The Cordell Currents

Photo: NOAA/GFNMS/CBNMS What is Hypoxia? Hypoxia is a term used to describe conditions when the dissolved oxygen concentration in a body of water becomes low and starts to affect aquatic organisms that require oxygen to survive.  In scientific literature, hypoxia usually refers to dissolved oxygen levels below a certain threshold, most commonly 5mg/L or 2mg/L.  … Continue reading "What is hypoxia and why it is important to study hypoxic events at Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary"

The centerpiece of Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuary (CBNMS) is an expansive underwater granite bank located on a peninsula of the continental shelf, which geologically originated from the southern Sierra Nevada mountain range. Its hard surface is ideal for invertebrate larvae looking for a place to settle. Snails, seapstars, and crabs live among the  dense … Continue reading "Overview of oceanographic and ecological factors that contribute to Cordell Bank’s high productivity"

Wind is the primary driving force of water movement in the open ocean. In the northern Pacific ocean, wind pushes water clockwise creating a gyre (or rotation of ocean currents) due to global wind patterns, the Earth’s rotation, and continent landmasses acting as physical boundaries. The continuous clockwise movement of water within the ocean basin … Continue reading "Overview of eastern boundary currents, California Current, and upwelling"