10:55 am Hans Paerl Impacts of the ‘new normal’ in tropical cyclone rainfall and flooding on assessing and managing estuarine/coastal water quality.
“Coastal North Carolina has experienced three extreme tropical cyclone-driven flood events since 1999, causing catastrophic human impacts from flooding and leading to major alterations of water quality, biogeochemistry, and ecological conditions. The apparent increased frequency and magnitudes of such events led us to question whether this is just coincidence or whether we are witnessing a “new normal” in rainfall associated with these storms. Rainfall records since 1898 reveals a period of unprecedentedly high precipitation since the late-1990’s, and a trend toward increasingly high precipitation associated with tropical cyclones over the last 120 years. This represents a recent climatic regime change with major ramifications for hydrology, carbon and nutrient cycling in the US Mid-Atlantic and other coastal regions.”
11:15 Nathan Hall Potential causes for a system-wide change in trophic status of the greater Albemarle Sound ecosystem.
“A system wide increase in trophic status in the greater Albemarle Sound ecosystem appears to be linked to stimulation of cyanobacterial N fixation but the factors underlying this stimulation remain unclear.”
11:35 Leslie Arroyo Coastal plain watersheds: Evolving understanding from 20 years of North Carolina research.
 
11:55 Mollie Yacano Impacts of invasive Phragmites australis on nitrogen processing in the Albemarle-Pamlico system.
12:15 Michael Piehler Managing North Carolina’s largest lake: insights from a decade of research at Lake Mattamuskeet.
“Lake Mattamuskeet provides significant ecological and economic benefits, and submerged plants are an important component of the lake whose distribution has changed through time.  Recent loss of plants has had some negative impacts, and restoration may be a means to improve conditions in the lake.”
12:35 Adam Gold Nitrogen cycling in stormwater control measures: implications for coastal water quality.
“Stormwater ponds permanently remove less nitrogen during the summer, and they permanently remove less nitrogen as they get older.  Stormwater wetlands function better for nitrogen removal, but pond excavation and aeration may help ponds function better.”

Group discussion while eating lunch 20 min- Nathan Hall (please bring lunch)