California Current Ecosystem (CCE) Long Term Ecological Research site

Mark D. Ohman Scripps Institution of Oceanography

U.S. LTER Network26 sites

1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

Te

mp

eratu

re

ano

ma

ly (oC)

-2

-1

0

1

2

Secular trend

Pacific Decadal Oscillation

El Niño

Low frequency forcing in the CCS

SIO Pier Temp.

Year1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000

PD

O

Inde

x

-3-2-10123

PDO Index (N. Mantua)

Multidecadal Forcing and Ecosystem Responses

Ohman and Venrick 2003Lavaniegos and Ohman 2003Brinton and Townsend 2003

from CalCOFIplankton samples

• Experimental Process StudiesBiological rate measurements focusing

on key processes in the planktonic ecosystem

• Time SeriesAugmented CalCOFI (4x y-1)MODIS remote sensingNearshore stations, moorings (SCCOOS)

• ModelingCoupled bio-physical modelsNonlinear time series hindcast modelsControl volume property fluxes

• Information and Data Management

• Education and Outreach “K through grey” communities

CCE LTER Program Elements

Nitracline Depth vs. Time

0

20

40

60

80

1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004

Year

Nitr

aclin

e D

epth

(m

)

CalCOFI data

(Goericke, unpub.)

Temporal variations in nitracline depth

El Niño

Stratified, deep nitraclineDeep mixed layerLow vertical velocitiesPicoplankton dominatedMicrobial food web

Well mixed, shallow nitraclineShallow mixed layerStrong upwelling (coastal or wind stress curl)Microplankton dominatedMetazoan food web

Exploiting spatial differences as an analogue oftemporal change

CCE LTER Station Plan

29.5

31.5

33.5

35.5

-125 -123 -121 -119 -117

LTER Control Volume Stas.CalCOFI Station (N=66)NDBC BuoySBC Kelp LTER MooringOcean InstituteScripps Pier

San Diego

Santa Barbara

Los Angeles

http://ccelter.sio.ucsd.edu Scripps Institution of Oceanography/U.C.S.D.

SeaWIFS [M N/m3]

E2

E1

E3

Chl-a

[M N/m3]

E1

E2

E3

Chl-a

E3

Chl-a

Ecosystem Model

Independentverification

CalCOFI in situ

Di Lorenzo, E., A. J. Miller, D. J. Neilson, B. D. Cornuelle, and J. R. Moisan, 2003: Modeling observed California Current mesoscale eddies and the ecosystem response .

International Journal of Remote Sensing

Forecasting and Hindcasting Ocean Productivity

Coupled bio-physical models

Cvgdldzl i

l f 500

0 Cz0li

l fT Ek ˆ n dl Q

Geostrophic + Ekman = Net fluxConvergence Divergence

“Control Volume” to constrain property fluxes

• Ocean Informatics Environment-Open source centered

-New server installed: iOcean

-SIO infrastructure partnering

initiated: CalCOFI, PaCOOS, SCOOS, Palmer LTER

• Web site under construction:-local: http://ccelter.sio.ucsd.edu

-virtual: http://cce.lternet.edu

(planned)

• PreLaunch discussions/activites: -data policy, metadata (EML)

-survey, collaborative tools

• Human Social Dynamics NSF

project: -natural/human/information interfaces

CCE Data/Information Management:design process has begun

Karen Baker

CCE LTER Program ParticipantsName Role Institution Interests

Mark Ohman Lead PI SIO Mesozooplankton EcologyLihini Aluwihare Co-PI SIO Dissolved Organic MatterKaren Baker Co-PI SIO Information ManagementKatherine Barbeau Co-PI SIO Iron GeochemistryDavid Checkley Co-PI SIO Mesozooplankton & IchthyoplanktonPeter Franks Co-PI SIO Biophysical ModelingRalf Goericke Co-PI SIO Phytoplankton Ecology Michael Landry Co-PI SIO Food-Web Structure and FunctionArt Miller Co-PI SIO Physical Oceanography; ModelingGreg Mitchell Co-PI SIO Remote Sensing and Bio-opticsGeorge Sugihara Co-PI SIO Nonlinear ModelingFarooq Azam Associate SIO Bacteria/Microbial Food WebsSteven Bograd Associate PFEL Physical OceanographyRon Burton Associate SIO Molecular Probes for ProtistsDan Cayan Associate SIO Atmospheric Physics Teresa Chereskin Associate SIO ADCP CurrentsEmanuel DiLorenzo Associate Georgia Tech. Biophysical ModelingDavid Hyrenbach Associate Duke/PRBO Seabird EcologyCheryl Peach & Associate BAS & Education and Outreach planningSharon Franks Associate CA COSEE Education and Outreach planningBrian Palenik Associate SIO Microbial DiversityDan Rudnick Associate SIO Mesoscale Ocean PhysicsChristian Reiss Associate SWFSC Planktivorous FishesKen Smith Associate SIO Deep-sea Benthic EcologyBill Sydeman Associate PRBO Seabird Ecology; Marine MammalsElizabeth Venrick Associate SIO Phytoplankton Floristics

SIO= Scripps Institution of OceanographyPFEL=Pacific Fisheries Environmental Laboratory, Georgia T=Georgia Institute of Technology, Duke = Duke University, PRBO = Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory, BAS = Birch Aquarium at Scripps, CA COSEE= California Center for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence, SWFSC=Southwest Fisheries Science Center/U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service

1 Sept 2004 . . .

CCE LTER