Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory

Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
overview
Formed	1973
Headquarters	Virginia Key, Miami, Florida
executive	Dr. Robert M. Atlas, Director
Parent	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Website
http://www.aoml.noaa.gov

The Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory (AOML), a federal research laboratory, is part of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), located in Miami, Florida. AOML's research spans tropical cyclone and hurricanes, coastal ecosystems, oceans and human health, climate studies, global carbon systems, and ocean observations.

AOML’s organizational structure consists of an Office of the Director and three scientific research divisions. The Office of the Director oversees the Laboratory’s scientific programs, as well as its financial, administrative, computer, outreach/education, and facility management services. Research programs are augmented by the Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies (CIMAS), a joint enterprise with the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. CIMAS enables AOML and university scientists to collaborate on research areas of mutual interest and facilitates the participation of students and visiting scientists.

The Laboratory is a member of a unique community of marine research and educational institutions located on Virginia Key in Miami, Florida. Approximately $150M per year is invested in marine science and education among the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, NOAA's Southeast Fisheries Science Center, the Miami Seaquarium, the Maritime and Science Technology Academy (MAST Academy).

Research

AOML conducts mission oriented scientific research that seeks to understand the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics and processes of the ocean and atmosphere, both separately and as a coupled system. The Laboratory’s research themes (oceans and climate, coastal ecosystems, and hurricanes and tropical meteorology) employ a cross-disciplinary approach, conducted through collaborative interactions with national and international research and environmental forecasting institutions. More information about AOML's research can be found at http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/research.

Oceans and Climate

AOML conducts ocean and climate studies to better understand the large-scale setting for regional climate signals. The research particularly emphasizes interannual and longer time scales of variability.

AOML manages global ocean observing systems and, with these and other data, conducts research in several areas including studies of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena, North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), tropical Atlantic variability, the Meridional Overturning Cell, wind-driven gyres in the Atlantic, the global carbon cycle, and other climatically-relevant atmospheric compounds. Embedded within these studies are activities directed at the circulation of the tropical Atlantic, western boundary currents including the Gulf Stream and Deep Western Boundary Current, and the oceanography of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and coastal Florida.

Coastal Ecosystems

Coastal and regional ecosystem research has been a focus of AOML activities for more than two decades. Current interdisciplinary field efforts include physical, biological, and chemical studies supporting the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration (SFER) effort and the underlying health of this ecosystem to the regional Intra-Americas Sea program, as well as the status and health of coral reef ecosystems worldwide.

Hurricanes and Tropical Meteorology

Tropical meteorology research at AOML is focused on advancing the understanding and prediction of hurricanes and other tropical weather. Scientists conduct their research utilizing a combination of models, theories, and observations, with particular emphasis on data obtained with research aircraft in the inner core of tropical cyclones and their surrounding environment.

External links

• Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory