Gulf of Mexico Environmental Monitoring Through Federal-Academic-Industry Partnerships

Abstract

The Gulf of Mexico is a unique cultural, ecological, and oceanographic environment and host to diverse stakeholders from public to private users. The balance between an expanding coastal population and increasing demands on its natural resources requires diligent, and ideally real-time, monitoring to protect lives, property, and the environment. Shell Exploration and Production Company is working with academic and federal government partners (Federal -

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Collaborations to Improve Hurricane Forecasting and Environmental Monitoring in the Gulf of Mexico

“…1). The OHC estimates from the glider were approximately 100 kJ/cm 2 while estimates from satellites showed values near 140 kJ/cm 2 (40% overestimation of actual conditions (Perry et al 2015). HYCOM results underestimated OHC (50-70 kJ/cm 2 ) compared to the glider data.…”

“…1). Specific data findings and analysis of the OHC for each year are described in the next section (See also Perry et al 2015Perry et al for 2012Perry et al and 2013.…”

“…When Hurricane Isaac passed, the model's estimated mixing showed a warming of the mixed layer depth with the model's profiles matching both the satellite temperature estimates and the glider estimated mixed layer depth. Yet, the overall model temperature profile was significantly warmer than the glider's temperature profiles indicating a needed improvement in the ocean assimilation in order to better estimate true water column conditions prior to and during a hurricane event (Perry et al 2015).…”