In early December a team led by Dr. Philippe Tissot, Chair for Coastal Artificial Intelligence at the Conrad Blucher Institute (CBI) TAMU-CC placed several temperature monitors throughout Espiritu Santo Bay. The sensors were placed as part of the research conducted by the National Science Foundation AI Institute for Research on Trustworthy AI in Weather, Climate, and Coastal Oceanography (AI2ES). The sensors will collect water and air temperatures throughout the winter and the data will be used to develop and test a new AI method to predict cold stunning events.

“An artificial intelligence based warning system has been in operation for the Laguna Madre since 2009.” said Tissot. “But building such a system further north along the Texas coast has so far not been possible.” He and his students teamed up with POC locals, Brigid and Allan Berger of the Mid-Coast Sea Turtle Rescue to select the locations throughout Espiritu Santo Bay.

“Providing advance notice of a cold stunning event is very helpful to all involved, including to time the stoppage of coastal activities, for agencies and volunteers to be ready for rescues and rehabilitation,” explained Dr. Tissot. “Espiritu Santo Bay was selected to test a new method where predictions are based on far away TCOON stations.”

TCOON (Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network) stations provide real-time information for water level, air and water temperature, and barometric pressure. These graphs are available on the TidesandCurrent.NOAA.gov/map website and can be helpful to fisherman and boaters. In Port O’Connor the TCOON station is at the end of the little jetty. The Seadrift station is outside the marina.

To place the sensors at the optimal water depth, undergraduate student, Christian Duff entered the chilly December water donning a wetsuit. PhD student, Miranda White, and Florence Tissot prepared, tested, and documented each of the monitors before and after the sensors’ placement.

In his final remark, Tissot said hopefully, “We are now crossing our fingers for the majority of the sensors to survive the winter and we are looking forward to a field trip early summer to retrieve the data loggers.”

For more information about the Mid-Coast Sea Turtle Rescue and other efforts by San Antonio Bay Partnership contact MidCoastSeaTurtleRescue@gmail.com -Brigid Berger