A Science Plan for the California Current

U.S. GLOBEC Report No. 11.

August 1994

Authors of this document.

Table of Contents

SECTION I-EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    The Research Program
    Program Elements
    Time and Space Scales
    Products

SECTION II-INTRODUCTION

    The Importance of the Populations within the CCS
       Economic Value
       Ecological Importance
    Program Elements
    Time and Space Scales
    Recommendations for Initial Activities

SECTION III-OCEANOGRAPHIC SETTING

    The Physical Setting
       Regional Divisions
       Large Scale Features
       Mesoscale Features
       Seasonal Variability
       Interannual Variability
       Decadal Variability
    The Biological Setting
       Regional Division
       Boundary Shifts
       Life History Traits

Genetic Considerations

SECTION IV-THE CLIMATE CONTEXT

    Predictions from Historical Data
    Predictions from Models
    Predictions from First Principles
    Climate Change Scenarios
       Direct Effects of Climate Change
       Indirect Effects of Climate Change

SECTION V-CENTRAL QUESTIONS AND GOALS

    More Specific Questions
       Interannual Variability in Biological Responses
       Interdecadal Variability in Biological Responses
       Mesoscale Variability in Biological Responses
       Latitudinal Gradients in Biological Responses
    Approach to Answering the Questions

SECTION VI-POTENTIAL COMPONENTS OF A CCS STUDY

    General Description
    Modeling Studies
       Goals and Objectives
       Relevance Of Modeling
       Questions and Hypotheses
       Methods
    Retrospective and Comparative Studies
       Goals and Objectives
       Relevance of Retrospective and Comparative Studies
       Questions and Hypotheses
       Methods
    Large-Scale Spatial Studies (Latitudinal Studies, Including ENSO Forcing)
       Goals and Objectives
       Relevance of Large-Scale Spatial Studies
       Questions and Hypotheses
       Methods
    Mesoscale Spatial Studies
       Goals and Objectives
       Relevance of Mesoscale Spatial Studies
       Questions and Hypotheses
       Methods
    Monitoring
       Goals and Objectives
       Questions and Hypotheses
       Methods

SECTION VII-RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INITIAL ACTIVITIES

SECTION VIII-OCEANOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND

    Seasonal Changes in Physical Processes in Regions I-IV
       Region I
       Region II
       Region III
       Region IV
    Biological Provinces
       Phytoplankton  Provinces
       Zooplankton Provinces
       Invertebrate Benthos Provinces
       Marine Fish Provinces
       Bird Provinces
       El Nino Effects on Zoogeographic Boundaries
    Biophysical Interactions
       Overview of Biophysical Interactions
       Biophysical Interactions Involving Phytoplankton
       Biophysical Interactions Involving Zooplankton
       Biophysical Interactions Involving Benthic Invertebrates
       Biophysical Interactions Involving Marine Fish and Shellfish
       Biophysical Interactions Involving Bird Populations
       Summary of Biophysical Interactions-Hypothesis Formulation
    Historical Variability in the CCS
       The Last 100 Years
       The Last 1500 Years
    Global Eastern Boundary Currents

SECTION IX-RELATION TO OTHER U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

    Linkages To Other West Coast Programs
    Linkages To International Programs