Station Positions

The standard CalCOFI survey grid includes six transect lines that are spaced approximately 40 nautical miles (nm) apart. On the winter and spring surveys, up to five additional northern transects are added.

Along the transect lines, stations are spaced approximately 40 nm apart for offshore stations and 20 nm apart for coastal stations (see coordinates in table below).

In July 2004, nine 20 meter SCCOOS (Southern California Coastal Ocean Observation System) stations were added to the standard 66 station CalCOFI pattern. Today, these 75 stations make up the standard CalCOFI sampling grid.

75 Station Pattern

  • CalCOFI’s standard station pattern since 1984

  • Currently used on Summer and Fall surveys (~16 days at sea)

  • 6 transect lines (93.3 to 76.7)

  • 66 stations from San Diego to Avila Beach

  • 9 additional coastal ~20m SCCOOS stations

104 or 113 Station Pattern

  • The 104 station pattern is currently used on Winter and Spring surveys (~23 days at sea)

    • 113 stations have occasionally been occupied (25+ days at sea) by sampling every 20 nautical miles on line 66.7 off Monterey, CA (part of the MBARI ‘SECRET’ time-series)

  • Adds 5 additional transect lines (73.3 through 60.0) to the standard 6 lines 

  • 29 additional stations north of the standard pattern (or 38 additional for the 113 station pattern)

Station Locations

Station Position (Lat/Lon), Depth, and Type

Order OccLineStaLat (dec)Lat (deg)Lat (min)Lat (deg min)Lon (dec)Lon (deg)Lon (min)Lon (deg min)Est DepthSta Type
193.326.732.956373257.432 57.38-117.3053811718.3117 18.3263ROS
293.426.432.949053256.932 56.94-117.2735711716.4117 16.4120SCCOOS
391.726.433.24353314.633 14.61-117.4654211727.9117 27.9320SCCOOS
493.32832.913043254.832 54.78-117.3943811723.7117 23.66609ROS
593.33032.846373250.832 50.78-117.5312211731.9117 31.87846ROS
693.33532.679713240.832 40.78-117.8728611752.4117 52.37616ROS
793.34032.513043230.832 30.78-118.2138611812.8118 12.831627ROS
893.34532.346373220.832 20.78-118.5542311833.3118 33.251376ROS
993.35032.179713210.832 10.78-118.8939611853.6118 53.641452ROS
1093.35532.01304320.832 0.78-119.2330611914119 13.981588ROS
1193.36031.846373150.831 50.78-119.5715411934.3119 34.291899ROS
1293.37031.513043130.831 30.78-120.2466612014.8120 14.803931ROS
1393.38031.179713110.831 10.78-120.9193512055.2120 55.163848ROS
1493.39030.846373050.830 50.78-121.5896512135.4121 35.384109ROS
1593.310030.513043030.830 30.78-122.257612215.5122 15.464132ROS
1693.311030.179713010.830 10.78-122.9232412255.4122 55.393868ROS
1793.312029.846372950.829 50.78-123.5866112335.2123 35.204061ROS
189012030.417953025.130 25.08-123.9989312359.9123 59.944141ROS
199011030.751283045.130 45.08-123.3316412319.9123 19.904017ROS
209010031.08462315.131 5.08-122.6620212239.7122 39.723997ROS
21909031.417953125.131 25.08-121.9900112159.4121 59.403879ROS
22908031.751283145.131 45.08-121.3155912118.9121 18.943694ROS
23907032.08462325.132 5.08-120.6387212038.3120 38.323806ROS
24906032.417953225.132 25.08-119.9593511957.6119 57.56880ROS
25905332.651283239.132 39.08-119.4822811928.9119 28.941309ROS
26904532.917953255.132 55.08-118.9355111856.1118 56.131695ROS
27903733.184623311.133 11.08-118.3870811823.2118 23.221177ROS
28903533.251283315.133 15.08-118.2497111815118 14.98344ROS
29903033.417953325.133 25.08-117.9058211754.3117 54.35613ROS
30902833.484623329.133 29.08-117.7680811746.1117 46.0863ROS
319027.733.494623329.733 29.68-117.7474111744.8117 44.8420SCCOOS
3288.530.133.674423340.533 40.47-118.083691185118 5.0220SCCOOS
3386.832.533.888873353.333 53.33-118.4442311826.7118 26.6520SCCOOS
3486.73333.889533353.433 53.37-118.4903311829.4118 29.4257ROS
3586.73533.822863349.433 49.37-118.6287311837.7118 37.72662ROS
3685.435.834.02136341.334 1.28-118.8341311850118 50.0520SCCOOS
3786.74033.656193339.433 39.37-118.9742511858.5118 58.45737ROS
3886.74533.489533329.433 29.37-119.319111919.1119 19.151644ROS
3986.75033.322863319.433 19.37-119.6632711939.8119 39.8078ROS
4086.75533.15619339.433 9.37-120.006781200.4120 0.411201ROS
4186.76032.989533259.432 59.37-120.3496412021120 20.98722ROS
4286.77032.656193239.432 39.37-121.033391212121 2.003771ROS
4386.78032.322863219.432 19.37-121.7145712142.9121 42.874041ROS
4486.79031.989533159.431 59.37-122.3932312223.6122 23.594099ROS
4586.710031.656193139.431 39.37-123.06941234.2123 4.164147ROS
4686.711031.322863119.431 19.37-123.7431312344.6123 44.593951ROS
4783.311031.911763154.731 54.71-124.170412410.2124 10.224163ROS
4883.310032.245093214.732 14.71-123.4923212329.5123 29.544145ROS
4983.39032.578423234.732 34.71-122.8117312248.7122 48.704247ROS
5083.38032.911763254.732 54.71-122.128581227.7122 7.714180ROS
5183.37033.245093314.733 14.71-121.4428312126.6121 26.573797ROS
5283.36033.578423334.733 34.71-120.7544312045.3120 45.271397ROS
5383.35533.745093344.733 44.71-120.4092312024.6120 24.55999ROS
5483.35133.878423352.733 52.71-120.132581208120 7.95102ROS
5583.34234.178423410.734 10.71-119.5085111930.5119 30.51134ROS
5683.340.634.225093413.534 13.51-119.4112411924.7119 24.6734ROS
5783.339.434.265093415.934 15.91-119.3278111919.7119 19.6720SCCOOS
5881.743.534.405553424.334 24.33-119.8003711948119 48.0220SCCOOS
5981.846.934.27493416.534 16.49-120.025241201.5120 1.51578ROS
608050.534.46667342834 28.00-120.4890612029.3120 29.3420SCCOOS
61805134.45342734 27.00-120.523912031.4120 31.4373ROS
62805534.31667341934 19.00-120.8024512048.1120 48.15780ROS
63806034.1534934 9.00-121.151219121 9.002204ROS
64807033.81667334933 49.00-121.8430412150.6121 50.583631ROS
65808033.48333332933 29.00-122.5333512232122 32.004007ROS
66809033.1533933 9.00-123.2209912313.3123 13.264229ROS
678010032.81667324932 49.00-123.9059912354.4123 54.364348ROS
6876.710033.388243323.333 23.29-124.3228912419.4124 19.374551ROS
6976.79033.721583343.333 43.29-123.6333512338123 38.004201ROS
7076.78034.05491343.334 3.29-122.9410912256.5122 56.474235ROS
7176.77034.388243423.334 23.29-122.2460812214.8122 14.764017ROS
7276.76034.721583443.334 43.29-121.5482812132.9121 32.90930ROS
7376.75534.888243453.334 53.29-121.1983112111.9121 11.90562ROS
7476.75135.02158351.335 1.29-120.9178212055.1120 55.07240ROS
7576.74935.08824355.335 5.29-120.777412046.6120 46.6469ROS
7673.35035.643813538.635 38.63-121.2557512115.3121 15.3530ROS
7773.35535.477143528.635 28.63-121.6090112136.5121 36.541003ROS
7873.36035.310473518.635 18.63-121.9615412157.7121 57.692380ROS
7973.37034.977143458.634 58.63-122.664412239.9122 39.864072ROS
8073.38034.643813438.634 38.63-123.3643912321.9123 21.864164ROS
8173.39034.310473418.634 18.63-124.061541243.7124 3.693186ROS
8273.310033.977143358.633 58.63-124.755912445.4124 45.35 ROS
837010034.548723432.934 32.92-125.1796412510.8125 10.78 ROS
84709034.882053452.934 52.92-124.4804712428.8124 28.834336ROS
85708035.215383512.935 12.92-123.7784312346.7123 46.714078ROS
86707035.548723532.935 32.92-123.073481234.4123 4.413845ROS
87706035.882053552.935 52.92-122.3655612221.9122 21.933071ROS
88705536.04872362.936 2.92-122.010481220.6122 0.631304ROS
89705136.182053610.936 10.92-121.7258612143.6121 43.55420ROS
9066.75036.786963647.236 47.22-122.056331223.4122 3.381006ROS
9166.75536.620293637.236 37.22-122.4148212224.9122 24.892613ROS
9266.76036.453633627.236 27.22-122.7725412246.4122 46.352954ROS
9366.76536.286963617.236 17.22-123.129481237.8123 7.773273ROS
9466.77036.12029367.236 7.22-123.4856512329.1123 29.143581ROS
9566.77535.953633557.235 57.22-123.8410612350.5123 50.463885ROS
9666.78035.786963547.235 47.22-124.1957112411.7124 11.743964ROS
9766.78535.620293537.235 37.22-124.5496212433124 32.98 ROS
9866.79035.453633527.235 27.22-124.9027812454.2124 54.174437ROS
9966.79535.286963517.235 17.22-125.255212515.3125 15.31 ROS
10066.710035.12029357.235 7.22-125.6068912536.4125 36.41 ROS
10163.310035.709193542.635 42.55-126.050881263.1126 3.05 ROS
10263.39036.04252362.636 2.55-125.3415212520.5125 20.494224ROS
10363.38036.375863622.636 22.55-124.6291212437.7124 37.754153ROS
10463.37036.709193642.636 42.55-123.9136412354.8123 54.823890ROS
10563.36037.04252372.637 2.55-123.1950212311.7123 11.702566ROS
10663.35537.209193712.637 12.55-122.8345212250.1122 50.07301ROS
10763.35237.309193718.637 18.55-122.6178312237.1122 37.0789ROS
108605337.847433750.837 50.85-123.099421236123 5.9787ROS
109606037.61413736.837 36.85-123.6082512336.5123 36.493298ROS
110607037.280773716.837 16.85-124.3323712419.9124 19.943999ROS
111608036.947433656.836 56.85-125.053271253.2125 3.204339ROS
112609036.61413636.836 36.85-125.7709912546.3125 46.264516ROS
1136010036.280773616.836 16.85-126.4855912629.1126 29.14 ROS

SCCOOS brings together coastal observations in the Southern California Bight to provide information necessary to address issues in climate change, ecosystem preservation and management, coastal water quality, maritime operations, coastal hazards and national security.

As a science-based decision support system, SCCOOS works interactively with local, state and federal agencies, resource managers, industry, policy makers, educators, scientists and the general public to provide data, models and products that advance our understanding of the current and future state of our coastal and global environment.

The objective of SCCOOS nearshore observations is to extend CalCOFI time series to the nearshore. In 2004, CalCOFI added 9 SCCOOS stations to the standard 66 station pattern.

Nearshore observations consist of 9 stations at the ends and interspersed with current CalCOFI lines on the 20 m isobath with a standard set of CalCOFI observations.

On each station, a CTD Rosette is deployed measuring temperature, salinity, oxygen, fluorescence, transmittance, nitrate and PAR. CTD-rosette 10L bottles are closed at 5m depth intervals (~4: 1, 5, 10, 15) isolating seawater for analysis of salinity, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, and nutrients.

Data for these measurements can be found in individual hydrographic data reports starting in 2004. HPLC, POM, TOC and Size Fractionation are also measured at these stations by our CCE-LTER affiliate. These data are located on the Ocean Informatics DataZoo website.

Bongo net is also towed at every SCCOOS station and zooplankton displacement volumes are reported in the data reports.

SCCOOS Station Positions

LineStationLat (deg)Lat (mins)Lon (deg)Lon (mins)Lat (dec)Lon (dec)
93.426.43257.26411716.76632.954117.279
91.726.43314.75511727.75433.246117.463
90.027.73329.67811744.83133.495117.747
88.530.13340.3701185.65833.673118.094
86.832.53353.40011826.50033.890118.442
85.435.8340.80011849.90034.013118.832
83.339.43415.53411919.44634.259119.324
81.743.53424.50011948.09034.408119.801
80.050.53427.72412029.06134.462120.484

Stations Occasionally Affected by Navy Operations

When Naval operations are underway in the outlined area, seven stations may not be occupied.

Area-10 (outlined in red) includes stations 93.3 40.0, 93.3 45.0, 93.3 50.0, 93.3 55.0, 93.3 60.0, 90.0 45.0, 90.0 53.0.

FLETA HOT (the smaller purple box southwest of San Diego) includes station 93.3 40.0.

Navy Stations

Please note that "Order Occupied" is the predicted station sequence; stations are occupied within 2 nautical miles of desired position

Order OccupiedLineStationLatitudeLongitude   Operations Area - Comments
22908031.75128 N121.31559 W   C1177
23907032.08462 N120.63872 W   C1177
24906032.41795 N119.95935 W   C1177
25905332.65128 N119.48228 W   C1177
26904532.91795 N118.93551 W   C1177; SOAR; San Clemente Is.
3786.74533.48953 N119.31910 W   W289S-3B
3886.75033.32286 N119.66327 W   W289S-4A, M3, R-2535A; San Nicolas Is.
3986.75533.15619 N120.00678 W   W289S-4A
4086.76032.98953 N120.34964 W   W289S-5A
4186.77032.65619 N121.03339 W   W289S-6A
4286.78032.32286 N121.71457 W   W289S-7A
4983.38032.91176 N122.12858 W   W289S-7B
5083.37033.24509 N121.44283 W   W289S-6B
5183.36033.57842 N120.75443 W   W289S-5B
5283.35533.74509 N120.40923 W   W289S-4B
5383.35133.87842 N120.13258 W   W289S-4B, BEFIN
60805134.45000 N120.52390 W   W532S-M2
61805534.31667 N120.80245 W   W532S-M2
62806034.15000 N121.15000 W   W537, C1176
63807033.81667 N121.84304 W   W537, C1176
64808033.48333 N122.53335 W   W537, C1176
7076.77034.38824 N122.24608 W   W532S-6C/7C
7176.76034.72158 N121.54828 W   W532S-5C
7276.75534.88824 N121.19831 W   W532S-5C/M1
7376.75135.02158 N120.91782 W   W532S-M1