Coastal Oceans
The coastal ocean provides the physical linkage among the other coastal ecosystems of NOAA interest. It also helps determine many of the physical, chemical and biological properties of these ecosystems such as temperature, salinity, and productivity. The coastal ocean is a major zone of production and harvest of fisheries species. It is the home of several of the National Marine Sanctuaries under NOAA’s stewardship. Learn more.
The coastal ocean is often the seed bank for harmful algal species which can form blooms if carried into areas favorable to for bloom development. CCFHR is developing techniques from molecular biology to distinguish different harmful algal species and to detect some of their toxins. Work is also underway to study the effects of these toxins in disrupting the coastal marine food web. Conceptual and numerical models are being developed for use in probabilistic forecasts of how nutrients inputs to the coastal ocean can trigger harmful algal bloom formation.
The Indo-Pacific lionfish is a species alien to the south Atlantic U.S. coast that has now invaded the coastal ocean there. It has found bottom habitat and a temperature regime that seems to allow it to live year round and reproduce. We are investigating its spatial distribution and potential for population growth and range extension. We will use these as models for anticipating and forecasting the potential for invasion by other marine species. Learn more.
CCFHR researchers are studying the recovery of the coastal ocean’s physical structure from the passage of hurricanes which frequent the area. There can be changes in biological productivity which follow the altered physical structure. These are of concern to coastal managers, especially insofar as they effect fall tourism and fishery production cycles. Learn more.
We are employing satellite remote sensing and the SEACOOS ocean observing system in data acquisition for many of these activities.