Eyes Over Puget Sound: Surface Conditions Report - October 2022

The report comes after a third year of La Nina conditions. Weak upwelling off the coast and low river flows of major rivers meant less cold, nutrient-rich, upwelled water was being entrained into Puget Sound in late summer and fall. Water conditions in Puget Sound in October were generally expected while Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor were both unusually warm and salty. Smoky air restricted our flight to Southern Puget and Central Sound where we saw blooms in terminal bays as well as patches of jellyfish. Sediment in Commencement Bay and along shorelines in Totten Inlet was unusual for a dry fall. A healthy foodweb has at its base a balance of nutrients. Explore what we found over the period of two decades of monitoring.

Eyes Over Puget Sound report cover
Eyes Over Puget Sound report cover

Title

Eyes Over Puget Sound: Surface Conditions Report - October 2022

 

Publication number
Date Published

22-03-073
October 2022

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Eyes Over Puget Sound: Surface Conditions Report - October 2022 (Number of pages: 52) (Publication Size: 18082 KB)

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Author(s)
Krembs, Christopher

Description

The report comes after a third year of La Nina conditions. Weak upwelling off the coast and low river flows of major rivers meant less cold, nutrient-rich, upwelled water was being entrained into Puget Sound in late summer and fall. Water conditions in Puget Sound in October were generally expected while Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor were both unusually warm and salty. Smoky air restricted our flight to Southern Puget and Central Sound where we saw blooms in terminal bays as well as patches of jellyfish. Sediment in Commencement Bay and along shorelines in Totten Inlet was unusual for a dry fall. A healthy foodweb has at its base a balance of nutrients. Explore what we found over the period of two decades of monitoring.

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Persons with hearing loss can call 711 for Washington Relay Service
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Contact
Christopher Krembs at 360-407-6675 or christopher.krembs@ecy.wa.gov

Keywords
EOPS, Eyes Over Puget Sound

About the Author: 
Christopher Krembs, Ph.D., is the Lead Oceanographer at the Washington State Department of Ecology and oversees the Eyes Over Puget Sound monitoring program.