“
This ranking is a tribute to the accomplishments of our researchers and partners in the region and state. It reflects real-world research that is making an impact through new knowledge, products, companies, economic growth and jobs.”
15
PREDICTING HURRICANE DESTRUCTION Robert Weisberg, distinguished professor of physical oceanography at the College of Marine Science, fears disaster if a major hurricane makes landfall just to the north of Tampa Bay. “The combined population of Hillsborough and Pinellas counties exceeds 2.2 million,” says Weisberg. “What might happen if a hurricane with the force of Hurricane Ivan (2004) or Hurricane Katrina (2005) hit the area?” he asks. The storm surge would put much of the area under water and the damage by waves would be devastating. To look at such possible scenarios, Weisberg and colleagues implemented computer models that couple the surge and wave effects of a hypothetical storm. The results can guide future emergency preparedness efforts.
Photo: SHAKZU
– Paul R. Sanberg Senior Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Development
16
TRACKING SEAWEED IN THE GULF AND CARIBBEAN “Sargassum is a brown macroalgae seaweed that is abundant in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean,” says Chuanmin Hu, professor of optical oceanography at the College of Marine Science. “An important habitat, sargassum provides food, shade and shelter to fish, shrimp, turtles and other marine animals. However, excessive sargassum on the beach is a burden to local coastal managers and the tourism industry. Timely information on the occurrence, distribution and changes of sargassum is critical to support management decisions, as well as to help understand their roles in ocean biochemistry and carbon cycles.” Funded by NASA and NOAA, Hu’s team has been providing near real-time imagery to detect and track sargassum in the gulf and the Caribbean from space.
38 UNIVERSITY of SOUTH FLORIDA