SoundHAB: Condition update, Friday 11 May 2012

[Jack Rensel]

Friday, 11 May 2012 1PM

 

Both North and Central Puget Sound are experiencing diatoms as the dominant
phytoplankton species again today, with Chaetoceros (Hyalochaete spp.),
Thalassiosira,  Nitzchia spp. and other taxa.  Shaughn Hollcroft of AGS at
Cypress Island reported a prevalence of diatoms in that area.  The general
vicinity is usually not vertically stratified except in mid to late summer
and depending on tidal conditions and weather.  

 

The water near Manchester/Clam Bay/Bainbridge Island is fairly turbid with
large chains of diatom cells today according to Scott Ridgeway of AGS and
increasing water temperature (now about 10C).  Bremerton had a sewage spill
(again) recently and in summer that sometimes has been correlated strongly
with some HAB events, but it is probably not highly stratified yet. 

 

Near Port Angeles Randy Hodgin reports relatively clear water with naturally
low dissolved oxygen, following a Thalassiosira bloom a few days ago when
dissolved oxygen was supersaturated. 

 

Yesterday's MODIS satellite image provided by Brandon Sackmann (Ecology)
below show relatively low chlorophyll concentrations overall, but a major
increase associated with the Fraser River plume (that could be turbidity
related too) that was pointing due south at the time of the image recording.
Northern Bellingham Bay, the waters around the San Juan Islands and
backwaters of the Whidbey Basin, Port Susan and parts of deep South Puget
Sound indicate enhanced chlorophyll concentrations and/or effects of river
discharge.  Two days of images that Brandon provided are attached for your
inspection.    This is very helpful as the NOAA coastwatch website is
currently not providing any imagery from 2012.  

 

The long term weather forecast is for more sunny weather, and with declining
tidal exchange, it is possible that we could see a seasonally early shift
from diatom to microflagellates and dinoflagellates until conditions change.


 

Please report any observations you may have via the list serv if you will,
so that others may benefit. 

 



 

J.E. Jack Rensel Ph.D.

Rensel Associates Aquatic Sciences

4209 234th Street N.E.

Arlington WA 98223

360-631-6538

jackrensel at att.net

www.AquaModel.org <http://www.aquamodel.org/> 

http://noaa.aquamodel.net/index.html

 

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