Joseph S. Ramus

The theme of my research is the ecological response of a large estuary, the Pamlico Sound system, to watershed scale natural and anthropogenic perturbations. The information will be used in predictive modeling to guide policy and management actions, e.g., river basin nutrient management plans. A specific program, initiated in 2000 with Hans Paerl (UNC-CH-IMS), is FerryMon. This is time and space intensive measurement of water quality parameters, and is designed to fast track status and trends analysis for the Sound. It utilizes fully automated sonde and grab sampler systems aboard NC DOT ferries which ply the Pamlico Sound and its tributary rivers. A high priority is the coupling of the FerryMon program to coastal remote sensing (IR, VIS and LIDAR). FerryMon data are an ideal calibration tool for remote sensors, the latter offering 2-D coverage of the Pamlico Sound system. FerryMon is sufficiently time intensive to coincide with remote sensor flyovers without scheduling logistics, and therefore is the ideal complement to remote sensing programs.