Physical Oceanography

Chad Lembke

Research Faculty, Project Engineer, College of Marine Science
MME, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 2007
Office Phone: 727-553-3976
Email: clembke@usf.edu
CV: View PDF
CMS Ocean Technology Group

 

 

 

 

 

 

Research: Technology Applications, Autonomous Systems, AUVs, ROVs, Sensor Development, Circulation Measurement, Harmful Algal Bloom Evolution, Fish Stock Analysis, Habitat Mapping, Water Column Analysis, Seafloor Measurements and Mapping

The utilization of technology to assist in understanding oceanographic systems is increasingly essential to making new discoveries.  Technological innovations can provide new insight for understanding how the ocean works when properly utilized.  This can be realized by creating, optimizing, or even re-purposing technology to look at the environment in new innovative ways that can provide new insights or enable significant efficiencies in the collection of observations.  My tenure at USF has focused on this in collaboration with researchers and other engineers to facilitate the collection of observations to further research endeavors. 

Efforts of note include contributions to: Sensors enabling underwater mass spectrometry, in-situ plankton imaging, water column radiometry, high resolution in-situ chemical analysis, tagging and tracking of biological specimens, optical and acoustic bottom measurement and classification, and acoustic analysis of the water column, soundscape, and sea floor.

Platform development and operation such as profiling floats, profiling gliders, remote operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, autonomous surface vehicles, tow-bodies, buoys, drifters, and shore side stations.
And ultimately the combination of platforms and sensors to optimize the collection of variables of interest.

These efforts have enabled numerous collaborations resulting in hundreds of days at sea supporting these efforts, including currently working primarily in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and Southeastern US coastal waters by facilitating large scale fish habitat mapping efforts and management of USF’s underwater glider fleet.