April 2025 News and Press from SoMAS

May 1, 2025

Students involved in the creation of the book "Nature State of Mind"

Photo above: Students involved in the ambitious student-led project “Nature State of Mind: SUNY Students Reflect on Our Environment” that is a testament to the transformative power of nature on the human consciousness

Thank you to everyone who helped Stony Brook celebrate Earthstock, our week+ long celebration of Earth Day! The week kicked off with a keynote by Dino Martins, several walks through the Ashley Schiff Park Preserve, beach and campus clean-ups, our annual alumni panel, events on Governors Island, and the street festival on the Academic Mall.

As part of the contribution by Stony Brook Southampton Student Life and SoMAS to the Town of Southampton’s annual Great East End Cleanup, Warner’s Island is much cleaner. Despite the strong winds, it was a beautiful sunny day with many opportunities to view seals and other marine life, collect shells, and birdwatch. Photos from the Warner’s Island Beach Cleanup are available on Google Photos.

Lesley Thorne has received a new NSF (NSF-GEO-NERC) award in support of the project “Environmental drivers of giant petrel energetics, and implications for population trends and predation pressure in the Southern Ocean”, for the period 8/1/25 – 7/31/28, in the amount $666,910.

Understanding biological responses to environmental variation is a fundamental challenge facing ecologists. To generate accurate predictions of species distribution and persistence it is necessary to understand how mechanisms such as organism interactions and physiological traits shape responses. Seabirds are key consumers in the Southern Ocean, and while changes in their populations have been correlated with environmental modes, the mechanisms underlying these relationships are not well understood. Both ocean and atmospheric conditions are important for seabirds as they forage at sea but breed on land, and changes to wind patterns and Antarctic sea ice location and extent will influence the life history of seabirds in the Southern Ocean. This project focuses on giant petrels (Macronectes spp.), large and dominant avian predators and scavengers that prey significantly on, and influence populations of, species such as penguins and albatrosses. Giant petrels are thought to rely on dynamic soaring for flight, which allows them to use the wind to move while expending little energy. However, quantitative studies demonstrating how giant petrels use wind and the role that wind plays in constraining their distribution, and thus interactions with prey species, are lacking. Also, recent studies show that giant petrels rely on sea ice for foraging, but the impact of seasonal and temporal dynamics of sea ice on their populations is not clear. Knowledge of the mechanistic links through which sea ice and wind conditions influence giant petrel diet, habitat use, and predation pressure can improve predictive capability for their populations in Southern Ocean ecosystems.

Dare to Explore! Dare to Protect! Dare to Discover! Newly branded SoMAS (School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences) vans are ready to roll!


Dare to Explore! Dare to Protect! Dare to Discover! Newly branded SoMAS (School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences) vans are ready to roll!

SBU News Features

 

Latest Videos

 

Latest Publications

Siew, P. Y. F., Wu, Y., Ting, M., & Zheng, C. (2025). Identifying physical drivers of Arctic sea ice growth and their changing roles in a warming climate. Geophysical Research Letters, 52(6), e2024GL113601.

Roberts, S. M., Dowd, S., Thorne, L., Roberts, J. J., Halpin, P. N., Khan, C., … & Nye, J. A. (2025). Humpback whale densities are increasing in the Great South Channel: concurrent multi-trophic level shifts in abundance. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 754, 105-119.

Wang, L., & Geller, M. A. (2025). Temperature Fluctuations of Different Vertical Scales in Raw and Processed US High Vertical-Resolution Radiosonde Data. Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, 42(3), 309-317.

Feng, J., Zhang, F., Sun, M., Chen, Y., & Zhu, J. (2025). Impacts of temporal growth variability on fisheries stock assessment in changing oceans: a case study of Eastern Atlantic skipjack. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12, 1555106.

Shanmugam, V., Kaynak, E., Das, O., & Padhye, L. P. (2025). The effects of feedstock types and their properties on hydrothermal carbonisation and resulting hydrochar: A review. Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 101024.

Guo, L., Williams, D. E., Bromberg, L., & Padhye, L. P. (2025). Bromate removal in water through electrochemical reduction using Magnéli phase titanium oxide electrode. RSC Advances, 15(14), 10501-10510.

Lin, J. A., & Volkenborn, N. (2025). Nitrate removal in woodchip-based bioreactors and greenhouse gas formation tradeoffs between under-and over-treatment. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 13, 1543143.

Pan, X., Zhang, W., Liu, W., Nguyen, A., Best, J., Pendleton, R., … & Chen, Y. (2025). Decadal-scale changes in fish spawning strategies: A case study of striped bass in the Hudson River. Ecological Indicators, 173, 113410.

Arabas, S., Curtis, J. H., Silber, I., Fridlind, A. M., Knopf, D. A., West, M., & Riemer, N. (2025). Immersion freezing in particle‐based aerosol‐cloud microphysics: A probabilistic perspective on singular and time‐dependent models. Journal of Advances in Modeling Earth Systems, 17(4), e2024MS004770.

French, M. M., & Kingfield, D. M. (2025). Comments on “Identifying Z DR Columns in Radar Data with the Hotspot Technique”. Weather and Forecasting, 40(4), 627-639.

Kia, H. Z., Yang, F., Khairoutdinov, M., Shaw, R. A., Wang, A., & Choi, Y. (2025). Exploring the impact of surface topography on Rayleigh-Bénard dry convection in the Pi cloud chamber using OpenFOAM: In cylindrical and rectangular geometries. Atmospheric Research, 108144.

Angulo-Umana, P., Kim, D., Blossey, P. N., & Khairoutdinov, M. (2025). Multiscale Convective Circulations and Scale Interactions in a Global Storm-Resolving Model. ESS Open Archive . April 22, 2025.
DOI: 10.22541/essoar.174534441.17114068/v1

Kraemer, J., & Gobler, C. J. Natural diel cycles of nocturnal hypoxia significantly reduce growth rates of North Atlantic bivalves. Frontiers in Marine Science, 12, 1535142.

 

Latest Press Headlines

WLIW/NPR: Dive into Shore Week on WLIW-FM

  • 10:25am: Dr. Christopher Gobler, Endowed Chair of Coastal Ecology and Conservation of the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, will talk about the Gobler Lab’s recent “State of the Bays” water quality lecture.

Energy Mix: L.A. Firefighters Show Elevated Mercury and Lead Levels

  • The data set shared by Nadeau is preliminary and small, but wildfire smoke expert Minghao Qiu, an assistant professor at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at Stony Brook University in Long Island, New York, who was not involved in the study, said the research breaks new ground in measuring toxins within the bodies of firefighters— rather than just in the surrounding air.

East Hampton Star: Library Budget a ‘Yes’ in Montauk

  • A theme of “Keep Calm and Carry On” may seem incongruous with the barrage of dire environmental statistics, but the 2025 State of the Bays report on Long Island’s waterways, delivered by Christopher Gobler of Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, did include some encouraging thought smaller-scale developments.

Phys.org: Merchant marine vessel aids in ocean data collection

  • The Oleander Project is a part of the Science RoCs (Research on Commercial Ships) initiative, which aims to equip many more commercial vessels with sensors to measure physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the ocean along the world’s major shipping routes. The current custodians of the Oleander Project are led by WHOI and include ASU BIOS, Stony Brook University, and the University of Hawaii, with key contributions also by the University of Rhode Island, one of the founding institutions of the partnership. Also ran on NewsGram, BuradaBiliyorum, UR All News, EurekAlert, The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Newswise,

Provincetown Independent: Scientists Say ‘Cold Pulse’ Is Linked to Surge in Dolphin Strandings

  • Lesley Thorne, an associate professor of marine and atmospheric sciences at the State University of New York at Stony Brook, agreed with Gawarkiewicz. “Over the long term, you’ve got some of these warmer-water species moving further north,” she said. “But at the same time, you’ve got this anomalous year oceanographically, which is really altering foraging conditions in parts of the Northeast.” This combination, she said, may have been the cause of the mass dolphin strandings.

South Shore Press: Inaugural Long Island Youth Climate Summit convenes student innovators at Stony Brook University

  • More than 300 high school students gathered at Stony Brook University for the inaugural 2025 Long Island Youth Climate Summit on April 4, organized by Students for Climate Action and Renewable Energy Long Island. The event aimed to engage young people in discussions on sustainable energy and climate action.

South Shore Press: Stony Brook University workshop connects researchers to tackle PFAS challenges

  • Stony Brook University recently held a workshop to explore various strategies for managing the challenges posed by per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals often referred to as “forever chemicals.” These substances, found in items such as cookware and firefighting foam, have been detected in the environment, affecting drinking water, soil, and crops.

WLIW/NPR: Sea to Soil

  • Sea to Soil: A Celebration of Land, Sea, and Community Friday, May 2, 2025 Stony Brook University – Southampton Campus 39 Tuckahoe Road, Southampton, NY Spend a day at Sea to Soil, an immersive experience where land and sea come together to inspire a healthier, sustainable food system.

Newsday/Op-Ed:  Long Island’s road network is overburdened and unsafe

  • This guest essay reflects the views of Richard Murdocco, adjunct professor of environmental policy and planning at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and the Public Policy Graduate Program at Stony Brook University. Also ran on World News and The Foggiest Idea

Times Beacon Record: Students take action at youth climate summit at Stony Brook University

  • Approximately 300 students from 17 local high schools and at least one middle school gathered April 4 for the first Long Island Youth Climate Summit at Stony Brook University. Organized by Students for Climate Action and Renewable Energy Long Island, the event centered on environmental education and advocacy, with students encouraged to get involved with grassroots

Ecoportal.net:  Strange fish behavior spotted — Wind turbines over the sea cause unexpected effect in America

  • The Nature Conservancy and Stony Brook University are doing research on how different innovations for offshore wind turbines can be suitable to provide fish-friendly structures and monitoring methods that do not harm marine ecosystems too. The main objective of this study that has brought scientists and fishermen together is to enlighten each other on how to draw fish towards artificial reefs.

Times Beacon Record: Editorial: Empowering youth for a greener future (press release)

  • At Stony Brook University’s second annual Long Island Youth Climate Summit, teenagers learned how to get involved with environmental movements. We wholeheartedly agree with local officials who recognize the importance of a university program that provides an important and necessary opportunity for students to learn about these issues.

South Shore Press: Stony Brook University partners with climate exchange to advance collaborative climate action

  • Through a partnership with The New York Climate Exchange, Stony Brook University plays a significant role in turning academic research into actionable climate solutions. This collaboration aims to develop climate solutions quickly and effectively, providing practical community engagement opportunities.

Suffolk Times: Two Southold creeks close shellfish harvesting due to biotoxin

  • The issue was discovered during routine monitoring for HABs that produce marine biotoxins. New York State, Suffolk County and SUNY Stony Brook’s Gobler Lab have a network of HAB monitoring stations at key locations around Long Island, particularly within Suffolk County. These monitor for HABs that can produce marine biotoxins, Mr. Richards said.

Newsday: Millennials still locked out of buying houses despite salaries

  • The current housing shortage has been around far longer than this post-pandemic period and will likely last for a long time, said Richard Murdocco, an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University’s public policy graduate program who also studies economic development. He said infrastructure and environmental issues have made it challenging to increase the housing supply and provide millennials with more options. Don’t count on it happening anytime soon, he added.

Washington Post: Scientists say they can calculate the cost of oil giants’ role in global warming

  • “This is the first time I’ve seen this done in a really comprehensive way that isn’t just for one specific event,” said Kevin Reed, a professor at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. “This is the real deal.”

Newsday: 17-year cicada brood’s chorus might be quieter on Long Island this year

  • A cicada emergence is one of the stranger phenomena of the animal world: “A wonder of nature,” said Dino Martins, an entomologist at Stony Brook University. Hundreds may crawl out from a square meter of the forest floor. The immature insects attach themselves to tree trunks, climb out of their papery exoskeletons, pause a few days as they wait for their wings to unfurl and dry, and then begin pairing up.

South Shore Press: Stony Brook students blend fitness and ecology in 3K EcoWalk

  • Stony Brook University students participated in the “Running Wild 3K EcoWalk,” a new Earthstock event conducted on April 21 at the Ashley Schiff Preserve. The event was organized by sophomore Jasmine Mason-Randolph, a psychology major with a minor in environmental studies. The initiative aimed to combine fitness with environmental education, featuring interactive stations hosted by student groups focused on sustainability, such as the Environmental Club, Sunrise Movement, and EcoEvo Society.

Newsday: Stony Brook University grant to study ocean conditions canceled by Trump administration

  • The Trump administration has cancelled a $4.5 million Navy grant for researchers at Stony Brook University and other institutions to study ocean conditions, prompting an objection from a Republican member of Congress who wrote that he believes the grant “was erroneously cancelled due to the presence of the word ‘environment’ in its supporting materials.”

 

School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, SoMAS, at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-5000, USA
Phone: 631-632-8700
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