Ecosystems and Fisheries-Oceanography Coordinated Investigations (EcoFOCI) (EcoFOCI)

Updated 2012-07-25

The Bering Sea is an extremely rich ecosystem providing almost half of the US catch of fish and shellfish. EcoFOCI has four moorings (M2, M4, M5 and M8), which are an important component in the observational system, monitoring changes in the ecosystem. Data are used by ecosystem managers, modellers (model validation), and scientists. They provide critical information on the spatial temperature structure, timing of phytoplankton blooms, cold pool and presence of marine mammals. Main gaps: Expanding instrumentation to measure ice thickness, nutrients, oxygen, PAR, zooplankton biovolume and atmospheric variables to all four of the mooring sites. Increase vertical resolution of nutrients. Expand measurements northward into the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas.

http://www.ecofoci.noaa.gov/

Status: Ongoing
Project time span: 1995 -
Data collection: 1995 -
Data processing: 1995 -
Data reporting: 1995 -

Contact information

Contact person: - -
Address: Phyllis Stabeno
Email: vog.aaon@onebats.sillyhP

Parameters and Media

Parameter groups measured/observed/modelled

Media sampled/studied/modelled

Air/aerosol

Human media

Ice/snowpack

Seawater/suspended particulate matter

Geography

Regions studied: Bering Sea

Data availability

Samples/specimens archived in specimen banks?: No

Methods & Procedures

Procedures and methodology used for, e.g., sampling and sample storage, sample pretreatment, extraction and analysis, including which laboratories are involved, references to methods employed, etc.: Temperature, Salinity, Currents (300 or 600 KHz ADCP), Fluorescence (at 1-3 depths on each mooring), Meteorological variables (on M2 during May – September), Nutrients (0-2 depths on each mooring), Oxygen (M2), Zooplankton biovolume (from acoustic sensors on M2 and M5), Ice thickness (M4), Sound (passive listening devices primarily for marine mammals), Subsurface PAR (M4).

Additional Information

Is this a bi- AND multi-lateral project (i.e. a project involving cooperation between different countries)?: No
Other institutes involved in the project: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Is this project reporting to other organizations/programmes?: Bering Ecosystem Study (BEST)