June 13, 2025 — New Brunswick, NJ
The Rutgers University Masters of Operational Oceanography (MOO) program hosted a guest lecture this week by Jackie Veatch, an oceanographer and researcher specializing in ocean dynamics and transport processes. Her talk, titled “A Lagrangian Perspective on Ocean Velocity: Lagrangian Coherent Structures”, introduced students to a powerful framework for understanding how fluid moves in the ocean.
Veatch, who has worked on a variety of applied oceanographic research efforts, explained how LCS methods are used to reveal hidden structures in seemingly chaotic ocean flows — structures that act like invisible transport barriers or corridors in the ocean. These insights are critical for understanding a wide range of processes, from plankton blooms and oil spill dispersion to search-and-rescue operations.
“Lagrangian Coherent Structures allow us to move beyond snapshots of the ocean and instead analyze the time-evolving motion of water masses,” said Veatch. “It’s a toolset that’s increasingly important in both academic and applied oceanography.”
The presentation included examples of real-world applications using HF radar surface current data from the Mid-Atlantic region, allowing students to connect theory with datasets they routinely use in their coursework. She also discussed the integration of LCS with predictive models and remote sensing platforms.
Students in the MOO program engaged in a lively Q&A session, exploring how LCS concepts could be used to improve operational forecasts, habitat mapping, and marine safety. Faculty noted that the lecture complemented the program’s focus on real-time data integration and hands-on experience.
“Jackie’s talk gave students an exciting look at advanced tools that bridge ocean theory with practical decision-making,” said Dr. Hugh Roarty, one of the program leads.
The Rutgers MOO program, one of the only master’s programs in the country focused on operational oceanography, frequently hosts talks from leading scientists and practitioners to ensure students are exposed to the latest techniques and challenges in the field.