Oceanographic Survey of Cross Seamount and Control Sites (OES0505, EK60). The goal of the cruise was to collect physical and biological oceanographic data at three distinct environment in the lee of the Island of Hawaii: a relatively near-shore pelagic environment off Keahole Point, Hawaii, at Finch Seamount (17° 38.070’N, longitude 157° 41.723’W) with a 1052 m deep peak, and at Cross Seamount (18°43.285’ N, longitude 158° 15.710’ W), with an approximately 400 m deep plateau. Data collected consisted of CTD casts, trawl samples, and continuous monitoring of currents and biological acoustic backscatter. CTD cats were conducted at predetermined stations. CTDs were equipped with oxygen sensors and fluorometers and water was sampled at discrete depths during each cast for chloropigments and nutrients measurements. Trawl operations were conducted at predetermined stations using a Cobb trawl at depths of the shallow (nighttime) and deep (day and nighttime) sound scattering layers. Currents were continuously monitored using a RD Instruments Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) operating at 75 kHz frequency. Biological backscatter were recorded using the EK60 echosounder system (38 and 120 kHz) along predetermined transects. During the survey, a High-frequency Acoustic Recording Package (HARP) was deployed for marine mammal observation.

Oceanographic Survey in the American Samoa Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (OES0403, EK60). Oceanographic data were collected along predetermined transects in the American Samoa EEZ. CTD cats were conducted at predetermined stations. CTDs were equipped with oxygen sensors and fluorometers, and chlorophyll and nutrients were measured at discrete depths. Biological backscatter were monitored using the EK60 echosounder system (38, and 120 kHz) along the transects. Currents were continuously recorded using an RD Instruments Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP).

Oceanographic Survey in the American Samoa Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (OES0602, EK60). Oceanographic data were collected along five predetermined transects in the American Samoa EEZ and consisted of CTD casts, trawl samples, and continuous current and EK60 recordings. CTD cats were conducted at predetermined stations. CTDs were equipped with oxygen sensors and fluorometers. Trawl operations were conducted at predetermined stations along the transects using a Cobb trawl at depths of the shallow and deep sound scattering layers. Currents were continuously monitored using a RD Instruments Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP). Biological backscatter were recorded using the EK60 echosounder system (38, and 120 kHz) along the transects.

Coral reef monitoring and mapping at US Line Islands (OES0404, EK60). The goal of the cruise was to conduct ecosystem surveys in tropical waters near the islands of Jarvis, Palmyra, and Kingman. Surveys were conducted using the Rapid Ecological Assessment (REA) method and by toad divers for fish, corals, invertebrates, and algae. Oceanographic assessment of the reef ecosystem was conducted by CTD casts for temperature and salinity and Acoustic Doppler Current Profiles for currents. Surface and subsurface temperature were also collected by towed divers and surface temperature, salinity, and fluorometer readings were continuously recorded by instruments on the Sette. Long-term monitoring was accomplished by deployment and retrieval of a variety of internally recording devices. Acoustic backscatter was monitored using an EK60 system at 38 and 120 kHz frequencies. Terrestrial wildlife visual surveys were conducted at the islands/atoll for sea and shorebirds.

2014 Spring CalCOFI. The California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) are a unique partnership of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries Service and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The organization was formed in 1949 to study the ecological aspects of the sardine population collapse off California. Today our focus has shifted to the study of the marine environment off the coast of California, the management of its living resources, and monitoring the indicators of El Nino and climate change. CalCOFI conducts quarterly cruises off southern and central California, collecting a suite of hydrographic and biological data on station and underway. Data collected at depths down to 500 meters include: temperature, salinity, oxygen, phosphate, silicate, nitrate and nitrite, chlorophyll, transmissometer, PAR, C14 primary productivity, phytoplankton biodiversity, zooplankton biomass, and zooplankton biodiversity.

Island Wake Hotspots. Subsurface features were sampled with multi-frequency acoustics, CTD profiles, pairovet and bongo nets sampling different components of the ichthyoplankton and zooplankton assemblages. Juvenile fishes and squid were sampled with an Isaacs-Kidd mid-water trawl (IKMT). Repeat passes of a glider upstream of the area at Point Conception provided detailed sections of temperature, salinity, fluorescence, velocity and acoustic backscatter. Surface plankton will be sampled with manta nets, the Continuous Underway Fish Egg Sampler, thermo-salinograph, and remote sensing. The wakes are expected to be relatively small, with complex sub-mesoscale structure, and strong temporal variability. The primary species focus of this study was small pelagic fish, rockfishes, and squids. However, the full ichthyoplankton community was counted according to usual protocols, and all species from the IKMT were identified, counted and preserved. Calibrated acoustic backscatter data were interpreted using catches from bongo nets and IKMT and predicted frequency-dependent scattering. CUFES data were enumerated and samples preserved according to normal protocols.

Summer 2012 CalCOFI. The California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) are a unique partnership of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries Service and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The organization was formed in 1949 to study the ecological aspects of the sardine population collapse off California. Today our focus has shifted to the study of the marine environment off the coast of California, the management of its living resources, and monitoring the indicators of El Nino and climate change. CalCOFI conducts quarterly cruises off southern and central California, collecting a suite of hydrographic and biological data on station and underway. Data collected at depths down to 500 meters include: temperature, salinity, oxygen, phosphate, silicate, nitrate and nitrite, chlorophyll, transmissometer, PAR, C14 primary productivity, phytoplankton biodiversity, zooplankton biomass, and zooplankton biodiversity.

2016 Summer CalCOFI. The California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) are a unique partnership of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, NOAA Fisheries Service and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The organization was formed in 1949 to study the ecological aspects of the sardine population collapse off California. Today our focus has shifted to the study of the marine environment off the coast of California, the management of its living resources, and monitoring the indicators of El Nino and climate change. CalCOFI conducts quarterly cruises off southern and central California, collecting a suite of hydrographic and biological data on station and underway. Data collected at depths down to 500 meters include: temperature, salinity, oxygen, phosphate, silicate, nitrate and nitrite, chlorophyll, transmissometer, PAR, C14 primary productivity, phytoplankton biodiversity, zooplankton biomass, and zooplankton biodiversity.

TZCF Oceanographic Survey (SE0902L1, EK60). Oceanographic data were collected along the 158°W Meridional from 22°30′N-36°00′N. CTD cats were conducted at predetermined stations. CTDs were equipped with oxygen sensors and fluorometers, and chlorophyll and nutrients were measured at discrete depths. Biological backscatter and currents were monitored using the EK60 echosounder system (38, 70, and 120 kHz) and an RD Instruments ADCP along the transect. Samples of micronektonic organisms were collected from the shallow and deep sound scattering layers at predetermined locations.

Penguin Banks Acoustic Bottomfish Survey (SE0703L2, EK60). Narrow-band, split-beam acoustic data were collected using a Simrad EK60 system operating at 38 and 120 kHz frequencies along predetermined transects to collect reverberation data from organisms in the watercolumn to be processed for echoes of economically important bottomfish.