On October 18th, CCE LTER scientists departed on our latest process cruise aboard the R.V. Atlantis (Lead-PI Kathy Barbeau, pictured). Our group of 30 scientists, students and volunteers will spend the next month taking measurements and conducting experiments at sea to document the effects of climate variability on the California Current coastal upwelling system. We are looking in particular at the response to marine heatwaves, changing nutrient ratios, and food web dynamics. The Atlantis is packed with water sampling equipment, plankton nets, incubators, sediment traps, in-situ optical imaging equipment, and analytical instrumentation. This research is supported by the National Science Foundation. Please follow along on our Instagram feed here as we explore the status of this crucial ocean ecosystem.
