Research at GSO

Annual Report 2021

The quantity of world-class ocean science conducted at GSO is a special point of pride for URI and for all of Rhode Island.

In fiscal year 2021, GSO researchers were awarded $49.6 million in funding for new and ongoing, multi-year efforts. The top three funders—accounting for 79% of all dollars—were the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Agency for International Development.

New Funded Research Awards Made in Fiscal Year 2021

PROJECT/PROGRAMINVESTIGATOR(S)FUNDERVALUE ($000s)
Towards Measuring the Pulse of Narragansett Bay: Applying High Resolution Oxygen Sensors to Quantify Ecosystem Primary Production and RespirationR. Beinart, P. Marrec, S. Menden-DeuerR.I. Science and Technology Advisory Council80
Early Life History of American Lobsters in Coastal Southern New England WatersJ. CollieNOAA351
South Fork Wind Farm Ventless Trap SurveyJ. CollieComm. Fisheries Research Foundation158
A Framework for the Deconvolution of Oversampled Fields of Geophysical Parameters Obtained from Satellite-Borne Passive Microwave RadiometersP. CornillonNASA131
Women Shellfishers and Food Security ProjectB. Crawford, K. KentU.S. Agency for International Development1009
Development and Maintenance of an Online Delivery System for STORMTOOLS Inundation and Risk MapsT. CreanR.I. Coastal Resources Management Council15
Influence of Pressure on Microbial Communities in Subseafloor Sediment at Hadal, Abyssal,
Bathyal, and Shell Water DepthsS. D’Hondt, R. PockalnyNational Science Foundation548
Virtual Workshop Series for OOI Pioneer Array Future LocationA. DeSilvaNational Science Foundation236
Eddy Fluxes Across the Southern Antarctic Circumpolar Current Front Near Southeast Indian RidgeK. Donohue, D. R. WattsNational Science Foundation988
Ecological and Economic Impacts of the Intensification of Extreme Events in the Benguela Upwelling System (EXEBUS)S. Gaines, P. FreemanNational Science Foundation208
Wind Turbulence Over Shoaling Surface Waves and Their Impact on Air-Sea FluxesT. HaraNational Science Foundation363
RENEWAL: Marine Geological Samples Laboratory (MGSL)K. Kelley, R. RobinsonNational Science Foundation396
Acquisition Upgrade of Micro-Analytical Tools for GeochemistryK. Kelley, R. Robinson, S. CareyNational Science Foundation459
Origin and Evolution of Intraplate Magmatism at the Revillagigedo Archipelago, MexicoK. Kelley, R. Pockalny, S. CareyNational Science Foundation204
Data Processing and Analysis: Mass CEC Aerial Surveys Campaign 5R. KenneyNew England Aquarium20
RENEWAL: Maintain and Curate the North Atlantic Right Whale Sightings DatabaseR. KenneyNOAA Fisheries218
Benthic Habitat Characterization and Mapping for Assateague National Seashore and Acadia National ParkJ. KingU.S. Dept. of Interior110
Understanding Public Perceptions Associated with Design and Siting of Potential Aquaculture ProjectD. KotowiczUniversity of Maryland50
Development and Field Testing of Advanced Passive Samplers for PFAsR. LohmannU.S. Dept. of Defense: SERDP821
Envisioning Ocean World Habitats and Bio-geochemistry at Analogous Air-Ice-Ocean Interfaces on EarthB. Loose, L. GlastraNASA Space Grant—Brown University38
Response of Anti-Reflection Material to a Biofouling ChallengerL. MarandaHighRI Optics, Inc.62
Sources and Transformations of Export Production: A Novel 50-Year Record of Pelagic-Benthic Coupling from Coral and Plankton BioarchivesK. McMahonNational Science Foundation739
OECI-OET-ISC Education/Outreach Video Production/BroadcastingH. Morin, D. ColemanOcean Exploration Trust150
Linking Hyperspectra l Optical Prop- erties with Morphology and Taxonomy for Improved Phytoplankton Composition DiscriminationC. Mouw, V. SonnetNASA45
Knauss Fellowship—HarrelsonD. NixonNOAA Sea Grant59
Knauss Fellowship—OhnemusD. NixonNOAA Sea Grant59
Knauss Fellowship—WibisonoD. NixonNOAA Sea Grant59
Manganese as a Key Reactant in the Expanding Low Oxygen Zones of the Gulf of Mexico, USAV. Oldham, R. RobinsonNational Science Foundation893
CAREER: Toward a Sensor-Laden Future OceanM. OmandNational Science Foundation131
Understanding Dramatic Warming and Altered Fisheries on the U.S. Continental Shelf through Observations and Multi-Scale ModelsJ. Palter, K. McMahon, C. KincaidNOAA558
Improving our Understanding and Quantification of Wintertime Air-Sea CO2 Exchange in the Gulf Stream and Subtropical Mode Water Formation RegionJ. Palter, S. NickfordNASA Space Grant—Brown University52
Constraining the Relationship Between Oceanographic Features and Deep Scattering Layer Biology for Improved Tactical CapabilitiesC. RomanNaval Undersea Warfare Center233
NIUVT 2020 SEED 26: Low-Cost Real-Time Visual Odometry for Underwater NavigationC. RomanUniversity of Connecticut92
Hazard Resilient Future for Naval Station within its Coastal Community: Military Installation Resilience Review for Short-Term Preparedness and Long-Term PlanningP. Rubinoff, I. GinisCity of Newport, R.I.490
NSF-RAPID: Autumn Transition in Plankton Ecology During an Ocean Heatwave on the N.E. U.S. ShelfT. Rynearson, S. Menden-DeuerNational Science Foundation18
URI-CINAR: Analysis of Nutrient Samples from the Northeast U.S. Continental ShelfM. SchwartzWoods Hole Oceanographic Institution26
NSF-EAGER: Science Verification Activities for the 6500m HOV AlvinA. Soule, C. RomanNational Science Foundation299
Upper Mt. Hope Bay Monitoring Through Narragansett Bay Fixed-Site Monitoring Network (NBFSMN)H. Stoffel, C. OviattRestore America’s Estuaries301
CESU Network 20-Year Program Characterization and EvaluationJ. SwiftU.S. Dept. of Interior49
Scientific Support of Environmental Emergency ResponseJ. Swift, A. Neville, N. VinhateiroR.I. Dept. of Environmental Management500
DAI-Integrated Natural Resource ManagementE. Torell, B. CrawfordDAI Global LLC200
Assessment Framework for Successful Development of Viable Ocean Multi-Use SystemsJ. WalshNational Science Foundation124
Inverted Echo Sounder (IES) Technology/Research: Pressure Recorders (PIES) and Current Meters (CPIES)D. R. WattsVARIOUS549
Using Machine Learning Method to Detect Slow Slip Events in Ocean Bottom Pressure DataM. Wei, Y. ShenNational Science Foundation406
Pathway to Robot-Integrated Bay-Scale Ecosystem Observatory (RI-BSCO)M. Zhou, C. Roman, C. KincaidR.I. Science and Technology Advisory Council80