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CalCOFI Cruise Report (10-18 Nov 2002):
The final leg of the Fall 2002 CalCOFI cruise was completed swiftly and smoothly thanks to Santa Ana. All 66 stations were completed. The primary indicator of any El Nino event can be seen in the slight positive mean salinity and temperature anomalies in the 100-300 meter waters of our southernmost line 93, 60 to 100 miles west of San Diego. Also featured in the collected data is a deep chlorophyll max throughout the grid surveyed, this is normal for the Fall and is a result of depletion of nutrients in the near surface waters due to phytoplankton growth during the preceding warmer months. The exception was North of Pt. Conception, along the central coast of California where upwelling was evidenced by lower water temperatures, higher salinities and higher nitrate values. Seabird observations increased through the second week of the survey. The most dense congregations were observed around the Channel Islands where several large feeding flocks (500-1000 birds and marine mammals) were encountered. Western gulls have been the most numerous species sighted overall, and along with Black-vented Shearwater, California Gulls, and Brown Pelican, dominate the nearshore avian fauna. Offshore sightings have been dominated by Phalaropes (both red and red necked), Northern Fulmar, and Leach's Storm-petrel. Sightings of Black-footed Albatross decreased as we moved north, whereas sightings of alcids (primarily Cassin's Auklet and Common Murre) increased.
Marine mammal sightings continued to be relatively scarce, the one exception being an abundance of Common Dolphins, especially around the Channel Islands. Other marine mammal sightings include one Minke Whale, two Humpback Whales, and a pod of False Killer Whales. California sea lions were observed sporadically throughout the nearshore portions of the survey as were Mola mola and Blue Shark. Moderate fishing success for albacore was had north and south of the San Juan Seamount, 80 miles west of San Nicolas Island, completing our unofficial portion of the survey. We owe all of our successes to the efficiency of both science party and ships crew, made possible by the generous offerings of the ships cooks and the bolstered spirits after gorging on three birthday cakes during the cruise. I look forward to sailing again with Captain Murray Stein and the crew of the New Horizon although the future of CalCOFI is still in question.
DMW 3Dec2002
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