BIOS Celebrates 25 Years of Oceanographic Time-series Science

On April 24, 2014, BIOS faculty, staff, and supporters gathered in the Tradewinds Auditorium at BUEI to highlight a quarter century of science carried out through the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS), and to celebrate the numerous individuals who have contributed to the growth and longevity of the oceanographic time-series.

Created in 1988, the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study was established to make monthly measurements of important hydrographic, biological, and chemical parameters throughout the water column at sites within the Sargasso Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Today, BATS (along with Hydrostation S) represents the longest continually-run time-series site in the open ocean, providing scientists around the world with a valuable data that inform a variety of studies on global climate change and ecosystem balance.

To start the evening, Professor Nicholas Bates, Senior Scientist and Associate Director of Research at BIOS, gave a brief overview of the history of BATS, as well as insight into how BATS data have contributed to an increased understanding of the ocean’s many complex processes. Dr. Bates started working with BATS in 1991 as a Staff Scientist and Research Technician. Since that time, he has become increasingly more involved with the project, eventually taking on major responsibilities and the status of Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) along with Dr. Rod Johnson (BIOS) and Dr. Michael Lomas (Bigelow Laboratory).

In addition to a look back at BATS accomplishments, the event also provided Bill Curry, BIOS President and Director, with an opportunity to recognize Dr. Bates and Dr. Johnson for their many years of dedication to the BATS project. While Dr. Johnson was unable to attend the event, Dr. Bates accepted a token of appreciation in the form of a brass-coated Nansen bottle—an early oceanographic research tool designed by 20th century explorer and oceanographer Fridtjof Nansen.

Upon receiving the recognition, Dr. Bates remarked to the audience, “I owe a great debt of gratitude and appreciation to Tony Knap and Tony Michaels who gave me the chance to join the BATS project and the wonderful team of scientists including Rod Johnson, Craig Carlson, Debbie Steinberg and Mike Lomas and technicians I’ve had the privilege to work with for the BATS project.”

To learn more about BATS and the science it has supported over the last 25 years, please visit the BATS website at http://bats.bios.edu