Predictions of underwater weather

In 1997, investigators at Rutgers University and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution installed a Long-Term Ecosystem Observatory in 15 meters of water (LEO-15) about 10 km off the New Jersey coast. This facility, operated by the Mid-Atlantic Bight National Undersea Research Center as a national littoral laboratory, enables investigators to sample and sense the coastal ocean with a level of precision unmatched by traditional surface-based techniques. Essential elements of the LEO-15 system are the delivery of 12 kVA of electrical power, real-time physical and biological data from chemical, optical, and acoustic sensors, interactive control of observational platforms, and a fleet of autonomous undersea vehicles. This capability, coupled with satellite remote sensing, permits the detection and measurement of episodic and long-term variations in coastal processes not accessible by other methods. Efforts are underway by the Jacques Cousteau National Estuarine Research Reserve to develop LEO-15 into a predictive capability for resource managers to foster informed coastal decision making, and to capitalize on LEO-15 data and technology to enrich K-12 science education.