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John R Moisan

Photo of JOHN MOISAN

John R Moisan

  • RESEARCH AST, OCEANOGRAPHIC STUDIES
  • 757.824.1312 | 757.824.1036
  • NASA/GSFC
  • Mail Code: 610.W
  • Employer: NASA

    • Brief Bio

    Dr. John Moisan is an oceanographer working at the Wallops Island Flight Facility, the coastal research facility of the Earth Science Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center which is located on the Eastern Shore of VA.   While at NASA he has been involved in a wide range of ocean science projects including: Analysis and Modeling of Physical and Biological Interactions in Marine Ecosystems, 2. Coupled Physical-Biological Models, Ocean Surface Mixed-Layer Processes, 3. Radiative Transfer in the Ocean, 4. Response of the Ocean Mixed-Layer and Heat Budget to Bio-Optical Processes, 5. Analysis of sea surface height variability in coastal regions, 6. Development of in-situ Ocean Instruments and Autonomous Surface Vehicle. 
    His present focus is in developing a Genetic Programming capability for modeling ocean global ecosystems and microbial diversity.  This is a joint effort between NASA and The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

    Teaching Experience

    I have taught courses in Physical Oceanography and Marine Operations and Research. I have taught classes in the following subjects: 1. General Biology Laboratory, 2. Mathematical Modeling of Marine Ecosystems, 3. Physical Oceanography, 4. Fluid Dynamics, 5. Numerical Methods, and 6. Optical Oceanography and Remote Sensing. Coordinated Seminar Series for the Physical Oceanography Research Division at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (1997-1998).

    Education

    B.S. (Marine Biology), University of New England, 1983
    Ph.D. (Oceanography), Old Dominion University, 1993
    Post-Doctoral Experience, Scripps Inst. of Oceanography, 1993-1998

    Professional Service

    • NASA/GSFC Contracting Officer Tech. Rep. for SBIR program (since 2005) and HBSL (Since 2010).
    • Member of GeoCAPE Interdisciplinary Science Working Group.
    • Assistant Editor, JGR-Oceans, 2003-2007
    • Proposal Review Panels: NASA EOS, Ocean Biology and Biogeochemistry, and Physical Oceanography Programs.
    • Manuscript Reviewer for: Deep-Sea Res., JGR-Oceans, J. Marine Systems, J. Climate, J. Physical Oceanography, J. Remote Sensing, Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Sci., Dyn. Atm. and Oceans, and Remote Sensing of Environment.
    • Proposal Reviewer for: NSF, NO AA, NASA, DOE, ONR, NASA SBIR
    • Founding Member of Mid-Atlantic Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Assoc. (MACOORA)
    • Reviewer for UNESCO IOC Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) Report
    • Invited speaker Workshop on Biogeochemical Impacts of Climate and Land-Use Changes on Marine Ecosystems, International Centre for Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy, 11/1/2009-11/11/2009.
    • Subtopic Manager for NASA/GSFC SBIR Program

    Awards

    1988: U.S. Antarctic Service Medal, U.S. Dept. of the Navy and The National Science Foundation, 1988.

    2006: HBSL Peer Award for Outreach and Education

    2007: R&D 100 Award for Adaptive Sensor Fleet Software

    Selected Publications

    Refereed

    Friedland, K. D., N. R. Record, D. E. Pendleton, et al. W. M. Balch, K. Stamieszkin, J. R. Moisan, and D. C. Brady. 2023. "Asymmetry in the rate of warming and the phenology of seasonal blooms in the Northeast US Shelf Ecosystem." ICES Journal of Marine Science, [10.1093/icesjms/fsad007]

    Friedland, K. D., J. R. Moisan, A. A. Maureaud, et al. D. C. Brady, A. J. Davies, S. J. Bograd, R. A. Watson, and Y. Rousseau. 2021. "Trends in phytoplankton communities within large marine ecosystems diverge from the global ocean." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 78 (11): 1689-1700 [10.1139/cjfas-2020-0423]

    Wang, G., and J. Moisan. 2021. "Remote Sensing of Phytoplankton Pigments." Plankton Communities [Working Title], [10.5772/intechopen.95381]

    Friedland, K. D., R. E. Morse, N. Shackell, et al. J. C. Tam, J. L. Morano, J. R. Moisan, and D. C. Brady. 2020. "Changing Physical Conditions and Lower and Upper Trophic Level Responses on the US Northeast Shelf." Frontiers in Marine Science, 7: [10.3389/fmars.2020.567445]

    Muller-Karger, F. E., E. Hestir, C. Ade, et al. K. Turpie, D. A. Roberts, D. Siegel, R. J. Miller, D. Humm, N. Izenberg, M. Keller, F. Morgan, R. Frouin, A. G. Dekker, R. Gardner, J. Goodman, B. Schaeffer, B. A. Franz, N. Pahlevan, A. G. Mannino, J. A. Concha, S. G. Ackleson, K. C. Cavanaugh, A. Romanou, M. Tzortziou, E. S. Boss, R. Pavlick, A. Freeman, C. S. Rousseaux, J. Dunne, M. C. Long, E. Klein, G. A. McKinley, J. Goes, R. Letelier, M. Kavanaugh, M. Roffer, A. Bracher, K. R. Arrigo, H. Dierssen, X. Zhang, F. W. Davis, B. Best, R. Guralnick, J. Moisan, H. M. Sosik, R. Kudela, C. B. Mouw, A. H. Barnard, S. Palacios, C. Roesler, E. G. Drakou, W. Appeltans, and W. Jetz. 2018. "Satellite sensor requirements for monitoring essential biodiversity variables of coastal ecosystems." Ecological Applications, 28 (3): 749-760 [10.1002/eap.1682]

    Moisan, T. A., K. M. Rufty, J. R. Moisan, and M. A. Linkswiler. 2017. "Satellite Observations of Phytoplankton Functional Type Spatial Distributions, Phenology, Diversity, and Ecotones." Frontiers in Marine Science, 4: [10.3389/fmars.2017.00189]

    Moisan, T. A., J. R. Moisan, and M. A. Linkswiler. 2013. "Algorithm development for predicting biodiversity based on phytoplankton absorption." Continental Shelf Research, 55: 17-28 [10.1016/j.csr.2012.12.011]

    Moisan, J. R., T. A. Moisan, and M. A. Linkswiler. 2011. "An inverse modeling approach to estimating phytoplankton pigment concentrations from phytoplankton absorption spectra." J. Geophys. Res., 116 (C9): C09018 [10.1029/2010JC006786]

    Moisan, J. R. 2010. "Coupled circulation/biogeochemical models to estimate carbon flux." Carbon and Nutrient Fluxes in Continental Margins: A Global Synthesis, 539-559, ISBN: 978-3-540-92734-1. [10.1007/978-3-540-92735-8_12]

    Miller, A. J., A. J. Gabric, J. R. Moisan, et al. F. Chai, D. J. Neilson, D. W. Pierce, and E. Di Lorenzo. 2007. "Global Change and Oceanic Primary Productivity: Effects of Ocean-Atmosphere-Biological Feedbacks (Chapter 2)." Global Climate Change and Response of the Carbon Cycle in the Equatorial Pacific and Indian Oceans and Adjacent Land Masses, 27-63, ISBN: 978-0-444-52948-0.

    Gruber, N., H. Frenzel, S. C. Doney, et al. P. Marchesiello, J. C. McWilliams, J. R. Moisan, J. J. Oram, G.-K. Plattner, and K. D. Stolzenbach. 2006. "Eddy-resolving simulation of plankton ecosystem dynamics in the California Current System." Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers, 53 (9): 1483-1516 [10.1016/j.dsr.2006.06.005]

    Fennel, K., J. Wilkin, J. O'Reilly, et al. J. Levin, J. R. Moisan, and D. Haidvogel. 2006. "Nitrogen cycling in the Middle Atlantic Bight: Results from a three-dimensional model and implications for the North Atlantic nitrogen budget." Global Biogeochem Cycles, 20 (GB3007): 14 pp [10.1029/2005GB002456]

    Moisan, J. R., A. J. Miller, E. Di Lorenzo, and J. Wilkin. 2005. "Modeling and Data Assimilation (Chapter 10)." Remote Sensing of Coastal and Aquatic Environments, 73: The Netherlands: 229-257.

    White, W. B., D. R. Cayan, P. P. Niiler, et al. J. R. Moisan, G. Lagerloef, F. Bonjean, and D. Legler. 2005. "The seasonal cycle of diabatic heat storage in the Pacific Ocean." Progress in Oceanography, 64 (1): 1-29 [10.1016/j.pocean.2004.06.012]

    Di Lorenzo, E., A. J. Miller, D. J. Neilson, B. D. Cornuelle, and J. R. Moisan. 2004. "Modelling observed California Current mesoscale eddies and the ecosystem response." International Journal of Remote Sensing, 25 (7-8): 1307-1312 [10.1080/01431160310001592229]

    Miller, A. J., F. Chai, S. Chiba, J. R. Moisan, and D. J. Neilson. 2004. "Decadal-Scale Climate and Ecosystem Interactions in the North Pacific Ocean." Journal of Oceanography, 60 (1): 163-188 [10.1023/B:JOCE.0000038325.36306.95]

    Niiler, P., J. R. Moisan, and D.-K. Lee. 2004. "Observed mechanisms of El Nino SST evolution in the Pacific." J Marine Res, 62: 771-786.

    Moisan, J. R., T. A. Moisan, and M. R. Abbott. 2002. "Modelling the effect of temperature on the maximum growth rates of phytoplankton populations." Ecol Model, 153: 197-215.

    Spitz, Y. H., J. R. Moisan, M. R. Abbott, and J. G. Richman. 2001. "Configuring an ecosystem model using data from the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS)." Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography, 48 (8-9): 1733-1768 [10.1016/S0967-0645(00)00159-4]

    Non-Refereed

    Nagchaudhuri, A., M. Mitra, L. Zhang, et al. G. Bland, T. K. Miles, J. R. Moisan, R. Wescott, T. Teays, and R. Henry. 2013. "AIRSPACES: Air-propelled Instrumented Robotic Sensory Platform(s) for Assateague Coastline Environmental Studies - A Multidisciplinary Experiential Learning and Research Project at a Minority Serving Land Grant Institution." Frontiers in Education Conference, 2013 IEEE 1623-1625 [10.1109/FIE.2013.6685112]

    Higinbotham, J., J. R. Moisan, C. Schirtzinger, et al. M. A. Linkswiler, J. K. Yungel, and P. Orton. 2008. "Update on the development and testing of a new long duration solar powered autonomous surface vehicle." OCEANS 2008 1 -10 [10.1109/OCEANS.2008.5152048]

    Higinbotham, J., P. Hitchener, and J. R. Moisan. 2006. "Development of a New Long Duration Solar Powered Autonomous Surface Vehicle." OCEANS 2006 1 - 6 [10.1109/OCEANS.2006.306874]

    Campbell, B., T. Riley, T. A. Moisan, and J. R. Moisan. 2006. "CoastalObs III at Work in the Chesapeake Bay." ORION Newsletter Summer 2006: 3-4.

    Brief Bio

    Dr. John Moisan is an oceanographer working at the Wallops Island Flight Facility, the coastal research facility of the Earth Science Division at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center which is located on the Eastern Shore of VA.   While at NASA he has been involved in a wide range of ocean science projects including: Analysis and Modeling of Physical and Biological Interactions in Marine Ecosystems, 2. Coupled Physical-Biological Models, Ocean Surface Mixed-Layer Processes, 3. Radiative Transfer in the Ocean, 4. Response of the Ocean Mixed-Layer and Heat Budget to Bio-Optical Processes, 5. Analysis of sea surface height variability in coastal regions, 6. Development of in-situ Ocean Instruments and Autonomous Surface Vehicle. 
    His present focus is in developing a Genetic Programming capability for modeling ocean global ecosystems and microbial diversity.  This is a joint effort between NASA and The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

    Selected Publications

    Refereed

    Friedland, K. D., N. R. Record, D. E. Pendleton, et al. W. M. Balch, K. Stamieszkin, J. R. Moisan, and D. C. Brady. 2023. "Asymmetry in the rate of warming and the phenology of seasonal blooms in the Northeast US Shelf Ecosystem." ICES Journal of Marine Science [10.1093/icesjms/fsad007]

    Friedland, K. D., J. R. Moisan, A. A. Maureaud, et al. D. C. Brady, A. J. Davies, S. J. Bograd, R. A. Watson, and Y. Rousseau. 2021. "Trends in phytoplankton communities within large marine ecosystems diverge from the global ocean." Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 78 (11): 1689-1700 [10.1139/cjfas-2020-0423]

    Wang, G., and J. Moisan. 2021. "Remote Sensing of Phytoplankton Pigments." Plankton Communities [Working Title] [10.5772/intechopen.95381]

    Friedland, K. D., R. E. Morse, N. Shackell, et al. J. C. Tam, J. L. Morano, J. R. Moisan, and D. C. Brady. 2020. "Changing Physical Conditions and Lower and Upper Trophic Level Responses on the US Northeast Shelf." Frontiers in Marine Science 7 [10.3389/fmars.2020.567445]

    Muller-Karger, F. E., E. Hestir, C. Ade, et al. K. Turpie, D. A. Roberts, D. Siegel, R. J. Miller, D. Humm, N. Izenberg, M. Keller, F. Morgan, R. Frouin, A. G. Dekker, R. Gardner, J. Goodman, B. Schaeffer, B. A. Franz, N. Pahlevan, A. G. Mannino, J. A. Concha, S. G. Ackleson, K. C. Cavanaugh, A. Romanou, M. Tzortziou, E. S. Boss, R. Pavlick, A. Freeman, C. S. Rousseaux, J. Dunne, M. C. Long, E. Klein, G. A. McKinley, J. Goes, R. Letelier, M. Kavanaugh, M. Roffer, A. Bracher, K. R. Arrigo, H. Dierssen, X. Zhang, F. W. Davis, B. Best, R. Guralnick, J. Moisan, H. M. Sosik, R. Kudela, C. B. Mouw, A. H. Barnard, S. Palacios, C. Roesler, E. G. Drakou, W. Appeltans, and W. Jetz. 2018. "Satellite sensor requirements for monitoring essential biodiversity variables of coastal ecosystems." Ecological Applications 28 (3): 749-760 [10.1002/eap.1682]

    Moisan, T. A., K. M. Rufty, J. R. Moisan, and M. A. Linkswiler. 2017. "Satellite Observations of Phytoplankton Functional Type Spatial Distributions, Phenology, Diversity, and Ecotones." Frontiers in Marine Science 4 [10.3389/fmars.2017.00189]

    Moisan, T. A., J. R. Moisan, and M. A. Linkswiler. 2013. "Algorithm development for predicting biodiversity based on phytoplankton absorption." Continental Shelf Research 55 17-28 [10.1016/j.csr.2012.12.011]

    Moisan, J. R., T. A. Moisan, and M. A. Linkswiler. 2011. "An inverse modeling approach to estimating phytoplankton pigment concentrations from phytoplankton absorption spectra." J. Geophys. Res. 116 (C9): C09018 [10.1029/2010JC006786]

    Moisan, J. R. 2010. "Coupled circulation/biogeochemical models to estimate carbon flux." Carbon and Nutrient Fluxes in Continental Margins: A Global Synthesis 539-559 [10.1007/978-3-540-92735-8_12]

    Miller, A. J., A. J. Gabric, J. R. Moisan, et al. F. Chai, D. J. Neilson, D. W. Pierce, and E. Di Lorenzo. 2007. "Global Change and Oceanic Primary Productivity: Effects of Ocean-Atmosphere-Biological Feedbacks (Chapter 2)." Global Climate Change and Response of the Carbon Cycle in the Equatorial Pacific and Indian Oceans and Adjacent Land Masses 27-63

    Gruber, N., H. Frenzel, S. C. Doney, et al. P. Marchesiello, J. C. McWilliams, J. R. Moisan, J. J. Oram, G.-K. Plattner, and K. D. Stolzenbach. 2006. "Eddy-resolving simulation of plankton ecosystem dynamics in the California Current System." Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers 53 (9): 1483-1516 [10.1016/j.dsr.2006.06.005]

    Fennel, K., J. Wilkin, J. O'Reilly, et al. J. Levin, J. R. Moisan, and D. Haidvogel. 2006. "Nitrogen cycling in the Middle Atlantic Bight: Results from a three-dimensional model and implications for the North Atlantic nitrogen budget." Global Biogeochem Cycles 20 (GB3007): 14 pp [10.1029/2005GB002456]

    Moisan, J. R., A. J. Miller, E. Di Lorenzo, and J. Wilkin. 2005. "Modeling and Data Assimilation (Chapter 10)." Remote Sensing of Coastal and Aquatic Environments 73 229-257

    White, W. B., D. R. Cayan, P. P. Niiler, et al. J. R. Moisan, G. Lagerloef, F. Bonjean, and D. Legler. 2005. "The seasonal cycle of diabatic heat storage in the Pacific Ocean." Progress in Oceanography 64 (1): 1-29 [10.1016/j.pocean.2004.06.012]

    Di Lorenzo, E., A. J. Miller, D. J. Neilson, B. D. Cornuelle, and J. R. Moisan. 2004. "Modelling observed California Current mesoscale eddies and the ecosystem response." International Journal of Remote Sensing 25 (7-8): 1307-1312 [10.1080/01431160310001592229]

    Miller, A. J., F. Chai, S. Chiba, J. R. Moisan, and D. J. Neilson. 2004. "Decadal-Scale Climate and Ecosystem Interactions in the North Pacific Ocean." Journal of Oceanography 60 (1): 163-188 [10.1023/B:JOCE.0000038325.36306.95]

    Niiler, P., J. R. Moisan, and D.-K. Lee. 2004. "Observed mechanisms of El Nino SST evolution in the Pacific." J Marine Res 62 771-786

    Moisan, J. R., T. A. Moisan, and M. R. Abbott. 2002. "Modelling the effect of temperature on the maximum growth rates of phytoplankton populations." Ecol Model 153 197-215

    Spitz, Y. H., J. R. Moisan, M. R. Abbott, and J. G. Richman. 2001. "Configuring an ecosystem model using data from the Bermuda Atlantic Time Series (BATS)." Deep Sea Research Part II: Topical Studies in Oceanography 48 (8-9): 1733-1768 [10.1016/S0967-0645(00)00159-4]

    Non-Refereed

    Nagchaudhuri, A., M. Mitra, L. Zhang, et al. G. Bland, T. K. Miles, J. R. Moisan, R. Wescott, T. Teays, and R. Henry. 2013. "AIRSPACES: Air-propelled Instrumented Robotic Sensory Platform(s) for Assateague Coastline Environmental Studies - A Multidisciplinary Experiential Learning and Research Project at a Minority Serving Land Grant Institution." Frontiers in Education Conference, 2013 IEEE 1623-1625 [10.1109/FIE.2013.6685112]

    Higinbotham, J., J. R. Moisan, C. Schirtzinger, et al. M. A. Linkswiler, J. K. Yungel, and P. Orton. 2008. "Update on the development and testing of a new long duration solar powered autonomous surface vehicle." OCEANS 2008 1 -10 [10.1109/OCEANS.2008.5152048]

    Higinbotham, J., P. Hitchener, and J. R. Moisan. 2006. "Development of a New Long Duration Solar Powered Autonomous Surface Vehicle." OCEANS 2006 1 - 6 [10.1109/OCEANS.2006.306874]

    Campbell, B., T. Riley, T. A. Moisan, and J. R. Moisan. 2006. "CoastalObs III at Work in the Chesapeake Bay." ORION Newsletter Summer 2006 3-4

                                                                                                                                                                                            
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    • Last Updated: 09/25/2023