Remote monitoring of physical and biological properties in the Salish Sea: VENUS sea-surface monitoring with high frequency radar and instrumented ferries
Presentation Abstract
Remote monitoring of sea surface properties is a key objective of the VENUS coastal observatory operated by Ocean Networks Canada (ONC; www.oceannetworks.ca). Our focus is on the physically and biologically dynamic southern central Strait of Georgia where the Fraser River discharges into the Salish Sea. Here we discuss our experiences with: 1) a high frequency radar installation (Coastal Ocean Dynamics Applications Radar, CODAR); and 2) three instrumented ferry routes (starting in 2012). The CODAR system was deployed with two antennae on either side of the mouth of the Fraser River in 2011. This particular arrangement provides for hourly measurements of both radial and total surface current velocities in the vicinity of and including the Fraser River plume. Similarly, each of the three instrumented BC-Ferries routes transit through the Fraser River plume several times per day en route between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Measurements of salinity, temperature, phytoplankton biomass, dissolved oxygen, and coloured dissolved organic matter are available every 10 seconds (in real-time on the internet) and enable high-resolution, spatio-temporal characterization of sea-surface properties. We will present an overview of these relatively new time-series in the context of data products available to stakeholders in the Salish Sea.
Session Title
Remote sensing technology to monitor the short and long term dynamic of the Salish Sea
Conference Track
Habitat
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Oceanography--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)--Observations; Marine ecology--Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Geographic Coverage
Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Remote monitoring of physical and biological properties in the Salish Sea: VENUS sea-surface monitoring with high frequency radar and instrumented ferries
2016SSEC
Remote monitoring of sea surface properties is a key objective of the VENUS coastal observatory operated by Ocean Networks Canada (ONC; www.oceannetworks.ca). Our focus is on the physically and biologically dynamic southern central Strait of Georgia where the Fraser River discharges into the Salish Sea. Here we discuss our experiences with: 1) a high frequency radar installation (Coastal Ocean Dynamics Applications Radar, CODAR); and 2) three instrumented ferry routes (starting in 2012). The CODAR system was deployed with two antennae on either side of the mouth of the Fraser River in 2011. This particular arrangement provides for hourly measurements of both radial and total surface current velocities in the vicinity of and including the Fraser River plume. Similarly, each of the three instrumented BC-Ferries routes transit through the Fraser River plume several times per day en route between Vancouver Island and the mainland. Measurements of salinity, temperature, phytoplankton biomass, dissolved oxygen, and coloured dissolved organic matter are available every 10 seconds (in real-time on the internet) and enable high-resolution, spatio-temporal characterization of sea-surface properties. We will present an overview of these relatively new time-series in the context of data products available to stakeholders in the Salish Sea.
