UNC Dept of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences
@unc-emes.bsky.social
2.9K followers 590 following 110 posts
Department of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences (EMES) at UNC Chapel Hill. Established July 2021 from the Geological Sciences and Marine Sciences departments and the UNC Institute of Marine Sciences. https://emes.unc.edu/
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Reposted by UNC Dept of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences
mpiehler.bsky.social
I am honored and humbled by this recognition. I am also exceptionally grateful to all of my amazing collaborators throughout the years.
unc-ie.bsky.social
🌎 A champion for environment and sustainability, @unc-ie.bsky.social director and @uncchapelhill.bsky.social chief sustainability officer @mpiehler.bsky.social was recently named Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor.

Read more about Piehler's deep Carolina roots and distinguished career.
A champion for environment and sustainability, Piehler named Cary C. Boshamer Distinguished Professor  - UNC Institute for the Environment
Piehler is a renowned leader in coastal environmental science.
ie.unc.edu
Reposted by UNC Dept of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences
marchettilab.bsky.social
Check out Margarita’s chemostat setup to examine shifts in nutrient quotas in Galapagos diatoms throughout diel cycles. She will be sampling every three hours over the next two days!! 🥱
Reposted by UNC Dept of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences
globalhydro.bsky.social
Are water levels in wetlands important to you? @kica22.bsky.social's new paper in GRL shows that the SWOT satellite can measure water surface elevations in the Everglades with a mean absolute error of 6.7 cm. Check it out! agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Scientific figuring with three panels. Left panel shows a map of the Everglades in Florida overlaid with data from the SWOT mission. It shows very detailed water level data throughout the everglades. The second panel, in the upper right, is a scatterplot showing in situ gauge water level against SWOT water level. It shows a mean absolute error of 6.7 cm, a correlation coefficient of 0.996, and a mean bias of 6.8 cm. The third figure, a scatterplot in the lower right, shows that by averaging 30 or more SWOT pixels, high accuracy is possible.
Reposted by UNC Dept of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences
aslo.org
Join us in thanking our #ASLO_ECC members for hosting a fun early career mixer yesterday at #ASLO25! The event was buzzing with lively conversations, networking, and the joy of reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Share your favorite moments and tag #ASLO25 in your photos!
unc-emes.bsky.social
Emma Dempsey making EMES proud with her action-oriented research on antimicrobial resistance, coastal storms and wastewater infrastructure in the face of climate change.
PhD student Emma Dempsey giving a talk at ASLO 2025. She is standing behind a podium and the slide next to her has her talk title, antimicrobial resistance and the stress of climate change-driven coastal storms on wastewater systems.
Reposted by UNC Dept of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences
marchettilab.bsky.social
The dynamic duo of Margarita and Abby presenting their research on phytoplankton dynamics in the Galapagos at ASLO in Charlotte NC. #ASLO25
Reposted by UNC Dept of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences
marchettilab.bsky.social
Taller members of the Marchetti Lab presenting their massive research findings at ASLO in Charlotte NC. #ASLO25. Go Emily!
Reposted by UNC Dept of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences
marchettilab.bsky.social
Smaller members of the Marchetti Lab presenting massive research findings at the Aquatic Sciences meeting in Charlotte NC @aslo.org. Go Raquel!
unc-emes.bsky.social
Capping off our busy Saturday were seven posters from graduate students Margarita Lankford, Veronica Slevin, Riley Moran and Lillian Cooper and undergraduate students Keshav Srivenkatesh, Eleanor Hennessey and Lauren McShea #ASLO25

@veronicaslevin.bsky.social
Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences
Poster Presentations in Exhibit Hall A
6:00 PM Saturday, March 29
The Influence of Physical Processes on Phytoplankton Community Structure in the Galapagos Archipelago (SS09P-9402)
Margarita Lankford
Graduate Student
Modeling Carbon Biogeochemical Cycling in Integrated Lake and River Networks (SS35P-9423)
Veronica Slevin
Graduate Student
Fluorometric Assay for the Detection of Methanol in Aquatic Environments and Bacterial Cultures (SS02P-9502)
Keshav Srivenkatesh
Undergraduate Student Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences
Poster Presentations in Exhibit Hall A
6:00 PM Saturday, March 29
Temperature-Dependent Hydrolytic Activity of Epipelagic Microbial Communities (SS11P-9014)
Eleanor Hennessey
Undergraduate Student
Technique Development: Integrating Drivers of Spatiotemporal Variation of Microplastics in Freshwater Systems (SS12P-9181)
Riley Moran
Graduate Student
Evaluating Methods for Estimating Seagrass Blue Carbon Stocks in Core Sound, North Carolina (SS04P-9182)
Lillian Cooper
Graduate Student
Impact of Changing Environmental Conditions on Desorption of PFAS from Sediments in Lacustrine Environments (SS16P-9183)
Lauren McShea
Undergraduate Student
unc-emes.bsky.social
Later on Saturday, postdoc Dr. Raquel Flynn and graduate student Emily Speciale presented talks on how microscopic marine organisms - eukaryotic phytoplankton and mixotrophs - respond to nutrients like nitrogen and iron #ASLO25
@marchettilab.bsky.social
Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences
Oral Presentations
Saturday, March 29
10:15 AM          W207CD
Physiological Response of Small Eukaryotic Phytoplankton to Differing Nitrogen Regimes in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (SS18A-9050)
Dr. Raquel Flynn
Postdoctoral Scholar
3:45 PM          W205CD
Battling Trophic Modes: How Do Mixotrophs Respond to Iron Limitation in Upwelling Zones? (SS19A-8988)
Emily Speciale
Graduate Student
unc-emes.bsky.social
#ASLO25 weekend recap!

On Saturday morning, graduate students Emma Dempsey and Yubeen Jeong gave talks in SS45: North Carolina’s coast at the doorstep of climate change. This session, organized in part by by Drs. Hans Paerl and Rachel Noble, also featured a talk by Dr. Paerl.

@aslo.org
Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences
Oral Presentations
Saturday, March 29
9:00 AM          W205CD
Biogeochemical and ecological impacts of ~30 years of elevated tropical cyclone activity on North Carolina’s estuarine and coastal waters (SS45-9143)
Dr. Hans Paerl
Professor
9:45 AM          W205CD
Antimicrobial Resistance and the Stress of Climate Change-Driven Coastal Flooding on Wastewater Systems
(SS45-9257)
Emma Dempsey
Graduate Student
10:15 AM          W205CD
Long-Term Analysis of Gulf Stream Variability at Cape Hatteras Using High-Frequency Radar Surface Current Observations (SS45-9459)
Yubeen Jeong
Graduate Student Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences
Organized Sessions
Saturday, March 29
9:00-10:30 AM          W205CD
North Carolina’s coast at the doorstep of climate change (SS45P)
Lead Organizer: Dr. Hans Paerl, Co-Organizer: Dr. Rachel Nobel
Professors
6:00 PM          Exhibit Hall A
Integrating and Developing ‘Omics Technologies in Aquatic Community Ecology (SS08P)
Co-Organizer: Dr. Adrian Marchetti
Professor
6:00 PM          Exhibit Hall A
Reducing Nutrient Inputs to Coastal and Inland Waters: How Hard Can It Be? (SS34P)
Co-Organizer: Dr. Nathan Hall
Research Assistant Professor
6:00 PM          Exhibit Hall A
North Carolina’s coast at the doorstep of climate change (SS45P)
Lead Organizer: Dr. Hans Paerl, Co-Organizer: Dr. Rachel Nobel
Professors
Reposted by UNC Dept of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences
drchikitoo.bsky.social
Our #PTp latest article #EPLS Donoso-Tapia et al.. 2025 article about deserpentinization and reserpentinization in 🇪🇨 Raspas complex was feature in New Studies on Serpentinites of ⁦‪@AAPG‬⁩ CORE ELEMENTS ⁦‪@UNC‬⁩ ⁦‪@UNC_EMES‬⁩
newsletters.aapg.org/new-studies-...
New Studies on Serpentinites
newsletters.aapg.org
unc-emes.bsky.social
This afternoon, postdoctoral researchers Chad Lloyd and Mingying Chuo will present their research on the effects of pressure on polysaccharide update by bacteria and how light limitation during salinity intrusions impact phytoplankton.
Flyer highlighting presentations from members of UNC EMES at the ASLO meeting. The text reads:
Department of Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences
Oral Presentations
Friday, March 28

2:30 PM          W201ABCD
Selfish Uptake of Polysaccharides by Marine Heterotrophic Bacteria at Elevated Hydrostatic Pressure (SS10B-9105)
Dr. Chad Lloyd
Postdoctoral Scholar

3:00 PM          W208
Alleviation of Phytoplankton Light Limitation by Salinity Intrusion in a CDOM Rich, Oligohaline Estuary (CS09-8766)
Dr. Mingying Chuo
Postdoctoral Scholar
unc-emes.bsky.social
We are at #ASLO25!

Yesterday morning, graduate student Mary Kate Rinderle kicked of the EMES presentations with her talk, characterizing a cyanobacteria-driven regime shift within Lake Mattamuskeet, NC using long-term monitoring datasets, in session SS42A.

@aslo.org
Logo for the 2025 ASLO Meeting. On top of a background image of an ocean wave, the text reads Taking the Aquatic Pulse Aquatic Sciences Meeting 26-31 March 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
unc-emes.bsky.social
Please join us tomorrow morning to celebrate Aundre Jackson as he defends his Master's thesis! While at UNC, Aundre's research has focused on the question, to what extent does V. fischeri use T6SS weapons to invade an already colonized territory?

See you at 10:30 am tomorrow in Murray Hall or Zoom!
Dark blue flyer with a picture of MS student Aundre Jackson and the following text - "MS Thesis Defense of Aundre Jackson Wednesday March 26 at 10:30 am Murray 3204 and Zoom. To what extent does V. fischeri use T6SS weapons to invade an already colonized territory?"
unc-emes.bsky.social
It's giving...Earth! Marine Science! Environment!

Happy #GiveUNC Day! Your donation supports the incredible work of students and faculty across disciplines in EMES, from funding research travel to awarding outstanding student accomplishments. Share your love for #UNC, share your love for Earth💙🌎
Flyer that says Give UNC 3-25-25 and lists three department names - Earth, Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Sciences, and Environment, Ecology and Energy Program. There is a donation box in the bottom right corner with a pink heart Collage of photos showing EMES researchers at work in the field as well as photos of lab work and the new mural on the Institute of Marine Sciences building.
unc-emes.bsky.social
The most unique finds were a license plate and a full outfit (including 3 pairs of shoes - check out the first photo)!

Thank you to the Haw River Assembly for organizing the Clean-Up-A-Thon! To learn more, visit their website www.hawriver.org
Haw River Assembly
www.hawriver.org
unc-emes.bsky.social
To celebrate Orange County Creek Week and World Water Day, members of the UNC Global Hydrology Lab participated in the 35th annual Haw River Clean-Up-A-Thon on Saturday!

In 1.5 hours, the UNC team pulled 14 bags of trash from Booker Creek in Chapel Hill.
@globalhydro.bsky.social @iarauz.bsky.social
Member of the UNC Global Hydrology Lab, Jack Dechow, standing in a parking lot with 8 orange bags of trash. He is smiling and giving two thumbs up. Lexi Henny and Alayna Smith, members of the UNC Global Hydrology Lab, are standing behind vines where they have been picking up trash. Alayna is holding an orange bag of trash. Isabela Arauz, member of the UNC Global Hydrology Lab, leans down to pick up trash from among some ivy. She is holding an orange trash bag and smiling.
Group selfie of members of the UNC Global Hydrology Lab. From left to right are Lexi Henny, Maks Fuks, Jack Dechow, Tamlin Pavelsky, Isabela Arauz, Alayna Smith and Julianne Davis.
unc-emes.bsky.social
Aliyah is the first African American student to earn a PhD in Marine Sciences at UNC. Thanks to her incredible mentorship and work as CEO and founder of the non-profit Mahogany Mermaids, Aliyah is helping the next generation find their place in STEM.

Learn more on her website! aliyahgriffith.com
HOME | Aliyah Griffith
aliyahgg.wixsite.com
unc-emes.bsky.social
We are thrilled to wish Aliyah Griffith a very happy (belated) Ph.D. defense day! 🪸🎉

On Monday March 17, Aliyah defended her dissertation on coral reef structure, community composition shifts, and the complexities of coral reef management across three regions in the Greater Caribbean and Florida.
Dark blue flyer with a picture of PhD candidate Aliyah Griffith and the following text - "Congratulations to our newest doctor Aliyah Griffith on the successful defense of her dissertation, coral reef structure, community composition shifts, and the complexities of coral reef management across three regions in the Greater Caribbean and Florida, on March 17!
Reposted by UNC Dept of Earth, Marine & Environmental Sciences
geosociety.bsky.social
The J. David Lowell Field Camp Scholarship is GSA's annual award for undergraduate students to attend summer field camp. Students are awarded $2,000 each to attend the #FieldCamp of their choice based on diversity, financial need & merit. Learn more & apply by 9 April here: geosociety.co/JDL
unc-emes.bsky.social
It's a double defense day! Join us at 12 pm in Murray Hall or on Zoom for the MS thesis defense of Jack Baer! Jack will be sharing his research on how design storms underestimate flood hazard and risk derived from stochastic storm transposition.
Dark blue flyer with a picture of MS student Jack Baer and the following text - "MS Thesis Defense of Jack Baer Friday March 21 at 12:00 pm Murray 3204 and Zoom. Design storms underestimate flood hazard and risk derived from stochastic storm transposition."
unc-emes.bsky.social
As a member of the Environment, Ecology and Energy (E3P) program, Nick has conducted his PhD under the advisement of Dr. Fodrie at the Institute of Marine Sciences. We can't wait to hear the culmination of all his hard work!