NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies

Climate Seminar Series: Climate Change Impacts on Bering Sea Fisheries
2024-04-11 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Event: NOAA EPP/MSI CSC Climate Change Seminar Series
Title: Climate Change Impacts on Bering Sea Fisheries
Presenter: with Kirstin Holsman, NOAA Fisheries (Hosted by University of Maryland, Eastern Shore)
Date: April 11, 2024
Time: 12:00pm-1:00 PM
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After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details to join the event
About the Seminar Series.
Join NOAA’s EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers for this lecture series featuring scientists from NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Research. These monthly seminars will be hosted by the lead institution, virtually or hybrid throughout the 2023-2024 academic year. For more information, please visit, https://research.noaa.gov/noaa-csc/

NOAA Seminar Series: Micro-climate Monitoring, Crop Impacts, and Preparedness for Southern CA Viticulture
2024-05-09 13:30 - 14:30 | City College of New York, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, 10031
Title: Micro-climate Monitoring, Crop Impacts, and Preparedness for Southern CA Viticulture
Presenter(s): Alessandra Zuniga
Date: Thursday, May 9 , 2024 from 1:30 – 2:15 pm
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/mdr-yckd-znv
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 408-909-8773 PIN: ‪659 505 717##
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About Speaker: Alessandra Zuniga
Abstract:
Southern California is currently experiencing rapid changes in climate patterns and more extreme weather events with important implications for the agricultural industry. Current trends and climate models indicate that temperatures in this region will continue to rise in the next century, along with more intense and frequent drought events. The impacts of these changes on crop physiology and production remain ambiguous, which makes this region highly vulnerable to climate change. Moreover, very little is known about how growers are responding to these climate challenges and whether they have the necessary resources and support to adapt accordingly. This project was developed to better understand and predict climate impacts to vineyard production systems in the San Diego region. The first objective of this project was to better understand the physiological response of grapevines to micro-climate and soil water availability and how this varies across different grapevine varieties of the same species (Vitis vinifera L.). This project was conducted at an experimental vineyard located in the Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve in Fallbrook, CA. The second objective of this research was to use a social science approach to better understand the impacts and challenges of climate change on the winegrowing community in the San Diego region. These findings help to draw awareness of potential impacts on the grape/wine sector, which may incentivize informed policy and practices.
The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Alexander Tardy of the National Weather Service. The NERTO aligns with the NOAA CESSRST-II program’s goals of supporting and strengthening societal decision-making in response to weather and climate extremes. This project has also deepened the intern’s understanding of NOAA weather monitoring by integrating weather data, crop transpiration predictions, and grower risk perception to address information needs and adaptive capacity building of the agricultural sector.

NOAA Seminar Series: The Path to Justice40: Indicators and Metrics for Assessing and Engaging Frontline Communities
2024-07-25 14:00 - 14:30
Title: The Path to Justice40: Indicators and Metrics for Assessing and Engaging Frontline Communities

Presenter(s): Gwendolyn Damestoit
Date: Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET

Meeting link : https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8902629542552066646
About Speaker: Gwendolyn Damestoit
Abstract:
This research, conducted under the mentorship of NOAA/NERTO mentors Dr. Ariela Zycherman, Dr. Chelsea Combest-Friedman, and CESSRST Advisor Dr. Fernando Tormos-Aponte, aimed to investigate the decision-making processes within the Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments Program (RISA) teams concerning community engagement, with a specific focus on frontline communities. The objective was to comprehend how RISA projects are scoped, benefits are identified, and community partnerships are established. The study was particularly relevant in the context of supporting federal agencies’ response to the Justice40 Initiative (EO14008, Sec223), which seeks to ensure that 40% of the benefits from federal investments in climate change are directed towards “disadvantaged” communities. Under this initiative, federal agencies are required to define and geographically identify the communities meeting the criteria of “disadvantaged” to receive funding. The primary task involves identifying the diverse metrics and considerations employed by RISA teams in determining their project locations and community collaborators. This was achieved through informal interviews with principal investigators and program managers within RISA teams. Qualitative analysis techniques were utilized to discern common metrics across the network and region-specific indicators. Furthermore, the research compares these metrics with existing environmental justice and social vulnerability tools to develop a framework for identifying beneficiary communities in alignment with the Justice40 initiative. The outcomes of this study contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of the RISA program in addressing climate and social justice concerns while aligning with broader equity priorities of the administration.

NOAA Seminar Series: Implementation and Sustainability of the UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Program
2024-07-25 14:30 - 15:00
Title: Implementation and Sustainability of the UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Program

Presenter(s):Wendy Prudencio
Date: Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm ET

Google Meet joining info
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: meet.google.com/mfn-yhxq-nxf
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About Speaker: Wendy Prudencio
Abstract:
Tsunamis are natural hazards that are caused by other hazards, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides, and meteorites. Tsunamis can be life-threatening, and therefore, mitigation and preparedness for these events are necessary. In 2001, the National Weather Service (NWS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) established the Tsunami Ready Program in coordination with the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) to assist coastal communities throughout the United States (Bernard, 2005). The Tsunami Ready Program promotes mitigation, awareness, preparedness, and response to tsunamis through community-based efforts. This program has paved the way for the International Tsunami Information Center to support the piloting, establishment, and ongoing implementation of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Tsunami Ready Recognition Programme. Implementation and sustainability of the Tsunami Ready Program are crucial to coastal communities in order to improve resiliency and reduce the impact on life, property, and livelihoods.
The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Dr. Christa G. von Hillebrandt-Andrade of the International Tsunami Information Center Caribbean Office of NWS. The NERTO aligns with the NOAA CSC Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies II (CESSRST II) goal to Conduct NOAA mission-aligned collaborative research. The NERTO Implementation and Sustainability of the UNESCO/IOC Tsunami Ready Program also deepened the intern’s understanding of NOAA’s tsunami hazard mitigation strategies, which enhanced their capacity to support coastal community preparedness and resilience initiatives effectively

NOAA Seminar Series: Carbon Sequestration and Storage in Puerto Rico Mangroves
2024-08-28 11:00 - 12:00
Title: Carbon Sequestration and Storage in Puerto Rico Mangroves
Presenter(s): Jahnelle Howe
Date: Wednesday , August 28 2024 from 11:00 – 12:00 pm
Webinar Link : https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6094444959284406880
About Speaker: Jahnelle Howe
Abstract:
Mangroves are coastal forests that persist in the ocean-land continuum and provide critical habitats for fish and wildlife. They contribute to coastal resiliency by acting as natural barriers to storm surges and preventing erosion, flooding, and disasters. Mangrove ecosystems contribute to global carbon cycles by acting as a sink of atmospheric CO2, thereby having the potential to mitigate climate change. Blue carbon refers to the carbon sequestered in litter and soil in coastal ecosystems and the oceans, having a particularly high rate of carbon storage. However, due to anthropogenic and natural hazards and climate change, the loss of mangroves poses a risk of releasing sequestered carbon stored deep within the soil into the atmosphere once exposed. This work is particularly important for Puerto Rico as mangroves are essential for coastal protection from storms (wave action, erosion, lessening impacts to communities) and critical for economically significant artisan fishers. This study focuses on two mangroves in Puerto Rico, La Parguera and Laguna Grande, for blue carbon quantification and assessing whether extreme events, including hurricanes and environmental factors such as temperature and precipitation, impact these ecosystems and their capacity to sequester blue carbon. Furthermore, this study also reviews the socio-economic conditions influencing blue economy building and blue carbon sequestration related to coastal communities’ dependency on values and services provided by these ecosystems in Puerto Rico.

Climate Seminar Series: Re-defining extreme precipitation in a changing climate
2024-09-12 12:00 - 13:00
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Event: NOAA EPP/MSI CSC Climate Change Seminar Series
Title: Re-defining extreme precipitation in a changing climate
Presenter: Kelly Mahoney, NOAA Research (Hosted by NCAS-M)
Date: September 12, 2024
Time: 12:00pm-1:00 PM
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After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details to join the event
About the Seminar Series.
Join NOAA’s EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers for this lecture series featuring scientists from NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Research. These monthly seminars will be hosted by the lead institution, virtually or hybrid throughout the 2025-2025 academic year. For more information, please visit, https://research.noaa.gov/noaa-csc-24-25/

NOAA Seminar Series: Urban Study of Excessive Rainfall Rates
2024-10-10 11:00 - 12:00
Title: Urban Study of Excessive Rainfall Rates

Presenter(s): Melissa Crouch
Date: 10 October 2024 11:05 am – 11:35 am ET

Remote Access: Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/yat-nxrf-emf
Or dial: (US) +1 321-405-2803 PIN: 268 246397
#More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/yat-nxrf-emf?pin=4547124589737
About Speaker: Melissa Crouch
Abstract: Warming atmospheric temperatures have the potential to increase the moisture content, leading to enough intensified precipitation and storms to induce flash flooding. Urban areas experience the worst of these events due to a lack of infiltration that affects drainage systems. This project is an analysis of these rainfall events. The objectives were to (1) use MRMS/FLASH data to help better anticipate urban flood events through good lead time, (2) use the data to refine flash flood guidance values, and (3) develop thresholds for improved issuance of severity of flood impacts. Particular focus was on the remnants of Ida on September 1st and 2nd, 2021, and the September 29th event of 2023. Multi-Radar Multi-Sensor (MRMS) data were matched with local storm reports (LSRs) to statistically summarize the patterns of precipitation and surface runoff estimates within New York City. Flash flood guidance (FFG) was used to interpret the results of the analysis, which concludes that, for all events, the quantitative precipitation estimate (QPE) does not exceed FFG thresholds. The surface runoff simulations illustrate the exceedance of thresholds, posing the risk of flash flooding to occur. The work also helps in serving the needs of both meteorologists and hydrologists to improve lead time and calibrate thresholds for improved issuance of severity of flood impacts. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Dr. David Radell, Science Operations Officer at the National Weather Service at Upton, NY. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II’s goal to understand and predict changes in Earth’s environment. This Urban Study of Excessive Rainfall Rates also deepened the intern’s understanding of how urban landscapes (like NYC) influence flash flooding behavior and the importance of how these models help the public in making informed decisions on how to prepare for these kinds of events.

Climate Seminar Series: Advancing NOAA's climate Modeling and its application to Marine Ecosystem
2024-10-10 12:00 - 13:00
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Event: NOAA EPP/MSI CSC Climate Change Seminar Series
Title: ADVANCING NOAA’S CLIMATE MODELING AND ITS APPLICATION TO MARINE ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT, CLIMATE PROJECTIONS, AND SERVICE PROVISION
Presenter: Dan Barrie, OAR Climate Program Office (Hosted by CCME)
Date: October 10, 2024
Time: 12:00pm-1:00 PM
Register: Click here to register
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details to join the event
About the Seminar Series.
Join NOAA’s EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers for this lecture series featuring scientists from NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Research. These monthly seminars will be hosted by the lead institution, virtually or hybrid throughout the 2025-2025 academic year. For more information, please visit, https://research.noaa.gov/noaa-csc-24-25/

NOAA Seminar Series: Spatiotemporal variability of heat stress in the Imperial Valley using remote sensing and weather station data
2024-10-10 13:00 - 13:30
Title: Spatiotemporal variability of heat stress in the Imperial Valley using remote sensing and weather station data

Presenter(s): Stephanie Hurtado-Gonzalez
Date: 10 October 2024 1:05 pm – 1:35 pm ET

Remote Access: Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/jug-fjxk-hhc
Or dial: (US) +1 1 636-400-7284 PIN: [REDACTED] 399
#More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/jug-fjxk-hhc?pin=4161286056192
About Speaker: Stephanie Hurtado-Gonzalez
Abstract: Extreme heat is a persistent environmental and public health issue impacting all populations. Current research has vastly explored the impacts of heat stress on urban environments and the Urban Heat Island effect. Yet, more efforts are needed to study the impacts on agricultural lands and farmworkers. The Imperial Valley, CA is no exception to this as it has a desert climate, while also being one of the largest producers of winter vegetable crops. This study is focused on utilizing remote-sensed Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) from Landsat 8, in combination with weather station data, to evaluate and predict Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT). As well as, exploring the components of WBGT. Monitoring heat stress through high-resolution remote sensing can address sub-field processes that are challenging to other systems such as MODIS and regional climate models with coarser spatial resolution. Results show that WBGT can be predicted from LST with a root mean square error of 5 F and that wet-bulb temperature (NWB) is the greatest predictor for WBGT. Future work will connect LST and WBGT data with physiological stress measurements, public health records, and interview responses from farmworkers. This research supports NOAA’s mission to understand and predict climate and weather changes by enhancing knowledge of climate change, weather patterns, and heat stress impacts. As well as the National Weather Service’s mission to protect lives and issue appropriately timely alerts to the public and emergency community. Research Questions:

How has WBGT changed over the study period? Are there any variations between weather stations?
What is the relationship between remotely sensed Land Surface Temperature (LST) and Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT)?
Which variable within the WBGT equation plays the most significant role in determining WBGT?

The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor, Alexander Tardy of the National Weather Service office in San Diego, CA. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II’s goal of to understand and predict changes in climate and weather. The NERTO project titled ‘Spatiotemporal Variability of Heat Stress in the Imperial Valley Using Remote Sensing and Weather Station Data‘ deepened the intern’s understanding of addressing societal problems through the integration of remote sensing technologies with multidisciplinary research in environmental systems, socioeconomic drivers, and solutions.

NOAA Seminar Series: Merged LEO-GEO Tropospheric Nitrogen Dioxide (tropNO2) Product for Air Quality Applications
2024-10-21 12:00 - 12:30
Title: Merged LEO-GEO Tropospheric Nitrogen Dioxide (tropNO2) Product for Air Quality Applications

Presenter(s): Thomas Ely
Date: 21 October 2024 12:05 pm – 12:35 pm ET

Remote Access: Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/yyu-ektc-gms
Or dial: (US) +1 402-803-1147 PIN: 602 419 188# More phone numbers:
https://tel.meet/yyu-ektc-gms?pin=2445253511123
About Speaker: Thomas Ely
Abstract: Air quality is a key societal issue and can be hard to predict in coastal cities such as New York City and Baltimore due to the effects of sea breeze. Air quality studies can benefit from more accurate retrievals of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from geostationary satellite sensors that show the transport and spatial distribution of pollution throughout the day. The objective of this project is to implement and test a methodology that can improve the quality of geostationary (GEO) satellite NO2 data using low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite NO2 data. This methodology uses the Kalman Filter algorithm to merge the two datasets in a process similar to data assimilation, except that the background model field uses data from a GEO satellite sensor, which in this case is NASA’s Tropospheric Emissions: Monitoring of Pollution (TEMPO) satellite sensor. LEO data from Sentinel5-Precursor TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (Sentinel-5P TROPOMI) serves as observational information. The Kalman Filter adds TROPOMI measurements to the background, weighting each dataset based on their respective uncertainties, which can mitigate uncertainties in each of the original datasets, resulting in a more accurate tropospheric NO2 product that retains the high temporal resolution of TEMPO data. The merged TEMPO-TROPOMI product is compared against the Pandonia Global Network (PGN) ground-based tropospheric NO2 column retrievals to evaluate the performance of the merged product compared to the original products. This project demonstrated the feasibility of implementing the Kalman Filter for merging satellite datasets and generated a new tropospheric NO2 product that can be useful for local air-quality monitoring.The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Dr. Shobha Kondragunta of NOAA NESDIS. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II’s goal to have students conduct NOAA mission-aligned research. The NERTO Merged LEO-GEO Tropospheric Nitrogen Dioxide Product also deepened the intern’s understanding of NOAA satellite product development and validation, as well as satellite sensor calibration.

NOAA Seminar Series: Implications of Tropospheric Mass Flux Reduction for the frequency and intensity of convective precipitation
2024-10-21 12:45 - 13:15
Title: Implications of Tropospheric Mass Flux Reduction for the frequency and intensity of convective precipitation

Presenter(s): Carlos Ordaz
Date: 21 October 2024 12:45 pm – 1:15 pm ET

Remote Access: Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/hje-hbpt-pcx
Or dial: (US) +1 575-942-2063 PIN: 424 547 711#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/hje-hbpt-pcx?pin=1703364648658
About Speaker: Carlos Ordaz
Abstract: Tropical precipitation will change with warming. Some results suggest that tropical precipitation extremes will increase at rates higher than Clausius-Clapeyron scaling of 7% per Kelvin. As a first step in building physical understanding of tropical precipitation changes, we apply the framework established by Pendergrass and Hartmann in their 2014 (PH14) trilogy to idealized cloud-resolving models in radiative convective equilibrium. PH14 introduce a way to understand changes to precipitation distributions in two modes: the shift and the increase mode. We explain the values of the shift and increase modes in terms of physical principles. The shift mode is captured to first order by Clausius Clapeyron scaling, while the increase mode is a combination of Clausius-Clapeyron scaling and the decrease of mass flux expected with climate change. This work contributes to a better process-level understanding of the physical mechanisms that influence tropical precipitation in a changing climate, which can in turn be used to improve NOAA’s models.The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor, Nadir Jeevanjee of the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), Princeton. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSCCESSRST-II goal of furthering our understanding of the atmosphere. The NERTO Implications of Tropospheric Mass Flux Reduction for the frequency and intensity of convective precipitation also deepened the intern’s understanding of atmospheric physics.

NOAA Seminar Series: Characterizing Hub-height Wind Speed Dependence on Atmospheric Processes in an Offshore Wind Environment
2024-10-21 13:30 - 14:00
Title:Characterizing Hub-height Wind Speed Dependence on Atmospheric Processes in an Offshore Wind Environment

Presenter(s): Akarshna Iyer
Date: 21 October 2024 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm ET

Remote Access: Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ayt-tqzz-bsn
Or dial: (US) +1 901-399-8908 PIN: 203 110 642#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/ayt-tqzz-bsn?pin=5479909107077
About Speaker:Akarshna Iyer
Abstract: Wind energy is a form of renewable energy that has been growing in implementation and use over the past years. However, this situation is rapidly changing, with several new offshore leases being issued to advance offshore wind energy generation. NOAA and other organizations, including the DOE, have sponsored the third Wind Forecast Improvement Project (WFIP3), a coordinated field campaign and analysis designed to improve offshore wind forecasting. This work focuses on the characterization of low-level jets (LLJs), jet streams found in the lower troposphere, that take place over Block Island, RI, and Nantucket, MA (two of the WFIP3 sites). The research questions this work seeks to answer are: Is the meteorology of the LLJ region consistent for multiple LLJ events? What is the meteorology pattern when an LLJ is present (offshore), and why? Individual LLJ cases were analyzed using observations from various WFIP3 remote sensing instruments. Preliminary results suggest, through analysis of the thermodynamic structure of the marine atmospheric boundary layer, that LLJs with predominantly southerly flow seem to correlate with warm air advection and periods of strengthened near-surface stability. The mechanisms that drive LLJs in regions off the U.S. East Coast are relatively unknown, making it an important area of study, especially since LLJ events seem to have larger errors in the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model’s wind forecasts. The presence of LLJs and their shear levels can affect overall wind power generation and cause unwanted damage to wind turbines. This research benefits the science community and society because improved wind energy forecasts will increase energy reliability. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Dr. David Turner of NOAA Research, Global Systems Laboratory (GSL), Boulder, CO. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II’s goal to conduct NOAA mission-aligned collaborative research; the mission is To understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts. The NERTO deepened the intern’s understanding of NOAA, and her results will inform future analyses of the HRRR using WFIP3 data, resulting in a faster understanding of errors within the HRRR as a function of weather conditions during low-level jet events.

NOAA Seminar Series: Phytoplankton monitoring and mapping using NOAA OAR/AOML satellite data products for urban waters ecosystems.
2024-10-21 14:00 - 14:35
Title: Phytoplankton monitoring and mapping using NOAA OAR/AOML satellite data products for urban waters ecosystems.

Presenter(s): Carolina Perez
Date: 21 October 2024 2:05 pm – 2:35 pm ET

Remote Access: Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/yjc-yvec-nkm
Or dial: (US) +1 929-269-1887 PIN: 429 915 143#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/yjc-yvec-nkm?pin=1379180679958
About Speaker: Carolina Perez
Abstract: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) significantly threaten coastal communities and public health, impacting marine ecosystems and local economies. These blooms indicate potentially toxic phytoplankton and reflect broader environmental issues such as eutrophication, runoff, and the effects of weather events on coastal areas. My research focuses on the monitoring of HABs in New York City waterbodies, specifically Randall’s Island and the Gowanus Canal, in collaboration with NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)and the National Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (PMN). The Gowanus Canal, a notable study area, was designated a Superfund site by the EPA in 2010 due to its severe contamination from runoff and combined sewage overflow.During my time at AOML, as part of my NERTO research project, I helped develop a research technique by combining satellite data and ground-based data to develop interactive web tools to enhance the real-time monitoring of marine ecosystems. While a NOAA AOML NERTO Intern, I contributed to enhancing sustainability and resilience for marine ecosystems and coastal communities. AOML’s Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystem Dynamics (OCED) branch employs satellite observations to analyze sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a (CHL) levels in water bodies. Using the Environmental Research Division’s Data Access Program (ERDDAP), data on SST and CHL I was able to generate detailed maps of these parameters using MATLAB. Integrating satellite-based data with in-situ measurements offers a powerful approach to understanding the health of both open ocean and coastal ecosystems. Combining these data sources, the research aims to create synthesis products that examine algal blooms and their dynamics.The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentors Dr. Chris Kelble and Dr. Enrique Montes of the NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Ocean Chemistry and Ecosystem Dynamics (OCED) branch. This NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC’s goal of Resilient Coastal Communities and Economies through the theme of Oceans and Coasts. The NERTO deepened the intern’s understanding of NOAA’s research practices by giving me firsthand experience with the teamwork and dedication of a NOAA research team.

NOAA Seminar Series: Societal Data Insights: Data Integration for Inland Flooding.
2024-10-24 14:00 - 14:30
Title:Societal Data Insights: Data Integration for Inland Flooding.

Presenter(s): Isabel Lopez
Date: 24 October 2024 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm ET

Remote Access: Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/xsy-nupc-von
Or dial: (US) +1 234-276-0398PIN: 436 710 044#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/xsy-nupc-von?pin=2132911046548
About Speaker: Isabel Lopez
Abstract: Urban recurrent flooding presents a complex challenge distinct from nuisance flooding, typically associated with coastal areas. Unlike nuisance flooding, which is often predictable and localized, urban recurrent flooding involves adynamic interplay of factors such as dense infrastructure, varied land use, and heterogeneous topography. These elements contribute to unpredictable flood patterns that are more difficult to model and manage. The complexity of urban environments amplifies the challenges in assessing flood risks and potential impacts, necessitating a more sophisticated analytical approach. This research adapts the Topographic Wetness Index (TWI) to highlight areas prone to flooding based on flow direction and water accumulation. Additionally, it incorporates the Curve Number (CN) method to estimate runoff volumes from precipitation events, providing refined tools for measuring surface runoff and predicting flooding potential. Recognizing that urban flooding significantly impacts communities, this study integrates social data to capture the broader societal effects, particularly on vulnerable populations. The proposed framework is designed for flexibility, allowing its application across diverse urban areas with varying geographic and social characteristics. By combining geospatial analysis with social data, this research offers a comprehensive approach to flood risk assessment, providing valuable insights for policymakers and urban planners.The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentors Dr. Jonathon Mote and Dr. Kyle Metta of the Weather ProgramOffice (WPO) in Silver Spring, MD. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II’s goal to understand changes in climate and weather and to share that knowledge and information with others. The NERTO project enhanced the intern’s ability to integrate social data with physical data, providing deeper insights into developing methods that combine social, weather, and climate data for more comprehensive analyses.

NOAA Seminar Series: Historical Data Reconstruction for the California Coastal Currents using 3D Empirical Orthogonal Functions and Multivariate Regression
2024-10-24 14:35 - 15:05
Title: Historical Data Reconstruction for the California Coastal Currents using 3D Empirical Orthogonal Functions and Multivariate Regression

Presenter(s): Danielle Lafarga,
Date: 24 October 2024 2:35 pm – 3:05 pm ET

Remote Access: Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/new-qbkh-azj
Or dial: (US) +1 440-482-5511 PIN: 303 375 204#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/new-qbkh-azj?pin=5643412593662
About Speaker: Danielle Lafarga,
Abstract: Many studies analyze ocean temperature variance, computing empirical orthogonal functions (EOFs) one layer at a time(2D). However, surface phenomena like El Nio extend into deeper layers, exemplifying how crucial it is to examine their three-dimensional structure to fully understand their impact. This research aims to compute 3D EOFs for different areas of the Pacific Ocean to answer how much and what variability can be explored across ocean layers using ahigh-resolution, eddy-resolving model known as the Global Ocean Physics Reanalysis (GLORYS). The model’s fine resolution allows for detailed analysis of smaller-scale dynamics, such as those along the coasts of California, Oaxaca, and Costa Rica. Nevertheless, the volume of data presents a memory challenge for 3D calculations. To address this, we propose an algorithm that enables 3D EOF computation on computers with limited memory (16GB RAM), making high-resolution analysis feasible.Computing 3D EOFs is crucial for understanding our oceans and how ocean dynamics can extend through multiple layers. This research aligns with NOAA’s mission to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. By providing a more comprehensive view of ocean variability, the results also contribute valuable insights into the habitats of fish species protected by NOAA Fisheries, aiding in the preservation and management of marine ecosystems.The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor, Dr. Michael Jacox of NOAA SWFSC Environmental Research Division, and NOAA collaborator Dr. Michael Alexander of NOAA Atmosphere Ocean Processes and Predictability (AOPP) Division. The NERTO aligns NOAA CSCCESSRST-II’s goal of to understand and predict changes in climate and weather. The NERTO project deepened the intern’s understanding of remote sensing technology, big data computing, and participation in NOAA mission-aligned activities through extensive collaborations with NOAA employees.

NOAA Seminar Series: Identifying local and synoptic-scale meteorological and land cover conditions favorable for the occurrence of large fires in California
2024-10-24 15:15 - 15:45
Title: Identifying local and synoptic-scale meteorological and land cover conditions favorable for the occurrence of large fires in California

Presenter(s): E’lysha Guerrero
Date: 24 October 2024 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm ET

Remote Access: Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/dft-obqy-fhb
Or dial: (US) +1 650-535-0909PIN: 928 542 289#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/dft-obqy-fhb?pin=5001908281383
About Speaker: E’lysha Guerrero,
Abstract: Whilst global warming projections lead to continuous warming trends and California wildfire activity is expected to increase, the state of wildfire predictions will need to be enhanced to keep up with the ever-changing climate conditions. This research project aims to characterize meteorological and land conditions related to large wildfires in California and identify their connection to predictable climate patterns, potentially enhancing future wildfire predictions. We utilize historical wildfire perimeter data (2000 “2022) and apply the K-means Clustering Algorithm on localized meteorological variables to group wildfires based on similar conditions. Larger-scale synoptic meteorology is analyzed to identify potential predictors for future wildfire occurrences. The research questions addressed during the NERTO are: (a) What are the local regional and seasonal characteristics of California’s historically larger wildfires from 2000 – 2022? and (b) What are the typical large-scale circulation patterns associated with each California clustered group?The value of this research lies in its contribution to NOAA’s mission to understand and predict climate and weather changes, specifically through advancing wildfire prediction capabilities. The insights gained can improve both prediction models and wildfire management strategies, supporting NOAA’s broader goal of mitigating the impacts of extreme weather and natural hazards. Additionally, the use of machine learning techniques, like K-means clustering, fosters innovation in predictive skills, aligning with the NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory’s mission to develop new knowledge and tools for forecasting extreme events such as wildfires. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor Dr. Andrew Hoell, Dr. Rochelle Worsnop, and Dr. Melissa Breeden of NOAA Physical Sciences Laboratory, Boulder, CO. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II’s goal to understand and predict changes in climate and weather. The NERTO project deepened the intern’s understanding and increased the research skill sets of data acquisition, preprocessing, analyses, and validation techniques required for earth system science research.

NOAA Seminar Series: Remote sensing of extreme weather events on CDOM in Long Island Sound
2024-10-25 13:30 - 14:00
Title: Remote sensing of extreme weather events on CDOM in Long Island Sound

Presenter(s): Charlotte Rhoads
Date: 25 October 2024 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm ET

Remote Access: Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/gnq-msir-wvj
Or dial: (US) +1 267-553-4621 PIN: 434 202 737#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/gnq-msir-wvj?pin=9872489736362

About Speaker: Charlotte Rhoads
Abstract: Coastal areas are critical in global carbon cycling, particularly as climate change alters carbon fluxes through rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and sea-level rise. These changes affect microbial activity, carbon remineralization, and transportation pathways, influencing the fate of carbon in coastal environments. Dissolved organic matter (DOM), sourced from land and sea, regulates ecosystem functioning, while colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) acts as an optical proxy for tracking DOM dynamics. Extreme weather events modify DOM quantity and quality, impacting harmful algal blooms (HABs). In Long Island Sound (LIS), a eutrophic estuary, high-resolution satellite remote sensing, and regionally optimized algorithms enable monitoring of DOM and its response to extreme precipitation events. By analyzing CDOM’s optical properties, such as aCDOM(300),DOC, S275″295, and SR, changes in DOM can be linked to carbon cycling and water quality. Increased DOM flux during heavy rains drives dinoflagellate blooms, posing threats to water quality and aquaculture. Identifying CDOM optical signatures of harmful dinoflagellates like Prorocentrumcordatum and Margalefidinium polykrikoides may allow for monitoring via remote sensing. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentors Veronica Lance and Jonathan Sherman of NESDIS and Gary Wilkfors and Lisa Guy of NOAA Fisheries. The NERTO aligns with NOAACSC CESSRST-II’s goal of providing actionable remote sensing-based research to stakeholders. The NERTO deepened the intern’s understanding of NOAA’s mission of managing and protecting coastal ecosystems and resources.

Climate Seminar Series: The Expanding Reach of Ocean Acidification
2024-11-14 12:00 - 13:00
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Event: NOAA EPP/MSI CSC Climate Change Seminar Series
Title: THE EXPANDING REACH OF OCEAN ACIDIFICATION
Presenter: Andrea Fassbender, OAR Pacific Marine Environment Lab (Hosted by CCME)
Date: November 14, 2024
Time: 12:00pm-1:00 PM
Register: Click here to register
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details to join the event
About the Seminar Series.
Join NOAA’s EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers for this lecture series featuring scientists from NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Research. These monthly seminars will be hosted by the lead institution, virtually or hybrid throughout the 2025-2025 academic year. For more information, please visit, https://research.noaa.gov/noaa-csc-24-25/

Climate Seminar Series: An overview of the Tropospheric Ozone Pollution Project
2024-12-05 12:00 - 13:00
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Event: NOAA EPP/MSI CSC Climate Change Seminar Series
Title: AN OVERVIEW OF THE TROPOSPHERIC OZONE POLLUTION PROJECT – USING BALLOON SONDES TO UNDERSTAND INFLUENCES ON AIR QUALITY
Presenter: Gary Morris, OAR Global Monitoring Lab (Hosted by CESSRST-II)
Date: December 5, 2024
Time: 12:00pm-1:00 PM
Register: Click here to register
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details to join the event
About the Seminar Series.
Join NOAA’s EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers for this lecture series featuring scientists from NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Research. These monthly seminars will be hosted by the lead institution, virtually or hybrid throughout the 2025-2025 academic year. For more information, please visit, https://research.noaa.gov/noaa-csc-24-25/

Climate Seminar Series: Sub seasonal to Seasonal Prediction of Extreme Events
2025-02-13 12:00 - 13:00
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Event: NOAA EPP/MSI CSC Climate Change Seminar Series
Title: SUBSEASONAL TO SEASONAL PREDICTION OF EXTREME EVENTS: ADVANCES AND CHALLENGES
Presenter: Mark Olsen, OAR Weather Program Office (Hosted by NCAS-M)
Date: February 13, 2025
Time: 12:00pm-1:00 PM
Register: Click here to register
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details to join the event
About the Seminar Series.
Join NOAA’s EPP/MSI Cooperative Science Centers for this lecture series featuring scientists from NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Research. These monthly seminars will be hosted by the lead institution, virtually or hybrid throughout the 2025-2025 academic year. For more information, please visit, https://research.noaa.gov/noaa-csc-24-25/

NOAA Seminar Series: Mapping Cumulative Impacts of Essential Fish Habitat Consultations in the Pacific Islands Region
2025-08-11 15:00 - 16:00
Title: Mapping Cumulative Impacts of Essential Fish Habitat Consultations in the Pacific Islands Region

Presenter(s): Amy Carrillo
Date: 11 August 2025, 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET

Remote Access: Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/prg-psrb-moa
About Speaker: Amy Carrillo
Abstract: The cumulative impacts of federally funded projects, reviewed by the Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) team, on EFH in the Pacific Islands region were visualized and evaluated. Using data from the Environmental Consultation Organizer (ECO), covering projects from 2017 to the present, interactive dashboards and a story map were created to visualize the spatial distribution and intensity of these projects across the region. Three tools were created, first a dashboard that displays all the EFH consultations as points covering the Pacific Island region to allow for visualization of project locations. Second, on Oahu, where each consultation action area is mapped as polygons, scored for adverse impacts on EFH, and supplemented with detailed information on the type of activity, impact level, and other relevant data. Finally, on Honolulu Harbor, presenting a story map of one of Oahu’s most heavily impacted and managed areas, which also hosts a large coral nursery. By processing over 500 project records and creating these tools, the project provides a comprehensive overview of the scale and impact of federal activities on EFH. The dashboards and story maps are designed to support decision-making by offering accessible tools for conservation efforts and the EFH team’s effective coastal resource management.

NOAA Seminar Series: Marine Heatwaves in the Tropical Atlantic: Detection, Characteristics, and Trends in a Warming Ocean.
2025-08-20 10:00 - 11:00
Title: Marine Heatwaves in the Tropical Atlantic: Detection, Characteristics, and Trends in a Warming Ocean.

Date: August 20, 2025, 10:00 am – 11:00 am ET

Presenter(s): Keneshia Hibbert, CESSRST-II Graduate Fellow

Remote Access: : https://meet.google.com/jyf-ojbj-wzn

Abstract: Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are prolonged periods of anomalously warm sea surface temperatures (SSTs) that can have profound ecological and climatic consequences. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of MHW characteristics across the tropical Atlantic Ocean from 1982to 2024, employing a consistent methodology based on the framework established by Hobday et al. (2016). Daily SST data were analyzed against a seasonally varying climatological 90th percentile threshold to detect MHW events and quantify key metrics, including event frequency, duration, and spatial extent. Our domain-level approach identifies and tracks contiguous periods of elevated SSTs across the entire basin, applying strict temporal criteria to ensure scientific robustness. Results reveal distinct seasonal and interannual variability in MHW occurrence, with several multi-week events observed during the boreal summer and fall months. The spatial extent of MHWs was found to fluctuate considerably over time, occasionally covering large portions of the tropical Atlantic Basin. These findings provide a critical foundation for understanding the temporal evolution and physical characteristics of marine heatwaves in a region of high climate sensitivity. This work lays the groundwork for future efforts to investigate the role of large-scale climate modes and anthropogenic warming in shaping the dynamics of MHW in the tropical Atlantic.

NOAA Seminar Series: Spatial Resolution Impacts on Remotely Sensed Product Uncertainty and Representativeness
2025-08-28 13:00 - 14:00
Title: Spatial Resolution Impacts on Remotely Sensed Product Uncertainty and Representativeness
Presenter(s): Biajani Gonzalez, CESSRST II Graduate Fellow
Google Meet : https://meet.google.com/ugm-keyg-pgr

Abstract: Satellite remote sensing, while providing broad geographic coverage, faces limitations in spatial resolution for detailed benthic mapping, particularly in coastal regions such as Puerto Rico. Small unmanned aerial systems (UAS) offer a promising solution due to their ability to capture high-resolution imagery with flexibility. This study examines the impact of spatial resolution and classifier training strategies on the accuracy and consistency of benthic habitat classifications derived from drone-based imagery. It determines the optimal airborne sampling parameters ” balancing effective spatial resolution and flight parameters ” when using UAS for marine habitat mapping. Using high-resolution RGB orthomosaics (0.036 m/pixel) collected via UAS and upscaled to coarser resolutions (0.5 m to 10 m), we assessed the classification performance of coral, sand, seagrass, and substrate using Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifiers under four case-study scenarios. Spatial metrics (total area, patch count) and accuracy assessment indicators (self-transition and Critical Success Index) were applied to quantify classification degradation across scales and scenes. Results show fine-scale features, especially coral and seagrass, rapidly degrade beyond 1 meter, while more homogeneous classes, such as sand and substrate, remain relatively stable.

NOAA Seminar Series: Quantifying the accuracy of satellite-observed sea surface salinity against in situ observations by saildrones
2025-09-26 14:30 - 15:00
Title: Quantifying the accuracy of satellite-observed sea surface salinity against in situ observations by saildrones
Presenter(s): Andrew Dixon, CESSRST II Graduate Fellow
Google Meet : https://meet.google.com/rxj-wgmk-day
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 318-367-3080 PIN: ‪865 081 511#

Abstract:
Sea surface salinity (SSS) regulates upper-ocean stratification, influencing vertical mixing and the heat exchange critical to the development of tropical cyclones. Satellite salinity observations from NASA’s SMAP observatory offer global coverage and have been validated for general conditions in certain areas, but benefit from validation under storm conditions. This study uses NOAA Saildrones (uncrewed surface vehicles), capable of targeting specific storms and collecting near-continuous data, to compare in situ SSS with two SMAP products. Results show strong agreement with the 8-day averaged dataset and moderate but positive agreement with the near-real-time product. Collocations during storm encounters indicate that SMAP could be useful in tropical cyclone forecasting. By validating satellite data with uncrewed systems, this work advances NOAA’s mission of enabling a weather-ready nation through expanded hurricane predictions and fostering collaborations for future satellite data validation projects.
The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSCNERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentor, Dr. Chidong Zhang of NOAA Research’s Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II’s goal of conducting NOAA mission-aligned collaborative research to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. The NERTO “Quantifying the accuracy of satellite observed sea surface salinity against in situ observations by Saildrones” also deepened the intern’s understanding of NOAA’s databases and development steps toward further use of uncrewed systems.

NOAA Seminar Series: Species distribution models of deep-sea coral and sponge(DSCS)species of the northeast continental shelf (USA)
2025-11-21 14:00 - 14:30
Title: Species distribution models of deep-sea coral and sponge(DSCS)species of the northeast continental shelf (USA)
Presenter(s): James Herlan, CESSRST II Graduate Fellow
Remote Access: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wde-shmw-vcw
Or dial: (US)+1 435-562-1268 PIN: [REDACTED] 620

#More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/wde-shmw-vcw?pin=3526342705011
Abstract: Deep-sea coral distributions in the Northwest Atlantic remain poorly characterized due to sampling limitations. We developed species distribution models (SDMs) for the cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus using generalized additive models (GAMs) to identify key environmental drivers and predict suitable habitat. We analyzed 81,112 presence-absence records from multiple research cruises, evaluating 28 environmental predictors through variance inflation factor (VIF) screening and univariate assessment. The final model incorporated depth, rugosity index (rie), slope (qslp), and bottom total alkalinity (btm_talk_ann) as smoothed terms, with and without spatial coordinates. Model performance was strong (AUC = 0.878 with location, 0.849without), with 26.0% deviance explained. D. dianthus showed a unimodal depth response peaking at 500 ” 700 m, positive associations with seafloor rugosity and slope, and a narrow alkalinity optimum (2.400 ” 2.405 mol m-3). Spatial structure accounted for 18.5% of explained deviance, suggesting unmeasured environmental gradients or dispersal limitations contribute moderately to distribution patterns. The 4.8 percentage point deviance improvement and 0.029AUC increase when including spatial terms demonstrates the value of incorporating geographic structure in deep-sea SDMs, though environmental predictors remain primary drivers. Our results provide critical baseline information for conservation planning and highlight the importance of topographic complexity and oceanographic conditions in determining cold-water coral distributions. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project, which was conducted under the guidance of NOAA mentor James Vasslides of James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST-II) award’s goal of becoming a scientist. The NERTO also deepened the intern’s understanding of multiple modeling approaches that include generalized linear models (GLMs), generalized additive models(GAMs), boosted regression trees (BRTs), and random forest models (RFs), using has been collected as part of the larger Northeast Deep Sea Coral Initiative, he will interact with scientists from other parts of NOAA Fisheries, NCCOS, and international collaborators.

NOAA Seminar Series: Assessment of High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) Precipitation Forecasts for Urban Coastal Areas: New York City Testbed
2025-12-03 10:30 - 11:00
Title: Assessment of High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) Precipitation Forecasts for Urban Coastal Areas: New York City Testbed
Presenter(s): Sebastian Makrides, CESSRST II Graduate Fellow
Remote Access: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/fnt-grnx-fdd

Abstract: Accurate precipitation forecasting is critical for managing flood risks in New York City (NYC). NYC’s approximately 72% impervious surface area often routes runoff directly to sewer systems with limited capacity (~ 44.45 mm/hr). NOAA’s High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) model, a3-km grid spacing hourly-updating convection-allowing forecast system, provides quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPF) alongside other predicted variables for the continental United States. While the HRRR’s QPF performance has been evaluated over broad regions, assessments over small-scale urban coastal environments like NYC remain limited. Therefore, this research assesses HRRR performance in predicting where, when, and how much precipitation reaches NYC. This study evaluates HRRR QPF by comparing it with the gridded Analysis of Record for Calibration (AORC) dataset. Multi-year precipitation data are extracted, temporally and spatially aligned, and assessed via statistical and numerical analysis to evaluate HRRR’s accuracy in predicting timing, intensity, and spatial placement of rainfall. Additionally, the use of self-organizing maps is explored for the spatial verification of extreme events based on shared seasonal behavior, facilitating analysis despite their rarity and localized nature. The results expected from such methods will provide insight into potential systematic biases and spatial inaccuracies that may limit the HRRR’s performance for NYC, where limited drainage infrastructure and vulnerable populations heighten the need for more accurate precipitation forecasts. Understanding HRRR performance for urban hydrometeorology and its associated forecasting strengths and limitations will support improved flood preparedness, aid in future model developments, and drive enhancements in verification techniques for the HRRR and other numerical weather prediction models alike. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with NOAA mentors, Dave Turner and Kelly Mahoney of Earth System Research Laboratories (ESRL), Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR). The NERTO aligns with NOAA CESSRST’s goal to conduct NOAA mission-aligned collaborative research. The NERTO Assessment of High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) Precipitation Forecasts for Urban Coastal Areas: New York City Testbed also deepened the intern’s understanding of NOAA’s operational forecasting systems, data assimilation techniques, and model verification processes, while enhancing competencies in statistical analysis, geospatial data integration, and the interpretation of high-resolution numerical weather prediction outputs for urban hydrometeorological applications.

NOAA Seminar Series: Retrieving Humidity from Existing Wireless Transmissions
2025-12-03 11:00 - 11:30
Title: Retrieving Humidity from Existing Wireless Transmissions
Presenter(s): Lasbati Djiwa CESSRST II Graduate Fellow
Remote Access: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/gxm-azan-dct

Abstract:
This graduate internship NERTO project addressed the research question: Can radio frequency (RF) phase shifts from existing wireless transmission systems be used to retrieve atmospheric humidity in real time? It has been previously demonstrated that the attenuation of signals such as cellular transmissions and wireless backhaul can be used to retrieve rainfall rates. This project aims to extend that concept to determine whether humidity can also be measured by monitoring the phase shifts of transmitted signals. The NERTO project involved designing and testing a 24.5 GHz experimental RF system to measure phase variations caused by humidity changes along a wireless path. Ground-truth humidity data from a commercial sensor were used for calibration. Linear regression and temperature-compensated models showed that RF-derived phase data can provide reasonable humidity estimates, with improved accuracy when temperature effects are included. The results are from the NERTO graduate internship project that was conducted with the mentorship of J. Rafael Mendoza, Cesar M Salazar Aquino, and Gerald Kunkle at the National Severe Storms Laboratory in Norman, Oklahoma. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC”CESSRST’s goal of advancing innovative environmental observations and developing next-generation atmospheric sensing technologies. The NERTO project also deepened the intern’s understanding of NOAA’s role in engineering-based environmental monitoring, strengthened technical skills in RF systems and signal analysis, and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration with atmospheric scientists. This work adds value to NOAA’s mission and the broader science community by exploring a low-cost, scalable approach to improve weather forecasting and climate monitoring capabilities.

NOAA Seminar Series: Detection of Seals and Polar Bears in Multispectral Aerial Imagery
2025-12-03 11:30 - 12:00
Title: Detection of Seals and Polar Bears in Multispectral Aerial Imagery
Presenter(s): Leah Porras, CESSRST II Graduate Fellow
Remote Access: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/ias-uysw-ehc

Abstract:
Ice seals (ribbon, ringed, spotted, & bearded) use spring sea ice as a platform for pupping, resting, and their annual molt. Seals play vital roles in Arctic and subarctic marine ecosystems & are a resource for Alaska Native communities. To manage & conserve these species, reliable population estimates and distribution maps are needed for management and understanding how they respond to climate change and other human impacts. The Polar Ecosystems Program at NOAA’s Alaska Fisheries Science Center conducts aerial surveys to estimate the abundance and distribution of ice-associated seals and polar bears in the Bering, Chukchi, and Beaufort seas. Millions of images are collected using color (RGB), thermal infrared (IR), & ultraviolet (UV) cameras. Current IR machine learning (ML)models struggle to detect rare animals, including unattended white-coat seal pups, because of their size, and polar bears because of their variable thermal signatures. UV imagery has been introduced to address these challenges. This project seeks to enhance ML detection models by integrating UV, RGB, and IR imagery, using annotated datasets developed by NOAA researchers for training and validation. The goal is to create a robust, open-source model capable of detecting 80% known animals with fewer than 40%false positives. This system will improve survey efficiency & accuracy, providing reliable population estimates & supporting conservation efforts. With the expected outcome of more precise abundance estimates for decision-making, this project supports NOAA’s mission to understand and predict species distribution under changing sea ice conditions. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project conducted with NOAA mentor Ms. Erin Moreland of the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Marine Mammal Laboratory, Seattle, WA. The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II’s goal for research on Coastal and Marine Habitat and Ecosystem Goods & Services. The research conducted supports NOAA’s mission by utilizing multidisciplinary tools to enhance the monitoring, understanding, and conservation of coastal and marine resources and habitats that are especially vulnerable to both natural and human-induced stressors. Through the NERTO Detection of Seals and Polar Bears in Multispectral Imagery project, the intern advanced mission-aligned research skills at NOAA. She developed new competencies in artificial intelligence/machine learning for object detection and classification, and employed remote sensing and computer vision methods to interrogate and validate multispectral datasets.

NOAA Seminar Series: Alaskan Arctic Patterns: Remote Sensing and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Thermokarst Landscape
2025-12-03 12:30 - 13:00
Title: Alaskan Arctic Patterns: Remote Sensing and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Thermokarst Landscape
Presenter(s): Francia Tenorio, CESSRST II Graduate Fellow
Remote Access: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/emg-xjzf-phb

Abstract:
Arctic soils are one of the largest terrestrial reservoirs of organic carbon. This carbon is climate-sensitive, and much effort has been made to investigate its release by establishing baselines for monitoring carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) emissions from polar regions. Nitrous oxide (N2O), an ozone-depleting greenhouse gas with a global warming potential of 273 times that of CO2, has traditionally been considered negligible in Arctic ecosystems due to low nitrogen mineralization rates and intense competition for inorganic nitrogen. Recent studies suggest otherwise, indicating that the Arctic can be a significant source of N2O emissions, particularly in landforms resulting from permafrost thawing, such as thermokarst-affected areas with unvegetated surfaces. However, much remains unknown about these processes in polar regions. This NERTO project aims to investigate the spatial variability of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4, and N2O) from thermokarst-affected landscapes, particularly retrogressive thaw slumps across the North Slope of Alaska, via in situ measurements using interdisciplinary approaches. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project, conducted under the guidance of NOAA mentor Bryan Thomas, Station Lead of NOAA’s Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, Global Monitoring Laboratory – Barrow Atmospheric Baseline Observatory. The NERTO program deepened the intern’s understanding of Arctic emissions and thermokarst processes while strengthening their research skills in a collaborative environment. Given the global warming potential of these potent greenhouse gases, particularly N2O, which has been overlooked in Arctic ecosystems, and the vast amount of carbon stored in Arctic landforms, the results from the NERTO provide valuable ground observations on the patterns and controls of emissions across the region’s landscape, improving current models on the carbon budget and thereby contributing to climate resiliency, mitigation, and adaptation efforts, aligning with NOAA’s mission of science, service, and stewardship.

NOAA Seminar Series: Leveraging Satellite Earth Observations to Understand Wetland Ecosystem Services for Coastal Resilience
2025-12-03 13:00 - 13:30
Title: Leveraging Satellite Earth Observations to Understand Wetland Ecosystem Services for Coastal Resilience

Presenter(s): Nadia Samaroo, CESSRST II Graduate Fellow
Remote Access: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/kim-pxkd-vwh

Abstract:
New York City’s coastal wetlands “centered on Jamaica Bay’s tidal marshes” provide storm buffering, carbon storage, water filtration, and habitat but have been degraded by relative sea-level rise, sediment alteration, eutrophication, and urbanization. We test a reproducible, multi-sensor workflow to map vegetation and track dynamics with two pipelines:(1) PlanetScope surface-reflectance imagery stacked with a USGS DEM and classified in R using a trained Random Forest to produce class and confidence GeoTIFFs; and (2) Sentinel-2 composites in Google Earth Engine generating seasonal NDVI (2016″2024) and annual NDWI (2016″2024) with robust cloud/cirrus masking. A Chesapeake Bay benchmark produced accurate five-class maps. In Jamaica Bay, the model reliably separated open water from low marsh (Spartina alterniflora) but under-represented higher-elevation and edge communities, indicating domain-shift and feature-set limits. NDVI showed strong seasonality (summer peaks, winter minimal) and interannual variability consistent with restoration gains and edge erosion; NDWI captured dynamic wetness, including expanding/contracting ponds and wave-washed fringes. The approach supports post-Sandy management by delivering repeatable indicators of marsh extent, condition, and hydrologic state. It highlights priorities for Jamaica Bay” specific retraining, probability-aware mapping, expanded predictors (texture, tidal frequency, LiDAR), and spatial cross-validation. The results are from the NOAA EPP/MSI CSC NERTO graduate internship project conducted with NOAA mentor Dr. Veronica Lance of the CoastWatch/OceanWatch/PolarWatch Program, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). The NERTO aligns with NOAA CSC CESSRST-II’s mission to advance earth system science, remote sensing, and data-driven environmental solutions, in support of NOAA’s goals of a Weather-Ready Nation, Resilient Coastal Communities, and Climate Adaptation. The NERTO, Leveraging Satellite Earth Observations to Understand Wetland Ecosystem Services for Coastal Resilience, strengthened the intern’s skills by applying a multi-sensor workflow to map vegetation and track marsh dynamics in Jamaica Bay using PlanetScope classification in R andSentinel-2 NDVI/NDWI time series in Google Earth Engine. The project improved understanding of wetland change drivers and NOAA research practices while enhancing scientific communication, technical reporting, and collaborative analysis for coastal resilience.
