NOAA

BUSAN, Republic of Korea——U.S. Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command (Naval Oceanography) attended the third International Operational Satellite Oceanography Symposium (OSOS-3), June 12-15.

OSOS-3 was organized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT)—hosted by the Korea Hydrographic and Oceanographic Agency (KHOA).

“The symposium consisted of presentations and posters, as well as a user training session, and featured research and applications in Asia, the Pacific area including small island nations, and high latitude areas; it was endorsed by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) and Coordination Group for Meteorological Satellites (CGMS),” said Danielle D. Carpenter, Interdisciplinary Oceanographer/Physical Scientist at the Naval Oceanographic Office.

OSOS-3 showcases research and applications in Asia, the Pacific, small Island nations, and high-latitudes, emphasizing user-engagement on requirements and priorities, demonstrating the use of satellite data in coupled numerical models and highlighting socio-economic benefits of Earth Observation.

“The initial objective of the meeting was to increase user-knowledge and applications of data across a variety of areas; it was established to exchange ideas and best methods between members involved in multiple levels of operations, with a goal to get better comprehension of user-needs and expectations—ultimately to develop standards and best practices that will lead to more data use by all users,” said Carpenter.

OSOS-3 built upon a foundation set during its first symposium, held in College Park, MD June 2019, and a second virtual symposium in May 2021, resulting from the global pandemic.

“…the second was due to be in Darmstadt, Germany but was made virtual in 2021 due to COVID, so it was great to get back to an in person event!” Carpenter said. “I also had the opportunity to sit down with high level members of KHOA to discuss future data sharing opportunities, and network with program managers at NASA about user advocacy for the upcoming GeoXO satellite series.”

Naval Oceanography has approximately 2,500 globally distributed military and civilian personnel, who collect, process and exploit environmental information to assist Fleet and Joint Commanders in all warfare areas to guarantee the U.S. Navy’s freedom of action in the physical battlespace from the depths of the ocean to the stars.

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Hundreds of lives are lost annually due to extreme heat, and every indication suggests that this summer is set to become one of the most scorching seasons ever documented.

Numerous cities throughout the nation are encountering all-time high temperatures.

June 2023, which was the hottest June in the 174-year history of global climate record, marked the 47th-consecutive June and the 532nd-consecutive month with temperatures above the 20th-century average, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Temperatures remained high in July, and August’s likely won’t fall much.

Per the NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information Global Annual Temperature Outlook, it is highly probable that this year will be classified within the 10 hottest years ever documented. There is a 97% chance 2023 will secure a position within the Top 5.

While heat affects everyone, certain individuals — young children and infants, older adults, individuals with chronic medical conditions, and pregnant women — face a higher risk. The human body is particularly susceptible to the toll of high temperatures, leading to various heat-related illnesses even after brief exposure.

The Joint Munitions Command has a longstanding history of effectively preventing heat-related injuries given the challenging working conditions the members of its workforce face daily.

“We’re unique because our employees are already working in hazardous atmospheres. They are already in extreme heat. They are already working outside. They are more acclimated than you will find in any other command,” said Ralph “Skip” Stuck II, Chief of JMC’s Safety Division. “With that being said, our proficiency level and our ability to adapt and acclimate to the conditions is more prevalent than you would see in other organizations. However, there are certain areas that we do need to focus on because with that causes complacency.

“Complacency can create potential injuries,” Stuck added.

He stressed the continued importance of maintaining vigilance both on the job and at home, especially given the unprecedented extreme heat. Allocating dedicated time to evaluate and enhance emergency action plans has become a top priority for JMC’s safety team.

Enforcement of proper work-rest cycles is imperative for those individuals exposed to the intense heat, coupled with heightened supervision.

“Acclimatization, by gradually increasing exposure to heat stress, coupled with hydration, is also a way to protect yourself from heat stress. There are, of course, exceptions, such as when the environment is too extreme or when there is no time to acclimatize gradually. It’s also important to remember that the process is different for everyone and can take anywhere from a few days to weeks,” said. Lt. Col. Jeffrey Milch, JMC’s command surgeon. “I get a lot of questions about how to assess one’s own personal hydration status, and how much fluid should be consumed on average per day. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, and the answer will vary depending on what medical conditions an individual is managing. That said, one easy way for most people to tell if they are properly hydrated is to assess the color of urine output. Urine that is light-yellow to clear indicates good hydration status for most people.

“It is also always wise to check with your primary care manager on what optimal hydration means for you, personally, when managing complex medical conditions such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, and high blood pressure,” Milch added.

JMC’s workforce has been trained to address potential heat-related ailments, including the prudent application of sunscreen when needed. Additionally, they possess the means to summon emergency aid in areas where conventional communication tools like cell phones or handheld radios might encounter limitations. In those circumstances, the two-person rule is in effect.

“When you have a situation like that you ultimately want to have two people there,” Stuck said. “We don’t want to expose anyone to a hazard, but when you have situations like that you want to make sure you double up on the people and then also use check-in and check-out times.

“In the areas where they’re working in the extreme heat – the production of rounds, the casting of molds and that – we provide additional supervision,” Stuck added. “We take the extra time to make sure they’re safe in all conditions including the heat.”

By DeCA Corporate Communications

FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. – The next emergency will not be annotated on your planning calendar. However, during National Preparedness Month in September, greater awareness is highlighted on the necessity to plan for the unexpected.

Whatever the crisis, service members and their families can save at least 25 percent by using their commissary benefit for their emergency items.

“We’ve all seen the devastating impact of the wildfires in Hawaii and the typhoons in the Pacific,” said Marine Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Saucedo, senior enlisted advisor to the DeCA director. “These events and other emergencies are all out of our control. However, eligible shoppers can use their benefit to save at least $25 for every $100 they spend on emergency supplies in the commissary.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s theme for this year’s National Preparedness Month (https://www.ready.gov/september) is “Preparing for Older Adults.” The Preparedness Month website has helpful tips, videos and information separated into several compartments, most notably the following sections:

• Disasters and Emergencies (https://www.ready.gov/be-informed): Subsections explain the disasters and hazards that could impact your location and give information on how to get emergency alerts (http://www.ready.gov/alerts) and where to evacuate.

• Make a Plan (https://www.ready.gov/plan): Subsections explain how to build an emergency kit, practice a fire escape plan, prepare for an emergency without going broke, stay “tech ready,” plan for assisting individuals with disabilities, preparing pets for emergencies and more.

To help service members and their families prepare their survival kits, DeCA sets up an annual severe weather promotional package from April through Oct. 31 with discounts on the following items: beef jerky and other assorted meat snacks, soup and chili mixes, canned goods, powdered milk, cereals, batteries, airtight bags, weather-ready flashlights, tape (all-weather, heavy-duty shipping and duct), first aid kits, lighters, matches, lanterns, candles, hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes. Specific items may vary from store to store.

How do you prepare for the next crisis? Planning is the first step and emergency preparedness officials recommend a disaster supply kit that includes the following items:

• Reusable or disposable face coverings, disposable gloves, hand sanitizers, disinfecting wipes and hand soap

• Water – at least one gallon daily, per person (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)

• Nonperishable foods – canned meats, fruits, vegetables, dried fruits, nuts, raisins, cereal, crackers, cookies, energy bars, granola, peanut butter, and foods for infants and the elderly (three-day supply for evacuation, two-week supply for home)

• Paper goods – writing paper, paper plates, paper towels and toilet paper

• Writing utensils – pens, pencils (manual pencil sharpeners) and markers

• Cooking items – pots, pans, baking sheets, cooking utensils, charcoal, a grill and a manual can opener

• First-aid kit – including bandages, medicines and prescription medications

• Cleaning materials – bleach, sanitizing spray, and hand and laundry soap

• Toiletries – personal hygiene items and moist wipes

• Pet care items – food, water, muzzle, leash, carrier, medications, medical records, and identification and immunization tags

• Lighting accessories – flashlights, batteries, candles and matches

• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)

• Duct tape and scissors

• Multipurpose tool

• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates and insurance policies)

• Cell phone with chargers

• Family and emergency contact information

• Extra cash

• Emergency blanket

• Maps of the area

• Blankets or sleeping bags

For more information, go to the DeCA webpage on disaster preparedness (https://commissaries.com/our-agency/disaster-preparedness) for lists of resources. You can also go to Ready.gov (http://www.ready.gov/september) and the Department of Homeland Security’s National Preparedness Goal (https://www.dhs.gov/national-preparedness-goal) webpage.

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About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. – The summer season presents opportunities for Airmen to get out and have fun in the sun while keeping in mind preventative measures for heat safety.

Mississippi averages high temperatures in the summer months, with some days reaching over 100 degrees.

To support readiness and remain fit to fight, Airmen need to keep several things in mind, beginning with the type of fluids they are consuming.

“The biggest issue I notice is that people don’t drink enough water in general,” said Sgt. Jacqueline Parker, 335th Training Squadron meteorological and oceanographic forecaster instructor. “Plus, when students drink caffeinated beverages, they’re consuming a diuretic that causes their bodies to get rid of water thus further dehydrating themselves.”

Heat from the sun’s rays is most intense at midday, making that the time when the risk of heat injuries is the highest. Airmen can learn to recognize the different stages of heat illness in themselves and their wingmen.

“You can go through different phases of heat illness,” said Parker. “The first one is heat exhaustion. That’s when you feel delirious, nauseous, maybe have stomach cramps or muscle cramps. In that case, that’s when you need to say ‘Hey, I’m experiencing heat exhaustion and I probably need to tell someone that I feel bad.’”

Another way that Airmen can keep themselves safe this summer is to be safe on the beach.

Out here on the coast in the Gulf, people must watch out for potential riptides and currents, said Staff Sgt. Christopher Swindoll, 81st Training Wing occupational safety technician. Lifeguard support and rescue personnel are out here to maintain safety for everybody; however, beachgoers should still take safety precautions. Parts of the coast also host wildlife that can potentially hurt people depending on which area they visit.

Official sources like the CDC, NOAA and the Air Force Safety Center contain additional information for summer safety.

Following summer safety guidelines helps Airmen stay fit to fight and enjoy the many summer activities that are integral to life on the Gulf Coast.

In August 2023, the Federal Electronic Health Record Modernization office expanded its joint health information exchange to include participation in Carequality, a framework enabling health data sharing between and among networks.

“The joint HIE is the largest federal exchange in the U.S. With this expansion, we are leading the way in meaningfully sharing data across health care systems to enhance care delivery,” said Bill Tinston, director of the FEHRM.

The joint HIE is a secure gateway used to connect the federal electronic health record to participating provider organizations across the United States who agree to securely share clinical information with the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Coast Guard, and Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Participating in Carequality significantly expands the percentage of U.S. hospitals connected to the joint HIE from 75% to more than 90%. DOD, VA, USCG and NOAA clinicians, nurses, and administrators gain access to an expanded set of patients’ external health records from participating provider organizations—from single-physician offices to multi-hospital systems outside of the DOD, VA, USCG and NOAA health care systems. Other organizations previously unable to query these departments can now retrieve data from them.

“This expansion reflects the collaborative work of the FEHRM and the departments to enhance the care experience for our patients and providers,” said Tinston. “It helps ensure a seamless care experience for patients navigating between different health care systems.

Through the joint HIE, providers may access information about their patients’ prescriptions, allergies, illnesses, lab and radiology results, immunizations, past medical procedures, and medical notes.

The joint HIE is part of the FEHRM’s overarching effort to deliver capabilities that enable the departments to deploy a single, common federal EHR. By implementing the same EHR, the departments can better document care from the time individuals enter the military through their care as veterans, including care they receive from participating provider organizations—viewable through the joint HIE.

“With this more complete view of an individual’s medical history, providers can make better informed decisions,” said Lance Scott, acting technical director and solutions integration director of the FEHRM. “This data sharing drives enhanced health care quality, safety, and provider and patient satisfaction.”

The joint HIE is part of DOD and VA health care benefits, and DOD beneficiaries and veterans are automatically enrolled. The joint HIE honors patient consent; health records of patients who opt out of sharing will not be exchanged through the joint HIE. Learn more about the joint HIE on the FEHRM website.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) completed its contribution to the Moisture and Aerosol Gradients/Physics of Inversion Evolution (MAGPIE) program, the first phase of an 18-month mission in Barbados. Its aim is to study the exchange processes of heat, moisture, African dust, and sea spray between the atmosphere and ocean over the Subtropical Atlantic Ocean.

Predominately sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (ONR) and organized by NRL, MAGPIE was formed in partnership with scientists at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), the National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration (NOAA), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and many universities. The goal is to understand how energy and atmospheric constituents exchange between the warm subtropical ocean and the atmosphere through clouds and its subsequent relationships to weather and climate.

“These types of exchange processes are what drive weather and climate, and an understanding is needed to allow us to monitor and ultimately forecast impactful atmospheric phenomenon,” said Jeffrey Reid, PhD., NRL’s Science Lead of MAGPIE.

The MAGPIE experiment was conducted during a crucial period in atmosphere research. On August 31 it completed its first phase of airborne research with 17 flights coinciding with record global ocean temperatures.

“We are in uncharted territory,” noted Elizabeth Thompson MAGPIE’s NOAA lead from NOAA’s Earth System Research Laboratories in Boulder Colorado. “Typically in El Nino year’s hurricane activity is at a minimum in the Atlantic. Yet, record warm oceans is what drives hurricanes and other severe weather. We need to understand how the ocean-atmosphere system will interact.”

Being ~3000 miles downwind of Africa with good scientific infrastructure, Barbados has a long history of international collaboration in ocean/atmosphere basic research. Along with the University of Miami Barbados Atmospheric Composition Observatory (BACO), the nearby German Max Plank Institute for Meteorology: Barbados Cloud Observatory (BCO), and assets of the Barbados Meteorology Service and CIMH, Barbados is a natural laboratory to not only understand how energy is cycled but to develop new atmospheric monitoring technologies.

“We are questioning fundamental conceptual models of air motion of marine and island environments as well as the common measurement methodologies,” said Dr. Reid. ”To make much needed progress in atmospheric prediction, we developed a team across agencies to advance promising new measurements and data integration technologies.”

Central to MAGPIE is the development of new lidar, radar, and hyperspectral radiometry technologies, in conjunction with advanced satellite remote sensing data provided by NASA and NOAA. In particular, ground and airborne lidar systems from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Colorado allow scientists to see the various scales of air motion in unprecedented detail. Context for these measurements are then provided by BACO, MAGPIE’s research aircraft, and a variety of space based remote sensing data. All of these datasets are being integrated and used to evaluate and improve models at the meter scale at the University of Notre Dame and University of Minnesota, up through global scales by NRL and NOAA.

MAGPIE operations are consistent with the U.S. Navy’s desire to improve our ability to monitor, predict, and operate within the coupled ocean-atmosphere system that drives impactful maritime weather such as hurricanes, organized thunderstorms and island flooding. These desires span far beyond operational weather to planning for the future. The Navy will work with Caribbean partners to address region-specific needs for early warning, disaster risk reduction, and climate adaptation, and to provide access to global climate data, tools, and information. By combining the capabilities of BACO with the innovative methodologies of MAGPIE, we will gain invaluable insights into the atmospheric processes that impact our region.

With the first phase completed, scientists will now evaluate this last summer’s data and the mission’s methodologies to further refine observation plans for summer 2024. From there, findings will be incorporated into operational systems. The MAGPIE augmentation to the Ragged Point BACO is expected to continue through 2024. Included in winter 2024 is an overall refurbishment of the BACO by means of a US National Science grant to help ensure the data record continues.

About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL is located in Washington, D.C. with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; Monterey, California, and employs approximately 3,000 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.

For more information, contact NRL Corporate Communications at (202) 480-3746 or [email protected].

MOBILE, Ala. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District Mississippi Coastal Improvement Program (MsCIP), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) had a problem.

NOAA deploys two Real-Time Currents and Meteorological Buoys (CURBY) at least once a year to ensure everything works while maintaining their skills in case of an emergency.

In Mobile, the MsCIP team needed field data for coastal modeling for its Coast-wide Beach and Dune Restoration Project in Jackson County, Mississippi.

Enter Richard Allen, USACE Mobile District Hydrologic Data Collection Unit team lead, to marry the two sides together as the Mobile District and NOAA launched a buoy in Biloxi Bay near Ocean Springs, Mississippi, on Oct. 25, 2023.

The buoy deployment helped both sides get what they needed.

“The NOAA buoy is being deployed to collect field data that will be utilized in coastal modeling,” said Valerie Morrow, USACE Mobile District Coastal Resiliency technical lead. “Mobile District will benefit from this approach because it is cheaper than other data collection alternatives, the data collected is higher quality than other alternatives, and the ability to mobilize the buoy is quicker than other alternatives.”

For NOAA, deploying the buoy gave them the training and testing needed for optimal operation.

The Mobile District supported the buoy by launching it from its boats, allowing NOAA to practice using a “vessel of opportunity.”

Grace Gray, NOAA Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services, said it was the perfect opportunity for her team to get real-world training and help a partner agency.

“In addition to using this opportunity to hone our deployment skills and test the equipment, we wanted to exercise the scenario in which a partner agency requests the use of a CURBY, to work out some of the administrative aspects with environmental compliance and reimbursement for buoy components before we’re in a time-sensitive situation. This was also an opportunity to deploy the buoy from someone else’s vessel. So the more opportunities to practice on other vessels, the better.”

The project element that the buoy deployment will benefit is beach and dune improvements to approximately four miles of the existing mainland coast within Jackson County, Mississippi. These improvements include constructing a 60-foot-wide vegetated dune field approximately 50 feet from any existing seawalls.

These beach and dune areas are critical to nesting and resting shorebirds such as the State listed least tern and the threatened piping plover. In addition to the ecological benefits, the dunes would provide incidental coastal storm risk management benefits, particularly during more frequent lower-intensity coastal storm events. In accordance with the provisions of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) 1986, as amended, cost-sharing would be 65 percent Federal and 35 percent non-Federal funding.

Allen said the buoy deployment was a success.

“Joint operations between NOAA and USACE resulted in a successful deployment of the CURBY,” Allen said. “The buoy began collecting data immediately. This data is being transmitted in real-time to NOAA servers and made available for USACE project team members to support the hydrodynamic modeling and design. The buoy is expected to remain onsite for 90 days, at which time NOAA and USACE will recover the buoy.”

PACIFIC MISSILE RANGE FACILITY, Hawaii – In the white sands abutting the airstrip at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, a green sea turtle emerged from the Pacific Ocean, perhaps in the quiet darkness under a sky filled with dazzling bright stars, to begin anew the cycle of life.

The turtle crawled its way to the sandy incline, dragging what could be its 300-pound body or so to the ideal spot for a nest. Flapping its flippers and tossing sand aside, it dug a hole and deposited 80 ping-pong-ball-sized eggs. With this solitary mission complete, momma turtle returned back into the surf.

With daylight revealing the telltale evidence in the sand, biologists at PMRF cordoned off that area on the southern end of the airfield. And waited.

The team of partners working with PMRF include the United States Department of Agriculture, the Pacific Cooperative Study Unit at the University of Hawaii, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

After the eggs incubated in the warm sand for 56 days, the much-anticipated moment arrived, confirmed by the tracks leading to the water. “The airfield green sea turtle nest hatched last night!” PMRF Natural Resources Manager Brooke McFarland announced Sept. 14.

Green sea turtles nest on beaches in the general area of where they had hatched years earlier. The shoreline at PMRF is ideal for nests, since it is a protected and quiet location with limited human activity and light pollution. Turtle nesting season in Hawaii runs from mid-April to September, but can extend into December.

“It is always an exciting event when a nest hatches, knowing we did our part to protect this majestic creature and aid in the survival of this animal that is protected under the Endangered Species Act,” Stephen Rossiter, the natural resources field coordinator for PMRF, said.

Sea turtles emerge from their nest en masse, oftentimes under the cover of darkness to avoid predators. The babies rush to the brightest spot in the horizon as quickly as their little flippers will take them, moving away from the dark silhouettes of the dunes and vegetation.

Green sea turtles, which are found around the world, face danger as a result of artificial lights that can cause nesting mothers or hatchlings to move toward artificial light inland, instead of the ocean, and into danger where they face dehydration, car strikes, predators, exhaustion and possible death.

Many other dangers exist: turtles can become entangled in fishing nets, be injured or killed in vessel strikes, face degradation of ocean and nesting habitats, ingest marine pollution that injures or kills them, succumb to disease, or be the target of illegal poaching and even in some countries the legal harvesting of turtles and their eggs.

“These honu (sea turtles) face many threats so it is great news that we at PMRF could provide a safe place for this nest, away from predators, and free of the light pollution that can disorient hatchlings as they make their way to the sea,” Rossiter said.

A week after the nest hatched, PMRF biologists Katy Finney and Daniela Casillas excavated the nest with Mimi Olry, DLNR’s Kauai Marine Mammal Response Coordinator, and Jamie Thomton, NOAA’s Kauai Marine Mammal Response Coordinator.

Casillas and Thomton began digging the spot, finding one … then two … then six … then 20 … then more. The biologists discovered 76 hatched eggs, and four unhatched, not viable eggs.

This has been the only sea turtle nest on the installation this year, Rossiter said, explaining the biologists did a careful search the morning after the hatching and did not find any wayward turtles, leading them to believe the 76 babies made it to the ocean.

The biologists describe this as a very successful nest.

When the work was complete and all the data logged, the biologists removed the turtle nest signs, and gently returned the contents of the nest back into the warm sand on this quiet and undisturbed beach, with the hope that some of the babies will one day return to the area to again be a part of this cycle of life.