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Research

The research being conducted at SoMAS seeks to understand the way our marine, atmospheric, and terrestrial environments function; as well as the impact of human interactions with these systems. These problems all require knowledge from multiple disciplines and the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences encourages interdisciplinary research. Unlike many other places, we do not have traditional departments. What we do have is a large number of faculty and students who work together to better understand our planet.

 

Overview

One way of understanding the research that is done here at SoMAS is to look at the different SoMAS Divisions that our faculty came from. Clicking on any of these specific topics will provide a list of current SoMAS faculty that uses the knowledge from these broad disciplines. 

Atmospheric Sciences 

Research in the Division of Atmospheric Sciences is centered around the following themes: (1) atmospheric chemistry, aerosols and clouds, (2) climate dynamics and variability, (3) weather and extremes, (4) radar science and applications. To tackle these challenging topics faculty use a variety of exceptional infrastructural means such as SoMAS radar, computational, and instrument facilities. 

Marine Sciences 

Research in the Division of Marine Sciences broadly focuses on the topics of (1) marine biology, (2) biological oceanography,  (3) chemical oceanography, (4) geological oceanography and (5) physical oceanography.  Faculty use the unique location of SoMAS on Long Island to study local marine environments with a range of research vessels, as well as lead research on the ocean worldwide. 

Sustainability Studies

Research in the Division of Sustainability Studies is based on the topics of (1) climate change, resilience, and disasters, (2) urban and suburban planning, (3) environmental social sciences and humanities, (4) sustainable development, (5) systems interactions. To explore these topics faculty use research approaches that are problem driven and solution oriented.

 

Example Integrated Programs

There are several research areas that significant numbers of SoMAS faculty work on. These research themes do not cover every single research project that occurs at SoMAS but they do represent several specialty areas where SoMAS researchers have significant expertise.

 

Regional Research

The New York Climate Exchange at Governor's Island

In 2023, Stony Brook University was named as the anchor institution for the New York Climate Exchange on Governors Island in New York City. This new facility, opening in 2028, will expand SoMAS research capabilities in the New York Harbor and urban coastlines in the coming decades.

Hudson River Biological Modeling Program

The Hudson River Biological Monitoring Program (HRBMP) is a fin fish survey program that completed its first river wide survey in 1974 and was created due to a large community effort to protect the rich diversity of the Hudson River from further development of the Indian Point power plant.

Shinnecock Bay Restoration Project

In response to deteriorating environmental conditions in Shinnecock Bay on Long Island, faculty at SoMAS founded the Shinnecock Bay Restoration Program (ShiRP) to restore the health of this vital ecosystem. The goal of ShiRP is to use science, outreach, and partnerships to restore the water quality and fisheries of Shinnecock Bay.

Great South Bay Ecosystem Study

Great South Bay is a shallow, well-mixed, lagoonal system on the south shore of Long Island, NY. Known in the past for its extensive finfish (menhaden, winter flounder, and many other species) and shellfish (hard clam, oyster) populations, along with its extensive eelgrass beds that served as spawning and nursery areas, production of commercial and recreational resources has been in decline for decades. 

LI Shore

This website maintains a database of meteorological and hydrological data, historical data, images, and written information generated by the system operator or received from other sources. In addition, this site provides in real time a selection of current weather and oceanic observations for use by the national and international community. In an effort to enhance science, experimental products are accessible on this server and care must be taken when using such products as they are intended for research use. Reasonable efforts are made to keep this site available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but timely delivery of data and products from this site through the Internet is not guaranteed.

Stony Brook Storm Surge Research Group

The Stony Brook Storm Surge Research Group is developing a real-time weather and ocean storm surge prediction system which can be used for a variety of purposes. Such uses include hurricane and nor ‘easter flooding predictions and alerts, water quality and effluent dispersion, the feasibility of building storm surge barriers to protect the New York Metropolitan region from storm damage and coastal flooding in an era of global climate change and rising sea level.

 

 

Publications

 

Global Research


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