ASA's Applied Science Weblog

ASA Celebrates World Oceans Day

ASA has acknowledged World Oceans Day on June 8 and will celebrate all this week. 

The United Nations General Assembly decided that, as from 2009, 8 June would be designated by the United Nations as “World Oceans Day” (resolution 63/111, paragraph 171). 

The concept for World Oceans Day was proposed in 1992 by the Government of Canada at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro and it had been unofficially celebrated every year since then. Official designation by the U.N. is a significant step in conserving and protecting our world's ocean.

World Oceans Day provides an opportunity each year to celebrate our world ocean and our personal connection to the sea. The Ocean Project, working closely with the World Ocean Network each year, helps to coordinate events and activities with aquariums, zoos, museums, conservation organizations, universities, schools, businesses.

Learn more at:

 http://www.theoceanproject.org/wod

http://www.un.org/Depts/los/reference_files/worldoceansday.htm

1st Annual Matunuck Eco Concert to benefit Save the Bay

The 1st Annual Matunuck Eco Concert was held on May 20, 2009 at Theater by the Sea with live musical performances by the Matunuck Elementary School Chorus to benefit Save the Bay (Narragansett Bay). The environmentally conscious fundraiser was the brainchild of 5th grader Cameron Burke and featured the music of Jack Johnson. The event was sponsored by Applied Science Associates (ASA).

ASA was very proud to sponsor the local Matunuck Eco Concert and is also proud to be a longtime, dedicated supporter of Save the Bay. ASA’s company mission has much in common with Save the Bay initiatives and is honored to have the opportunity to support this special evening of music and fundraising.

Watch the news clip:

 

While Oil Gently Seeps from the Seafloor

Interesting article on oil naturally leaking into the ocean offering a 'laboratory' to study accidential spills by Christopher Reddy
Director of Coastal Ocean Institute
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Read the full article - http://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/viewArticle.do?id=57272

OSSE: Observing System Simulation Experiment

ASA represented the Integrated Ocean Observing System, Data Management and Communications(IOOS DMAC) steering team, at the OSSE meeting held at Rutgers University in New Jersey. The meeting focused integrating cutting edge real time observation technology from remotely controlled ocean gliders (a type of autonomous underwater vehicle) with numerical ocean model predictions. The experiment’s goal was to use the model predictions to better steer the gliders though the ocean based on the model forecast, while using the real time data to improve the model predictions.  

This ambitious project brought together a wide range of scientists and engineers from NASA Jet Propulsion Lab and MIT where they are working to optimize the glider navigation based on available data using methods developed for deep space exploration. On the ocean model side, teams from Rutgers University, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Stevens Institute of Technology, and NASA's ocean model team presented their modeling efforts. ASA along with experts from the USGS and the National Science Foundation’s Ocean Observing Institute Cyber Infrastructure team worked to provide the technological glue that will allow this integration and improve critical aspects of ocean forecasting.

 

More Info/Related Links:

http://www.i-cool.org/?p=1533

http://rucool.marine.rutgers.edu/

http://ourocean.jpl.nasa.gov/

 

Trans-Atlantic solo expedition rower gets a little help from predicted winds and currents

With only oars to power him, Paul Ridley attempts a historic solo trans-Atlantic expedition for the cause of cancer research, as he rows for 10-12 hours per day with little help coming from anything more than favorable ocean currents and wind direction.  When the wind, waves, and currents don’t cooperate, the journey called Row for Hope, becomes more challenging and uncertain.  ASA’s SARMAP and EDS: Environmental Data Server—a combination of search and rescue technology and real-time and forecast ocean data system was voluntarily used by Jonathan Cornelius, of Antigua Barbuda Search and Rescue (ABSAR), to look at possible drift scenarios for family and friends who are anxiously awaiting Paul’s landing in Antigua. “Jonathan was wonderful, providing the perfect mixture of calm presence, knowledge of local waters, and up-to-the-minute computerized wind/current data,” stated Paul’s father on the Row for Hope blog as he described how ASA’s cutting edge technology and Jonathan Cornelius was helpful in providing advice and predicting and tracking how Paul and his small craft, Liv, is affected by the Atlantic ocean’s winds, weather and currents.

 

In a custom built boat, Paul’s unsupported trans-Atlantic expedition began in the Canary Islands in December 2008. His planned route is to row as directly as possible from Africa to Antigua, crossing the whole of the Atlantic Ocean. Currently on Day 85 of his crossing, he’s rowed more than 3,000 nautical miles, with a planned landing in the Caribbean in Spring 2009. While at sea, Paul has slept in an enclosed cabin not much bigger than himself, and row 10-12 hours each day.  Though Paul is in contact with a land-based support team via satellite phone, he’ll be entirely alone on the open ocean with no chase boat or means of resupply.   With only about 100 miles to go, Paul closes in on English Harbour, Antigua, and it looks like his expedition will be successful.  But helpful and reassuring to Paul and his family, ASA’s SAR technology exists and is in the hands of willing and capable people like Jonathan Cornelius.

 

For more information about Row for Hope visit, http://www.rowforhope.com

Local Wind Turbine Powers Town's Alternative Energy Leadership

Today, the small town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island commissioned their utility-scale (megawatt-sized) wind turbine estimated to provide 3 million kilowatt hours per year of renewable energy for its municipal buildings and schools. 

The turbine rotors were set in motion by the wind and the final testing of the new generator was performed in front of news crews and proud on-looking townspeople as they witnessed the state's second and largest wind turbine going on-line. 

Watch CNN's coverage of the small town's exciting news. Portsmouth shows how clean, renewable, and economically feasible wind energy can be achieved. The news clip also discusses the State of Rhode Island's plan to provide 15 percent of the state's electrical demand from wind generation.  

ASA’s energy resources group lead and wind energy development project manager Daniel Mendelsohn, was a key member of this project team. Daniel led the wind feasibility study, siting analysis, and engineering support in the early stages of the project planning. The windy site is close to the highest point on Aquidneck Island and the turbine has begun producing electricity for the high school, municipality, and excess power will be sold back to the grid.  

ASA is involved in several renewable energy engineering support projects worldwide and has additional northeast U.S. wind farm and wind feasibility project contracts pending. Northeast wind energy projects that ASA is currently involved in include analysis of potential impacts from a proposed Nantucket Sound Wind Farm in Nantucket Sound, Massachusetts, for Cape Wind Energy LLC and the RIWINDS Wind Feasibility Assessment & Siting Study for the Rhode Island Governor’s Office to assess the feasibility of producing 15 percent of the state’s aggregate electrical demand from wind generation.  

For more information on ASA's involvement in this and similar renewable energy projects, visit www.asascience.com/services/sustainability

For more information about the Town of Portsmouth's Sustainable Energy Initiatives, visit: http://www.portsmouthrienergy.com

For more information about the State of Rhode Island's Wind Energy Initiatives, visit: http://www.ri.gov/

How Are People Lost at Sea Found?

How does the U.S. Coast Guard conduct searches for people stranded in bodies of water, including two National Football League players and their friend missing off the Florida coast?

ASA's EDS: Evironmental Data Server and SAROPS are highlighted in this Scientific American Ask the Experts Interview.

To find out how authorities go about finding those lost at sea or in other vast waters, ScientificAmerican.com spoke with Art Allen, a physical oceanographer with the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Search and Rescue and lead collaborator with ASA on the development of SAROPS: Search & Rescue Optimal Planning System.

 

>>Read the Scientific American interview and learn more about how people lost at sea are found.

ASA Welcomes Renewable Energy Expert Daniel Mendelsohn

ASA is happy to welcome renewable energy expert Daniel Mendelsohn back to ASA. Originally with ASA from 1985-2001, he has been at Applied Technology and Management Inc. (ATM) for the past 5 years and now returns to lead ASA’s Energy Resources Group. Daniel has developed and applied numerous computer simulation models to address engineering problems in the environment and has provided support to the public and private sectors for environmental and permitting issues, environmental resource assessment, and model prediction including meteorological, hydrodynamics and pollutant transport and fates.  

 

In recent years, Daniel has focused on the conceptual design, feasibility, planning and development of renewable energy system projects for electric power cooperatives, municipalities, state government agencies, resort developments, and several high-profile offshore wind energy projects in the

U.S. including Rhode Island's RIWINDS project.

He is experienced in the environmental issues facing regulators and the power industry and will work on multi-disciplinary teams at ASA to address energy, climate, and sustainability issues.

Northeast Hurricane Mitigation Leadership Forum

ASA's Chris Galagan was a panelist at the Northeast Hurricane Mitigation Leadership Forum held on Thursday, July 10 in Newport, Rhode Island.  The event was well attended by the media as the event was organized in recognition of the 70th anniversary of the devastating 1938 Northeast Hurricane.  It was an invitation-only event to gather academics, scientists and public/private sector representatives to focus on the impact of severe storms and the potential advantages of hurricane risk mitigation efforts.  Chris' discussion was on ASA's technical tools that enable inundation and flood analysis to coastal areas of potential impact from tropical storms and hurricanes.   Chris was the only panelist who brought to the table a technical solution to identify flood prone areas that can help reduce vulnerability and that everyone including private property owners, businesses, emergency/civil workers, and media outlets can easily utilize. 

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