| Salinity Since 1997 we have
been measuring salinity in mid-summer across lower Cook Inlet. (See Map for transect details.) We had
previously learned from satellite imagery that there was a cold water upwelling in our
sample area. Our CTD sampling also indicated an upwelling of cold, highly saline
water (shown in orange, between stations CIT-6 through CIT-9). Also evident from
these data are the stratified waters of outer Kachemak Bay, which is visible as a
relatively low salinity lens around transects CIT-10 through CIT-12. Finally, ocean
salinity of the western portion of Cook Inlet is influenced by fresh water runoff from the
Cook Inlet watershed. Consequently, this area has relatively low salinity, as shown
in green between stations CIT-1 through CIT-4. We also collected temperature and flourometry
(phytoplankton) data along this transect. |
