Seminar: Economics Applications and the NOAA Mission Enterprise
2025-04-25 13:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York)
Join us for one of our social science seminars: Economics in the NOAA Mission Enterprise, , featuring CESSRST-II Faculty Member, Dr. Yusuke Kuwayama (UMBC) and Senior Economist at NOAA, Joe Conran.
This seminar will take place on Friday, April 25th, 2025 from 1:30-4pm EST- REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

Seminar: Statistical Methods used in Social Sciences
2025-05-01 15:00 - 17:00
Seminar: Statistical Methods used in Social Sciences

Date: May 1, 2025 at 3pm
By: Cassandra Shivers-Williams, PhD
Social Science Deputy Program Manager
NOAA Weather Program Office

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Seminar: Data Science and Stewardship at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
2025-05-16 13:00 - 15:00
Data Science and Stewardship at NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) Seminar.
Description: This seminar will highlight how NOAA’s NCEI applies data science to safeguard and make environmental data accessible. You will explore how technologies like cloud storage, smart search systems, and organized data management empower researchers and the public to utilize environmental data for research and decision-making. See flyer for other details.
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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.

Seminar on the 2025 Joint Center Research and Development Project (JCRDP)
2025-09-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Grove School of Engineering, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY, 10031, United States
Seminar on The 2025 Joint Center Research and Development Project (JCRDP) – Training, Dry Run & Intensive Observation Period
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Date: September 26, 2025 from 12pm
Presenter(s): Dr. Sen Chiao, Director of the NOAA Cooperative Science Center in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (NCAS-M) and a Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Howard University
Zoom: https://ccny.zoom.us/j/84211573613?pwd=[REDACTED]
Abstract:
Urban boundary layer dynamics and composition research is an area of overlapping capability and expertise for the two Cooperative Science Centers (CSCs), NOAA Center for Earth System Sciences and Remote Sensing Technologies (CESSRST) and NOAA
Center for Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (NCAS-M). The two Centers have engaged with NOAA NESDIS and NWS, as well as NOAA Research (NOAA/OAR), to design a joint Collaborative Research and Development Project JCRDP with a focus on
interdisciplinary research and training on urban meteorology, air quality, urban ecosystems, and communities. This effort brings together the two Centers’ expertise in analysis, modeling, and observation capabilities to build a framework to study air
pollution causes and impact in the northeast corridor.
About Presenter:
Sen Chiao is the Director of the NOAA Cooperative Science Center in Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology (NCAS-M) and a Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies at Howard University. NCAS-M is a research-through-education enterprise led by Howard University and includes seven partner institutions. Before coming to Howard University, Sen served as the Meteorology and Climate Science department chair at San Jose State University. His current research work and interests include data analysis and numerical modeling, with emphasis on mesoscale modeling.

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.

Seminar on Characterizing the Dust Storm: An Integrated Ground-Based, Satellite, and Model Study
2025-10-28 12:30 - 13:30 | Grove School of Engineering, 160 Convent Avenue, New York, NY, 10031, United States
Seminar on Characterizing the ‘Godzilla’ Dust Storm: An Integrated Ground-Based, Satellite, and Model Study to Advance our Understanding of the Impact of African Dust on the Tropical Western Hemisphere
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Date: October 28, 2025 from 12:30pm
Location: Exhibit Room, Steinman Hall, Grove School of Engineering
Presenter(s): Dr. Olga L. Mayo-Bracero, Atmospheric Scientist, Brookhaven National Laboratory
Zoom: https://ccny.zoom.us/j/85976950243?pwd=[REDACTED] Abstract:
African dust transport across the Atlantic significantly impacts air quality, weather, and climate in the Caribbean and surrounding regions. However, gaps remain in understanding the intensity, variability, and health effects of these huge aerosol events. Addressing these uncertainties requires a comprehensive approach that combines multiple observational and modeling techniques to track dust movement and assess its impacts effectively. Long-term research and monitoring efforts in the Caribbean have been instrumental in improving our understanding of African dust transport and its regional consequences.
The unprecedented June 2020 “Godzilla” African dust event provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated approach using ground-based aerosol measurements, satellite observations, and forecast models. The NASA-funded CALIMA campaign built on prior research efforts, integrating data from nine Caribbean locations, satellite sensors (CALIOP, MODIS, MISR), and dust forecast models (NASA GEOS, WRF-Chem) to characterize dust transport and its impact on air quality. Surface and columnar measurements revealed severe air quality degradation across the Caribbean, southern United States, northern South America, and Central America, posing significant public health risks. Model evaluations exposed substantial discrepancies in dust forecasts, highlighting the need for improved prediction capabilities.
This study demonstrates the value of combining observational networks with satellite remote sensing and modeling to characterize the spatial and temporal variability of African dust transport to the western hemisphere. Strengthening such coordinated efforts is essential to refine forecasts, mitigate health and environmental risks, and better understand how transatlantic dust transport may evolve under a changing climate.
About Presenter:
Dr. Olga L. Mayol-Bracero is an atmospheric scientist and the Lead of the Aerosol Observations Group in the Environmental Science and Technologies Department at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), where she also serves as the Director of the Center for Aerosol Measurement Science (CAMS). She is the Lead Mentor of the Aerosol Observing Systems (AOS) of the DOE Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility and a participant in the DOE Atmospheric System Research (ASR) program. She joined BNL in August 2021. Before joining BNL, Dr. Mayol-Bracero was a Full Professor in the Department of Environmental Science at the University of Puerto Rico–Río Piedras (UPR-RP). There, she directed the Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosols Research Group and led both the Cape San Juan Atmospheric Observatory—a site that is part of NOAA ESRL’s aerosol network, NASA’s AERONET, Pandora, and MPLNET networks, and a WMO GAW regional station—and the Pico del Este Cloud Forest Station.
Dr. Mayol-Bracero’s research focuses on the temporal and spatial variability of atmospheric aerosols, including the characterization of African dust, biomass burning, marine, urban, and biogenic aerosols, with particular emphasis on tropical regions. Her expertise spans size-resolved aerosol composition and sources, carbonaceous aerosols (organic and black carbon), aerosol–cloud–precipitation interactions, and air quality.
She has extensive experience leading aerosol field projects and managing field atmospheric observatories, participating in numerous ground-based and airborne field campaigns across diverse environments, including the Maldives, the Amazon Basin, and the Caribbean region. Dr. Mayol-Bracero also holds several international leadership roles, serving as a member of the International Commission on Atmospheric Chemistry and Global Pollution (iCACGP), the World Meteorological Organization’s Scientific Advisory Group on Aerosols, and the Americas Working Group of the International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC) project. She is the author of more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, one book chapter, and over 300 presentations at national and international conferences. Dr. Mayol-Bracero earned her B.S. and M.S. in Chemistry and her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico–Río Piedras and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Mainz, Germany.
