June 2025

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Oceanography | Vol. 38, No. 2

to ambient mesoscale and submesoscale processes, the charac­

teristics of the high frequency processes have likely changed

even in the absence of the wind farms. Again, it will be a chal­

lenge to differentiate changes resulting from the offshore wind

development and those that may have occurred as a result of

changing ocean currents and stratification. There is a clear need

for observations focused on high frequency processes to support

the numerical modeling.

All of the knowledge generated in understanding hydro­

dynamic effects will also need to be applied to further under­

standing regional marine ecology, as the prey fields, including

prey aggregation, and the roles of convergences and localized

upwelling in generating observed prey concentrations must be

better understood.

There are many challenges ahead, but the Consensus Study

Report produced by this NASEM committee is the clearest state­

ment possible of the path forward. This is particularly import­

ant, as the varied funding entities include federal agencies, off­

shore wind developers, and foundations for all of which this

report provides clear guidance on research needs and directions.

Given the dire need for alternative energy sources, there is an

urgent need for progress. The committee should be commended

for producing a clear, eminently readable report with strong rec­

ommendations. Let us hope that the resources become available

to meet the challenges that they so eloquently describe.

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AUTHOR

Glen Gawarkiewicz (ggawarkiewicz@whoi.edu), Woods Hole Oceanographic

Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA.

ARTICLE CITATION

Gawarkiewicz, G. 2025. Setting a course for research on offshore wind develop­

ment impacts near Nantucket Shoals. Oceanography 38(2):5–6, https://doi.org/​

10.5670/oceanog.2025.303.

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