Award: OCE-2309659

Project Title: RAPID: Collaborative Research: Remineralization effects of enhanced allochthonous dissolved organic matter in the West Florida Shelf impacted by Hurricane Ian

This collaborative research project investigated how tropical storms, specifically Hurricane Ian, alter seawater chemistry, organic matter composition, and nutrient dynamics on the shallow continental shelf. Using high-resolution in situ measurements and laboratory analyses, the project provided new insights into how storm-derived terrestrial dissolved organic matter (DOM) degrade as they move offshore and how this degradation influences coastal water quality, carbonate chemistry, nutrient cycling, and the potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs) formation on the West Florida Shelf (WFS).

To achieve these research goals, the team conducted four oceanographic research cruises between October 2022 and October 2023 along the Southwest Florida coast, using the R/V Hogarth and R/V Weatherbird II. During these trips, researchers conducted water-quality measurements and collected water samples to analyze nutrients, carbonate chemistry, DOM, isotopes, and organic contaminants. Laboratory analyses of these samples allowed them to understand the effects of Hurricane Ian on WFS’s water chemistry and its recovery over time.

The results showed that immediately after the storm, nearshore waters had higher land-derived organic matter, organic alkalinity, and elevated nutrient levels. The organic matter quickly degraded as in moved offshore. Although nutrient levels were elevated after Hurricane Ian, the study found no clear evidence that the degradation of land-derived organic matter released enough nutrients to cause large harmful algal blooms, such as Florida red tides. Only small, localized patches of red tide were observed, and the WFS waters recovered relatively quickly. The results help to improve our understanding of how shallow coastal waters respond to major storms and help refine scientific models of carbon and nutrient cycling in warm, well-buffered environments.

This project provided excellent training and mentoring for four graduate students, twelve undergraduate students, and two research technicians, giving them rare opportunities to participate in oceanographic research cruises, laboratory analyses, and collaborations across multiple institutions. For the students, this was their first overnight research cruise, especially valuable opportunity for undergraduates at primarily undergraduate institution (PUI) like Florida Gulf Coast University. Graduate students used the project results for their MS theses, and undergraduate students used them for their senior research projects, leading to successful graduations and continued academic or professional advancement. Through hands-on experience with advanced analytical techniques and specialized instruments, students gained practical skills and real-world research experience. The project also created new collaborations among several universities and research centers, expanding students’ professional networks and preparing them for careers in marine science and other STEM fields. Additionally, it provided excellent research opportunities for three early-career PIs, supporting their professional growth. Overall, the project made a strong contribution to STEM workforce development by enhancing research skills, technical expertise, and career readiness for the next generation of scientists.

 In terms of Broader Impacts, this project provides several important contributions to science, education, and society:

a) Expanding knowledge on storms’ impact:

This project provided a comprehensive post-hurricane dataset on water quality, organic matter, nutrients, and carbonate chemistry for the WFS following Hurricane Ian. The data provide valuable insights into how coastal biogeochemical processes respond to and recover from extreme storm events. The effects of storm-derived DOM remineralization on water chemistry were short-lived and did not release enough nutrients to trigger large HABs events, and the coastal waters recover relatively quickly after the storm.

b) Workforce development and promoting collaboration: 

This project provided excellent training opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience with oceanographic operations, laboratory analyses, and advanced instrumentation, resulting in multiple MS theses and undergraduate research projects. The project initiated partnerships among multiple institutions, giving students and researchers access to specialized instrumentation and cross-institutional expertise. These activities strengthened institutional research capacity and supported the professional growth of early-career PIs through multi-institutional collaborations.

c) Promoting open science:

This project contributed high-resolution, standardized data to the BCO-DMO database. The results are freely available for researchers, educators, the public, and resource managers, providing an open resource for future studies of storm impacts and coastal water chemistry.

d) Engaging and informing the public:

The results provide coastal communities and resource managers a better understanding of how major tropical storms affect water quality, nutrient levels, and the potential for HABs formation, which is one of the most important issues in Southwest Florida. Through student presentations, public thesis defenses, and outreach events, the project shared its findings in accessible ways with diverse audiences, supporting decision-making and public awareness of coastal resilience.

Overall, this project improves our understanding of how hurricanes affect coastal waters, provides Florida communities useful information about water quality and harmful algal blooms, and supports STEM workforce development by offering valuable training opportunities for the for the next generation of marine scientists.

Last Modified: 11/29/2025
Modified by: Puspa Lal Adhikari