Investigate the ocean floor and the processes that influence its structure.
Monitoring beach changes in Rhode Island - Beaches in the Ocean State are dynamic. Storms and sea-level rise are constantly reshaping our shores. GSO his been conducting a beach survey for over 50 years! Several sites along the RI south coast are examined regularly by GSO students, faculty and other volunteers. The dataset provides insight into the changes and also can help […]- Hurricanes and Tsunamis - Tropical cyclones (hurricanes) routinely invading our shores are of great concern to residents who live in coastal regions. Mathematical models incorporating ocean data along with atmospheric data developed by GSO scientists improve the reliability and accuracy of the hurricane prediction models used by NOAA’s National Hurricane Center and the Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center. These […]
- Deep Microbes - Recent discoveries by GSO biogeochemists in samples from Deep Sea Drilling Program (DSDP) cores taken from the Pacific Ocean have significant implications for the nature and global distribution of life in the sediments of the subseafloor. For example, estimates of Earth’s total living biomass are now 10-45 percent lower than previously thought, and the depth […]
- Inside Earth - Earthquakes, explosions, pyroclastic flows, and tsunamis can result from oceanic volcanic activity, both from underwater and island volcanoes. Documenting these volcanic edifices and ash flows resulting from eruptions is important in mitigating the resulting hazards to nearby residents. Ocean explorers at GSO routinely discover and map volcanic regions and associated ash flows using Remotely Operated […]
- From Data Collection to Modeling - Modeling of fish populations and their trophic interactions is an essential element for defining targets for sustainable fisheries, and estimating benefits of rebuilding stocks. The effects of seasonal migrations of interacting fish species and population feeding habits are modeled by GSO fisheries biologists to better explore the consequences of different harvest strategies and changes in […]
- Science for Coastal Management - The recently-completed Ocean Special Area Management Plan (Ocean SAMP) brought together talented GSO/URI oceanographers and writers to produce a science-based management and regulatory plan to help stakeholders, managers, and policy makers make wise use of the Rhode Island’s offshore waters (RI Sound, Block Island Sound, and the associated continental shelf region of the Atlantic Ocean). […]