Live from the COOLroom -

But then I walk into our control room, with its panoply of views of the sea. There are the updated global pictures from the remote sensors on satellites, there the evolving maps of subsurface variables, there the charts that show the position and status of all our Slocum scientific platforms, and I am satisfied that we are looking at the ocean more intensely and more deeply than anyone anywhere else.
-- Henry Stommel, 1989.

The COOLroom Today - What makes a COOLroom?

Scientists and technicians use the computer stations in the COOLroom to collect and analyze the data coming into the COOLroom from satellites, coastal radars, ships at sea and undersea instruments. From looking at the ocean is so many ways, scientists are best able to plan the research and direct the ships and planes to specific points on the ocean where they will find the most biological activity. Learn more all about today's COOLroom...

Saturday, July 21, 2001

The ocean reflects the storm which blew through here this week. The nearshore waters are thoroughly mixed, and warm water transported onshore. The chlorophyll levels have dropped and the upwelling which has dominated the local area for weeks, is over. However strong winds from the southwest which are coming offer the potential for a new upwelling cycle to
begin again this next week. Whatever is present, the ships are ready. Rock on. Operation Black Moon Continues, Keep Reading...

Friday, July 20, 2001

Even 5 foot seas can't stop the Mighty Caleta and her scientific crew. Seas actually dropped to about 4.5 feet early in the day. But the big difference from yesterday was that the period increased from 4.5 seconds to 7.5 seconds. Seems that being dropped 5 feet every 7.5 seconds is a lot easier to take. Even a single line of CTD data could be used to validate Hernan's forecast. It was the perfect set up. A big storm passing through in the middle of forecast cycle 3. North east winds. How far was the water going to downwell? Where was the downwelling front going to be? The biologists wanted to know. They were getting ready for their nighttime bioluminescence sampling.

Welcome to HyCODE Times

Ever wonder what an Oceanographer does in the Summer? Right now, over 200 scientists from across the country are descending upon the little town of Tuckerton, New Jersey. They are all involved in a project called HyCODE, the goal of which is to study the color of the ocean while developing better models to improve ocean forecasts.

The COOLroom is the mission control, the central command center where all operations take place. In the COOLroom, scientists view data coming in from live satellite feeds, underwater sensors and our coastal radar network. They even have direct real-time access to data being collected by research vessels several miles out at sea. Using this data, they carefully watch the ocean and direct other boats and planes to the places of greatest scientific interest.

Now even you can take a part in this exciting operation. You can watch, read, follow along, and even listen to the exciting research happening right off the coast of our great state.

Oceanography like this has never been done before!

The HyCODE Times is where all mission announcements are posted. You can read about all the cool science happening in the COOLroom. There are even special stories written to help you understand more about the experiments happening in the COOL lab. Find out more by browsing the different feature areas, including the live Cameras, Mission Logs, Scotscar Logs (from the dudes in charge), and the wacky Photo Gallery.

Long-range Codar is Outta Site

This weekend, graduate student and CODAR warrior Josh Kohut called in some great news. After several setbacks, the long-range CODAR showed much promise. Find out more...