CARIBBEAN REGIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR

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1 CARIBBEAN REGIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COASTAL OCEAN OBSERVING 6 th General lassembly: Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System Progress Report and Outlook AGENDA & ABSTRACTS Club Náutico de San Juan, San Juan, PR March 13, 2014

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3 University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez Campus February 26, 2014 Members, supporters and friends of the Caribbean Regional Association for Coastal Ocean Observing CaRA The General Assembly has become an occasion to celebrate the success of the observing system that together we have built. The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CariCOOS), maintained and operated by a dedicated core professional team at UPRM, would not be possible without the widespread support offered by CaRA, by its Stakeholders Council, by its members and friends here and abroad, by the IOOS system at the national level, by the IOOS Association that brings together eleven such regional Associations, and by an intricate network of technical partners and collaborators. Guidance for the buildout of the observing system was obtained from the beginning by consultation with the stakeholder base and the design was refined by the Council and ratified time and again at the General Assemblies. The societal benefits that this rigorous organizational scheme brings are evident. The CariCOOS data buoy network is one of many successes of the organization and a case in point. Carefully consulted, planned and executed, and meticulously maintained and operated, it has become an invaluable regional asset for a myriad applications ranging from routine maritime operations to recreational planning to emergency preparedness. Its operation involves CariCOOS staff in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, fund managers at IOOS, UPRM and UVI, maritime field contractors, technical buoy operators at the University of Maine, goodwill support at ports and marinas and the national data buoy center (NDBC) at NOAA. It is truly a success we can all be proud of. Other many CaRA/CariCOOS initiatives will be revisited today at this 6 th Assembly. CaRA General May we celebrate the success of our observing system long into the future. Jorge E. Corredor Chairman, CaRA Stakeholders Council Associate Director, CariCOOS Antes, ahora y siempre COLEGIO! PO Box 3446 Lajas, PR Tel. (787) ext Fax (787) Patrono con Igualdad de Oportunidades de Empleo - M/F/V/I 1

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5 CARIBBEAN REGIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR COASTAL OCEAN OBSERVING 6 th General Assembly Thursday, March 13, 2014 Agenda 8:00 AM Registration - Posters and exhibits 9:00 AM Introductory remarks: Dr. Jorge E. Corredor, CaRA Council Chairman Associate Director, CariCOOS Prof. Lucas Avilés, Acting Chancellor, UPRM Dr. Manuel Valdés-Pizzini, Acting Dean, Arts & Science, UPRM 9:30 AM Director s welcome and executive report The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System: Progress report and proposed workplan Prof. Julio Morell, Executive Director CaRA/CariCOOS Extending CariCOOS from the regional to the nearshore domain Dr. Miguel Canals, Associate Director CariCOOS CaRA -Virgin Islands Update Dr. Paul Jobsis, Acting Director Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, UVI IOOS update Mr. Carl Gouldman, Division Chief, IOOS office 10:30 AM Presentation of CariCOOS - PREMA MOU Mr. Miguel A. Ríos - Torres, Executive Director, PREMA Prof. Julio Morell, Executive Director CaRA/CariCOOS and 10:45 AM Posters and exhibits 3

6 11:30 AM CariCOOS representative stakeholders: Roberto Cortés - Telemundo PR Edwin Font - Commercial fishermen (Rincón) Capt. Alex Cruz - Caribbean Harbor Pilots 12:00 PM Partner programs: Roberto García, Director National Weather Service, San Juan Ernesto Díaz, Director, Coastal Zone Management Program, Department of Natural and Environmental Resources Partner initiatives: Sustained and Targeted Ocean Observations for Improving Atlantic Tropical Cyclone Intensity and Hurricane Seasonal Forecasts - Gustavo Goni, NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami, FL Tides, storm surge, and extratropical swell waves in Puerto Rico: numerical modelling and field experiments - Juan González, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame The CariCOOS Asset Explorer: A new tool for Exploring Caribbean Observations and Forecasts - Dr. William Douglas Wilson, Caribbean Wind LLC 1:00 PM Building upon existing strategies to educate users of ocean observation data in the Caribbean Dr. Yasmín Detrés, Education and Outreach Coordinator 1:15 PM Announcements 1:30 PM Lunch - Posters & exhibits 2:45 PM CaRA Business meeting Approval of 2013 CaRA General Assembly minutes CaRA Stakeholders Council meeting report Nomination and election of Stakeholders Council member Other matters 4

7 Abstracts Index Principal author Morell, Julio Abstract title The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System: progress report and proposed workplan Page Number Canals, Miguel Extending CariCOOS from the regional to the nearshore domain 8 Detrés, Yasmín Building upon existing strategies to educate users of ocean observation data in the Caribbean Aponte, Luis D. Implementation and validation of high resolution WRF NMM 10 Barreto, Maritza Benítez, José Brocco, Belitza Canals, Miguel A study of beach profile changes at selected beaches on the north coast of Puerto Rico ( ) A storm surge atlas for the US Virgin Islands in support of emergency management Occurrence and severity of suspended sediment loading in the CariCOOS region utilizing the Medium Resolution Imagery Spectrometer (MERIS) Validation and improvements to the CariCOOS Nearshore Wave Model during FY 2013 Chaparro, Ruperto Eight years later: Preferences and opinions of users 15 García, Edward Goni, Gustavo J. Ocean circulation forecast for the area of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands: validation and assessment Sustained and targeted ocean observations for improving Atlantic Tropical cyclone intensity and hurricane seasonal forecasts González, Adolfo CariCOOS field operations 18 González, Juan Meléndez, Melissa Perez, Xochitl Tides, storm surge, and extratropical swell waves in Puerto Rico: numerical modelling and field experiments Monitoring coastal ocean acidification in Caribbean coral reefs: CariCOOS ocean acidification monitoring program Spatial and temporal distribution of emerging contaminants in the San Juan Bay Estuary, Puerto Rico Pomales, Luis O. Assessing regional coastal modelling using CariCOOS observations 22 Quiñones, Estefanía Towards the development of a beach hazards warning system for Puerto Rico Rodríguez, José CariCOOS DMAC and computational infrastructure 24 Salgado, Gabriela Hydrodynamic modeling in the Northeast Corridor Reserve 25 Sanchez, Mayra Solano, Miguel Tamar, Steve Estuarine fishes as bio indicators of changes in environmental conditions and emerging contaminants Effects of wind stress on ocean currents in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands in an operational forecasting system Community based water quality monitoring in northwest Puerto Rico

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9 The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System: progress report and proposed workplan Julio M. Morell Rodríguez, CariCOOS Executive Director Miguel F. Canals Silander, CariCOOS Associate Director Jorge E. Corredor García, CariCOOS Associate Director From its early planning stage, scientists and stakeholders have collaborated in the design and implementation of a coastal observing system capable of providing for high priority needs of coastal information in our region. This initial system proved effective in providing wind, wave and current data products as well as forecasting models for the Atlantic and Caribbean insular shelves. A fully developed hurricane driven storm surge modeling effort is addressing the need for inundation maps for the region. Also, operational dissemination of the remotely sensed water quality products provides valuable information to fishermen, managers and researchers. During the first two years of its current implementation phase, resources were focused on completing the initial development stage, achieving operational status of all assets including data buoys, coastal meteorological instrumentation network, coastal HR radars, numerical modeling systems and data acquisition, management and dissemination systems. During the past twelve months CariCOOS has tackled major technological challenges toward the development of observing and modeling tools required for the shoreward extension of the CariCOOS product domains. Said extension allows us to provide informational support to specific shore dependent activities/sectors such as port and harbor operations, recreational activities and coastal resource management. Specifically, we are focusing on 1) navigation safety and rapid response recovery in the most important regional ports; 2) minimizing hazards to recreational users 3) monitoring climate change (warming and acidification); 4) supporting mitigation and adaptation to coastal hazards and 5) assisting management of coastal resources including marine protected areas. Given the diversity and significance of these efforts, CariCOOS recognized the need for adopting a Poster and Exhibits communication format during CaRA s General Assembly to allow presenting these in detail to associates and partners while being receptive of their vision and recommendations. Below you will find the respective abstracts/summaries. Scientists and staff of the Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CariCOOS) acknowledge the opportunity to inform CaRA associates, partners and stakeholder in general on progress achieved and goals reached in this past year as well as consulting on potential system development directions. Moreover we recognize this interaction as essential for staying on course as a stakeholder need driven observing system consistent with the fundamental IOOS mission. 7

10 Extending CariCOOS from the regional to the nearshore domain Miguel Canals, Julio Morell, Jorge Corredor, Stefano Leonardi, Luis Aponte, Aurelio Mercado Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez After seven years of continued development, the Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CariCOOS) has reached a major turning point regarding the nature of its ocean observing platforms and numerical modeling efforts. During the design stage of CariCOOS, stakeholder consultations highlighted the need for operational instrumented buoy platforms to provide data on winds, waves, currents and water quality. This led to the deployment of four full data buoys off the coasts of San Juan, Ponce, Fajardo / Vieques and the United States Virgin Islands (USVI), a directional Datawell Waverider buoy in the Mona Passage, an array of shore based High Frequency Radar antennas for surface current mapping in the Mona Passage, and a network of hurricane hardened coastal meteorological stations. In addition, a suite of numerical models of winds and waves are currently operational for the region and continuously validated with our observational assets. Although stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the regional scale understanding obtained with CariCOOS models and ocean observing assets, recent consultations have highlighted the need for sector focused products to be developed at smaller scales targeting selected ports, highly visited and yet often hazardous tourist beaches, marine protected areas and other locations. This talk describes the progress of our efforts in FY2013 regarding the development of new observing platforms and models to satisfy the nearshore specific needs of our stakeholders. CariCOOS Ocean Observing Assets 8

11 Building upon existing strategies to educate users of ocean observation data in the Caribbean Yasmín Detrés and Julio Morell Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez The initial strategy of the CariCOOS Education and Outreach (E/O) program included formal and informal education strategies promoting ocean literacy, coastal weather awareness and correct utilization of CariCOOS data products and services. In our effort to enhance the Program recognition as the reliable source for coastal weather information the CariCOOS E/O Program has developed new strategies to strengthen initiatives already in place. On going approaches include the use of electronic media and communication technologies, such as social networking platforms (i.e. Facebook and Twitter) allowing reaching out to more users. Moreover, these two way communication channels allow on line communities to connect and interact with CariCOOS staff and therefore their value in user needs assessment. A recently developed interactive project that uses the Arc GIS Stoytelling Interactive Map Tour has also encouraged exploration of CariCOOS assets. Development of YouTube tutorials, presentation of exhibits at informal education venues and publications such as newsletters and newspaper articles are powerful tools to generate interest and educate users of ocean observation data in the Caribbean. Maintaining established partnerships and building new collaborations are key goals in the accomplishment of CariCOOS mission and objectives. The E/O program is an essential complement to the overall success of CariCOOS. CariCOOS assets Arc GIS Storytelling Interactive Map Tour 9

12 Implementation and validation of high resolution WRF NMM for the CariCOOS region Luis D. Aponte Bermúdez, Ph.D., P.E Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying, Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez CariCOOS numerical modeling efforts directly support wind forecasts at the National Weather Service (NWS) San Juan, PR Weather Forecast Office (SJ WFO), through model setup, optimization & validation CariCOOS has implemented a mirror run of SJ WFO operational Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model based on the Non hydrostatic Mesoscale Model (NMM) developed by NCEP1. The model consists of two domains with horizontal spatial resolution of 6 km and 2 km, respectively. Employing similar model setup, CariCOOS has implemented a single domain model with a finer resolution of 1 km. Model validation was conducted by comparing in situ2 wind observations (Oi) to model forecast (Mi). The statistical parameters considered to determine the best skill assessment were the following: Pearson correlation coefficient (r), mean bias (MB), mean absolute gross error (MAGE), root mean square error (RMSE), index of agreement (IOA) and hit rate (HR). The skill assessment reveals noteworthy improvement in the forecasting of wind speed and direction by the High Resolution model in regions sheltered by the complex topographic features of the islands. CariCOOS 1 km WRF NMM model output, to be implemented operationally during spring 2014, will serve as the forcing winds for the CariCOOS SWAN and CariCOOS ROMS models. (b) (a) 1 2 National Centers for Environmental Prediction In-situ wind observations were adjusted to 10m height above ground level. 10

13 A study of beach profile changes at selected beaches on the north coast of Puerto Rico ( ) Maritza Barreto 1 and Nahir Cabrera 2 1 Geography Department, University of Puerto Ric at Rio Piedras 2 Planning School, University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras This study comprises an evaluation of beach profile changes in selected beaches in the north coast of Puerto Rico from Permanent profile stations were located on diverse geographic coastal scenarios including beaches that are: protected by natural barriers 2) semi protected by natural or man made barriers, and 3) exposed to direct impact of waves and swells. Beach monitoring was done on a monthly basis and/or during normal wave regime conditions and after occurrences of swells. Wave data (height, period and direction) and climatological data (cold fronts and storm occurrences) were acquired from published databanks from the Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CariCOOS) and weather chart published by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Results showed continuos beach morphology changes from reflective to dissipative profiles, and vice versa, during the study period. Major beach profile changes were observed during the occurrence of swells generated by cold fronts arriving from the North Atlantic. These changes occurred mainly during the occurrence of swells approaching from the north and northwest with wave periods ranging from 11 to 18 seconds. This research was supported in part by The National Science Foundation (NSF) (Informal Science Project ) and The Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico, The Environmental Natural Resources Department, Coastal Zone Management Division DRNA and the Graduate Studies and Research Office, University of Puerto Rico. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation or the Conservation Trust of Puerto Rico. 11

14 A storm surge atlas for the US Virgin Islands in support of emergency management Jose Benitez1 and Aurelio Mercado2 1 Physics Department, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, PR Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, PR 2 As part of a CariCOOS sponsored storm surge atlas was prepared for the US Virgin Islands, in which storm surge flood maps as a function of hurricane intensity (Saffir Simpson scale) were prepared. The storm surge stillwater elevations include wind, pressure, and wave setups. For this purpose tightly coupled versions of the circulation model, ADCIRC, and of the wave model, SWAN, were run in which ADCIRC computes the wind and pressure setups, passes the stillwater elevations to SWAN, and SWAN computes the wave radiation stresses which are then fed back to ADCIRC. ADCIRC then corrects the wind and pressure stillwater elevations by including the effect of the waves in the wave setup effect. This is done iteratively until program termination. Both models run in the same unstructured mesh. Three different directions of storm heading were used, and one forward storm speed. The bathymetry is based on an NGDC DEM, while the topography is Lidar based, bare earth data. Maximum of the Maximums (MOM) inundation for all category 5 hurricanes for Charlotte Amalie (St. Thomas). 12

15 Occurrence and severity of suspended sediment loading in the CariCOOS region utilizing the satellite borne Medium Resolution Imagery Spectrometer (MERIS) Belitza A. Brocco Jaime and Julio Morell Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Sedimentation is one of the most pressing water quality issues in Puerto Rico s (PR) coastal region. It represents a threat to coastal benthic communities and has been persistently linked to river discharge and disturbances of drainage basins from agriculture, deforestation, and urban development. In this study, total suspended sediments (TSS) were quantified at eight stations around PR (Fig.1) using a database (2005 to 2009) generated from Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) images at 300 m resolution. Suspended sediments were found at detectable concentrations at all stations with higher concentrations found at stations subject to direct river discharges off the north and west coasts of the island. The stations located off Manatí, Rio Añasco and in San Juan Bay exceeded the critical TSS concentration threshold of 10 mg l 1, reported as causing critical negative impacts to coral reef ecosystems, during periodic rainy season events. The lowest TSS concentrations were found at stations with no direct river discharge, off PR s west and south coasts. Suspended sediments concentrations in the south region were very low, however, the coastal area off Santa Isabel, dominated by intense agricultural activity, showed near critical concentrations. Areas with the higher precipitation rates and associated to river discharges in the north and west coasts show higher TSS content. Our work shows that effective land conservation practices and management strategies are needed to safeguard important tropical benthic communities. Nearshore urban development areas in the rainier regions are of special concern. Maximum values of TSS ( ) at selected stations around Puerto Rico 13

16 Validation and improvements to the CariCOOS Nearshore Wave Model during FY 2013 Miguel Canals UPRM Center for Applied Ocean Science and Engineering Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System Department of Engineering Science and Materials University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez The CariCOOS Nearshore Wave Model ( was developed in FY2012 and has been operational for 16 months with an up time of 99.2%. In an effort to continue improving our nearshore predictions of wave and sea state conditions, several upgrades have been implemented, including: Addition of two high resolution grids for Luquillo Fajardo (NEPR HR grid) and the Southeast Puerto Rico grid (SEPR) at 120 meters resolution An increase in the spatial resolution of the San Juan grid to 60 meter grid spacing Improved virtual buoy network over 120 virtual buoys are now available New and improved graphical output These and other upgrades, as well as the result of a rigorous model validation exercise conducted at the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve in Rincón, PR are discussed in this poster presentation. Grids of the CariCOOS Nearshore Wave Model (top) and sample output of significant wave height in mosaic mode. 14

17 Eight years later: Preferences and opinions of users Ruperto Chaparro 1, Douglas Santos 2 and Carlos J. Carrero Morales 1,3 1 Sea Grant Puerto Rico 2 Social Sciences Department, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez 3 Interdisciplinary Center for Coastal Studies, UPRM In 2006, the Sea Grant Program and the Interdisciplinary Center for Coastal Studies conducted a canvas and rapid assessment to identify potential clientele (stakeholders) including the identification of main needs for information from an Integrated Ocean Observing System. At that time we made a number of suggestions about the needs of different users, which were incorporated in the page. Assessment and review processes are essential in any project. At this stage we will be contacting and consulting a variety of stakeholders from different places of Puerto Rico, who use The objective of this consultation is to find out the level of knowledge of users about CariCOOS. We will be contacting fishermen, boaters, divers, surfers and other users, to investigate what sources they use to obtain climatological or oceanographic information. This consultation will also allow us to know the purpose for which users look for this information. Also we will know the frequency that users use the site and how useful they find the information. This information will be beneficial for further improving and developing new tools and products for the different stakeholders of 15

18 Ocean circulation forecast for the area of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands: validation and assessment Garcia E. 1, Solano M. 1, Capella J. 2, Canals M. 2,3,4, Morell J. 2 & Leonardi S. 1 1 Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas 2 Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, 3 UPRM Center for Applied Ocean Science and Engineering 4 Department of Engineering Science and Materials, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez The Regional Ocean Modeling System has been implemented in the area of Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands in the development of a forecast system to support marine activities, search and rescue operations, fishery management and trajectory analysis for pollution and oil spill accidents. A downscaling approach using the operational American Seas Navy Coastal Ocean Model (AmSeas NCOM) is used to assign boundary conditions to the simulation and to initialize the model. Tidal forcing derived from the Oregon Tidal Prediction Software (OTPS) and winds taken from the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD) are used. Numerical results are compared with measurements from Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers and tide gages. Model skill of the present simulations is compared with that relative to AmSeas NCOM. This forecast system is intended to be part of the Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System (CariCOOS). 16

19 Sustained and targeted ocean observations for improving Atlantic Tropical cyclone intensity and hurricane seasonal forecasts Gustavo Jorge Goni 1, Sang Ki Lee 1,2, Walt McCall 3, Julio Morell 4, Hyun Sook Kim 5, Chunzai Wang 1, David Enfield 2, Eric Uhlhorn 1, Joseph Cione 1, George Halliwell 1, Jorge Corredor 4, Frank Muller Karger 6, Y. Asilis 7, F. Carvajal 7, C. Troncoso 7, S. Gopalakrishan 1, Vijay Tallapragada 5 1 NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, Miami, FL 2 University of Miami, Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, Miami, FL 3 NOAA National Data Buoy Center, Stennis, MS 4 Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System,, University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, PR 5 NOAA Environmental Modeling Center, College Park, MD 6 University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL 7 ANAMAR: Autoridad Nacional de Asuntos Maritimos, Dominican Republic This is a multi institutional effort that brings together the research and operational components within NOAA and the research community to implement and carry out sustained and targeted ocean observations from Seagliders in the Caribbean Sea and southwestern tropical North Atlantic Ocean. The upper ocean thermal structure in this region has been linked to rapid intensification of tropical cyclones, and to the seasonal Atlantic hurricane activity. However, there are only a few (<300) upper ocean thermal observations carried out per year in this region, and sustained ocean observations are currently not in place or planned. This work will provide 4,500 to 5,500 profile observations per year during the two year study. In addition, for the first time, current velocity profiles will be obtained from the Seagliders during the second year of the work to assist hurricane forecast models to reproduce the key ocean dynamic processes associated with tropical storm induced surface ocean cooling. The main objectives of this work are to implement upper ocean observations from Seagliders, to evaluate their impact on and to improve: (1) hurricane intensity forecasts and (2) hurricane seasonal forecasts; using a combination of these new sustained observations, targeted observations, data analysis, and current NOAA operational forecast models. The two regions (bounded with red lines) where underwater gliders (below) will be deployed. Tracks of Cat. 1 5 cyclones (in grey) in a region of the AWP during , with circles indicating the location of their intensifications. The background color is the Tropical Cyclone Heat Potential (proportional to the upper ocean heat content). 17

20 Caricoos field operations Adolfo Gonzalez and Carlos Ortíz Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez CariCOOS is the observing arm of the Caribbean Regional Association for Integrated Coastal Ocean Observing. The field operations team performs periodical maintenance of the different observing assets including the Wind Mesonet in partnership with Weatherflow Inc and the PR Seismic Network. The CariCOOS Rincon Wave Rider Buoy is completely refurbished by our team yearly, with tech support from our partners at CDIP San Diego. The CariCOOS GoMOOS Buoys are removed every year for calibration and sensor replacement with assistance of Commercial Divers Inc and technical support from the Physical Oceanography Group at the University of Maine. Technical and administrative support is provided locally by CariCOOS in the operation of 2 transmit/receive antenna pairs located at Club Deportivo del Oeste in Cabo Rojo and the Puerto Rico Police FURA station on Añasco beach. Scattering of high frequency (12 MHz) radio (HFR) emissions by ocean waves is used to produce maps of surface ocean currents. HFR current maps for the Mona Passage are made possible through support from the Department of Homeland Security to the Center for Secure and Resilient Maritime Commerce and Coastal Environments (CSR). The CariCOOS team also maintains a MapCO 2 buoy located along the forereef of Cayo Enrique shelf reef at La Parguera, Puerto Rico part of the CariCOOS OA Monitoring Program (OAMP) in coastal coral reef environments. The CariCOOS Field Team operates a jetskibased bathymetric surveying system developed to navigate in the surf zone and in very shallow water to determine morphodynamic changes in the seafloor and to quantify morphology changes before and after storm events. GOMOOS type buoys deployment 18

21 Tides, storm surge, and extratropical swell waves in Puerto Rico: numerical modelling and field experiments Juan Gonzalez Lopez 3, Joannes J. Westerink 1, Andrew B. Kennedy 1, Miguel Canals 4,3,4, Andre van der Westhuysen 5, Jane M. Smith 6, Rick A. Luettich 7, Julio Morell 3 1 Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame 2 UPRM Center for Applied Ocean Science and Engineering 3 Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System 4 Department of Engineering Science and Materials, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez 5 IMSG at NOAA/NWS/NCEP/Environmental Modeling Center 6 Coastal and Hydraulics Laboratory, U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center 7 Institute of Marine Sciences,University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Given its location on a steep, narrow shelf and its exposure to tropical cyclones and winter swells generated by extratropical storms, a combination of numerical modeling and field experiments has been undertaken in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands to fully understand their impact on our coast. Results of a thorough validation for tidal water levels and storm surge forecasts using a new SWAN+ADCIRC high resolution model for the region will be presented, as well as results from a field experiment in which pressure sensors and ADCPs were deployed over a reef to measure the wave transformation and breaking of winter swell waves with periods in excess of 18 s. Triangular elements and bathymetry contours (up to 100 m) of the new PRVI2013 mesh on the vicinity of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands 19

22 Monitoring coastal ocean acidification in Caribbean coral reefs: CariCOOS ocean acidification monitoring program Melissa Meléndez 1, Julio M. Morell 1, Sylvia Musielewicz 2, Jorge Capella 1 1 Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez 2 Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Seattle, Washington Observations of ph in the open ocean have shown a long term decrease due to the anthropogenic increase in CO 2 emissions driving what is commonly referred to as ocean acidification (OA). Responding to the need for improved understanding of the magnitude and impact of OA on coastal coral reef ecosystems, the CariCOOS OA Monitoring Program (OAMP) has provided scientists and resource managers with five years of sustained observations of carbonate dynamics in a well developed tropical near reef ecosystem off La Parguera, PR. Data from OAMP had evidenced moderate reduction of aragonite saturation state (Ω arg ) as waters traverse the South West PR insular shelf system. Contrastingly, observations in waters overlying a shallow back reef seagrass community repeatedly show a marked increase in Ω arg well exceeding the values observed at oceanic and coral reef environments. This finding suggests a potential role for seagrass ecosystems in providing a refuge for calcifying and non calcifying organisms from OA effects. The future OAMP observations will provide for improved estimation of the potential role of waters surrounding coral reefs in modulating the effects of OA. Such efforts could support the design and implementation of protective measures and critical monitoring tools, ranging from resource management to environmental engineering, aimed at conserving coastal calcifying organisms. Time series of Ω arg at Enrique forereef (green line) compared to the offshore (red line) and seagrass community on the backreef of Enrique (blue circles). During the summer and fall, reef values decrease considerably due to the local effects (hatched green area). 20

23 Spatial and temporal distribution of emerging contaminants in the San Juan Bay Estuary, Puerto Rico X. Perez¹, L. Diaz 2. L. Roberson¹ ¹Department of Environmental Science, University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras 2 Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras The San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) has been impacted by anthropogenic inputs affecting aquatic marine life. Past studies have identified organic contaminants in the estuary but are not included in long term water quality sampling. Contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) have been discovered in freshwater systems worldwide but little is known about contaminant degradation, distribution and fate in coastal areas. Additionally, the behavior and dynamics of contaminants in tropical zones with high temperatures and precipitation are very poorly studied. We monitored CECs for two consecutive years ( ) at 9 sites in the SJBE. Using EPA methodologies and GC MS, we extract CECs in sediments, water, and tissue from local crabs, Callinectes sapidus. Water sample concentrations of several contaminants (e.g., dibutyl phthalate and dichlorobenzene) show large differences between 2012 and Also, new pharmaceutical compounds were identified in 2013 including 3 Bromofuran, Depo Provera and caffeine. These data will be used to help validate models of contaminant transport in shallow coastal waters being developed by CariCOOS to better understand persistence and degradation processes of these compounds in highly variable tropical systems. 21

24 Assessing regional coastal modelling using CariCOOS observations Luis O. Pomales Velázquez and Julio Morell Caribbean Coastal Observing System, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez The Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System operates a network of observing assets including data buoys, meteorological stations and CODAR radars which provide real time data on coastal conditions including coastal winds, waves, currents and other ocean properties pertinent to coastal operations and activities. Forecasting these properties for emergency response and other planning purposes is only achievable by the use of numerical models. This effort focuses on verifying the accurateness and usefulness of forecasts generated by models made available by federal agencies such (AMSEAS and HyCOM) and the regional CariCOOS ROMS implementation against data acquired by CariCOOS observing assets and historical data compiled into climatological products. Result of these analyses will provide criteria for the identification of strategies towards enhancing 22

25 Towards the development of a beach hazards warning system for Puerto Rico Estefanía Quiñones Meléndez¹ and Miguel Canals 2,3,4 1 Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez 2 UPRM Center for Applied Ocean Science and Engineering 3 Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System 4 Department of Engineering Science and Materials University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez It is well known that the main factor leading to drowning deaths in Puerto Rico are waveinduced currents and the lack of education of the public on the topic of beach hazards. Accurate surfzone forecasts communicated in a concise manner are important in planning nearshore activities and can help in preventing drowning fatalities. The present study set out to develop a beach hazards warning system that takes into account data from CariCOOS buoys and from the CariCOOS Nearshore Wave Model, as well as local bathymetry and anecdotal evidence, to emit a surfzone hazard level for recreational beaches in Puerto Rico. At the moment, beach hazard levels are estimated for 57 of Puerto Rico s most popular beaches. Example of hazard warning levels for February (left) and significant wave height from the CariCOOS Nearshore Wave Model (right) 23

26 CariCOOS DMAC and computational infrastructure José Rodríguez and Jorge E. Capella Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez Data Management and Communications (DMAC) is a high priority component of the National IOOS program and therefore of its eleven Regional Associations, including CariCOOS. DMAC compliance standards and implementation guidelines have been designed at the National level whereas IOOS timelines for its various components provide us with local implementation goals. Underlying CariCOOS s DMAC data gathering and modeling endeavors is a robust and siteredundant computational network composed of High Performance computing (HPC) servers, an ArcGIS (OGC WMS) server, and Windows and Linux workstations for general data management, product development and operational product maintenance. Dual computational facilities are maintained in Puerto Rico at our main office (UPR Marine Sciences Laboratory at Isla Magueyes, Lajas) and at the CariCOOS computer laboratory and administrative facilities at UPR Mayaguez. Continental US based offsite servers are leased to balance our web page loads and provide maximum uptime for our services. This poster provides a summary of the various DMAC components and services that are currently operational in CariCOOS, presents our ongoing work in Sensor Observation (SOS) implementation and compliance, provides examples of our computational assets and attempts to show how all this connects with our program goals and with the needs our stakeholders. CariCOOS server rack for data modelling, backup and publishing 24

27 Hydrodynamic modeling in the Northeast Corridor Reserve Gabriela Salgado¹ and Miguel Canals 2,3,4 1 Department of Civil Engineering, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez 2 UPRM Center for Applied Ocean Science and Engineering 3 Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System 4 Department of Engineering Science and Materials University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez To develop an appropriate management plan for the marine section of the Northeast Corridor Reserve it is necessary to understand the hydrodynamic connectivity between the different regions within the NECR as well and understand the distribution of wave energy. Knowledge of the prevailing circulation patterns in the region will help coastal managers determine which areas must be given special attention. There is very little data about the circulation patterns of the NECR and during this second year we (CariCOOS) have continued our hydrodynamic modeling efforts in the Northeast Corridor Reserve. In addition, the operational wave and current models for the NECR developed during year FY2012, which are currently available on the CariCOOS webpage, will be maintained permanently as operational tools, and the hydrodynamic connectivity in the shallow coastal region is being evaluated using a Particle Tracking Model. Results from high resolution circulation modeling in the NECR 25

28 Estuarine fishes as bio indicators of changes in environmental conditions and emerging contaminants M. Sánchez García¹, S.J. Zottoli², and L. Roberson¹ ¹Department of Environmental Science, University of Puerto Rico at Río Piedras ²Williams College, Williamstown, MA Anthropogenic inputs have led to coastal degradation, altering environmental conditions in estuarine ecosystems and adding toxic substance harmful to the environment. To deal with this growing problem it is essential that we have a rapid, sensitive, low cost bio indicator. This project explored the feasibility of using common estuarine fish as a bio indicator for adverse changes in environmental conditions. The project focused on behavioral effects of changes in ph, dissolved oxygen and contaminants of emerging concern on fish locomotion and their response to stimuli. We used startle behavior, a quantifiable biological endpoint, to provide a quantitative measure of neural and mechanical disruption. Data from CariCOOS buoys and the San Juan Estuary Program monitoring stations were used to quantify environmental conditions in fish habitats. We found that small decreases in dissolved oxygen levels (80% O 2 ) and ph (7.4) can adversely affect fish escape response (F 4, 65 =27.65, p< and F 5, 10 =30.59, p<0.0001, respectively). Additionally, we identified 40 organic compounds in fish tissue and water samples (25 and 15, respectively) from the Condado Lagoon, and frequent low oxygen/low ph events throughout the estuary. Fish startle response may therefore be a useful biological assay for studying the impact of environmental degradation in coastal ecosystems. Startle Response (%) ANOVA, F (4, 65) = p<0.0001, Tukey HSD p< Reduced oxygen 2 100% 80% 70% 60% 100% 0 Lutjanus jocu Gerres oyena Haemulon plumierii Startle response decreased by 27% at 80% O 2 and dropped as much as 94 % in the most sensitive species (L. jocu) at only 60% O 2. Oxygen levels in the estuary can drop below 40% in some areas for a large part of the year. 26

29 Effects of wind stress on ocean currents in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands in an operational forecasting system Solano M. 1, Garcia E. 1, Canals M. 2,3,4, Cappella J. 3, Morell J. 3 & Leonardi S. 1 1 Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Dallas 2 UPRM Center for Applied Ocean Science and Engineering 3 Caribbean Coastal Ocean Observing System 4 Department of Engineering Science and Materials, University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez The effect of different wind data products on ocean circulation output has been studied using the Regional Ocean Modeling System. The computational domain includes the island of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, focusing mainly on the ocean circulation around the islands of St. John and St. Thomas. Wind data for surface forcing of the ocean model include the AmSeas Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM) and the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD). AmSeas gets wind stress data from a 15 km application of the Coupled Ocean Atmosphere Mesoscale Prediction System (COAMPS) into a 3.2 km grid and NDFD gets wind data from a 2 km application of the Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) model interpolated to a 1.3 km grid. Wind and ocean currents are validated against anemometers and Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers located at moorings south of St. Thomas and St. John. The regional model ROMS is compared against the NCOM mesoscale model for prediction skill assessment. The higher resolution WRF model improves forecast skill of the operational system. 27

30 Community based water quality monitoring in northwest Puerto Rico Steve Tamar Surfrider, Rincón, PR Since October 2007 the volunteer staffed Rincón chapter of the non profit Surfrider Foundation has been conducting weekly sampling and testing of various marine and fresh water sites in the Isabela Rincón area, detecting enterococcus bacteria as an indicator of fecal contamination. The Blue Water Task Force (BWTF) team uses the EPA approved IDEXX Enterolert equipment and methodology to provide quantified counts of selected enterococcal species (expressed as the Most Probable Number of Colony Forming Units per 100 ml, MPN CFU/100ml) to the public, government and academic agencies, researchers and collaborators via a national database, s and social media postings. This data allows the public to make informed decisions about recreational water use, and to make regulatory agencies aware of water borne public health threats. A particular focus of the BWTF is the Reserva Marina Tres Palmas (RMTP) in Rincón and the effort to identify and remediate sources of bacterial contamination adversely affecting the health of colonies of the federally protected elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) located there. Currently this is the only water quality monitoring of this type being done in Puerto Rico. Rincón BWTF results and historical data can be accessed at: water task force/chapter/4. Data is also available on the website (via the 'Beach Water Quality' tab in the Water Quality dropdown menu). CariCOOS is providing support and funding for additional water testing in the RMTP vicinity for One significant BWTF finding is that observed/reported rainfall is not the only major factor contributing to contamination of local beach waters. 28

31 CariCOOS Staff Julio M. Morell, MS Executive Director & Principal Investigator Jorge E. Corredor, PhD Associate Director, Co PI & Chairman CaRA Miguel F. Canals, PhD Co PI & Associate Director Stefano Leonardi, PhD Investigator Yasmín Detrés, PhD Education and Outreach Coordinator Luis D. Aponte, PhD Investigator Jorge E. Capella, PhD DMAC & Modeling Coordinator Aurelio Mercado, MS Investigator Roy Watlington US Virgin Islands, Education & Outreach Coordinator Paul Jobsis UVI, Investigator Vanessa Gutiérrez, BOA Administrative Officer Belitza A. Brocco, MS Scientific Instrumentation Specialist Melissa Melendez, MS Research Associate Valentine M. Hensley Research Associate Vanessa Wright UVI, Research Technician Adolfo González, BS Web Page Designer José B. Rodríguez, BS Communication Technician Specialist II Carlos J. Ortiz Specialist Underwater Activities Roberto Castro Technical support Jorge Sabater Technical support Efraín Figueroa Technical Support Graduate students Edgardo García Miguel Solano José L. Benítez Luis O. Pomales Jaime Calzada Undergraduate students Estefanía Quiñones Kevin J. Bergollo Alexander J. Padín Gabriela Salgado Christian Rojas Adaíl Rivera E mail: caricoos@gmail.com Facebook: Twitter: Address: PO Box 3446 / Lajas, PR Tel/Fax: Your reliable source of coastal information

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