Seward Line

 

This page represents research performed at the Seward Line 2005-2017. Its contents are currently being migrated to a new Northern Gulf of Alaska, LTER website where the most recent research will be hosted. Please see the new site for the most up-to-date information.

 

Gaining an understanding of the coastal Gulf of Alaska ecosystem through long-term observations

The Seward Line is a long-term observation program (LTOP) undertaken from 1998-2004 by the Northeast Pacific GLOBEC program, and continued from 2005-2009 by the North Pacific Research Board. It is now funded by a concortium of NPRB, AOOS, and EVOS.

The purpose of this research is to develop an understanding of the response of this marine ecosystem to climate variability.

Toward this end, the Seward Line cruises on the Gulf of Alaska shelf determine the physical and chemical oceanographic structure, the primary production and the distribution and abundance of zooplankton. We then examine the seasonal and inter-annual variations in these measurements. At present, cruises are conducted each spring (May) and late summer (early September).