Marine Ecosystem Indicators

In collaboration with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Stony Brook University has been monitoring the New York Bight (Atlantic Continental Shelf waters off the coast of NY and NJ) using physical/chemical, biological, and human metrics. Data was collected by Stony Brook through shipboard surveys and sensors, and additionally taken from publicly accessible databases. I ran statistical analyses and created figures, investigating the trends of these marine ecosystem indicators for the 2024 Indicators Report.

This work highlights the continued impacts of a changing climate on the New York Bight ecosystem, most identifiably the long-term warming of waters. The spring-time 20°C isotherm, a threshold temperature for the survival of American Lobster and other cold water species, continued to move northward in 2024. The cold pool volume, despite rising in 2024, shows a long-term decline.

See our report for this project here.

Outside the R/V paumanok.

Inside the R/V paumanok.