Ocean and Atmospheric Science

FSU geologist available to discuss earthquake that hit Mexico’s Pacific coast

Mexico is dealing with the fallout of a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred near the Pacific coast on the anniversary of two previous tremors. Earthquakes occurred on Sept. 19 in both 1985 and 2017 in Mexico, killing thousands of people. Florida State University Professor of Geology James Tull is available to speak with reporters […]

FSU researchers find link between health outcomes and smoke from sugarcane fires

A new study from a Florida State University team estimates that sugarcane fires in South Florida emit harmful particulate matter in quantities comparable to motor vehicles and is a factor in mortality rates across the region. Their work is published in Environmental Health Perspectives, a peer-reviewed journal published by the National Institute of Environmental Health […]

FSU atmospheric scientist earns NOAA award to improve tropical forecast modeling

A Florida State University researcher has received funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve the accuracy of tropical cyclone formation forecasting. Allison Wing, assistant professor of meteorology in the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, will use the three-year, $539,000 award to develop a new set of tools that identify tropical […]

Expert discusses El Niño effects, prediction strategies

In the past few months, extreme weather events have caused significant damage to communities throughout the United States. From flooding in the Mississippi River region to the tornadoes tearing through the Midwest to a delay of the North American monsoon, it seems that aberrant and often dangerous weather is on the rise. The disquieting torrent […]

When coral reefs change, researchers and local communities may not see eye to eye

Disturbances in coral reefs can trigger significant ecosystem shifts, but ecologists and local fishing populations may perceive those shifts in fundamentally different ways, according to a study from Florida State University researchers. This apparent disconnect between data-driven scientists and experience-driven fishing communities could have major implications for the management and resilience of coral reefs and […]

FSU researchers: Savanna fires pump Central African forests full of nitrogen

The remote forests of Africa’s Congo Basin have long been a blind spot for scientists working to understand how Earth’s natural cycles respond to the environmentally unique characteristics of different regions. Now, two Florida State University researchers are part of a global team of scientists revealing the unexpected role that large-scale fires and high nitrogen […]

FSU researchers: Florida’s climate is changing, and we should all take notice

Climate change is often understood as a global problem with broad effects that are difficult to detect on more narrow local scales. However, Florida State University Professor Eric Chassignet and Associate Professor Vasu Misra, both from the Department of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science, believe that more attention should be paid to state-level effects of […]

FSU researcher makes deep-sea coral reef discovery in depths of North Pacific

Scientists have long believed that the waters of the Central and Northeast Pacific Ocean were inhospitable to deep-sea scleractinian coral, but a Florida State University professor’s discovery of an odd chain of reefs suggests there are mysteries about the development and durability of coral colonies yet to be uncovered. Associate Professor of Earth, Ocean and […]

FSU’s Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute celebrates 50 years of pioneering research

For half a century, the Florida State University Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Institute (GFDI) has been a global leader in the study of fluid flow and motion — the ways that the circulation of liquids and gases influence our oceans, atmosphere and groundwater. Since its start in 1967, the GFDI has cemented its position as the […]

FSU technology tracks the ocean current

A Florida State University researcher has developed a new technology that can track the oceans’ currents and surface circulation. Ocean currents play an important role in many everyday processes such as shipping, navigation, commercial fishing, recreational boating and safety. They also impact our climate, sediment transport, ocean ecosystems and animal migrations. But the movements of […]

Virtual science classes revolutionizing teaching methodology at FSU

Imagine exploring the Great Barrier Reef for an environmental science class or investigating a real-life crime for your introductory chemistry course. That’s the vision two Florida State University professors had when they created new virtual life classrooms for their students that allow them to learn essentially by playing in a 3-D virtual world. William Landing, […]

FSU breaks ground on new Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science building

Florida State University officials and the university’s Board of Trustees broke ground on a new building Thursday that will house the university’s nationally recognized Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Science department. At completion, the facility will include offices, classrooms, teaching labs, research labs and academic support spaces for the department that comprises the fields of environmental […]