BIO Coffee Talks: September 2019
Who: Geoff Hurley
Hurley Environmental Ltd
What: Framework for a 'Smart' Environmental Assessment (EA) Process
: I will outline a unique framework for a 'Smart' EA process which features a straightforward, concise, transparent and visually-appealing Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) methodology which I have used thus far for an offshore petroleum Strategic EA (SEA) and project EA. By reducing redundancy, the process increases efficiency in hierarchical EA systems including the review by regulatory agencies such as DFO. The methodology is also consistent with DFO's Ecological Risk Analysis. The methodology could be readily adapted for use in other applications requiring risk assessment.
When: Friday, September 27, 2019
Where: 10am, Needler Boardroom, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Who: Leigh Howarth
Dalhousie University
What: Transitioning towards the ecosystem approach to aquaculture: using macroalgae 'bioindicators' to map the footprint of multiple effluents
Elevated nitrogen loads can lead to algal blooms, oxygen depletion and biodiversity loss. Monitoring aquaculture effluents has therefore developed into an intense area of research as these operations can release considerable amounts of nitrogen and other wastes into the surrounding water. However, most water bodies also receive effluents from other sources such as agriculture and sewage treatment plants. In addition, coastal nitrogen concentrations exhibit strong fluctuations, and any inputs are rapidly diluted and dispersed. Hence, assessing nitrogen levels can be difficult. Macroalgae 'bioindicators' are becoming a popular monitoring tool as they can rapidly absorb and accumulate nitrogen, and the isotope signature of their tissues can be used to identify between multiple effluent sources. To test these concepts, we translocated several macroalgae species to a bay in Nova Scotia, location to a salmon farm and several other industrial activities. Here, we present our findings and explain how these monitoring tools may help coastal management transition towards an ecosystem approach to aquaculture.
When: Friday, September 20, 2019
Where: 10am, Needler Boardroom, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Who: Douglas Schillinger
Ocean and Ecosystem Science Devision, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
What: Observations in support of modelling for the Oceanography sub-initiative of the Ocean Protection Plan
The Oceanography Sub-initiative of the Ocean Protection Plan (OPP) has a mandate to provide operational model forecasts for both electronic navigation (e-Nav) and for oil spill tracking. Extensive validation of the forecast is required prior to real-time implementation. Originally envisioned as a drifter program, functional area four (FA4) of the oceanography sub-initiative is now focused more generally on collecting observations in support of modelling. This talk will present a brief overview of the sub-initiative, and present data collected from drifters deployed at Canso Bank, the Laurentian Channel, and the North Sea, as well as data from bottom-mounted and horizontally-mounted ADCPs deployed at Canso Bank and Saint John Harbour.
When: Friday, September 13, 2019
Where: 10am, Needler Boardroom, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Who: Dr. Xianmin Hu
Visiting fellow at Bedford Institute of Oceanography
What: Pacific Water Pathway and Freshwater Content Distribution in the Arctic Ocean - numerical simulations with different horizontal resolutions
In the polar oceans, ocean stratification is usually determined by salinity rather than temperature. Pacific Water (PW) through the Bering Strait is the second largest freshwater source to the Arctic Ocean, and thus plays an important role in setting up the upper ocean structure there, especially in the Canada Basin. PW also carries a significant amount of heat and nutrients, influencing the downstream sea ice and ecosystems. However, due to the lack of observations, the available information of PW pathway in the Arctic Ocean is still ambiguous.
This talk will present PW pathway revealed by online tracers in numerical simulations. Physical processes associated with the freshwater accumulation in the Beaufort Gyre are also analyzed to further understand the upper ocean dynamics. In addition, freshwater content and circulation in the Beaufort Gyre are found to be sensitive to the model grid size, associated with the discrepancy in ocean dynamics during the model spin-up stage.
When: Friday, September 6, 2019
Where: 10am, Needler Boardroom, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
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