Exploring a Red Tide Incubator in Monterey Bay

There is growing evidence that a global increase in red tide blooms is occurring. Red tides can dramatically affect the structure and function of shelf sea ecosystems as well as compromise economies that depend on coastal resources. During the summer of 2007 weekly research cruises conducted in situ Underway mapping surveys along a transect in the northeast corner of Monterey Bay, near the head of Soquel Canyon. This region is often referred to as a red tide incubator, as a preponderance of red tides that occur in Monterey Bay propagate from the northeast region. Drifters were deployed and tracked to give insight into current patterns and bay water residence time. Mooring data were also used to help examine some of the hydrographic relationships that contribute to the unique incubator region.