Long-term observations on the Bering Sea shelf: biophysical mooring data from mooring site 5

This project is a continuation of a long-term partnership between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and North Pacific Research Board (NPRB). Moorings have been maintained on the southeastern Bering Sea shelf at four sites: M2 (56.9 N, 164.1 W) since 1995, M4 (57.9 N, 168.9 W) since 1996, M5 (59.9 N, 171.7 W) and M8 (62.2 N 174.7 W) since 2004. This project together with research by the NOAA program North Pacific Climate Research and Ecosystem Productivity (NPCREP) continued these measurements for the next three years (2008-2010). These moorings, together with observations along the 70 m isobath, are core to the long-term observations on the Bering Sea shelf. All four moorings are deployed on the 70m isobath. Key findings including the Oscillating Control Hypothesis (OCH), timing of spring bloom, the magnitude of increased temperature (>2 deg. C) and stability in the nutrient supply have all been a result of the data collected on these moorings. Data from M2 has quantified the warming that occurred over the southern shelf during 2001-2005. This project (O1.1) will continue the time series of temperature, salinity, fluorescence, currents, zooplankton abundance (Tracor Acoustic Profiling System (TAPS-8) at M2 and possibly M4), nitrate, and oxygen (at M2 and possibly M5) at four mooring sites on the Bering Sea shelf. In addition during the late spring and summer a surface mooring (two if ice permits) will be deployed that will measure meteorological variables (air temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, wind velocity and solar photosynthetically active radiation (PAR)). The surface moorings permit real time reporting of selected data. Data from these moorings are also critical to model verification. Products include mixed layer depth, heat content, temperature, position of the transition between southern pelagic-dominated shelf and northern benthic-dominated shelf, advection, nutrient supply and timing of the spring phytoplankton bloom.