Underway Observations

Home

Field Work

Underway Observations

Marine Mammal Observation

In April 2004, a visual and acoustic marine mammal survey component was added to the CalCOFI project to study cetacean ecology and habitat. Visual monitoring is conducted during quarterly cruises by experienced marine mammal observers using handheld 7x binoculars. Supplementary Bigeyes (25x magnification) or image stabilizer hand-held binoculars (18x magnification) are used for species identification when necessary. Visual monitoring provides excellent data for highly visible species in calm to moderate weather.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 12:21 Read more...

CUFES Fish Egg Survey

The Continuous, Underway Fish Egg Sampler, CUFES, is used to collect pelagic eggs of fish, and ancillary data, from ca. 3-m depth from a moving research vessel. These samples and data are, in turn, used to investigate spawning habitat and estimate spawning biomass. Pelagic fish eggs are often aggregated in time and space. Continuous sampling from an ship moving at full speed is an effective means to assess aggregated distributions. CUFES was designed with this intent.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 10 May 2011 13:57 Read more...

Underway pCO2

The Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory’s underway pCO2 system measures the partial pressure of CO2 in the air and surface water while the ship is underway. The pCO2 values, along with temperature and salinity data from the shipboard TSG are used to calculate the flux of CO2 at the air-sea interface. The system determines CO2 content with a Licor infrared detector and is calibrated with 4 gas cylinders provided by the Earth System Research Laboratory.

Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler

Continuous profiles of ocean currents and acoustic backscatter between 20 and 500 meters deep were measured along the shiptrack from a hull-mounted 150 kHz Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). The ADCP data were averaged over 3-minute intervals. Sixty 8-meter depth bins were recorded.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 12:34 Read more...

Bird Observation

Since 1987, seabirds and marine mammals have been surveyed along the CalCOFI transect during daylight hours while the ship is underway. Data counts on seabirds and marine mammals are entered into a handheld computer in real time and are available to filter or download on the Datazoo webpage. Bird observers participating on CalCOFI cruises are provided by support from the Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research (Jul 2007 to present) and Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO, 1987-2006).

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 12:24 Read more...

Continuous Data

All CalCOFI ships actively collect sea surface, meteorological, and other types of continuous data. There are differences in systems used between boats and agencies as well as differences in data types and availability. The core parameters that are most reliably collected are navigational data such as GPS, thermosalinographic and fluorometeric data, and various types of atmospheric data such as wind and ship speed.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 11 May 2011 10:17 Read more...

Advanced Laser Fluorometer

Continuous underway analysis of phytoplankton pigment groups and variable fluorescence (Fv/Fm). ALF, developed by A. Chekalyuk at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, uses laser stimulated emission at 405 and 532 nm together with spectral deconvolution analysis to distinguish fluorescence from three types of phycoerythrin, chlorophyll-a, and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM). The ALF is useful for differentiating the contribution of cyanobacteria and cryptophytes from other phytoplankton taxa present in natural phytoplankton assemblages, as well as for assessing phytoplankton photophysiological status.

Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 August 2012 17:25 Read more...

Multi-Frequency Acoustics

A combination of multi-frequency acoustics and midwater trawl samples are used to estimate the biomass and distribution of mesopelagic and epipelagic (sardine and anchovy) fishes as well as macrozooplankon and identify areas of enhanced productivity and concentration in the southern California Current.

California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations