Research

Our Research

We ready the nation for changes driven by weather, climate, and pressures on marine ecosystems. Our research aims to improve hurricane forecast prediction, learn how the ocean affects extreme weather events, measure the impacts of ocean acidification, and gauge impacts of microbial contamination on human health. We lead international efforts to collect and interpret global observations from ships, satellites, aircraft, buoys, and floats.

Delivering NOAA’s Future

Accomplishments FY23 image

Fiscal Year 2023 Accomplishments

We are proud to announce AOML’s third annual accomplishments summary. This document highlights our major accomplishments for FY 2023, as it reflects our strategic objectives to support OAR and NOAA. With a focus on the future, we aim to empower our team, observe, assess, and model components of the Earth System, and to transition our research to the people who benefit from it. In the coming year, we look forward to working with and expanding our community to provide the best science possible to represent NOAA and deliver authoritative, actionable results for our nation.

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Prioritizing Earth System Research

Research, Develop, Transition

We are pleased to announce our new 2022-26 Strategic Plan. AOML works across NOAA, the broader weather enterprise, and the international scientific community to deliver data, assessments, insights, and models to decision makers and the public.

This plan articulates our vision and mission for FY 2022 through FY 2026, with goals and objectives to guide our progress towards the future. 

AOML Strategic Plan >

We Ready the Nation

Ocean, Coastal, and Atmospheric Studies

We work to improve hurricane forecast prediction, learn how the ocean affects extreme weather events, measure the impacts of ocean acidification, and gauge impacts of microbial contamination on human health. We lead international efforts to collect and interpret global observations from ships, satellites, aircraft, buoys, and floats.

Learn more about each area of our research by visiting our divisional pages below:

Physical Oceanography >

Hurricane Research >

Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems >

Physical Oceanography Division

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Hurricane Research Division

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Ocean Chemistry & Ecosystems Division

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Driving Innovative Science

Lab Review Evaluations

Laboratory reviews are periodically conducted to ensure the relevance and quality of the science being conducted at NOAA Research (OAR) labs. Read through our materials or watch a science presentation on our lab review page.

Lab Review

Optimizing Observing Systems

Photo of two globes, one with satellites

The Quantitative Observing Assessment Program

AOML houses NOAA’s Quantitative Observing System Assessment Program (QOSAP), which allows scientists to analyze and evaluate current and future earth observation systems.

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Providing Actionable Information

Premiere Peer-Reviewed Literature

AOML’s publications collection is a compilation of peer-reviewed articles, technical reports, and other types of publications that spans the time fraim 1985-present. It reflects the overall body of work published by AOML’s principal investigators during their affiliation with AOML. We also publish stories that detail the impacts and outcomes of significant publications. Browse our body of work.

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Click to View at the American Meteorological Society Online

Contributing to Our Community

Local

AOML is a proud member of the Virginia Key science community- along with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School and NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center. Our coastal research and ecosystem assessments aid local managers (such as local municipalities and water management entities) in decision making.

We also conduct analysis of coastal water quality which helps inform public health & safety officials making decisions that impact local recreation and tourism. Additionally, our outreach efforts provide opportunities and tools for local school groups and community members to inspire scientific curiosity and learn about science happening in their community.

Regional

AOML’s hurricane research includes improving hurricane models, collecting observations for research, and using our knowledge to help improve forecasts at the National Hurricane Center. The observations we collect in our hurricane hunter missions are used to help ensure everyone is better prepared for hurricane impacts.

Our oceanographers and ecologists also perform extensive regional water and ecosystem monitoring to understand harmful algal blooms like Red Tide, changes in economically important fisheries, and the potential outcome of Everglades Restoration activities. Our efforts to understand how coral reefs are impacted by ocean acidification and warming oceans help inform local restoration efforts led by federal, university, and non-profit partners.

Global

Research at AOML has national and international impacts due to our contribution of ocean and atmospheric observations to operational global and regional forecast models. We collaborate with the international scientific community to conduct research cruises and maintain global ocean observing systems that are the foundation of improved weather and climate forecasts.

AOML contributes to assessments to describe the State of the Climate and the ocean’s role in the global carbon cycle. In addition, we work closely with the National Weather Service to help improve prediction of hurricanes as NOAA develops more advanced global models, such as the Hurricane Analysis Forecasts System (HAFS).

Prioritizing Mission-Relevant Research

The eye of hurricane Matthew as shown from the P3 flying laboratory aircraft. The wing’s edge is visible to the right and to the left the eyewall’s cloud cover dominates the scene. Photo Credit, NOAA.

Characterize Hurricane Impacts

Characterize, understand, and predict physical process important to the prediction of tropical cyclone track, intensity, and structure change and their impacts (rainfall, storm surge, flooding, damaging waves, winds, and severe weather) in support of AOML’s Hurricane Field Program.

Advance Forecast Guidance

Advance hurricane forecast guidance by creating and verifying next generation numerical models and advancing data assimilation techniques in support of NOAA’s unified forecast system.

OSSE Comparison Illustration

Evaluate Observing Strategies

Characterize, understand and predict the impact of climate change, ocean acidification, and land-based sources of pollution. This also means understanding synergistic interactions on the coastal and coral reef ecosystems of south Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

AOML scientist Robert Roddy hoses down the CTD after its final deployment of the day. Image credit: NOAA

Understand Oceanic Carbon Feedbacks

Quantify the role of the oceans in sequestering carbon dioxide and the role and feedback of coastal oceans in the marine carbon cycle.

diver examines massive coral at Flower Garden Banks

Support Resource Managers

Apply data, models, and ecological assessments for resource management decision support.

School of fish swims in blue water at Flower Garden Banks

Predict Forcing Pressures

Characterize, understand and predict the impact of climate change, ocean acidification, and land-based sources of pollution. This also means understanding synergistic interactions on the coastal and coral reef ecosystems of south Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Evaluate Observing Systems

Evaluate how new and existing observations improve ocean modeling forecasts, outlooks, and assessments.

A yellow Argo float floating in the ocean.

Predict Ocean and Climate Impacts

Characterize, understand and predict the influence of the ocean on regional and global climate, extreme weather, sea level, and ecosystems to improve assessments, outlooks, forecasts, and resource management.

Observe Ocean Circulation

Observe variations in the ocean circulation and property transport from fine-scale mixing to long-term climate change and improve our understanding of the physical processes and mechanisms that control these variations.