Eastern Area Cruise No. 31 - 15-24 November 1967
Cruise Itinerary: 15 November 1000 Depart San Francisco
16 November 0720 Begin Grid Observations
23 November 0930 End Grid Observations
24 November 1130 Arrive Long Beach
Survey Personnel: Richard D. Chandler (Biologist in Charge)
T. James Lewis
Methods
One-man diurnal observations were made from the wings of the bridge
except for the afternoon of the 18th when observations were made from
the skiff, concurrent with collections. No non-Grid nor nocturnal ob-
servations were taken on this cruise. No BT soundings were taken.
Other methods and procedures followed those established on previous
cruises.
Cruise Track (See Figure 1)
Very dense fog on the non-Grid leg from San Francisco to the Grid
prohibited observations on the 15th. Due to the work required prior to
offloading equipment in Long Beach, no observations were made outside
the Grid on the 23rd and 24th. A number of departures were made from
the nominal Grid cruise track. The departures made it possible to cover
all sections of the Grid in the allotted time period which was necessarily
foreshortened due to ship scheduling.
Excellent cooperation was received from Captain Kaiser, the deck
force, weather personnel, quartermasters, and all concerned with the
operation.
Conditions
A complex low-pressure system developed over the Grid area, moved
eastward over the coast, retrograded back to the Grid area, and moved to
the south, all during the week of the survey. The weather was extremely
variable with markedly shifting winds that at times came from the south
and southeast instead of the much more regular direction of north and
northwest. A steady rain on the 17th was followed with briefer showers
almost daily during the rest of the time in the Grid. Water spouts were
seen on the 22nd. Heavy rainfall over adjacent land may have contributed
to the fact that no stray landbirds were seen. Slicks and floating kelp
patches were noted in the eastern third, particularly in Section W.
Collections
Nineteen Red Phalaropes, two Leach's Storm Petrels, one Sooty