(Pacific Northwest Coastal Ecosystem Regional Study)
This was a 7-year multidisciplinary study funded by NOAA to
better understand the natural and human-caused forces affecting coastal
estuaries and the near shore system in the Pacific Northwest.
Studies the physiology, toxicology, ecology and oceanography
of toxic Pseudo-nitzschia species off
the Pacific Northwest coast. The long term project goal is to develop a
mechanistic basis for forecasting toxic Pseudo-nitzschia bloom development
(Olympic Region Harmful Algal Bloom)
This Partnership investigates the origins of blooms of toxic
algae, monitors where and when the blooms occur, assesses the environmental
conditions conducive to blooms and toxification of intertidal shellfish
populations, and explores methods that can be used to reduce HAB impacts on
humans and the environment.
(Land Margins Ecosystems Research)
With population density and growth in coastal areas
outpacing all other regions, it is crucial to understand how changing climate
and man-induced changes will interact and alter these ecosystems. LMER has
received industry support (from Bonneville Power) for studies in the Columbia
River estuary system because of industry's need to understand and control
impacts. The network of LMER scientists and sites are pursuing cross-system
comparisons, working with the NSF LTER - Long Term Ecological Research
projects. National Science Foundation (NSF)
(Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics)
This program is investigating how salmon populations within
the Pacific Northwest and in the Gulf of Alaska respond to climate variability
and long-term climate change. It is a multi-agency (NSF-NOAA),
multi-disciplinary, “ecosystem-based” partnerships between academic and federal
scientists to conduct scientific investigations to improve management of marine
resources.
(Climate Impacts Group)
This group, at the Joint Institute for the Study of the
Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO) Center for Science in the Earth System
(CSES) studies the impacts of natural climate variability and global
climate change on the US Pacific Northwest focusing on four key sectors: water
resources, aquatic ecosystems, forests, and coasts.
(Climate Dynamics Group)
This group, also at the Joint Institute for the Study of the
Atmosphere and Ocean (JISAO) Center for Science in the Earth System
(CSES) studies the large scale variability and predictability of the
coupled atmosphere-ocean system with special emphasis on those processes of
most relevance to the Pacific Northwest.
(Estuarine and Ocean Ecology Program)
Features two research programs, one studying the role of the Columbia River plume as an important transition habitat for juvenile salmon and the impact of the California Current on abundance, distribution, growth, and survival of juvenile salmon in coastal waters of southern Oregon and northern California, and another studying the estuarine ecology of juvenile salmon and habitat links in the Columbia River and Puget Sound estuarine ecosystem.
(Pacific Coast Ocean Observing System)
This organization collects the information needed for management of fishery resources, protected marine mammals, marine birds, and turtles, and to forecast the ecosystem consequences of fisheries removals, environmental variability and climate change.
(Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems)
This group establised a Pacific Northwest Regional Association to develop a governance structure and foster inter-regional coordination for a Pacific Northwest ocean observing system; to work toward common data management standards; and to openly share data, metadata and related information.
This is a regional cabled ocean observatory component of the Natiaonal Science Foundation’s Ocean Observatories Initiative. A consortium of U.S. and Canadian institutions is designing and building NEPTUNE, with installation of the northen loop scheduled to begin in 2007. Total infrastructure cost is estimated at $200 million.
The West Coast Regional Node is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
(River Influences on Shelf Ecosystems)
A 5-year interdisciplinary study of the Columbia River plume, funded by the Coastal Ocean Program of the National Science Foundation. 12 scientists from different ocean disciplines: biology, chemistry, and physics, together explore how the river plume modifies biological productivity along the Washington and Oregon continental shelves.
(Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary)
This organization conducts research to explore and know what's there, to detect trends-improvements or declines in important resources or changes that are part of larger global processes and to give us the scientific basis for making important conservation decision
Questions? Commemts?
Contact Keven Bennett kbenet@u.washington.edu