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Seasonal and interannual variation in the extent of hypoxia in the northern California Current from 1998–2012

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Title Seasonal and interannual variation in the extent of hypoxia in the northern California Current from 1998–2012
Names Peterson, Jay O. (creator)
Morgan, Cheryl A. (creator)
Peterson, William T. (creator)
Di Lorenzo, Emanuele (creator)
Date Issued 2013-11 (iso8601)
Note To the best of our knowledge, one or more authors of this paper were federal employees when contributing to this work. This is the publisher’s final pdf. The published article is copyrighted by the Association for the Sciences of Limnology and Oceanography, Inc. and can be found at: http://www.aslo.org/lo/.
Abstract This study addresses the occurrence, severity, and extent of hypoxia over the continental shelf of the northern
California Current (40–48.5°N latitude) from 1998 to 2012. Clear seasonal trends exist in the timing and duration
of hypoxia. The highest bottom-water dissolved oxygen concentrations occurred from November to March, and
levels below the 1.4 mL L⁻¹ hypoxia threshold were detected during the upwelling season (May through October).
Regions of hypoxia tended to occur north of 42°N latitude and were most severe over the widest areas of the
continental shelf. Hypoxic waters covered up to 62% (15,600 km²) of the continental shelf during some years
(2002, 2007, 2008), and, 10% in others (2003, 2010–2011). There are seasonal and interannual shifts in both the
depth and oxygen content of upwelled waters. Years with the greatest extent and severity of hypoxia had the
lowest concentration of dissolved oxygen in upwelling source waters. The dissolved oxygen concentration of
source waters showed a gradual decline from 1998 through 2007, with a subsequent increase from 2008–2010
before leveling off in 2011 and 2012. The variability in oxygen content of source waters correlates well with the
North Pacific Gyre Oscillation and may indicate the importance of large-scale climate dynamics in determining
the extent and severity of hypoxia in the northern California Current.
Genre Article
Identifier Peterson, J. O., Morgan, C. A., Peterson, W. T., & Di Lorenzo, E. (2013). Seasonal and interannual variation in the extent of hypoxia in the northern California Current from 1998–2012. Limnology and Oceanography, 58(6), 2279-2292. doi:10.4319/lo.2013.58.6.2279

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