Aerial photography from November 21, 2013 showed:
- Strong tidal fronts and sediment-rich plumes leaving Whidbey Basin and moving into Admiralty Reach. Orcas were following the edge of one plume heading north.
- Red-brown algal blooms continued in several southern inlets. Long debris lines were numerous in Hood Canal, Budd Inlet, and central Puget Sound north of Edmonds.
- Photographs documented features including tidal fronts, sediment plumes, algal blooms, debris lines, and orcas swimming along a frontal boundary. Maps annotated the locations of each photograph to reconstruct observed surface conditions.
Abundant sunshine gives rise to large algal mats in South Sound, Hood Canal, and Sinclair Inlet. Red-brown algal blooms dominate in Budd, Totten, and Eld Inlets and jellyfish begin to increase. Northerly winds push algal blooms from Whidbey and Central Basins past Seattle and a bloom in northern Hood Canal southward. Satellite thermal imagery shows patterns of near-surface mixing and injection of nutrients into the surface layer. Glacial-fed rivers deliver glacial flour into Commencement Bay, stratifying the water and supporting different colored phytoplankton blooms (green, brown, and red). Since the beginning of 2013, dissolved oxygen is dropping below expected values.
The pattern of colder and fresher Puget Sound water persists. Jellyfish aggregations continue to persist in Budd Inlet. Debris lines are numerous and long. There are multiple oil sheens in Seattle waterways. CDOM (colored dissolved organic matter) sensor and en route ferry thermosalinograph provide an important tracer for freshwater entering Puget Sound from Whidbey Basin.
Puget Sound conditions are normalizing after seven months of lower oxygen. Calm, dry, cool, and foggy mornings abruptly changed on October 28 to sun and strong northerly winds. Red-brown blooms and abundant jellyfish in south Puget Sound inlets appeared as we flew to the coast. Blooms were still visible near ocean beaches and inner bays. Grays Harbor had abundant surface debris with green algae in North Bay. We spotted red-brown blooms in rivers and sloughs in Willapa Bay, as well as schooling fish near sandbanks. Many patches of suspended sediment appeared in shallow water unrelated to tidal currents and remain unexplained.
A stunning view of a second large Noctiluca bloom captures the attention of many living near Puget Sound. Favorable conditions support several regional phytoplankton blooms. Red-brown blooms in Port Townsend, Discovery Bay and Bellingham Bay. Large algal mats or organic material particularly in Samish Bay. Jellyfish patches increasing in Budd, Totten and Eld Inlets.
After 2-years of conditions favorable for water quality, with colder temperatures and higher oxygen, Puget Sound water conditions are closer to expected again. This year phytoplankton blooms and seasonal oxygen maxima are notable, while extensive Noctiluca blooms showed up early following a period high freshwater inputs and milder weather conditions. The Fraser River sediment influence is very strong north of San Juan Islands and warm, fresh water is entering Central Puget Sound from Whidbey Basin. In the past few weeks river flows and air temperatures have been higher than normal and now are decreasing.
The weather has been relatively cloudy, warm and dry. We found less debris in the water but saw several large tidal eddies and suspended sediment plumes. Jellyfish continue to go strong this winter. We also observed early algae blooms in Hood Canal and Eld Inlet as well as multiple oil sheens in Seattle waterways. Listen to our marine flight technician discuss EOPS on the radio.
Abundant sunshine gives rise to large algal mats in South Sound, Hood Canal, and Sinclair Inlet. Red-brown algal blooms dominate in Budd, Totten, and Eld Inlets and jellyfish begin to increase. Northerly winds push algal blooms from Whidbey and Central Basins past Seattle and a bloom in northern Hood Canal southward. Satellite thermal imagery shows patterns of near-surface mixing and injection of nutrients into the surface layer. Glacial-fed rivers deliver glacial flour into Commencement Bay, stratifying the water and supporting different colored phytoplankton blooms (green, brown, and red). Since the beginning of 2013, dissolved oxygen is dropping below expected values.
The pattern of colder and fresher Puget Sound water persists. Jellyfish aggregations continue to persist in Budd Inlet. Debris lines are numerous and long. There are multiple oil sheens in Seattle waterways. CDOM (colored dissolved organic matter) sensor and en route ferry thermosalinograph provide an important tracer for freshwater entering Puget Sound from Whidbey Basin.
Puget Sound conditions are normalizing after seven months of lower oxygen. Calm, dry, cool, and foggy mornings abruptly changed on October 28 to sun and strong northerly winds. Red-brown blooms and abundant jellyfish in south Puget Sound inlets appeared as we flew to the coast. Blooms were still visible near ocean beaches and inner bays. Grays Harbor had abundant surface debris with green algae in North Bay. We spotted red-brown blooms in rivers and sloughs in Willapa Bay, as well as schooling fish near sandbanks. Many patches of suspended sediment appeared in shallow water unrelated to tidal currents and remain unexplained.
A stunning view of a second large Noctiluca bloom captures the attention of many living near Puget Sound. Favorable conditions support several regional phytoplankton blooms. Red-brown blooms in Port Townsend, Discovery Bay and Bellingham Bay. Large algal mats or organic material particularly in Samish Bay. Jellyfish patches increasing in Budd, Totten and Eld Inlets.
After 2-years of conditions favorable for water quality, with colder temperatures and higher oxygen, Puget Sound water conditions are closer to expected again. This year phytoplankton blooms and seasonal oxygen maxima are notable, while extensive Noctiluca blooms showed up early following a period high freshwater inputs and milder weather conditions. The Fraser River sediment influence is very strong north of San Juan Islands and warm, fresh water is entering Central Puget Sound from Whidbey Basin. In the past few weeks river flows and air temperatures have been higher than normal and now are decreasing.
The weather has been relatively cloudy, warm and dry. We found less debris in the water but saw several large tidal eddies and suspended sediment plumes. Jellyfish continue to go strong this winter. We also observed early algae blooms in Hood Canal and Eld Inlet as well as multiple oil sheens in Seattle waterways. Listen to our marine flight technician discuss EOPS on the radio.
Sun and high air temperatures warrant en route ozone measurements for model validations. A furry visitor takes a rest on the float plane. Spotlight on our pilot, Joe Leatherman. High river flows lead to striking fronts of turquoise-colored water carrying glacial flour in many northeastern regions. Satellite and aerial images show widespread phytoplankton blooms in Whidbey Basin, Hood Canal, South Puget Sound, and West Bay of Orcas Island. Numerous large debris patches in Hood Canal, Central Sound, and South Sound Inlets. After two years of colder temperatures and higher oxygen, Puget Sound waters are returning to expected or lower dissolved oxygen levels.
Warmer and sunnier days result in higher than normal river flows from the Skagit and Nisqually. Biological activity in the water column is high. Abundant organic surface debris in Hood Canal, Padilla Bay, and many Inlets. Red-brown blooms in South Sound, Discovery Bay, and regions of Bellingham Bay. Different blooms in Skagit Bay, Padilla Bay, and Sinclair Inlet. Jelly fish are numerous in all southernmost South Sound Bays. Hood Canal remains cold but Puget Sound-wide temperatures are now warmer and less salty. Data from the Victoria Clipper and our sampling in the Strait provides important information on water exchange with the ocean.
Air temperatures have been slightly warmer and river flows are higher. Blooms are present only in Whidbey Basin and isolated bays. The water column otherwise is relatively clear. Sediment rich water is entering from the Stillaguamish River. Debris lines were visible in Hood Canal and North Sound. Multiple reported oil sheens seen in Lake Washington Ship Canal. Generally, the year 2014 started colder and saltier throughout Puget Sound. Oxygen is lower in Whidbey Basin, Central and South Sound, but higher in Hood Canal. Upwelling favorable conditions stimulate a spring phytoplankton bloom off the Washington coast.
The year 2013 in pictures: Low oxygen conditions persisted from January into August and broke a two year anomaly of more favorable water quality conditions (lower temperature and salinity and higher dissolved oxygen). Dramatic Noctiluca blooms appeared one month earlier than normal (May), lasted for two months and coincided with lower oxygen. Large jellyfish patches persisted over the winter but then were less visible for the rest of the year. Large drifting algal mats appeared in August.
A stunning view of a second large Noctiluca bloom captures the attention of many living near Puget Sound. Favorable conditions support several regional phytoplankton blooms. Red-brown blooms in Port Townsend, Discovery Bay and Bellingham Bay. Large algal mats or organic material particularly in Samish Bay. Jellyfish patches increasing in Budd, Totten and Eld Inlets.
Sunshine and warm temperatures return after last week’s intense rain. The Puyallup and Nisqually Rivers are flowing high. Red-brown blooms and numerous patches of jellyfish remain strong in South Sound, Sinclair and Dyes Inlets, and Bellingham Bay, with brown-green blooms in Whidbey Basin. Macro-algae surface debris is very high in South and Central Sound. Hood Canal remains cooler but Puget Sound-wide temperatures are now warmer and less salty. Sea surface temperatures are above 15 °C, conditions favorable for some pathogens, and harmful algae blooms. Read about super colonies of by-the-wind sailors washing up on our shores.
EOPS_December_14_2015,
As coastal and regional conditions gradually normalize in response to a fading Blob and increased rain, the big question remains. Will the snow in the mountains stay there or come down prematurely and lower salinity in Puget Sound like last winter? Cascade snowpack is currently below normal. The El Niño at the equator is still brewing! Major rivers transport large amounts of suspended sediments and soil into Puget Sound, also seen in our ferry sensor data. Our flight team gets in the pool for safety training.
Ecology Publication No. 15-03-079
The ocean and air remain warm with sunshine and dry weather across the region. As a result, Puget Sound is a lot warmer going into the new year. Hood Canal is responding with temperatures warmer than previous measurements, breaking its low temperature stint. First signs of growing phytoplankton are coloring the water green. Patches of jellyfish are overwintering in finger inlets of South Sound. Tidal fronts and suspended sediment are visible amidst the stunning San Juan Islands scenery. A sediment-rich water mass is trapped in Rosario Strait. Check out the South Sound Estuarium and the many reasons we love Puget Sound!
Unusually warm water temperatures continue in central and south Puget Sound. River flows remain lower than normal, especially the Fraser and Skagit rivers. Thus, with estuarine circulation much weaker, Puget Sound waters stay put. Mats of organic debris persist in Central Sound near Port Madison. Red-brown and brown blooms are now very strong in southern inlets and jellyfish patches are exceptionally numerous and large. Explore media coverage of unusual Puget Sound conditions including jellyfish.
Air temperatures are warm and Puget Sound continues to show record high water temperatures. Some rain has returned to our region, yet river flows remain unusually low. Puget Sound is saltier than normal allowing oxygen-rich surface waters to more easily mix to greater depths. Lower oxygen was measured only in the Coastal Bays, Hood Canal, and South Sound. Large jellyfish aggregations continue in South Sound, the Kitsap Peninsula, and East Sound (Orcas Island). Sediment plumes in Bellingham Bay form unique patterns. Warm waters and sunny conditions fostered green tides, raising a stink along some local beaches.
EOPS_July_24_2017,
July had warm air temperatures, sunshine, and an abundant snowpack. Previous months had higher river flows (bringing freshwater) and weak upwelling (low delivery of saltier water) which resulted in very low salinities in Puget Sound, especially in the South Sound. Water temperatures are expected and warmer in Central Sound. Above normal sunshine has made Puget Sound biologically very active! Intense and unusual blooms color Hood Canal (coccolithophores) and south sound inlets. Large mats of organic material containing macro-algae drift at the surface. Many schools of fish are visible though jellyfish were absent.
Ecology Publication No. 17-03-071
EOPS_February_8_2016,
January air temperatures and precipitation were above normal as El Nino conditions prevail. This winter our snowpack is in much better shape, though we’ve lost some snow from the stint of warm weather. More rain and higher river flows have lowered salinities in Puget Sound and coastal bays. Nonetheless, water temperatures in Puget Sound remain at record-breaking highs. Jellyfish patches are numerous in finger inlets of South Sound and signs of phytoplankton blooms are visible in coastal bays. When conditions limit flying, Ecology’s research vessel gets the job done.
Publication No. 16-03-070
Warm waters from “The Blob” in Puget Sound combine with drought conditions as warm air has left little snow to feed the rivers. Water temperatures throughout Puget Sound are the highest in 25 years and oxygen is exhibiting record lows. High suspended sediment in the north is still coming in from the Fraser River. Otherwise, the surface waters appear very clear due to recent low river flows and weak blooming activity. A red bloom is present in Sinclair Inlet and in some confined bays. Patches of jellyfish, however, are going strong in inlets of South Sound and Sinclair Inlet. What does this all mean for salmon? Get to know some intertidal critters!
After 2-years of conditions favorable for water quality, with colder temperatures and higher oxygen, Puget Sound water conditions are closer to expected again. This year phytoplankton blooms and seasonal oxygen maxima are notable, while extensive Noctiluca blooms showed up early following a period high freshwater inputs and milder weather conditions. The Fraser River sediment influence is very strong north of San Juan Islands and warm, fresh water is entering Central Puget Sound from Whidbey Basin. In the past few weeks river flows and air temperatures have been higher than normal and now are decreasing.
Sun and high air temperatures warrant en route ozone measurements for model validations. A furry visitor takes a rest on the float plane. Spotlight on our pilot, Joe Leatherman. High river flows lead to striking fronts of turquoise-colored water carrying glacial flour in many northeastern regions. Satellite and aerial images show widespread phytoplankton blooms in Whidbey Basin, Hood Canal, South Puget Sound, and West Bay of Orcas Island. Numerous large debris patches in Hood Canal, Central Sound, and South Sound Inlets. After two years of colder temperatures and higher oxygen, Puget Sound waters are returning to expected or lower dissolved oxygen levels.
Warmer and sunnier days result in higher than normal river flows from the Skagit and Nisqually. Biological activity in the water column is high. Abundant organic surface debris in Hood Canal, Padilla Bay, and many Inlets. Red-brown blooms in South Sound, Discovery Bay, and regions of Bellingham Bay. Different blooms in Skagit Bay, Padilla Bay, and Sinclair Inlet. Jelly fish are numerous in all southernmost South Sound Bays. Hood Canal remains cold but Puget Sound-wide temperatures are now warmer and less salty. Data from the Victoria Clipper and our sampling in the Strait provides important information on water exchange with the ocean.
Air temperatures have been slightly warmer and river flows are higher. Blooms are present only in Whidbey Basin and isolated bays. The water column otherwise is relatively clear. Sediment rich water is entering from the Stillaguamish River. Debris lines were visible in Hood Canal and North Sound. Multiple reported oil sheens seen in Lake Washington Ship Canal. Generally, the year 2014 started colder and saltier throughout Puget Sound. Oxygen is lower in Whidbey Basin, Central and South Sound, but higher in Hood Canal. Upwelling favorable conditions stimulate a spring phytoplankton bloom off the Washington coast.
The year 2013 in pictures: Low oxygen conditions persisted from January into August and broke a two year anomaly of more favorable water quality conditions (lower temperature and salinity and higher dissolved oxygen). Dramatic Noctiluca blooms appeared one month earlier than normal (May), lasted for two months and coincided with lower oxygen. Large jellyfish patches persisted over the winter but then were less visible for the rest of the year. Large drifting algal mats appeared in August.
A stunning view of a second large Noctiluca bloom captures the attention of many living near Puget Sound. Favorable conditions support several regional phytoplankton blooms. Red-brown blooms in Port Townsend, Discovery Bay and Bellingham Bay. Large algal mats or organic material particularly in Samish Bay. Jellyfish patches increasing in Budd, Totten and Eld Inlets.
Sunshine and warm temperatures return after last week’s intense rain. The Puyallup and Nisqually Rivers are flowing high. Red-brown blooms and numerous patches of jellyfish remain strong in South Sound, Sinclair and Dyes Inlets, and Bellingham Bay, with brown-green blooms in Whidbey Basin. Macro-algae surface debris is very high in South and Central Sound. Hood Canal remains cooler but Puget Sound-wide temperatures are now warmer and less salty. Sea surface temperatures are above 15 °C, conditions favorable for some pathogens, and harmful algae blooms. Read about super colonies of by-the-wind sailors washing up on our shores.
EOPS_December_14_2015,
As coastal and regional conditions gradually normalize in response to a fading Blob and increased rain, the big question remains. Will the snow in the mountains stay there or come down prematurely and lower salinity in Puget Sound like last winter? Cascade snowpack is currently below normal. The El Niño at the equator is still brewing! Major rivers transport large amounts of suspended sediments and soil into Puget Sound, also seen in our ferry sensor data. Our flight team gets in the pool for safety training.
Ecology Publication No. 15-03-079
The ocean and air remain warm with sunshine and dry weather across the region. As a result, Puget Sound is a lot warmer going into the new year. Hood Canal is responding with temperatures warmer than previous measurements, breaking its low temperature stint. First signs of growing phytoplankton are coloring the water green. Patches of jellyfish are overwintering in finger inlets of South Sound. Tidal fronts and suspended sediment are visible amidst the stunning San Juan Islands scenery. A sediment-rich water mass is trapped in Rosario Strait. Check out the South Sound Estuarium and the many reasons we love Puget Sound!
Unusually warm water temperatures continue in central and south Puget Sound. River flows remain lower than normal, especially the Fraser and Skagit rivers. Thus, with estuarine circulation much weaker, Puget Sound waters stay put. Mats of organic debris persist in Central Sound near Port Madison. Red-brown and brown blooms are now very strong in southern inlets and jellyfish patches are exceptionally numerous and large. Explore media coverage of unusual Puget Sound conditions including jellyfish.
Air temperatures are warm and Puget Sound continues to show record high water temperatures. Some rain has returned to our region, yet river flows remain unusually low. Puget Sound is saltier than normal allowing oxygen-rich surface waters to more easily mix to greater depths. Lower oxygen was measured only in the Coastal Bays, Hood Canal, and South Sound. Large jellyfish aggregations continue in South Sound, the Kitsap Peninsula, and East Sound (Orcas Island). Sediment plumes in Bellingham Bay form unique patterns. Warm waters and sunny conditions fostered green tides, raising a stink along some local beaches.
EOPS_July_24_2017,
July had warm air temperatures, sunshine, and an abundant snowpack. Previous months had higher river flows (bringing freshwater) and weak upwelling (low delivery of saltier water) which resulted in very low salinities in Puget Sound, especially in the South Sound. Water temperatures are expected and warmer in Central Sound. Above normal sunshine has made Puget Sound biologically very active! Intense and unusual blooms color Hood Canal (coccolithophores) and south sound inlets. Large mats of organic material containing macro-algae drift at the surface. Many schools of fish are visible though jellyfish were absent.
Ecology Publication No. 17-03-071
EOPS_February_8_2016,
January air temperatures and precipitation were above normal as El Nino conditions prevail. This winter our snowpack is in much better shape, though we’ve lost some snow from the stint of warm weather. More rain and higher river flows have lowered salinities in Puget Sound and coastal bays. Nonetheless, water temperatures in Puget Sound remain at record-breaking highs. Jellyfish patches are numerous in finger inlets of South Sound and signs of phytoplankton blooms are visible in coastal bays. When conditions limit flying, Ecology’s research vessel gets the job done.
Publication No. 16-03-070
Warm waters from “The Blob” in Puget Sound combine with drought conditions as warm air has left little snow to feed the rivers. Water temperatures throughout Puget Sound are the highest in 25 years and oxygen is exhibiting record lows. High suspended sediment in the north is still coming in from the Fraser River. Otherwise, the surface waters appear very clear due to recent low river flows and weak blooming activity. A red bloom is present in Sinclair Inlet and in some confined bays. Patches of jellyfish, however, are going strong in inlets of South Sound and Sinclair Inlet. What does this all mean for salmon? Get to know some intertidal critters!
After 2-years of conditions favorable for water quality, with colder temperatures and higher oxygen, Puget Sound water conditions are closer to expected again. This year phytoplankton blooms and seasonal oxygen maxima are notable, while extensive Noctiluca blooms showed up early following a period high freshwater inputs and milder weather conditions. The Fraser River sediment influence is very strong north of San Juan Islands and warm, fresh water is entering Central Puget Sound from Whidbey Basin. In the past few weeks river flows and air temperatures have been higher than normal and now are decreasing.
Eyes Over Puget Sound (EOPS) is a news report, and is made available within two days of observation.
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/eops/
We inform on current surface conditions in Puget Sound and links several scales of observation together. The report contains condition summaries, personal flight observations, aerial photographs, en route ferry data, satellite images, and mooring data collected by the Marine Monitoring Unit at Ecology.
Ecology's Marine Monitoring Unit conducts several marine observations with a sampling frequency of minutes to 1 month. We use our routine commute flight between Kenmore Airbase and Olympia to document current marine water conditions by camera and supplement the information with satellite images and en route ferry data between Seattle WA and Victoria BC. This program is an example to optimize monitoring resources. You may subscribe or unsubscribe to the Eyes Over Puget Sound email listserv by going to this link:
http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=ECOLOGY-EYES-OVER-PUGET-SOUND
For the last week sunshine was low and rivers and air temperatures have been higher than expected due to prevailing southerly winds. Heavy rains have resulted in long foam lines and large river plumes that are filled with sediment. Jelly fish patches have persisted through the winter in smaller bays. Are higher oxygen conditions seen over the last 2 years starting to disappear? We were busy in 2012 and spooled out 37 miles of CTD line to explore the depths of our estuaries!
River flows are above normal and air temperatures are increasing slowly. The spring phytoplankton bloom is slow to develop with visible blooms limited to smaller bays such as Sequim and Bellingham Bays. Noctiluca observed in East Sound on Orcas Island, coinciding with high numbers of jellyfish. Debris lines are mostly confined to Hood Canal. Pockets of colder water observed in Central Sound and Hood Canal, likely from the colder, saltier conditions that developed during the winter in the northern regions. Oxygen is variable yet close to expected ranges. Sizable oil sheens were sighted in Gig Harbor and Carr Inlet.
A stunning view of a second large Noctiluca bloom captures the attention of many living near Puget Sound. Favorable conditions support several regional phytoplankton blooms. Red-brown blooms in Port Townsend, Discovery Bay and Bellingham Bay. Large algal mats or organic material particularly in Samish Bay. Jellyfish patches increasing in Budd, Totten and Eld Inlets.
The weather changed from cool, cloudy and southerlies, to sunny warm conditions and light northerly winds on Mother’s Day. At the water surface, blooms and large debris lines occur in Bellingham, Padilla, and Samish Bays, Hood Canal, East Sound, and the Straits, as well as the finger inlets of South Sound. Large amounts of sediment-laden water from Port Susan are flowing into Central Basin. Turquoise water mixing to the surface in places around the San Juan Islands. After some trouble-shooting of the hardware and communication system, we will resume collecting Victoria Clipper data next week. Meet Eyes Under Puget Sound: Sediment Monitoring Program at Ecology.
A recent cold spell hits Puget Sound lowlands, interrupting this year’s warmer air temperatures. The warm ocean coincides with new maximum water temperatures observed throughout Puget Sound in October! Hood Canal’s higher dissolved oxygen and cold water anomalies are disappearing. November brings cold water from Whidbey Basin into Puget Sound with moderate levels of chlorophyll fluorescence. Abundant smacks of jellyfish in finger inlets of South Sound observed from our flight. Red-brown blooms remain strong in smaller bays of South Sound. Visible suspended sediments in the coastal estuaries from rain, wind, and waves. Playing in the water? Visit our BEACH program.
Lower than expected air temperatures and sunshine are now both increasing; rivers are generally running high. Willapa Bay unfolds its beauty from a bird’s-eye view. The spring phytoplankton bloom is picking up in Puget Sound. A large red-orange-brown bloom persists in southern Hood Canal at a scale sufficient for the MODIS satellite to pick up. Jellyfish are still going strong in southern inlets. Ocean climate indices (PDO, NPGO and Upwelling Index) explain much of the variability in Puget Sound temperature, salt and oxygen. Nutrients, however, are steadily increasing while sub-surface algal pigments (chlorophyll a) are declining!
Air temperatures are warm and Puget Sound continues to show record high water temperatures. Some rain has returned to our region, yet river flows remain unusually low. Puget Sound is saltier than normal allowing oxygen-rich surface waters to more easily mix to greater depths. Lower oxygen was measured only in the Coastal Bays, Hood Canal, and South Sound. Large jellyfish aggregations continue in South Sound, the Kitsap Peninsula, and East Sound (Orcas Island). Sediment plumes in Bellingham Bay form unique patterns. Warm waters and sunny conditions fostered green tides, raising a stink along some local beaches.
Puget Sound is starting to normalize in response to fall conditions with cooler air temperatures, rain, and recovering river flows. We are seeing fewer algal blooms, jellyfish, and macro-algae as salinities become more normal. Yet warm waters persist and El Nino and the Blob are likely to affect Puget Sound throughout the winter. The Nisqually River fared better through the drought than other rivers and best management practices have been improving its water quality. EOPS and ferry monitoring gain recognition with a national award for innovation!
Unusually warm water temperatures continue in central and south Puget Sound while Willapa Bay returns to expected water temperatures as a result of stronger coastal upwelling. Extensive mats of organic debris develop in many places, particularly in Central Sound overlapping with a fading Noctiluca bloom. King County confirms Noctiluca and shares plankton species information. Red-brown and brown blooms are going strong in southern inlets and around the San Juan Islands. Our inspiring WCC Intern gets on boats, into the air, and to the lab.
Record warm water temperatures and low oxygen continue in Ecology’s Puget Sound marine monitoring station network. Record low stream flows result in visibly low river discharge into Puget Sound, in particular for the Puyallup River. Abundant sun and unusually warm water temperatures fuel phytoplankton blooms in many areas. Bright orange Noctiluca blooms are surfacing in the Commencement Bay area and around Port Madison. Finger inlets of South Sound support extensive patches of jellyfish.
Puget Sound is feeling the heat! Starting in October, temperatures are the highest on our record since 1989. Salinity and oxygen are much lower. Recent rains have rivers flowing high. Aerial views show dramatic sediment loads from rivers mixing into otherwise blue water. But don’t be fooled – by summer, snow-fed rivers are expected to run significantly below normal, with implications for Puget Sound water quality. For details, explore the special Drought Effects segment. Spring blooms are visible only in some confined bays. Jellyfish are going strong in finger inlets of South Sound. Glimpse Puget Sound’s glacial history.
Warm air and water temperatures and offshore winds have persisted since fall. Numerous and sizable jelly fish patches are still present in southern inlets of Puget Sound. Coastal waters were colored in shades of gray to brown by sediment and humic substances. Phytoplankton blooms were restricted to the surf zone. We were treated to artful views of meandering sloughs and gullies on exposed mud flats during low tide in Willapa Bay, interspersed with the geometry of shellfish management. Brown pelicans: a story of recovery.
The year 2014 in pictures: In 2014, Puget Sound and Hood Canal behaved distinctly different in temperature and dissolved oxygen. In Puget Sound, generally warmer conditions, abundant and diverse algal blooms, and large pools of organic material persisted along with lower oxygen, high jellyfish abundances, and a lot of suspended sediment. On the other hand, Hood Canal was colder, more oxygenated, and algae blooms were rare. People and planes: past and present.
At the end of summer, water temperatures are still high, and salinities and dissolved oxygen are low in Puget Sound. Both sea surface temperature and upwelling off the coast are elevated (PDO and Upwelling indices) and the the Fraser River flow is low. This combination makes it an interesting fall. Very dense and large patches of jellyfish appear in finger inlets of South Sound. Red-brown blooms also remain strong in South Sound.
Sunshine and warmth continue into September. Upwelling is higher, yet low Fraser River flow reduces the likelihood of low-oxygen water moving into Puget Sound. Dissolved oxygen remains relatively high in Hood Canal and is lower elsewhere. Satellites show relatively warm water in the Strait of Georgia and Whidbey Basin and an extensive offshore bloom. Water temperatures also remain high in South Sound were red-brown plankton blooms and large smacks of jellyfish adorn the water surface. Explore what frequent blooms in smaller bays can tell us.
After weeks of clouds and warmer air, blue skies and cold temperatures set in. Strong tidal fronts and sediment-rich brackish plumes leave Whidbey Basin and move into Admiralty Reach. A pod of Orcas follows the edge of the plume heading north! Red-brown blooms continue in Henderson, Eld, and northern Budd Inlets. Long organic debris lines are numerous in northern Budd Inlet, Hood Canal, and in Central Sound north of Edmonds (Triple Junction). Conditions in the water column in Puget Sound continue to normalize after seven months of lower oxygen. Water is very clear for this time of the year, particularly in the north.
June 3, 2024 Anti-Semitism Letter Sent to MIT President Kornbluth and MIT Cor...Levi Shapiro
Letter from the Congress of the United States regarding Anti-Semitism sent June 3rd to MIT President Sally Kornbluth, MIT Corp Chair, Mark Gorenberg
Dear Dr. Kornbluth and Mr. Gorenberg,
The US House of Representatives is deeply concerned by ongoing and pervasive acts of antisemitic
harassment and intimidation at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Failing to act decisively to ensure a safe learning environment for all students would be a grave dereliction of your responsibilities as President of MIT and Chair of the MIT Corporation.
This Congress will not stand idly by and allow an environment hostile to Jewish students to persist. The House believes that your institution is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the inability or
unwillingness to rectify this violation through action requires accountability.
Postsecondary education is a unique opportunity for students to learn and have their ideas and beliefs challenged. However, universities receiving hundreds of millions of federal funds annually have denied
students that opportunity and have been hijacked to become venues for the promotion of terrorism, antisemitic harassment and intimidation, unlawful encampments, and in some cases, assaults and riots.
The House of Representatives will not countenance the use of federal funds to indoctrinate students into hateful, antisemitic, anti-American supporters of terrorism. Investigations into campus antisemitism by the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Ways and Means have been expanded into a Congress-wide probe across all relevant jurisdictions to address this national crisis. The undersigned Committees will conduct oversight into the use of federal funds at MIT and its learning environment under authorities granted to each Committee.
• The Committee on Education and the Workforce has been investigating your institution since December 7, 2023. The Committee has broad jurisdiction over postsecondary education, including its compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, campus safety concerns over disruptions to the learning environment, and the awarding of federal student aid under the Higher Education Act.
• The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is investigating the sources of funding and other support flowing to groups espousing pro-Hamas propaganda and engaged in antisemitic harassment and intimidation of students. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight committee of the US House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any matter” at “any time” under House Rule X.
• The Committee on Ways and Means has been investigating several universities since November 15, 2023, when the Committee held a hearing entitled From Ivory Towers to Dark Corners: Investigating the Nexus Between Antisemitism, Tax-Exempt Universities, and Terror Financing. The Committee followed the hearing with letters to those institutions on January 10, 202
2024.06.01 Introducing a competency framework for languag learning materials ...Sandy Millin
http://sandymillin.wordpress.com/iateflwebinar2024
Published classroom materials form the basis of syllabuses, drive teacher professional development, and have a potentially huge influence on learners, teachers and education systems. All teachers also create their own materials, whether a few sentences on a blackboard, a highly-structured fully-realised online course, or anything in between. Despite this, the knowledge and skills needed to create effective language learning materials are rarely part of teacher training, and are mostly learnt by trial and error.
Knowledge and skills frameworks, generally called competency frameworks, for ELT teachers, trainers and managers have existed for a few years now. However, until I created one for my MA dissertation, there wasn’t one drawing together what we need to know and do to be able to effectively produce language learning materials.
This webinar will introduce you to my framework, highlighting the key competencies I identified from my research. It will also show how anybody involved in language teaching (any language, not just English!), teacher training, managing schools or developing language learning materials can benefit from using the framework.
Read| The latest issue of The Challenger is here! We are thrilled to announce that our school paper has qualified for the NATIONAL SCHOOLS PRESS CONFERENCE (NSPC) 2024. Thank you for your unwavering support and trust. Dive into the stories that made us stand out!
Executive Directors Chat Leveraging AI for Diversity, Equity, and InclusionTechSoup
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Eops 2013 11_21
1. Surface Conditions Report
November 21, 2013
Eyes Over Puget Sound
Up-to-date observations of visible water quality conditions in Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Start here
Publication No. 13-03-080
2. Personal flight log p. 3
From Army service to Ecology’s marine flights, float plane serial
number 710 continues its colorful past and has been around
longer than most of us.
Weather conditions p. 5
The weather changed dramatically in the past two days, from
warm and cloudy to sunny and colder than normal. River flows
peaked briefly on Tuesday and Wednesday in response to
Monday’s rain, but they were otherwise at or below normal.
Water column p. 6
Fall brings new Puget Sound conditions! The 2011-2012 colder,
fresher, higher oxygen conditions are gone. After unusual
weather from Aug - Oct, conditions now vary regionally. What
will winter 2013-2014 bring?
Aerial photography p. 10
Strong tidal fronts and sediment-rich brackish plumes leave
Whidbey Basin and move into Admiralty Reach. Orcas follow the
edge of the plume heading north! Red-brown blooms continue
in Southern Inlets. Long debris lines are numerous in northern
Budd Inlet, Hood Canal, and in Central Sound north of Edmonds.
Ferry and satellite p. 35
True color satellite images confirm large sediment plume
leaving Whidbey Basin and heading into Admiralty Inlet.
LONG-TERMMARINEMONITORINGUNIT
Mya Keyzers
Laura Friedenberg
Joe Leatherman
Skip Albertson
Dr. Christopher
Krembs
Dr. Brandon
Sackmann
Julia Bos
Suzan Pool
www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/eops/Previous Eyes Over Puget Sound reports:
Marine conditions from 11-21-2013 at a glance
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
5. Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Weather of the past two weeks before 11-21-2013
Meteorological conditions typically explain up to half of the variance in observed marine
variables (Moore et al. 2008), particularly in shallower waters like those of south Puget
Sound. I summarized the specific conditions prevalent during the past two weeks, from north
to south. Source: http://www-k12.atmos.washington.edu/k12/grayskies/nw_weather.html
Moore et al. 2008. Local and large-scale climate forcing of Puget Sound oceanographic properties on seasonal to interdecadal timescales. Limnol. Oceanogr., 53(5), 1746–1758
Two week summary:
Air temperatures. Daily
average air temperatures had
been above normal, but the
past two days have been cold!
Sunshine levels had been
below normal, but the past
two days have been sunny.
River flows had been low, but
peaked two days ago after
heavy rain on 11/18.
Winds have been weak from
the north for the past two
days, otherwise stronger and
from the south.
Moore et al. 2008. Local and large-scale climate forcing of Puget Sound oceanographic properties on seasonal to interdecadal timescales. Limnol. Oceanogr., 53(5), 1746–1758
6. We use a chartered float
plane to access our
monthly monitoring
stations most cost
effectively.
We communicate data and
environmental marine
conditions using:
1. Marine Water
Condition Index
(MWCI)
2. Eyes Over Puget
Sound (EOPS)
3. Anomalies and
source data
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Our long-termmarinemonitoringstationsin Washington
Start here
Isl.
7. In 2013: Temperature varies Salinity varies Oxygen varies
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Conditions of the last two years change at our stations
Fall brings new Puget Sound conditions! The 2011-2012 colder, fresher, higher oxygen conditions are gone. So far in 2013,
there were warmer temperatures at the Coast, and a lower oxygen in the northern parts of Puget Sound and Hood Canal.
After unusual weather from Aug - Oct, conditions now vary regionally. What will winter 2013-2014 bring?
8. -25
-20
-15
-10
-5
0
5
10
15
20
25
-1.5
-1
-0.5
0
0.5
1
1.5
1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
a) Pacific Decadal Oscillation Index (PDO, temperature) (explanation)
b) Upwelling Index (anomalies) (Upwelling, low oxygen) (explanation)
c) North Pacific Gyre Oscillation Index (NPGO, productivity) (explanation)
NPGO(x10)
PDO/UpwellingIndex
Three-year running average of PDO, Upwelling, and NPGO indices scores
Ocean boundary conditions have been favorable for water quality in Puget Sound: (a) colder water (PDO),
(b) less upwelled low oxygen and high nutrient ocean water reaching Puget Sound (Upwelling Index), and
(c) higher surface productivity along the coast (NPGO). Where are we heading next?
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
.
The oceanaffectswater quality: Ocean ClimateIndices
9. Nitrate Phosphate
Nutrients in Puget Sound are increasing, read http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/eap/mar_wat/trends.html
Nitrate Phosphate Nutrient Balance (Si:N)
Get the data and trends from us!
We observe increasing nutrients and changing patterns of algal biomass in Puget Sound
Changing
Nutrient Balance
Algae bloom, Budd Inlet 2010
10. Summary: Aerial photography 11-21-2013
Strong tidal fronts and sediment-rich brackish plumes leave Whidbey Basin and move into
Admiralty Reach. Orcas follow the edge of the plume heading north! Red-brown blooms
continue in Southern Inlets. Long debris lines are numerous in northern Budd Inlet, Hood Canal,
and in Central Sound north of Edmonds.
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Start here
Mixing and Fronts:
Many tidal and salinity fronts seen in Admiralty Inlet.
Debris:
Abundant in Hood Canal and Admiralty Inlet.
Visible blooms:
Red brown: Budd, Eld, Totten and Henderson inlets.
Jellyfish: Infrequent small patches seen in Budd Inlet
BloomDebrisFront
Suspended sediment:
Abundant in Admiralty Inlet originating in Whidbey Basin.
Sediment rich river plumes seen in Hood Canal Main stem.
Plume
Seattle and the rest are bright and clear
Views of clouds in Hood Canal near Union
3 8 10 11 12 15 16 17
1 2 7 11 13 15 16 17 18 20
1 2 3 19 20
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 20
11. Strait of
Juan de Fuca
San Juan Islands
Padilla Bay
Main Basin
Hood Canal
South Sound
Whidbey Basin
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Observation Maps:
Afternoon flight, photos 10-20:
Good visibility, wind and waves.
Flight Information:
Morning flight, photos 1-9:
Good visibility, calm, glare on
water.
3
58
12
16
19
11
10
9
2
13
14
15
17
Aerial photography &
navigation guide
18
20
1
6
Central Sound & Hood Canal
South Sound
Seattle: H. tide: 7:46 AM, 6:13 PM, L. tide: 12:22 AM, 1:40 PM
4
7
12. Suspended sediments, internal waves, and red-brown algal bloom.
Location: Budd Inlet (South Sound) 10:28 AM.
1 Aerial photography 11-21-2013 Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Bloom
Plume
boat
Internal waves
13. B.A.
2 NavigateAerial photography 11-21-2013
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Red-brown bloom, and debris line.
Location: Eld Inlet, A. Looking south, B. Close up (South Sound), 10:30 AM.
Debris
Bloom
boat
14. 3 NavigateAerial photography 11-21-2013
Red-brown algal bloom, fronts, and debris lines. Location: Totten Inlet (South Sound), 10:32 AM.
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Debris
Debris
Bloom
Bloom
boat
15. 10:42 AM10:36 AM B.A.
4 Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Aerial photography 11-21-2013
Long debris lines outlining tidal flow.
Location: A. Pickering Passage, B. Reach Island, Case Inlet (South Sound).
Debris
Debris
boat
16. 5 NavigateAerial photography 11-21-2013
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Organic surface debris over mudflats at high tide. Location: Lynch Cove (Hood Canal), 10:48 AM.
Debris
17. Organic surface debris over mudflats at high tide. Location: Lynch Cove (Hood Canal), 10:48 AM.
6 NavigateAerial photography 11-21-2013
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Debris
Debris
18. Sediment laden river plume with internal wave feature hugging eastern shore.
Location: Across Ayock Beach Drive (Hood Canal), 11:25 AM.
7 NavigateAerial photography 11-21-2013
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Debris
Plume
Internal waves
19. Long debris line. Location: Off Hama Hama Ridge Drive (Hood Canal), 11:26 AM.
8 NavigateAerial photography 11-21-2013
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Front
Debris
20. Long debris line parallel to western shore.
Location: Near Jorsted Creek (Hood Canal), 11:27 AM.
9 NavigateAerial photography 11-21-2013
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Debris
21. 10 NavigateAerial photography 11-21-2013
Lines of organic debris and large tidal front. Location: Off Mutiny Bay (Admiralty Inlet), 1:02 PM.
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Front
Front
Front
Debris
boat
22. 11 NavigateAerial photography 11-21-2013
Lines of organic debris and large tidal front. Location: Off Mutiny Bay (Admiralty Inlet), 1:03 PM.
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Debris
Plume
boat
23. 1:45 PM
1:46 PMB.
A.
Tidal front separating clear and sediment laden water. Location: Useless Bay (Admiralty Inlet).
12 Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Aerial photography 11-21-2013
Front
Front
24. Many organic debris lines and layers of sediment laden water originating from Whidbey Basin.
Location: Off Skunk Bay (Admiralty Inlet), 1:48 PM
13 Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Aerial photography 11-21-2013
Debris
Debris
Plume
Plume
25. Many organic debris lines and sediment laden water originating from Whidbey Basin.
Location: Off Point No Point (Central Sound), 1:48 PM.
14 Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Aerial photography 11-21-2013
Debris
Plume
26. 15 Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Many organic debris lines and sediment laden water originating from Whidbey Basin. Orcas swimming along
front. Location: Point No Point (Central Sound), 1:50 PM.
Aerial photography 11-21-2013
Front
Debris
Plume
orcas
27. 16 Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Many organic debris lines and sediment laden water originating from Whidbey Basin. Orcas swimming along
front towards the north. Location: Point No Point (Central Sound), 1:50 PM.
Aerial photography 11-21-2013
Front
Debris
Plume
orcas
barge
28. 17 Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Many organic debris lines and sediment laden water originating from Whidbey Basin.
Location: Point No Point (Central Sound), 1:57PM.
Aerial photography 11-21-2013
Debris
Plume
29. 18 Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Water from the Puyallup River containing sediment entering Quartermaster Harbor.
Location: Quartermaster Harbor (Vashon Island), 3:58PM.
Aerial photography 11-21-2013
Plume
boats
30. 19 Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Red-brown algae bloom and turquoise water. Location: Henderson Inlet (South Sound), 4:09 PM.
Aerial photography 11-21-2013
Bloom
Bloom
boat
31. 20 Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Red-brown algae bloom, suspended sediment, surface debris and wind driven foam lines. Location: Budd
Inlet (South Sound), 4:11 PM.
Aerial photography 11-21-2013
Debris
Bloom
Plume
boat
32. Aerial photography observations in Central SoundObservations in Central Sound, Hood Canal Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Numbers on map refer to
picture numbers for spatial
reference
Date: 11-21-2013
5
8
9
12
13
14
15
11
7 6
10
16
17
18
33. Observations in South Sound
Numbers on map refer to picture numbers for spatial reference
Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
Date: 11-21-2013
1
4
2
3
4
20
19
34. Legend to map annotations
Comments:
Maps are produced by observers during and
after flights. They are intended to give an
approximate reconstruction of the surface
conditions on scales that connect to and
overlap with satellite images in the section that
follows.
Debris:
Debris can be distinguished into natural and
anthropogenic debris floating at the surface
sensu Moore and Allen (2000). The majority of
organic debris in Puget Sound is natural mixed
with discarded man-made pieces of plastic,
wood, etc. From the plane, we cannot
differentiate the quality of debris at the surface
and therefore, call it for reasons of practicality
just “debris”.
S.L. Moore, M. J. Allen. 2000. Distribution of
Anthropogenic and Natural Debris on the
Mainland Shelf of the Southern California Bight.
Marine Pollution Bulletin, 40(1), 83–88.
Navigate
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
35. Ferry and satellite observations 11-21-2013
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
MODIS-Aqua
21 November 2013
Brandon Sackmann
Contact: bsackmann@ecy.wa.gov
High turbidity and sediment concentrations
entering Central Sound from Whidbey Basin.
36. Strength through collaboration across agencies, academic institutions and companies.
We have plans to continue to collect data at our Admiralty Reach (UW Applied Physics Lab) and
Mukilteo (ORCA College) moorings into the future. Operations at all other mooring locations
have been suspended in order to reallocate existing resources.
Note: Due to state and federal budget reductions, our mooring program is being downscaled.
We are now focusing on measuring ocean intrusions!
Why? The importance of the ocean on water quality in Puget Sound is being emphasized by
Ecology’s mooring at Admiralty Reach, long term monitoring data, modeling studies, and
academic publications. Admiralty Reach is a challenge - it requires a team effort!
Upwelling along the coast can bring high nutrient, low oxygen and low pH ocean water into
Puget Sound. Such intrusions explain much of the year to year variability in water quality.
For intrusions to enter Puget Sound, several conditions have to align:
• Prolonged upwelling along the Washington coast. Driver: Northerly winds
• Estuarine circulation moving dense water from the coast into the Strait of Juan de
Fuca. Driver: High Fraser River flow during summer
• Neap-Spring tide phase and character favorable to intrusions along the 30 km length
of Admiralty Reach. Drivers: Neap tides and tidal harmonics
Future Focus of Mooring Operations
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings
38. You may subscribe or unsubscribe to the Eyes Over Puget Sound email listserv by going to:
http://listserv.wa.gov/cgi-bin/wa?A0=ECOLOGY-EYES-OVER-PUGET-SOUND
Many thanks to our business partners: Clipper Navigation, Swantown Marina, and Kenmore Air.
We are looking for feedback to improve our products.
Dr. Christopher Krembs
christopher.krembs@ecy.wa.gov
Marine Monitoring Unit
Environmental Assessment Program
WA Department of Ecology
Flight log Weather Water column Aerial photos Ferry and Satellite Moorings