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oceansensing @ VIMS
Coastal & Polar Physical Oceanography (C2PO) Lab
The Laboratory for Ocean Sensing (LOS) and the Coastal & Polar Physical Oceanography (C2PO) Lab at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science — William & Mary are led by Dr. Donglai Gong. The C2PO lab focuses on oceanographic research and education and the LOS focuses on operational efforts and technology developments. Some of the lab's research areas include polar ocean dynamics, coastal ocean circulation, submarine canyons, and ocean transport and mixing.
Research
Seeking Knowledge Through Relentless Inquiry and Sustainable Exploration
NESMA-PASSENGERS
2021-2025
The NESMA-PASSENGERS (New England Seamount Acoustics) (Predictions of AcousticS with Smart Experimental
Networks of GlidERS) project aimed to improve acoustic predictions in strong-frontal and eddy-rich environments by using data-assimilative ocean models along with adaptive sampling buoyancy gliders.
2021-2025
The NORSE DRI focus on characterizing the key physical parameters and processes that governs the predictability of upper-ocean rapid evolution events occurring in the ice-free high latitudes. The goal is to identify which observable parameters are most influential in improving model predictability through inclusion by assimilation, and to field an autonomous observing network that optimizes sampling of high-priority fields.
2016-2026
MARACOOS is a regional association of partners that collect unique ocean and coastal data that is transformed into information products that support jobs, the economy, safety and well-being for the more than 78 million people living, visiting, and working in the Mid-Atlantic region. As a MARACOOS Glider Technology Center, we provide near realtime glider data to NOAA for ocean forecasting and monitoring.
Hurricane Gliders
2019-2024
Through close collaboration of academic institutions, industry, NOAA, and the U.S. Navy, the project provides realtime ocean data for operational forecast ocean and weather models during the hurricane season. The goals is to meaningfully improve hurricane intensity forecasts prior to landfall.
Glider Observations of Submarine Canyons
2013-2021
We still have only a very limited understanding of most aspects about our planet. Answering questions about this is essential for understanding the mechanistic role it plays on other scientific processes, and for developing tools to further explore this research avenue with more sensitive measurements and improved data collection.
2018-2020
The Northwest Passage Project is an interdisciplinary expedition with the overarching goal of better understanding the waters of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and how they are affected by the warming trends in the Arctic Circle. This project has already resulted in a documentary focused on the expedition itself.
2014-2019
The Marine Arctic Ecosystem Study (MARES) is an integrated ecosystem research initiative. The overarching goals of the study are to better understand the interrelationship of the physical, biological, chemical, and human systems, including traditional knowledge, of the Beaufort Sea and to advance scientific prediction capabilities for linkages between marine life, human uses, sea ice, atmospheric and oceanic processes and river discharge. As part of this research effort, we conducted a glider study of the Mackenzie Trough.
Water Quality Monitoring using Aerial Drones
2020-2022
The focus of this water quality project was to use drones to aerial monitor algae blooms on the York River as a proxy for measuring water quality.
2020
An educational resource working in Julia to Map data related to COVID-19.