University of Miami Selects SPOT for Oceanic Flow Study in the Gulf of Mexico
COVINGTON, La., Sept. 1, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Globalstar, Inc. (NYSE MKT:GSAT) announced today that the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science (UM) will deploy SPOT Trace satellite trackers in its continued research expedition with the Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment (CARTHE). The project studies ocean flow as it relates to the dispersion of pollutants and the effects of hurricanes on the dissemination of environmental hazards over time. This is an extension of an ongoing project that launched in 2012 after the BP oil spill to monitor how pollutants behave in normal and emergency conditions, collecting over six million data points.
SPOT devices are cost-effective, rugged, pocket-sized devices that use satellite messaging technology to allow users to communicate from remote locations around the globe. The SPOT product family uses the GPS satellite network to determine a customer or asset’s location and transmit messages and GPS coordinates to others, independent of cellular phone coverage or radio frequency range. As a result, SPOT devices fulfill a variety of purposes including emergency services, recreational/asset tracking and scientific studies.
For the first time, CARTHE’s field work at sea, combined with laboratory experiments and development of interconnected modeling systems, will produce a comprehensive modeling hierarchy that provides a four dimensional description of oil/dispersant fate and transport in the Gulf of Mexico and coastal environments across all relevant time and space scales. CARTHE was also able to provide useful data and coastal models to emergency responders after the 2013 explosion of the Hercules 265 drilling rig and the Santa Barbara oil spill earlier this year.
“SPOT is at the very heart of our upcoming expedition in the northern Gulf of Mexico, just like in our 2012 study. Almost every aspect of the experiment is tailored around these devices. Such massive simultaneous information has never been obtained before, and we expect that SPOT will provide unprecedented scientific information about ocean currents so we know what to anticipate in the event of future oil spills,” said Tamay Özgökmen, professor of ocean sciences and CARTHE director.
“The CARTHE group, based at the UM Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, continues to produce cutting-edge science and pushes the boundaries of physical oceanography. This will be the largest oceanographic experiment of its kind and to be successful, the quality of the equipment must be exceptional,” said Roni Avissar, professor and dean of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. “Our scientists have spent years perfecting the drifters and planning the execution of their release, and now we need the SPOT GPS units to do the work.”
“We are thrilled to continue to be a part of such an innovative research project that has such an enormous impact on the communities in which we and many of our customers are a part of,” said Jake Rembert, Vice President at Globalstar. “The University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School and CARTHE are making groundbreaking discoveries with our SPOT devices and we look forward to finding more ways to leverage our satellite technology in this arena.”
For more information on SPOT Trace and other SPOT devices, please visit FindMeSPOT.com.
About Globalstar, Inc.
Globalstar is a leading provider of mobile satellite voice and data services, leveraging the world’s newest satellite network. Customers around the world in industries like government, emergency management, marine, logging, oil & gas and outdoor recreation rely on Globalstar to conduct business smarter and faster, maintain peace of mind and access emergency personnel. Globalstar data solutions are ideal for various asset and personal tracking, data monitoring and SCADA applications. The Company’s products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, the innovative Sat-Fi satellite hotspot, Simplex and Duplex satellite data modems, tracking devices and flexible service packages. For more information, visit www.globalstar.com.
Note that all SPOT products described in this press release are the products of SPOT LLC, which is not affiliated in any manner with Spot Image of Toulouse, France or Spot Image Corporation of Chantilly, Virginia. SPOT Connect is a trademark of Spot LLC. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School
The University of Miami is one of the largest private research institutions in the southeastern United States. The University’s mission is to provide quality education, attract and retain outstanding students, support the faculty and their research, and build an endowment for University initiatives. Founded in the 1940’s, the Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science has grown into one of the world’s premier marine and atmospheric research institutions. Offering dynamic interdisciplinary academics, the Rosenstiel School is dedicated to helping communities to better understand the planet, participating in the establishment of environmental policies, and aiding in the improvement of society and quality of life. For more information, visit: www.rsmas.miami.edu.
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