CARICOOS-Virgin Islands

Outlook of 2019 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico by USF Optical Oceanography Lab

The maps above show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. In June 2019, the following regions continued to experience large amounts of Sargassum: Central West Atlantic (CWA), entire Caribbean Sea (CS), eastern Gulf of Mexico (GoM), northern Florida Straits, and waters off east coast of Florida. In addition to numerous reports of Sargassum… Read More

Sargassum outlook – May 2019 update

The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. In May 2019, the following regions continued to experience large amounts of Sargassum: Central West Atlantic (CWA), entire Caribbean Sea (CS), eastern Gulf of Mexico, northern Florida Straits, and waters off east coast of Florida. In addition to numerous reports of Sargassum beaching… Read More

2019 CARICOOS General Assembly

Please join us at CARICOOS’ General Assembly meeting. It is a change to participate in the ocean observing conversation and build collaborations with CARICOOS and our stakeholders. When: Friday May 24th, 2019 from 8:00AM to 3:00PM Where: Club Náutico de San Juan CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Sargassum outlook update, by USF Optical Oceanography Lab – March 2019

The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. On Feb 28th we predicted that during March 2019 large amounts of Sargassum would continue to be found in the entire Caribbean Sea (CS) and around Loop Current (LC), and during April 2019 the amount of “new” Sargassum transported from the Central West… Read More

Sargassum outlook update, by USF Optical Oceanography Lab – February 2019

In 2018, the Caribbean Sea (CS) has experienced a record-high and prolonged Sargassum bloom. The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. In Feb 2019, similar amounts as in Feb 2018 appeared in the eastern CS, but amounts in the Central West Atlantic (CWA) were lower. Meanwhile, large amounts of Sargassum… Read More

Sargassum outlook update, by USF Optical Oceanography Lab – December 2018

The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. In December 2018, the bloom intensity in the Caribbean Sea (CS) continued to decrease slightly from November, but the amount of Sargassum in the Central West Atlantic (CWA) increased slightly from November, which also represented a historical record for the month of November…. Read More

Sargassum outlook – November 2018 update, by USF Optical Oceanography Lab

So far the Caribbean Sea (CS) has experienced a record-high Sargassum bloom ever since January 2018. The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. In November 2018, the bloom intensity continued to decrease in the CS, but still comparable to the bloom extent in November 2015. There is also significant amount… Read More Sargassum

OCOVI announces 2018 Annual Meeting

The public is advised that Ocean and Coastal Observing – Virgin Islands (OCOVI), will conduct it 2018 annual meeting on December 8th from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM for the filling of vacancies, the election of the officers and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting. The public… Read More

CARICOOS’ St. John Buoy recovered for upgrades

November 27, 2018. The longest-serving CARICOOS buoy in USVI waters, designated by the National Data Buoy Center as #41052, has been recovered so that new batteries and other updated instrument parts can be replaced. This buoy survived the fury of both hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. Used heavily by fishers, ferries, cruise ships, meteorologists… Read More