Thompson Report for May 27-28. (Monday May 28 at 23:00 local time.)

We reached the inshore end of the CP-line Sunday evening. Lots of crabs pots around CP-1 so we did the first fixed depth pump station at CP-2 and sampled 5 depths for chemical measurements and then started the vertical profiling transect. We are estimating a 42 h run from CP-2 to CP-11 (inshore to the outer edge of the bank). Chlorophyll levels ranged from 2-3 volts fluor. over the inner shelf. We passed through inshore waters with up to 3.5 volts fluor. on the transit south to the CP-line. As we sampled along the line we had maximum Chl in the surface until 124 18 W and then a subsurface maximum of about 1.5 volts, around 124 28 W this developed into two subsurface peaks (at 30 and 50 m). Past 124 36.4 W there is a single smaller chl peak. Jim?s scatterometer data shows intense scattering in the surface and then the development of two layers at 15-25 m and 30-40 m with an intervening layer of cold (8 C) water. These layers do not appear to extend beyond 124 38 W. The bottom boundary layer shows up clearly in the scatterometer data and is 5-20 m thick. Thin but intense inshore and then becoming broader (thicker) but less intense further offshore. WECOMA did sea soaring around us most of today.

Jim?s system was down for 5 h last night to replace a winch, and both systems were down for 1.5 h tonight to swap back the repaired winch and to replace a transmissometer on Burke?s sled. We should reach the end of the CP-line tomorrow evening and will do a fixed depth pump station. After reviewing the results of the vertical profiling transect, we will decide on the best strategy for further sampling over the bank. Lots of biological activity here, high chl, gelatinous zooplankton clinging to Burke?s sled, fish, birds, whales and lots of fishing boats.

Pat