COSTAVISPR: A NEW CARIBBEAN REGIONAL OCEAN PARTNERSHIP TOOL TO EXPLORE COASTAL LANDCOVER CHANGES IN PUERTO RICO

CostaVisPR: Vista Aerea de la Transformacion Costera de Puerto Rico (http://www.costavispr.org) is a web-based tool for visualization of changes in coastal areas. This viewer integrates aerial photographs from 1930, 1950, 1994, 2010, 2017 and 2019 and allows exploration of changes in land cover, which can be related to natural and anthropogenic processes such as hurricanes, sea level… Read More costavispr.org

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

CARICOOS Boating app: an accessible and easy-to-use tool for boaters.

Recreational boating is a popular and enjoyable marine recreation activity for many people in the CARICOOS region. However, in order to minimize risks, boaters need easy access to sea state conditions that can help them make suitable decisions. Taking into account this need, and given CARICOOS success with PA’ LA PLAYA app, a market analysis… 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

Outlook of 2020 Sargassum blooms in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico* August 31st, 2020, by University of South Florida Optical Oceanography Lab

The maps below show Sargassum abundance, with warm colors representing high abundance. In August 2020, the overall Sargassum amount continued to decrease across the central Atlantic. Large amount of Sargassum was still observed in the Central West Atlantic (CWA, i.e., the region east of the Lesser Antilles in the maps below), the Central East Atlantic… 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