Other Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons^™

Automated Machine Learning For High-Resolution Daily And Hourly Methane Emission Mapping For Rice Paddies Over South Korea: Integrating Modis, Era5-Land, And Soil Data, Jiah Jang, Seung Hee Kim, Menas Kafatos, Jaeil Cho, Gayoung Yoo, Sujong Jeong, Yangwon Lee

Institute for ECHO Articles and Research

Agriculture is a major global source of methane (CH4), and accurate emission estimates are essential for refining national greenhouse gas inventories and supporting climate-resilient policies. This study develops a high-resolution estimation framework for CH4 emissions from Korean rice paddies by integrating multi-source datasets, including Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) vegetation indices, European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Reanalysis Version 5 (ERA5)-Land meteorological variables, and Harmonized World Soil Database (HWSD) soil properties. Using CH4 flux observations from four global rice ecosystems (Italy, Japan, South Korea, and USA), we constructed parallel daily and hourly machine learning models using an automated machine …

Synthesis Study Of Evapotranspiration Evolution In The Mekong Delta Induced By Land Use And Land Cover Changes In The Decades Of 1990–2020, Emiliana Valentini, Serena Sapio, Son V. Nghiem, Seung Hee Kim, Sara Liburdi, Andrea Taramelli

Institute for ECHO Articles and Research

Evapotranspiration (ET) plays a key role in the water cycle and balance, and its estimation is of paramount importance in hydrological studies. This variable is also strongly influenced by the land use and land cover (LULC). This study use a synthesis approach to analyse the relationship between ET variation and LULC transformation in the period 1990–2020. The study area represents a major agricultural region in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam between the Mekong and Bassac rivers. The multivariate dataset was ingested into the hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool to examine the multidecadal ET evolution across the study region. …

Captive Model Test For Hydrodynamic Derivatives Of Ship Maneuvering In Regular Head Waves, Pin-Yuan Huang, Zih-Yao Lin, Tsung-Yueh Lin, Fu-En Lee, Yan-Wei Lai

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

The motion of ship in wave can be discussed in seakeeping and maneuvering. In model tests, the former is found by the motion response of waves while the latter requires captive model test to acquire hydrodynamic derivatives. The hydrodynamic derivatives in waves are discovered to be different from those in calm water. To understand better the behavior of maneuverability in waves, maneuvering tests in a wide range of waves are performed in this study. This study presents an experimental investigation into the maneuvering behavior of a container ship in regular waves, covering a wide range of wavelengths from half to …

A Comprehensive Statistical And Regional Analysis Of Lng-Powered Marine Vessels On Ghg Mitigation Strategies Considering Existing Bunkering Stations And Gwp Values, Canberk Hazar, Onur Yuksel, Murat Bayraktar

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This study aims to quantify and analyse emissions from marine vessels that can operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) but continue to use conventional fuels, largely due to the limited availability of LNG bunkering stations (BSs) over long distances. Four regions have been identified as having high concentrations of LNG-fueled vessels but limited access to operational BSs: the West Coast of the United States of America (USA), South Africa–Good Hope–Madagascar, Northwest Africa, and Brazil. This selection is based on the geographical distribution of these ships and the existing infrastructure. Hourly greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have been calculated by considering the …

Electronic Bills Of Lading And Blockchain Technology: A Regulatory Perspective, Hsin-Hua Tsai

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Information and communications technology (ICT) systems are increasingly relevant to the maritime sector. Regarding the revolution of the bill of lading, many shipping lines and other technology startups have been looking into developing viable electronic transport documents that have the same functions as paper bills of lading to reduce supply chain risks. The limitations of the paper-based process have become increasingly visible in the COVID-19 crisis. The main purpose of the article is to analyze the application of blockchain bills of lading, which utilizes computational logic to create the digital ledger, and users can set up algorithms and rules to …

Intelligent Formation Control Using Orfbls And Adaptive Backstepping Sliding-Mode Control To Address Uncertain Tilting In Multi-Quadrotors During Wind Gusts, Ching-Chih Tsai, Chun-Fu Mao, Kumail Hussain

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

In terms of aerial robotics, stable and precise formation control is a significant challenge for tilting multi-quadrotors during disturbances. This paper proposes a fixed-time formation control strategy for tilting multi-quadrotors to address the effect of external wind gusts. The observer accurately predicts environmental disturbances and an adaptive backstepping sliding-mode control (ABSMC) method with an output recurrent fuzzy broad learning system (ORFBLS) addresses these disturbances within a finite time. ORFBLS dynamically adjusts its structure through a growing ORFBLS structure to allow nodes to be added as needed. The method's stability is validated using Lyapunov stability theory and ensures the convergence of …

Visually Guided Landing System On Ship Deck For Multicopter, Dong-Lin Li, Shih-Kai Lee, Tzu-Hsiang Chou

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Traditionally, high-value fish have been located at sea using helicopters. However, with advancements in technology, maritime drones have become increasingly important in recent years. Compared to traditional helicopter-based methods, drones offer significantly lower operational costs, making them cost-effective. However, the challenging sea conditions, including strong winds and the swaying motion of vessels, pose significant challenges for drone landings.

This paper proposes a stable approach for multicopter landing on ships at sea, incorporating improved marker detection, enhanced wind resistance control, and more accurate deck motion prediction. In the marker detection phase, we introduce a method to improve the accuracy of ArUco …

Typology And Spatiotemporal Patterns Of Illegal Fishing Activities In The Philippines: Implications For Fisheries Management, Marlowe O. Acevedo, Tzu-Yun Ching, Chih-Shin Chen

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activity is a global threat and continues to undermine the effectiveness of fisheries regulations and management measures. However, the extent of illegal fishing in Philippine waters remains unclear. This study aims to identify the types of illegal fishing in Philippine waters and analyzed their temporal and spatial patterns. Data were obtained from the records of the Philippine Coast Guards (PCG) and Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies from 2015 to 2020. A total of 602 apprehensions were recorded, resulting in 813 violations, of which 630 cases were fishery violations. Most of the watercrafts involved in the …

A Quantitative Analysis Of Burrowing And Subterranean Locomotion In The Sand Lance Using A Transparent Sediment, Issei Fujita, Makoto Tomiyasu, Jun Yamamoto, Yasuzumi Fujimori

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Sand lances (Ammodytes spp.) rely on rapid burrowing into sediment for predator avoidance. Although their sediment grain-size preferences are well documented, the biomechanics underlying burrowing success remain unclear because natural substrates are opaque. Using a transparent-sediment system, we directly visualized and quantified burrowing kinematics to: (1) test the effect of body size (total length, TL) on burrowing success; (2) examine entry mechanisms (e.g., swimming speed, entry angle); and (3) describe locomotion within sediment. Logistic regression on the full dataset (N = 28 fish) identified TL as the primary determinant of success, with larger individuals exhibiting significantly higher success …

Cruise Network Design Under Sequential Duopolistic Entry, Ta-Hui Yang, Ching-Hui Tang, Wan-Tien O

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This study addresses the network design for international cruise services in a duopolistic market, where carriers enter and make decisions sequentially. The leader, who makes the first move, makes decisions as there is no competitor in the market. The follower, who makes decisions later, has to design their network considering the existing leader’s network. The leader’s model is a mixed integer linear problem while the follower’s model is a mixed integer nonlinear problem. Therefore, a heuristic is proposed to solve the problem. The commercially available general algebraic modeling system is used in conjunction with its different solvers to solve the …

Effect Of Heat Treatment On The Corrosion And Wear Behavior Of 17-4 Ph Stainless Steel For Marine Applications, Syuan Tai, I-Kon Lee, Ming-Yuan Lin, Kang-Yu Liao, Chin-Chun Chang, Hung-Bin Lee

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

This study explores the tribocorrosion behavior of conventionally cast 17-4 PH stainless steel under real seawater conditions, focusing on the effects of three heat treatments (Solution, H900, H1100). Electrochemical tests, tribocorrosion experiments, SEM, XPS, and quantitative analysis were used to establish a three-stage tribocorrosion mechanism. Results show that H900 exhibits superior corrosion and wear resistance, while H1100 suffers increased material loss and surface cracking at high potentials. Elemental analysis revealed NbC migration forming third-body particles, which, although briefly reducing friction, induced local stress concentration and crack initiation. The findings highlight the critical influence of microstructure, passive film stability, and third-body …

Enhancing Underwater Imagery And Organism Detection Using Reinforcement Learning, K. Arul Deepa, P. Ramya, Karpaga Vinodha, Dharmaraja C

Journal of Marine Science and Technology–Taiwan

Underwater environments pose significant challenges in assessing image quality and organism detection due to light scattering and absorption, which limits visibility and color fidelity. Existing solutions often fail to effectively address these challenges, resulting in suboptimal image quality and hindering organism identification. This paper examines the problem through a dual-focused approach: enhancing underwater images and detecting organisms using the Underwater Image Enhancement Benchmark (UIEB) dataset. The first step introduces a state-of-the-art method for image enhancement by applying reinforcement learning (RL) principles. By formulating the enhancement process as a Markov Decision Process (MDP)—where states are represented by image features and actions …

Spectral Analysis Of Traffic Accidents In New York's Capital Region, Michael Barr

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

In this paper we estimate the spectral density of traffic accident events in the Capital Distict, NY area using a band-pass filter known as the Kolmogorov-Zurbenko Fourier Transform (KZFT). The source data is provided by Moosavi, et al. (2019) and originally captured from various public entities and sensors in the road network. Spectral density estimation with KZFT suppresses noise to reveal the constituent frequencies embedded in the noisy signal. Signal reconstruction based on KZFT produces an approximate weekly accident arrivals for this noisy signal, or in other words a pattern which is proportionate to the event expectation viewed over a …

Multi-Satellite Image Matching And Deep Learning Segmentation For Detection Of Daytime Sea Fog Using Gk2a Ami And Gk2b Goci-Ii, Jonggu Kang, Hiroyuki Miyazaki, Seung Hee Kim, Menas Kafatos, Daesun Kim, Jinsoo Kim, Yangwon Lee

Institute for ECHO Articles and Research

Traditionally, sea fog detection technologies have relied primarily on in situ observations. However, point-based observations suffer from limitations in extensive monitoring in marine environments due to the scarcity of observation stations and the limited nature of measurement data. Satellites effectively address these issues by covering vast areas and operating across multiple spectral channels, enabling precise detection and monitoring of sea fog. Despite the increasing adoption of deep learning in this field, achieving further improvements in accuracy and reliability necessitates the simultaneous use of multiple satellite datasets rather than relying on a single source. Therefore, this study aims to achieve higher …

An Algorithm For Extracting Bathymetry From Icesat-2 Data That Employs Structure And Density Using Concentric Ellipses, Yuri Rzhanov, Kim Lowell

Faculty Publications

The ICESat-2 satellite collects LiDAR data along linear orbital tracks using a photon-counting green wavelength (532.27 nm) instrument. The utility of combining ICESat-2 data with satellite imagery for training and subsequently applying satellite-derived bathymetry models to provide estimates of shallow water depth is well-established. However, automating and improving the accuracy of the identification of ICESat-2 photon events (PEs) representing bathymetry remains a challenge. This article presents an algorithm for automated extraction of PEs reflected from the ocean floor (rather than the ocean surface or noise in the water column). The algorithm is unique in examining both the density of PEs …

Stability Analysis Of Thermohaline Convection With A Time-Varying Shear Flow Using The Lyapunov Method, Kalin Kochnev

Honors Scholar Theses

This work applies the Lyapunov method to identify instabilities and compute the growth rate of a linear time-varying system. The linear system studied describes cold fresh water on top of hot salty water with a periodically time-varying background shear flow. A time-dependent weighting matrix is employed to construct a Lyapunov function candidate. The resulting linear matrix inequalities are discretized in time using the forward Euler method. As the number of temporal discretization points increases, the growth rate predicted by the Lyapunov method or Floquet theory, used for comparison, will converge to the same value obtained from numerical simulations. Furthermore, the …

User Interface And Watchstation Improvements Required For Multi-Vehicle Usv Operations, Val Schmidt, Joshua Bergeron

Faculty Publications

In October 2024, the University of New Hampshire and NOAA’s Uncrewed Systems Office embarked on a mapping mission in the Gulf of Maine, simultaneously operating two DriX Un-crewed Surface Vehicles. Goals of the project were focused on testing hypotheses related to concepts of operation, including the safety of operations, cognitive loading of operators, management of vehicle endurance, vehicle logistics, maintenance and field support, refueling and a host of others.

What Controls Ice Shelf Isotopic Variability? Local And Global Processes Preserved Within Ice Cores Across The Larsen C Ice Shelf, Antarctica, Orion Laurene Schomber

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The Antarctic Peninsula (AP) is one of the foremost indicators of anthropogenic global warming as it interacts with both atmospheric and oceanic processes. Although ice shelves across the AP have undergone increased rates of disintegration over the last 30 years, limited in-situ measurements have been investigated. Assessment of three short (~30 m) firn cores (J108, J208, and J409) across the Larsen C ice shelf (LCIS) provide insight into local, regional, and global processes. Average core densities and isotopic variability (δ¹⁸O and δ²H) fall within expected ranges for all cores, indicating signal preservation through firn. However, isotopic maxima in J108 and …

Mapping Seagrass Extent Using Sentinel-2 Satellite Imagery: A Case Study In Salt River Bay, United States Virgin Islands, Chelsea O. Bryant

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Seagrass beds provide important services in many coastal ecosystems. They provide habitat and food for a wide range of marine species, stabilize sediments, and prevent coastal erosion. These services support local fisheries and tourism-driven economies. Yet, seagrass ecosystems are threatened by changes in water quality, sedimentation, and other stressors. This study investigated the interannual variability in seagrass extent in Salt River Bay, United States Virgin Islands (USVI), from 2018 to 2024. The goals were to better understand temporal dynamics in seagrass extent and evaluate the influence of turbidity as a driver of seagrass health and distribution. The overarching research question …

Quantifying Single, Compound And Cascading Climate Extremes: Implications For Agricultural Resilience In California, Shahryar Fazli, Wenzhao Li, Rejoice Thomas, Surendra Maharjan, Mohammad Sina Jahangiri, Andre Daccache, Hesham Morgan, Mohamed Allali, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

As climate change intensifies, extreme weather increasingly threatens California’s Central Valley (CV), a vital agricultural region exposed to rising risks from heatwaves (HW), droughts (DR), and compound extremes. These events disrupt crop productivity and broader processes like water demand, pest dynamics, and soil stability, posing systemic risks. This study examines the spatiotemporal dynamics of HW, coldwaves (CW), DR, excessive rainfall (ER), and their compound (e.g., HWDR) and cascading forms from 1951 to 2025, using NOAA nClimGrid-Daily data. We assessed trends in frequency, intensity, and duration over long-term (1951–2025) and mid-term (1981–2025) periods. Results show increasing HW and DR in the …

Multimodel And Multidiagnostic Ensemble-Based Deep Convective Area Forecast For Aviation Operations Using The Global Unified Model And Korean Integrated Model, Yi-June Park, Jung-Hoon Kim, Dan-Bi Lee, Hyun-Joo Choi, Soo-Hyun Kim, Matthias Steiner, Seung Hee Kim

Institute for ECHO Articles and Research

To provide safe and efficient guidance for aircraft operation to avoid deep convective areas (DCAs) in Korea and broader East Asia, we developed a multimodel and multidiagnostic ensemble (MMDE)-based forecast system. This system utilizes two global numerical weather prediction (NWP) models based on the Unified Model (UM) and the Korean Integrated Model (KIM) operated by the Korea Meteorological Administration. To predict hazardous weather conditions, we defined DCAs using ground-based radar mosaic data where the 15-dBZ echo-top height exceeds flight level (FL) 250 (about z = 6.5 km) and FL350 (about z = 9 km). For predictors, we employed a …

Assessing Meteorological Impacts On Hydrological Switches In The Conus, Surendra Maharjan, Wenzhao Li, Sujan Shrestha, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Hydrological switches, defined as rapid transitions between extreme meteorological events such as droughts and floods, are becoming increasingly frequent across the contiguous United States (CONUS) due to climate variability. This study analyzes the spatial and temporal patterns of these hydrological switches and their correlation with large-scale meteorological indices, such as the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) and Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI). Streamflow data from the US Geological Survey (USGS) is analyzed to investigate the impact of meteorological drivers on hydrological variability. Results indicate that regions dependent on snowmelt exhibit delayed hydrological responses to climatic conditions, while areas in the Eastern …

Investigating The Relationships Among Suspended Sediment Concentration, And Marsh Edge Erosion In Barataria Bay, La, Lily Vowels

LSU Master's Theses

Barataria Bay, Louisiana, USA exhibits a unique microtidal, wind-driven hydrodynamic climate where extensive levee infrastructure throughout Louisiana has starved Barataria Bay and similar interdistributary bays of the historic levels of terrigenous sediment import. This has contributed to extreme coastal wetland loss in Louisiana. This project seeks to understand how hydrodynamic and meteorological conditions are linked to sediments’ fate after erosion from the marsh edge. Specifically, this project seeks to differentiate the roles of wave resuspension and marsh edge erosion (MEE) in sediment dynamics in Barataria Bay. An acoustic wave and current profiler (AWAC) was used to capture hydrodynamic conditions, and …

Concentration And Composition Of Organic Contaminants In Blackfin Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna, And The Common Clubhook Squid In The Western Gulf Of Mexico, Lisa Rose-Mann

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Cephalopods are an important component of pelagic food webs. They play ecological roles not only as predators but also as prey. However, their role as prey in the trophic transfer of organic contaminants to apex predators such as tunas in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) is not well known. To investigate the importance of cephalopods in tuna diets, stomach samples were collected in February 2020 from tunas caught by rod and reel aboard the F/V Gulf Eagle near two large offshore floating oil/gas platforms in the northwestern GoM. Cephalopod samples were obtained from gut content analysis of 41 tunas caught …

Atmospheric Teleconnection Patterns And Hydrological Whiplashes In The Western U.S., Wenzhao Li, Surendra Maharjan, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The Western U.S. is undergoing notable transformations in its hydrological patterns, distinguished by rising variability and recurrent “whiplash” shifts between extreme wet and dry phases. Our comprehensive analysis of 469 streamflow stations from 1981 to 2023 reveals a substantial increase in hydrological whiplash events, with a peak of 206 stations experiencing dry-to-wet whiplash in the early 1990s. We establish strong links between these streamflow extremes and sub-seasonal to seasonal teleconnection factors, particularly the Western Pacific Oscillation (WP) and Eastern Pacific/North Pacific Oscillation (EPO). Additionally, we demonstrate the combined impacts of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO), …

Isotopic Fingerprints Of The Coastal Margins: Tracing Dissolved Iron Sources From Land To Sea, Hannah R. Hunt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Dissolved iron (dFe) is an essential micronutrient for sustaining life in the surface ocean. Nearly four decades of research dedicated to understanding sources, cycling and biogeochemical modifications of Fe sources in the global oceans has generated a significant body of research supporting the idea that the concentration of Fe in the surface ocean exerts significant controls on primary production and carbon uptake in the surface ocean. Creation of the GEOTRACES program greatly increased the spatial and temporal resolution of high-quality trace element and trace element isotope data revealing new insights into the global Fe cycle, especially through the use of …

Land Instability Compounds The Risk Of Sea Level Rise In Alexandria, Egypt, Rejoice Thomas, Sara Zouriq, Shahryar Fazli, Amr Fawzy, Nikolay Grisel Todorov, Surendra Maharjan, Wenzhao Li, Erik Linstead, Daniele Struppa, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

The coastal region of Alexandria Governorate in Egypt holds significant strategic importance for trade while being susceptible to extreme weather events. It confronts a dual challenge of the rising sea levels and, as found in this study, land instability. While much attention has been rightly directed towards sea level rise (SLR), the stability of the land warrants equal consideration. Here, a comprehensive analysis of land stability is conducted in Alexandria by measuring Line of Sight (LOS) displacements and assessing their topographical, hydrological, and coastal impacts. Persistent Scatterer Interferometry technique is used to measure the LOS displacements in association with land …

The Human Legacy: Agriculture, Civilizations, Strife, And Pandemics Changing Our Climate, Jacalyn M. Wittmer Malinowski

Climate Change and the Individual, 2025-26

For most of human history, climate has shaped our lives, while our influence on it remained minimal. However, the notion that early humans had no measurable impact on the climate before industrialization is inaccurate. Early in human history, activities – such as the rise of agriculture, the growth of civilizations, periods of conflict, and pandemics – altered greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. These changes contributed to significant periods of climate change long before the burning of fossil fuels set us on the path to today’s global climate crisis.

The Petm: A Window Into Earth's Future Climate, Jacalyn M. Wittmer Malinowski

Climate Change and the Individual, 2025-26

The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is not just an event that occurred in Earth’s distant past (~55 million years ago) but is a crucial lesson for today’s meteoric climate change. The PETM offers a historical parallel of rapid flux of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that caused global warming, ocean acidification, dramatic changes in weather, and extinctions. This global warming event was the result of 20,000 years of “rapid” warming (in geological terms) however, we are experiencing rates of warming that are 5-10x higher than PETM levels. We are not experiencing rapid warming today, in comparison to the past, we …

Identifying Saharan Air Layer Events And Their Relationship To Instability And Rainfall Patterns In The Tropical North Atlantic Ocean, Charles H. Dolce

LSU Master's Theses

Every year, strong North African winds across the Sahara loft dust particles and advect them westward within the Saharan Air Layer (SAL). These plumes of dust often reach the Caribbean Sea and can heavily affect regional weather patterns by suppressing convection. When concentrations are high, decreased rainfall can yield negative societal and ecological impacts, potentially leading to drought. The Puerto Rican early rainfall season (ERS), spanning from 1 April through 31 July, overlaps with Saharan dust migration periods, and systematically detecting instances of SAL activity near the island is important for understanding longer-term drought-forcing trends in the region.

Corridors of …