School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology About the School The School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, established in 1988, brings together in a single focused ocean, earth sciences and technology group, academic departments, research institutes, federal cooperative programs, and support facilities of the highest quality in the nation to meet challenges in the ocean and earth sciences. Scientists of SOEST intend to understand the subtle and complex interrelations of the seas, the atmosphere, and the earth in order to learn how to preserve the quality of our lives. The new Pacific Ocean Science and Technology (POST) building for the school was completed in 1996 and continues to improve as additional state-of-the-art research laboratories and educational facilities are added to the building. Departments within the School The Department of Meteorology provides instruction leading to the B.S., M.S., or Ph.D. degrees in Meteorology. It pursues an active research program, closely integrated with instruction; both stress our special field -- tropical meteorology. Emphasizing the oceanic and Asian tropics and maintaining close professional links with countries in the region, the department takes a rigorous approach to teaching and research in meteorology, ensuring that students have a sound grasp of the fundamentals of the discipline. The Department of Geology and Geophysics : The University of Hawaii is a land grant, sea grant, and space grant institution. The Department of Geology and Geophysics reflects this status with a wide range of active, extramurally-funded, research programs in the earth, planetary, and ocean sciences. The Department offers BA, BS, MS, and PhD degrees. The Department of Oceanography offers master's and doctoral programs in four subdisciplines - physical, chemical, geological, and biological oceanography. The programs are designed to prepare students for challenging careers in academia, industry, and government. The department is divided into the Division of Biological Oceanography, Division of Marine Geology and Geochemistry, and the Division of Physical Oceanography. The Department of Ocean Engineering is the application of ocean science and engineering design to the challenging conditions found in the ocean environment. Wave and current motion and forces, high pressure, and temperature variations, as well as chemical and biological effects are among the considerations which set ocean engineering apart from conventional land-based engineering. Ocean engineering, as an integral part of the SOEST, allows the coverage of many questions involving ocean processes. Not only can the problem be defined scientifically, but engineering solutions can also be devised. Ocean engineering in the tropical, mid-ocean location of Hawai'i has the advantage of year-round access to explore research subjects related to oceanic island coastal processes, ocean energy development, deepocean mining, ocean instrumentation, ocean transportation, and large floating platforms. Hawaii's unique location, climate and marine-oriented activities make the University of Hawaii at Manoa an ideal place for education and research in ocean and resources engineering. Degree Programs Bachelor s Degrees BA Geology BS Geology & Geophysics BS Global Environmental Science BS Meteorology Master s Degrees MS in Geology and Geophysics emphasizing Volcanology, Geochemistry and Petrology, Marine and Environmental Geology, Planetary Geosciences and Remote Sensing, and Geophysics and Tectonics MS in Meteorology emphasizing tropical meteorology
MS in Ocean and Resources Engineering emphasizing Coastal engineering, Ocean resources engineering, Offshore engineering MS in Oceanography emphasizing Biological oceanography, Chemical oceanography, Geological oceanography, Marine biology, Physical oceanography Doctoral Degrees PhD in Meteorology emphasizing tropical meteorology PhD in Geology and Geophysics emphasizing Volcanology, Geochemistry and Petrology, Marine and Environmental Geology, Planetary Geosciences and Remote Sensing, and Geophysics and Tectonics PhD in Ocean Engineering emphasizing Coastal engineering, Ocean resources engineering, Offshore engineering PhD in Oceanography emphasizing Biological oceanography, Chemical oceanography, Geological oceanography, Marine biology, Physical oceanography Certificate Programs: (2) Graduate Ocean Policy Certificate: Graduate Maritime Archeology and History Certificate Centers, Institutes, Programs and Resources Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology (HIGP) The Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) is a world-renowned research institute situated on Coconut Island in Kane'ohe Bay. This ideal location is just 15 miles from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and downtown Honolulu. In addition, Coconut Island itself provides excellent opportunities for research. It is surrounded by 64 acres of coral reef, designated by the State of Hawai'i as the Hawai'i Marine Laboratory Refuge. Only researchers associated with HIMB are allowed to collect specimens from the refuge. The island itself covers approximately 29 acres, with 6 acres enclosed in lagoons that are used for keeping organisms in captivity for study. HIMB provides research facilities for its faculty and students, who come from all over the world. Ongoing research at HIMB covers many disciplines of tropical marine science. Graduate and undergraduate students conducting research on Coconut Island are usually enrolled in the departments of Zoology and Oceanography at the University of Hawai'i. Hawaii Natural Energy Institute (HNEI) was established in 1974 to seek new forms of energy that would supplant the nation's tremendous dependence on fossil fuels. HNEI has become an acknowledged international leader in the energy field, and has broadened its expertise to encompass the development of technologies that will enable us to tap our oceans for energy, food, minerals, and other resources. The institute's responsibilities include conducting and supporting basic research, managing research facilities and laboratories, demonstrating the applications of its work, and investigating the social, environmental, and financial impact of energy- and marine-related activities. HNEI has an exceptional record in achieving its mission, including spearheading the discovery and use of geothermal power in Hawaii; coordinating the first comprehensive wind surveys of the Hawaiian archipelago that furnished the data needed for the location of wind turbines; conducting surveys of solar insolation and testing a variety of electricity-generating solar devices and systems; conducting major studies on ocean thermal energy conversion; developing the technology to use biomass for energy, charcoal, and high-value chemicals; testing biomass-derived fuels as a replacement for conventional transportation fuels; establishing the most comprehensive hydrogen program of any university in the nation, a standing attributable to pioneering research on the production of this gas through solar electrochemical advancements using thin semiconductor films, gasification of biomass, and genetic engineering of hydrogen-producing marine organisms; and supporting marine-related research on deep-sea minerals mining, open-ocean fish farming, very large floating platforms, artificial upwelling of deep ocean water, and the disposal of greenhouse gases in the ocean. The Hawai i Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) was established by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Hawai i. Its mission is to study deep water marine
processes in the Pacific Ocean. HURL builds its research program through an annual request for proposals. Projects are selected through peer review and by a scientific advisory panel. In addition, HURL accepts funded requests from private, state, or federal agencies and participates in international collaborative research projects in the Pacific. International Pacific Research Center (IPRC) is a research center for the study of climate in the Asia- Pacific region. The mission of the IPRC is to provide an international state-of-the-art research environment to improve understanding of the nature and predictability of climate variability in the Asia- Pacific sector, including regional aspects of global environmental change. The IPRC is one of only a few research organizations focused on this important mission. The center is thus a necessary component of a complete research strategy for global change, which must rely on a network of cooperating institutions throughout the world. Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR): The Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research (JIMAR) was created in 1977 by an agreement between the Environmental Research Laboratories (ERL) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the University of Hawaii. JIMAR was established to pursue the common research interests of NOAA and the UH in oceanic, atmospheric, and geophysical research. Major areas of research in JIMAR include climate and global change, equatorial oceanography, tsunamis, and fisheries oceanography. JIMAR is located on the UH Manoa Campus in the Marine Sciences Building and the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics (HIG) Marine Bioproducts Engineering Center (MarBEC) Scalding seawater heated by molten lava shoots from vents from Hawaii's newest volcano, Loihi, 4,000 feet deep off the coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. MarBEC researchers are there in the deep submersible "Pisces V", collecting samples of this superheated biochemical soup. If marine microorganisms can thrive under such adverse conditions, who knows what potentially beneficial compounds are present? Could MarBEC scientists be sampling a new anti-cancer agent, the next super glue, or simply one of the ingredients in a super-model's eye shadow? These types of substances, bioproducts naturally produced by marine life, form the basis of MarBEC's mission--to develop the engineering technology and science base for the commercial production of highvalue marine bioproducts. Sea Grant College Program celebrating 34 years of service to Hawai'i and the Pacific, Hawai'i Sea Grant continues to be a leader in aquaculture, coastal processes and technology development. Among its most noteworthy past achievements are advances in ocean water quality monitoring, seaweed agronomy, prawn aquaculture, fisheries research, fisheries enhancement, precious corals and deep sea technology. Committed to the improved understanding, management and wise use of marine resources of the state, Hawai'i Sea Grant also fosters education and extension services that directly impact the local community. Sea Grant Communications provides access to scientific findings and supports the flow of outreach information to academia, scientists, resource managers, policymakers, students and children. Hawaii Space Grant Consortium: Chartered under the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program, the Hawai`i Space Grant Consortium is developing interdisciplinary education, research, and public service programs related to space science, earth science, remote sensing, human exploration and development of space, and aerospace technology. We accomplish this through a variety of programs: undergraduate research fellowships and traineeships, innovative college courses, workshops for educators, educational web sites, public exhibitions, lectures, tours, primary school programs, spacethemed summer camps for families, and more. We serve as a NASA point of contact for Hawai`i residents for the Space Science Network Northwest (S2N2). Klaus Wyrtki Center for Climate Research and Prediction (WCCRP) Sea Level Center (UHSLC) Satellite Oceanography Lab
The Hawaii Center for Volcanology (HCV) was conceived and created in 1992 as a cooperative effort involving over 80 scientists from the primary organizations listed below. HCV is presently undergoing reorganization and re-definition of its initial mission. At present, this WWW site is the only physical manifestation of HCV. It is maintained entirely by SOEST staff members (predominantly Ken Rubin, with the assistance of Mike Garcia). Specialized Research Groups Hawaii Mapping Research Group: The Hawaii Mapping Research Group (HMRG) is an organization of scientists and engineers who design, build and operate seafloor mapping systems at the University of Hawaii, and use these tools to study seafloor processes around the world. Airborne Hyperspectral imaging Group: The Airborne Hyperspectral Imager is a system for the detection of buried land mines from the air. The system was designed to exploit a long wave IR observable associated with mine installation discovered by DARPA s Hyperspectral Mine Detection (HMD) program. Hawaii Center for Volcanology: The Hawaii Center for Volcanology (HCV) studies volcanoes in Hawaii, elsewhere in the world, and on other bodies around the solar system. HCV is a cooperative effort involving SOEST, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, NOAA's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, and the NASA Earth Observing System Volcano Interdisciplinary Science Team. Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory: The Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory (HURL) is one of six National Undersea Research Program (NURP) centers. HURL operates the 2000-meter capable submersibles Pisces IV and Pisces V and the 914-meter capable remotely operated vehicle, RCV-150. Coastal Geology Group: The Coastal Geology Group is an affiliation of researchers and graduate students within the Department of Geology and Geophysics that conduct investigations of shoreline change, carbonate geology, reef geology, sedimentology and coastal morphodynamics. The Hawaii-2 Observatory: The Hawaii-2 Observatory is currently transmitting high-quality seismic data from the ocean floor in the central NE Pacific Ocean through Hawaii to the IRIS Data Management Center. The system includes broad-band seismic, geophone, acoustic, and ocean current sensors. The seismic sensors are buried about 0.4 m below the ocean floor to improve coupling to the ocean bottom and to reduce noise levels. Specialized Laboratories SOEST Electron Microprobe Laboratory: SOEST Electron Microprobe Laboratory, provides quantitative and qualitative information on the composition (boron to uranium) of small samples (1 micron to 5.1cm) using a Cameca 5 spectrometer SX50 instrument. Microbiological Oceanography Laboratory: The Laboratory for Microbiological Oceanography researches marine microbes including bacteria, protozoans and unicellular algae. These studies include development of novel techniques to assess in situ microbial biomass, activity and growth, as well as comprehensive field studies of the mechanisms and rates of microbiological cycling of C, N and P. Satellite Oceanography Laboratory: The Satellite Oceanography Laboratory provides on-line satellite images and other meteorological and oceanographic data in real time, focusing on geographically regridded products calibrated into scientific units. It uses 3 receiving systems for digital satellite images, two on shore for polar orbiting satellites (AVHRR, SeaWifs) and for geostationary satellites (GOES, GMS), and one that can be mounted on ships for polar orbiting satellites.
Paleomagnetic Laboratory: Paleomagnetic Laboratory, focuses on short-term behavior of the Earth's geomagnetic field. Thin-Films Laboratory: The Thin-Films Laboratory fabricates and tests thin-film materials and devices for commercial and industrial applications, such as splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using only sunlight, photovoltaic cells and sensors, and fuel cells. Renewable Resources Research Laboratory: Some of Hawaii's most innovative and novel developments in the field of biomass conversion have come from the Renewable Resources Research Laboratory (R3L). The lab has enjoyed noteworthy success in developing technology with commercial potential. Infrasound Laboratory: ISLA is responsible for the operation and maintenance of IS59, or KONA, a 4- element infrasound array that will be part of the International Monitoring System (IMS) of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). The Hawaii Undersea Geo-Observatory: The Hawaii Undersea Geo-Observatory (HUGO) is an automated submarine volcano observatory on the summit of the undersea Loihi seamount (about 1000 meters below sea level). It is connected to the shore via fiber a optic cable. SOEST Isotope Laboratory: The SOEST Isotope Laboratory investigates the geochemistry and chronology of volcanologic, sedimentologic and oceanographic phenomena, as well as the effects of human activities on the natural environment. This facility consists of a chemical cleanroom laboratory, two thermal ionization mass spectrometers and a high resolution alpha spectrometry system. The Coral Reef Science Laboratory: The CRCL, is developing the use of airborne and satellite-based digital remote sensing for the study of coral reef environments. The goal is to develop a system for analysis of benthic pigment composition and concentration using remote sensing imagery. The Shark Lab: The HIMB Shark Lab, specializes in organismic and supraorganismic biology of marine fishes especially sharks. The predominant research approach is to take advantage of the laboratory's unique physical setting by blending rigorous laboratory work with well-focused field experiments. Electrochemical Power Systems Laboratory: The HNEI is playing an important role in the development of electric and hybrid vehicle technologies for transportation through a nationwide, Department of Defense initiative. The institute's efforts involve the development of advanced electrochemical power sources and technologies, including rapid-charging of batteries, advanced EV battery systems and developing novel simulation and modeling techniques for battery performance and cycle- life prediction. Deep Ocean Simulator: Underwritten originally by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the government of Japan, the Deep Ocean Simulator can reproduce conditions in the ocean to depths of 600 meters, or 2,000 feet. The lab is being used to investigate a number of topics, including the effects of sequestering carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, in the deep ocean, the behavior of underwater oil spills, and the stability and kinetics of methane hydrates. Seismic Reflection Processing and Analysis Facility: The SOEST Seismic Reflection Processing and Analysis Facility provides state-of the-art hardware and software for processing and interpreting large amounts of marine 2D and 3D seismic reflection data. Ships and Submersibles SOEST's larger ships and submersibles are operated from the University Marine Center at Honolulu Harbor and the Makai Research Pier near Makapuu Point. They include
Presently under construction the R/V Kilo Moana is SOEST's newest research ship. R/V Ka'imikai-o-Kanaloa, mothership for Pisces V and the ROV; the newest addition to the SOEST fleet, she was dedicated on 14 January, 1994. Pisces V research submersible, operated by HURL, with a depth capability of 2000m. RCV-150, a remotely-operated underwater vehicle (ROV) operated by HURL. Smaller research vessels including the R/V Mao Mao (a small coastal research vessel) and various small boats usually operate out of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology on Coconut Island. Specialized Scientific Instruments Rigaku microdiffactometer interfaced with a rotary X-ray generator for high pressure-temperature phase transformation and equation-of-state (P-V-T) studies on quenched mineral samples. Large-volume press (DIA-6 type) capable of sustaining pressures to 80,000 atmospheres and temperature to 1500 Celsius simultaneously, used to synthesize new minerals and to characterize various physical and structural properties of solid materials. Ernst Leitz Scanning Acoustic Microscope (ELSAM) facility used for studying the microstructure of geological and ceramic materials. INEL position-sensitive detection system for high-precision X-ray diffraction studies, used for analyzing the atomic structure of polycrystalline specimens of ceramics and minerals Acoustic Lance a new instrument developed at the SOEST Sediment Properties Laboratory. Subsurface pressure gauges, Line Islands array of subsurface pressure gauges. Confocal Scanning Laser Microscope designed to produce spacial resolution superior to that of standard microscopy. Nanoscope III Atomic Force Microscope. Atomic force microscopy is a powerful technique for the study of morphological features of conducting and non-conducting materials. Arrays of bottom and SOFAR channel hydrophones near Wake Island and off Oahu, used to study seismic events from submarine ridge systems and from Pacific-wide tsunamigenic earthquakes in cooperation with the NOAA Pacific Environmental Laboratory's VENTS Program and NOAA's Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. Computers SOEST's computer network provides high speed connections and data transfer capabilities to more than 450 of SOEST's computer users through 300+ networked computers (including about 100 Unix RISC workstations and servers). It connects to the UH Manoa campus FDDI campus backbone network, and through that to PACOM wide-area network services which link Hawaii directly with the Far East and the US mainland. Several hundred other standalone computers (many are used in conjunction with specialized instruments) are also used within SOEST. Faculty Awards Charles Fletcher (Geology & Geophysics): 2000 Presidential citation for Meritorious Teaching Michael Landry (Oceanography): 2001 Regents Medal for Excellence in Research
Charles Fletcher (Geology & Geophysics): 2001 Robert W. Clopton Award for Outstanding Service to the Community Extramural Grants and Awards (2001 2002) Research Awards: 11 Grants, $1,798,660 Nonresearch Awards: 57 Grants, $6,795,961 FACTS & FIGURES Total Students: 290, Undergrad: 130, Grad: 160 Men: 174/290, Women 114/290 Undergraduate Men: 78, Undergraduate Women 52 Graduate Men: 97 Graduate Women: 62 Gender/Ethnic Breakdowns: (Fall 2001) Percentage Female: 114/290 Asian/Pacific Islander: 82 Japanese: 22 Chinese: 24 Korean: 2 Filipino: 8 Hawaiian/Part Hawaiian: 9 Pacific Islander: 6 Other Asian: 3 Mixed Asian/Pacific Islander: 8 Hispanic: 5 Caucasian: 171 African American : 1 American Indian/Alaska Native: 1 Mixed: 22