Santa Cruz Wharf
Wednesday, March 26, 2025

* Quick HAB Observations *
– Pseudo-nitzschia: Common
– Alexandrium: Rare
– Dinophysis: Present
– Margalefidinium: None
* Impressions *
Overcast and drizzly at the wharf this morning with seabirds feeding off of Main Beach. Net tow was similar to last week – mostly diatoms with an increase in dinoflagellates. Phytoplankton biomass was about the same however, the assemblage shifted again and Pseudo-nitzschia were the most abundant. The P. multiseries concentration increased slightly while the P. australis concentration increased an order of magnitude. Alexandrium cells were also observed in the net tow and the probed counts.
Dinoflagellates:
P: Protoperidinium
P: Dinophysis
R: Ceratium
R: Prorocentrum
R: Alexandrium
R: Akashiwo
R: Polykrikos
R: Noctiluca
R: Boreadinium
R: LRB
Diatoms:
C: Pseudo-nitzschia
C: Dactyliosolen
C: Leptocylndrus
C: Skeletonema
P: Guinardia
P: Chaetoceros
P: Thalassiosira
P: Detonula
R: Asterionellopsis
R: Lauderia
R: Pleurosigma
R: Proboscia
R: Asteromphalus
R: Eucampia
R: Thalassionema
R: Ditylum
R: Rhizosolenia
* Environmental Information *
Time: 7:45 am
Collector: A. Trapp
Water Conditions (SCW)
Water Temperature: 12.5 C
Water Conditions: Choppy w/ swell
Water Color/Code: Blue/green, 10G 3/6 (#32)
Water Visibility: 5 ft
Tide: Rising, High – 8:23, 4.9 ft
Surf Report: WNW swell, 4-6
NDBC buoy 46236
– Significant wave height: 1.8 m
– Swell height/direction: 1.5 m, WNW
– Wind wave height/direction: 1.1 m, WNW
Weather Conditions (KudelaHawk)
Sky: Overcast, drizzling
Air Temperature: 52.2 F (11.2 C)
Wind: 2 mph, SE
Solar radiation: 5 watts/m^2
Monterey Wharf II
Wednesday, March 26, 2025

* Quick HAB Observations *
– Pseudo-nitzschia: Rare
– Alexandrium: Rare
– Dinophysis: Present
– Margalefidinium: None
* Impressions *
The wharf this morning was cloudy and misting. Unlike yesterday, it was warm and sunny with a high of 77°F. There were many sea lions jumping out of the water. In addition, there were unusually more seabirds swarming near shore and moving offshore. The surface of the water had kelp and bird feathers. The water this week was a slightly lighter green than last week with a visibility of 4.0m. Chlorophyll decreased from last week. Dinoflagellates dominated the water column. Akashiwo abundance significantly increased from last week. Akashiwo was abundant (=> 50%) in the water. Dinophysis, Protoperidinium, and Prorocentrum were present (1-10%). The HAB species that were observed in the water this morning included Pseudo-nitzschia, Alexandrium, Dinophysis and Akashiwo sanguinea.
Dinoflagellates:
A: Akashiwo sanguinea
P: Prorocentrum spp.
P: Dinophysis spp.
R: Ceratium spp.
P: Protoperidinium spp.
R: Alexandrium spp.
R: Gyrodinium spp. (pink tipped)
R: Polykrikos spp.
R: Pyrophacus spp.
R: Amylax
Diatoms:
R: Chaetoceros spp.
R: Thalassiosira spp.
R: Coscinodiscus spp.
R: Pseudo-nitzschia spp.
R: Guinardia spp.
R: Pleurosigma spp.
R: Thalassionema spp.
R: Skeletonema spp.
R: Navicula spp.
R: Licmophora spp.
R: Asteromphalus spp.
R: Leptocylindrus spp.
R: Eucampia
R: Entomoneis
Zooplankton:
R: Oligiotrich
R: fecal pellets, nauplii, tintinnids, calanoids, fish larvae, eggs
* Environmental Information *
TIME: 0814 PT
COLLECTOR: Hannah McGrath
Water Temperature: 14.0°C
Water Conditions: relatively calm
Water Color: 10Y 3/4
Visibility: 4.0 m
Tide: Rising, 2.01m, high at 0829 h
Sky: cloudy/misty, 100% cloud
Air Temperature: 12.22°C
Wind: offline, 1.34m/S
Rare (R): <1% ~~~ Present (P): 1 – 9% ~~~ Common (C): 10 – 49% ~~~ Abundant (A): >= 50%