Single Beam Survey off Rodanthe

Keith Garmire (a research technician in the Coastal Processes Program) and I are "mowing the lawn" behind Rodanthe, a small village on the Outer Banks. Mowing the lawn on the water...no I haven't lost my mind. We are measuring the bathymetry (changes in depth) in our study area around the DoT emergency ferry channel. This is done in a grid pattern to get the best data coverage, similar to a pattern you would use when mowing the lawn. This very accurate bathymetric map will be used to help us understand sediment disturbance and transport in this area of Hatteras Flats. That information is critical when evaluating how and where to deposit material removed from the channel in future dredging projects.

This is all part of an interdisciplinary project funded by NCDoT to provide the science necessary to better manage the future of this important waterway.

New CSI Observing Station

Our new observing station enjoys a sunset over the sound.  Here we are collecting standard meteorological data and hope to make estuary measurements (e.g., water levels) soon. Thanks to Keith Garmire for his hard work to make this happen.  Data can be seen on Weatherunderground.com.

Nice Day for Field Work

Day 3 - SC Field Trip

Then on our last day of the field trip, we got aboard Coastal Carolina’s R/V Coastal Explorer to help conduct some seafloor research offshore.  The ship and its captain and crew were fabulous.

It was an action-packed trip along the southeast coast!

Day 2 - SC Field Trip

On day 2 of the SC field trip, we visited the Belle Baruch Institute for Marine & Coastal Sciences, where we had a nice presentation by Dr. Dennis Allen and toured the property with Paul Kenny.  We also conducted some marsh research with Dr. Tom Allen (ECU) and James Edwards (MS).

Field Trip to South Carolina - Day 1

Our second field trip was 3-day, 2-night trip to South Carolina.  As we headed south, we stopped in North Topsail, NC to see an ongoing beach nourishment project.   Next, we walked the Prince Resort pier in North Myrtle Beach and heard about research by Coastal Carolina University scientists, including Dr. Rich Viso.

First Summester Field Trip

The field trip on the first Friday of the program enabled the students to see and learn about the northern Outer Banks.  Stops included Jennette’s Pier, Nags Head Woods, the US Army Corps of Engineers Duck Research Facility and the Kitty Hawk erosion hot spot.  At these locations the class heard from experts on the location – Thanks to them!  The last stop was to climb the largest sand dune east of the Mississippi River – Jockey’s Ridge State Park. 

TAs for the Summester

The Summester at the Coast program was fortunate to have three multi-talented TAs, including Nick Kelly (left) and CJ Cornette (right) who dabble in controlled burns.  Luke Stevens was the third TA – he was busy working!

Summester 2015 Starts!

And we’re off! … the Summester at the Coast 2015 started May 20^th.  We have a great group of 13 students this year from schools across the eastern US, from Indiana (Earlham College), Ohio (Oberlin College), U. Penn., to almost Canada (St. Lawrence Univ.) and south to Georgia (Georgia Southern).  Of course, we have number of students from NC schools, including ECU, Elon, NCSU, UNC Charlotte and Davidson.  The first class exercise involved mapping the UNC CSI canal by kayak. 

Researchers Take MOCC Training for Boat Operations

Several researchers from ECU and UNC CSI fought fires, tied knots, trailered boats and fired flares in the process of becoming certified to operate boats for coastal science work.  C.J. Cornette, Luke Stevens, Keith Garmire and J.P. Walsh from ECU Geological Sciences and CSI's Coastal Processes program and Stephanie O'Daly from the CSI Estuarine Ecology program were trained by John Woods (ECU Geological Sciences) and Mike Baker (ECU Dive & Water Safety).  The intensive class involves online reading, hands-on activities, boating and exams.  After some rescue review at the Minges ECU pool, the instructors and trainees braved well-below freezing temperatures to practice skills.  Thankfully, the instructors were clear and informative, and the students were attentive and quick learners.  Boating activities will occur in March at CSI.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless 4G LTE smartphone

Bonjour Emeric!: French Student Visits the Lab

There is a new face (with a funny accent) walking around the halls of the UNC Coastal Studies Institute.   Emeric Bourineau is a French MS student from the Université de La Rochelle.  He is here to work with the Coastal Processes program (i.e., the SSTORM Lab) for a few months.  Although he has recently analyzed all the tide gauge data from the NC coast, his research here is just getting started.  But he’s already enjoyed some American traditions, including the Superbowl, a barbecue dinner and craft beer at the OBX Brew Station.  At a recent gathering at Trio, we even got him taste some California wines, but not surprisingly, he preferred the Bordeaux vintages.  He looks forward to seeing and learning more of the NC coast and its people; please stop in to say “Salut!”