Research

The Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies (COAPS) research emphasis is quite broad. Current research to improve hurricane storm surge predictions in the Gulf of Mexico and develop an understanding of the regional distributions of hurricane activity in the United States is of importance to all Floridians and coastal residents. Among other things, COAPS research includes understanding oceanographic measurements obtained from satellites for sea surface winds, sea surface shape, and ocean color. It also focuses on climate forecasting for farmers in Florida, Georgia and Alabama using coupled atmosphere - ocean global and regional models.

COAPS has over 50 people working on research grants totaling more than three million dollars per year from the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA), the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the State of Florida, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the United States Department of Energy (DOE). Through these grants, they produce original published papers that advance our understanding of the ocean and the atmosphere.

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