FY 2001 NOPP Project Abstracts and Partners
Establishing a NOAA Operational Data Center for Surface Currents Derived from Satellite Altimeters and Scatterometers; Pilot Study for the Tropical Pacific Including the Hawaiian Islands and US Territorial IslandsLead PI: Dr. Gary S. E. Lagerloef, Earth and Space Research
This project develops a processing system and data center to provide operational ocean surface velocity fields from satellite altimeter and vector wind data. The regional focus is the tropical Pacific, where the value of this data is demonstrated for a variety of uses, specifically fisheries management and recruitment, monitoring debris drift, larvae drift, oil spills, fronts and eddies, as well as large scale climate diagnostics and prediction. Additional uses in search and rescue, and naval and maritime operations will also be encouraged. The data is subjected to extensive validation and error analysis, and applied to various ocean, climate, and dynamic basic research problems. The user base derives from the NOAA CoastWatch and climate prediction programs, the broad research community, the Navy’s operational ocean analysis program, and other civilian uses. The end product will to leave in place a turnkey system running at NOAA/NESDIS, with an established user clientele and easy internet data access.
The method to derive surface currents with satellite altimeter and scatterometer data is the outcome of several years of NASA-sponsored research. This project transitions the capability to operational oceanographic applications. The end product will be velocity maps updated daily, with a goal for eventual 2-day maximum delay from the time of satellite measurement. Grid resolution will be 100 km for the basin-scale, and finer resolution in the vicinity of the Pacific Islands. The team consists of private non-profit, educational, and government partners with broad experience and familiarity with the data, and the scientific and technical issues. Two partners are the original developers of the surface current derivation techniques, and two are closely tied to satellite data sources and primary processing centers. Others represent NOAA/NESDIS, Climate Prediction Center, CoastWatch, NMFS, and the Navy to evaluate uses and applications.
Number of years: 3
Partners:
Florida State University – Scatterometer objective analysis and gridding
University of South Florida – Altimeter objective analysis and gridding, velocity analysis
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service – Operational altimeter/scatterometer access and low-level processing, data analysis
National Marine Fisheries Service – User applications, management, public outreach; Hawaii Coast Watch
National Centers for Environmental Prediction / Climate Prediction Center – Data analysis and evaluation for climate prediction
Naval Research Laboratory – Navy applications and ocean model comparisons
Earth and Space Research – Project Manager, Surface current data generation and analysis, data validation, user access
Scatterometer-Derived Operational Winds, Surface Pressures, and Rain
Lead PI: Dr. James J. O’Brien, Florida State University
A collaboration of academic, business, and Navy interests provides enhanced scatterometer-derived wind products, and three new products: surface pressure, rain rates, and surface stresses. These products are delivered to naval battle groups through FNMOC, to commercial ships through SeaScape Corporation, and to forecasters (MPC, NWS offices, and HRD). All of these products are produced in near real-time, validated, and improved through feedback from the wide range of operational users. Excessive false alarms for rain contamination have been identified as a serious problem in operational applications. The scatterometer rain flag is improved to apply only to wind vectors for which the rain contamination leads to substantial errors. Recent theoretical work indicates that only rain rates that exceed a wind speed dependent threshold will contribute to large errors in the vector wind. This goal is achieved thorugh scatterometer-based estimates of rain rates and surface pressure fields. The wind, pressure, stress, and rain products will be validated and fine-tuned, with the goal of speeding the development of high quality operational products. Regularly gridded winds and stresses will also be tested on ocean models. The technology for successfully validated products is provided to NOAA/NESDIS and the Navy (FNMOC and NAVO) for operational implementation. Scatterometer observations are asynoptic; consequently, they provide considerable information that forecasters do not receive in their routine products. Furthermore, these scatterometer-derived products are important for naval operations.
Number of Years: 3 (August 2001 to July 2004)
Partners:
Florida State University – Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies
SeaScape Corporation
NASA - Wallops Flight Facility
Colorado State University – Department of Electrical Engineering
NOAA – NESDIS
Navy – Fleet Numerical Met OCN CTR
Microwave Remote Sensing Consultants
NRL – Stennis Space Center
Naval Oceanographic Office
Hofstra University – Department of Engineering
Observational Technique Development - Float Technology Development
Lead PI: Stephen C. Riser, University of Washington
The partners are carrying out a two-year program to improve profiling float technology for programs such as Argo. Advancements include (1) building floats capable of profiling from a depth of 2000 m to the sea surface anywhere in the world ocean; (2) adding the capability of measuring dissolved oxygen to profiling floats; (3) adding the capability of inferring wind speed and rainfall using acoustic sensors on profiling floats; and (4) adding a high-bandwidth communications capability to profiling floats that employs the Iridium satellite system.
Number of Years: 2 (August 2001 to July 2003)
Partners:
University of Washington
SeaBird Electronics
Webb Research
Long-Term Surface Salinity MeasurementsLead PI: Dr. Raymond Schmitt, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
A new enclosed field conductivity cell will be developed and adapted for the long-term stable measurement of salinity from surface drifters. The device is a new electrode-type design due to Neil Brown. It will be made immune to biological fouling through the use of a closing mechanism and a slow-release bio-toxin. The release rate of the toxin into the enclosed cell will be tuned to the expected temperature range of deployment. In combination with a temperature probe, a low duty cycle, and simple on-board data processing, it should be possible to achieve salinity measurements stable to better than 0.05 over the two-year life of a surface drifter. This technology will be used to provide a real-time monitoring system for surface salinity around the globe. A sea surface salinity (SSS) monitoring system would be a significant new tool for understanding the role of the oceans in climate and should lead to improved long-range climate forecasts.
Number of Years:
Partners:
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Epaint, Inc.
Clearwater Instrumentation, Inc.
Planning for a National Community Sediment Transport Model
Lead PI: Christopher R. Sherwood, US Geological Survey
Our ability to predict the transport and long-term fate of particles in the ocean is essential in addressing a variety of issues related to commerce, defense, and the quality of the marine environment. For example, remediation of contaminated sediments, siting of sewage outfalls, evaluation of past and future disposal sites, burial of mines or archeological artifacts, transport and fate of biological particles, and evaluation of the impacts of coastal development all require an understanding of the transport and fate of sediment under varying hydrodynamic, physical, and biological conditions. Numerical models can provide a framework within which to synthesize our understanding of sediment transport processes in complex systems. They are also useful as a test bed for emerging sediment-transport algorithms, and to provide realistic settings for biological and geochemical models. To fully realize the power of numerical modeling in coastal environments, sediment transport models need to be linked directly to hydrodynamic circulation models. Although researchers from academia and private industry are actively pursuing this goal, there is no community sediment transport model for the coastal oceanographic environment. Developing a publicly available, well-tested, and widely accepted model would greatly benefit the ocean research and management communities, and the nation.
This project plans for the development and maintenance of a national Community Sediment Transport Model (CSTM), to be supported (in part) as a modeling “node” under NOPP. The ongoing discussion on building a CSTM model (Sherwood and others, 2000) is continued and broadened to identify partnerships in sediment transport modeling, to establish a structure for evaluation of sediment transport models, and to evaluate new and existing models. This project is a team effort with academic, industry, and government participants. It augments ongoing partnership efforts initiated by the USGS last year and includes significant cost sharing by the partners. The long-term goal is to promote the development of a node in the “commons for ocean information” that would offer sediment transport models and modeling capabilities. Sooner, rather than later, the intent is to freely distribute one or more models for predicting the transport and long-term fate of sediments in the coastal ocean that can be easily incorporated into the growing capability for hydrodynamic modeling. In addition to model code, model support infrastructure (such as documentation, test cases, and software for managing model input and output) will be provided to the entire scientific community. The specific tasks accomplished in this planning year are to: host three planning meetings; to sponsor a scientific session at the biennial Ocean Sciences meeting; enhance and maintain a community model web site; enlarge the community of active model users and developers; make both conceptual and practical advances in our ability to test and evaluate models; and develop a concrete five-year plan for developing, launching, and supporting a community model.
Number of Years: 1 (August 2001 to July 2002)
Partners:
US Geological Survey
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
NOAA
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
HydroQual, Inc
Rutgers University
TetraTech, Inc.
NATO SACLANT
Real-Time Forecasting of Winds, Waves and Surge in Tropical Cyclones
Lead PI: Dr. Hans C. Graber, University of Miami
The long-term goal of this partnership is to establish an operational forecasting system of the wind field and resulting waves and surge impacting the coastline during the approach and landfall of tropical cyclones. The results of this forecasting system will provide real-time information and predictions of up to five days to the National Hurricane Center during the tropical cyclone season in the Atlantic for establishing improved advisories for the general public and federal agencies including military and civil emergency response teams. The feasibility of such a forecast system has been demonstrated with a test case of “Hurricane Georges.” Over the past decade individual modules comprising the forecasting system have been developed and independently tested for years and are now ready to be coupled in a complete forecasting system. This proposal is to establish a “node” to develop an integrative coastal model for storm wind, wave, and surge predictions. The goal for the first year is to implement and fully test the forecasting system to ensure data flow and computational efficiency. Goals for years two and three are for the testing of a prototype in a semi-operational phase. Output during this period, subject to evaluation and assessment, may be provided on a contingency basis. Full operational capability is the goal for the fourth and fifth years. The timeliness and value of the deterministic and probabilistic products are evaluated during the entire hurricane season.
Number of Years: 5 (September 2001 to August 2006)
Partners:
University of Miami – Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science
University of Florida – Department of Civil and Coastal Engineering
University of Central Florida
The Johns Hopkins University – Applied Physics Laboratory
US Army – Corps of Engineers
NOAA – Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
NOAA – National Weather Service
Oceanweather, Inc.
International Business Machines, Inc.
Gigantic Computer Services, Inc.
NASA – The John F. Kennedy Space Center
National Hurricane Center
The US Southern Command
US Navy – Naval Atlantic Meteorology and Oceanography Facility
Florida State Emergency Managers
PARADIGM: The Partnership for Advancing Interdisciplinary Global Modeling
Lead PI: Lewis M. Rothstein, University of Rhode Island
PARADIGM is a group of 16 scientists committed to building and deploying new, advanced models of ecology and biogeochemistry for understanding and predicting the future states of the ocean. The group combines expertise of observers and modelers, ecologists and physicists, biogeochemists and numerical specialists. Our overall scientific goal is a rigorous, model- and observation-based intercomparison of ecosystem/biogeochemical dynamics of the North Pacific and Atlantic subtropical-subpolar gyres. Our central objective is creation of new global ocean biogeochemistry community models, comprising complex ecosystem dynamics based on functional groups (e.g., Archaea, diatoms, copepods, gelatinous predators), individual keystone species (e.g., Trichodesmium, Euphausia superba) and multi-element limitation and cycling (e.g., C, N, P, Si, Fe). The physical model platform is composed of a hierarchy of mature, general circulation models each the focus of extensive community model development programs. PARADIGM models are capable of emergent behavior, testing the hypothesis that fundamental regime shifts occur in response to climate change. Community models are developed by interdisciplinary teams devoted to five program elements: (1) data fusion, synthesis and validation; (2) ecosystem model development; (3) high-resolution basin-scale and regional process studies; (4) focus sites (e.g., regional test-beds); and (5) numerical method development (including data assimilation).
Number of Years: 5 (August 2001 to July 2006)
Partners:
Dalhousie University
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
NASA – Goddard Space Flight Center
National Center for Atmospheric Research
Naval Research Lab
Old Dominion University
Oregon State University
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
University of Hawaii
University of Miami
University of Rhode Island – Graduate School of Oceanography
University of Victoria
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
A Partnership for Modeling the Marine Environment of Puget Sound, Washington
Lead PI: Mitsuhiro Kawase, University of Washington
A partnership is proposed composed of one academic, three governmental, and one private non-profit organization that seeks to develop predictive modeling capabilities for the circulation and ecosystem of Puget Sound, Washington. The partnership develops, maintains, and operates a system of flexibly linked simulation models of Puget Sound’s circulation and ecosystem, a data management system for archiving and exchanging oceanographic data and model results that are accessible to all members of the partnerships as well as to the regional and oceanographic community, and an effective delivery interface for the model results and observational data for research, education, and policy formulation. The partnership engages in research activities aimed at developing fundamental understanding of the Sound’s working, as well as addressing practical questions raised by the regional community concerning management of the Soundand its resources. The partnership functions as an estuarine research node within the NOPP Ocean Information Commons.
Number of Years: 5 (August 2001 to July 2006)
Partners:
University of Washington
US Navy – Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Washington State Department of Ecology
Ocean Inquiry Project
King County Department of Natural Resources
RENEWAL OF EXISTING NOPP PROJECTS
A Renewal of the Ocean-Systems for Chemical, Optical, and Physical Experiments (O-SCOPE) Program
Lead PI: Tommy D. Dickey, University of California at Santa Barbara
The Ocean-Systems for Chemical, Optical, and Physical Experiments (O-SCOPE) project addresses the need for next-generation, autonomous, near real-time, nearly continuous, long-term, time-series measurements in critical regions of the world ocean. The program’s overall objective is to improve the variety, quantity, quality, and cost-effectiveness of observations in anticipation of a global ocean observing network of strategically placed moorings and other ocean platforms. Benefits of O-SCOPE include the development of technologies that can be used to quantify seasonal, inter-annual, and decadal changes in upper ocean biogeochemical, bio-optical, and physical variables. These variables bear on understanding and predicting global climate change and its impacts on ocean chemistry and ecology. Considerable progress and several breakthroughs have been made thus far, with some sensors already utilized in other NOPP projects and being commercialized. The present O-SCOPE proposal requests funding for an additional year to fulfill some of its objectives involving sensor evaluations, data analyses, data synthesis, and preparation of publications. The National Ocean Partnership Program (NOPP) initially sponsored the O-SCOPE project beginning August 13, 1998 for a period of two years.
Number of Years: 1 (August 2001 to July 2002)
Partners:
University of California at Santa Barbara
Bermuda Biological Station for Research, Inc.
University of South Florida
Monterey Bay Aquarium for Research Institute
NOAA – Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory
WET Labs, Inc.
NOAA – Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory
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Renewal of South Atlantic Bight Synoptic Offshore Observational Network (SABSOON)
Lead PI: Dr. James R. Nelson, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
The South Atlantic Bight Synoptic Offshore Observational Network (SABSOON) is a real-time coastal ocean observing system located on the US Southeastern continental shelf. Offshore towers that are part of a flight training facility for the US Navy have been equipped with oceanographic and meteorological instruments. On several platforms, the Navy has provided access to existing power and high-bandwidth communications systems. Instrument, data acquisition and communications systems have been designed, installed, and tested in extended operation. Two-way, real-time communications (T1 bandwidth) has been established. Instrument systems are operational at two locations (about 50 and 70 km offshore, 26 and 33 m depth) has been established. Installations of power, communications and instrument systems at a third location (about 90 km offshore, 45 m depth) are underway. Artificial reef structures and an underwater video system were also deployed for fisheries studies. The network accommodates additional sensors and access to real-time communications by other researchers. A prototype data assimilative, nowcast/forecast model for the region was developed during the initial funding. This will provide one component for a coupled ocean/atmosphere forecasting model presently being developed in a separate NOPP project that will utilize the SABSOON observations in a data assimilative mode. This renewal proposal allows further system development, maintenance of continued operation in support of the NOPP modeling program, and a transition of the program to an operational status.
Number of Years: 3 (August 2001 to July 2004)
Partners:
Skidaway Institute of Oceanography
US Navy – Tactical Aircrew Combat Training System
University of North Carolina – Department of Marine Sciences
NOAA – Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
South Carolina Marine Resources Research Institute
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Completion and Field Demonstration of a Portable Coastal Observatory
Lead PI: Daniel E. Frye, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
The goal of the original funded NOPP proposal, “Low Cost Modular Telemetry for Coastal Time Series Data,” was to develop an affordable, easy to use technology for the real time collection and dissemination of data from instruments deployed in the coastal ocean. The observing system that has been developed consists of four elements: a low-cost acoustic data link that transfers data from instruments on the bottom or in the water column to a nearby surface buoy; a lightweight, easy to deploy surface buoy (and mooring); a radio-frequency modem to send data to shore; and a web-based automatic data distribution system. The system was deployed in Massachusetts Bay for four extended periods during the initial NOPP effort utilizing a Utility Acoustic Model for the acoustic link during development of the low-cost transmitter. The mechanical components of the system performed extremely well. However, the performance of the acoustic link was not as robust as expected. Modifications to the telemetry scheme have been made to improve data transmission, and the low-cost transmitters are completed.
The new technology is currently undergoing full implementation and evaluation for routine use in the field. The tasks are to test and demonstrate the low-cost acoustic modems, to utilize the modems in a multiple instrument array as originally envisioned for a coastal observatory, and to complete the development of the automated data distribution and display system. Based on the experience to date, there is optimism that this additional testing will result in a demonstrated capability for reliable, real time collection and delivery of data from instruments deployed in the coastal ocean to researchers, regulators or the general public over the Internet.
The technology of the portable coastal observatory has the potential to enable real time, in situ measurement systems to become standard operational tools for a wide range of applications including coastal zone and regulatory monitoring, naval observations, and scientific investigations. The capability to make widely distributed observations at reasonable cost is essential for ocean forecasting, process studies, naval operations, and long-term monitoring. His distributed communications technology complements the intensive , localized observations made using coastal observatories that are linked to shore via cable. This project is a focused effort to demonstrate technology that has the potential to allow implementation of a distributed ocean measurement system at a modest cost.
Number of Years: 1 (August 2001 to July 2002)
Partners:
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
US Geological Survey
RD Instruments, Inc.
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
US Coast Guard
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Ocean Acoustic Observatory Federation - Renewal
Lead PI: Catherine de Groot-Hedlin, Scripps Institution of Oceanography
The field of ocean acoustics has evolved (largely as a result of ONR support) to the point that acoustic signals from volcanoes, earthquakes, and slumping are an effective means of investigating these geological and geophysical phenomena remotely. However, we are not anywhere near the limits of exploiting the information inherent in acoustic signals from these processes. The renewal period has two main objectives: first, to extend the progress made during the past two years on the excitation of ocean acoustic phases (T-waves) by sub-seafloor earthquakes and volcanoes; and second, to continue data collection and analysis of hydroacoustic data, specifically to monitor earthquakes and volcanoes in the North Pacific. The complementary approaches are combined to understand the excitation and propagation of T-waves that have been developed at SIO and UW/APL, to predict amplitude and travel times arriving at a hydrophone. This will open up many new opportunities for research into oceanic earthquakes and volcanic activity, including the development of improved source location estimates, and determination of fault type based on T-wave arrivals. Efforts involve the development of new numerical methods which will be made available for wide user access.
Number of Years: 1 (August 2001 to July 2002)
Partners:
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of Washington – APL
NOAA-PMEL
Oregon State University
Oceanographic and Fisheries Data Collection and Telemetry from Commercial Fishing Vessels
Lead PI: Ann Bucklin, New Hampshire Sea Grant Program
FleetLink, a partnership comprising oceanographers, engineers, private entrepreneurs, commercial fish harvesters, and federal agency representatives, has worked since 1998 to develop a system to collect, telemeter, manage, and distribute high-quality, synoptic environmental (hydrographic, meteorological, and fisheries) data from commercial fishing vessels. Three FleetLink sensor systems have been produced and installed on fishing vessels from Maine to Massachusetts. During field demonstrations over the past six months, ocean and weather data have been collected, telemetered to shore-based servers, and integrated into the US GLOBEC database (an internet-accessible, distributed data management system). In addition, confidential fisheries catch data have been exchanged between vessels and their cooperatives, in order to improve fishing and product marketing practices. The significance of this project lies both in technical functions, aimed at uniting distinct constituencies into functional partnerships for data collection and information exchange. Having surmounted the technical challenges associated with producing, installing, and demonstrating integrated sensor systems, the field demonstration phase is extended and the FleetLink partnership is expanded by identifying additional data users and customers. The FleetLink concept – based on the use of commercial fishing vessels as flexible, adaptable, and cost-effective ocean observing platforms – can be expanded from this pilot phase to become a useful element in long-term monitoring and research efforts needed for implementation of an Integrated Ocean Observing System.
Number of Years: 1 (July 2001 to July 2002)
Partners:
New Hampshire Sea Grant
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sea Grant
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Clearwater Instrumentation, Inc.
NOAA – Fisheries Northeast Science Center
Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance
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Innovative Coastal-Ocean Observing Network (ICON) Renewal
Lead PI: Jeffrey D. Paduan, Naval Postgraduate School
Research and development partners from around Monterey Bay and the country have cooperated to deploy a coastal-ocean observing network designed to track critical upwelling circulation patterns. The in-water and remote sensing instrumentation has been combined with a high resolution, nested model of the coastal circulation as part of the NOPP/ICON project. Extensive observations were collected during the two-year project duration. At the same time, a large number of year-long model case studies have been conducted to assess the impact of various model forcing, nesting, and data assimilation alternatives. The current effort focuses on publication of results from the ICON project, with particular attention given to the model-data comparisons and data assimilation studies.
Number of Years: 1 (October 2001 to September 2002)
Partners:
Naval Postgraduate School
University of Michigan
California State University Monterey Bay
University of Southern Mississippi
Naval Research Laboratory
HOBI Labs
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
Codar Ocean Sensors
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Autonomous Profilers for Carbon-System and Biological Observations
Lead PI: James K.B. Bishop, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
This project's ultimate aim is to develop low-cost autonomous vehicles outfitted with a suite of low-power optical, physical and chemical sensors which, when widely deployed, will permit high frequency ¡V 4D ¡V observations in the upper 1000-2000 m of the variability of ocean biological processes, carbon biomass, physics and parameters of the carbon system. The immediate goal is to prove the capability to perform high-frequency (hours), long-term (months to seasons), accurate profile observations that are inexpensive enough to be proliferated so that large oceanic areas can be adequately sampled.
The Sounding Oceanographic Lagrangian Observer (SOLO) has been developed for deployment within the ARGO project. Under NOPP 1999 funding, SOLO has been modified with fast bidirectional ORB-COMM telemetry and data handling systems; SOLO's T and S sensors have been augmented with optical sensors for transmission (particulate organic carbon, POC), and light scattering. Two SOLOs that were deployed in the subarctic north Pacific ocean in early April 2001 have returned data streams over 8 weeks with little interruption of observations during stormy weather. Biofouling of the optical sensors is small (e.g., <1% over 80 profiles). An optical particulate inorganic carbon (PIC) sensor has been proven in the lab that shows a linear response from <.1 ƒÝm to > 30 ƒÝm PIC levels and has little interference from other particles. A profiling PIC sensor is nearing completion.
Work during the current phase of the project focuses on analysis and interpretation of the data from the operating SOLOs and the samples and optical data to be collected during the August 2001 R/V New Horizon cruise. This includes exploring the causes of the 'spike' signals observed in scattering data which may be due to microzooplankton, aggregates, or near-surface bubbles. The project is also (1) exploring means for complete elimination of biofouling effects on optics; (2) enabling SOLO to have a global 2000 m depth capability and improved GPS performance, and (3) testing these improvements with a pair of SOLOs to be deployed through the 2002-2003 winter in the North Pacific. This work will lay the foundation for expanded sensor suites and recoverable autonomous platforms designed to quantify the reactants, products, and rates of carbon-system processes.
Number of Years: 1 (August 2001 to July 2002)
Partners:
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Lawrence-Berkeley National Laboratory
WETLabs, Inc.
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