COI New Initiative: A Coastal Ecosystem Research Initiative for the Northwest Atlantic
Project Funded: 2007
We propose to continue and expand activities related to development and
implementation of a research plan that will advance our ability to
measure, monitor, and analyze the fundamental processes shaping the
northwest Atlantic continental shelf ecosystem. This proposal is a
direct follow-on to an Initiative development award we received from
COI in 2006. As such, the major focus has not changed: an inherently
interdisciplinary concept that brings together PIs from multiple WHOI
Departments who share common interests in the continental shelf from
Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras. We have made tangible progress moving
this initiative forward both by coordinating activities within the
Institution and by representing WHOI-interests in external arenas
(programs at NSF, NOAA, and the state of Massachusetts). At this stage,
momentum is building and there are a variety of opportunities and
fast-approaching deadlines that continue to demand attention. Continued
support from COI will permit us to meet those demands. In addition, new
support will allow us to expand the scope to more fully address needs
for coupled biological-physical modeling as part of the Initiative. To
date, we have focused principally on observational strategies, but it
has become obvious that concurrent development of a modeling strategy
is needed, both for optimum design of the observational system and to
set the stage for effective interpretation of observations. We will
form an internal working group to coordinate ideas and develop
strategies in this area. We also propose to convene a bi-monthly
seminar series with external visitors/speakers selected principally to
foster exchange and partnerships with non-WHOI researchers active in
bio-physical modeling of the region.