|
Written by Robert Monroe
|
|
Tuesday, 02 March 2010 11:28 |
Image source: NASA DACC
Improved Near-real-time Tracking of 2010 El Niño Reveals Marine Life Reductions
Researchers search for answers to warming coastal water, thinning marine populations
The ongoing El Niño of 2010 is affecting north Pacific Ocean ecosystems in ways that could affect the West Coast fishing industry, according to scientists at NOAA and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego.
Researchers with the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) at Scripps and NOAA’s Southwest Fisheries Science Center report a stronger than normal northward movement of warm water up the Southern California coast, a high sea-level event in January and low abundances of plankton and pelagic fish — all conditions consistent with El Niño.
Sea surface temperatures along the entire West Coast are 0.5 to 1 degree Celsius (0.9 to 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than normal and at points off Southern California are as much as 1.6 degrees Celsius (2.9 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than normal. The most unusually high temperatures were mapped around Catalina and San Clemente islands. While strong winter storms caused an increase in coastal sea levels, scientists are investigating whether the higher sea levels are primarily a result of El Niño, a cyclical phenomenon characterized by warming eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean waters. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
News: Current Cruise Status on Twitter |
 |
 |
 |
|
Written by Administrator
|
|
Wednesday, 06 January 2010 16:49 |
|
Follow the latest CalCOFI cruise status on Twitter at http://twitter.com/calcofi |
|
Last Updated on Saturday, 06 March 2010 12:49 |
|
2010 CalCOFI Cruise Schedule |
|
|
|
|
CalCOFI cruise dates are subject to change so check back often
|
|
Last Updated on Friday, 12 March 2010 15:17 |
|
Opportunities to volunteer on CalCOFI Cruises in 2010
- CalCOFI 1010NM: 21 Oct - 7 Nov 2010 on SIO R/V New Horizon. Departs San Diego, returns to San Diego.
Interested in participating in an oceanographic cruise? CalCOFI cruises are staff by personnel from the three supporting agencies: NMFS/NOAA, IOD/SIO, & CDF&G. Volunteers are often recruited to help deploy equipment, collect data, and draw and analyze samples.
General criterias are:
- sea-worthiness (some experience at sea or seasickness awareness);
- good health;
- scientific interest and background;
- ability to follow detailed instructions carefully;
- ability to work safely on an oceanographic cruise.
- availability - most cruises are 16 - 18 days; some winter & spring cruises are longer.
- ability to work a 12hr watch (noon to midnight or midnight to noon)
Additional information is available in the CalCOFI Handbook. If you are interested in participating, please send a resume and a brief description of your seagoing experience and interests to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. |
|
Last Updated on Friday, 12 March 2010 10:02 |
|
|
|
|
|
News & Info
28 Oct - 16 Nov 2010 on SIO 
