Rutgers Expert Can Discuss Beachwater Quality, Monitoring With Underwater Gliders

New Brunswick, N.J. (May 17, 2019) – Rutgers University–New Brunswick Professor Josh T. Kohut is available to discuss oceanographic conditions that affect beachwater quality in New Jersey and the upcoming deployments of underwater robot gliders to help monitor water quality this beach season.

Rutgers experts are working with the N.J. Department of Environmental Protection to deploy a glider to monitor coastal water quality three times this season. The first deployment is scheduled for late May/early June.

“Rutgers is excited to partner with the NJDEP in the continued deployments of underwater gliding ocean robots on missions to monitor coastal water quality from Sandy Hook to Cape May,” said Kohut, an associate professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Sciences in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences.

This year is the 45th anniversary of the NJDEP’s Cooperative Coastal Monitoring Program, which provides water quality data and beach status information for 188 ocean, 22 bay and eight river public recreational beaches that are monitored throughout the season, according to an NJDEP news release. The beach season starts May 25.

The njbeaches.org website offers maps and other information about which beaches are open, closed or have swimming advisories, water quality test results and updates from coastal surveillance flights that look for algal blooms or debris that might affect a Shore visit. Daily updates began May 13 and will continue through September. The website also has annual beach season summary reports, fact sheets on beach and/or ocean-related issues and photos of animals and items found in the water and on beaches.

Kohut is available to comment at [email protected]

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Broadcast interviews: Rutgers University has broadcast-quality TV and radio studios available for remote live or taped interviews with Rutgers experts. For more information, contact Neal Buccino at [email protected]

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