Midshipmen Research Projects - Capstone
Capstone Day at USNA is Scheduled for 3 May, 2023!
For more information on Capstone Day, please visit the USNA Capstone Day Website. Department of Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences presenters, research titles, and advisors are listed below. These projects were made possible by the generous support from the Volgenau Family and other sponsors and collaborators.
2023
| Presenter(s) | Title | Faculty Advisor(s) |
| MIDN 1/C Wade Quigley MIDN 1/C Christopher Vazquez MIDN 1/C Blake Weaver |
2-D Analysis of Meteorological Forcing and Tides on Severn River Discharge and Currents | CAPT Shawn Gallaher Mr. Benjamin Hickman Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Julia Galbraith MIDN 1/C Autumn Nicholas MIDN 1/C Sophie Shelbourne |
Analysis of Tide Propagation Along the Main Stem Severn River Over a Neap-Spring Cycle | Assoc. Prof Joseph Smith Mr. Benjamin Hickman |
| MIDN 1/C Andrea Marrero-Massa MIDN 1/C Piley Plosica |
Estimating Wet Bulb Globe Temperature from Machine Learning using Readily Available Meteorology Data | CAPT Shawn Gallaher Instr. Alexander R. Davies Prof. Ric Crabbe |
| MIDN 1/C Alexander Khieu MIDN 1/C Zane Richardson MIND 1/C Alexandra Urbine |
Local-Scale Forcing Effects on Rhodamine Dye Plume Dispersion and Transport in Carr Creek Cove | Assoc. Prof Joseph Smith Mr. Benjamin Hickman |
| MIDN 1/C Wyatt Morris MIDN 1/C Christina Null |
Reconstruction of Meteorological Conditions Leading up to the September 2021 Annapolis, MD Tornado | Asst. Prof Scott Loeffler Instr. Alexander R. Davies Assoc. Prof Joseph Smith |
| MIDN 1/C Robert Archambault MIDN 1/C Ryan Craft MIDN 1/C Lucas Schatz |
Sedimentological and Geophysical Survey along the USNA Seawalls from Hospital Point to Trident Light | Assoc. Prof Joseph Smith Mr. Benjamin Hickman |
| MIDN 1/C Julianne Barkholz MIDN 1/C Andrew Matthews |
Side Scan Sonar Detection of Bottom-Mounted Objects with Different Material Properties | Assoc. Prof Joseph Smith Mr. Benjamin Hickman |
| MIDN 1/C Linh Tang | Using Lidar to Identify Impacted Areas Superstorm Sandy Induced on Coastal Jersey | Prof. Peter Guth |
| MIDN 1/C Owen Ray MIDN 1/C Reilly Wilson |
Utilizing Sentinel 2 Satellite Imagery to monitor the effects of the 2023 Turkish earthquakes | Prof. Peter Guth |
| MIDN 1/C Garrison Clarck MIDN 1/C David Moore MIDN 1/C Nataline Ziola |
Wave Period and Energy Variability of Surface Gravity Waves in the Upper Chesapeake Bay | CAPT Shawn Gallaher Mr. Benjamin Hickman Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Andrew Brophy MIDN 1/C Makayla Fernandez-Sanchez MIDN 1/C Adam McCowan |
Winter-to-Spring Evolution of the Upper Chesapeake Bay Heat Balance | CAPT Shawn Gallaher Mr. Benjamin Hickman Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Nyla Chambers MIDN 1/C Maggie Cleary MIDN 1/C Eloise Gebert MIDN 1/C Stephanie Jacobs |
Winter-to-Spring Primary Productivity and Zooplankton Abundance in Santee Basin and College Creek | Instr. Brianna Tracy Assoc. Prof Joseph Smith |
2022
| Presenter(s) | Title | Faculty Advisor(s) |
| MIDN 1/C Sierra Averill MIDN 1/C Cailin Duffy MIDN 1/C Ciera Hertelendy |
Analysis of Water Level Differences between Annapolis Harbor and the Severn River | Instr. Alexander Davies Assoc. Prof. Joseph Smith |
| MIDN 1/C Stella Blackwell MIDN 1/C Morgan Lang MIDN 1/C Antonio Orama MIDN 1/C Sarah Ryser |
Early Spring Conditions in Santee Basin and the Potential for Blooms of Harmful Algal SpeciesCharacterization of Mid-Winter Upper Chesapeake Bay Water Column Structure | Mr. Benjamin Hickman Assoc. Prof Joseph Smith Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Megan Gehpart MIDN 1/C Braydon Hammond MIDN 1/C Richard Hansen MIDN 1/C Cory Routen |
Geophysical & Sedimentological Assessment of the EagleNest Point Oyster Restoration Site in Round Bay | Mr. Benjamin Hickman Assoc. Prof Joseph Smith Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Brandon Jordan MIDN 1/C Daniel Taylor MIND 1/C Deandre Williams |
Measurement of the Wintertime Optical Properties of the Severn RiverEstimating Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Using Readily Available Meteorological Data | Instr. Alexander Davies Mr. Benjamin Hickman Assoc. Prof. Joseph Smith |
| MIDN 1/C Benjamin Hassen MIDN 1/C Anna Kovacs MIDN 1/C LeGrand Pound MIDN 1/C Airi Sloan |
Tidal Current Response to Water Levels in College CreekRelic Oyster Reef Surveys in the Lower Severn River, Maryland | Mr. Benjamin Hickman Assoc. Prof. Joseph Smith |
| MIDN 1/C Sydney Dinan MIDN 1/C Tanner Gage MIDN 1/C Phillip Lee MIDN 1/C Meghan Sculli |
Tracing a Wastewater Effluent Plume in Carr Creek | Mr. Benjamin Hickman Assoc. Prof. Joseph Smith |
| MIDN 1/C Gustel Bamanabio MIDN 1/C Brycen Groess MIDN 1/C Andrea Martinez MIDN 1/C Alexandra Schofield |
Variability in Wintertime Microplastic Concentrations and Particle Counts in Annapolis Harbor | Assoc. Prof Joseph Smith Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Langston Arnold MIDN 1/C Frank Bell MIND 1/C Kelsey Cyrus |
Wind-Forcing and Waves in Carr Creek and the Mouth of the Severn River | Mr. Benjamin Hickman Assoc. Prof. Joseph Smith |
2021
| Presenter(s) | Title | Faculty Advisor(s) |
| MIDN 1/C Robert F. Lee MIDN 1/C Samuel S. Cho |
Acoustic Detection of Small Vessels in the Severn River | Mr. Benjamin Hickman |
| MIDN 1/C Lakayla D. DeShields MIDN 1/C Karina T. Martinez MIDN 1/C Jessica M. Mogavero MIDN 1/C William P. Ryan |
Characterization of Mid-Winter Upper Chesapeake Bay Water Column Structure | CDR Shawn Gallaher Mr. Benjamin Hickman Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Ellie E. Lecker MIDN 1/C Lilianna R. Perez MIDN 1/C Erik B. Prudil MIDN 1/C Harlie K. Stone |
Determining Tidal Discharge on the Severn River | CDR Shawn Gallaher Mr. Benjamin Hickman Instr. Brianna Tracy Instr. Alexander R. Davies |
| MIDN 1/C Austin T. Pierce MIDN 1/C Potter W. Seibels |
Estimating Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Using Readily Available Meteorological Data | Instr. Alexander R. Davies |
| MIDN 1/C Addie C. Hamilton MIDN 1/C Alex Vallencey-Martinson MIND 1/C Maya A. White |
Relic Oyster Reef Surveys in the Lower Severn River, Maryland | CDR Shawn Gallaher Intr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Ian P. Bramblett MIDN 1/C Jaclyn Anne Y. Pabalan MIDN 1/C Joseph Giannini |
Spectral Characterization of Severn River and Upper Chesapeake Waves | CDR Shawn Gallaher Mr. Benjamin Hickman |
2020
| Presenter(s) | Title | Faculty Advisor(s) |
| MIDN 1/C Luke Cota MIDN 1/C Samantha Fox MIDN 1/C Madison Runge |
Decadal-to-Annual Scale Trends in Regional Arctic Late-Summer Sea Ice Extent | Assoc. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Daniel C. McDonald MIDN 1/C Jordan J. Neal |
Measurement of the Optical Properties of Severn River Surface Waters with an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle | Assoc. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Pia Mackie MIDN 1/C Brennan Means MIDN 1/C Lauren Vernazza |
Optimization of Chlorination/Dechlorination to Reduce or Control Biofouling in Shipboard Systems | Assoc. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Candace Gordon MIDN 1/C James K. Kirby MIDN 1/C Conner Knowles |
Optimization of Side Scan Sonar Images for the Identification of Bottom-Mounted Objects in Shallow Coastal Marine Waters | Assoc. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Abby Ebersole MIDN 1/C Caroline Kelly MIND 1/C Meer Syamansoori |
Sampling and Quantification of Microplastics and Other Synthetic Particles in the Severn River | Assoc. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Brianna Tracy |
| MIDN 1/C Diego Caballero MIDN 1/C James Swanson |
Sub-seasonal Variability of Ocean Currents and Chlorophyll-a in the Bay of Bengal | Assoc. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Prof. Bradford S. Barrett Instr. Alexander R. Davies |
2019
| Presenter(s) | Title | Faculty Advisor(s) |
| MIDN 1/C Jackson Mitchell MIDN 1/C Nicholar Frankfort |
Antarctic Sea Ice and the Madden-Julian Oscillation | Sponsored by the Volgenau Family (Gift Funds) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) |
| MIDN 1/C Hope Balser MIDN 1/C Yasmine Guzman |
The Climate Record of Annapolis, Maryland | Sponsored by the Volgenau Family (Gift Funds) |
| MIDN 1/C Lauren E. Greenberg MIDN 1/C Allison R. Warnimont |
Coastal Nuisance Flooding of the USNA Columbarium, College Creek, Annapolis, MD | Assoc. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Andrew G. Keppel Mr. Luis M. Rodriguez |
| MIDN 1/C Kristy A. Lehmer MIDN 1/C Matthew E. Spelich |
Cross-Channel Assessment of Severn River Watershed Observatory Current and Water Quality Data Using Unmanned and Autonomous Platforms | Assoc. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Andrew G. Keppel Mr. Luis M. Rodriguez |
| MIDN 1/C Paige L. Brigham MIDN 1/C Lucia K. Donnelly |
Measurement of Wintertime Primary Production in the Lower Severn River | Assoc. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Andrew G. Keppel Mr. Luis M. Rodriguez |
| MIDN 1/C Shawn Kluchinsky MIDN 1/C Andrea Juzyca |
Microscale Weather Patterns at USNA | Sponsored by the Volgenau Family (Gift Funds) |
| MIDN 1/C Erin Torrez | Sea Level Rise on Kwajalein Islande Atoll (RMI) | Sponsored by the Volgenau Family (Gift Funds) and the Office of Naval Research (ONR) |
| MIDN 1/C Jackson Mitchell MIDN 1/C Nicholas Frankfort |
Study of Mexican Migration Patterns and Population | Sponsored by the Volgenau Family (Gift Funds) |
| MIDN 1/C Greg L. Gruseck MIDN 1/C Darby J. Minton |
Wintertime Wave Activity Along the U.S. Naval Academy Farragut Seawall | Assoc. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Andrew G. Keppel Mr. Luis M. Rodriguez |
2018
| Presenter(s) | Title | Faculty Advisor(s) |
| MIDN 1/C Hannah Godfrey MIDN 1/C Ashleigh Keister |
The recent Cold Air Outbreak that occurred on the East Coast and the ENSO, MJO, and NAO influences | Assoc. Prof. Bradford S. Barrett Instr. Alexander R. Davies |
| MIDN 1/C Michael J. Cassano MIDN 1/C Jenna Jones MIDN 1/C Shae Timmons |
Validation of a Four-Component Nutrient, Phytoplankton, Zooplankton, and Detritus (NPZD) Model for the Mesohaline Chesapeake Bay | Asst. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Andrew G. Keppel Mr. Luis M. Rodriguez |
| MIDN 1/C Casey Kramer MIDN 1/C Andrew Ahn |
The Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) and its influence on surface wave heights in the Pacific Ocean | Assoc. Prof. Bradford S. Barrett Instr. Alexander R. Davies |
| MIDN 1/C Garrett L. Barrios MIDN 1/C Gage A. Butler |
Assessment of Coastal Processes Affecting Beach Morphology at Sandy Point State Park, MD | Asst. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Andrew G. Keppel Mr. Luis M. Rodriguez Instr. Alexander R. Davies |
| MIDN 1/C Brittany Burg MIDN 1/C Chia-Lin Hu |
Los Angeles: Surface Ozone and Meteorology Impacts | Prof. Bradford S. Barrett |
| MIDN 1/C Benjamin R. McGrath MIDN 1/C Paul H. Spalding |
Comparison of Relative Water Levels at the U.S. Naval Academy and Annapolis City Dock in Response to Local Meteorological Forcing Conditions | Asst. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Andrew G. Keppel Mr. Luis M. Rodriguez |
| MIDN 1/C Colin Hackbarth MIDN 1/C Victoria Ramirez-Solis |
Migration to the US from Mexico and relation to climate shock | Prof. Bradford S. Barrett |
| MIDN 1/C Kellyanne M. Hurst MIDN 1/C Emily G. Ranzau |
Development of High-Resolution Sediment Grain Size and Non-Cohesive Sediment Erodibility Maps for the Lower Severn River | Asst. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Andrew G. Keppel Mr. Luis M. Rodriguez |
| MIDN 1/C Patrick D. Francis MIDN 1/C Jessie E. Sharp |
Evaluation of Physiochemical Contours in the Lower Severn River Developed from Measurements by an EcoMapper Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) | Asst. Prof. Joseph P. Smith Instr. Alexander R. Davies Instr. Andrew G. Keppel Mr. Luis M. Rodriguez |
