CTD observations off northern California during the Shelf Mixed Layer Experiment, SMILE, May 1989

Abstract

CTD observations were made off the northern California coast during R/V Wecoma cruise W8905 May 5-14, 1989 as part of the Shelf Mixed Layer Experiment (SMILE). The surveys consisted of two sampling plans - a large-scale grid of four cross-shelf transects extending to both sides of Point Arena and Point Reyes, and a small-scale grid of six cross-shelf transects located near the central SMILE mooring site. All of the cross-shelf transects extended beyond the shelf break and the maximum sampling depth at each station was near-bottom or 1500 m. The average along-shelf separation between cross-shelf transects was about 15 km for the small-scale surveys and 50 km for the large-scale grid. The primary objectives of the hydrographic measurement program were to observe and characterize the temperature, salinity, density, and light transmission fields and their temporal and spatial variability in the surface boundary layer along the continental shelf and slope near the SMILE moored array, and to acquire estimates of the cross- and along-shelf scales over which the mixed-layer depth varies. This report presents a summary in graphic and tabular form of the hydrographic observations made during cruise W8905 on the R/V Wecoma.