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Biological Oceanographers seek to understand the life histories and population dynamics of marine organisms and how they interact with their environment over space and time. Scientists in the College of Marine Science study the full breadth of biological oceanography including microbiology, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos, coral reefs, fishes, and marine mammals. Our biological oceanographers utilize a variety of techniques including SCUBA, shipboard samplers, acoustics, molecular biology, and mathematical modeling to understand the oceans and their inhabitants. Scientists in our college also use the latest in remote sensing technology to study vast regions of the Earth鈥檚 oceans and have developed new technology, capable of identifying and quantifying harmful algal blooms and related processes.

• Current Research in Biological Oceanography
• Biological Oceanography Faculty

Chemical oceanographers seek to understand the ways in which various chemical forms are cycled within the oceans, and the reactions that influence biogeochemical cycles. Ocean chemists improve our understanding of the basic conditions under which ocean life thrives in seawater and help predict the effects of anthropogenic and natural climate change on ocean composition. Research programs in the College of Marine Science include wide ranging topics such as the role and variability of nutrients in seawater, the distribution and cycling of both biologically-essential and toxic trace metals, the oceans鈥� CO2 system, dissolved organic matter, molecular organic compounds, radionuclides and stable isotopes, and the distribution of chemical pollutants and their interactions with marine organisms and ecosystems. Faculty and students utilize a wide variety of state鈥恛f鈥恡he-art instrumentation and technology for conducting this research.

• Current Research in Chemical Oceanography
• Chemical Oceanography Faculty

Geological oceanographers in the College of Marine Science conduct research from the continental margins to the deep-ocean seafloor. Their work extends from modern environments to millions of years present to understand and predict Earth surface and interior processes. Primary research themes include paleoceanography, paleoclimatology, coastline and continental shelf development processes related to storms and sea-level fluctuations, anthropogenic influences on estuaries, marine geophysics, and plate tectonics. The geological oceanography group has a variety of modern well-equipped laboratories and field equipment, including modern seafloor mapping capabilities. Fully integrated with these field instruments is the computational capability to generate state-of-the art data depictions and imagery.  The group also works closely with scientists from the US Geological Survey鈥檚 Center for Coastal and Marine Science Center and the USF-NOAA Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies, both proximal to the USF St. Petersburg Campus.

• Current Research in Geological Oceanography
• Geological Oceanography Faculty

Hydrographers in the College of Marine Science conduct research related to mapping the seafloor from land to the deep seafloor. They use acoustics, optics, and other remote sensing tools to map the depth and characteristics of the seafloor. These tools and sensors are operated from a large array of crewed and un-crewed platforms. Primary research themes include techniques to map very shallow seafloor efficiently in an effort to monitor the health of benthic communities over large shallow areas.   Other research themes focus on temporal variations in these shallow areas.   Additional work focuses on processing and displaying multiple data types for scientific and public use.  Testing new equipment and innovative techniques provide multiple opportunities for research projects. The students in this concentration benefit from working closely with scientists from the USF-NOAA Center for Ocean Mapping and Innovative Technologies, and several other partners at the USGS and within the defense hub of 16 agencies located proximal to the USF St. Petersburg Campus.  

• Current Research in Hydrography
• Hydrography Faculty

The College of Marine Science offers an interdisciplinary concentration in Marine Resource Assessment (MRA) as part of its M.S. and Ph.D. majors. This concentration provides training in the emerging field of ecosystem鈥恇ased management. Its mission is to train a new generation of scientists that can effectively address issues concerning the sustainability of the world鈥檚 living natural resources. The MRA concentration addresses the national shortage of graduates possessing the skills required for managing living marine resources by teaching a quantitative approach to ecosystem analysis and living resource assessment. The MRA concentration is designed to produce resource assessment scientists who can introduce relevant ecosystem鈥恖evel variables into the traditional, single鈥恠pecies assessment process, complementing and enhancing the development of science鈥恇ased management policies that protect living marine resources.

• Current Research in Marine Resource Assessment
• Marine Resource Assessment Faculty 

Physical oceanography involves the study of water movement in the ocean. Energy is introduced to the ocean through wind and solar heating, and these combine with the rotation of the Earth and gravitational effects to drive ocean circulation, tides, and waves. Our physical oceanographers also investigate how the Earth鈥檚 oceans are directly coupled with the atmosphere, from local weather patterns to the global climate system. Physical oceanographers in the CMS carry out research on a variety of topics using the latest technology. Computer models, real time data, satellite remote sensing, and in situ data from moored arrays, coastal tide gauges, and research cruises are used to study a wide range of research problems. Topics include tide and current prediction in Tampa Bay, circulation on the 911爆料网st Florida Shelf and in the Gulf of Mexico, El Ni帽o phenomena, and the potential for global climate change.

• Current Research in Physical Oceanography
• Physical Oceanography Faculty