In celebration of World Oceans Day, the most recent Triton Story features an interview with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s (PNNL) Coastal Sciences Division director and the creator of Triton, Genevra Harker-Klimeš. With a background in physical oceanography, Harker-Klimeš was the visionary architect who helped draw Triton’s blueprint back in 2015, laying a foundation for it to successfully grow. Her leadership at Coastal Sciences Division and passion for the ‘big blue,’ has helped shape diverse discoveries in ocean science at PNNL, including research in algal biofuels, coastal ecosystem resiliency, environmental biogeochemistry, coastal modeling, and marine energy. Read more.
FIELD NOTES: IT'S FIELD SEASON!
Garrett Staines conducts fieldwork at the University of New Hampshire Living Bridge. (Photo | University of New Hampshire).
Garrett Staines traveled to University of New Hampshire Living Bridge in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to conduct collision risk fieldwork for the Triton Field Trials. Staines deployed active acoustics cameras and underwater video cameras to test the instruments’ ability to detect artificial targets, like fishing lures, in front of an operational turbine under a variety of conditions. This opportunity is rare due to the lack of marine energy devices in the water. These technologies are used to understand fish behavior around devices, which helps inform industry recommendations on collision risk research. The team consensus is that it was exciting to have the ability to test out a methodology for fish interactions around a deployed device and feel a sense of “normal” again.
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: ALGAE BLOOM!
Footage in Sequim Bay in March (left) and in May (right). (Photo | Lenaig Hemery | Pacific Northwest National Laboratory).
Algae blooms can cause water visibility to drop substantially in a short period of time, similarly to the fog rolling in on a cloudy day. While testing the BoxFish, a 360-degree video lander, in Sequim Bay in anticipation of upcoming Triton Field Trials changes in habitat field research, Lenaig Hemery captured changes in water clarity due to an algae bloom. These phytoplankton blooms tend to happen seasonally in the spring and fall, spurred by extra sunlight, nutrients, and snow melt. Since phytoplankton are loaded with chlorophyl and other photosynthetic pigments, the water tends to turn green. “It’s the hardest time of year for a SCUBA diver,” said Hemery of the visibility.
TRITON NEWS
Humpback whales. (Photo | Elaine Dipp, Pixabay).
World Ocean's Month
June is World Oceans month! This year’s theme is the ocean: life and livelihoods. Triton works to protect marine life by making sure marine energy devices are safe and sustainable for the ocean’s diverse residents. Our research aims to help progress the marine energy industry so clean renewable energy can be provided to coastal communities.
Triton is designed to support the development and testing of more precise and cost-effective environmental monitoring technologies for marine energy. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory leads Triton on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office.
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