Midshipman Independent Research Projects
2021
Cofer, H., Seasonal Variability in Material Fluxes Through Rivers and Streams on the North Slope of Alaska . Prof. Smith
Hess, M., Spatial Distribution of Microplastics and Synthetic Particulates in the Severn River and Annapolis Harbor . Prof. Smith , Instr. Tracy
Long, K., Mass Fluxes through Small River Systems on the Alaskan North Slope in Response to Spatial and Temporal Thermodynamic Variations . CDR Gallaher, Prof. Smith
Santella, G., Early Melt Season Variability Of Fast Ice Degradation Due To Small Arctic Riverine Heat Fluxes . CDR Gallaher
Spedero, C., Subseasonal Variability of Surface Ocean Currents in the Bay of Bengal . Prof. Barrett, Instr. Davies , Prof. Smith
Taylor, A., Seasonal Change in Microplastics in Severn River Oysters. Prof. Steppe
2020
An, B., Preliminary Characterization of Springtime Soundscapes on a Severn River Oyster Reef. Prof. Steppe
Bess, A., Investigating Variability of Antarctic Sea Ice on Subseasonal-to-Seasonal Time Scales. Prof. Barrett, Prof. Henderson
Cartwright, N., Extreme blocking in the North Atlantic Arctic in future climates. Prof. Henderson , Prof. Barrett
Doyle, E., The USNA Polar Science & Technology Program 2019 Alaska North Slope Material Flux Study: Spring-To-Late Summer Variability in Iron and Carbon Fluxes Through Small Rivers . Prof. Smith
Evans, N., Preliminary result of heat, turbulence, and sediment fluxes through small rivers and streams from the U.S. Naval Academy Polar Science & Technology Program Alaska North Slope Material Flux Study. CDR Gallaher
Fagan, W., Tracking rapid environmental chance with lidar and Planet imagery. Prof. Guth
Geoffory, T., Using high-resolution ICESat-2 point clouds to evaluate 1-3 arc second global digital elevation models. Prof. Guth
Jackson, C., Examining the Madden-Julian Oscillation in Climate Models. Prof. Barrett, Prof. Henderson
Malick, A., Microplastics in Digestive Systems of Winter Flesh Assemblages in the Sever River. Prof. Steppe
McClelland, M., System for Hazard Assessment of Release Chemicals (SHARC) Model Validation and Verification Studies: Improvement of Model Prediction for Chemical Releases in Dynamic Estuarine Systems . Prof. Smith
Sheehy, T.R., Validation of ICESAT-2 ocean elevation with hydrographic measurements from SIZRS flights. CDR Gallaher
2019
Barnes, T., Oregon Coast Risk Assessment Modeling for M9 Cascadia Event Inundation. Prof. Guth
Blackburn, J., Assessing Oysters (Crassostrea Virginica ) Survival and Health in College Creek (Maryland, USA). Prof. Steppe
Buinaskas, M., Mapping debris fields of lost US ships from the 1994 Battle of Leyte Gulf. Prof. Guth
Caniban, J.P., The US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNSY) Chlorination/D chlorination System Project Evaluation of Chemical Agents . Prof. Smith
Chandler, C., The fate of the upper ocean heat storage under late summer winds in the Arctic. CDR Gallaher
Davis, G., Local-scale Water Level Differences and Meteorological Divers in Annapolis , MD. Instr. Davies , Prof. Smith
Henry, M and McDonnell, E., Quantifying the Impact of Atmospheric Blocking on the Mean State of the North Atlantic Sector of the Arctic. Prof. Barrett, Prof. Henderson
Martin, K., Intraseasonal variability of the Gulf Stream current. Prof. Barrett, Instr. Davies
Paschall, R., Measuring Water-Quality of the Lower Severn River Using an Autonomous Surface Kayak . Prof. Smith
Swanson, T., GIS analysis of the battle of Samar, October 1994. Prof. Guth
Wan, L., Annapolis hurricane history: a study of the sensitivity to storm intensity and approach vector. Instr. Davies , Prof. Barrett
Wegner, M., Characterization of Mesozooplankton Species Assemblages in the Severn River, Annapolis, MD USA. Prof. Steppe
2018
Abunike, T., Development of algorithms for the detection and identification fo bottom-moored objects from sidescan sonar imagery . Prof. Smith
Aguilar, T., Variability of precipitable water vapor in the Atacama Desert, Chile. Prof. Barrett
Anies, E., Baseline analysis of oils, CDOM, and optical brighteners in shallow estuarine environments: potential tools for evaluating restoration effectiveness. Prof. Muller
Brandon, N., Reconstruction of a long-term storm frequency index at the site of the historic World War 1 shipwreck of the USS San Diego (ACR-6) . Prof. Smith
Bruns, B., Simulating natural rainbows: effects of raindrop size, shape, and background. Prof. Lee
Cecchini, E., Estimates of upper ocean heat storage from the Oceans Melting Greenland Project. CDR Gallaher
Densmore, C., Exploring the propagation of MJO through the Maritime Continent. Prof. Barrett, CAPT Sanabia
Ma, T., The Coastal Kayak Autonomous Surface Vehicle (ASV) Version 2.0 . Prof. Smith
Pahissa, M., Atmospheric glories: cloud optics meets microphysics. Prof. Lee
Winn, A., Cyclilng of Physical Parameters in the Severn River. Prof. Steppe
Wise, K., Effects of surface winds in air-sea interactions and oceanic temperature response in Hurricane Irma. CAPT Sanabia
2017
Byers, C., Exploring the use of Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) Unmanned Quadcopters to Identify and Characterize Ice Surface Features . Prof. Smith
Densmore, C., Observational analyses of Madden-Julian Oscillation propagation through the Maritime Continent . Prof. Barrett, CAPT Sanabia
Kennedy, B., Depth in the Great Barrier Reef: the comparison of LANDSAT 8 images and bathymetric data . Prof. Guth
Laboy, B., Mapping of Coastal Reef Systems Using an Autonomous Surface Kayak . Prof. Smith
Leonard, C., The record-breaking weather of March 2016: synoptic analysis and characteristics . Prof. Barrett
Mollner, D., Monte Carlo simulations of clear twilights in aerosol & molecular atmospheres . Prof. Lee
Renfro-Pihut, T., Validation, calibration, and evaluation of a Severn River Delft3D-FLOW model . CDR Swick
Rose, J., Intraseasonal variability of the ocean: impacts of the Madden-Julian Oscillation . Prof. Barrett, Instr. Davies
Shinavski, K., Microplastics in the digestive tracts of Chesapeake Bay fish . Prof. Steppe
Snow, P., The use of Autonomous Underwater Vehicle for quantification of velocity fields in Severn River/College Creek, MD . CDR Swick
2016
Boyce, G., The search for the USS Indianapolis . Prof. Guth
Cheslack, H., Assessing ecosystem services of a restored oyster bar in College Creek post sea-wall renovation. Prof. Steppe
Darragh, M., Development of Sediment Grain Size Maps from Sidescan Surveys of the Lower Severn River, Maryland . Prof. Smith
Eng, A. Seasonal Evolution of a Near-Surface Temperature Maximum (NSTM) in the Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) of the Beaufort Sea from 2012-2013 . Prof. Smith
Hayes, H., The effects of contamination on amphipod (Gammarus mucronatus ) survival. Prof. Steppe
Hoecherl, V., A comparison of chromium concentrations in the sediments of the Severn River and a dredged material containment facility. Prof. Steppe
McKenna, J., Creating 3D point clouds of the HMS Greenwich ship model . Prof. Guth
Pruden, G., Assessment of gametogenic stage in College Creek oysters; spawning vs. resorption of gametes. Prof. Steppe
Sherenco, A., Using GIS to provide spatial analysis of artefacts on board the Swedish warship, Vasa . Prof. Guth
Talbot, T., Using the Google Cloud to process NDVI for analyzing water stress in Saudi Arabia and California cropland . Prof. Guth
2015
Boudart, E., Movement of catfish Ictalurus furcatus relative to streamflow and salinity in the Patuxent River. Prof. Steppe
Brecht, A., Atmospheric efficiencies for severe weather , Honors research project. Prof. Barrett
Fuller, M. Optical Characterization of the South River Estuary, MD Through EEMS/PARAFAC Analysis . Prof. Smith
Leslie, H., The Madden-Julian Oscillation and severe convective storm hazards in the U.S. , Independent research project. Prof. Barrett
Lois, K. Validation and verification of model predictions for I-131 transport in the tidal-fresh Potomac River . Prof. Smith
Panek, L. Mineralogy, Bacterial Diversity, and Bioavailable Trace element Loading in the Silt/Clay Fraction of Surficial Soils from Iraq and Kuwait . Prof. Smith
Prochilo, A., Lidar analysis of the battle for Guam with applications to the present. Prof. Guth
Reynolds, S., Evolution of the upper-level outflow during hurricanes Iselle and Julio (2014) in the Navy Global Environmental Model (NAVGEM) analyses , Independent research project. Presented at the 95th AMS Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Paper 691 .
South, K., Relationships between snow depth and the Madden-Julian Oscillation using self-organizing maps , Honors research project. Prof. Barrett, Prof. Henderson
Stapleton, J. and A. Borrego, Satellite and aircraft observations of upper-level outflow in Hurricanes Iselle and Julio (2014) , Independent (Stapleton) and Honors (Borrego) research project. Presented at the 95th AMS Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Paper 691 . Prof. Barrett., CAPT Sanabia
Werling, J., Intraseasonal influences on terrestrial snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere , Honors research project. Presented at the 95th AMS Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Paper S148 . Prof. Barrett, Prof. Henderson
2014
Baguley, L., Mapping water depth in the Chesapeake Bay, Florida Key, and Hawaii: a comparison of bathymetric soundings and Landsat I operational land imager imaging. Prof. Guth
Coughlin, J., Self-organizing maps and tropical intraseasonal variability , Honors research project. Prof. Barrett, Prof. Henderson
Henley, B., Hail occurrence: relationship to the intraseasonal oscillation , Honors research project. Presented at the 94th AMS Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Paper S6 . Prof. Barrett
Hoerner, E., Artefact distribution on the Vasa . Prof. Guth
Hughes, N., Atmospheric contaminants in Chile: PM10 and O3 , Honors research project. Prof. Barrett
Kreyenhagen, E., Intraseasonal influences on terrestrial snow cover in the Northern Hemisphere , Honors research project. Presented at the 94th AMS Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Paper S87 . Prof. Barrett, Prof. Henderson
LaFleur, D. M., A climatology of the Madden-Julian Oscillation , Honors research project. Presented at the 94th AMS Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Paper J4.2 and the 93rd AMS Annual Meeting in Austin, TX, Paper S62 . Prof. Barrett, Prof. Henderson
Suriben, R. Spatial Variations in Late Summer Tundra Methane Flux on the North Slope of Alaska . Prof. Smith
Talbot, T. Image analysis of oyster gametogenesis. Co-author on presentation of gametogenesis at Coastal Hypoxia Research Program PI Meeting, Edgewater, MD (2014). Prof. Steppe
Ziemski, B. Potential Legacy of Heavy Metal Contamination in the Sediments of Former Sewage Holding Ponds at Otter Point Creek, MD . Prof. Smith
2013
Baker, B. (App. Phys.) Optical Brighteners as a Wastewater Plume Tracer in Estuarine Systems . Prof. Smith
Fine, C., Structural changes and convective processes in tropical cyclones as seen in infrared and water vapor satellite data , Trident Scholar Project. Prof. Barrett., CAPT Sanabia
Fletcher, C. A Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Lesson Plan for Use in Teaching Water Quality Concepts in China . Prof. Smith
Fortner, E. Settlement of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica ) and associated benthic fauna in the Severn River. Prof. Steppe
Fruin, B., Intra-seasonal variability of surface ozone in Los Angeles and its relationship to the Madden Julian Oscillation , Honors research project. Presented at the 93rd AMS Annual Meeting in Austin, Paper S79 . Prof. Barrett
Kelly, S. (App. Phys.) Validation and Verifications of Model Predictions for 137 Cs Fate and Transport in the Tidal Fresh Potomac River . Prof. Smith
Moriarty, B., Fusion of hyperspectral imagery and gridded lidar data for urban area classification in Houston, Texas. Prof. Guth
Ragsdale, K., Relationship between particulate matter in the central Chilean Valley and the Madden-Julian Oscillation , Honors research project. Presented at the 93rd AMS Annual Meeting in Austin, Paper S82 . Prof. Barrett
Stamer, S. Scale Matters: The Need for a Customizable Autonomous Research Platform for Estuarine Research . Prof. Smith
2012
Cary, C., Validation of Model Predictions for the Dispersion of Reactive Chemical Releases in a Sub-estuary of the Chesapeake Bay . Prof. Smith
Davidson, J., Assessing the Plausibility of Hough Transforms for Automated Detection of Biofouling and its Associated Agents . Prof. Smith
Ellis, A., Flocculation in the Pearl River Estuary – Particle Size Variations in a Circumneutral pH River System with High Colloidal Iron . Prof. Smith
Fisher, J., Influence of Different Organic Matter Loading on Ambient Bacteria in Brackish ‘Challenge’ Water Stored in Small-scale, Simulated Ballast Water Tanks . Prof. Smith
Lucas, A., A Wavelet Approach to the Combined Effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation and Arctic Oscillation on Arctic Sea Ice Extent . Prof. Smith
Mayer, H., Assessing reproductive condition of oysters (Crassostrea virginica ) in the Severn River via image analysis. Prof. Steppe
Migut, S., An casualty analysis of the 2011 Joplin tornado, Independent research project. Prof. Barrett
Palmer, E., MJO and El Nino impacts on Chilean precipitation, Independent research project. Prof. Barrett
Pritchard, S., Meteorological factors affecting intraseasonal variability of surface ozone concentrations in Santiago, Chile by phase of the MJO , Honors research project. Presented at the 92nd AMS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Paper S38 . Prof. Barrett
Testino, A., Predicting air quality through the phasing of the Madden-Julian Oscillation in Santiago, Chile , Honors research project. Presented at the 92nd AMS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Paper S55 . 2012 AMS Macelwane Award winner. Prof. Barrett
2011
Barlow, C., Investigating wind energy potential in Chile from a synoptic-scale perspective , Honors research project. Presented at the 14th AMS Mountain Meteorology Conference in Lake Tahoe, Paper 1.15 . 2011 Rhodes Scholarship winner . Prof. Barrett
Fitzmaurice, S., Projecting the Madden-Julian Oscillation onto air quality in Santiago, Chile , Honors research project. Presented at the 2011 National Air Quality Conference in San Diego, Paper P3. Prof. Barrett
Fridye, T., Application of Shallow Sediment Geochemical and Geophysical Data to Infer Methane Flux from Methane Hydrate Bearing Strata in Alaminos Canyon, Gulf of Mexico . Prof. Smith
Rahall, B., Comparison of grow-out of Crassostrea virginica spat set by traditional and in situ methods. Poster presented at the 2011 National Shellfisheries Association Meeting, Baltimore, MD (2011). Prof. Steppe
Tagan, P., Cultivation of oyster spat-on-shell. Co-author on poster presented at the 2011 National Shellfisheries Association Meeting, Baltimore, MD (2011). Co- author on presentation at the International Conference on Shellfish Restoration, Charleston, SC (2010). Prof. Steppe
Ziel and Howell. 3D GIS and Spatial Analysis of Artifact Locations on the Gun Decks of Vasa. Prof. Guth
2010
Ashmore, D., Precipitation variability in Chile as seen by TRMM, Honors research project. Prof. Barrett
Byers. The Battle of Attu Island: Mountain Warfare at Sea Level . 8th International Conference on Military Geosciences, Vienna, Austria (2009). Prof. Guth
Hady, K., Performance of a microbial fuel cell deployed in Santee Basin. Prof. Steppe
Hearn, R., (USMA '11), Historical GIS: artillery at the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg). Prof. Guth
Krieger, D., Chilean winter precipitation: an exercise in interpolating sparse data onto a national grid , Honors research project. Presented at the 14th AMS Mountain Meteorology Conference in Lake Tahoe, Paper 1.13 . Prof. Barrett
Moss, Deriving vegetation height from LIDAR DSMs and DTMs: The problem of negative elevation heights . Prof. Guth
Rentz, K., Variation in rocky intertidal algal abundance as a result of biological and environmental factors. Prof. Steppe
Ruffin, D., A GIS Analysis of the Meuse-Argonne offensive, SEP-NOV 1918. Prof. Guth
Ziel, E., 3D GIS of the Swedish warship VASA . Prof. Guth
2009
Devries, S., Advection and diffusion of satellite-tracked drifters within the Severn River (Annapolis, MD, USA); implications for connectivity among local tributaries and Chesapeake bay. Co-author on presentation at the Chesapeake Community Modeling Program Symposium. Annapolis, MD (2010). Prof. Steppe
Jacks. Historical GIS of the Normandy Invasion (Operation Overlord). Prof. Guth
Jordan, L., The relationship between tsunami generation and subduction zone earthquake characteristics. Prof. Guth
Moeller, M., Faunal assemblage found on oyster aquaculture trays in the Severn River. Prof. Steppe
Sweeney, S., Growth and mortality of the oyster Crassostrea virginica in aquaculture trays; the role of water depth and proximity to a restored oyster bar. Co-author on Aquacultural Engineering paper (2010). Prof. Steppe
Terwey, A., Sub-bottom profile of old channels in the Chesapeake Bay. Prof. Guth