UMass Dartmouth researchers help improve hurricane forecasts

An autonomous underwater vehicle launched by SMAST during a powerful nor’easter contributes to the national hurricane forecasting toolkit

For the first time, autonomous underwater vehicles have been added to the national effort to improve hurricane forecasting, collecting ocean measurements that help scientists better understand the conditions storms encounter. UMass Dartmouth researchers at the School for Marine Science and Technology (SMAST) contribute to that effort through an ongoing partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS).

In September, Professor Miles Sundermeyer and his team  deployed MARACOOS-007, an autonomous underwater glider, east of Block Island to collect measurements across the Mid-Atlantic shelf during hurricane season. The mission brought research technician Tyler Knapp and graduate student Grace Dixon into the field—and put the glider to work during a powerful late-September nor’easter.

Collecting ocean data to improve hurricane forecasts 

In 2026, underwater glider observations were formally incorporated into the National Hurricane Operations Plan for the first time, reflecting their growing role in the nation's hurricane forecasting toolkit.  

While satellites and other observing systems provide important information about ocean conditions, underwater gliders collect measurements at different depths, helping scientists build a more complete picture of the ocean's temperature structure and heat content. Those observations contribute to ocean models used in hurricane forecasting, helping improve the information available to scientists as they predict storm intensity and behavior. 

UMass Dartmouth has partnered with the Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS), a regional network supporting ocean observations and research, for more than a decade.  Purchased through a MARACOOS grant, the MARACOOS-007 glider is part of an annual effort supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to collect data across the Mid-Atlantic Bight continental shelf during hurricane season. 

Developing the next generation of ocean researchers 

The deployment gave early-career researchers a chance to take on key roles in the mission. Research technician Tyler Knapp helped lead the boat operation and launch, then monitored and communicated with the glider remotely, tracking its performance and adjusting its mission as conditions changed. 

After earning a degree in aerospace engineering and working for a defense company, Knapp was ready for a new challenge. "I wanted a position where I could help advance our scientific understanding of the ocean and go into the field and do cool deployments like these!" 

Using Slocum Fleet Mission Control, an online platform for monitoring and operating the glider, Knapp tracked its progress and modified and uploaded files to guide the mission. He worked with collaborators at Rutgers University, including David Aragon and Nicole Waite.   

Grace Dixon MS '27, who joined SMAST's Coastal Systems Program in June 2024, was drawn to the deployment by her interest in autonomous underwater vehicles and coastal research. During the launch, Dixon took photos, helped on deck, and watched for the glider to resurface after its maiden voyage. 

Raised in a family of fishermen, Dixon has a personal connection to the ocean and the science that helps us understand coastal environments. 

"I have always been interested in autonomous underwater vehicles and wanted to gain experience with them," Dixon said. "As a native New Englander, I can brag that I helped with the deployment of technology that can help forecast nor'easters!" 

A nor’easter put the research to the test 

The historic late-September nor’easter brought challenging conditions to the Mid-Atlantic, with strong winds and powerful waves affecting the glider's movement. Strong currents pushed the instrument off its planned route, requiring the team to adjust its mission. 

Despite those challenges, the glider continued collecting data, capturing how the storm changed the ocean beneath the surface. 

The observations showed the storm disrupting the ocean's seasonal layering, mixing water to depths of approximately 70 meters. The glider also recorded changes in chlorophyll, a pigment associated with phytoplankton, offering a glimpse of how storm-driven mixing can affect the marine environment. 

For scientists, observations like these help build a better understanding of how the ocean responds to storms and contributes to the broader research behind ocean forecasting and hurricane prediction. 

The deployment connects SMAST's ocean research with hands-on experience for early-career researchers, giving them opportunities to contribute to regional and national observation efforts while building skills in fieldwork, equipment operation, and mission monitoring. 

UMass Dartmouth researchers help improve hurricane forecasts

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