Wecoma report 2-3 June

Wecoma completed a partial third bigbox, sampling lines 5 to 1 from south to north. Winds during this period were from the west-northwest around 15 knots and there was a large swell (12') running. The winds were upwelling favorable enough to push the surface layer of Columbia River-influenced water offshore. The equatorward jet is still present, but slightly weaker and broader than during our previous map of this region. We confirmed the presence of the north shelfbreak, midshelf and met moorings, but were not able to confirm the north inner shelf mooring since we were there at night and more worried about dodging crab pots at the time. There were about 4-5 large factory hake trawler/processor ships congregated to the NW of the CH line operating on the slope. These are large vessels (~300+') as we discovered by a close look at one down south on the outer end of the CP line.

After completing the Bigbox 3 survey, we are conducting a butterfly pattern anchored on the CH line (line2). The goal is to repeat the CH line, to document the scales of alongisobath variability and to provide closed volumes from which we can attempt to compute fluxes. The northern point of the butterfly is on the 50 fm (91.4m) isobath on line 1, then we follow the 50 fm isobath to the south to line 3, turn to the NW to CH-7, then east along line 2 to CH-2 before completing the butterfly by returning to the 50-fm point on line 1. We hope to repeat this pattern twice before meeting up with the Elakha on Monday morning to exchange personnel.

Since the forecast is for variable winds over the next few days, we have decided to sample near the CH line, alternating SeaSoar/HTI/Fe towing with zooplankton net (MOCNESS) sampling. Our tentative plan is to begin another Bigbox survey on Thursday.

Written 11pm 3 June

Jack Barth