Observation Technology

A SUCCESSFUL 6-MONTH UNDERWATER GLIDER MISSION!

In June 2021, CARICOOS, in collaboration with NOAA-AOML, OCOVI and US Navy, deployed seven underwater gliders. Two of these were deployed in the tropical Atlantic Ocean and five in the Caribbean Sea off Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands. These battery-powered AUVs operated for up to six months. During the mission, the gliders gathered temperature and salinity… Read More

2021 TROPICAL HURRICANE GLIDER MISSION IS UNDERWAY!

CARICOOS, with support from NOAA-Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), successfully deployed five (5) underwater gliders in mid-June 2021, four owned by NOAA-AOML and one by CARICOOS. Of those, three were deployed in the Caribbean Sea and two in the Atlantic Ocean. These underwater gliders will continually gather temperature and salinity profiles up to 1000… Read More

REFURBISHMENT OF CARICOOS MOORED OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA BUOYS

In May 2021, CARICOOS oceanographic data buoys off the coast of San Juan, Ponce and Vieques underwent their yearly refurbishment in order to keep them operational and ready for the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season. The overhaul included the replacement of batteries, sensors, and electronics. Much of this work was accomplished by our partners at the… Read More

Monitoring Ocean Acidification in Caribbean Coral Reefs

An ocean acidification buoy in Puerto Rico helps scientists understand changing conditions in our oceans and atmosphere. Repost from NOAA Fisheries Since 2008, a NOAA Ocean Acidification Program (OAP) buoy has been positioned in La Parguera, Puerto Rico where it collects data for scientists studying the chemistry, biology, geology, and physics of the Caribbean Sea…. Read More

Outlook of 2021 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico* Feb 28th, 2021, by University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab (huc@usf.edu)

The maps above show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. In February 2021, the Sargassum amount remained high across the central Atlantic. Large amount of Sargassum was observed in the Central West Atlantic (CWA, i.e., the region east of the Lesser Antilles in the maps below) while the amount in Central East Atlantic… Read More