Smooth Sailing
After departing the first time, we got turned around due to
mechanical problems. We set sail again
on November 19th. We journeyed south along the coast toward the Baja
Peninsula. Before entering Mexican waters, we did a test cast. The test was
used to ensure equipment was working properly and it was an opportunity for the
scientists to familiarize themselves with the process. With success we
continued south, our transect started at the southern tip of the Baja
Peninsula, in view of Cabo San Lucas.
This region is noted for its biodiversity and abundance of
wildlife – attributed to nutrient rich waters. As we continued south along longitude -110°, we crossed the continental
slope and made our way into the open basin. An interesting feature in this
region is the ODZ, the “oxygen deficient zone”, which is generally in the
surface 200 - 1000 m. There is a great development in the study of ODZ as
“oceanic deoxygenation” becomes a discussion. It is speculated that as climate
warms, oxygen in the water column will decrease; additionally, that in this
region of the world the impacts of climate driven deoxygenation may already be
observed. This transect, repeated a decade ago, and a decade before that will
begin to fill in the answers to questions arising about this subject.
In non-scientific news: sunrises and sunsets are beautiful,
the seas are calm, we’ve seen dolphins, small fish by the CTD at night, and
even a small shark. Not to mention, anytime we feel a need for birds, we can
walk to the bow where an assemblage of seabirds are taking the bus south
relaxing on the forward mast.
Sunrise & Moon - Nov. 27
Sampling Bay - Nov. 27
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