday, August 17, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Rachelle Jacobson and Rebecca Wynne, NOAA Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment (CCMA)

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Currently, CCMA technical memoranda are usually available as PDFs through a few NCCOS Center webpages, including project pages. In this technology age, more and more people are relying on E-readers to view publications of all types. This presentation will provide an overview of the process NCCOS used to provide the Public access to its science and research technical memoranda through some E-reader platforms on the market.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Performance Measurement and Program Evaluation: What’s the Difference?

Date: Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speakers: John Bortniak (NMFS OMB), John Baek (NOAA Office of Education), and Laurie Eckstrand (NOAA PPI)

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Transcript (Word document)

Download Audio (mp3 format)

Download Audio (WMA format). Download free Windows Media Player

Abstract: Performance measurement and program evaluation are related but distinct aspects of performance management. This Brown Bag discussion will define them, and focus on similarities, differences, and how they relate to each other. Although the presenters will use a brief power point presentation to focus the discussion, the emphasis will be on an interactive session to address questions and comments from the audience.

Note:This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Committee.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Climate and Earth System Science: Use-inspired Research and Advancing the Frontiers

Date: Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Venkatachala "Ram" Ramaswamy, Director, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: Major advances have occurred in recent times in the global modeling of the Earth system, arising due to improved understanding of the fundamental governing processes and increased availability of high-performance supercomputing. These have enabled models to be developed with (a) more realism yielding, in turn, significant progress in climate and Earth system science, and (b) enhanced spatial resolution for deriving regional-scale climate information. Examples of this will be presented using the NOAA/ GFDL global model simulation results submitted to the World Climate Research Program’s Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) and the IPCC Fifth Assessment (AR5), with emphasis on atmospheric chemistry-climate interactions, biogeochemistry-climate interactions, and study of extremes and decadal predictability. NOAA/ GFDL’s future plans are focused on advancing the state-of-the-art modeling of the climate and Earth system with greater spatial resolution and accuracy, underpinned by the increased scientific understanding of the controlling mechanisms, better characterization of uncertainties, and a balanced assessment of the strengths/ limitations in projections and predictions.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Options

Date: Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Brian Sigwart, ChFEBC, Financial Advisor Representative, Metlife

Abstract: The Federal Government Life Insurance Seminar explains the different Life Insurance options for Employees of the Federal Government. It explores how it works, what the benefits are, how it compares to private insurance, and what happens when an employee retires or gains other employment. It breaks down FEGLI’s different options as a current employee and the conversion options available. As a Chartered Federal Employee benefits Consultant (ChFEBC^SM) Designee, Brian Sigwart has the skills needed to adequately address the unique financial needs of Federal Government Employees. He will describe the interworkings of the Life Insurance provided through the Federal Government and answer any questions attendees have specific to their individual policies.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Department of Energy Water Power Program Resource Assessments and Wave and Tidal Technologies

Date: Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Brooke White, Wind and Water Power Program, US Department of Energy

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The Wind and Water Power Program is invested in comprehensive analysis of wind and water energy potential for future electricity production. In early 2012, the Water Power Program released reports that assess the total technically recoverable energy available in the nation's waves, tidal streams, and non-powered dams. The program plans to release additional program-funded assessments of ocean current and ocean thermal resources in addition to conventional and hydrokinetic terrestrial hydropower resources in 2012 and 2013. A variety of technologies are being developed to harness these ocean energy resources. Unlike wind power, where technology has largely settled on a single basic design, there are a variety of wave and tidal energy converter designs. For wave energy this includes attenuators, overtopping, oscillating water column, oscillating wave surge converter, and point absorbers. Tidal technologies include horizontal axis turbines, vertical axis turbines and oscillating hydrofoils.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Removing Market Barriers for Marine Renewable Energy

Date: Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Meghan Massaua, Wind and Water Power Program, US Department of Energy

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Marine renewable energy holds great potential in both the U.S. and abroad as a source of non-carbon emitting renewable energy located near areas of high population load. Within the United States, a variety of marine renewable energy resources can be harnessed, and energy potential is great. However, to date, no offshore wind farms have been constructed in the U.S. and marine and hydrokinetic deployments have largely been at the pilot or demonstration scale. The Wind and Water Power Program’s market acceleration and deployment programs focus on removing barriers to the advancement of marine renewable energy. One such barrier is the complex regulatory pathways involving multiple jurisdictions and statutory and regulatory authorities. For instance, deployment within a single leasing block may trigger numerous Federal statutes, State statutes, consideration of Tribal Usual and Accustomed Areas and rights, and a multitude of regulatory processes. Another barrier includes the uncertainty surrounding environmental impacts associated with marine renewables in the U.S. Finally, planning for multiple uses in our oceans and Great Lakes presents both a challenge and an opportunity for the marine renewable industry to site projects in a complex seascape. I will present some of DOE’s recent work addressing these issues.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Coastal Blue Carbon briefing by Restore America’s Estuaries

Date: Monday, September 17, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Steve Emmett-Mattox, Restore America's Estuaries

Abstract: Coastal Blue Carbon refers to the concept that coastal marine ecosystems such as sea grass, salt marsh, and mangroves are significant carbon stores and contribute to ongoing reductions of atmospheric carbon through sequestration. There are opportunities through market and policy mechanisms to utilize coastal blue carbon as a tool for simultaneously achieving estuary restoration/protection goals and climate mitigation/adaptation goals. Restore America’s Estuaries has been at the forefront of advancing coastal blue carbon policies and tools in the U.S. and will provide information about the potential carbon values of these coastal wetland systems and progress toward linking wetlands carbon with restoration and protection.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Building Capacity to Measure, Analyze, and Evaluate Government Performance

Date: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Kathy Newcomer, George Washington University

Presentation Slides

Abstract: Dr. Newcomer will discuss the need to view program evaluation and performance measurement not as separate functions but as a synergistic whole. This holistic view of performance management can increase the benefits from application of professional evaluation skills and standards to performance measurement practice, and can increase the capacity for evaluation that leads to organizational learning. She will discuss a number of steps that organizations can take to both enhance learning and improve performance through evaluation.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Committee

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Diversity of the Microbes Associated with Lophelia pertusa, a Cold-Water Coral

Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Julie Galkiewicz, NOAA OAR Communications Office

Presentation Slides

Abstract: Cold-water corals such as Lophelia pertusa are centers of biodiversity in the deep sea, providing habitat for hundreds of marine species and acting as nurseries for commercially important fish. Because these corals lack the symbiotic algae typical of many shallow-water corals, it is hypothesized that the microbial community associated with the coral may play an important role in nutrient cycling. A combination of culture work and molecular methods were used to examine these microbes, which include bacteria, archaea, fungi and other microeukaryotes. Samples of the coral were collected throughout the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic at depth via submersible and remotely-operated vehicles (ROVs). The diversity of microbes was investigated with a variety of methods, including culturing, 16S PCR, and metagenomics. The combination of abroad suite of methods ensured a more comprehensive view of the total diversity of the coral-associated microbes, which were found to include fungi, viral-like sequences, and dominated by the bacterial phyla Firmicutes, Alphaproteobacteria,and Gammaproteobacteria.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Evaluating vessel traffic in the US high Arctic: Patterns from current and historic vessel position data

Date: Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Alyson Azzara, NOAA Committee on Marine Transportation Systems

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Video Barrow Ice Coverage (avi format)

Abstract: Although the U.S. is an Arctic nation, there is little historic data on the number of vessels transiting the North Slope. Thus, it is very difficult to determine where infrastructure development and support is most needed in order to prioritize projects. Additionally, there is little data available on the diversity of vessels in the high Arctic. In order to better understand what infrastructure is needed to best support ongoing activities in the Arctic it is necessary to determine what types of vessels are using the Arctic. Current and established uses of the North Slope include seismic exploration, commercial vessels for supply delivery, Coast Guard vessels and ice breakers for support of transiting vessels. The data presented provide a snapshot into vessel presence in the Arctic and indications of traffic patterns. By combining historic vessel sighting data from NOAA’s National Marine Mammal Lab aerial surveys, recent AIS ship position data, and Satellite ice coverage data, it is possible to resolve emerging vessel use patterns in the Arctic based on ice retreat cycles and start to plan for a future where the complexity of activities occurring in such harsh conditions requires a new type of physical and informational infrastructure.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Ocean Outcomes of Rio+20

Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speakers: Kenli Schaaf, Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs, US Department of State; and Allison Reed, NOAA Office of International Affairs

Abstract: Please join us for a brown bag presentation on the ocean outcomes of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. Kenli Schaaf of the Department of State’s Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs and Allison Reed of NOAA's Office of International Affairs, who both attended the Rio+20 meeting as members of the U.S. delegation, will discuss the negotiating process, the oceans text in the outcome document (The Future We Want), how the oceans outcomes relate to U.S. priorities, and what’s next.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Using underwater video for assessing abundance and behavior of black sea bass and seafloor habitats

Date: Wednesday, September 26, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Bradley G. Stevens, NOAA EPP Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Trawl surveys have been used to assess marine resources for many years, but they cannot be used in areas of heterogeneous habitats such as reefs and rock outcrops. Black sea bass (BSB) are common inhabitants of such areas on the continental shelf, and for this reason NOAA trawl surveys cannot adequately assess their abundance. We are developing new methods for in-situ assessment of BSB, their behavior, and habitats using video. In 2011, video surveys were conducted using modified commercial traps with multiple video cameras attached. Sampling consisted of two one-hour sets with bait (squid) and two without bait on 11 days at six sites off coast of Ocean City, MD. Fish were counted in video frames sampled at 30 sec intervals and the mean number per frame was calculated and compared between sets. Fish were more abundant at sites with heterogeneous habitats, and more fish were seen at baited than at unbaited traps. Proportions of approaching fish that were caught in traps were similar in the ocean (1.4%) and in the large mesocosm tank (3.1%) at the NMFS Sandy Hook Lab. In 2012 we used a stand-alone video camera platform at two sites, and sampled fish simultaneously with timed rod-and-reel fishing. Preliminary data indicates that R&R; surveys can detect significant differences in abundance even with only 60% of the data analyzed. Future studies will compare video counts of fish to commercial trap catches. Surveys of seafloor habitats using a towed video camera sled are being conducted preliminary to leasing of offshore sites for windpower generation; these show that heterogeneous habitat is a small portion of overall seafloor which mostly consists of sand and sand-shell regions.

Work supported by NOAA Office of Education, Educational partnership Program Awards # NA06OAR4810163; NA11SEC4810002; and camera sled studies were supported with funding from MD-DNR with BOEM.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 NOAA EPP Cooperative Science Center Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Oysters’ Contribution to Water Column Filtration

Date: Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Kristen Jabanoski, NOAA OAR Congressional Analysis and Relations Division

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Benthic suspension feeders such as oysters can have a significant impact on marine ecosystems through removal of particulate matter from the water column. Oysters are considered an important control on phytoplankton growth in estuaries because they feed primarily on phytoplankton and tend to form dense reefs. The substantial decline in the Chesapeake Bay’s oyster populations during the past century has been implicated in the eutrophication and overgrowth of phytoplankton in that ecosystem. Ostrea equestris (Say 1834), known commonly as the crested oyster, is a non-reef building and noncommercial species which co-occurs in the Carolinas with the commercially-harvested and well-studied Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginica. Once considered rare and cryptic, recent surveys have indicated that the crested oyster is much more common than previously known. To better understand the role of O. equestris in its ecosystem and its potential interactions with C. virginica, I completed a novel investigation on the scaling relationship between biomass and filtration rates for O. equestris, as well as how environmental factors such as flow speed and concentration of phytoplankton affect filtration. I found that O. equestris’ filtration rates per unit biomass were about thirty times lower than C. virginica, and that they filter most efficiently at moderate flow speeds (10 cm/s). The results indicate that O. equestris does not have nearly the same filtering capacity as C. virginica, but responds similarly to environmental factors.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Anaerobic Oxidation of Methane in Freshwater Wetland Ecosystems

Date: Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Kate Segarra, Office of the Oceanographer of the Navy

Abstract: Freshwater wetlands are characterized by high rates of methanogenesis and are the single largest source of atmospheric methane. Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM), a previously underappreciated process in these systems, may be an important component in freshwater methane budgets. Here we report some of the first direct measurements of AOM in wetland sediments. We examined seasonal methane cycling within three freshwater wetlands (two peat wetlands and one tidal, freshwater creekbank) along the eastern coast of the US. Rates of AOM were high (up to 286 nmol cm^-3d^-1) and varied on a seasonal basis. Despite low sulfate concentrations, rates of sulfate reduction were sufficient to support all the observed AOM activity, though rates of these two processes were not correlated. The zone of AOM activity was marked by enriched stable carbon isotopic signatures (δ¹³C) of methane and depleted signatures of DIC. However, the δ¹³C of archaeal and bacterial lipids were not indicative of methanotrophy. Studies that evaluate the role of AOM in wetlands using lipid and isotope-based approaches may therefore underestimate its importance. This study highlights the importance of AOM in freshwater sediments, where this process may control emissions of methane to the atmosphere. Both SR and AOM may effectively limit the methane emissions from these wetlands through competitive interactions with methanogens and the consumption of large fractions of the methane produced from acetate and hydrogen.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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What pirates can teach us about integrated decision support

Date: Friday, October 5, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Dr. David Titley, Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, NOAA

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Please join us for a brown bag presentation by our Deputy Under Secretary for Operations, Dr. David W. Titley. Dr. Titley recently joined NOAA from the US Navy, where he served as a naval officer for 32 years and rose to the rank of Rear Admiral. Dr. Titley’s career included duties as Oceanographer and Navigator of the Navy; director, Task Force Climate Change; and Assistant Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance. Dr. Titley will describe an application for forecasting encounters with modern day pirates off the coast of Somalia, and how we can make use of our environmental data to support operational decisions.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The role of bibliometrics in evaluating scientific research

Date: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Chris Belter, NOAA Central Library

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Bibliometric analysis is increasingly being used to evaluate the scientific research of authors, institutions, and countries. This increased use has unfortunately led to the misapplication of bibliometric indicators such as the Impact Factor and the H-Index, due primarily to a lack of understanding as to what these metrics actually measure. This session will provide a high-level overview of the types of questions that bibliometrics can and cannot answer, show how bibliometrics provides answers to these questions, and provide a recommendation of how bibliometric analysis can be combined with informed peer review to provide a more holistic evaluation of scientific research.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Spatial Planning and Bio-Economic Analysis for Offshore Shrimp Aquaculture in Mexico

Date: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Michaela Clemence, NOAA Office of the Under Secretary

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Global demand for shrimp is currently met with wild caught and farmed species, both of which are frequently environmentally and economically unsustainable. Offshore aquaculture is an emerging alternative that shows promise for reducing or eliminating many concerns embedded in existing capture fishery and land-based aquaculture practices. Aquapods are a new offshore aquaculture cage system that could provide a path to sustainable shrimp production, but little is known regarding optimal placement or economic viability of this new technology. This project uses an innovative spatial bio-economic analysis to provide a strategic framework for implementing offshore shrimp aquaculture with greater certainty of success. To better inform the planning, management and research priorities of Aquapod operations in Mexico, this project couples marine spatial planning with bio-economic modeling and sensitivity analyses to identify suitable sites for Aquapod implementation and evaluate the economic viability of Aquapod operations. Our model indicates that only a small proportion of our study areas are suitable for Aquapod implementation and that none of the potential locations are expected to be profitable. We found that profitability is driven by both spatial variability and operational decisions, and by locating Aquapods close to shore and reducing feed and labor costs, managers can help ensure the economic viability of Aquapod operations.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Emerging Infectious Disease in Marine Mammals: Sentinels of Environmental Change

Date: Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Deborah Fauquier, Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Program, Office of Protected Resources, NMFS

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: In 1992, Title IV of the Marine Mammal Protection Act was amended to establish the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) which directs NOAA in consultation with the Department of the Interior, the Marine Mammal Commission and other experts to facilitate the collection and dissemination of reference data on the health of marine mammals and health trends of marine mammal populations in the wild; correlate the health of marine mammals and marine mammal populations, in the wild, with available data on physical, chemical, and biological environmental parameters; and coordinate effective responses to unusual mortality events. The MMHSRP has been operational for 20 years evaluating infectious disease, harmful algal bloom biotoxins, and chemical contaminants in marine mammals.

Although multiple infectious diseases have been discovered in marine mammals since 1992, recent emerging marine mammal infectious diseases have been found along our coast including some with potential implications for human and marine mammal population health. In the late 2000s Cryptococcus gatti was isolated from stranded cetaceans along the Pacific Northwest. This increase in cases in porpoises coincided with increased disease in the human population, domestic animals and terrestrial wildlife. Current environmental conditions appear to support this pathogen becoming endemic along the Pacific Northwest coast. In early 2010 Coxiella burnetti was discovered at a high prevalence in northern fur seals in the Pribilof Islands and subsequent follow-up testing found increased levels of contamination at rookery sites. Recently in 2011, an outbreak of avian influenza (H3N8) was found to have caused mortality in stranded harbor seals along the Northeast coast. The seal virus contained mutations that have been shown to enable other flu viruses to more easily infect mammals and has raised concern over the threat posed by this virus to both animals and people. Additionally, over the last two years increased detection of marine brucellosis cases in stranded cetaceans across the United States has led to an increased effort to understand the potential impacts of this disease on animal and human health. Lastly, a recent unusual mortality event in Alaska involving ice seals and walrus has increased the need for collaborative research across countries, research disciplines, and the public health sector to address subsistence harvest issues related to emerging disease conditions in marine mammals.

In addition to concerns about the health of marine mammal populations and the health of the ocean environment, public health issues over the risk of disease exposure to marine mammal workers or through food safety and security concerns have been raised in all of the above mentioned disease events. NOAA is working in collaboration with various branches of CDC, state public health, wildlife biologists and veterinarians, and other federal partners to increase our understanding of emerging diseases in marine mammals and the potential role of environmental change. Studies are underway to determine if the pathogens are changing, shifting geographic ranges, and/or hosts, or if the distribution or susceptibility of the animals has altered. However in ocean ecosystems which may be significantly impacted by environmental change and anthropogenic activities, it is essential that integrated wildlife disease surveillance and investigations continue with increased cooperation with the public health sector. Given the biology of marine mammals, their use as subsistence food, the land-sea connection, and the occurrence of shared pathogens, marine mammals may serve as excellent sentinels for early health warning systems on the impacts of climate change.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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On the Verge: International Development of Deep Seabed Hard Minerals

Date: Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Caitlyn Antrim, Executive Director, Rule of Law Committee for the Ocean

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The International Seabed Authority has approved 17 contracts for exploration of mineral deposits on the seabed beyond national jurisdiction, including with commercial firms from the United Kingdom and Belgium and organizations from Russia, China, India, South Korea and Japan. In spite of the interruption in the rising growth of demand for nickel, copper and other seabed metals during the "great recession," prospects are looking up for the deep seabed mining industry - at least for nationals of states parties to the Law of the Sea Convention.

Caitlyn Antrim will give an overview of the technical, economic, market, legal and political factors that have led to the doubling of International Seabed Authority contracts in the past two years and the constraints on the sole remaining U.S. holder of NOAA licenses for commercial exploration of sites in the Pacific Ocean. Her presentation will include a status report on the International Seabed Authority as it begins to prepare rules and regulations for exploitation of seabed nodules, and the prospects for commercial development of deep seabed minerals inside and outside of the Law of the Sea Convention.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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How to Write Great Performance Measures

Date: Monday, November 5, 2012 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: John Bortniak, NMFS Office of Management and Budget

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Presentation Slides with speaker's comments (pdf)

Transcript (Word document)

Audio download (mp3)

Abstract: As part of the continuing series presented by the NOAA SEE Evaluation Committee, John Bortniak will present this tutorial on writing performance measures. Topics to be addressed include the difference between milestones and measures, the components of a proper measure, types of measures, balancing the tradeoffs of using outputs and outcomes in your performance portfolio, introduction to the use of logic model to frame measures, trigger question to help develop measures, pitfalls to be avoided, the use of business rules for performance measures, and a quality checklist.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Committee

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Two Geodesic Missions to the Equator: 18th and 20th Centuries

Date: Friday, November 9, 2012 at 12:00pm EST

Speakers: Larrie D. Ferreiro, Director of Research, DAU Center for Defense Acquisition Research and Ernesto Capello, Associate Professor of History and Latin American Studies, Macalester College

Part 1 abstract: In the early eighteenth century, at the peak of the Enlightenment, an unlikely team of European scientists and naval officers set out to the equator on the world's first international, cooperative scientific expedition, intent on resolving one of mankind's oldest mysteries: the true shape of the Earth. A nation that could accurately determine the planet's shape could securely navigate its oceans, giving it great military and imperial advantages. What seemed to be a straightforward scientific exercise was almost immediately marred by a series of unforeseen catastrophes, as the voyagers found their mission threatened by treacherous terrain, a deeply suspicious populace, and their own hubris.

Part 2 abstract: In the midst of the acceleration of an international thrust toward ever more precise measurements of the shape of the Earth at the tail end of the nineteenth century, a call to resurvey the arc of the equatorial meridian emerged in geodesic circles. In 1898, the French Bureau des Longitudes, still smarting from the defeat of Paris as the global Prime Meridian the previous decade, offered to conduct the necessary surveys in commemoration of the Gallic role in the first great equatorial survey of the eighteenth century. A military mission subsequently returned to Ecuador between 1899 and 1906 and conducted geodesic, astronomical, meteorological, archaeological and anthropological studies of the Andean corridor previously explored by Enlightenment savants. Besides presenting an overview of these surveys, this presentation considers this expedition as a moment of scientific commemoration in which the politics of memory proved as integral as the measurements themselves. It explores just why the French returned to Ecuador instead of their colonial territory in Congo, why they took pains to build pyramidal monuments to celebrate their progress, why these continued following their departure from South America, and the means whereby the Ecuadorian intelligentsia and indigenous communities impacted these efforts as contributors, detractors, and challengers of the impartiality of science.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Overview of the Department of Commerce Performance Excellence Program

Date: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Speaker: Christine Heflin, Department of Commerce

Abstract: The presentation will describe this Department of Commerce (DOC) program and how it fits into government-wide efforts to improve operations. There will also be material on the basics of Balanced Scorecard systems and process improvement methods. Balanced Scorecards and process improvement are core elements of performance management at DOC.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Committee

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Global Surveillance for Pathogen Emergence in Marine and Terrestrial Wildlife

Date: Tuesday, December 11, 2012 at 1:00pm EST

Speakers: Jonna Mazet and Tracey Goldstein, One Health Institute and Wildlife Health Center, University of California, Davis

Abstract: In order to predict, detect, respond to, and prevent the emergence of infectious diseases, we must identify them at their source. Rapid human population growth and environmental changes have resulted in increased numbers of people living in close contact with animals in altered habitats, disrupting the ecological balance between pathogens and their hosts. Our One Health approach targets important sentinel species at active wildlife-human interfaces in hotspot regions and integrates risk modeling, molecular diagnostics, and intensive field studies to detect novel diseases with pandemic potential early, giving wildlife and human health professionals and resource managers the best opportunity to prevent emergence or control epidemics early. We will discuss current evidence of shifting wildlife and human pathogen dynamics in conjunction with land use change and climate variability in marine and terrestrial systems and illustrate the emergence of a potentially devastating pathogen in the Northeast Pacific, an unforeseen effect of global warming on marine mammal biodiversity.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Offshore Oil and Gas Development in the Arctic

Date: Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation slides (pdf)

Speaker: Betsy Baker, Vermont Law School, and visiting scholar with the Extended Continental Shelf Task Force chaired by the State Department and co-chaired by NOAA and the Department of the Interior

Abstract: In her presentation, Prof. Baker will address increased interest in offshore oil and gas development in the Arctic that has led to greater scrutiny of applicable domestic and international standards. The Law of the Sea Convention provides a basis for States to harmonize their respective domestic policies with regard to preventing, reducing and controlling pollution of the marine environment arising from or in connection with seabed activities subject to their jurisdiction. She will also discuss harmonization initiatives, post-Deepwater, that aim not for identical regulations but for sharing of information and best practices among regulators. At the international level, she will discuss the Arctic Ocean Review (AOR) of the PAME Working Group of the Arctic Council, which will be presented at the 2013 Arctic Council Ministerial Meeting. The AOR is a comprehensive survey of international instruments relevant to the marine Arctic. She will focus on its discussion of offshore resource development but touch on other sections of the AOR as well (fishing, shipping, ecosystem based management).

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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New Perspectives on an Ancient Species: studying the feeding ecology of the Atlantic Horseshoe Crab from the air and land.

Date: Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Wan-Jean Lee, National Sea Grant Office

Abstract: The Atlantic Horseshoe Crab, Limulus polyphemus are well known for their spawning behavior, where large numbers aggregate along the high water mark. Concerns over sustainability of current levels of harvest of Limulus by the eel and whelk fisheries for bait and biomedical industries have resulted in increased efforts to understand the ecology of the species. The majority of on-going monitoring and management strategies focus on Limulus reproductive ecology and health of spawning habitat. There remains a lack of understanding of Limulus foraging ecology and habitats needed to support the trophic requirements of a population. I will discuss innovative aerial survey methods developed to examine the feeding ecology of Limulus in the Great Bay Estuary of New Hampshire, and new insights into Limulus ecology.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Changing Bio-economic Conditions, Vessel Responses, and Financial Outcomes in the Federal Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery; a 2006 through 2009 Comparison of Annual Vessel-Level Data

Date: Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 12:30pm EST

Speaker: Robert Jones, Office of Marine Conservation, US Department of State

Abstract: An understanding of how federally-permitted Gulf shrimp vessels have responded to changes in three major bio-economic conditions—shrimp prices, fuel prices, and shrimp abundance—is poorly understood. This research uses three National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) self-reported datasets in order to develop an economic profile of a sample of active vessels in the federal fishery from 2006 to 2009. A financial accounting framework is used to generate vessel-level averages for these vessels. An index of bio-economic conditions (BECI) is developed to summarize and quantify the major exogenous impacts on the fishery. New results on fishing effort, labor and efficiency are generated, and changes in these results are explained in reference to the BECI. Results indicate that the BECI fluctuated substantially from 2006 to 2009, decreasing in 2007 and 2008 before rebounding in 2009. Changes in fishing effort, fuel, labor and fixed costs, show a recognizable relationship to changes in the BECI. The consistent reporting of net losses from operations by the average vessel suggests that unless bio-economic conditions in the fishery dramatically improve or management action that restricts capacity is undertaken, federally-permitted Gulf of Mexico shrimp vessels will continue to struggle economically.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2012 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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2013 Brown Bags

Deep Sea Corals in the World's Largest Underwater Canyons: Will new data lead to new conservation measures in the Bering Sea?

Date: Tuesday, January 15, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: John Hocevar, Oceans Campaign Director, Greenpeace

Presentation slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Two of the largest underwater canyons in the world, Zhemchug and Pribilof, cut into the edge of the continental shelf in the southeastern Bering Sea. Data are presented showing the distribution of corals and sponges in these spectacular canyons, from submarine research undertaken in 2007 and 2012. High densities of corals were documented, and associations with rockfish demonstrated the corals' importance as fish habitat. Evidence of damage from fishing activities was observed in these remote canyons. Bottom trawling and other benthic fishing gear has been shown to damage corals and sponges that may be very slow to recover from such disturbance. Establishment of conservation zones is a cost effective means to protect benthic habitats in these canyons and the ecosystem services they provide.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Enhancing Program Performance Through Logic Modelling

Date: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speakers: Laurie Ekstrand, Evaluation Consultant, NOAA PPI; and John Baek, NOAA Office of Education

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: In this brown bag, Laurie Ekstrand and John Baek describe how program staff can use logic modelling (graphically illustrating the relationship between a programs’ resources, activities, outputs and outcomes) to support program planning, design and continuous improvement. They will provide examples to illustrate key concepts, common barriers, and misconceptions.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Committee

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The NOAA Sentinel Site Program

Date: Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Jim Sullivan, NOAA Office of Marine Sanctuaries

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The NOAA Sentinel Site Program is a place-based, issue driven approach to management. Sentinel Sites bring to bear the full force of NOAA monitoring, modeling and management to help solve concrete problems that people are facing in local communities. This will be a general overview of the program, the Cooperatives, the accomplishments, and next steps.

NOAA's Sentinel Site Program is an innovative effort built around our National Marine Sanctuaries and National Estuarine Research Reserves. NOAA and our partners are joining forces to tackle specific coastal problems using existing resources, tools, and services to ensure that coastal communities are better prepared for the future.

It's all about synergy. We have many coastal regions around the nation with a lot of NOAA activity in terms of coastal and ecosystem monitoring, measurements, and tools. These regions also host a wealth of complementary federal, state, and local efforts. While all of these tools, resources, and programs are valuable in their own right, tying them together sets the stage to address specific, broader problems faced by coastal communities in each region.

The strength of the program is that it brings together a network of people, expertise, and resources that are tied to a single place with a common need. To date, five regions, called "Sentinel Site Cooperatives," are participating in the program.

The first order of business for NOAA's Sentinel Site Program is to shed light on impacts of climate change, specifically sea level change and coastal inundation. This effort gathers people from many backgrounds and disciplines to develop novel solutions to address real-world local problems, such as how to secure a housing development from rising sea levels or how to best protect a sensitive shoreline habitat.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Evaluation Planning, Logic Models and Program Design

Date: Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Transcript of audio (rtf format)

Speakers: Sacheen Tavares-Leighton, Evaluation and Training Specialist, Coastal Services Center; and John Baek, Education Evaluator, Office of Education

Abstract: In this brown bag, Sacheen Tavares-Leighton and John Baek describe how evaluation planning processes connect to logic models and help inform program design. They will provide an example to illustrate the different uses of logic models during different phases of the evaluation planning processes and how that can inform program design.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Committee

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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NOAA's 5 Year Research and Development Plan: Providing input and a path forward

Date: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speakers: Bob Detrick, Assistant Administrator of OAR, and Shelby Walker, OAR Office of Policy, Planning and Evaluation

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: NOAA is America’s oldest science agency and our reach extends from the surface of the sun to the bottom of the sea. The NOAA Research and Development (R&D) enterprise provides the foundation to provide the public the valuable information and products NOAA creates.

The NOAA 5-Year R&D Plan will publicly present NOAA’s R&D priorities for 2013 – 2017 and help articulate and guide future R&D at NOAA. The current draft of the Plan has been developed as a cross Line Office initiative led by the NOAA Research Council. The foundation of the current plan is NOAA’s internal planning efforts under the Next Generation Strategic Plan and Strategy Execution and Evaluation Process. Other strategic documents, including NOAA’s Science Challenge Workshops, have enhanced the current draft.

To help create a useful and forward thinking plan, NOAA employees and affiliates are encouraged to provide input. Primary audiences for this plan include NOAA leadership and employees, NOAA stakeholders and partners, and Congress. The plan will be revised based on comments received from internal NOAA review and will be released for public comment in Spring 2013 – which is another opportunity to provide input into the plan.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Factors affecting the preservation or alteration of human remains, clothing or metals on the RMS Titanic and H.L Hunley

Date: Tuesday, February 19, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Paul Mardikian, Senior Conservator H.L. Hunley Project and Radiation Safety Officer, Clemson University

Abstract: This presentation will discuss how the macro and micro burial environments of a shipwreck can drastically affect the preservation or alteration of organic and inorganic materials. The impact of depth, salinity, temperature, oxygen, as well as other biological factors on these materials will be reviewed and their interaction with site formation processes identified. In this presentation, conservator Paul Mardikian will examine two shipwrecks, that of the RMS Titanic and the H.L Hunley, the latter a Civil War proto-submarine that sank off the coast of Charleston in 1864 with 8 crewmembers on board, and consider what we can learn from these two case studies.

Please note: Due to the senstive nature of the material being shown, remote access to this seminar will be restricted to NOAA staff only. Visual materials will not be transmitted via webinar; remote access for NOAA staff will be restricted to the audio portion.

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Dr. Athelstan Spilhaus: How a South African Scallywag Became "The Flywheel of American Science"

Date: Thursday, March 7, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Sharon Moen, University of Minnesota Sea Grant

Abstract: To Walter Cronkite he was "the most interesting person I’ve ever interviewed." President Kennedy joked that the only science he knew was because of him. Colorful, sharp thinking, and intensely productive, Dr. Athelstan Spilhaus (1911-1998) was, among other things, the "Father of Sea Grant." Appointed by presidents and advisor to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, his breathtakingly diverse accomplishments include a sculpture that stands in downtown New York, an oceanographic tool that helped win WWII, and a mishap that fueled the Roswell Incident. As Dr. Spilhaus’s unconventional personality and notable contributions to science and the United States prove, you can do anything if you have the gall!

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Snowfall Shuffle: Changes in Global Distributions of Snow in Response to Climate Change

Date: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Sarah Kapnick, NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

Abstract: Understanding snowfall variability is key to understanding water supply in snowmelt-dominated regions. A new high-resolution global climate model CM2.5, developed at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, is used to explore snow variability in the present climate and as a result of doubling atmospheric CO2. Globally in CM2.5 and coarser models, snowfall increases in the high-to-mid latitudes and decreases in the mid-to-low latitudes. However, in mid-to-low latitudes, CM2.5 is unique in that its high resolution allows it to resolve complex mountain systems, leading to a change in sign in snowfall projections over high mountains in comparison to older models. Over the U.S., the future climate experiment exhibits significant reductions in average annual snowfall with the greatest percentages occurring in the south, along the eastern coast, and the Pacific Northwest.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

Date: Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Shannon Dionne, NOAA Office of International Affairs; Cheri McCarty, and Nina Young, NMFS Office of International Affairs

Abstract: The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (also known as CMS or the Bonn Convention) aims to conserve terrestrial, aquatic and avian migratory species throughout their range. It is an intergovernmental treaty concerned with the conservation of wildlife and habitats on a global scale. This presentation will focus on CMS as a whole as well as the three species-specific CMS MOUs to which the United States is signatory: the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks (Sharks MOU); the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Cetaceans and their Habitats in the Pacific Island Region (Pacific Cetaceans MOU); and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Marine Turtles and their Habitats of the Indian Ocean and South-East Asia (IOSEA).

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Achieving Program Performance Excellence: What Using the Baldrige Criteria Can Do for Your Organization

Date: Tuesday, March 19, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Dr. Sandra Byrne, Social Scientist, Baldrige National Quality Program, NIST

Abstract: What you will discover are the questions about seven critical aspects of managing and performing as an organization:

• Leadership
• Strategic planning
• Customer focus
• Measurement, analysis, and knowledge management
• Workforce focus
• Operations focus
• Results

You can self assess your program by answering questions in these 7 focus areas that work together as a unique, integrated, systems-focused performance management framework. Answering the questions helps you:

• align your resources;
• identify strengths and opportunities for improvement;
• improve communication, productivity, and effectiveness; and
• achieve your strategic goals.

As a result,

• You deliver ever-improving value to your customers and stakeholders, which contributes to organizational sustainability.
• You improve your organization's overall effectiveness and capability.
• Your organization improves and learns.
• Your workforce members learn and grow.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Ocean Project: Updates and Major Findings

Date: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: William Mott, Executive Director, The Ocean Project; and Douglas Meyer, Bernuth and Williamson

Abstract: An update on the major findings from The Ocean Project's ongoing public opinion and strategic communications research initiative, America and the Ocean, including how those findings have been distributed and are now being applied, especially by zoos, aquariums and museums in experimental efforts aimed at inspiring visitors to do more to help conserve the ocean.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Heat stress reduces labor capacity under climate warming

Date: Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: John Dunne, NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: A fundamental aspect of greenhouse-gas-induced warming is a global-scale increase in absolute humidity. Under continued warming, this response has been shown to pose increasingly severe limitations on human activity in tropical and midlatitudes during peak months of heat stress. One heat-stress metric with broad occupational health applications is wetbulb globe temperature. We combine wet-bulb globe temperatures from global climate historical reanalysis and Earth System Model (ESM2M) projections with industrial and military guidelines for an acclimated individual’s occupational capacity to safely perform sustained labour under environmental heat stress (labor capacity) - here defined as a global population-weighted metric temporally fixed at the 2010 distribution. We estimate that environmental heat stress has reduced labor capacity to 90% in peak months over the past few decades. ESM2M projects labor capacity reduction to 80% in peak months by 2050. Under the highest scenario considered (Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5), ESM2M projects labor capacity reduction to less than 40% by 2200 in peak months, with most tropical and mid-latitudes experiencing extreme climatological heat stress. Uncertainties and caveats associated with these projections include climate sensitivity, climate warming patterns, CO2 emissions, future population distributions, and technological and societal change.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Potable-Water Production and Shore Protection Using a Wave-Energy Conversion Technique

Date: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speakers: Michael E. McCormick and Robert C. Murtha, Murtech, Inc

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Two floating systems have been created for the diverse goals of the production of potable-water and the protection of shorelines. The basic ideas of leading to these systems is that products or services other than the production of electricity can effectively be supplied by exploiting the energy of ocean waves. The two systems discussed are designed to take advantage of the phenomenon of wave diffraction focusing. That is, by designing the floating systems to radiate waves that destructively interfere with the incident waves, wave energy is re-supplied to the zone of interference. As a result, the systems in question receive more wave energy than is in an incident wave crest having a width equal to the breadth of the body.

The system designed for potable-water production is an articulated hinged-barge system, called the Articulated Wave Energy Conversion System, or AWECS. The relative motions of the three barges comprising the system energize high-pressure water pumps positioned over the connecting hinges. These pumps supply the pressurized water to a reverse-osmosis (RO) desalination system. Research efforts leading to a prototype to be deployed this year include smallscale wave tank test and a nine year full-scale study of the articulated barge system. The 40-meter long prototype is designed to supply approximately 100,000 gallons-per-day in a near-shore wave climate having an average wave height of 1m and an average wave period of 6.5s. The deployment site is off the Delaware coast, north of the Indian River Inlet.

The shore protection system is called the Antenna Buoy (AB). The design is to take advantage of the diffraction focusing to attract wave energy. The wave energy incident upon the AB causes both axial and angular motions of the body. Because of the geometry, a significant portion of the captured energy is dissipated by viscous-pressure losses in the alternating wakes of the body. The primary geometric features causing the dissipation are vertical fins (radiating out from a vertical circular-cylindrical float) and a horizontal circular bottom plate. In full-scale tank tests, the body was found to reduce the transmission coefficient by up to 40%. Arrays of the AB will have three 2013 deployments in the Chesapeake Bay.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Extinction Risk in the Marine Realm: The Global Marine Species Assessment and the Gulf of Mexico after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

Date: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speakers: Roger McManus, IUCN SSC Senior Counsel; and Kent Carpenter, Old Dominion University

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Dr. Kent Carpenter and Roger McManus will review the IUCN Global Marine Species Assessment progress in conducting a review of 20,000 marine species under the standards of the IUCN Red List, with particular focus on the assessments conducted and planned for the Gulf of Mexico in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. They will summarize current efforts to provide tools for examining extinction risk and conservation status of marine species based on existing and potential threats. This project is a partnership with the Harte Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M; University -Corpus Christi. These tools are based on species data accumulated for the Red List assessments, including distributional data and spatial planning capacity, data on experts in Gulf species, and information on past and current recovery and conservation plans.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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"Beach Lovers" and "Greens":A Worldwide Empirical Analysis of Coastal Tourism

Date: Thursday, April 11, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Laura Onofri

Abstract: In this presentation, Dr. Laura Onofri will begin by discussing how markets work, and how environmental economists analyze non-market issues. Then, Dr. Onofri will present the results of her work on coastal tourism, published recently with Dr. Paulo Nunes in Ecological Economics. In this study, the authors examine issues of coastal tourism, and describe their worldwide analysis of domestic and international coastal tourism flows. After building a worldwide dataset including natural and economic coastal environments, the authors design an integrated-model that estimates the demand for coastal destinations. Dr. Onofri will share with us the results of this analysis, which show that there are two differentiated touristic demand segments, denoting different preferences for coastal tourism. She will then discuss these results from a tourism and conservation policy perspective.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Communities-Based Fisheries Management in Liberia

Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Patrick Sayon, World Bank West Africa Regional Fisheries Program, Coordinator for the Community Sciences Program in Liberia

Abstract: Liberia Community Sciences Program was designed and launched in 2009 with support from the World Bank. The Community Sciences program is designed to build capacity of Liberian artisanal fisher communities to monitor and better manage their local coastal and inshore marine resources. As both a resources management and an environment conservation tool, Community Sciences directly supports an ongoing policy shift in fisheries management in West Africa to a "rights based" approach. This policy shift assigns rights over exploitation of inshore marine resources to fisher communities, and largely devolves responsibility for the health and sustainability of those resources to those communities.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Fish Sex! How, Where, and When They Do It (and When They Don't Have To)

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Grantly Galland, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, NOAA Office of International Affairs

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: There are well over 30 thousand species of fishes, living in water (most of the time) from desert springs and alpine lakes to deep ocean trenches, and while they all share that fundamental drive to reproduce, their methods are as varied as the habitats in which they live. With so many species to study, it's no wonder that we have learned that fishes have tried it all. If you can think of a way to reproduce, a fish has probably tried it. In fact, after a review of fish sex, I'm sure you'll agree that mammals (including humans) are downright un-creative! Sex change, hermaphroditism, multiple paternity, group spawning, sneak spawning, parthenogenesis, automictic parthenogenesis, gynogenesis, and hybridogenesis are just some of the amazing sexual "ideas" that other vertebrates (and some pop culture or science fiction writers) got from fishes.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Optimal Size of a Marine Protected Area (MPA): A BIOECONOMIC MODEL Integrated with "SASI" SYSTEM, Case of Eastern Indonesia

Date: Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Umi Muawanah, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: MPA is a promising tool for fisheries management and conservation goal. At the same time, traditional marine tenures have existed centuries around the globe. This paper tries to take a closer look on the integration of modern fisheries management measures such as MPA and traditional system such as "Sasi" found in Eastern part of Indonesia. The bio-economic model determines the optimal size of an MPA incorporating both its economic and ecological benefits. We apply the framework to the sea cucumber fishery. The optimal MPA size to be 37.77 % of the total area and the combination of "Sasi" and MPA results in the highest economic returns compared to "Sasi (old traditional marine tenure in Molucca)" only and open access management systems. An important policy implication is that fishery management should consider a combination tool such as "Sasi" and MPA. Since the "Sasi" tradition is fading away in Indonesia, our finding could be important in supporting its revitalization.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Great Lakes Economies and Ecosystems: Will Extreme Low Water Levels Leave Them High and Dry?

Date: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speakers: Steve Gill, NOAA COOPs; and Drew Gronewold, NOAA GLERL

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Record low water levels were at NOAA’s National Ocean Service (NOS) Center for Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) monitoring stations throughout the upper Great Lakes starting in December of 2012. Given the range of Great Lakes water level measurements, the fact that Lake Michigan-Huron reached "all-time" lows has significant implications for the region. Impacts include excessive receding of coastlines, reduced navigability of shipping channels, and diminished hydroelectric power capacity. NOAA CO-OPS, in partnership with NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), are part of a regional collaboration of federal agencies focusing on understanding Great Lakes water level dynamics. NOAA’s monitoring infrastructure, including the CO-OPS monitoring stations, and modeling capabilities provide critical support of that collaboration.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Improve Program Results by Linking Planning and Performance: Part 1 – Primer

Date: Monday, April 29, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Liz Davenport, Senior Program Analyst, National Ocean Service, Management and Budget

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Have you been asked recently how your program achieved evidence of progress related to NOAA’s Next Generation Strategic Plan (NGSP) for FY 2011 and FY 2012? Did you identify noteworthy achievements and remaining challenges? Have you examined performance measures and milestones and other performance data and assessed their effectiveness in validating the evidence of progress?

Between now and February 2014, NOAA will amend the NGSP as required by GPRA MA for all Federal agencies. Knowing what you, your program, office, and leadership envision as “success” and how that advances priorities for NGSP Goal and Enterprise Objectives is critically important, particularly right now. This training (Part 1 and Part 2) can help you focus limited program and administrative resources for more meaningful results. Where are changes needed to improve strategy, budget, and/or performance? Are there ways to better focus limited program and performance management resources for more meaningful results? Part 1 is the foundation for Part 2, a primer followed by a toolkit, that together give you key principles and tools aligned with DOC/NOAA and OMB/Congressional requirements but adaptable to changing circumstances, the new norm. Between the summary slides and detailed appendices, these tools will stimulate thinking and may help detect what can be improved.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Ocean Fertilization, Marine Geoengineering and the London Convention/London Protocol

Date: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speakers: Richard Mannix, International Section of NOAA's Office of General Counsel and Allison Reed, International Affairs Specialist, NOAA Office of International Affairs

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Richard Mannix from the International Section of NOAA's Office of General Counsel and Allison Reed from NOAA’s Office of International Affairs will provide an update on efforts within the international community to authorize and regulate legitimate scientific research into the use of ocean fertilization techniques as a climate mitigation measure. Their focus will be on recent developments at the London Convention and London Protocol and the movement there toward creation of mechanisms for the assessment and regulation of specific proposals to undertake, at a minimum, more advanced research in these techniques. Ms. Reed and Mr. Mannix will also discuss a growing interest among some of the Parties to the London Convention and Protocol to go a step further and to develop a broader regime to regulate other "marine geoengineering" activities as well. In addition, they will touch upon the recent unauthorized attempt to fertilize the ocean off the coast of British Columbia and the reaction of the international community to that effort. Ms. Reed will provide an overview of the process, discuss the position the U.S. has taken, and describe the progress which has been made by the Contracting Parties. Mr. Mannix will set the subject within the context of international law and discuss the relationship between the London Convention/Protocol and customary international law, as chiefly codified in the Law of the Sea Convention, and he will highlight some ethical and governance concerns.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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NOAA’s Habitat Blueprint - A new approach to Improving fisheries, marine life, and coastal community resiliency through habitat conservation

Date: Wednesday, May 1, 2013 at 2:00pm EDT

Speakers: Helen McMillan, NOAA Habitat Blueprint National Coordinator (Office of Habitat Conservation, NMFS)

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: NOAA’s Habitat Blueprint was created in 2011 to promote a more collaborative and integrated cross-NOAA approach to addressing NOAA’s habitat conversation mandates and to demonstrate the many positive impacts and benefits that NOAA’s habitat protection and restoration activities provide. This presentation will provide an overview of the three major components of the Blueprint - establishing Habitat Focus Areas, enhancing Habitat Science, and strengthening Habitat Policy and Legislation - and report on progress that has been made over the last two years. You will learn what a FAST is, how taking a place-based approach to addressing habitat conservation issues is creating new and exciting collaboration opportunities among NOAA Line Offices, how the Blueprint is connected to other related efforts such as the new NOAA Habitat Conservation Team and NOAA’s Sentinel Site Program, and who to talk to if you want to learn more about getting involved in this growing NOAA initiative.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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A US marine mammal conservation initiative through the IWC: Mitigating whale entanglement

Date: Friday, May 3, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: David Mattila, NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries

Abstract: The IWC is the only global, intergovernmental organization dealing with all conservation and management issues related to large whales. With a membership of 88 countries the IWC provides a forum for governments from many different regions of the world to discuss issues relating to the conservation and management of whales. Through its scientific and management expertise, the US has made significant contributions to these efforts, including the understanding and mitigation of ship strikes, acoustic and other harassment, pollutants and disease, and entanglement (bycatch).

This presentation will focus in particular on significant progress in the understanding and mitigation of large whale entanglement made by a US initiative through the IWC. David Mattila, an expert on large whale entanglement response from NOAA-HIHWNMS, will present the projects and initiatives he has forwarded while on detail to the IWC.

Approximately 308,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises die from entanglement in manmade materials every year. Based on a series of workshops hosted by the US (2010 & 2011), the member countries of the IWC agreed that:

1. Any species of whale can become entangled anywhere in the world’s oceans where it coexists with high risk materials (i.e. rope and net).
2. The frequency of such events are grossly under-reported.
3. This is a severe animal welfare, conservation, human safety and economic concern.

The two highest, consensus recommendations made by the workshops, and subsequently endorsed by the member nations were:

• Building international capacity to understand and respond to entanglements where they occur around the world, and
• Work toward prevention, as it is the only real solution.

To carry out these recommendations, the US detailed David Mattila to the IWC. The first objective of Mr. Mattila’s work at the IWC was to gather the directors of all of the world’s entanglement response programs in order to reach a consensus on disentanglement “best practices”, and a strategy and curriculum for capacity building. This is now the only marine animal rescue effort which has reached such international consensus on standards and protocols. Arising from that success, seminars, trainings and apprenticeships have been conducted for over 20 countries and more than 500 trainees from around the world, teaching all aspects of the science and management of the entanglement issue.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Improve Program Results by Linking Planning and Performance: Part 2 - Toolkit

Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Liz Davenport, Senior Program Analyst, National Ocean Service, Management and Budget

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Have you been asked recently how your program achieved evidence of progress related to NOAA’s Next Generation Strategic Plan (NGSP) for FY 2011 and FY 2012? Did you identify noteworthy achievements and remaining challenges? Have you examined performance measures and milestones and other performance data and assessed their effectiveness in validating the evidence of progress?

Between now and February 2014, NOAA will amend the NGSP as required by GPRA MA for all Federal agencies. Knowing what you, your program, office, and leadership envision as “success” and how that advances priorities for NGSP Goal and Enterprise Objectives is critically important, particularly right now. This training (Part 1 and Part 2) can help you focus limited program and administrative resources for more meaningful results. Where are changes needed to improve strategy, budget, and/or performance? Are there ways to better focus limited program and performance management resources for more meaningful results? Part 1 is the foundation for Part 2, a primer followed by a toolkit, that together give you key principles and tools aligned with DOC/NOAA and OMB/Congressional requirements but adaptable to changing circumstances, the new norm. Between the summary slides and detailed appendices, these tools will stimulate thinking and may help detect what can be improved.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Impact and Value of Establishing Hispanic Affinity Groups

Date: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Rosanna Torres, President, Census Latino Employee Organization (CLEO)

Abstract: Ms Torres will discuss how CLEO as an affinity group:

• Improves capital and human value at the Census Bureau
• Promotes awareness of diversity and inclusion strategies
• Shares ideas outside of their business units

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Some like it hot: Physiology, biogeography, and the impacts of climate change on three marine mussel species

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Elizabeth Fly, NOAA Climate Program Office; U.S. Global Change Research Program

Abstract: Understanding what factors affect the distribution of a species helps us better understand its life history and potential impacts from external forces such as climate change, habitat destruction, and the introduction of invasive species. The closely-related marine mussels Mytilus edulis, M. trossulus, and M. galloprovincialis provide an ideal study system for the effects of a changing environment on the biogeography of a species. These three species form a biogeographic replacement series with respect to temperature, as one species replaces another as climate varies with latitude. We examined several of the mechanisms potentially constraining the distribution of these species and developed mechanistic species distribution models to predict their biogeographic ranges.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Agricultural wetland restorations achieve diverse native wetland plant communities but differ from undisturbed wetlands

Date: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Metthea Yepsen, NOAA Restoration Center, NMFS Office of Habitat Conservation

Abstract: Ideally, restoration is the process of returning an ecosystem to a pre-disturbance state. In practice, specific functions and services are targeted in a restoration because it is too complex to attempt a complete ecosystem restoration. As part of a multi-investigator project to assess the effectiveness of USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service wetland restoration measures, we compared plant community composition in 47 sites in the USA Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and North Carolina. Fifteen sites represented natural, unmanaged, wetlands from two hydrogeomorphic classes (depressions and flats; hereafter "natural" sites), 16 were farmed ditched and drained former wetlands ("prior-converted" sites), and 17 were restored depressional wetlands ("restored" sites). Findings indicated that restored wetlands had developed diverse native wetland plant communities but thus far differ from that of natural wetlands, raising questions about both the goals of ecosystem restoration and our ability to restore ecosystems back to pre-disturbance conditions.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Sustainable Working Waterfronts Toolkit: Connecting Decision-makers, Landowners, and Users with Information and Tools for Preserving and Enhancing our Nation's Working Waterfronts

Date: Friday, May 17, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Stephanie Showalter Otts, J.D., Director, National Sea Grant Law Center

Abstract: This presentation will provide an overview of the newly launched Sustainable Working Waterfronts Toolkit - a web-based information portal that contains a wealth of information about the historical and current use of waterfront space, the economic value of working waterfronts, and legal, policy, and financing tools that can be used to preserve, enhance, and protect these valuable areas. The Toolkit was developed by a subcommittee of the National Working Waterfront Network (NWWN) with the generous financial support of the Economic Development Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Please join us to learn more about the Toolkit, the NWWN, and working waterfront initiatives around the country.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Restoration of the Gulf of Mexico: The Need for a Collaborative Approach

Date: Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speakers: Eric Schwaab, Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, performing the functions and duties of the Assistant Secretary for Conservation and Management, NOAA; and Lois Schiffer, General Counsel, NOAA

Abstract: The Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused extensive damage to the Gulf Coast's natural resources and devastating local economies and communities that rely on a healthy Gulf ecosystem. This major oil spill occurred in an area already impaired by years of adverse environmental and economic impacts. After the immediate response to the spill, federal agencies and states began a series of steps to restore the ecosystem and the economies that depend on them. Three significant sources of funding will eventually be available to address these concerns. First, under the Oil Pollution Act, federal and state agencies with trust responsibility for the natural resources in the area have formed a Trustee Council to assess the damage and develop a restoration plan to restore the resources to their pre-spill status and compensate for lost use. They are also working to use the $1 billion early restoration money that BP has provided. Second, Congress passed the RESTORE Act in June, 2012; that law provides that 80% of any civil penalty funds paid under the Clean Water Act go to the Gulf and are to be spent under five different approaches including a science program. Finally, under criminal plea agreements with BP and Transocean, the Department of Justice recommended, and the Court adopted, payments of $2.8 billion to be made to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) for spending among the Gulf States for restoration and related purposes. The total amount of funds available through these processes remains uncertain.

Today we will focus on the work of science and restoration. State, federal and local agencies, academic institutions, environmental groups, and many other partners are actively working to plan and execute significant science and restoration efforts pursuant to the specific authorities that guide each process. Further all these efforts and the entire Gulf region will benefit from collaborative work toward a science-based approach to regional ecosystem restoration that focuses on the overall long-term health, prosperity and resilience of the Gulf region. This session will highlight the individual science and restoration efforts underway and identify potential approaches for enhanced coordination.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology Program (aka NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program)

Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Russ Beard, Director, National Coastal Data Development Center, NODC, NESDIS; NOAA Gulf of Mexico Regional Collaboration Team Lead; Acting Director, NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: In July 2012, the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act was signed into law. The RESTORE Act directs that the Clean Water Act penalties paid by the parties responsible for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill be deposited into a trust fund and authorizes the trust fund to be used to support ecosystem and economic restoration along the Gulf coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. Included within the RESTORE Act is authorization for NOAA, in consultation with others, to administer a "Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Science, Observation, Monitoring, and Technology Program" (aka NOAA RESTORE Act Science Program). Russ Beard (Acting Program Director) will provide an overview of the program - its mission, framework, organizational structure, focus areas, expected duration, and types of activities eligible to be funded. The importance of leveraging and building partnerships and the relationship of the Science Program to the other science and restoration activities in the Gulf of Mexico will also be discussed.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Invisible Lines in the Ocean: An Introduction to the U.S. Extended Continental Shelf and Maritime Boundaries

Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Brian Van Pay, US Department of State

Abstract: The United States has one of the most complex set of invisible lines in the world that compose our maritime zones and maritime boundaries. These invisible lines determine the extent of our sovereign rights and the resources we can protect, manage, and use. The United States has the largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the world (more than 11 million square kilometers) and one of the largest Extended Continental Shelves (ECS) in the world (more than 1 million square kilometers). Complicating this picture is the fact that our maritime zones overlap with the maritime zones of 16 different countries across the globe. While the United States only has three land boundaries, it may need as many as 29 maritime boundaries with these 16 countries, and slightly more than half of those maritime boundaries have yet to be resolved. But how are all these invisible lines in the ocean determined? Join us for a presentation from Brian Van Pay from the Office of Ocean and Polar Affairs at the Department of State, where he serves as Executive Director of the Extended Continental Shelf Project and member of the maritime boundary negotiating team.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Marine reserves, an economic approach: using data on behavior to recommend a fine

Date: Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Marie L. Fujitani, Knauss Fellow, NMFS Office of Aquaculture

Abstract: Marine reserves can protect resources while sustaining economies dependent on the sea. For reserves to "succeed" they must alter the behavior of human users, and often a fine is employed. Fine amounts can be arbitrary, and may be too low to be effective or too high to be socially or politically palatable. I use recreational angling trip data from a region in Mexico to model how anglers altered travel choices in response to a marine reserve, and evaluated the "fine" anglers perceived and responded to. The value (and behavioral change) is small. I then project fines that would reduce trips to the reserve, showing a non-linear increase in fine to discourage an additional unit of travel. These results suggest for this system a process to find a data-driven level of fine that can be both effective and not undesirably high. My talk touches upon work by Nobel Laureate in economics Gary Becker on rational law-breaking.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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A Critical Discussion of Critical Habitat Designations: Is Compliance With the National Environmental Policy Act Required?

Date: Thursday, June 20, 2013 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Mele N. Coleman, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Specialist, Office of Program Planning & Integration (PPI)

Abstract: If you are interested in NOAA's efforts to protect species that are listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), you will most likely be interested in learning about Mele's legal research on whether critical habitat designations under the ESA require NEPA compliance. During this brown bag, Mele will discuss her article on the issue, entitled: A Critical Discussion of Critical Habitat Designations: Is Compliance With the National Environmental Policy Act Required? This article was published in Environmental Law (Lewis & Clark Law School) in Fall 2012, and is available online (pdf). In essence, the article tells the stories behind a 27 year-old split between the Ninth and Tenth Circuit Courts of Appeals, argues that critical habitat designations should not require NEPA compliance, and encourages NOAA and FWS to maximize their conservation of endangered and threatened species by jointly developing a consistent national policy on NEPA compliance.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Protective Action and Evacuation Responses During Hurricane Katrina: A Gendered Analysis

Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Michelle Dovil, student at the Howard University/NOAA Center of Atmospheric Science (NCAS)

Presentation slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The impending threats of natural hazards have become a major part of our daily lives. Every year, thousands of weather forecasts are disseminated to inform, warn, and prepare citizens regarding the forthcoming activity of weather hazards. The United States alone is susceptible to over eight different types of natural hazards throughout each of its geological regions. Hazards such as floods, earthquakes, snowstorms, and hurricanes in recent years have caused billions of dollars in damage and thousands of deaths. In order to reduce the impact of these hazards, effective risk communication is imperative. A risk population's ability to receive and perceive warning messages has a direct influence on the protective action behavior they choose to engage in during times of disaster. The purpose of this study was to assess the degree to which the Protective Action Decision Model could be utilized to explain risk communication and protective action behaviors as it relates to gender. In so doing, this study assessed the impact of informational warnings, protective action recommendations, and receiver characteristics on the protective actions by men and women during Hurricane Katrina. Gender was especially examined to see if it would have any significant impact on whether or not an individual chose to evacuate prior to Katrina making landfall.

Furthermore, it is important to note that an individual can take protective actions and not evacuate. This is not to suggest that protective actions take precedence over evacuating, especially in such extreme cases like Katrina, but this study does seek to shed light on how at risk populations prepare when evacuating is not an option. Results from this study revealed that gender did not have a significant impact on taking protective actions. Although women were more likely to take protective actions than men, in some cases the differences were not that significant. However, results from this study were consistent with the PADM in assessing protective actions based on informational warnings, protective action recommendations, and some receiver characteristics as all three components were found to be significant in relation to at least half of the protective actions recommended.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Satellite Oceanography of Fronts

Date: Wednesday, June 26, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Igor Belkin, University of Rhode Island

Abstract: The last decade saw proliferation of observational studies of ocean fronts from in situ and remote sensing data. This presentation is focused on recent progress in this field, particularly on satellite observations. Several satellite missions presented great potential for frontal studies. This potential has been largely realized with regard to SST fronts, but not CHL fronts. Among such missions, the NOAA Pathfinder Project and MODIS-Aqua/Terra stand out. The ultimate success of frontal studies from satellite data hinges on state-of-the-art computer algorithms for front detection. The Cayula-Cornillon histogram algorithm (CCA) remains the top-notch front detector. I will present examples of frontal products derived from frontal maps generated by CCA during the on-going global survey of SST fronts initiated and funded by NASA. Alternative algorithms have been suggested, implemented and validated, particularly the Belkin-O'Reilly gradient algorithm (BOA) adopted by NOAA. Frontal maps generated by BOA from CHL imagery supplied by MODIS Aqua are now freely and publicly available from NOAA.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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GPRA Modernization a New Framework for Strategic Planning and the DOC Balanced Scorecard

Date: Friday, July 12, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Chris Heflin, DOC Director of Performance Excellence

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: GPRA Modernization is designed to create focused and actionable Federal agency strategic plans. The law and OMBs revisions to A-11 establish a new schedule and a new format for strategic planning. All the change work well with the DOC system of balanced scorecards and emphasis on becoming a "learning organization." The presentation will cover how DOC's performance management system dovetails with Federal Direction.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Committee.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Zooplankton Composition in a Strong, Persistent Upwelling Region - What can it tell us?

Date: Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Rachel E. Fontana, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

Abstract: Understanding variability in zooplankton abundance and composition are important aspects to elucidating changes in ocean conditions. Time series of zooplankton data span the west coast of North America; however, large regional gaps in data collection exist for the strong, persistent upwelling area located from southern Oregon to north-central California. We investigated a zooplankton time series collected within the Gulf of the Farallones-Cordell Bank region from 2004 to 2009, which is located within this persistent upwelling zone. Zooplankton abundance and species composition differed significantly throughout this time series. We found a close linkage between this zooplankton time series and changes in basin-wide, regional, and in situ environmental variables. Understanding zooplankton abundance and composition in the Gulf of the Farallones-Cordell Bank region will assist with elucidating changes in seabird populations and may assist with future year-to-year predictions of general ecosystem health.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Underwater Underworlds: What stories do underwater caves hold?

Date: Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Sepp Haukebo, Sea Grant Kanuss Fellow, NOAA Office of Education

Abstract: Anchialine caves (meaning near the sea) persist throughout coastlines around the world and provide cave diving scientists a unique opportunity to investigate the ecological and biogeochemical secrets of the underworld. Previously believed to be devoid of life, these lightless ecosystems have been found to harbor a range of organisms from cave fish to living fossils like remipedes. Because species are often endemic to a single cave system the exploration of new anchialine caves has led to the discovery of novel species, orders, and even a new class of cave-adapted critters. Recently anchialine cave research has been used to constrain historic climate records, elucidate the role of chemoautotrophic bacteria in coastal aquifers, and characterize the effects of ocean acidification on coral reefs. Throughout this presentation we will discuss the past, present, and future directions of anchialine cave research around the world.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Social media use by minority populations in weather-related crisis situations

Date: Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Crystal M. Adkisson, Ph.D., Fellow - NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences/Howard University

Abstract: During weather-related crisis situations, social media such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter, can assist in the process of disseminating information to gratify needs of the audience. Appropriate use of social media in weather-related crisis situations can assist in information dissemination and comprehension by recipients. Social media are immediate, unfiltered, and can be accurate and perceived credible if planned appropriately.

This research sought to understand gratifications sought by African Americans through use of social media in weather-related crisis situations and, more specifically, if frequency of use of social media correlated to their use of social media to gratify those needs. Recognizing that the communication patterns of African Americans are unique should be considered when preparing for and responding to weather-related crisis situations. Understanding why African Americans use specific media will allow more targeted messaging.

The importance of the present research is that it incorporates emerging technologies into crisis communication planning and execution that is beneficial to governmental, humanitarian, and aid producing organizations. This research sought to identify the most effective media that the African American community utilize to seek information in a weather-related crisis situation. With this information, crisis communicators will be able to effectively plan their strategies before a crisis and have procedures established to respond in a timely manner once a crisis occurs, through channels that empirical research has shown to be effective.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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From Shoreline Seining to Student Training: Shoreline development effects on near-shore communities in Chesapeake Bay

Date: Thursday, August 15, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Theresa M. Davenport, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, NOAA / OAR / PPE

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: Hardened shorelines and their construction introduce stressors by altering near-shore habitats. I investigated the impacts of shoreline development on near-shore communities at four sub-estuaries within Chesapeake Bay, subjected to different types of shoreline change. I used a before-after control-impact (BACI) study design to examine benthic infaunal communities (density, biomass, and diversity), blue crab abundance, and near-shore fishes (abundance and diversity) before and after shoreline modification.

The benthic community responded to shoreline modification in complex ways often driven by opportunistic species. At all sites, habitat changes resulting from shoreline development, such as shoreline complexity and sediment grain size, explain changes in the benthic community.

A concurrent classroom teaching experience allowed me to share this work with local high school students, introduce them to coastal ecology, and collect data on their perception of science, before and after our interactions, using a BACI design.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Shifting environmental baselines among small-scale fishers in the Galera-San Francisco Marine Reserve, Ecuador

Date: Thursday, August 15, 2013 at 12:30pm EDT

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Speaker: Carrie Soltanoff, Knauss Fellow, NOAA Fisheries Office of International Affairs

Abstract: Shifting environmental baselines refers to the concept that each generation of fishers, and fishery managers, see the current state of the fishery as the natural, or baseline, abundance. To investigate this phenomenon adjacent to a recently established marine reserve, 92 fishers from three generations were interviewed. Differences in fishing practices and perceptions of the fishery among generations were revealed, including that older fishers stayed closer to shore and found the fishery to be depleted. Shifting baselines can impede reserve success because younger fishers may believe that an area remains underfished and therefore not see value in restrictive conservation measures. Given data-poor fisheries, baselines and targets set from present-day numbers may be too low to realize conservation goals, particularly if ecological knowledge from older generations reveals that fisheries are depleted. The presence of shifting baselines underscores the importance of incorporating local knowledge into management and education measures for a marine reserve.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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NOAA Central Library Mix and Mingle

Date: Thursday, August 29, 2013 at 1:00pm EDT

Abstract: Join the NOAA Central Library for coffee and light refreshments, meet other NOAA employees, and learn about NOAA Central Library services!

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NEPA and NHPA: A Handbook for Integrating NEPA and Section 106

Date: Thursday, September 5, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Kelly Fanizzo, program analyst and attorney advisor with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP)

Abstract: This presentation will focus on NEPA and NHPA: A Handbook for Integrating NEPA and Section 106 (pdf), published jointly by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and the White House Council on Environmental Quality in March 2013. The new handbook provides advice to Federal agencies, applicants, project sponsors, and consultants on how to take advantage of existing regulatory provisions to align the NEPA process and the NHPA Section 106 review process. Federal agencies have independent statutory obligations under NEPA and NHPA. For many projects, agencies can use the procedures and documentation required by NEPA to comply with NHPA Section 106, instead of undertaking a separate process. The handbook explains how to align NEPA and NHPA Section 106 processes for maximum efficiency and public input, and provides a series of roadmaps for coordination of the two statutes.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Implementation of MARPOL Annex VI: Air Emissions

Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speakers: Matt Haber, Senior Policy Advisor; Meetu Kaul, Attorney-Advisor; Seema Kakade, Attorney-Advisor; and Tony Miller, Engineer, U.S. EPA

Abstract: Please join us for a brown bag presentation by staff members of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Civil Enforcement on the current state of play on the implementation and enforcement of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships Annex VI (emissions) standards, as codified in the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (APPS).

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) regulates marine pollution from ships. Specifically, Annex VI of MARPOL addresses air pollution from oceangoing ships. Annex VI, among other things, establishes limits on NO_x emissions from marine diesel engines. Annex VI also provides more stringent engine emission standards and fuel sulfur limits for ships that operate in specially designated Emission Control Areas. The quality of fuel that complies with the Emission Control Area standard changes over time. The United States has obtained designation for the North American Emission Control Area and the US Caribbean Emission Control Area.

The brown bag presentation will cover:

• MARPOL Annex VI standards and emissions benefits in the U.S. upon implementation;
• General state of play on compliance with Annex VI;
• Challenges in developing an enforcement program under APPS and current thinking on enforcement procedures/penalties;
• Working with other federal agencies: e.g Coast Guard, DOJ Admiralty;
• Building relationships with NOAA, e.g. marine flyovers.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Writing Great Briefing Materials

Date: Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Chris Heflin, DOC Director of Performance Excellence

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Reporting is an important aspect of performance management. Gain insights and tips from our DOC Director of Performance Excellence on developing clear and concise briefing papers.

The presentation will include the Federal "Plain Language" standards and guidelines for good charts and graphs. "Bad" and "Good" examples will be provided.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Committee.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Progress and Updates on International Shark Conservation through CITES

Date: Monday, September 16, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Angela Somma, NMFS Office of Protected Resources, Endangered Species and Conservation Division

Abstract: Ms. Somma will provide an update on efforts within the international community to protect sharks by addressing international trade in sharks. Her focus will be on recent developments at the 16th Conference of Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) where the Parties extended protection to five commercially-exploited species of sharks and manta rays. In particular, CITES member nations voted in support of listing the oceanic whitetip shark, three species of hammerhead sharks (scalloped, smooth, and great), the porbeagle shark and manta rays in CITES Appendix II – an action that means increased protection, but still allows legal and sustainable trade. Ms. Somma will discuss U.S. involvement in CITES and how it contributed to the recent listings. Ms. Somma will also discuss how the U.S. is assisting with the implementation of the listings as well as ongoing efforts at the domestic level to manage sharks.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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A Fish Tale: Comparison of the Gut Microbiome of 12 Finfish and 3 Shark Species

Date: Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Carrie Givens, Ph.D. Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Branch of Aquatic Invasive Species

Abstract: The fish gut contains a significant bacterial population that can influence fishhealth and physiology. Elevated concentrations of certain bacteria when compared to the composition of the microbial assemblage in the surrounding water suggest that the fish gut provides a unique niche for a select, but diverse, group of bacteria. We used 454-pyrosequencing to survey the 16S rRNA ribotypes in the gut microbiomes of 12 finfish and 3 shark species, selected to encompass a wide range of lifestyles. Each species had a core gut microbiome; however, no individual ribotype was present among all species suggesting that the gut microflora community is adapted to the autecological properties and physiological conditions of each species. Results from manipulation experiments indicate that environmental variables can further affect the gut microbiome composition. We also found that the fish gut can serve as reservoir for the potential pathogens Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus during periods when environmental conditions are less favorable for these bacteria. Fish naturally expel this gut microflora that can then be transferred to other environmental reservoirs, implicating fish in the persistence and dispersal of these potential pathogens.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Old Data, New Tricks: A new analysis of Chesapeake Bay Benthic Monitoring Program Data

Date: Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Jennifer Bosch, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, NOAA OAR Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes / Science Advisory Board

Abstract: An increase in hypoxia is an environmental stressor associated with eutrophic environments that can shift benthic community structures. Chesapeake Bay is a eutrophic estuary where seasonal hypoxia has been increasing since the early 1950's. Utilizing the large dataset of macrofaunal abundance collected by the Chesapeake Bay Benthic Monitoring Program, in conjunction with concurrent measures of environmental parameters, this study examines how environmental conditions regulate the densities of opportunistic polychaetes in this estuarine system. Regression tree CART analysis was used to examine what environmental factors exert the greatest influence on patterns of polychaete abundance during different seasonal time periods. This study supports previous work indicating a shift in the dominant polychaete community to one made up of species known to be extremely adaptable to stressful conditions like hypoxia. Our analysis further shows that the magnitude of these polychaetes response to hypoxia is species specific and dissolved oxygen is the "master variable" controlling longterm trends in this community.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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High Seas MPAs: Progress, Politics and Prospects

Date: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Kristina Gjerde, Senior High Seas Policy Advisor, IUCN

Speaker Bio: Ms. Gjerde is Senior High Seas Advisor to IUCN (the International Union for the Conservation of Nature) and chair of the World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) High Seas MPA Specialist Group. A graduate of NYU School of Law, Ms. Gjerde initially practiced shipping law in a Wall Street law firm. For the past 10 years she has worked with IUCN and WCPA to advance the law, science and policy relating to sustaining marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. Recent publications include: “Ocean in Peril: reforming the management of global ocean living resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction” (Marine Pollution Bulletin); “Using the Public Trust Doctrine to Achieve Ocean Stewardship” (Cambridge University Press); and “Challenges to Protecting the Marine Environment beyond National Jurisdiction” (International Journal of Marine and Coastal Law). She is co-founder of the Global Ocean Biodiversity Initiative, the Sargasso Sea Alliance and the High Seas Alliance. The Sargasso Sea Alliance was awarded the International SeaKeepers Prize in September 2013.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Offshore Wind Development

Date: Thursday, November 14, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Joan Bondareff, Blank Rome LLP

Abstract: Ms. Bondareff will discuss the status of offshore wind energy leasing, impediments to offshore wind development, the role of resource agencies, and what's next for offshore wind.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Trophic structure in the Marginal Ice Zone in the Weddell Sea Antarctic

Date: Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Erica Ombres, NOAA Ocean Acidification Program

Abstract: Carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotopes were measured in twenty species spanning four tropic levels from copepod to predatory fish in the marginal ice zone (MIZ) of the Weddell Sea at the beginning of the austral summer. Samples were taken from under the ice, at the ice edge and in the open ocean. A significant trend in the δ13C values of all species was found with the under-ice δ13C values being more depleted than those in the open ocean. This is most likely due to the reduced atmospheric exchange of CO2, upwelled water with depleted δ13C values, and continuous biological respiration under the ice, all of which contribute to very depleted δ13C values. δ15N values were significantly lower in the open ocean than the other ice conditions due to the increased reliance on primary production. Cluster analysis revealed trophic shifts between the different ice zones. The ice edge zone proved to contain the most species and was the best habitat for most species. The trophic shifts observed within species in the differing ice conditions mimicked the seasonal changes they undergo during the course of the productive season every year.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Incubation temperature effects on hatchling performance in the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta)

Date: Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 12:30pm EST

Speaker: Leah Fisher, NOAA's Ocean Service: Policy, Planning & Analysis Division

Abstract: Incubation temperature has significant developmental effects on oviparous animals, including determining sex for several species. It has been observed that incubation temperature also affects traits that can influence survival, a theory that is tested in this study for the Northwest Atlantic loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). We conducted the first controlled laboratory incubation and experiments to test for an effect of incubation temperature on performance of loggerhead hatchlings. Ninety-nine hatchlings were tested produced from eggs incubated at 11 constant temperatures ranging from ~27°C to ~33°C. Following emergence from the eggs, we tested righting response, crawling speed, and conducted a 24-hour long hatchling swim test. Data indicate an effect of incubation temperature on survivorship, righting response time, crawling speed, change in crawl speed, and overall swim activity, with hatchlings incubated at 27°C showing decreased locomotor abilities. No hatchlings survived in both years when incubated at 32°C and above. Differences in survivorship of hatchlings incubated at high temperatures are important in light of projected higher sand temperatures due to climate change, and could indicate increased mortality from incubation temperature effects.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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China's Distant Water Fishing Fleet

Date: Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Tabitha Mallory, Princeton University

Abstract: China is the world's largest producer of seafood, producing over a third of the world's wild marine catch in 2011, according to FAO statistics. As marine fish stocks come under increasing pressure, China's distant water fishing activities are becoming ever-more significant in sustainably managing world supplies of seafood. These activities also have effects on various geo-political, legal, military, and other issues.

In this talk, Dr. Tabitha Mallory (Princeton-Harvard China and the World Program) will explore drivers of China's distant water fishing activities, examine how China might manage its fleet in coming years, and encourage discussion of management and engagement strategies with China.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Fishery Management and Information Sharing Networks: The Association between Sector Management and Social Capital

Date: Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Gabe Dunham, NOAA, OAR, Sea Grant

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: The benefits from increased levels of social capital have been shown to manifest themselves in ways that can increase the efficiency of the use and regulation of natural resources, as well as increase the resiliency of resource dependent communities against fluctuations in abundance. While the literature shows evidence of the positive effects that social capital can have on management and stakeholder institutions, few studies examine the effects of changes in management on levels of social capital in commercial fisheries. This study employs network and econometric analyses to examine social capital in the Northeast multispecies groundfish fishery. We compare alternative measurements of social capital, and find suggestive evidence of decreased levels of social capital associated with a recent change from effort-based to rights-based management. Increased knowledge of this relationship may provide tangible benefits to both management institutions and resource users.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Plastic pollution in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre

Date: Thursday, December 5, 2013 at 12:30pm EST

Speaker: Miriam Goldstein, California Sea Grant

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Parts of the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, a remote area nestled between the trade winds and the westerlies, have been dubbed the “Great Pacific Garbage Patch.” Plastic pollution was first detected in this area in the early 1970s and has since become a matter of scientific and public concern. Relatively little is known about the consequences of plastic debris in the NPSG, but since most of the debris is in the form of small particles (<5 mm in diameter) on the ocean's surface, surface-dwelling biota are most likely to be impacted. I will discuss the abundance, distribution, and size of the plastic debris, as well as how plastic is interacting with pelagic invertebrates. Impacts to marine life include direct ingestion, increased surface area for oviposition, and the transportation of nonindigenous species.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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International Space University's 2013 Team Project “KOASTAL”: Kenyan coast Observations through Affordable Space Technology AppLications

Date: Monday, December 9, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speakers: Steve Brody, Vice President for North American Operations, International Space University; and Charlotte Kiang, software engineer, Boeing Defense Systems

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: During the summer of 2013, 30 professionals from 12 countries participating in the International Space University's (ISU's) nine-week Space Studies Program undertook Team Project KOASTAL to address problems related to marine and terrestrial water pollution along the Kenyan coast.

Such water pollution threatens to destroy the coastal ecosystem's natural balance, and affects people living along the coast as their health, food supplies, and income are endangered.

The team members were individuals from a diverse set of academic and professional backgrounds, allowing for a fully interdisciplinary, as well as international, examination of the socioeconomic, environmental, technical, and policy issues and challenges related to the integrated management of coastal ecosystems in Kenya.

The project team researched information derived from interactions with various experts, including those of the SERVIR project, a joint NASA-USAID venture that taps satellite-based Earth observation data and science applications to help developing nations.

Project KOASTAL's solution is an integrated water pollution management and livelihood support system using marine, ground, and space sensors to supply data to state authorities in Kenya.

This presentation will detail the findings and recommendations of the project, encompassing an integrated three-step process including detection, response, and regulation of water pollution. The process includes the issuance of alerts and warnings, and uses existing collection and communication systems to ensure a cost-effective approach to the maximum extent possible.

Policy, law, and education and outreach recommendations are also included to inform and engage all members of the affected areas and their elected officials, with the hope that Project KOASTAL's effort could help improve and protect the lives of those in the coastal regions of Kenya.

This project was sponsored by NASA (Earth Science Division's Applied Sciences Program and Office of the Chief Scientist).

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Ammonium cycling in the rocky intertidal: remineralization, removal and retention

Date: Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Santhiska Pather, US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, Office of Science and Technology

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Rocky intertidal productivity is traditionally thought to be sustained almost solely by upwelled nitrate with remineralized forms of minor importance. Using tidepools as natural experimental mesocosms, we conducted 15N tracer experiments to test whether ammonium remineralized within the rocky intertidal is also a significant source of fixed N to localized ecosystem production. Comparison of tidepools with and without the dominant bivalve, Mytilus californianus, allowed consideration of its role in NH4+ cycling. Closed water incubation bottles were used to investigate the contribution of suspended microbes to NH4+ cycling. Tidepools with mussels had both greater NH4+ remineralization (two times) and NH4+ removal as compared to those without, with daytime rates greater than nighttime rates. Incorporation of 15NH4+ tracer by particulate organic matter and macroalgae, and the persistence of this signal in tidepools for several days following the experiment, showed retention of autochthonous NH4+ in the system. Remineralization rates were tightly correlated to removal rates when compared over all treatments and experiments, but NH4+ remineralization was significantly greater than removal, suggesting a surplus available to nearshore primary producers.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Value of Communicating Science: Lessons from the Knauss Fellowship

Date: Thursday, December 12, 2013 at 12:30pm EST

Abstract: As scientists in varying fields of research and academia, there is a significant emphasis placed on peer-reviewed publications and sometimes a disregard for the value of making those results available to the broader non-scientific community. The fact is that more and more scientists and government agencies alike are embracing the power of social and digital media to reach a variety of audiences by translating technical findings into plain language, and making the results more relatable to the public. In doing so, a community and other stakeholders will grow not only to understand the benefits of scientific endeavors but to share their support for these fields of research. In my year as the Knauss Communications Fellow within NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, my eyes have been opened to many possibilities for promoting research in social media, and I have learned the power of sharing science through story-telling, and I hope to pass it along

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Changing vessel routes to open areas for offshore wind development could generate significant societal benefits

Date: Thursday, December 19, 2013 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Katya Samoteskul , NOAA OAR Climate Program Office

Abstract: As wind energy development becomes more prevalent, existing users of the oceans, such as commercial shippers, will be compelled to share their historically open-access waters with these projects. To assess tradeoffs between offshore wind development and commercial shipping, we demonstrate the utility of using cost-benefit analysis (CBA) framework. Specifically, we evaluate whether rerouting commercial vessel traffic farther from shore to open areas for wind development would produce societal benefits. We focus on less than 1,500 transits by deep-craft vessels between the ports in the US Mid-Atlantic. We propose to reroute the ships by an average of 18.5 km per trip. We estimate that over 29 years of the study, the net benefits of the proposed policy are approximately $14 billion (in 2012$). Considering the large societal benefits, changing vessel routes needs to be included in the portfolio of policies used to support the launch of the offshore wind industry.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Influence of predator identity on the strength of predator avoidance response in lobster

Date: Thursday, December 19, 2013 at 12:30pm EST

Speaker: Erin Wilkinson, NOAA NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries, Domestic Fisheries Division

Abstract: The American lobster, Homarus americanus, is an important benthic consumer in the Gulf of Maine and supports an extremely valuable fishery in New England. There is substantial interest in restoring large predatory fish species to the Gulf of Maine, and these predators may impact lobster populations through consumptive and behavioral effects that are likely to vary with size. Tethering experiments were used to examine the susceptibility of lobster size classes to predation in Saco Bay, Maine. The most susceptible sizes of lobster were then exposed to fish predators (Atlantic striped bass, Atlantic cod, and sea raven) separately in experimental mesocosm tanks. Juvenile lobster moved less and spent more time sheltered in the presence of cod or sea raven, but did not alter behavior in presence of striped bass. These predator-induced behavior changes can result in less foraging activity, which may translate into reduced growth and reproduction. Including these behavioral effects into population and ecosystem models will enhance our ability to understand and manage fisheries species.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

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2014 Brown Bags

Introduction to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA): Compliance at NOAA

Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Jay Nunenkamp, NEPA Policy and Training Coordinator, NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Mr. Nunenkamp will outline the basic requirements of NEPA and explain how they relate to the NOAA mission.

Note: This is part 1 of the NEPA Brown Bag Series sponsored by NOAA's Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI)

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Measuring at relevant scales: how whelks respond to differing prey levels across regions and years

Date: Monday, January 27, 2014 at 12:00 EST

Speaker: Will Tyburczy, NOAA Office of Policy, Planning and Integration

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Many multi-species models assume that the reproduction and mortality of predators relate directly to their immediate feeding rate and local prey abundance. Similarly, many empirical investigations measure short-term feeding rates of predators and extrapolate reproductive consequences. However, for annually reproducing species, where predation and reproduction occur on very different timescales, the validity of these assumptions remains in question. From 2009-2012, I measured growth, survival, and reproduction of the predatory whelk, Nucella ostrina, both in caged manipulations across Oregon and Washington, and in naturally isolated populations in Washington. Whelks were exposed to a range of prey abundances. Analysis revealed an effect of barnacle abundance on whelk growth, and a correlation between growth and reproduction, but showed no discernable relationship between barnacle abundance and whelk reproduction. A literature search also revealed large regional variation N. ostrina survival rates. The results demonstrate the value of conducting research at larger spatial and temporal scales.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2013 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar Series

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The Antarctic Whaling Case at the International Court of Justice

Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Roger Eckert, Attorney-Advisor, NOAA Office of General Counsel Fisheries and Protected Resources Section

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Mr. Eckert will discuss the current dispute between Australia and Japan at the International Court of Justice regarding Japan's ongoing Antarctic whaling activities. His focus will be on the history of Antarctic whaling, efforts to manage commercial whaling by the International Whaling Commission (IWC), and interpretation of the scientific research provision of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling. At the heart of this case is whether Japan's whaling in the IWC's Southern Ocean Sanctuary is a scientific research program.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA Office of General Counsel.

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Articulating Conservation Outcomes for Citizen Science: Emerging Principles and Practices for the 21st Century

Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Tina Phillips, Cornell University Lab of Ornithology

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: The field of conservation biology has tremendous potential to advance the science and practice of conserving the Earth's biological diversity. As funding for environmental organizations continues to decline, citizen science, or public participation in scientific research (PPSR) is increasingly being used as collaborative method between scientists and the public to advance our understanding of natural systems (Dickinson and Bonney 2012). Citizen science exists in many forms, from local, community-driven efforts, to large-scale, institutional projects that span the globe. Few projects, however have evaluated outcomes beyond program output and individual learning (Jordan et al. 2012). Here I report on emerging efforts, exemplar cases, and promising practices for documenting conservation outcomes across citizen science, which in addition to site and species management, can include education, research, policy, and community outcomes. I will also share results from a focus group involving leaders in conservation, citizen science, and evaluation, resulting in the articulation of diverse pathways that lead to conservation outcomes.

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A Strategy to Decarbonize US Energy by the 2030s

Date: Thursday, January 30, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Alexander E. MacDonald, OAR Chief Science Advisor and Director, Earth System Research Laboratory

Abstract: Wind and solar power generation could provide societal benefits including climate change mitigation, but are subject to the variability of weather. A study was conducted over the US contiguous states to determine the geographic characteristics of wind and solar energy systems, augmented by natural gas plants and power transmission. The study used high-spatial and temporal-resolution weather data from 2006 to 2008 and electric demand data projected to 2030 to determine cost-optimal wind, solar, and natural gas plant configurations for domains of various sizes. It is shown that wind and solar energy penetration is maximized and total atmospheric carbon release and system costs are minimized by using the largest domain. Using achievable cost estimates for wind and solar energy, the study indicates that the crucial element of the transition is the implementation of a national HVDC power transmission system. Such a transition could be accomplished without an increase of electric costs, and would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 90% compared to the 2010 mix.

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Ocean Health Index

Date: Friday, January 31, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Sebastian Troëng, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science and Oceans, Conservation International

Abstract: The Ocean Health Index is the first assessment tool that scientifically compares and combines key elements from all dimensions of the oceans' health - biological, physical, economic and social - to measure how sustainably people are using the ocean. It builds upon a definition of a healthy ocean as one that provides a range of benefits to people, both now and in the future and it provides scores for ten public goals for the ocean including food provision, coastal protection, carbon storage, coastal livelihoods and economies and others. The detailed Index methodology was developed by a large group of scientists and organizations, and published in the journal Nature in 2012 (Halpern et al. 2012). Updated Ocean Health Index scores for 221 Exclusive Economic Zones and territories were released in October 2013 (http://www.oceanhealthindex.org). Already, the Index has been endorsed by the World Economic Forum and adopted by China, Colombia and the ecosystem assessment program in Israel where the Index methodology is now being applied at a national scale.

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Research Libraries and Open Access: Issues and Actions

Date: Monday, February 10, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Julia Blixrud, Association of Research Libraries

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: The goal of this briefing is to inform NOAA employees about open access issues and what the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is doing on this topic. Open access is one component of open scholarship, which also includes open data and open educational resources. Open access means free availability of literature on the public internet, with the only constraint on reproduction and distribution being to give authors control over the integrity of their work and the right to be properly acknowledged and cited. ARL works with other organizations to advocate for policies and legislation to make the results of federally funded research freely accessible. One bill under consideration is the Fair Access to Science and Technology Research Act (FASTR), which would build upon the directives in the February 2013 OSTP memo on increasing public access to research results.

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A Bibliometric Analysis of Climate Engineering Research

Date: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Chris Belter, LAC Group, NOAA Central Library

Abstract: Over the past few years, climate engineering, also referred to as geoengineering, has become a widely discussed option for mitigating the effects of climate change. Given the increasing visibility of climate engineering proposals, it can be useful to examine both how much scientific research has been done on the topic and by whom it has been performed. Bibliometric analysis - the scientific study of scientific publications - offers methods and tools for quantitatively addressing such questions. In this presentation, I will summarize the results of a bibliometric analysis performed on scientific articles about climate engineering published between 1984 and 2012. I will address such topics as the number of articles published per year, the geographic distribution of article publication, the number of publications per proposal (ocean fertilization, solar radiation management, removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere, etc), and the amount of collaboration between authors. These results can inform discussions about climate engineering and potentially guide future research on the topic.

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Worldwide Health Effects of the Fukushima Nuclear Accident

Date: Thursday, February 20, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: John Ten Hoeve, NOAA Presidential Management Fellow

Abstract: There has been renewed public interest in radioactivity from the Fukushima nuclear accident, as evidenced by recent news articles. Viral YouTube videos have suggested that radiation from Fukushima is detectable with a Geiger counter along the U.S. West Coast. In this talk, I will present results from a 2012 study on the worldwide dispersion of radioactivity and the resulting impact to human health from Fukushima. This study represents the first published estimation of health effects from the accident through inhalation and exposure pathways using a linear no-threshold model of human exposure. Exposure due to ingestion of contaminated food and water is estimated by extrapolation. Emissions are estimated from independent Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) observations. We estimate an additional 130 (15-1100) cancer-related mortalities and 180 (24-1800) cancer-related morbidities incorporating uncertainties associated with the exposure - dose and dose - response models used in the study. Sensitivities to emission rates, gas to particulate I-131 partitioning, and the mandatory evacuation radius around the plant are also explored, and may increase upper bound mortalities and morbidities in the ranges above to 1300 and 2500, respectively. Finally, I will discuss the validity of recent claims that significant radiation has reached the U.S. West Coast.

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Shipwreck Litigation: The Law, Policy, and Regulation of Davy Jones' Locker

Date: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Kyle Jones, Law Fellow, International Section of NOAA's Office of General Counsel

Abstract: Join Kyle Jones, a Law Fellow in the International Section of NOAA's Office of General Counsel, for a fascinating look at the little-known field of shipwreck litigation. Mr. Jones will begin by recounting the development of shipwreck law generally, and will touch upon several famous high-stakes legal battles over some of the world's most notable shipwrecks (and their associated treasures). He will then discuss one salvor's ongoing efforts to recover an unidentified wreck in the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, the environmental and cultural harm that can result from unrestricted shipwreck excavation, and NOAA's efforts to regulate shipwreck recovery via an array of centuries-old laws. No law degree is required to enjoy this talk. Just an interest in responsible stewardship of our environmental and cultural resources.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA General Counsel Office.

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Evaluation for a Sustainable Future

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 9:30am EST

Speakers: Matt Keene, US Environmental Protection Agency and 2014 Program Chair, American Evaluation Association; and Beverly Parsons, Executive Director, InSites, and 2014 President, American Evaluation Association

Abstract: The concept of sustainability is becoming kind of a big deal. In the global evaluation community there are indications that it will emerge as top priority for evaluation practice, research and policy over the next few years. For example, the 2014 theme of the American Evaluation Association (AEA), under the leadership of AEA President Beverly Parsons, is Visionary Evaluation for a Sustainable and Equitable Future. Complementary to the AEA 2014 theme, sustainability is also emphasized in the themes of the European Evaluation Society (2014), Environmental Evaluators Network (EEN) Pacific Forum (2013), European EEN (2014), and the International Year of Evaluation (2015). Through creative facilitated discussion (read no PPT and perhaps liberatingstructures.com), we'll discuss the relevance of the AEA 2014 theme, including its emphasis on systems thinking and relationships, to evaluation at NOAA and the environmental sector at large. The purposes of our discussion will be to: 1) stimulate conversations that elucidate connections and obstacles between evaluation and sustainability, particularly from the viewpoint of environmental agencies, and 2) generate practical next steps that will help to dismantle obstacles and clarify and strengthen those connections. If you are making dark chocolate truffles or pecan pie with gluten free crust on the morning of our get together, feel free to bring some along.

Note: This seminar is part of the NOAA Evaluation Training and Capacity Building Subcommittee Series

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Why the United States Should Join the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels

Date: Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Warren Papworth, Secretariat of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels.

Abstract: The U.S. has played an active role in the work of the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP), participating in all of the preparatory meetings to negotiate the Agreement, as well as all the subsequent meetings held once the Agreement came into force in 2004. Although President Bush transmitted the Agreement in 2008 (pdf) to the Senate for its advice and consent to accession, and the Departments of Commerce and the Interior submitted OMB-cleared proposed implementing legislation to Congress in 2009 (pdf), the United States has not yet become a party.

Fifteen of the 22 species of albatrosses are threatened with extinction, primarily due to high levels of mortality resulting from their bycatch in fishing operations. Albatrosses are highly migratory species, with many having a circumpolar foraging range. Consequently, it is not possible for one country alone to address this key threat, as it occurs not only in their territorial waters, but also on the high seas and in the territorial waters of other States. It was for this reason that ACAP was established - to coordinate international action to address this threat.

The United States is a breeding Range State to the Agreement, having jurisdiction over the breeding sites for three species of albatrosses. In his presentation, Mr. Papworth will explain that the United States should join ACAP because it has demonstrated that it is an effective international organisation that has been successful in achieving conservation measures that will protect albatrosses outside the United States' jurisdiction e.g. in fisheries managed by regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) such as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA Office of General Counsel.

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Parallels: Lewis and Clark and the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey

Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Albert “Skip” Theberge, NOAA Central Library

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Both the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey had their roots in the administration of President Thomas Jefferson. Although, there is no direct connection between the two endeavors, there are surprising parallels in their mission and experiences: both had primary goals to map significant portions of our Nation; both had maritime goals - Lewis and Clark to find water communication between Atlantic and Pacific coasts - the C&GS to chart our Nation's waterways; both had expert boatmen; and both were confronted with the rugged Rocky Mountains - Lewis and Clark to pass over - the C&GS to establish primary land survey control. This presentation explores these connections as well as the parallels in the leadership and accomplishments of some of the primary personalities involved.

Note: This seminar is the first of a NOAA History Roundtable Seminar Series. There will be a short discussion following the main seminar concerning development of a NOAA History Roundtable discussion group. The goals as presently formulated are:

1. Provide an opportunity for interested parties to share knowledge of recent NOAA History and Heritage including such matters as evolution of influential ideas and history of laboratories and programs within the NOAA of today.
2. Foster further awareness and understanding of the role of ancestor agencies in molding the NOAA science and policy of today.
3. Foster further awareness of NOAA Heritage materials and artifacts and their power in telling the NOAA story.

To further these goals, it is hoped that both active and retired NOAA personnel will participate and share their knowledge. To date a number of presenters have agreed to make presentations at dates to be determined.

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Retrospective analysis of U.S. Endangered Species Act listing decisions reveals consistent standards for extinction risk

Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Charlotte Boyd and Barbara Taylor, NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Abstract: The Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides for the conservation of endangered and threatened species in the United States. The ESA is a powerful act - it is therefore important that listing decisions are seen to be objective, consistent, and scientifically and legally defensible. The Act defines ‘endangered’ and ‘threatened’, but does not provide specific guidance on how these definitions should be interpreted. While the two implementing agencies, the Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service, have worked to clarify various terms and establish clear procedures, the lack of clear decision rules for mapping levels of extinction risk to endangered, threatened, or not warranted decisions leaves decision-making open to costly legal challenges. The purpose of the research presented here was to assess whether past listing decisions could be used to inform a set of standards to guide future listing decisions. We found that relatively simple decision rules based on quantitative analysis of extinction risks correspond well to actual listing decisions based on in-depth status reviews for a wide range of marine and anadromous species. We compare several such decision rules and consider how these rules compare with the Ashe memorandum, developed by the FWS to respond to their decision making regarding whether a species should be listed as threatened or endangered, and the IUCN rules employed by Canada and many nations sharing these highly mobile marine species. Using standards based on past listing decisions as reference points for future decisions would promote consistency and transparency while allowing for arguments to be made for exceptions to those standards needed to accommodate the full range of factors that may contribute to endangered or threatened status.

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Some considerations for communicating uncertainty information in severe weather warnings

Date:TO BE RESCHEDULED (orignally scheduled for Wednesday, March 19, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT)

Speaker: Kim Klockow, AMS/UCAR Congressional Science Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science

Abstract: This seminar will provide an overview of some potential opportunities and challenges with communicating uncertainty information, specifically in severe weather warnings. The presentation will highlight key findings from a set of decision experiments conducted using a large (n = 5564) sample of the U.S. public. In the experiment, each participant was presented with different graphical and verbal representations of tornado risk, and they made response choices at various distances to a series of fictitious storms. They also answered questions about their preferences for uncertainty information in various formats, which can be compared to their performance in the experiments, numeracy, and socio-demographic information.

Using this spatial decision setting, several effects became apparent: people inferred uncertainty into deterministic information based on distance; lengthening deterministic warnings caused people closer to the storm to perceive less risk, while people farther from the storm perceived more; simple verbal guidance and explicit estimates of uncertainty both improved decisions in our simulated task; and finally, map design influenced the perception of risk – specifically, using cool colors made people perceive less risk. Implications of findings for warning practice and future research will be discussed.

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Linking Northeast Pacific recruitment synchrony to environmental variability

Date: Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Megan Stachura, Domestic Fisheries Division, NMFS Office of Sustainable Fisheries

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: We investigated the hypothesis that synchronous recruitment is due to a shared susceptibility to environmental processes using stock-recruitment residuals for 52 marine fish stocks within three Northeast Pacific large marine ecosystems: the Eastern Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska, and California Current. There was moderate coherence in exceptionally strong and weak year classes and correlations across stocks. Based on evidence of synchrony from these analyses, we used Bayesian hierarchical models to relate recruitment to environmental covariates for groups of stocks that may be similarly influenced by environmental processes based on their life histories. There were consistent relationships among stocks to the covariates, especially within the Gulf of Alaska and California Current. This presentation will focus on the results from the Gulf of Alaska. The best Gulf of Alaska model included Northeast Pacific sea surface height as a predictor of recruitment, and was particularly strong for stocks dependent on cross-shelf transport during the larval phase for recruitment. Future research may be able to utilize these across-stock environmental influences, in conjunction with an understanding of ecological processes important across early life history stages, to improve identification of environmental drivers of recruitment.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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The International Trade and Fishery Management of Spiny dogfish (Squalus Acanthias) in Light of CITES List Insertion: A Social Network Analysis

Date: Thursday, March 20, 2014 at 12:30pm EDT

Speaker: Andrea Dell’Apa, Healthy Oceans Goal Analyst, Office of Management and Budget

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: The spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) is an important commercial shark species, with recent concerns over its conservation status. The major demand for its meat is from the EU market, with the U.S. and Canada as its two major contributors. The U.S. has yet to support a spiny dogfish listing in the CITES Appendix II, although the U.S. Atlantic stock is under a fishery management plan (FMP) that helped to provide a certified sustainable fishery. A cumulative sum technique was employed to compare trade data for spiny dogfish export from U.S. and Canada to the EU in relation to the FMP adoption. Also, a social network was constructed to visualize changes in the European trade for spiny dogfish after adoption of the FMP and to predict future trade flow potentially affecting the conservation status of regional dogfish stocks in relation to recent management measures introduced in Europe. The social network analysis revealed that the exclusion of spiny dogfish from Appendix II will eventually affect the conservation status of dogfish stocks in Africa, Asia, South America, and the Mediterranean and Black Seas. Results from this study suggest that the species listing would provide an economic benefit for the U.S. Atlantic fishery, and will potentially foster the conservation status of other regional spiny dogfish stocks worldwide.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Productivity and resilience: long-term trends, seasonal variability, and event-driven changes to the plant community of the accreting Wax Lake Delta

Date: Thursday, April 17, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Melissa Carle

Abstract: River deltas are dynamic depositional environments that are controlled to varying degrees by coastal and fluvial forces. Plant communities in deltas respond to many of the same allogenic forces that shape delta geomorphology. This study examines long-term trends, seasonal variability, and storm and flood event-driven changes in the plant community of the Wax Lake delta, a young, actively accreting river delta in coastal Louisiana, USA. A vegetation index (NDVI) calculated from a time series of 94 Landsat MSS and TM images was used to assess the long-term trends, seasonal fluctuations, and storm-event driven changes in plant community productivity within the delta. Analysis of peak growing season NDVI from 1975 to 2011 indicates that both total and mean (per unit area) NDVI in the delta have increased over time and that seasonal fluctuations occur that are related to water temperature and discharge. Comparison of NDVI data from before and after major storm events shows that storms passing directly over or to the west of the delta have a significant short-term impact on the plant community, most likely as a result of salt-water intrusion associated with storm surges. However, in each case, NDVI values recovered to within the 95 percent prediction interval for the long-term trend by the following growing season. Additionally, a combination of WorldView-2 and Land Satellite 5 Thematic Mapper imagery was used to assess the impact of the 2011 Mississippi River flood on the Wax Lake Delta. Vegetation community change was mapped from 2010 to 2011 and related to elevation change using plant species elevation distributions calculated from light detection and ranging (LIDAR) data. Changes in the land area in the delta were also assessed by regressing land area against water level for a series of pre- and post-flood Landsat 5 TM images. The results indicate a net growth of the areal footprint of the delta of approximately 5 km2 at mean sea level following this important flood event. Areal gains were greatest at high water levels, indicating substantial vertical accretion occurred across the subaerial delta. In addition, conversion from lower to higher elevation species was observed over at least 8.7 km2, or 31.8%, of the area studied. Overall, these results indicate that the plant community in the Wax Lake delta is increasing in productivity as the delta matures and continues to accrete both vertically and horizontally over time. The marshes in the delta show great resilience to storm disturbance, and a strong response to allogenic succession driven by extreme flood events. As the Wax Lake delta is essentially the product of an unmanaged river diversion, its productivity and resilience have important implications for large-scale diversions that have proposed to restore marshes elsewhere in the Mississippi River deltaic plain.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Measuring Cetacean Responses to Military Sonar: Southern California Behavioral Response Study (SOCAL:BRS)

Date: Thursday, May 1, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Brandon L. Southall, SEA, Inc., University of California, Santa Cruz, Duke University

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: SOCAL-­-BRS is a multi-­-team collaboration designed to increase understanding of marine mammal behavior and provide a more robust scientific basis for estimating risk and minimizing effects of active, mid-­-frequency military sonar systems. The research team includes interdisciplinary expertise in marine mammal biology, behavior, and communication, as well as underwater acoustics, engineering, and biostatistics. Four field seasons were conducted involving visual observations, passive acoustic monitoring, animal-­-attached acoustic and movement tags, photo ID, biopsy, and controlled sound exposure methods on over 20 cetacean species in biologically important areas throughout the southern California Bight. A total of 137 individuals of ten species were tagged with six tag types, including several [Baird’s beaked whale (Berardius bairdii), Risso’s dolphin (Grampus griseus)] that had not been previously studied using such monitoring tools. Seventy-­-six controlled sound exposure experiments were conducted using specific protocols and protective measures to ensure animals were not harmed. Several sound types, including simulated military sonar, were projected through a deployed sound source from a research vessel and changes in vocal, diving, and horizontal movement behavior were measured. Additionally, in 2013 realistic mid-­-frequency active sonar from operational Navy vessels conducting routine training was integrated into SOCAL-­-BRS CEEs. Received levels on tagged animals were controlled to match (quite well) those from simulated sonar CEEs using in situ sound propagation modeling to position Navy vessels. Results to date indicate that Cuvier’s beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris) react most strongly to simulated sonar exposures with clear changes in vocal and diving behavior indicating avoidance responses at low received sound levels. Blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) responses are more variable and depend on complex interactions of exposure conditions and individual behavioral state. Ongoing efforts include expanding sample sizes in other species using simulated sounds and with a strong emphasis on the use of operational Navy mid-­-frequency sonar systems to investigate the role of source proximity and exposure context on the type and nature of potential responses across species.

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Stop the Presses: Leveraging News and Company Information with Nexis

Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speakers: Karen DeLong (LexisNexis Group-HBE), Chris Vestal (LexisNexis Group-HBE), Mary Lou Cumberpatch, NOAA Central Library

Abstract: This Brown Bag seminar will highlight the rich sources of information available through Nexis.com. You will learn how to search for full-text newspapers, magazines, reports, and newsletters including the Washington Post, Time magazine, Harvard Business Review, The Atlantic, PC Magazine, Popular Science, and hundreds more news sources; vet companies or people with public records and news resources to mitigate supply chain risks; set up News alerts to monitor the latest developments in your subject area; conduct company and industry research; and find specific concepts or people using advanced subject indexing. Nexis is available NOAA-wide from your NOAA Library.

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Lessons Learned from Eight Years as NOAA Administrator

Date: Thursday, May 15, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: D. James Baker, former NOAA Administrator

Abstract: Join Dr. D. James Baker, NOAA's seventh administrator, as he reflects on eight years as NOAA Administrator. Dr. Baker served as NOAA Administrator during the administration of President Clinton, from May 1993 until January 2001

Note: This seminar is part of the NOAA History Roundtable Brown Bag Seminar series.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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The Coast Survey - The Early Years 1807-1860.

Date: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Albert Theberge of the NOAA Central Library. He will present a series of seminars on the history of NOAA's oldest ancestor agency, the Coast Survey

Abstract: TBD

Note: This seminar is part of the NOAA History Roundtable Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Fungicide alters community and disease dynamics in an aquatic ecosystem

Date: Thursday, May 22, 2014 at 12:00 noon EDT

Speaker: Shane Hanlon, Division of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

Abstract: Chytridiomycosis, an emerging infectious amphibian disease caused by the pathogenic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, has played a major role in amphibian declines. Studies have also shown that widespread pesticide use contributes to declines in amphibian health. Because these causes are not mutually exclusive, studies must examine the effects of multiple concurrent perturbations on amphibian declines. We conducted field studies to determine the interactive effects of the fungicide thiophanate-methyl (TM; at 3 concentrations) and Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis in southern leopard frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus) tadpoles. In the field, we replicated similar treatments in aquatic mesocosms prepared to simulate aquatic communities. Tadpoles were added to the mesocosms after hatching, frogs were collected upon metamorphosis, and measures of survival or growth were assessed. We also recorded aquatic community measures to assess the effects of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and TM on aquatic community composition. Based on previous studies, we predicted that Bd and TM would act in opposition to directly affect amphibian health, while TM would alter aquaticcommunity composition, possibly negating the direct effects of either pressure on the amphibians. Counter to our predictions, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis mitigated the effects of TM by "protecting" tadpoles from TM-induced mortality, and both Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and TM altered aquatic community composition. However, we conclude that alterations to the measured aquatic community variables were not the cause of tadpole mortality, as has been recorded in previous studies. Our research illustrates that interactions between pesticides and pathogens impact amphibian health and aquatic community composition.

 

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Temporal patterns in fishing effort: using multilevel methods to explore the changes in time allocation according to the lunar cycle of a small-scale fishery in eastern Indonesia. Is socio-environmental variability redefining fishing profiles?

Date:Thursday, May 22, 2014 at 12:30 pm EDT

Speaker: Victoria Ramenzoni, NOAA Office of Program Planning and Integration

Abstract: The study of fishing behavior is central to the design of effective harvesting policies. Looking at the changes in the time spent fishing during the traditional lunar calendar; this research explored how environmental uncertainty is affecting patterns of effort in an artisanal tuna fishery in Eastern Indonesia. It relied on a combination of standard statistical approaches, multilevel models, and discrimination analysis applied to long-term repeated observations of fishing events (n: 2633). Results permitted to generate three fishing profiles that might explain the time spent fishing: generalist, conservative and opportunistic. Findings challenge previous research of the effect of the lunar cycle on effort, suggesting that new socio-ecological pressures have an impact on the time spent fishing during the full moon. This conclusion extends beyond equipment type (motorboat and canoes) and states the importance of studying adaptation processes and responses to change.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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The Coast Survey and the Civil War

Date: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Albert Theberge of the NOAA Central Library.

Abstract: The role of the Coast Survey in the Civil War is little known or understood. The Coast Survey served in virtually all theaters of the Civil War as topographers, hydrographers, scouts, and aides-de-camp. Coast Survey information was used in developing Union strategy for the overall conduct of the war, in developing tactics for certain individual battles, and in helping mold public opinion in the North through the Slavery Map and other cartographic products. Some of the most beautiful and accurate maps of the Civil War were produced by Coast Surveyors - Chattanooga and Vicksburg being prime examples. Blind artillery fire, using geodetic positioning techniques, was first developed by the Coast Survey for the use of David Dixon Porter's mortar boats on the lower Mississippi. March and sail with the Survey through many of the major campaigns of the Civil War - with McClellan on the Peninsula, Grant at Vicksburg and Chattanooga, Farragut and Porter on the Mississippi, and Dupont and Dahlgren during the blockade of Charleston. This is the third seminar of seven detailing the history of the Coast Survey, NOAA's oldest ancestor organization.

Note: This seminar is part of the NOAA History Roundtable Brown Bag Seminar series.

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The Development of Operational Long-Range Weather Prediction in the U.S.

Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2014 at 12:00 pm EDT

Speaker: Bob Reeves

Abstract: TBD

Note: This seminar is part of the NOAA History Roundtable Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Brown Bag Seminar

Date: Thursday, June 5, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Ambassador Mark P. Lagon, Global Politics and Security Chair at the Master of Science Program in Foreign Service (MSFS) Program at Georgetown University.

Abstract: Ambassador Lagon will discuss illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and organized crime.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the Law of the Sea Convention Working Group brown bag series.

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The Arctic Open Water Season Conflict Avoidance Agreement and the Management of Development Impacts in the Marine Environment

Date: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: is an attorney in private practice specializing in natural resource issues, including the mitigation of local impacts resulting from resource development. She has served as counsel to the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission since 1985 and also serves as counsel to the Arctic Marine Mammal Coalition and the Alaska Nanuuq Commission. She recently published A Pioneering Effort in the Design of Process and Law Supporting Integrated Arctic Ocean Management in the Environmental Law Reporter, 43 ELR 10893 (October 2013).

Abstract: Ocean management experts, along with development experts in other fields, increasingly recognize the need for mechanisms to reduce user conflicts and address trade offs among competing uses of coastal zones, land, and natural resources. The terms "ecosystem-based management" and "marine spatial planning" express the awareness that we are in an age where decision-makers need tools to help them balance development demands against adverse impacts to local ecosystems and economies. These issues are especially prevalent where energy development and commercial activities are expanding in our coastal waters and the oceans beyond. Offshore oil and gas development in arctic Alaska carries a high risk of interference with nutritionally and culturally critical bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) subsistence hunting. Since the mid-1980s, the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission has engaged offshore oil and gas exploration and development companies, including oil majors, in an annual process of collaboration and negotiation to create mitigation measures capable of avoiding adverse impacts to bowhead whales, habitat, and hunting opportunities. The process, founded on local ecological knowledge and western science, has become a staple of offshore oil and gas development in arctic Alaska. In addition to avoiding adverse impacts to subsistence uses that are protected under federal law, this highly efficient process also reduces conflicts that might otherwise slow offshore permitting. This system of collaboration provides useful insights into how the general concepts of ecosystem-based management and marine spatial planning might be implemented in practice in other settings.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA Office of General Counsel.

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Dynamics of soundscape in a shallow water marine environment of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin

Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Shane Guan, Office of Protected Resources, NOAA Fisheries

Abstract: Many aquatic animals use acoustic cues for orientation, communication, predation detection, and predator avoidance. Therefore, underwater acoustic field is an important ecological element for critical life functions of many aquatic animals. This research examines the soundscape of a critically endangered Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) population in the shallow water environment off the west coast of Taiwan. Underwater acoustic recordings were conducted between late spring and late fall in 2012 at Yunlin (YL), which is close to a shipping lane, and Waisanding (WS), which is relatively pristine. Site specific analyses were performed on the dynamics of the temporal and spectral acoustic characteristics for both locations. The results showed that the soundscape is dominated by acoustic energies in two major octave bands: 150-300 Hz and 1.2-2.4 kHz. The acoustic energy in the former frequency band is mainly associated with large container vessels in the shipping lane near YL, while the latter frequency band is from sonic fish chorus at nighttime. Further analyses indicate that sound from the fish may have more effects on the dolphin's communication, which occurs mostly within the octave band between 3 and 6 kHz. In addition, extremely large variation of low frequency acoustic energy throughout the study period was noticed at WS, where the water depths ranged between 1 and 4 m depending on tidal cycle. Fourier analyses of tidal levels and low frequency sound pressure showed matching periods of these variations, although with different phases. It is hypothesized that this phenomenon was probably caused by the inefficiency propagation of low-frequency acoustic waves in shallow water, which underlines the importance of geophysical feature in shaping the small-scale soundscape characteristics.

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The Arc of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on Capitol Hill: What Congress' Changing Perceptions of NEPA Over the Years Means for Those Who Implement NEPA

Date: Thursday, June 12, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Horst Greczmiel, Associate Director for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Oversight, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), Executive Office of the President

Abstract: Mr. Greczmiel will share the story of an environmental statute that was passed with vast bipartisan support in 1969, experienced its glory days, and suffered degradation through congressional exemptions and frustration.

Note: Note: This is part 2 of the NEPA Brown Bag Series sponsored by NOAA's Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI)

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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From Sea to Shining Sea - Triumphs and Disasters of the Coast and Geodetic Survey 1867-1917

Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Albert Theberge of the NOAA Central Library. He will present a series of seminars on the history of NOAA's oldest ancestor agency, the Coast Survey.

Abstract:TBD

Note: This seminar is part of the NOAA History Roundtable Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Unmanned Maritime Vehicles: Regulatory Initiatives

Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Rand D. LeBouvier, Ph.D., CAPT, USN (ret) is the Strategic Communications Director at Bluefin Robotics Corporation. Dr. LeBouvier served for nearly 30 years in the U.S. Navy, retiring from the service as the Director of the Decision Making and Implementation course at the Naval War College. He was the first Head, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) Section in the Air Warfare directorate in OPNAV where he was responsible for resources and requirements for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance UAV, the Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle, the Vertical Take-off and Landing UAV, and the Tactical Control System. Previous assignments include Current Operations officer on the SEVENTHFLT staff homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, commissioning Commanding Officer of USS Carter Hall, assistant Surface Commander and Lieutenant Commander Assignment Officer at BUPERS in Washington, D.C., Executive Officer of USS Germantown, where he participated in Operations Desert Storm/ Desert Shield, and J-5 Navy Planner for United States Southern Command in Panama, where he participated in the planning and execution of Operation Just Cause in December 1989.

Abstract: The presentation will discuss national and international efforts to classify, certify and regulate unmanned maritime systems including both surface and undersea vehicles. Recent efforts to engage the legal and safety ramifications of these technologies operating within territorial waters and on the high seas are similar to those experienced in the unmanned air vehicle industry operating in controlled airspace. Fortunately, lessons learned from the air domain may prevent a recurrence of the issues encountered with regulatory agencies such as the FAA that have caused inhibitive delays and missed opportunities in the development of unmanned air systems. Industry has a duty to ensure it anticipates and addresses safety, legal and even ethical concerns properly before uninformed popular perception drives response. Early mutual engagement between industry and these agencies can eliminate misunderstanding and can inform unmanned systems manufacturers and operators as to best practices and procedures. Adopting a cooperative stewardship approach to the environment in which they operate and with the agencies that watch over it will stand the unmanned maritime systems industry in good stead. This presentation will review key regulatory and standardization efforts currently underway.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA Office of General Counsel.

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Effects of stormwater management and stream restoration on watershed nitrogen retention

Date: Thursday, June 19, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Tammy Newcomer Johnson, NOAA National Sea Grant Office and University of Maryland

Abstract: Restoring urban infrastructure and managing the nitrogen cycle represent emerging challenges for urban water quality. We investigated whether stormwater control measures (SCMs), a form of green infrastructure, integrated into restored and degraded urban stream networks can influence watershed nitrogen loads. We hypothesized that hydrologically connected floodplains and SCMs are "hot spots" for nitrogen removal through denitrification because they have ample organic carbon, low dissolved oxygen levels, and extended hydrologic residence times. We tested this hypothesis by comparing nitrogen retention metrics in two urban stream networks (one restored and one urban degraded) that each contain SCMs, and a forested reference watershed at the Baltimore Long-Term Ecological Research site. We used an urban watershed continuum approach which included sampling over both space and time with a combination of: (1) longitudinal reach-scale mass balances of nitrogen and carbon conducted over 2 years during baseflow and storms (n = 24 sampling dates x 15 stream reaches = 360) and (2) 15N push-pull tracer experiments to measure in situ denitrification in SCMs and floodplain features (n = 72). The SCMs consisted of inline wetlands installed below a storm drain outfall at one urban site (restored Spring Branch) and a wetland/wet pond configured in an oxbow design to receive water during high flow events at another highly urbanized site (Gwynns Run). The SCMs significantly decreased total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) concentrations at both sites and significantly increased dissolved organic carbon at one site. At Spring Branch, TDN retention estimated by mass balance (g/day) was ~150 times higher within the stream network than the SCMs. There were no significant differences between mean in situ denitrification rates between SCMs and hydrologically connected floodplains. Longitudinal N budgets along the stream network showed that hydrologically connected floodplains were important sites for watershed nitrogen retention due to groundwater-surface water interactions. Overall, our results indicate that hydrologic variability can influence nitrogen source/sink dynamics along engineered stream networks. Our analysis also suggests that some major predictors for watershed N retention were: (1) streamwater and groundwater flux through stream restoration or stormwater management controls, (2) hydrologic residence times, and (3) surface area of hydrologically connected features.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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The Next Generation of Legal Research with Lexis Advance

Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Chris Vestal (LexisNexis Group-HBE), Mary Lou Cumberpatch, NOAA Central Library

Abstract: In this session you will explore Lexis Advance, the next generation in legal research. You will learn how to:

• Research all available content, including Web sources-with one search.
• Enter search words in the red search box no source selection needed!
• Zero in on results you need with powerful, easy-to-use filters.
• Save documents, selected text, searches, Web links and much more, to Work Folders you manage.

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Exploring Labor and Employment Law

Date: Tuesday, June 24, 2014 at 3:00pm EDT

Speaker: Chris Vestal (LexisNexis Group-HBE), Mary Lou Cumberpatch, NOAA Central Library

Abstract: This session will enable you to:

• Use advanced search techniques in case law, FLRA, and MSPB decisions
• Limit your search to specific sections of documents to retrieve more relevant results
• Quickly search in secondary content dealing with labor and employment law
• Creating custom groups of databases to search in simultaneously
• Lexis is Available NOAA-wide from your NOAA Library

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Searching for Accountability: Do Efforts Such as GPRA, GPRAMA, and PART Help?

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Beryl Radin, Georgetown University, McCourt School of Public Policy

Abstract: For the past several decades, performance measurement requirements have become a crucial part of the effort to improve accountability in the federal government. Requirements have been attached to the budget process that seek to link measures of effectiveness to the funding of those programs. While the urge to improve program effectiveness is commendable, the experience with GPRA and PART has not always led to that goal. This presentation will review the reasons for this problem and draw on the NOAA experience with these efforts

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Committee.

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Invasive Blue and Flathead Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay

Date: Monday, July 14, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Bruce Vogt, Ecosystem Science and Synthesis Manager, NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office

Abstract: Blue and flathead catfish are considered invasive species in the Chesapeake Bay, as they have rapidly expanded into nearly every major tributary in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Blue and flathead catfish have the potential to comprise a highly valued recreational fishery as well as negatively affecting native species and the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. The NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office funds research on invasive catfish to help further understand their basic biology and potential negative effects on native species and human health. Research findings will help inform management and mitigation strategies. A report from the Invasive Catfish Task force is currently being drafted to develop recommendations to slow and reduce the spread of invasive catfish populations, minimize ecological and economic impacts, and improve public awareness.

Remote access via webinar will be available. See the General Information section above for details.

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Reflections On My Time Aboard the JOHN N. COBB

Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: John C. Bortniak, CDR, NOAA Corps, Retired

Abstract: As part of the continuing History Roundtable series, John Bortniak will give a presentation of his experiences in Alaska as Commanding Officer aboard the NOAA ship JOHN N. COBB (and MURRE II) from 1990 to 1993. John will cover a bit of history of the COBB and the person it was named after, the mission of the vessel with operational photos, a tour of several points in Southeast Alaska, and of course, lots of beautiful pictures of Alaskan scenery and wildlife.

Note: This seminar is part of the NOAA History Roundtable Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Social Media and Severe Weather: What Do We Know and Where are We Going?

Date: Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Joe Ripberger, CIMMS, National Severe Storms Laboratory

Abstract: According to a recent report by the Department of Homeland Security, "social media and collaborative technologies have become critical components of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery" (2013). These technologies are critical because they provide a centralized mechanism for two-way communication before, during, and after disasters that allows the National Weather Service, Emergency Managers, the media, and affected communities to disseminate and receive information about a hazard in near real-time. As yet, however, we know relative little about who participates in this exchange of information and how it transpires throughout the course of an event. In this presentation, I will address this void by answering three basic yet important research questions: (1) Who uses social media to get information about severe weather and how has this evolved over time? (2) How does social media usage evolve throughout the course of a severe weather event? (3) What do meteorologists and forecasters think about social media and how has it changed the way they approach their jobs?

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Case-Zablocki Act

Date: Friday, July 25, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Hugh Schratwieser, NOAA Office of General Counsel

Presentation Slides (pdf format)

Abstract: This brown bag presentation will address the law and policies regarding international agreements and memoranda of understanding between NOAA and counterparts in foreign nations. Hugh Schratwieser of the NOAA Office of General Counsel Weather, Satellites and Research Section will provide an overview of the Case-Zablocki Act and its implementation by the Department of Commerce and NOAA's Office of General Counsel. Authority for making most determinations under the Case-Zablocki Act for NOAA international agreements is delegated to the NOAA General Counsel by the Department of Commerce General Counsel. Additional information on the Case-Zablocki Act and its implementation by the Department of Commerce and NOAA is available online at http://www.gc.noaa.gov/gc_case_zablocki.html. NOAA GC guidance on legal determinations under the Case-Zablocki Act is available online at http://www.gc.noaa.gov/documents/082604-faq-case-act-2p.pdf.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the International Section of the NOAA Office of General Counsel.

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Title>Hurricane Sandy and SWATH Network

Date: Thursday, July 31, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Robert Mason and Harry Jenter, USGS, John Fulton, NOAA

Robert Mason Presentation slides (pdf)

John Fulton Presentation slides (pdf)

Harry Jenter Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: Understanding the evolution and dissipation of overland storm tides and waves as they move across natural and manmade landscapes is critical to increasing coastal resilience and establishing early warning systems for coastal storm hazards. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the USGS is building an overland Surge, Wave, and Tide Hydrodynamics (SWaTH) network along the Atlantic Coast from Virginia through Maine to provide more timely storm-surge and wave data to enhance public awareness, help forecasters predict surge impacts, and inform emergency responders. During this brown-bag presentation the presenters will describe plans for implementation of the SWaTH and discuss collaborative opportunities and user needs and solicit input from NOAA scientists and engineers.

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Developing Holistic Marine Data Management Solutions

Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Presentation slides (pdf)

Speaker: Rob Bochenek, Information Architect and CEO, Axiom Data Science -- Rob Bochenek is an information Architect at Axiom Data Science an Anchorage based data science and cyberinfrastructure technology firm. Rob has over 15 years experience developing data management systems for a wide array of ecological and geophysical data types and user groups. He is also the technical lead for the Central and Northern California Observing System (CeNCOOS) and the Alaska Ocean Observing System (AOOS) which are both regional associations for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS).

Abstract: Data management of marine and coastal research data is particularly challenging because it can include a vast range of subjects and variables. Data relevant to marine scientists may include field, expedition or cruise observations, laboratory analyses, data from remote sensing satellite and observational platforms, model outputs, and various other sources. From a systems-level perspective, model and satellite data are often in standardized data formats and are easier to manage in an automated fashion than project level data (e.g., ad hoc spreadsheets and databases). However, these project data may be complex in nature, large in size (megabytes to terabytes) and packaged in advanced formats. Project data typically require individualized review, and even experts within subfields may have difficulty using data from different sources because of the plethora of data collection protocols. This talk will explore these issues more deeply, discuss strategies and demonstrate several technologies which have been developed to address these problems in a holistic way. The Research Workspace, being actively used by several NOAA research campaigns, will be presented as a solution for researchers to centralize, secure, share, document and publish projects, data and metadata. Additionally, several examples of cyberinfrastructure, developed with funding from NOAA and others, will be demonstrated which enable data resources (GIS, numerical models/remote sensed, sensor networks, time series and research project assets) to be discovered, integrated and visualized. Examples of these types of systems can be accessed online at http://portal.aoos.org/ and http://data.cencoos.org/.

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Innovative ways to visualize and analyze environmental time-series data

Date: Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Dr. Richard Koehler, instructional hydrologist with the NWS Training Division and is located in Boulder, Colorado, and a retired lieutenant commander (NOAA Corps) with years of hydrographic, geodetic, and oceanographic data collection experience while aboard NOAA ships. Dr. Richard Koehler is a certified professional hydrologist with 30 years of environmental and water resources expertise. He is a retired lieutenant commander (NOAA Corps) with years of hydrographic, geodetic, and oceanographic data collection experience while aboard NOAA ships. Never satisfied with traditional time plots, he developed an intuitive way to view time-series which became the basis of his dissertation from the University of Arizona. The US Geological Survey has incorporated his techniques into the USGS Water Water website as a visualization tool. He is currently an instructional hydrologist with the NWS Training Division and is located in Boulder, CO.

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: An environmental time-series dataset plotted as a "time map" and analyzed in a GIS-like manner offers environmental scientists and professionals an alternative approach to examining multiple types of time-series data. This technique can integrate data from numerous sources such as observations, model output, or other time-based data. Case studies and applications of multi-scale pattern identification and data QA/QC are presented to demonstrate the power of this technique. Important differences between time maps and spatial maps are shown. Specific visualization examples include streamflow, salmon migration, water temperature, drought indices, climate change scenarios, meteorological measurements and SNOTEL snowpack metrics.

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Title: Rebels with a cause: engineering diatoms into fuel factories

Date: Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 12:00-12:30 pm EDT

Speaker: Emily Trentacoste, NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture, California Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, emily.trentacoste@noaa.gov

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: Diatoms are rebels of the microalgae world. They have unique evolutionary histories, bafflingly diverse metabolisms and bizarrely intricate morphologies. Many of the characteristics that make diatoms such oddballs among microalgae also make them excellent candidates as sources for biofuels. Engineering microalgae to produce lipids for fuel is not a new concept; however, all engineering attempts thus far have resulted in organisms with decreased fitness, which thwarts the advantages of using microalgae to produce fuel in the first place. We characterized, identified and targeted a previously ignored pathway - that of lipid catabolism, or the breakdown of lipids - for engineering. By knocking down the function of a specific lipase using targeted antisense RNA techniques, we produced strains that accumulated four times as many fuel-relevant lipids as wild-type strains, but showed no decrease in growth or division. This work showed that contrary to popular thought, growth and lipid accumulation are not mutually exclusive in microalgae.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Title: International relations: Exploring global diversity, dispersal, and environmental selection in a marine diatom species

Date: Thursday, August 21, 2014 at 12:30-1:00 pm EDT

Speaker: Kerry Whittaker, NMFS Office of Protected Resources, Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, Rhode Island, Kerry.Whittaker@noaa.gov

Abstract: Diatoms exhibit astounding levels of inter and intraspecific diversity, yet the mechanisms driving their diversification are little understood. I determined global population structure among > 450 isolates of the cosmopolitan, ecologically important diatom species Thalassiosira rotula. A "global snapshot" approach was used to sample isolates throughout a single year (2010) at sites distributed across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean basins and hemispheres. Isolates were genotyped using six microsatellite markers developed from 454 sequencing of this species. Clonal diversity within sites was as high as 100%, and divergence between sites reached FST values upwards of 0.2. The presence of genetically distinct populations demonstrates that significant divergence can occur despite the high potential for dispersal in these planktonic organisms. Principle coordinates analysis (PCA) and isolation-by-distance measures demonstrated that genetic distance was unrelated to geographic distance, suggesting that distance does not limit connectivity among diatom populations. Instead, genetic connectivity over global geographic space and time was significantly correlated with abiotic (temperature) and ecological (chlorophyll a) factors of the marine environment. These data suggest that geographic distance is not a barrier to genetic connectivity among diatom populations; instead, vast genetic diversity and high genetic structure is maintained and supported by ecological selection occurring over space and time.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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The USGS Hurricane Sandy Integrated Science Plan

Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: John Haines and Matthew Andersen, USGS

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: The USGS, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, developed an integrated science plan across our diverse research programs. This presentation will provide an overview of the ongoing implementation of that plan with the objective to identify specific areas for further development and enhanced collaboration with NOAA programs in the short and long term. Following the thematic structure of our Sandy Science Plan ( http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1390/) the presentation will provide an introduction to the following activities:

Coastal Topography and Bathymetry - Overview of region-wide collection of Lidar data throughout the Sandy impact zone, improved products for delivery of topo-bathy elevation, and USGS research Lidar capabilities.

Impacts to Coastal Beaches and Barriers -The USGS has supported a sustained effort to provide tools to assess coastal vulnerability to storms, erosion, and sea-level rise. Storm vulnerability forecasts rely on NOAA data and forecasts and are provided for both "scenario" storms for long-term planning and in response to impending storms.

Environmental Quality and Persisting Contaminant Exposures, and Impacts to Coastal Ecosystems, Habitats, and Fish and Wildlife -USGS scientists have been investigating the impacts that storm-released pollutants may have had on animals, specifically mussels and sea turtles. Mussels have been collected at NOAA Mussel Watch sites. USGS scientists have also been studying the impacts of the storm at wetlands all along the mid-Atlantic and Northeast coasts using a dispersed network of surface elevation tables (SETs). About 10 of these SET locations are within the NOAA National Estuarine Research Reserve System between Virginia and Maine.

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Ecological Impacts of Climate-Related Ichthyofaunal Shifts and Invasive Lionfish on the Northern Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Community

Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 12:30-1:00pm EDT

Speaker: Tony Marshak, Office of Science and Technology, NOAA Fisheries

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Large and apparently unprecedented increases in the abundance of juvenile gray (Lutjanus griseus) and lane snapper (L. synagris) within northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) seagrasses have been recently documented. Although previously occurring infrequently within the nGOM, their increased abundance coincides with regional warming trends, and may result in higher offshore presence. Additionally, recent invasion by the Indo-Pacific red lionfish (Pterois volitans) into nGOM offshore habitats has been documented. Increases in tropically-associated confamilials, and invasive lionfish, could result in pronounced competitive interactions with nGOM reef fishes, such as juvenile red snapper (L. campechanus), and cause shifts in the species composition of offshore fish assemblages. We experimentally investigated the intensity of these interactions between increasingly abundant tropical snapper species, red lionfish, and indigenous members of the nGOM reef fish community. Compared to tropical counterparts, red snapper demonstrated increased roving behavior, aggression, and predatory activity, suggesting greater ability to exploitatively outcompete lower latitude snappers. However, lionfish were significantly more active than red snapper and range-shifting reef fishes, suggesting their potential to competitively displace nGOM fish species. Our findings contribute to the assessment of the potential impacts of warming-related species shifts and marine invasions upon the nGOM reef-associated fish community.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Round gobies in the Great Lakes Basin: How the spreading invasion is affecting diets and growth of top predators in Lake Huron tributaries.

Date: Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at 12:00-12:30 pm EDT

Speaker: Clarence Fullard, Aquatic Invasive Species Analyst, NOAA/NMFS, 2014 Knauss Sea Grant Fellow

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) are small (<150mm) benthic invasive fish now common to the Laurentian Great Lakes region. Although well studied in lakes, less research has investigated how the secondary invasion of round gobies into Great Lakes tributaries is changing riverine food webs. Previous studies have found increased predation of round gobies by smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in many areas of the Great Lakes where round gobies are common. This study used diet, growth, and stable isotope analysis of two lotic predators, smallmouth bass and rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris), to determine the impacts of round gobies to stream food webs in three Michigan rivers with different round goby abundances. Seasonal predation of round gobies occurred, but differed between predators and between rivers. There were positive relationships between round goby consumption and predator trophic positions, indicating that increased round goby populations are lengthening food chains leading to these predators. Contrary to other studies in the Great Lakes, increased round goby predation did not result in increased predator growth rates. Opportunistic and highly variable feeding habits may be buffering predators from significant changes to their trophic ecology and growth rates, which is contrary to the belief that these invasive fish are boosting the growth of popular game species.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Ocean Acidification and its potential affects on Alaska fisheries and communities.

Date: Monday, September 15, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Dr. Jeremy Mathis, oceanographer at NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory in Seattle, and the director of the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences Ocean Acidification Research Center.

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: The intensity, extent and duration of ocean acidification (OA) in the coastal areas around Alaska will increase as human-caused carbon dioxide continues to rise. Important commercial and subsistence fisheries in Alaska take place where enhanced OA will occur. Coastal human communities in southeast and southwest Alaska are highly reliant on fishery harvests and face the highest risk from OA. The results from a new study led by Dr. Jeremy Mathis and partners that assessed the vulnerability of coastal communities in Alaska will be discussed along with the regional OA observational program that includes moorings, gliders and coastal cruises.

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World War I and Its Aftermath: The Commissioned Service of the Coast and Geodetic Survey; the Rise of Photogrammetry, Acoustics, and Electronics; Dust Bowl and Great Depression

Date: Wednesday, September 17, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker:Albert Theberge, NOAA Central Library

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Presentation Slides (pptx with audio)

Abstract:From the period just prior to the beginning of WW I until that just prior to the beginning of WW II was a period of great flux in the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Three outstanding directors guided the efforts of the Survey during this period. The first was Ernest Lester Jones, who upon the advent of WW I, helped assure legislation that formed the commissioned service of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, the forerunner of today's NOAA Corps. Under his guidance, new techniques in electronics, printing, navigation, seismology, and aeronautical charting were incorporated into the survey. New ships were obtained as well. Upon his passing away in 1929, Raymond Stanton Patton became the director. Under Patton, shoreline preservation became a major thrust as did engineering seismology. Perhaps, the greatest accomplishment during the Patton administration was the expansion of the National Geodetic Network as WPA funds became available during the Depression years. Thousands of engineers were hired and geodetic survey parties traversed the United States adding to both the latitude/longitude networks and the establishment of elevation points putting the nation on a common elevation datum. Following Patton, Leo Otis Colbert took over the helm of the Survey, continuing the work of his predecessors, but also helping prepare the Survey for its finest hour, its work during the Second World War.

Note: This seminar is part of the NOAA History Roundtable Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Geospatial Data Sharing and Collaborative Decision Making: Addressing Climate Resilience, Extreme Weather and National Preparedness.

Date: Thursday, September 18, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Dave Jones, Founder and CEO, Applications Futurist, StormCenter Communications, Inc

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Presentation Slides (pptx with audio)

Abstract:TBD

Evaluation of Conflict Interventions: Challenges and Solutions

Date: Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Bruce Hemmer, Research Analyst, U.S. Department of State

Abstract: Conducting evaluations in conflict environments presents challenges that are in some ways similar to those facing NOAA when evaluating responses to weather and water emergencies. Determining the effectiveness of conflict interventions can be confounded by complex, dynamic and often dangerous conditions on the ground, limiting the ability to collect data with with which to conduct a meaningful evaluation. These challenges can be met in several ways: preparing staff and institutions for the conditions they will encounter, employing remote or passive techniques of collecting data as needed, establishing robust baselines, conducting real-time or interim evaluation, process-tracing and building local evaluation capacity.

This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Training and Capacity Building Subcommittee

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The Coast and Geodetic Survey's Finest Hour

Date: Friday, September 26, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Albert Theberge, NOAA Central Library

Presentation Slides (powerpoint slides with audio)

Presentation Slides (powerpoint slides without audio)

Presentation Slides (revised version) (powerpoint slides)

Abstract:The Second World War marked the finest hour of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey (C&GS;). Following in the wake of the World War I law that established a commissioned service in the C&GS;, over half of the officer contingent as well as 1100 civilians from the Survey served in the armed forces of the United States. Three major ships of the Survey were transferred into the Navy and served from the Aleutians to Guadalcanal. Coast Surveyors served in the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps in all major theaters of war as artillery surveyors, hydrographers, intelligence officers, cartographers, photogrammetrists, and navigators. They were at El Guettar, Sicily, Anzio, Monte Cassino, the Falaise Gap, the Bulge, and marched through Germany. In the Pacific, they served from Guadalcanal through New Guinea, the Philippines, Guam, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and on to Tokyo Bay. On the homefront, Coast Surveyors produced nearly 100 million maps and charts for Allied operations. For good measure, they also designed a world aeronautical chart system that was adopted by the International Civil Aeronautical Organization following the war. Join the Coast Survey as it helps put "iron on target", map uncharted reefs and islands of the Pacific, and help bring the world into a new era following the war.

Note: This seminar is part of the NOAA History Roundtable Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Oceanography in Antarctica: a Sample from the Deep South

Date: Thursday, October 2, 12:00pm-12:30pm

Speaker: Sandy Aylesworth, NOAA's Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs

Abstract:Since 1961, the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) has fostered a unique model of international cooperation to preserve the continent as a scientific reserve and promote research while banning military activity. Scientists are well acquainted with the challenges of conducting oceanographic research-oceanography is deeply labor and resource-intensive regardless of its location. In spite of those challenges, scientists have long studied the Southern Ocean and Antarctica's coastal waters. For decades, the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) has advanced oceanography in the Southern Ocean through work on the research vessels the Laurence M. Gould and Nathanial B. Palmer. Over the course of seven oceanographic cruises with voyages to Palmer Station, McMurdo Station, the Drake Passage and Amundsen Sea, I developed an appreciation for both the abundance and fragility of the Antartic marine ecosystem. In spite of the international terrestrial protections, Antarctic marine ecosystems are experiencing a host of dramatic changes and pressures, including sharp declines in krill populations, a loss of sea ice, and fishing. I will discuss the logistics and mechanics of conducting oceanography in extreme cold and wind, and share scientists' observations about the rapidly-changing Antarctic.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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The roles of nutrient dynamics and oceanographic processes in the structure and functioning of rocky intertidal macrophyte assemblages

Date: Date: Thursday, October 2 12:30pm-1:00pm

Speaker: Speaker: Sarah L. Close, OAR Climate Program Office

Abstract: In rocky intertidal habitats, oceanographic variability influences benthic communities primarily via changes in temperature, propagule delivery, and nutrient availability. Nutrient availability especially is thought to influence the diverse and productive macrophyte assemblages in these communities. While bottom-up regulation of communities provisioned by resource subsidies is known to play a role in community dynamics in this system, we are still developing an understanding of how this influences macrophytes. For intertidal macrophytes in coastal ecosystems, regional-scale oceanographic processes such as upwellig largely drive nutrient availability. Hence, coastal oceanography can be an important facator linking local areas across large spatial scales, and resolving the patterns of rocky intertidal macrophyte nutrient content (measured as athe ratio of carbon to nitrogen, or C:N) may provide insight to the coupling of local ecological and regional oceanographic processes. To examine biogeographic patterns of C:N ratios in intertidal macrophytes, and their relationship to oceanographic conditions, we conducted a study of these factors for four ecologically dominant species across 900 km of coastline in the northern California Current Large Marine Ecosystem over a 10 year period. We examined the relationship of macrophyte C:N to environmental forcing at the spatial scales appropriate to assess C:N--environment links in upwelling-influenced habitats.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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p>A case study for urban estuaries: All about the Delaware!

Date: Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Anna Hermes, NOAA Research Office of Labs and Cooperative Institutes and the Science Advisory Board, New Jersey Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, anna.hermes@noaa.gov

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Estuaries link terrestrial and marine biomes. They are locations of great complexity, with interwoven and often competing human and natural systems, now facing further and often un-quantified impacts from climate change. They provide conduits for trade, fresh drinking water for urban cities, and natural resources such as fisheries, and simultaneously often also sustain incredibly diverse wetlands, house migratory species, and act as buffers from storms. Balancing these often opposing forces requires a basic understanding of the physical, chemical, and biological processes of estuaries. Here, the Delaware Estuary is used as a case study. This presentation will demonstrate that long- term, interdisciplinary research programs can provide a more holistic understanding of how these components are interconnected, while specifically addressing the biogeochemistry of the Delaware. Sources of particulate organic carbon through the estuary for multiple seasons were assessed using stable carbon isotopes and organic biomarkers. Biomarker distributions revealed that bottom waters are geochemically distinct from surface waters, and that land-derived organic carbon is trapped in bottom waters where fresh and saltwater meet. Compound specific stable carbon isotopes of the biomarkers further suggest that a significant proportion of the land-derived material trapped mid-estuary is derived from marshes in the lower estuary. These results have implications for how land and sediment management practices will impact the overall carbon cycling in the Delaware, and also demonstrate the connectivities in these systems that can be identified through integrative study.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Blue Crabs and Freshwater Inflows: Local Behaviors to Global Perspectives

Date: Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 12:30 pm

Speaker: Kimberly Bittler, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Department of the Interior, Texas Sea Grant Knauss Fellow, kmbittler@gmail.com

Abstract: Freshwater inflows are critical for the function and health of estuaries, but can become severely limited due to human use, drought, and diversions. The management of limited freshwater inflows is a growing concern, and the use of a focal species such as blue crabs can assist managers in allocating this limited resource. Previous studies have suggested that freshwater inflows affect populations of the commercially and ecologically important blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, especially in early life stages, but the nature and geographic extent of the relationship is unclear. The potential link between freshwater inflows and recruitment of blue crab post-larvae was examined in a series of behavior experiments and coupled models, and compared between case study systems. Broader relationships between abundance and salinity were examined from a global perspective by synthesizing available data on blue crab abundance from the Gulf of Mexico to the Mid-Atlantic. The results of these studies have implications for the management of freshwater inflows and blue crab stock management, and will aid managers as pressures on blue crab populations continue to grow in the future.

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Title: Wind turbine wake characterization with remote sensing and computational fluid dynamics

Date: Tuesday, October 21, 2014 at 12:00 pm

Speaker: Matthew Aitken, PhD, ORISE Research Fellow US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Research Triangle Park, NC

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Wind farm wake modeling, and hence turbine layout optimization, currently suffer from an unacceptable degree of uncertainty, largely because of a lack of adequate experimental data for model verification. Here, we analyze wake measurements taken with long-range scanning lidar in two separate experiments, one at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) and the other at a wind farm in the western United States. The presentation outlines a set of quantitative procedures for determining critical parameters from these extensive datasets—such as the velocity deficit, the size of the wake boundary, and the location of the wake centerline and the results are categorized by ambient atmospheric conditions. Despite specific reference to lidar, the methodology is general and can be applied to extract wake characteristics from other remote sensor datasets as well as output from numerical simulations. Experimental results are compared to a large eddy simulation (LES) of a turbine operating in the stable boundary layer using the actuator disk parameterization in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model.

About the Speaker: Matthew Aitken, PhD, is currently an ORISE Research Fellow with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Research Triangle Park, NC, where he is researching the use of the Market Allocation (MARKAL) energy system model to assess the economic and environmental implications of a variety of clean energy technologies. He recently received his PhD in physics from the University of Colorado, Boulder, where he developed a statistical modeling procedure for quantifying wind turbine wake characteristics from both lidar measurements and CFD simulations, to help advance the optimization of turbine layouts and control systems at wind farms.

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Volcanic Ocean Acidification and Coral Reef Ecosystem Study at Maug, Northern Mariana Islands

Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: David Butterfield, Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, University of Washington and Pacific Marine Environmental Lab, Seattle

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Carbon dioxide emitted by volcanoes in the upper ocean over long timespans creates unique natural undersea laboratories to study the impact of ocean acidification on coral reef ecosystems. These hydrothermal sites are limited across the world's oceans and afford a unique way to study coral reef community adaptation and viability which cannot be duplicated by traditional laboratory microcosm or mesocosm experiments. Maug is a ring of 3 islands with a 200-m deep central caldera with a highly diverse coral community along the inner caldera and the outer fore reef shorelines. Shallow gas/hydrothermal vents along the inner shoreline of Maug's East island affect the water chemistry surrounding the coral reef communities of the caldera and have a significant local impact on corals. This talk will provide an overview of Maug and focus on the chemistry of the vents and their local impacts

About the Speaker: David Butterfield has a bachelor's degree in Chemistry and German from Portland State University, and PhD in Chemical Oceanography from the University of Washington. After a National Research Council Post-Doc at PMEL, he started working in the Joint Institute for the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean in 1993, where he is now Principal Research Scientist. His scientific interests center on the chemistry of hydrothermal vents and their impact on ocean chemistry and marine ecosystems. One of his specialties has been the development of instrumentation for coordinated chemical and microbiological sampling of hydrothermal fluids. He has worked on a wide range of deep-sea hydrothermal systems ranging from the carbonate chimneys of Lost City on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to actively erupting volcanoes NW Rota and West Mata in the volcanic arcs of the western Pacific. He is engaged in deep-sea cabled observatory work in the NE Pacific. The May 2014 expedition to Maug was his first research cruise that did not involve a submersible. See website: http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/vents/index.html

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the Office of Ocean Exploration.

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Does the driest part of the Sahara Desert have a rainy season?

Date: Thursday, October 30, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Owen Kelley, Research Scientist, NASA Goddard and George Mason University

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Within the Sahara Desert, there is a large region that receives less than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) of rain a year on average, which makes this region one of the driest on Earth. Among the challenges to studying the climate of this region is that, in an area almost as large as the southeast United States, there are only four rain-gauge stations and no weather radars. Understandably, there has been a lack of consensus about the existence of any seasonal rainfall patterns here. This talk will present evidence for multiple rainy seasons in this extremely dry part of the Sahara Desert using 15-years of observations by the TRMM satellite, which was built by NASA and by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). In particular, the TRMM satellite's precipitation radar and lightning sensor are used in this study. To validate seasonal patterns observed with TRMM, various African rain-gauge datasets were obtained from the NCDC, WMO, UCAR, and NOAA Central Library. Climate forecast models disagree about even the sign of the expected change in Saharan rainfall over the next century. Conceivably, improved documentation of current climate may facilitate an increase in consensus among climate forecasts.

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Telling the Performance Story: Logic Models, Performance Measurement and Evaluation

Date: Monday, November 10, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Samantha Schasberger currently serves as a Program Analyst for the Economic Development Administration.

Presentation slides with audio (pptx)

Text of audio (txt)

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: The Economic Development Administration (EDA) will discuss how it is revamping performance measurement and evaluations. As EDA tackles integrating performance measurement and evaluation into program management, it is building upon a new foundation: a logic model. This presentation will highlight EDA's new logic model, explaining how logic models provide an essential context to make data meaningful. The presentation will also discuss the development of new indicators and the process EDA envisions as it improves its ability to tell its performance story.

This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Training and Capacity Building Work Group

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Citizen Science: Opportunities for Collaboration to Promote Public Involvement in Science

Date: Wednesday, November 12, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speakers: John McLaughlin, NOAA Office of Education and Tina Phillips, Cornell University Lab of Ornithology (remote)

Presentation slides with audio - Part 1 (pptx)

Presentation slides with audio - Part 2 (pptx)

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: There has been rapid growth in the field of citizen science, in which the public participates in authentic research. NOAA has a diverse portfolio of citizen science projects. There are options for these projects to communicate both internally and externally. Internally, the NOAA Citizen Science Community of Practice relies on grassroots participation from personnel throughout the Agency to share resources and best practices. The Federal Community of Practice on Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science expands the conversation by involving programs throughout the federal government. A newly-formed Citizen Science Association (CSA) is looking to advance the entire field by establishing a global community of practice. An example of a resource available for the field and shared by the CSA is the User's Guide for Evaluating Learning Outcomes from Citizen Science. This guide, the result of over three years of NSF-funded work, was recently released to help projects gather evidence of their outcomes.

Continuous Multidisciplinary Observations in the Southern California Current Elucidate Events in Climate, the Ecosystem, and Fisheries

Date: Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 12:00pm EDT

Speaker: Dr. Uwe Send, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Dr. Mark D. Ohman, Professor of Biological Oceanography at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography/U.C. San Diego, and Dr. David Demer, Southwest Fisheries Science Center

Mark Ohman Presentation Slides (pdf)

David Demer Presentation Slides (pdf)

Uwe Send Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Continuous time-series of physical, chemical, planktonic ecosystem, and fisheries variables are being collected at several locations in the Southern California Current System, a major Eastern Boundary Current upwelling ecosystem. These time-series represent a productive collaboration among many investigators, institutions, and agencies, with shared funding from different NOAA line offices. The mooring technology employed is highly modular and allows real-time data access to any sensor from top to bottom, supports a multitude of research or operational needs, and allows expansion to emerging requirements by sharing the infrastructure with others. The deployment locations are embedded in and interlinked with other important observing programs, in particular those using ship surveys, gliders, passive acoustics for marine mammals, and satellite remote sensing.

The advent of this mooring program has made it possible to resolve short-duration, 'event-scale' perturbations to the upper ocean, a significant advance over the coarse temporal resolution of the past. The detection and resolution of high-frequency processes is particularly important because these events are thought to play a disproportionate role in determining nutrient fluxes, organism exposure to acidified waters and hypoxia, larval fish feeding success, and carbon export. Climate variability and climate change are expected to alter the statistical distributions of such events (i.e., their frequency, duration, intensity), with pronounced impacts on marine organisms and populations. Continuous in situ observations of multiple variables also resolve the spatial propagation of signals (e.g., via coastally trapped waves) and the phase lags between physical-chemical forcing and biotic responses. We will show examples from moored observations of upwelling event-triggered blooms, causing low pH, undersaturated conditions, that first peak then draw down CO2. We will illustrate our ability to measure nitrate consumption and relate it to plankton abundance and rapid changes of f-ratios. We will show how a La Nina event causes hypoxia on the shelf. The present warm and low chlorophyll conditions will be addressed in terms of different timeseries collected at the moorings. The custom-built Echotag acoustic sensors on the moorings also resolve zooplankton and fish, permitting detection of responses to interannual changes in habitat conditions.

The technology is constantly evolving. Our multi-wavelength irradiance sensors at the surface and at 40m and 80m now allow very good estimates of total water column chlorophyll on a daily basis. Multi-frequency acoustics from the moorings would allow toll-gate observations of fish migrations, especially when coupled with acoustic tag receivers, which are presently on one mooring. The addition of genomic samplers will be tested next spring, and we have an engineering concept to collect optical data to help calibrate ocean color satellite sensors using the existing moorings.

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Conservation genetics of commercially exploited fishes: developing quantitative criteria for utilizing genetic data to prescribe fisheries management strategies

Date: December 2, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Alexis M. Jackson, Ph.D., Highly Migratory Species Management Division, NOAA Fisheries, alexis.jackson@noaa.gov

Abstract: Overfishing is contributing to significant declines in marine species worldwide. Research presented will evaluate the contribution of genetic data to enhancing conservation and fisheries management of commercially important fishes. Two empirical population genetics studies were first conducted on groupers that aggregate to spawn. The population structure of Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus) was evaluated across the Caribbean Sea using mitochondrial DNA, microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Results suggested ocean currents and migrations of adults to spawning sites may contribute to restricted gene flow and regional genetic differentiation among subpopulations. The population structure of Leopard grouper (Mycteroperca rosacea) in the Gulf of California was then evaluated using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellites. Oceanographic conditions in the Gulf of California largely explain patterns of genetic differentiation and asymmetrical connectivity among subpopulations of M. rosacea, with demographic history of populations shaped by sea level fluctuations during the late Pleistocene. Interpreting results from these empirical studies ultimately warranted a meta-analysis. Data from 386 empirical genetics studies on marine and diadromous fishes was analyzed in order to develop a set of quantitative criteria for using varying magnitudes of population structure (based on fixation indices such as F-ST-, G-ST-, etc.) to prescribe stock management strategies for commercially important fishes.

Speaker Biography: Dr. Alexis Jackson is currently the 2014 Knauss Sea Grant Fellow in the Highly Migratory Species Management Division (HMS) at NOAA Fisheries. She completed a B.S. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University in 2008, and completed a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of California Santa Cruz in early 2014. Alexis is broadly interested in marine conservation and fisheries management of commercially important species. Her past research experiences have involved studies of deep-sea connectivity with use of the submersible "Alvin", phylogeography studies of commercial tuna and mackerel in the Indonesian archipelago, and utilized interdisciplinary methodologies to enhance ecosystem-based management in the Gulf of California. Her dissertation work focused on the application of population genetic data to fisheries management and marine policy impacting fishes that aggregate to spawn. In her current work in HMS, she is focused on international and domestic issues related to shark conservation and fisheries management, and incorporating the best available science into fishery management plans.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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California's water: where do salmon fit in?

Date: December 3, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Sean Hayes, PhD, Salmon Ocean Ecology Group, NOAA Fisheries, SWFSC, Santa Cruz CA

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: The state of California ranks as the 8th largest economy in the world supporting a vast array of tech, entertainment, government, research, and of course agricultural industries along with a population of approx. 37 million people. The under appreciated circulatory system of this machine is water provided primarily by the Central Valley's Sacramento-San Joaquin watershed, roughly 1/10th the area and flow of the Columbia River basin. These Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers are fed by seasonal rainfall lasting only 6-7 months per year and augmented by snow melt and groundwater. California's vast resource demands utilize this water, which is diverted through a network of storage reservoirs, conveyance and pumping systems known as the Central Valley and State Water Project. If this circulatory system has a heart, it is the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, known simply as the Delta. Formerly a vast wetland, the Delta is now the hub of water diversion for the state, consisting of 1800 km of aging levees directing 1100 km of river channels through 2000 km2 of reclaimed farm land. As most of this land has subsided more than 3-5 m below sea level, there is growing concern about seawater intrusion. This watershed also supports 4 runs of Chinook salmon and a winter steelhead run. The status of these populations range from fully endangered, to threatened, and candidates for listing by the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA), and still these fish support a longstanding commercial and recreational fishery. Despite their relatively small economic contribution compared to other sectors of the economy dependent on water transfers from the delta, the ESA status, historical importance, and charisma of Central Valley salmon places them at a focal point of federal and state water management decisions, some of which is hampered by uncertainty as to which variables are truly limiting salmon and their recovery. As a way of addressing these uncertainties NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center has recently implemented several large-scale programs designed to provide empirical data on limiting factors in both the freshwater and marine environments. These programs include basin-scale telemetry to monitor migration and survival, targeted studies evaluating predator impacts, and ocean surveys to enhance our understanding of the role of fluctuating marine conditions on these stocks. These studies have been designed to provide input into large life-cycle models and ultimately insight to management decision related to both water and fish.

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Reducing Coastal Risks on the East and Gulf Coasts

Date: December 5, 2014 at 12:15pm EST

Speaker: Stephanie Johnson, Water Science and Technology Board, National Research Council, sjohnson@nas.edu

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Economic losses from coastal storms have increased substantially over the past century, largely due to increases in population and development in the most susceptible coastal areas. Climate change poses additional threats to coastal communities from sea level rise and possible increases in the strength of the most intense hurricanes. This report, produced at the request of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, examines coastal risk reduction strategies for the East and Gulf Coasts and principles to guide future investments. The report finds the nation has been largely reactive to date, with the majority of coastal-storm-related federal investments provided only after disasters occur -- and very little of that funding used for strategies that reduce the consequences of coastal storms, such as land purchase or hazard zoning. Given the enormous and rising costs of coastal disasters, a strategic national vision is needed for reducing risks, guided by a national coastal risk assessment that identifies areas most at risk. Benefit-cost analyses, constrained by acceptable risk (life safety, social, and environmental), is a reasonable framework for evaluating coastal risk management investments. Stronger incentives should be used to improve pre-disaster planning and mitigation efforts at the local level.

Speaker Biography: Stephanie Johnson is a senior program officer with the Water Science and Technology Board of the National Research Council, the operating arm of the National Academy of Sciences. Since joining the NRC in 2002, she has worked on a wide range of water-related studies, on topics ranging from desalination, water reuse, contaminant source remediation, and ecosystem restoration. She has served as study director for fifteen NRC committees, including the Committee on Independent Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress (2004-20014) and the Committee on the Evaluation of Chesapeake Bay Program Implementation for Nutrient Reduction. Previously, she worked as a hydrologist with the U.S. Geological Survey. Dr. Johnson received a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and an M.S. and Ph.D. in environmental sciences from the University of Virginia.

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The National Academies of Science Gulf Research Program: An Overview

Date:Thursday, December 11, 2014 at 12:00 pm EST

Speakers: Chris Elfring is Executive Director of the Gulf Research Program at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), Kim Waddell is a Senior Program Officer with the Gulf Research Program, Maggie Walser is a Senior Program Officer with the Gulf Research Program.

Presentation slides (pdf)

Abstract: In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon explosion and fire caused the release of approximately 200 million gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. As part of legal settlements with the companies involved, the federal government asked the National Academy of Sciences - an independent, non-profit organization chartered by Congress in 1863 to provide independent, expert, scientific, engineering, and healthcare advice to the nation - to establish a new $500 million, 30-year research program focused on human health, environmental protection, and oil system safety in the Gulf region. The new program, called the Gulf Research Program, is directed to work in three areas: research and development, education and training, and environmental monitoring. Activities will focus on the Gulf of Mexico and other U.S. outer continental shelf regions, but work that transfers knowledge to or from other offshore U.S. or international hydrocarbon-producing regions is allowed under the mandate. The program, which began planning in July 2013, now has had a year to take shape. This presentation introduces the program, summarizes program planning, outlines the program's mission and goals, and describes first-year activities. It will highlight the program's intended emphasis on facilitating innovation, education, collaboration, and cross-disciplinary work.

Speaker Biographies:

Chris: Chris Elfring is Executive Director of the Gulf Research Program at the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Her role is to guide the program's planning and initial implementation, building from the general requirements in the Settlement Agreement to a multi-faceted science program of lasting impact. She is responsible for overseeing all aspects of starting the new program, including strategic planning, community outreach, interactions with the relevant stakeholders and scientific advisors, staff and budget management, and implementation as activities are designed. Previously, Ms. Elfring was Director of both the Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate (BASC) and the Polar Research Board (PRB), where she was responsible for strategic planning, project development and oversight, financial management, and personnel. Work under her oversight addressed many aspects of polar science (covering issues in the Arctic, Antarctic, and cold regions, from icebreakers to research priorities in Antarctica) and weather and climate science (covering issues from climate modeling and climate change impacts to weather forecasting and urban meteorology). She provided strategic leadership to the suite of activities known as "America's Climate Choices." She was a leader in the planning of International Polar Year 2007-2008, and has a geographic feature in Antarctica, Elfring Peak, named in her honor of her polar science work. Ms. Elfring has a long-standing interest in the policy dimensions of science and communicating science to non-scientists. She began her career in Washington as a AAAS Science Fellow in 1979. In 2012, the American Meteorological Society (AMS) awarded her the Cleveland Abbe Award for Distinguished Service to the Atmospheric Sciences and she was elected an AMS Fellow. Kim: Kim Waddell is a Senior Program Officer with the Gulf Research Program, after serving three years as a study director with the Ocean Studies Board at the National Research Council (NRC) in Washington, DC. His recently completed reports include An Ecosystem Services Approach to Assessing the Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico and Evaluating the Effectiveness of Fish Stock Rebuilding Plans in the United States. Dr. Waddell rejoined the National Academies in 2011 after a 6-year hiatus during which he was a research associate professor at the University of the Virgin Islands and Texas A&M; University working to build marine and environmental research capacity in the Caribbean region. He received his Ph.D. in biological sciences from the University of South Carolina and his B.A. in environmental studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz. Dr. Waddell is a serious "foodie" and wine geek thanks to nearly 15 years in the food and wine industry. He enjoys tennis, world music, and people with a sharp sense of humor. Maggie: Maggie Walser is a Senior Program Officer with the Gulf Research Program. She contributes to strategic planning and leads education initiatives of the program. Since joining the National Research Council (NRC) staff in 2010, she has worked on a number of weather and earth science studies, including such topics as climate science, weather research and policy, climate change and water security, and Arctic research priorities. In 2008-2009, she was the AGU/AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow and worked on water and energy policy and legislation with the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Prior to her time on the Hill, she was a Postdoctoral Fellow with the National Council for Science and the Environment. She received a Ph.D. in atmospheric chemistry from the University of California, Irvine in 2007. Her doctoral research focused on the composition and photochemical aging of secondary organic aerosol.

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Fishes associated to Mesophotic Coral Ecosystems in La Parguera, Puerto Rico

Date: Thursday, December 18, 2014 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Ivonne Bejarano, NOAA Restoration Center, Office of Habitat Conservation, NMFS, ivonne.bejarano@noaa.gov

Presentation Slides (pdf) available through NOAA Google Drive. If you are non-NOAA, please email Dr. Bejarano for presentation slides.

Abstract: Description: This study surveyed the fishes associated to mesophotic coral ecosystems of the La Parguera shelf-edge from 40 to 70 m depth. Fishes were surveyed with visual census using trimix rebreather diving. One hundred and three species were identified, with high abundances and species richness. Most species were common inhabitants of shallow reefs, but some were restricted to mesophotic depths. The fish assemblage at mesophotic depths was different from shallow areas (30 m or shallower), with taxonomic composition, abundance and the proportion of trophic guilds varying with increasing depth. The largest changes within the mesophotic fish community along the depth gradient occurred at 60 m, similar to that reported for algae and corals. The presence of several shallow reef species at mesophotic coral ecosystems, several of them commercially important and some considered to be threatened by fishing pressure in shallow areas, suggests that Mesophotic coral ecosystems are important habitats for the conservation of reef fishes.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2014 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

Speaker's Biography: Ivonne Bejarano is a Knauss fellow working at present in the NOAA Restoration Center, Office of Habitat Conservation, National Marine Fisheries Service. Ivonne received both her masters and doctoral degree in Biological Oceanography at the University of Puerto Rico. During her masters she surveyed the relationships between water turbidity and fish and coral communities. In her Ph.D. she studied the distribution of reef fishes with increasing depth and mesophotic coral ecosystems.

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2015 Brown Bags

NOAA Evaluation Training and Capacity Building Seminar

Date: Thursday, January 22, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Abigail Harper, NOAA Director of Program and Risk Management, Office of the Deputy Undersecretary

Presentation Slides with audio (pptx)

Abstract: 1) Learn methods to reveal how well your organization is performing, 2) Discover how to anticipate barriers that may put your organization off-track and what to do about it, and 3) Enterprise Risk and Performance Management are Techniques to Help.

Speaker's Biography: Ms. Harper has 30 years of experience in satellite systems, program/project management and strategy development. She is currently the Director of Program and Risk management at NOAA after previously serving as Deputy Assistant Administrator, systems for NOAA Environmental Satellite Information Service (NESDIS) and GOES-R program manager. Prior to coming to NOAA, Ms. Harper held positions of increasing responsibility at NASA GSFC in systems engineering and project management.

Note: This seminar is hosted by the NOAA Evaluation Training and Capacity Building Work Group, Monica Montague, chair

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How NOAA, USCG, and maritime industry worked together to move shipping lanes away from endangered whale-feeding grounds

Date: Monday, January 26, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: NOAA Department of Commerce Gold Medal Team - see bios below

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: NOAA aims to reduce the risk of whale ship strikes, which can cause serious injuries and death to many whale species. As a result of a large number of ship strikes occurring in 2007 and 2010 on ESA-listed whale species off the California coast, ONMS and NMFS employed a collaborative approach to move shipping lanes away from known whale feeding grounds. NOAA seized an opportunity to collaborate with USCG on their Port Access Route Study (PARS) for California ports, thereby utilizing a USCG process and authority, principally focused on enhancing navigational safety, to protect endangered whales. NOAA developed proposals for the PARS process using key information, such as a decade of fine scale whale and ship distribution data; an assessment of the risk of ships striking whales using newly developed methodologies in a marine spatial planning framework; and a layered PDF to convey complex ecosystem-vessel traffic interactions. Equipped with this compelling information, NOAA communicated with USCG, fishermen, and the maritime industry, and turned significant opposition into support for modifying the shipping lanes at the approaches to the harbors of Los Angeles and San Francisco. At the International Maritime Organization (IMO), staff from NOAA's Office of International Affairs and General Council presented the rationale for the proposals and successfully negotiated the terms of agreement with international representatives. After securing support from the U.S. Delegation to the IMO, on June 1, 2013 the newly designed IMO approved shipping lanes went into effect off California. The lane changes improve navigational safety by setting dedicated tracks through areas of high collision risk between vessels, and decrease the co-occurrence of ships and endangered whales, while still promoting commerce through U.S. harbors.

NOAA's cross-line office team has been selected to receive the Department of Commerce gold medal for professional and personal excellence for collaborating with USCG and the maritime industry to move shipping lanes away from the feeding grounds of endangered whales.

Stephanie Altman is an attorney advisor in the International Section of NOAA General Counsel (GC) and is currently on detail as the Acting Deputy Chief of the Oceans and Coasts Section of NOAA GC. Stephanie is an advisor to the U.S. delegation at the IMO and worked with ONMS and NMFS to develop the IMO proposals to amend the existing traffic separation schemes off the coast of California.

Speakers' Biographies:

Trisha Bergmann works at NOAA International Affairs and is the NOAA representative to the International Maritime Organization. She is an oceanographer who specializes in international science policy.

Michael Carver is the deputy superintendent of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary. His role is to oversee enforcement, permitting, planning, and management actions to address threats to the marine environment of the sanctuary. Since 5 whales were confirmed killed by ship strike in 2010 Michael has worked with partner agencies, industry, and the NGO community to address this issue.

Monica DeAngelis is the marine mammal biologist at the National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Regional Office. Her current duties include the management and conservation of marine mammals by implementing the Marine Mammal Protection Act and Endangered Species Act and other relevant environmental regulations and policies while working closely with other scientists and researchers worldwide. Since 2003, Monica has worked with partner agencies, industry, the NGO community, and the public to address the large whale vessel collision issue off of the U.S. West Coast.

Sean Hastings is resource protection coordinator at Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Since 1997 Sean has been responsible for the development of policies and programs to address industrial, military, commercial and recreational uses and impacts in and around the sanctuary. Sean helped to create a network of complete "no-take" zones to restore local fish and invertebrate populations and habitats in the sanctuary, and helped the State of California to do the same in state waters on the mainland. Since 2007 he has played a key role facilitating the Sanctuary Advisory Council process toward consensus on development and implementation of ship strike reduction policies, research and education initiatives, and a prevention and emergency response plan.

Karen Reyna is a resource protection coordinator for the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary. Her current duties include regulatory and policy planning and implementation, restoration project management, and working with local communities to better manage human activities that impact the ocean waters, habitat and wildlife, including whales.

Jessica Redfern is the leader of the marine mammal spatial habitat and risk program at the NMFS Southwest Fisheries Science Center. Jessica and colleagues used whale-habitat models to assess the risk of ships striking humpback, blue, and fin whales in alternative shipping routes off Southern California. The shipping routes were derived from observed patterns of shipping traffic. They also estimated the potential for conflict between shipping and other uses or marine waters (military training and fishing) due to overlap with the routes.

Elizabeth Petras is a natural resources management specialist at the NMFS West Coast Regional Office Protected Resources Division in the marine mammal and sea turtle team. She has worked for NOAA for over 10 years specializing in Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Magnuson Stevens Act regulations and implementation. She is NMFS' representative to the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council and has served on the SAC's marine shipping advisory committee. She was also a member of the Gulf of the Farallones/Cordell Bank NMS Joint Working Group on Vessel Strikes and Acoustic impacts.

Lisa Wooninck is policy coordinator at the ONMS West Coast Region where she coordinates regulatory and policy actions for the five west coast national marine sanctuaries. She has worked for various NOAA programs over the past decade, including NMFS, the National MPA Center and Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Her work focuses on using ecosystem-based management tools to promote an integration of sustainable human uses and conservation in the marine environment.

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The Man Who Re-made the Americas by Mapping Them: Alexander von Humboldt, His Cartographies and His Science

Date: February 3, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Imre Demhardt, Professor and Endowed Chair in the History of Cartography at the University of Texas at Arlington

Abstract: The world-class historian of cartography Imre Demhardt will be visiting NOAA's historic collections; while here, he will address how von Humboldt and his partner Aime Bonpland, as they encountered the Americas, invented whole new classes of maps and combined disciplines into what has become known as Humboldtian science.

About the Speaker: Imre Demhardt is a German scholar of historic and human geography and the history of cartography. He has a Ph.D from the University of Frankfurt am Main and a Habitation (another Ph.D) from the University of Darmstadt, with extensive fieldwork and teaching experience in Africa. Since 2008, he has been a Professor and Endowed Chair in the History of Cartography at the University of Texas at Arlington.

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Forecasting Eruptions At Axial Seamount

Date: February 10, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Bill Chadwick, PhD, is the Director of NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL) Earth-Ocean Interactions Program

Presentation Slides (pptx)

Abstract: Axial Seamount is the most active submarine volcano in the NE Pacific and is the site of the first volcano observatory on the deep seafloor. NOAA and NSF have partnered on pioneering ocean exploration and research on the dynamic interactions between geologic, hydrothermal and biological processes that effect Axial's unique ecosystems. High-resolution pressure sensors that were developed for tsunami detection in the open ocean have been used at Axial Seamount to measure vertical movements of the seafloor related to a cycle of volcanic inflation and deflation. Between eruptions, magma accumulates in a reservoir beneath Axial's summit caldera and the seafloor slowly rises at 10's of cm/yr. During eruptions, the reservoir deflates and the seafloor rapidly subsides up to several meters. This kind of volcano deformation has been used on land to forecast eruptions but this is the first time this technique has been attempted on the seafloor. Axial Seamount erupted in 1998 and again in 2011. Can we forecast when it erupt next? Bill's submarine volcanic exploration and research is both exciting and it is providing foundations for pioneering physical, chemical, and biological ocean environmental advances.

About the Speaker: Bill Chadwick is a Research Professor at Oregon State University's Cooperative Institute for Marine Resources Studies and has worked with NOAA's Pacific Marine Environmental Lab for over 25 years. He is a geologist and studies submarine volcanism and hydrothermal venting and their impacts on the oceans.

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Coral Reefs, Climate Change and Atomic Bombs

Date: February 18, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Bob Richmond, Director of the Kewalo Marine Laboratory, University of Hawaii

Abstract: Coral reef worldwide are in decline as a result of human-induced disturbance, ranging from the common and chronic stressors of overfishing, coastal sedimentation and pollution to the absurd and acute: vaporization from nuclear testing. Global climate change is and will continue to be responsible for extensive reef losses through the associated problems of temperature-induced mass coral bleaching events, increased storm intensity and frequency, ocean acidification and sea level rise. To address human impacts in the hope of allowing coral reefs to persist into the future, it is necessary to both diagnose and treat the underlying problems at multiple levels over space (local, regional and global scales) and time. Emerging technologies in the areas of proteomics, genomics and transcriptomics provide new tools for better understanding relationships between stressors and coral reef responses with a higher level of resolution in determining the contributions of individual stressors in a multi-stressor system. The coral reef "sound and smell-scapes" also figure in to reef resilience and recovery. Better bridging of science to policy development, implementation and evaluation is needed to insure a legacy of functional coral reefs of high economic, ecological and cultural value for future generations.

About the Speaker: Dr. Richmond is the Director of the Kewalo Marine Laboratory at University of Hawaii. His career has taking him all over the world to study both how coral reefs function and how they respond to stressors. He combines both applied and basic research in his work and applies his results to both management and conservation. As such, he has consistently partnered with resource managers, elected officials, traditional leaders, and stakeholders both as co-investigators and as advisers. in addition, Dr. Richmond has given priority to mentoring and developing of students native to the Pacific Islands as an underrepresented group in the sciences.

Sponsors: NOAA Central Library Brown Bag Seminar Series and the NCCOS' Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research (CSCOR)

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Anticipating a Changing Climate: Adapting Traditional Ecological CAlendars in the Pamir Mountains of Afghanistan-Tajikistan

Date: February 24, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Rajul (Raj) Pandya, Program Director, American Geophysical Union (AGU)'s Thriving Earth Exchange

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Presentation slides with audio (pptx)

Audio text (txt)

Abstract: In the Pamir Mountains, which span the border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, small-scale farmers and herders are key food producers. Traditionally, they have used calendars based on historical climate cues, such as first budding of a plant or the last day of snow cover, to anticipate weather patterns and coordinate planting and harvesting with seasonal cycles. The calendars vary from valley to valley because they are well tuned to small-scale elevation and geographic differences. As a result of colonialism and violent conflict throughout the twentieth century, the calendars fell out of use. How can we help farmers incorporate climate predictions into their traditional farming timing?

To answer this question, AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange (TEX) is working with MIT's Climate Colab to host an online challenge. The goal of this challenge is to find ways to combine the villagers' traditional knowledge with scientific data in order to adapt the calendars and incorporate the effects of climate change. Contest details: http://climatecolab.org/resources/-/wiki/Main/Anticipating+Climate+Change+in+the+Pamir+Mountains.

TEX connects scientists, communities, and sponsors and helps them work together to develop solutions that have local impact and global implications. TEX advances community science by providing tools to design and launch projects for community priorities in climate change, natural hazards and natural resources.

About the Speaker: Rajul (Raj) Pandya is the Program Director AGU's Thriving Earth Exchange. Prior to working with AGU, Raj worked as the Director of Education and Outreach at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Raj has been lucky enough to lead internships and mentor students, teach in college and high school, do research with communities internationally and in the US, and work on digital libraries. He has published in areas including thunderstorms, student learning, workforce development, diversity in science, citizen-science, and public health.

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From the Forest to the Sea: Lessons in Managing Public Space

Date: March 11, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Morgan Gopnik, PhD, Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, Department of Public Administration and Policy, American University

Abstract: One of the most recent trends in ocean management has been the introduction of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) as a means to reconcile multiple human objectives, including economic growth and ecosystem protection, within the government-controlled space known as the exclusive economic zone (EEZ). A very similar balancing act has been practiced for decades on U.S. public lands with varying degrees of success, so the possibility of learning from that history is intriguing. Three fundamental questions arise: Do public land and ocean settings share a similar set of governance characteristics? Do consistent themes or lessons emerge from the public lands history? Can those lessons be applied in the context of existing ocean laws, agencies, and stakeholders? In From the Forest to the Sea: Public Lands Management and Marine Spatial Planning, Dr. Gopnik shows that the complex and frequently contentious story of the U.S. National Forests can be instructive to ocean managers. Based on a 4-year research effort grounded in the fundamentals of policy theory and supplemented by case studies, site visits, and dozens of confidential interviews, the analysis shows how land management approaches evolved over time and reveals the ambiguities and contradictions inherent in multiple-use management of any public space. The study's conclusions suggest that the ocean community - including government, academia, industry, and environmental groups - might achieve their individual and collective goals more effectively by looking to the experience of their land-based counterparts.

About the Speaker: Dr. Morgan Gopnik is an expert on ocean and coastal policy, with a particular focus on marine spatial planning. She is an Adjunct Professor at American University in Washington, DC and works as a consultant to government agencies, foundations, industry groups, academic institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Gopnik served previously as Director of the Ocean Studies Board at the National Academy of Sciences, Senior Advisor to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, and Senior Vice President for Programs at the Ocean Conservancy. She holds a Ph.D. in Marine Science and Conservation from Duke University, a Masters degree in Environmental Engineering from Caltech, and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Geography from McGill University.

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From "Big Data" to Actionable Information: Mitigation of Volcanic and Severe Weather Hazards

Date: March 12, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Mike Pavolonis, Ph.D., Physical Scientist, NOAA Center for Satellite Applications and Research (STAR)

Presentation Slides with audio (pptx)

Abstract: Volcanic and severe weather applications illustrate the importance of developing sophisticated, scientific, computer algorithms to convert extremely large volumes of environmental data into actionable information needed to help mitigate hazards and increase environmental intelligence. The need for science based computer algorithms has never been greater as data volumes and information content will increase significantly with NOAA's next generation of operational satellites, GOES-R and JPSS. Recent volcanic eruptions and the subsequent disruption of global air traffic have garnered considerable public attention. NOAA, in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin, have developed innovative methods of detecting and characterizing volcanic ash clouds from space, and new satellite products are now used by Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers (VAAC) in the U.S., Australia, and elsewhere. The products are used to increase the timeliness and accuracy of volcanic ash advisories, which are used by air traffic controllers to divert aircraft around hazards. In addition, thunderstorms that produce large hail, damaging winds, and tornadoes are often difficult to forecast due to their rapid evolution and complex interactions with environmental features that are challenging to directly observe. To address this challenge NOAA and the University of Wisconsin developed a statistical, data driven, severe weather prediction model. The model, know as ProbSevere, utilizes satellite, radar, and numerical weather prediction data to determine the probability that a developing thunderstorm will produce severe weather. At NOAA's Hazardous Weather Testbed, ProbSevere was shown to increase the timeliness and accuracy of severe weather warnings. Beginning in the spring of 2015 several National Weather Service forecast offices will utilize ProbSevere in operations.

Speaker Bio: Michael J. Pavolonis, Ph.D., an award-winning physical scientist at NOAA's Satellite and Information Service, will receive the agency's prestigious David S. Johnson Award, which recognizes young scientists for their innovative use of environmental satellite data. He will receive the award March 13, 2015, at the 58th Annual Goddard Memorial Dinner in Washington, D.C. The NOAA-Johnson Award is named after the first assistant administrator of NOAA's Satellite and Information Service and honors professional scientists, who create new uses for observational satellite data to better predict atmospheric, oceanic and terrestrial conditions. Dr. Pavolonis is being honored for developing cutting-edge methods to convert satellite data into actionable information for mitigating hazards caused by volcanic eruptions and severe convection. These new remote sensing techniques improve the timeliness and accuracy of volcanic ash cloud advisories and severe weather warnings. "The Johnson award spotlights exemplary work young scientists like Mike are performing with satellite data that help save lives, protect the economy and benefit society overall," said Dr. Stephen Volz, assistant administrator for NOAA's Satellite and Information Service. When he was in high school, two monster storms - the 1991 "Perfect Storm" and the 1993 "Super Storm" - triggered Dr. Pavolonis' interest in atmospheric science. "Those storms had major impacts and I was intrigued to learn how they formed," Dr. Pavolonis recalled. A prolific writer, Dr. Pavolonis has contributed to 32 scientific papers on topics ranging from volcanic ash and dust clouds, to researching better ways to track and forecast ash plumes. "Having this research recognized for its potential to improve operational products and services means a great deal to me," Dr. Pavolonis said. "The award serves as inspiration to continue to push the envelope in using science to transform satellite measurements into very useable information." The Kingston, Pa., native He received a bachelor's degree in meteorology from Pennsylvania State University in 2000, and both his M.S. and Ph.D. in atmospheric and oceanic sciences from the University of Wisconsin in 2002 and 2014, respectively.

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The Past, Present and Future of Federal Ecosystem-based Management

Date: Wednesday, March 18 , 2015

Time: 4:00-5:00 pm Eastern

Speaker: Andrew Rosenberg, PhD, Director, Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists

Presentation Slides with audio (pptx)

Abstract: The current and future environmental challenges facing ocean, coastal, and great lakes ecosystems require a broad management approach that considers cumulative impacts on marine environments; an approach that works across sectors to manage species and habitats, economic activities, conflicting uses, and the sustainability of resources. We call this approach ecosystem-based management (EBM). This presentation will introduce the concept of EBM, look at current EBM efforts, and give recommendations on how to expand and improve the use of EBM in the future. Specific attention will be given to the report and recommendations from the Ocean Research Advisory Panel on Implementing Ecosystem-Based Management, and recommendations for federal agencies to advance the integration of EBM their management activities.

Speaker Bio: Andrew A. Rosenberg is director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Dr. Rosenberg came to UCS from Conservation International, where he served for two years as senior vice president and chief scientist. Previously, he served as the northeast regional administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He later became deputy director of the service. Dr. Rosenberg received his Ph.D. in biology from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada and previously studied oceanography at Oregon State University and fisheries biology at the University of Massachusetts.

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Energy Innovation and the Marine Environment: Finfish and Tidal Power in Cobscook Bay, Maine

Date: Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 12:00 -12:30 pm Eastern

Speaker: Jeffrey D. Vieser, NOAA Fisheries, Office of Science and Technology

Abstract: Cobscook Bay, Maine is a macrotidal embayment on the U.S. - Canadian border where, in 2012, the Western Hemisphere's first grid-connected in-stream tidal power turbine was deployed. A suite of environmental monitoring activities accompanied this deployment to assess its potential impacts and enable informed decision-making by relevant stakeholders regarding this new technology. One focus of these monitoring activities was to investigate how a tidal turbine would affect finfish. A combination of hydroacoustics and direct netting activities was used to describe Cobscook Bay's finfish assemblage composition, document the distribution of finfish throughout the water column (i.e., their likelihood of encountering the tidal turbine), and record the interactions between finfish and a test turbine. A total of 46 species and over 60,000 individual fish were captured while netting. Finfish were found to be concentrated near the sea floor, below the height of the turbine, with some seasonal differences. The study of fish behavior near a test turbine at the surface documented various interactions, especially during night at slack tide and within the wake of the turbine.

Note: The Knauss Lecture Series features current 2015 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows

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The Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas on Conserving the Fish Population in the Gulf of Aqaba, Egypt

Date: Thursday, March 26, 2015 at 12:30 - 1:00 pm Eastern

Speaker: Ayman Mabrouk, NOAA National Ocean Service, Biogeography Branch

Abstract: Marine Protected Areas have been used globally as an effective tool to maintain coral reef fisheries and conserve fish populations. This study investigated the role of the Marine Protected Areas in changing fish diversity, density, and size of 9 families over 10 years (2002-2012) of conservation efforts in the Gulf of Aqaba. Four regionns were studied, with different level of protection and fishing pressure. We found that the un-fished regions (Ras Mohamed and Sharm El Sheikh) were more abundant in total species and significantly by 2012, while Dahab significantly increased in both total species and diversity. Nabq and carnivore species were significantly decreased over time with Nabq and Dahab having the smallest fish sizes by the end of our study. Fishing pressure has been increasing in Nabq and affecting the fish population dramatically, due to pressure from Dahab fishers and non-compliance by fishing in the No Take Zones. Even in the Ras Mohamed National Park, fishing occurred causing a decline in abundance of target species. Ensuring long-term effective law enforcement is critical for the MPAs to maintain and conserve the fish populations in the Gulf of Aqaba. Tourism development and public awareness can also play a role in reducing fishing pressure, increasing fish abundance, and maintaining fish diversity.

Note: The Knauss Lecture Series features current 2015 Sea Grant Knauss Fellows

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Harnessing Stakeholder Engagement to Produce Useful and Usable Science: a Qualitative Evaluation of Great Lakes Restoration Research Grants

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 12:00-12:30 pm EST

Speaker: Rachel Jacobson, Program Planning and Integration Social Science Team, rachel.jacobson@noaa.gov

Abstract: The Water Center at the Graham Sustainability Institute is a grant-making organization affiliated with the University of Michigan focused on freshwater restoration and protection. Following implementation of its first funding competition for research, the Water Center sought to evaluate 1) to what extent its grant-making strategies and guidelines influenced the quantity and quality of stakeholder interaction with research teams; 2) to what extent this interaction resulted in increased use of the knowledge produced by stakeholders; and 3) how its grant-making guidelines shaped the development of the research and research teams. We conducted 30 qualitative interviews with PI's, project teams, and stakeholders, and undertook detailed documentary analysis of the RFP instrument, project reports, and other materials for ten grant projects. Coding and analysis revealed that previous PI experience, culture differences, timing, and availability and appropriation of time and resources were significant factors influencing the quantity and quality of stakeholder engagement. Results showed a need for better stakeholder mapping and resource allocation guidance during early phases of projects, and pointed to benefits of allowing flexibility in grant requirements based on project type. This seminar is part of the 2015 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series .

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The Little Mussel That Could: Phosphorus Recycling by Dreissenids in Lake Michigan

Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at 12:30-1:00 pm EST

Speaker: Caroline Mosley, NOAA OAR Communications, caroline.mosley@noaa.gov

Abstract: The effects of dreissenid mussels on plankton abundance and nutrient cycling in shallow, productive water of the Great Lakes have been well-documented, but the effects of their more recent expansion into oligotrophic, offshore regions have received much less attention. Understanding quagga mussel impact on Lake Michigan's phosphorus (P) fluxes is critical in assessing long-term implications for nutrient cycling and energy flow. In this study, P excretion and egestion rates were determined for mussels in the hypolimnion of Lake Michigan. Constant low temperatures and limited food supply contributed to a lower basal P excretion rate in profunda quagga mussels compared to the shallow phenotype. The P excretion:egestion ratio was approximately 3:2, highlighting the need to consider both of these pathways when assessing the effect of these filer feeders on nutrient dynamics. Total dissolved P (TDP) excretion rates ranges from 0.0002 to 0.0124 umol L-1, soluble reactive P (SRP) excretion rates ranged from 0.0003 to 0.0061 umol L-1, and particulate P (PP) egestion rates (feces + pseudofeces) ranged from 0.0007 to 0.0269 umol L-1. The ability of profunda mussels to alter P cycling dynamics is reflected in an increase in the hypolimnetic dissolved:particulate P ratio and the disappearance of the benthic nepheloid layer. On an areal basis, mussel P recycling rates are up to 11 times greater than P settling rates as determined by sediment traps, suggesting that mussel grazing has resulted in an increased delivery rate of P to the deep benthos and a shorter P residence time in the water column. Note: This seminar is part of the 2015 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series.

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Out of sight but not out of mind: Harmful effects of derelict traps in selected U.S. coastal waters

Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Courtney Arthur, NOAA's Marine Debris Division, Peter Murphy, NOAA's Marine Debris Division, Holly Bamford, Assistant Administrator, National Ocean Service, Ariana Sutton-Grier, University of Maryland, Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: There is a paucity of data in the published literature on the ecological and economic impacts of derelict fishing traps (DFTs) in coastal ecosystems. We synthesized results from seven NOAA-funded trap fisheries studies around the United States and determined that DFT-caused losses to habitat and harvestable annual catch are pervasive, persistent, and largely preventable. Based on this synthesis, we identified key gaps to fill in order to better manage and prevent DFTs. We conclude with suggestions for developing a U.S. DFT management strategy including: (1) targeting studies to estimate mortality of fishery stocks, (2) assessing the economic impacts of DFTs on fisheries, (3) collaborating with the fishing industry to develop solutions to ghost fishing, and (4) examining the regional context and challenges resulting in DFTs to find effective policy solutions to manage, reduce, and prevent gear loss.D

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Climate Change Projections from High-Resolution Global Models and the Implications for Fisheries Management in the U.S. Northeast Shelf Marine Ecosystem

Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Vincent S. Saba, Ph.D., Research Fishery Biologist, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Ecosystem Assessment Program, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory,Princeton University

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Over the past 20 years, ocean surface temperature in the United States Northeast Shelf (U.S. NES) has warmed at a substantially higher rate than the global average. To date, all climate change projections for species within the U.S. NES have been based on climate models that have a coarse ocean resolution (1 x1 degree global). These coarse models do not resolve the fine-scale bathymetry (i.e. Georges Bank, Northeast Channel) of the U.S. NES, nor do they resolve the correct position of the Northwestern wall of the Gulf Stream. Here we used high-resolution global climate models from the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory to assess differences in climate change projections for the U.S. NES as a function model resolution. We found that the high-resolution climate model (0.1 x 0.1 degree global ocean) resolves water mass circulation much more accurately than the standard coarse models. Climate change projections of sea surface temperature and bottom temperature within the U.S. NES based on the high-resolution model are up to 1.5 C (surface) to 3 C (bottom) warmer than the projections based on the coarse models. Therefore, existing projections for the U.S. NES are conservative and thus impacts to fisheries may be greater than the current climate change projections.

About the Speaker Dr. Vincent Saba is a Research Fishery Biologist with the Northeast Fisheries Science Center's Ecosystem Assessment Program. He resides at the NOAA Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL) in Princeton, New Jersey. Dr. Saba received a B.S. and M.S in Environmental Science from Drexel University. He earned a Ph.D. in Marine Science from the College of William and Mary - Virginia Institute of Marine Science. His research focuses on climate impacts on marine ecosystems. His research scales the marine food web ranging from phytoplankton to top predators. Much of his current research involves the use of NOAA GFDL's high-resolution global climate models for their use in regional marine ecosystems such as the U.S. Northeast Continental Shelf.

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Bicycle Commuting Made Easy: Getting Ready for Bike to Work Day, 2015

Date: Thursday, May 7, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Stanley Elswick, NOAA Central Library, Stanley.Elswick@noaa.gov, and Erin Wilkinson, NOAA Fisheries Domestic Fisheries Division, Erin.Wilkinson@noaa.gov

Abstract: National Bike to Work Day is Friday, May 15, 2015. Wouldn't it be great to ride your bike to work? Have some questions about how to go about doing it? Learn some of the benefits of mixing your workout with getting to work! NOAA Bike Team members, Stanley and Erin, will go over tips and tricks to help make bike commuting a reality. Learn how to make your ride fast, fun, and easy! Learn details on gear, rules of the road, routes into the Silver Spring office, and what to do when you get here. As an added bonus: Does your helmet really fit you? Bring it in and find out with a hands-on demonstration.

About the Speakers: Stanley is a librarian in the NOAA Central Library and is a frequent multi-modal bike commuter. Stanley's long commute allows him to mix things up - combining bike, bus, and Metrorail - for an easy, efficient trip. Erin is in NOAA Fisheries Domestic Fisheries Division. A new commuter, Erin explores some of the local multi-use trails and bike lanes from downtown on days when she isn't on Metrorail.

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NOAA Employee Briefing: California Drought Service Assessment

Date: May 15, 2015 at 12:00pm Eastern

Speakers: VADM Michael Devany, Deputy Under Secretary for Operations (NOAA HQ) and Kevin Werner, Lead Author, NOAA West Coast Regional Climate Services Director (NESDIS), and other report authors (see list below)

Presentation Slides with audio (pptx)

Text of audio (doc)

Abstract: This week, NOAA released its California Drought Service Assessment--an internal, agency-wide performance review of NOAA's products, services and messages related to the ongoing drought crisis in California. Through interviews with more than 100 stakeholders and NOAA employees in the state, this report evaluates the timeliness and effectiveness of NOAA data, forecasts, and communications to communities, businesses and municipal governments--particularly in the agriculture, water resources and fisheries sectors. Recommendations outlined include improvements that can be implemented over the near term (six months) as well as longer range projects and research questions for scientific deliberation.

Report URL: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/os/assessments/index.shtml

[This is the first NOAA service assessment for a drought; all NOAA line offices are included in the report]

Full Author List:

• Kevin Werner, Team Lead, NESDIS (West Coast Regional Climate Services Director)
• Chad McNutt, Co-lead, OAR (National Integrated Drought Information System Program)
• Roger Pierce, Co-lead, NWS (San Diego Weather Forecast Office)
• John Ewald, NOAA HQ (Communications & External Affairs)
• Karin Gleason, NESDIS (National Center for Environmental Information)
• Jawed Hameedi, NOS (National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science)
• Chris Smallcomb, NWS (Reno, NV Weather Forecast Office)
• Chris Stachelski, NWS (Las Vegas, NV Weather Forecast Office)
• Ryan Wulff, NMFS (West Coast Regional Office)
• Mike Anderson, California State Climatologist [CA Dept of Water Resources]

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An Improved Multi-Scale Modeling Framework for WRF over Complex Terrain

Date: Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: David J. Wiersema, University of California, Berkeley

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Atmospheric modelers continue to push towards higher resolution simulations of the planetary boundary layer. As horizontal resolution is refined, the resolved terrain slopes increase. Most atmospheric models, such as the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, use a terrain-following vertical coordinate that results in grid skewness over steep slopes, causing significant numerical errors and model failure. One solution to this problem is the use of an immersed boundary method. Our implementation of an immersed boundary method in WRF, known as WRF-IBM, was developed for use at the micro-scale, with horizontal grid resolutions between 1 and 100 meters. WRF-IBM has been shown to accurately simulate flow around complex topography, such as urban environments or mountainous terrain. The challenge now lies in connecting the micro-scale WRF-IBM simulations with meso-scale WRF simulations. This presentation focuses on the ongoing development of a modeling framework to enable multi-scale simulations using WRF and WRF-IBM. Results from 1-meter resolution WRF-IBM simulation over a neighborhood in San Francisco are shown to demonstrate the model's capabilities at the micro-scale. Results are also presented from our newly developed vertical grid nesting framework, which is a key component to pass information from a coarse-resolution WRF parent domain to a fine-resolution WRF-IBM child domain.

About the Speaker: David has Bachelors of Science from University of Michigan in civil and environmental engineering in 2010, A Masters degree in environmental engineering from UC Berkeley, and is currently working on his PhD at UC Berkely. David is collaborating with Katherine Lundquist and Jeff Mirocha, staff scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and works across the hall from the National Atmospheric Release Advisory Center (NARAC).

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Visualize Your Data and Results

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: James Hartman, Technical Director, Quantitative Methods Division, Office of the Inspector General, Department of Defense

Presentation Slides with audio (pptx)

Text of audio (doc)

Abstract:

• "A picture is worth a thousand words" as the saying goes
• Do your charts and graphs present your information as effectively as a picture?
• Is the information content readily understandable?
• Learn the fundamentals of effectively visualizing data and results to make more compelling visualizations
• Immediately following the presentation there will be a one hour follow-on session to disucss your specific challenges and provide additional examples. Participants are invited to submit examples of their data and results (in advance) for discussions on improving presentation. Contact Monica.Montague or John.Bortniak for information on this follow-up session.

Note: This seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Training and Capacity Building Work Group.

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The 2013-2014 Survey of the Washington Monument

Date: Thursday, May 21, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Dru Smith, PhD, Chief Geodesist, NOAA's National Geodetic Survey

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: After the 5.8 - magnitude earthquake of Virginia on August 23, 2011, scaffolding was built around the Washington Monument (WM) to facilitate repairs made to the building in 2013 and 2014. This provided a rare opportunity for NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS) to perform a geodetic survey incorporating direct occupation of the WM peak with multiple instruments. The goal of this survey was to provide a baseline position of the peak so accurate that future surveys would be able to detect sinking, shrinking or tilting of the monument.

This was only the third time in history (1934 and 1999 being the others) that NGS was able to use geodetic instruments at the peak. However it was the first time that a complete three-dimensional position, accurate to a millimeter, was achieved.

As an interesting by-product of the survey, an architectural height of the monument, using modern international standards, was determined. This new height is in disagreement with the historic height by almost 10 inches, almost all of which is due to the location at the base of the monument from which the height was measured. However, by adopting the standards used in 1884, NGS was able to validate the historic height to within 3/4 of an inch. This talk will outline the history of surveys at the WM as well as the highlights of the most recent survey.

About the Speaker: Dr. Dru Smith has been the Chief Geodesist of NOAA's National Geodetic Survey since 2005. He first entered NGS in 1995 after receiving his Ph.D. in geodetic science from The Ohio State University. His original job with NGS was in geoid modeling. He has also been active in developing U.S. GPS policy and modeling the ionosphere using the CORS network.

In 2008 he led the development of the GRAV-D plan, and in 2012 led the development of the NGS Ten Year Plan (2013-2023). In 2011 he was the principal investigator for the Geoid Slope Validation Survey of 2011, which proved that airborne data from GRAV-D yielded a 1 cm accurate geoid model. For his leadership of that study he was awarded the Department of Commerce's Gold Medal, their highest award.

He is a member of the Institute of Navigation, the American Geophysical Union, the International Association of Geodesy and is a Fellow of the American Congress on Surveying and Mapping (now the National Society of Professional Surveyors). He holds special appointments as a member of the Graduate Faculty of both Texas A&M; University and the University of Rhode Island. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science and on the Advisory Board of the Department of Civil, Environmental and Geodetic Engineering at The Ohio State University and has previously served on the Board of Directors for the American Association for Geodetic Surveying.

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Marine National Monuments and NOAA: Come find out what makes a Monument different than a Sanctuary, and learn about NOAA's Marine National Monument Program

Date: May 26, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Samantha Brooke, Marine National Monuments Program Manager

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: There are a total of four marine national monuments in the United States, all located in the Pacific Ocean: Papahanaumokuakea (designated in 2006), Marianas Trench (designated in 2009), Rose Atoll (designated in 2009), and the Pacific Remote Islands (designated in 2009 and expanded in 2014). NOAA co-manages each of these extraordinary places, which are home to near-pristine coral reefs, large apex predator populations, rare and endangered species, and unique geological features. The Monuments also are intimately connected with the cultures and communities of Pacific peoples. As a co-manager, NOAA is charged with implementing the Presidential Proclamations through the development of management plans and research programs to preserve and protect them. An overview of the Monuments Program will be provided, along with a short introduction to each Monument and an summary of exciting developments.

About the Speaker: Samantha G. Brooke is the Program Manager for NOAA Fisheries Pacific Islands Regional Office in Honolulu, Hawaii. She has spent nearly decade working for NOAA Fisheries programs, including the Northwest Regional Office, Protected Resources Division in Seattle, Washington and the Office of Science and Technologies National Observer Program in Silver Spring, Maryland.

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The Tale of Two Bays: A comparison of the American horseshoe crab population in Wellfleet Bay, MA and Great Bay Estuary, NH and the lessons to be learned

Date: Thursday, May 28, 2015, 12:00 - 12:30 pm EST

Speaker: Helen Cheng, NOAA OAR National Sea Grant Office, helen.cheng@noaa.gov

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Due to over-harvesting as bait, American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus) populations along the U.S. Atlantic Coast have been declining, particularly in New England. Additionally, population trends have not reserved despite state-by-state quotas and regulations. Current management and monitoring include closing the horseshoe crab harvest during the weeks of new and full moons of their spawning season and conducting shoreline surveys; these methods were originally based on horseshoe crab survey data from Delaware Bay populations indicating that peak spawning activity occurred during these times. Historically, Wellfleet Bay, Massachusetts has been a location where harvesting horseshoe crabs for bait is practiced, and despite current strict regulations and yearly monitoring, populations at this location continue to decline. While some states conduct monitoring and surveys annually, New Hampshire's Great Bay Estuary, supporting a modest population of horseshoe crabs, do not have an organized monitoring program, thus it is unclear when and where spawning occurs in this location. Recent studies investigating horseshoe crab spawning behavior, and new research and survey data from Wellfleet Bay, MA and Great Bay Estuary, NH indicate that peak spawning activity did not always occur during times of the new and full moons; instead, it is suggested that environmental factors may strongly influence horseshoe crab spawning activity. Generalization of scientific information could lead to ineffective decision-making in the management of a species, especially a species that is vulnerable during spawning and mating. Rather, behavior of local populations need to be investigated that then may contribute to the overall conservation of horseshoe crabs.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2015 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series .

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The bloom that wasn't: Perfect demonstration of how nature does not follow a graduate student's timeline

Date: Thursday, May 28, 2015 at 12:30pm - 1:00 EST

Speaker: Emily Smith, NOAA Climate Observation Division, Climate Program Office, Emily.a.smith@noaa.gov

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Estuaries are biologically productive and important habitats for several fisheries. However, human intervention has separated many estuaries from their needed freshwater source and the common solution is to use diversions to regulate the flow. This episodic increase in nutrients into estuaries has sometimes led to the formation of freshwater cyanobacteria HABs (CyanoHABs). The goal of this research was to look at a field research study of phytoplankton bloom dynamics; management implications for cyanobacteria entering estuaries; and an outreach effort in relation to residents' knowledge about cyanobacteria and algae. The first study compared the phytoplankton bloom dynamics, specifically CyanoHABs, in Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana (LA) during a diversion opening year and a non-opening year. While variations in freshwater flow were found to be important to determine which phytoplankton group dominates the system, species diversity within a group was likely regulated by the water source. During the large flow year (21.9 km3) in 2011, chlorophytes and diatoms were the dominant groups in the spring. In 2012, with a much lower flow of 0.3 km3, chlorophytes and diatoms were again dominant in the spring, but both years' cyanobacteria numbers significantly increased in the late summer. The second study surveyed fishermen about their knowledge of algae and HABs. This baseline data was used to create an educational brochure which was distributed to the marinas around Lake Pontchartrain and Lac Des Allemandes. There was also a follow-up survey to determine the effectiveness of the educational brochure. Many of the people surveyed had a basic understanding of algae, but 60% were not familiar with the term "harmful algal blooms."

Note: This seminar is part of the 2015 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series .

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How to Get Your Article Published: An Author Workshop

Date: Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 12:00pm - 1:30 Eastern

Speaker: Mercedes Simoncelli, Publisher, Health and Medical Sciences

Streaming recording link: https://reedelsevier.webex.com/reedelsevier/ldr.php?RCID=096276cdd3c831a50f05f473b4d9a46b

Download recording link: https://reedelsevier.webex.com/reedelsevier/lsr.php?RCID=e5857451b4c769407445f0b4f613aafd

Abstract: Knowing the best way to structure your scientific paper, identify the most appropriate jounral, and understand the peer review process is critical to getting your work published. Sensitive areas such as publishing ethics, plagiarism, and duplicate publishing will also be addressed. Attend this workshop and learn from one of the world's leading publishers of science, technology, and health sciences journals:

• Steps tp take before writing a paper
• How to develop and submit a manuscript
• What editors and publishers are looking for
• How to deal with referee comments

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Bacteria versus Hawaiian Sea Slug: Who is the Anti-Cancer Producer?

Date: Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Jeanette Davis, PhD, Knauss Fellow, NMFS Office of Science and Technology

Presentation Slides with audio (pptx)

Abstract: Dr. Davis is a recent graduate of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and obtained her Ph.D. in molecular biology. She will discuss her research highlights including: 1. Insights into the bacterial communities associated with the sea slug E. rufescens which revealed for the first time a diverse group of bacteria associated with the medicinal sea slug. 2. The most abundant bacterial groups affiliated with E rufescens and its mucus are Mycoplasma spp. and Vibrio spp., respectively. 3.The anticancer compound kahalalide F (KF) was localized in the sea slug. 4. Further research is being conducted to confirm the bacterial producer of the anticancer compound found associated with the sea slug E. rufescens.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2015 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series .

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Plain Language, Writing for clarity and Impact with your Readers in Mind

Date: Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Frances Pflieger, NOAA Fisheries

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract:

This presentation is for you, if you write:

• Public Outreach Documents
• Web Page Content
• Budget Justification Narratives
• Policy or Guidance Documents
• Quarterly/Annual Accomplishment Reports
• Instructions, of any sort

Plain language (also called Plain English) is the communication readers can understand the first time they read or hear it. Written material is in plain language if readers can:

• Find what they need.
• Understand what they find.
• Use what they find to meet their needs.

No one technique defines plain language. rather, plain language is defined by results-it is easy to read, understand, and use.

About the Speaker: Frances Pflieger is a writer/editor for NOAA Fisheries in Silver Spring.

Note: this seminar is sponsored by the NOAA Evaluation Training and Capacity Building Subcommittee

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Hydrothermal source for a critical ocean nutrient (iron) will have just been published in Nature

Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Joe Resing, PhD, Researcher, NOAA-Earth Oceans Interactions Program and Affiliate Assistant Professor, School of Oceanography, University of Washington

Presentation Slides (pptx)

Abstract: Volcanic eruptions and hot springs located beneath the sea surface are visually impressive, with hot chemically enriched water nurturing diverse ecosystems and producing ore-grade mineral deposits. However, until now it has been believed that the ocean-wide impacts of these phenomena on human time-scales was very limited. In particular, it has been generally thought that one of the most prevalent elements in hydrothermal vent fluids, iron, is lost from solution close to its volcanic sources, thereby making this source of iron of limited importance to large-scale ocean biogeochemistry. Our results from the US GEOTRACES Eastern Pacific Zonal Transect (EPZT) challenge this long-standing view by demonstrating the transport of hydrothermal dissolved iron more than 4,000 kilometres from the southern East Pacific Rise westward across the Pacific Ocean. Because iron is an essential and often limiting nutrient for primary production in regions of the ocean that are of critical importance for the global carbon cycle, knowledge of its sources is essential if we are to understand the role of oceans in climate regulation. To better understand the role of hydrothermal iron we placed our observations from the EPZT within a global-scale ocean model and discovered that hydrothermal iron may be responsible for a significant amount of phytoplankton growth and carbon dioxide uptake in the Southern Ocean. A significant portion of this carbon is then exported from the ocean surface to the deep sea; 15 to 30 percent of this carbon export in the Southern Ocean is supported by hydrothermal iron. While this study primarily concerns hydrothermal venting at mid-ocean ridges, there are many, much shallower submarine volcanoes in the ocean that may be even more effective (although more ephemeral) sources of iron to the ocean. This presentation will discuss both sources and their potential impacts on the ocean. Finally, given increasing interest in exploiting hydrothermally produced mineral deposits, some potential impacts of seafloor mining will be briefly dicussed.

About the Speaker: Dr. Resing received his Ph.D from the University of Hawaii in 1997. While in Hawaii, he studied the impact of lava flowing into the sea from Kilauea volcano on the Big Island. He is interested in how the solid earth interacts with the ocean and, in particular,how submarine eruptions and hydrothermal circulation impact the biogeochemistry of the ocean. He has more than75 scientific publications on studies ranging from the chemistry of the surface oceans, the chemistry of hydrothermal plumes, and the impact of recent eruptions on the ocean. Of local note, Joe grew up in Washington DC and attended St. Anselm's abbey school.

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Communicating uncertainty about Climate Change

Date: Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Tarlie Townsend, Visiting Scholar at Indiana University's School of Public and Environmental Affairs

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Audio Transcript (.docx)

Cited References (.docx)

Abstract: "[I]t has long been conventional wisdom in the climate change research and policy community that any perception by the public that there is uncertainty in the science behind climate change and its attribution to human actions has been and will continue to be the death knell for effective policy-making to combat it." - Patt and Weber, 2014

What happens when laypeople hear scientific predictions containing uncertainty? In the U.S., scientific uncertainty about the specific impacts of climate change has been misinterpreted as implying that scientists aren't agreed that anthropogenic climate change is happening at all. Is such confusion a given when communicating uncertainty to the public? How does uncertainty information influence people's trust in the information source, their perception of the risk, and the decisions they ultimately make?

Tarlie will present a broad review of the psychological findings on uncertainty communication. One takeaway will be that it matters how uncertainty information is communicated. Should we use numbers, words, or pictures? Frequencies or percentages? In the second part of this talk, Tarlie will introduce some common pitfalls in the presentation of uncertainty information, along with some best practices and open questions.

About the Speaker: After completing her B.S. in neuroscience and her B.A. in Germanic Studies, Tarlie spent a year studying risk and uncertainty communication at Berlin's Max Planck Institute for Human Development, where she was a DAAD Scholar. She then took what she had learned into the field: as a Henry Luce Scholar working in Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology, she and her colleagues used field experiments to investigate how rural Vietnamese perceive climate change and uncertainty. Tarlie will begin an MPP at the University of Michigan's Ford School of Public Policy this fall, where she will continue to research risk and uncertainty communication. <

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The Argos Data Collection and Location System-40 Years and Counting

Date: Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Scott Rogerson, NOAA/NESDIS Office of Satellite and Product Operations (OSPO), Satellite Products and Services Division (SPSD), Direct Services Branch (DSB)

Abstract: The Argos Data Collection and Location System (DCS) consists of instruments provided by the French Space Agency on polar-orbiting satellites operated by NOAA, EUMETSAT, and the Indian Space Research Organization. Nearly 2,000 users in over 100 countries currently collect data from over 21,000 active platforms, including a wide variety of wildlife, meteorological and oceanographic equipment, commercial fishing vessels, and merchant ships. A brief history, overview of the Argos system, and diversity of user applications will be provided-with a focus on current NOAA applications and the next (fifth) decade of operations

About the Speaker: Scott Rogerson has been the Argos DCS program manager for NESDIS/OSPO since August of 2010. Before joining NOAA, he served as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard for 21 years, including command of two patrol boats, teaching marine science at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, and two tours at the International Ice Patrol, where he was responsible for monitoring the iceberg danger near the Grand Banks of Newfoundland and providing the limit of all known ice to the maritime community.

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Evaluating the Transparency of Regional Fisheries Management Organizations

Date: Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Nichola Clark, NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement, nichola.clark@noaa.gov

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: The United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement recognizes regional fisheries management organizations and agreements (RFMOs) as institutions through which high seas fisheries might be effectively conserved and managed. Although the FAO recognizes over 50 RFMOs and these organizations cover much of the geographic extent of the world's oceans, declining fish stocks have not improved. According to scholars and environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs), RFMOs are failing the high seas. Political theorists recognize transparency as a mechanism through which governance can be improved. Indeed, a number of environmental governance institutions, including those that relate specifically to RFMOs, have called for greater transparency, in hopes that the adoption of more transparent practices will help restore failing fish stocks. This lecture will explore how well RFMOs are meeting international expectations for transparency and if any organizations in particular stand out as having particularly transparent or not-transparent practices. Specific discussions will include an identification of elements of transparency upon which RFMOs can most improve and offer recommendations for how RFMOs can achieve better transparency practices.

About the Speaker: Nichola Clark is a 2015 Knauss Sea Grant Fellow and serves as an International Program Analyst for NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement. Her portfolio primarily focuses on the President's IUU Task Force, though she also works on legislative issues and provides support for the US delegations to Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). Prior to starting her position at NOAA, Nichola worked as a Research Fellow for the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), where she developed working papers evaluating economic motivators for deep seabed mining. Nichola also worked as a contractor for the World Ocean Council where she created briefing materials overviewing international ocean governance instruments, bodies, and meetings. She has Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Environmental Public Policy and Law from Trinity College; she received a Master's in Environmental Management and a certificate in International Development from Duke University. Her Master's thesis evaluated the transparency of marine governance organizations, specifically RFMOs, and has been published in Stanford Environmental Law Journal and Marine Policy.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2015 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series .

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Shrimper Attitudes and Bycatch Compliance in the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fishery

Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Dr. Jolvan T. Morris, Post-doctoral Research Fellow, NOAA Living Marine Cooperative Science Center at Savannah State University

Abstract: Bycatch reduction technology (BRT) is a popular way to protect endangered and threatened marine animals. The available literature on BRT primarily considers the biological elements of managing shrimp trawl fisheries but rarely addresses social acceptance of such protocols, despite the clear importance of human behavior to successful deployment of BRTs. Reasons why fishermen adopt or fail to comply with requirements for BRT, thus, are poorly understood. The Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery, and its requirements for Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs) to protect Gulf of Mexico sea turtle species, sharks, and marine mammals, offers a useful case study on BRT compliance. Research methods included a content analysis of shrimping regulation literature, and focused interviews and mail surveys that were administered to shrimp fishermen across three states in the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery: Texas, Louisiana and Florida. Results suggest that regardless of general environmental attitudes, the cost of buying TEDs and the revenue lost through lower catches tend to deter TED use, while increased knowledge regarding regulatory requirements, species endangerment status, and bycatch levels has no impact. Also improving compliance were increased participation in decision making in advance of deployment and certain social norms. Recommendations at the conclusion of this research outline how to include fishermen in decisionmaking for TED deployment, what management practices may promote compliance, and how to consider Environmental Justice and sustainability concerns while managing the Gulf of Mexico Shrimp fishery

About the Speaker: Dr. Jolvan Morris is a postdoctoral researcher working with Dr. Dionne Hoskins in the NOAA Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center at Savannah State University (SSU). Her principal research interests are Environmental Policy, Risk Communication, the Social Dimensions of Fisheries, and Environmental Justice issues in coastal communities. Dr. Morris's post-doctoral research focuses on the African American Fishermen Oral History Project at SSU. This initiative explores the roles and significance of fisheries in Gullah Geechee communities along the coast in the Southeastern United States. She earned her Master's degree and Ph.D. in Environmental Science from Florida A&M; University in the NOAA Environmental Cooperative Science Center. Her Master's thesis focused on evaluating the biological and sociological issues surrounding the management of protected sturgeon species under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Her dissertation research used socio-environmental synthesis to address compliance, participation, and environmental justice issues in the Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery. Dr. Morris also spent two years as an intern at the Northeast Regional Office of the National Marine Fisheries Service assisting the Protected Resources Division with projects including Section 7 consultations, identifying critical habitat for protected marine species, and the development of educational outreach programs for K-12 students.

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Evaluating Offshore Wind Energy Feasibility off the California Central Coast

Date: Thursday, September 17, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Luke Feinberg, Department of Energy - Wind and Water Power Technologies Office, Lucas.Feinberg@EE.DOE.gov

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: If offshore wind (OSW) is to contribute to California's renewable energy goals, government agencies, developers, and the public must first understand the industry's feasibility in all coastal regions. Out of mutual interest in locally reducing fossil fuel use and expanding renewable energy production, the clients proposed this project to explore the potential of OSW off San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura Counties (the region of interest, or ROI). The 'CalWind' team has spent the last year working toward this objective. The breadth of topics associated with wind energy development in California's marine environment is substantial, and performing robust studies of all OSW feasibility variables was beyond the scope of a one-year project. Therefore, CalWind focused on three facets of feasibility: 1) Stakeholder perceptions, 2) Spatial analysis of wind resources and conflicting uses, and 3) Permitting pathways.

Interviews and a public survey identified key stakeholders and show that the majority of survey respondents are supportive of OSW. However, concerns arise around possible viewshed and avian impacts. Next, commercially exploitable wind resources exist in the ROI, but spatial analyses indicate that conflicts will likely occur between OSW development and current uses of the marine environment. Lastly, the permitting process for OSW is complex and untested. The team mapped this process and concludes that regulatory synergies could be enhanced through inter-agency cooperation. Limiting consideration to the factors analyzed in this project, OSW development in the ROI is theoretically feasible, but significant development barriers currently restrict industry advancement.

Highlights: Based on the parameters examined in this project, OSW development is feasible off California's central coast; however, development barriers exist: 1. Some stakeholders oppose OSW development. Concerns expressed by stakeholders include impacts to marine life and viewsheds. 2. State and federal permitting paths lack integration and need coordinated effort. 3. Environmental baseline data are incomplete and/or outdated.

Our research indicates that these barriers may be overcome: 1. Survey respondents indicate support and increased willingness to pay for OSW. Environmental and viewshed impacts should be considered in site selection studies. 2. Effective methods of streamlining the regulatory process exist on the East Coast and could be implemented in the ROI. 3. Once better baseline data are gathered, a framework exists for identifying areas of least conflict for OSW.

About the Speaker: Luke is currently a Knauss fellow at the Wind and Water Power Technologies Office in the Department of Energy where he serves as a Marine Renewable Energy Environmental Science and Policy Specialist. He is working on projects and issues related to accelerating deployment and decreasing market barriers for offshore wind energy. Specifically he is assisting with management of three offshore wind Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects; helping manage an offshore wind environmental research portfolio; representing the DOE on the National Ocean Councils New England, Mid-Atlantic, Great Lakes, and West Coast Regional Planning bodies; and is the lead author on an International Energy Agency (IEA) white paper.

Luke received a degree from Bates College in 2007, majoring in Biology. He spent the next 4 and half years working as environmental consultant in Boston, Massachusetts assisting in environmental emergency response to managing environmental remediation projects for energy infrastructure development. In 2012, he and his wife moved to Santa Barbara, California and enrolled at the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. In 2014 he received a Masters of Environmental Science and Management focusing on Energy and Climate and Corporate Environmental Management.

Luke has always been driven by his foundation as a tall ship sailor and joys time by the ocean and exploring new places. In his free time, Luke enjoys spending time with his wife and dog outdoors, training for triathlons, and cooking.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2015 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series .

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The Atlantic Hurricane Database Reanalysis Project

Date: Friday, September 18, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Christopher W. Landsea, NOAA/NWS/NCEP/National Hurricane Center

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract:A re-analysis of the Atlantic basin tropical storm and hurricane database (HURDAT2, otherwise known as "best tracks") for the period of 1851 to 1955 has been completed with the remainder of the 20th Century still ongoing. This reworking and extension back in time of the main archive for tropical cyclones of the North Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico was necessary to correct systematic and random errors and biases in the data as well as to incorporate observations that may not have been available at the time. The re-analysis project provides the revised tropical storm and hurricane database, a metadata file detailing individual changes for each tropical cyclone, a "center fix" file of raw tropical cyclone observations, details for U.S. landfalling tropical storms and hurricanes, and comments from/replies to the Best Track Change Committee. This presentation details the methodologies used for this re-analysis of the Atlantic tropical cyclone record as well as some of the highlights of the most important changes made.

About the Speaker: Christopher W. Landsea is the Science and Operations Officer atNOAA's National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami. In addition to forecasting and training duties, he is responsible for administration and evaluation of Joint Hurricane Testbed projects which may be implemented operationally to assist in the monitoring and forecasting of hurricanes.

Dr. Landsea received his Bachelor's Degree in Atmospheric Science from the University of California Los Angeles (1987) and his Master's Degree and Doctorate in Atmospheric Science from Colorado State University (1991, 1994). His graduate work was undertaken with Dr. Bill Gray, one of the world's leading experts on hurricanes and tropical meteorology. Dr. Landsea's main expertise is in seasonal forecasting of hurricanes, in hurricane climate variability and change, and in testing applied research projects for possible use in weather forecasting. He currently is leading up a re-analysis of the Atlantic hurricane database. 1992's Hurricane Andrew was officially upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane at landfall in southeastern Florida as part of this project.

In 2000, Dr. Landsea was a co-recipient of a U.S.Department of Commerce Bronze Medal "for issuing the accurate and first official physically based Atlantic seasonal hurricane outlooks for the 1998/1999 seasons, based upon new research." In 2002, Dr. Landsea was given the AMS' Editor's Award for reviews for the journal Weather and Forecasting. In 2009, he was the co-recipient of the 2009 National Hurricane Conference's Outstanding Achievement Award for Meteorology for development of the Graphical Tropical Weather Outlook product at the National Hurricane Center. In 2011, he was co-recipient of a Department of Commerce Gold Medal "for excellence in research and data stewardship leading to a more confident assessment of the influence of human-induced climate change on hurricanes". He currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society as its subject matter editor in tropical meteorology

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State of the Tropics: Unique ecosystems, rapid growth and a new global dynamic

Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Professor Sandra Harding, Vice Chancellor and President of James Cook University

Abstract: Over the past half-century the Tropics has emerged as an increasingly important region. More than 40% of the world's population live in the Tropics, the region's economy is growing 20% faster than the rest of the world, it hosts around 80% of the world's biological diversity and it includes some of the world's most culturally diverse regions. Rapid population and economic growth mean it is a region whose influence is set to rise dramatically in coming decades. The nature of this influence will depend on how the region addresses its many challenges, and whether it realises its potential and opportunities. The range and significance of shared issues facing nations and territories in the Tropics suggests it is timely to examine the characteristics and challenges facing the tropical region as an entity in itself.

State of the Tropics is a multi-disciplinary project that has brought together key research institutions across the Tropics to answer a nominally simple question: "Is life in the Tropics improving?" Recognizing shared connections and issues, while acknowledging variable responses between regions, we report that across a broad range of environmental, social and economic indicators, the region has made extraordinary progress in recent decades. Life is indeed improving on several fronts. However, the region is at a critical juncture. The resources required to sustain larger populations and economic growth are putting significant and increasing pressures on the natural environment. This presentation will explore some of the critical issues facing the Tropics and how we might work towards a prosperous and sustainable future for the Tropics worldwide.

About the Speaker: Professor Sandra Harding took up her appointment as Vice Chancellor and President of James Cook University Australia in January 2007. In this role, she is responsible for ensuring clear and effective leadership and management of the University across all operating sites, including campuses in Cairns, Singapore and Townsville. Professor Harding has extensive academic and academic leadership experience. An economic sociologist by training, her areas of enduring academic interest include work, organisation and markets and how they work. She also has a keen interest in public policy in two areas: education policy and related areas; and the global Tropics, northern Australia and economic development. Professor Harding has undertaken a wide variety of external roles within the business community and the higher education sector. Current roles include: Councillor, Queensland Futures Institute; Member, Trade and Investment Policy Advisory Committee (advising Minister Andrew Robb, Minister for Trade and Investment); Member, the Australia-China Council Board; Co-Vice Chair, the New Colombo Plan Reference Group; Director, Regional Australia Institute; Council Member, the Australian Institute of Marine Science; Director, North Queensland Cowboys National Rugby League club; Director of Townsville Enterprise and of Advance Cairns (regional economic development bodies); and; a Governor of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA). She has recently been appointed a member of the Australian Government's Research Policy and Funding Working Group (assisting Dr Ian Watt AO).

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Coastal ocean dynamics influence on harmful algal blooms with insights gained from integrating autonomous gliders, moorings, and satellite observations.

Date: Thursday, October 1, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Speaker: Dr. Bridget Seegers, NOAA OAR Office of Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes/Science Advisory Board, bridget.seegers@noaa.gov

Abstract: My research is fundamentally an exploration of why, when, and where do specific types of algal blooms occur with a focus on harmful algal blooms (HABs). Many bloom events are studied opportunistically or have limited synoptic sampling after the bloom is established, which leads to an inability to make predictions because bloom initiation and evolution are seldom observed. I used multi-month glider (autonomous underwater vehicle) deployments and Environmental Sample Processor (ESP) moorings combined with satellite data for in situ and remote sensing monitoring of subsurface and surface ocean conditions. The majority of the research focused on the late winter to spring in the coastal region of the Southern California Bight. This period was selected, because it historically has the highest rates of toxic algal blooms dominated by neurotoxin producing Pseudo-Nitzschia genus, which is a threat to humans and wildlife. The results revealed for the first time blooms of toxic Pseudo-nitzschia sp. can develop offshore and subsurface prior to their manifestation in the surface layer and/or near the coast. Highlights: 1) Combined use of new marine technologies including gliders, ESP moorings, and satellite data to study harmful algal blooms, and 2) Blooms of toxic Pseudo-nitzschia sp. can develop offshore and subsurface prior to their manifestation in the surface layer and/or near the coast.

About the Speaker: Bridget is currently a Knauss fellow shared between OAR's Office of Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes and NOAA's Science Advisory Board. Her most recent tasks included attempting to find contact information for Tesla's co-founder, Elon Musk, so Dr. Sullivan could invite him to speak at a Science Advisory Board meeting. Originally from Wisconsin Bridget grew up swimming and splashing in lakes and developed a love of being in, on, and around water. Bridget received her B.A in Biology from Carleton College in 2001 with a concentration in Environmental Science and Technology. She taught six years in a range of non-traditional classroom settings from the woods of Minnesota to inner city Boston as an AmeriCorps volunteer and at a charter high school in San Diego. Bridget returned to school in 2007 to earn a M.S. in Water Resources Science from the University of Minnesota. And in 2009 Bridget began her PhD in Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography at the University of Southern California studying Harmful Algal Blooms off the Southern California Coast and she successfully defended in December 2014.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2015 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series .

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Telling the NESDIS Story through Social Media

Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Leesha Saunders, NOAA NESDIS

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: Social media was initially developed for sharing photos and personal anecdotes. However, with careful planning, plus accessing and using the right tools, offices can develop dynamic, effective social media communication. This session will touch on how offices can cultivate a personable and informative social media presence, some do's and don'ts and more.

About the Speaker: Leesha Saunders has been with NOAA's Satellite and Information Service called NESDIS) since February 2008 as a part of its communication team. Her responsibilities have ranged from setting up NESDIS exhibits around the country to managing the agency's flourishing social media presence, which includes Facebook, with more than 67,000 likes and Twitter, with more than 96,000 followers. Leesha is a graduate of the Georgetown University Center for Continuing and Professional Education in Washington, D.C., with a certificate in Social Media Management. In addition, Leesha holds a BA from the University of Maryland, University College in Communications Studies with a minor in fine Art. While at NESDIS, Leesha also has established other social media platforms including the NESDIS YouTube and Flickr accounts. Before NOAA released its social media handbook, Leesha developed a NESDIS Facebook handbook, which was later expanded to the NESDIS social media handbook, along with other guides. All NESDIS offices, with social media platforms, use the handbooks as operating tools and templates.

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The Economics of Independent Marine Recreational Fishing Bait and Tackle Retail Stores in the United States, 2013

Date: Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Dr. Clifford P. Hutt Research Associate, ECS Federal in support of NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: In 2014, in response to a need identified by recreational fishing industry groups, NOAA Fisheries conducted the Marine Recreational Bait and Tackle Economic Survey (RBTES) to better understand the economic condition and contributions of retail stores that sell marine recreational fishing bait, tackle, and related equipment (excluding boats). This study focused on retail stores that are independently owned small businesses that sell bait and tackle to saltwater anglers in coastal and near coastal communities located in 23 U.S. states on the Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific coasts, Alaska, and Hawaii. A little over one-third (35.1%) of responding stores classified themselves as "Bait & Tackle" stores that catered almost exclusively to recreational anglers. These retail stores averaged $426 thousand in saltwater fishing related sales, representing 53.6 percent of their total gross sales in 2013. Conversely, stores that classified themselves as "Other Stores" averaged $141 thousand in saltwater fishing bait and tackle sales, representing only 8.4 percent of their total gross sales. Combined, independent retailers were estimated to have generated a total of $854 million in sales of saltwater fishing bait, tackle, and related equipment in 2013. National input-output analysis estimated that these sales contributed $2.3 billion in total economic output including $796 million in income supporting over 16 thousand jobs in the United States in 2013.

About the Speaker: Dr. Clifford Hutt is a research associate working for ECS Federal in support of NOAA Fisheries Office of Science and Technology in the Economics and Social Analysis Division. Dr. Hutt specializes in the human dimensions of fisheries management with a particular interest the attitudes, preferences, and economic impacts of resource use and its implications for natural resource policy. Dr. Hutt received his Ph.D. in Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture from Mississippi State University in 2012. His dissertation research focused on recreational anglers in Texas, and how their attitudes towards utilization of the resource influenced their economic preferences for fishing trip alternatives. Dr. Hutt first came to NOAA Fisheries as a 2013 John D. Knauss Fellow with the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division in the Office of Sustainable Fisheries before joining the Office of Science and Technology as a contractor in 2014. He is currently working on an inter-agency assessment of the economic impact of federal investments in ocean science and technology by four federal agencies (NOAA, BOEM, NSF, and USACE) for the Sub-committee on Ocean Science and Technology

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So what are the Impacts of Climate Change on Health in the United States? A sneak preview of the upcoming US Global Change Research Program's Climate and Health Assessment

Date: Thursday, October 22, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Juli Trtanj, MES, NOAA One Health and Climate Extremes Research Integration Lead, NOAA Climate Program Office

Abstract: This brown bag is designed to introduce the final draft of the US Global Change Research Program’s Climate and Health Assessment, and to solicit your input as part of the final agency review process. The purpose of this interagency assessment is to provide a comprehensive, evidence-based, and where possible, quantitative estimation of observed and projected climate change-related health impacts in the United States. The assessment is intended to inform policy and decision makers, and other stakeholders at multiple levels of government (e.g., public health officials, urban planners), non-profits, national health associations, and the general interested public. Several of your NOAA colleagues were heavily involved in the assessment, along with over a hundred scientists from 13 other federal agencies. Topics cover Temperature-Related Death and Illness, Air Quality Impacts, Extreme Events, Vectorborne Disease, Water-Related Illnesses, Food Safety, Nutrition, and Distribution, Mental Health and Well-Being and Populations of Concern.

The review process is from October 26-November 6, 2015--just two weeks. The knowledge base is drawn largely from the published literature so this is your last chance to make sure we did not miss anything! Several of the CHA authors will be in attendance as well to answer any questions

About the Speaker: Juli Trtanj is the One Health Lead for NOAA, responsible for developing and implementing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Health Strategy across NOAA and with other federal, state, local and international agencies, academic and private sector partners. She is leading the integration of extreme weather and climate science in the Climate Program, and is focusing initially on Integrated Information Systems for extreme heat. She coordinates the NOAA One Health Working Group and Ecological Forecasting Roadmap efforts focusing on health and climate, and is the NOAA Lead for the Memorandum of Understanding between NOAA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Ms. Trtanj co-chairs the US Global Change Research Program, Climate Change and Human Health Group (CCHHG) and represents NOAA on the OSTP Pandemic Prediction and Forecasting Science and Technology Working Group. She is a Convening Lead Author for the USGCRP Climate and Health Assessment. She represents NOAA on the International Working Group of the US Group on Earth Observations, is the Water-Related Illness Component Lead for the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), and is directly involved with European, South African, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other partners in the development of the Health Early Warning Systems, specifically for cholera and other water-related illness.

Ms. Trtanj is also an active collaborator in the NSF-funded Research Collaboration Network on Marine Emerging Diseases. She co-chairs the American Meteorological Society Committee on Ecological Forecasting and serves on the AMS Board on Health and the Environment. From 1996 to present she has developed and directed multidisciplinary and multi-partner programs on Oceans and Human Health, and Climate Variability and Human Health. She has contributed to, reviewed, or edited sections of several IPCC and US National Climate Assessment reports and authored several book chapters and journal articles. She earned her Master in Environmental Science from Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies in 1994, and her Bachelors in 1986 from the University of California Santa Barbara.

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Strikes, status, and structure: The genetics of North Pacific fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus ???)

Date and Time: Wednesday, October 28 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Eric Archer, PhD, Southwest Science Fisheries Center

Abstract: Currently, three subspecies of fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) are recognized: B. p. physalus in the Northern Hemisphere, B. p. quoyi in the Southern Hemisphere, and a recently described Southern Hemisphere pygmy form, B. p. patachonica. A study of the full mitochondrial genome indicated that North Atlantic and North Pacific fin whales were significantly differentiated and did not belong to the same subspecies. Additionally there was evidence of two distinct clades in the North Pacific, one apparently the result of a successful trans-equitorial dispersal of at least one female from the Southern Hemisphere approximately 0.37 Ma. In this study, a Random Forest analysis of 777 mtDNA control region sequences showed high diagnosability for samples from the North Pacific (94%), North Atlantic (99%), and Southern Hemisphere (100%). We also analyzed 23 Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) loci on the same 154 samples used in the mitogenome study, which show significant (p = 0.0001) differentiation in Fst, Gst, and x2 among fin whales in the North Pacific, North Atlantic (including the Mediterranean Sea), and Southern Hemisphere. However, the results of a Bayesian clustering method indicated that the North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere are very similar to each other, while fin whales in the North Pacific are more distinct. There was no evidence of more than one group within the North Pacific, and direct tests of differentiation between the two main North Pacific clades identified in the mitogenomic study were non-significant. This reinforces the hypothesis that the more recently evolved North Pacific matriline resulted from a historical dispersal event and that the two North Pacific matrilines are currently freely interbreeding. These new results corroborate the mitogenome tree and provide strong evidence that fin whales in the North Pacific are a separate subspecies and the taxonomy of the species is in need of revision. The establishment of North Pacific fin whales as a distinct subspecies is a key component in management of the species in this region in light of their susceptibility to ship strikes in the southern California Bight and uncertainty about their population structure.

About the Speaker: Eric Archer is a geneticist with NOAA Fisheries, Southwest Science Center, Marine Mammal Genetics Group. He graduated with in 1990 with a B.A. Biology from Virginia Wesleyan College and in 1996 with a Ph.D., Marine Biology, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD. Eric's research interests include: 1) Indirect affects of tuna purse seining on dolphin populations in the eastern tropical Pacific. 2) Cetacean systematics and population structure, 3) Developing and testing analytical tools for population genetics and 4) Integrating diverse data types to enhance our knowledge of cetacean biology.

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The impact of the South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation variability on extreme weather events in the Northern Hemisphere with particular emphasis on the US

Date and Time: Thursday, October 29 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Dr. Hosmay Lopez (NOAA/AOML)

Presentation Slides (pptx)

Co-authors: Dr. Shenfu Dong (NOAA/AOML), Dr. Gustavo Goni (NOAA/AOML),Dr. Sang-Ki Lee (NOAA/AOML)

Abstract: The global oceans distribute mass and heat through all basins in a large-scale circulation called the Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC). This circulation in the Atlantic Ocean (AMOC) is composed of a northward-flowing branch in the upper ocean and a return flow at depths. The MOC component in the South Atlantic Ocean has been hypothesized to be of key importance for weather and climate. NOAA, and other US and international partners, are placing big efforts to monitor and understand the AMOC and associated Meridional Heat Transport (MHT) in the Atlantic at different latitudes. These efforts include monitoring the characteristics of the MHT, which are also used to validate climate models and to establish the link between AMOC and extreme weather events such as drought and heat waves. Here, we present results on one of the first attempts to link the MHT variability to extreme weather and climate. For this, a multi-century run from a coupled general circulation model is used as basis for the analysis. Results obtained indicate that weaker MHT leads to increase occurrence and severity of heat waves and droughts over Eastern Europe and Western North America. Weaker MHT is also associated with enhanced Northern Hemisphere summer monsoons. We conclude that the link between weaker MHT, stronger monsoons, and increased heat waves conditions and droughts over Europe and North America is through modification of the atmospheric circulation associated with changes in MHT. Also, results presented here suggest the possibility of decadal predictability of seasonal temperature and precipitation in that MHT in the South Atlantic Ocean could serve as potential predictor for decadal variability of droughts and heat waves over the US. The South Atlantic MHT also gives a lead-time of about 15 years from the anomalous heat transport to its weather effects over the US. These results highlight the value and need for studies involving continuous ocean observations and numerical models, necessary to improve our knowledge of the complex interaction between the SAMOC and its global impact on extreme weather.

About the Speaker: Dr. Hosmay Lopez graduated with a PHD in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Miami in 2013. He currently holds a Post-doctoral Associate position at the NOAA - University of Miami, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies. He works at the Physical Oceanography Division of NOAA/AOML, in Miami, FL. His main area of research is to study the links between the Atlantic Ocean and extreme weather events using numerical models.

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PEER Grants and You: new opportunities for collaboration with developing country researchers

Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker:Dr. Callie Raulfs-Wang, Project Manager, Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER)

Presentation Slides (pdf)

Abstract: For the first time, NOAA offices can participate in the PEER (Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research) grants program. Join us for a brown bag presentation at noon on Tuesday, November 10, to learn more about PEER grants, qualifying collaboration with developing country researchers, and how this exciting program can benefit your office!

PEER is a competitive grants program led by USAID and NAS that invites scientists in developing countries to apply for funds to support research and capacity-building activities on topics with strong potential development impacts. Developing country researchers must partner with a U.S. Government-funded researcher (or specific U.S. firms) in order to apply for a PEER award. Through these partnerships, PEER applicants benefit from the skills, laboratory access, and other resources of their U.S. partner. Both the PEER applicant and the U.S. researcher benefit from one another's expertise, and partner on truly collaborative research. Although PEER does not fund U.S. researchers or programs, NOAA can benefit from this program by leveraging scientific investments that are relevant to development goals in priority countries.

Focus Areas:

General technical areas for this open call include, but are not limited to biodiversity, agriculture, environment, climate change, clean energy, disaster mitigation, food security, water/sanitation, urbanization, democracy and governance, and education. In addition to the overarching fields above, PEER invites pre-proposals from applicants in the following specific countries or regions or working on the following topical areas, for which special funds are available:

• Global: Health Implementation Science
• Central and South Central Asia: Trans-boundary Water Research
• SERVIR Priority Countries: Environmental Management and Climate Change
• Infectious Disease in the Middle East
• Regional Development Mission for Asia (RDMA) Priority Countries: Rapid Assessment of Fish Stocks in the South China and Sulu-Sulawesi Seas
• Planet National Instruments Priority Countries: Renewable Energy and Microgrids
• Brazil: Biodiversity in the Brazilian Amazon
• India: GE Partnership (must have a partner designated by GE India)
• Indonesia: Multiple Research Fields
• South Africa: Multiple Research Fields
• Tunisia: Multiple Research Fields
• Vietnam: Biodiversity

For more information, refer to the PEER website or contact PEER.NOAA@noaa.gov. This email address will be also used to accept applications and to field questions from potential applicants.

Additional Resources:

• Application process and resources
• Map of funded projects
• Focus Areas

About the Speaker:Dr. Callie Raulfs-Wang is the Project Manager for Partners. PEER is USAID's Global Development Lab’s flagship program for supporting developing country scientists in partnership with U.S researchers. The program supports over $50 million of USAID investment in 200 research projects in 50 countries. Previously Callie served as a Science and Research Advisor within USAID's Global Health bureau. In this role, Callie developed metrics for measuring and tracking global health investments in research and innovation and partnerships with industry. She has worked extensively in the interagency space on science programming. Callie received a Ph.D in Biochemistry, in 2009 from Virginia Tech with a focus on sulfur-processing and redox enzymes. Following her doctoral work, she worked as a post-doctoral fellow at the Cancer Vaccine Branch of the National Cancer Institute investigating the importance of selenium based treatment for carcinogenesis. Her post-doctoral work also included preclinical protocols investigating combinatorial vaccine and adjuvant strategies to overcome tumor burden.

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Understanding and Narrowing the Context of the Historic Bays or Titles Exception to Compulsory Dispute Settlement in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Date: Thursday, November 12, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Andrew Rubin, John A. Knauss Fellow, NOAA Fisheries, Highly Migratory Species Management Division, Andrew.Rubin@noaa.gov

Abstract: When disputes concerning the interpretation of application of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ("UNCLOS") occur, parties to the convention are under the obligation to settle the issue in a peacefully in "such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered." Under Part XV, § article 279 of the UNCLOS, parties must seek a solution by the means indicated in Article 33, paragraph 1 of the United Nations Charter, in that they seek a solution by "negotiation, enquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement, resort to regional agencies or arrangements, or other peaceful means of their own choice". If State Parties fail to reach a settlement, they must submit the dispute for compulsory dispute settlement procedures. However, these dispute settlement procedures are subject to exceptions and limitations under § 3, article 298 of UNCLOS.

This paper aims to better understand what article 298(1)(a)(i) means or excludes by providing an optional exception to the compulsory dispute settlement procedures for "historic bays or titles." Specifically, this paper focuses on the treatment of "historic bays or titles" as an excluded category from dispute settlement, and traces the travaux preparatoires from the third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (when this language was added and included) in chronological order so as to illuminate the intended direction of this language. In this manner, this paper provides the grounds for a narrowing of the meaning of "historic bays or titles" and cultivates a better understanding of what this category may exclude.

About the Speaker: Andrew Rubin is a 2015 John A. Knauss Sea Grant Fellow with NOAA Fisheries, Highly Migratory Species Management Division. In this capacity Andrew works on the implementation of fisheries management actions for species of Atlantic sharks, tunas, swordfish, and billfish. Prior to the fellowship, Andrew authored a report, Paths to Fisheries Subsidies Reform: Creating sustainable fisheries through trade and economics, which reviewed the history and impact of fisheries subsidies and provided an analytic assessment of twenty international organization for their capacity to reform those subsidies. Andrew has previously worked within NOAA's Office of the General Counsel International Section, the US Coast Guard District Seven, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, and in Oceana's Washington and Santiago, Chile offices. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Rochester, and his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law.. He is admitted to the Bar in Maryland.

Note: This seminar is part of the 2015 Knauss Fellows Brown Bag Seminar series .

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An Examination of the Impact of Culture on Response to Severe Weather Alerts

Speaker: Dr. Terri Adams Fuller, Associate Professor, Howard University's NOAA Center for Atmospheric Science

Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Presentation Slides

Abstract: Review of relevant literature on disaster response indicates that an individual's response to risks and threats of disaster appear to be a function of a number of factors; two of the most well documented factors in the literature are prior experience and risk perception. Some scholars have found that repeat experience with natural hazards increases individuals' understanding of potential threats and the required response to an impending danger (Cross, 1990; Janis, 1962; Perry et al., 1982). However, others have found that prior exposure to hazards has very little impact on individual's perceptions of potential dangers, and constant exposure to risks can reduce the degree to which the potential danger remains relevant in the minds of those at risk (Rogers, 1997; Ruiter et al., 2004). Consequently, the credibility of a warning is diminished when similar warnings have resulted in what may be perceived as "false alarms." This presentation will discuss the various ways in which culture influences people's perceptions of risks and reactions to severe weather alerts.

About the Speaker: Terri Adams, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of Criminology in Howard University's Department of Sociology and Anthropology. Dr. Adams' research takes a multidisciplinary approach to examining issues that have both theoretical and practical implications. Her specific research interests include emergency management, policing, violence against women, and the impact of trauma and disasters on individuals and organizations. Her most recent work centers on the decision-making processes of both individuals and organizations in the face of crisis events. She is currently the principal investigator for the "Examination of Resilience and Role Conflict Among First Responders" project supported by the National Center for the Study of Preparedness and Catastrophic Event Response. She also serves as the lead investigator for the Social, Behavioral, and Economic component of the NOAA Center for Atmospheric Sciences at Howard University

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Long-term Interdisciplinary Monitoring of the Ecological Impacts of Ocean Acidification on Coral Reefs Across the Central and Western Pacific

Date: Thursday, December 3, 2015 at 12:00pm EST

Speaker: Rusty Brainard, Ph.D., Chief, Coral Reef Ecosystem Program, NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center

Abstract: Ocean acidification is predicted to have significant impacts on coral reefs and the associated ecosystem services they provide to human societies over this century. To inform, validate, and improve laboratory experiments and predictive modelling efforts, scientists and managers from NOAA, IOC-WESTPAC, SPREP, and the countries of the western and central Pacific Ocean are collaborating to establish an integrated and interdisciplinary observing network to assess spatial patterns and monitor long-term temporal trends of the ecological impacts of ocean acidification on coral reef ecosystems across gradients of biogeography, oceanography, and anthropogenic stressors. Using standardized and comparable approaches and methods, these collaborative efforts are beginning to systematically monitor: seawater carbonate chemistry using water sampling and moored instruments, benthic community structure and abundance using biological surveys and photoquadrats, indices of crytobiota diversity using autonomous reef monitoring structures, net accretion and calcification rates using calcification accretion units and coral cores, and bioerosion rates. NOAA has established baseline observations and initiated long-term monitoring at 23 U.S.-affiliated sites in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Marianas, Jarvis, Howland, and Baker Islands, and Palmyra, Kingman, Wake, and Johnston Atolls, and 2 sites in the Coral Triangle (Philippines and Timor Leste). Following two successful IOC-WESTPAC workshops, 22 additional sites are being initiated in Bangladesh (1), Cambodia (1), China (1), Indonesia (3), Malaysia (5), Philippines (7), Thailand (3), and Vietnam (1). Following two workshops and with support from New Zealand, SPREP has initiated efforts to identify multiple pilot ocean acidification monitoring sites in the Small Island Developing States of the Pacific Islands adopting similar approaches. Collectively, these standardized observations of the ecological responses to ocean acidification will inform resource managers and policymakers in their efforts to implement effective management and adaptation strategies and serve as a model for the Global Ocean Acidification Observing Network (GOA-ON).

About the Speakers: Dr. Rusty Brainard is a supervisory oceanographer and founding Chief of NOAA’s Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), an interdisciplinary, ecosystem-based research program that conducts integrated ecosystem observations, long-term monitoring, and applied research of coral reefs to support ecosystem-based management and conservation. CRED monitors the distribution, abundance, diversity, and condition of fish, corals, other invertebrates, algae, and microbes in the context of their diverse benthic habitats, human pressures, and changing ocean conditions, including ocean acidification (OA) and warming.

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