|  The GCOOS-RA Solicits Letters of Intent by 17 April 2015 by 5 pm Central Time Email to: [email protected] Members (signatories) to the GCOOS-RA Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) or employees of Members may submit Letters of Intent (LoIs) to develop and maintain a prioritized suite of observing system activities for the production and delivery of products in the Gulf of Mexico Region. Entities that are not Members that are interested in submitting an LoI should sign the MoA to become a Member before submitting an LoI. LoIs will be evaluated according to published criteria by a review panel, not in conflict of interest, appointed by the GCOOS-RA Board of Directors. The maximum request GCOOS will accept is $225,000/year. Commercial firms, NGOs, government entities, and academic/research institutions are encouraged to submit LoIs. Cooperation among these entities is encouraged. It is expected that all these classes of entities will participate in proposals submitted on behalf of the GCOOS-RA. Submitters of successful LoIs may propose in response to appropriate Call for Proposals from the NOAA IOOS, other federal agencies, or other funding entities. They also may prepare proposals to potential funding entities as directed by the BoD. Find out about the ocean observing priorities for the LOI at http://gcoos.tamu.edu/?p=9018. U.S. and Mexican Scientists Improving Research and Response Collaborations in the Gulf of Mexico International partnership highlights shared goal of moving Gulf science beyond political boundaries Scientific leaders from the U.S. and Mexico recently took steps to strengthen their collaborations to develop better ocean-observing capabilities and improve data sharing Gulf-wide during the Eighth Ordinary Session of the Consortium of Institutions for Marine Research in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean at a meeting in Mexico City. At that February meeting, Mexico's Consortium of Institutions for Marine Research (CIIMAR) officially joined the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System Regional Association (GCOOS-RA). The memorandum of understanding signed by Dr. José Piña, President of the CIIMAR and President of the University Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco (UJAT), and Dr. Barbara Kirkpatrick, GCOOS-RA Executive Director, will pave the way for scientists in the U.S. and Mexico to further share ocean information and to begin including data gathered by Mexican scientists on the GCOOS Data Portal. Read more at http://gcoos.tamu.edu/?p=9035 GCOOS-RA Celebrates Milestone 10th Anniversary During Annual Meeting Board sets priorities, welcomes new board members The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System Regional Association celebrated its milestone 10th anniversary during the organization's annual meeting for members and its board of directors in New Orleans from 11-13 March 2015. GCOOS-RA is a nonprofit organization responsible for developing a network of business leaders, marine scientists, resource managers, governmental and non-governmental organizations and other stakeholder groups that combine their data to provide timely information about our oceans to the public, industry and others. Read more at about the GCOOS-RA 10th Anniversary and Meeting at http://gcoos.tamu.edu/?p=9080 and see Zdenka Willis' (IOOS) story on the meeting at http://www.ioos.noaa.gov/ioos_in_action/stories/gcoos_10_years.html .  GCOOS-RA Working with the Gulf Marine Mammal Community GCOOS-RA staff presented at, and participated on the Steering Committee for the Gulf of Mexico Marine Mammal Research and Monitoring meeting in New Orleans, LA, this week. The primary objective of the meeting was to catalyze collaborations for long-term research planning, information sharing, and capacity building around Gulf marine mammals. Barb Kirkpatrick, GCOOS-RA Executive Director, presented on the GCOOS history with the Sperm Whale Seismic Study, the GCOOS Build-out Plan elements supporting marine mammal monitoring, the GCOOS Data Portal, the Integrated Tagging of Aquatic Animals (iTag) effort, the IOOS Animal Telemetry Network (ATN), and AOOS' work with the ATN and marine mammal projects and databases in Alaska. Stephanie Watson, GCOOS-RA Communications Manager, served on the meeting Steering Committee and facilitated the Habitat Use and Distribution breakout group with Chris Simoniello, GCOOS-RA Outreach and Education Lead. Presentations will be posted soon on the workshop website at http://mmc.gov/gom/gom_meeting.shtml  LSU Earth Scan Laboratory Generates SST Composite Image Showing Warm Core Eddies in the Gulf GOES-13 night-time SST composite from 20 March 2015 reveals Warm Core Eddy (WCE) Michael and a smaller WCE to the west of it. Cold Core Eddies (CCEs), surrounding the Loop Current (LC) and the WCEs, are instrumental in the detachment and final separation of WCEs from the LC. Eddy Michael experienced its first detachment from the LC in mid-January. However, in February, the LC recaptured it and it has yet to separate completely from the LC. The coldest coastal waters are introduced into the northern Gulf of Mexico by the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers. Image and caption provided by Nan Walker and Ambrose Bordelon of the LSU Earth Scan Laboratory (www.esl.lsu.edu). For the complete image of our featured image please see: http://gcoos.tamu.edu/?attachment_id=9065. Gulf of Mexico Scientists Appointed to National Research Council Committee The National Research Council announced the committee membership for the study on "Effective Approaches for Monitoring and Assessing Gulf of Mexico Restoration Activities." Special congratulations to the Gulf members, including Drs. Matt Howard, Pamela Plotkin, Paul Montagna, Kenneth L. Heck, Jr., Kenneth A. Rose, and Dr. Mark S. Woodrey. Learn more at http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/CommitteeView.aspx?key=49695 . Update on Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Jubilee in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, 13-17 July 2015 The University of Southern Mississippi-led CONCORDE Consortium for River-Dominated Coastal Ecosystems continues to plan its AUV Jubilee for the Northern Gulf in July. Many teachers nationwide are applying to participate and the Naval Oceanographic Office will now be adding a glider. Read more about the GoMRI-funded CONCORDE at http://gcoos.tamu.edu/?p=8927 .  Texas A&M Geochemical and Environmental Research Group (GERG) Reveille Glider Mission From 2-25 March 2015, the Texas A&M GERG profiling glider, Reveille, covered 225 km. This was Reveille's first mission with both the thruster and the 800cc buoyancy pump. The new pump allows the glider to operate within a wider range of densities. This enables the glider to overcome large fluctuations in the salinity and/or temperature of the water in which Reveille is flying. Learn more about this mission and other GERG glider activities at https://www.facebook.com/TamuGergGliders . |
