Research

SARGASSUM inundation, anoxia and increased acidification

Sargassum inundation of recreational beaches has proved to become a persistent problem with a significant impact on the tourism industry and a challenge to entities managing the issue. In a previous news piece, CARICOOS reported evidence provided by satellite data that indicates it has also caused significant damage to mangroves and seagrasses. CARICOOS is also… Read More

CARICOOS CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS) is seeking expressions of interest (EOIs) for collaborations on the operation, maintenance, enhancement, and outreach of the program. We welcome submissions from academic institutions, profit and non-profit organizations, and federal & state governments. EOIs to operate, maintain, and enhance our existing infrastructure, as well as pilot projects to… Read More

The Ocean Acidification Buoy is currently getting its annual maintenance.

This week CARICOOS researchers recovered the ocean acidification buoy located at Cayo Enrique, La Parguera Lajas, Puerto Rico, to conduct its scheduled maintenance. This buoy is one of 19 NOAA Ocean Acidification Program supported buoys in coastal waters. Its main purpose is to measure ocean acidification and related parameters in a tropical coral reef environment in order to have… Read More

CARICOOS congratulates Peter Rivera for successfully completing his Master’s degree.

CARICOOS is proud to congratulate Dr. Patricia Chardón’s student Peter Rivera Casillas, for having successfully defended his Master’s degree thesis “Assessment of Storm-Induced Coastal Changes on a High-energy Microtidal Reef-Fringed Coast”. This thesis aimed to examine how recent environmental events, such as Hurricane Maria and Winter Strom Riley swell events have worsened coastal erosion in… Read More

Satellite imagery reveals impacts to coastal vegetation and seagrasses attributable to Hurricane Maria and now frequent massive Sargasso arrivals.

Since 2011, large accumulations of Sargassum on the coasts has become a challenge for managers. Some of the challenges include lack of access to ramps and beaches, deterioration in the quality of tourism services and impacts on coastal ecosystems dynamics. To address this issue, CARICOOS commissioned a study to evaluate changes in benthic composition and… Read More

Coral Disease continues spreading across St. Thomas Reefs

Special contribution from Sonora Meiling,sonora.meiling@students.uvi.edu A deadly coral disease, identified on the coral reefs of St. Thomas in January 2019, continues to spread across the island. First seen at Flat Cay, just south of the St. Thomas airport, what researchers at the University of the Virgin Islands believe to be stony coral tissue loss disease… Read More

Improving accessibility and visualization of Puerto Rico coral reef data

The visualization of biological datasets is paramount to better understand global change related to variable oceanographic conditions. In this regard, the NOAA Coral Reef Connservation Program (CRCP) funded Puerto Rico Coral Reef Monitoring Program (PRCRMP) of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER), becomes an essential tool. The PRCRMP includes benthic and fish observations… Read More

Three graduate students have been identified as recipients of the 2020 IOOS/CARICOOS/OCOVI Vembu Subramanian Award

The goal of the Vembu Subramanian Award is to advance the IOOS priorities – coastal preparedness, response, recovery, and resiliency; advancing coastal intelligence; and place-based conservation in the spirit of Vembu Subramanian’s devotion to humanity, appreciation of nature and love of science.  The award honors the memory of the late Vembu Subramanian, noted oceanographer and… Read More

Glider School

CARICOOS technical team received a hands-on-learning training from NOAA-AOML personnel on how to refurbished and prepare underwater gliders. These will be deployed during the upcoming hurricane season to collect oceanographic data which will contribute to hurricane intensity forecasting studies (Photos by Efra Figueroa).