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PacIOOS Instruments and Tools
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PacIOOS now offers two new high-resolution wave model grids for the Mariana Islands. |
New Wave Forecasts for Saipan, Tinian, Aguijan, and Rota
Two new high-resolution wave model grids are now available for the
islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Aguijan
, a
s well as for the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The new
Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) model
grids cap
ture shallow water effects and nearshore coastal dynamics with resolutions of 365m and 550m respectively -- a major upgrade from the regional Mariana Islands model (5-km resolution).
The 5-day forecasts provide information on wave height, direction, and period in 1-hour intervals. The forecast is updated daily. PacIOOS developed these two new wave model grids, along with a grid for the Manu'a Islands in American Samoa with funding support from the Department
of Interior's
Office of Insular Affairs. As part of this project, PacIOOS is also improving its existing atmospheric models through data assimilation and data validation.
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Significant wave height (top, blue line) peaked at 24ft on February 17th, 2020. |
New Wave Height Record Set in American Samoa
The PacIOOS wave buoy off Aunu'u in American Samoa measured a new record-breaking significant wave height of 24.1 ft (7.34m) on February 17th, in the midst of a series of storms and cyclones. The largest individual wave recorded (Hmax) measured 38ft. Over Presidents' Day weekend, the islands experienced torrential rain and gale force winds, resulting in power outages, landslides, and the closure of roads, airports, and schools. The wave buoy is located approximately 3 miles east of Aunu'u and measures significant wave height, period, and direction, as well as sea surface temperature in real-time.
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The Lānaʻi wave buoy was redeployed at the end of February. Credit: D. Fitzgerald |
Lānaʻi Wave Buoy Redeployed
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Around 5,000 scientists gathered for the Ocean Sciences Meeting in San Diego, California. Credit: M. Guiles |
PacIOOS Participation at Ocean Sciences Meeting
Numerous PacIOOS staff and co-investigators attended the American Geophysical Union's (AGU) biennial Ocean Sciences Meeting in San Diego. Talks were given on topics such as the (1) spatial variability of wave-driven components of run-up and inundation in West Maui; (2) how PacIOOS Voyager enhances decision-making for stakeholders in the Pacific Islands; and (3) the swimming performance and thermoregulation strategies of scalloped hammerhead sharks. Poster presentations focused on (4) using reanalysis data of a high-resolution regional ocean model to understand the dynamics behind algae blooms around the main Hawaiian Islands; (5) exploring wave-driven coastal processes through the eyes of three phase-resolving models; and (6) forecasting wave driven inundation in West Maui.
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Members and guests gathered at the Elks Lodge in Waikīkī for the club's annual meeting. |
Presentation at Waikiki Swim Club
PacIOOS presented to approximately 85 members and guests at the Waikiki Swim Club Annual Meeting & Banquet. The group of ocean users learned about the PacIOOS program, including available observations, forecasts, data access and visualization tools. The audience has a specific interest in the currents around Waikīkī since current speed and direction significantly impact swimming and can result in a safety concern. The Waikiki Swim Club also hosted their business meeting and presented awards to members for their support of the club as well as for swimming performances at swim races.
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Feng Hsiao successfully defended his Ph.D. dissertation this month. |
Congratulations, Dr. Hsiao!
Ph.D. candidate Feng Hsiao successfully defended his dissertation this month. Under the supervision of Yi-Leng Chen, Professor at the Department of Atmospheric Sciences in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) and PacIOOS co-investigator, Feng's research focused on island-scale weather and climate for the Hawaiian Islands. Utilizing high-resolution numerical models in conjunction with observational data, Feng studied, among several other topics, wake circulations and cloudiness under different trade wind conditions; favorable large-scale conditions and initiation of warm season convective storms; and island effects on rainfall. Feng has also greatly contributed to the maintenance and validation of PacIOOS' real-time atmospheric forecasts, available for various grid sizes in the Hawaiian Islands, Mariana Islands, and Samoa. Congratulations and keep up the great work, Feng!
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Data layer of modeled tsunami surge at Agana Bay and Tumon Bay. |
Regional Tsunami Model for Areas in Guam
With funding support from NOAA's National Weather Service, Professor Kwok Fai Cheung, Department of Ocean and Resources Engineering at SOEST and PacIOOS co-investigator, developed a regional tsunami model for the Mariana Islands with high-resolution data for three areas in Guam: Apra Harbor, Agana Bay, and Tumon Bay. The data products include offshore surge and currents based on Maximum Considered Tsunamis (MCT) as well as in-harbor hazard maps of surge, drawdown, and currents for hypothetical advisory and warning-level tsunamis from potential sources at the Mariana, Nankai, Philippine, and New Guinea subduction zones. The data are available for download in PacIOOS' data catalog, with links to THREDDS and ERDDAP. Data sets for Hawaiʻi and American Samoa will be made available for download in the near future.
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Alson (right) with his fishing partner Kevin during a recent fishing trip. Credit: A. Kajikawa |
Finding ʻŌpelu
Alson Kajikawa was born and raised in Kona, Hawaiʻi, and has been fishing from land and sea from a young age. Over the past few years, Alson and his fishing partner Kevin Awa have been focusing on net ʻōpelu fishing to supply local fishermen with bait and to dry the fish.
Alson uses the PacIOOS currents forecast from the Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS) to learn about the current direction a few days prior to the planned fishing day, as well as during the day. The direction of the currents will determine where the schools of fish will most likely be located since there are different ʻōpelu koa (fish aggregation areas) for north and south moving currents. In addition, Alson uses the PacIOOS wave forecast to be aware of any upcoming swells. The fishing areas of interest are affected both by southwest (summer) and northwest (winter) swells. Swells can churn up the water, resulting in increased turbidity and decreased visibility to spot the ʻōpelu. For that reason and out of safety concerns, Alson and Kevin avoid ʻōpelu fishing during large swells.
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