Coastal Ocean Hypoxia Model

April 15, 2015

South Carolina Sea Grant

A large percentage of South Carolina’s
economy is driven by the popularity of beaches as tourist destinations. Hypoxic (low-oxygen) conditions have been
documented in the nearshore coastal waters of Long Bay, South Carolina, during
summer months over the past several years.
To maintain a healthy environment for recreation it is necessary to
assess the impacts of land use on groundwater discharge to the area. Researchers measured radon activities of
shallow beachface groundwater and nearshore bottom waters to estimate mixing
rates and submarine groundwater discharge in Long Bay. They successfully developed a mixing model
based on these measurements, which helped determine that natural phenomena such
as limited mixing and submarine groundwater discharge (both previously
overlooked) can significantly influence nearshore water quality and lead to
hypoxic conditions. This model can be
applied to other types of marine environments to help determine the causes of
hypoxia, and as such could be a valuable tool in maintaining coastal water
quality, especially in highly developed (urban) areas.

Four people install substrate for an oyster reef.

Alaska

Biden-Harris Administration invests $60 million to build a climate-ready workforce through Investing in America agenda

Today, the Department of Commerce and NOAA announced $60 million in funding to help train and place people in jobs that advance a climate-ready workforce for coastal and Great Lakes states, Tribes and Territories as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda under the Inflation Reduction Act. To date, awards like these from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda have created more than 270,000 jobs across the country.

The funding will support nine projects around the nation, with $50 million going directly to the projects and $10 million for technical assistance to support the grantees.

Sea Grant Aquaculture Academy in New Hampshire

Sea Grant aquaculture professionals from across the country convened in Portsmouth, NH in early April for a 4-day intensive “Sea Grant Aquaculture Academy” hosted by New Hampshire Sea Grant with support from North Carolina Sea Grant.

Sea Grant takes center stage in Oceanography special issue

NOAA Sea Grant-funded research and work with coastal and Great Lakes communities across the nation are being highlighted in a special issue of “Oceanography,” the official journal of The Oceanography Society.

This special issue, published in April 2024, features 36 articles contributed by Sea Grant authors across 29 programs and the NOAA National Sea Grant Office.