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

Boats and Apps

The Caribbean Ocean Observing System (CARICOOS) provides observations and forecasts about wind, wave, tides, currents, ocean color, among other parameters. This information is a very important tool for decision making. In fact, CARICOOS have become the main source of information when planning marine operations, scuba diving tours, boating or your next day at the beach…. 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

2018 IOOS Fall Meeting – Selected Highlights

The eleven Regional Associations (RAs), members of their boards, and IOOS Program Office (IOOS PO) staff and partners gathered in Annapolis, MD for the IOOS Fall Meeting on September 18-20, 2018. At the meeting, participants discussed the IOOS niche in biological observations and collaborations with NASA. Click here to access the meeting website and materials…. Read More

Outlook of 2018 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea – October 30 2018, 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 October 2018, the overall bloom intensity continued to decrease from September, but still comparable to the bloom extent in October 2015. There is also significant amount… Read More

Okeanos Explorer in San Juan

Captain Eric Johnson Commanding Officer for NOAA ship Okeanos Explorer invited CARICOOS leads Julio Morell, Patricia Chardón and Sylvia Rodriguez to visit the only vessel owned by the U.S. government dedicated to exploring the seabed and ocean crust.  During the visit, this past 25th of October, the CARICOOS team had a great time learning about… Read More

CARICOOS visited NOAA’s hydrographic survey vessel Thomas Jefferson.

A year ago the crew of the NOAA Ship Thomas Jefferson, in collaboration with NOAA IOOS, CDIP, and the University of Maine, recovered the CARICOOS Rincon buoy after it was ripped from its mooring during hurricane María. One year later, while the Thomas Jefferson was in the port of San Juan, CARICOOS staff visited the… Read More

Workshop for teachers aims to bring ocean observing to the classroom

Organized by estuario.org, Corredor del Yaguazo and by the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras the workshop provided teachers with ideas on how ocean observing technology, near-real time data and forecast models can be used as educational tools that may be integrated into science and geography curricula at various educational levels. The Sea Grant… Read More