TODAY IS WORLD OCEAN DAY!!

We would like to take this opportunity to share with you the following essential principles and fundamental concepts of ocean science as established by the National Marine Education Association.  To learn more about each of these concepts, we encourage you to click on the link to the Ocean Literacy Guide which contains a wealth of interesting information. 

OCEAN LITERACY PRINCIPLE #1

Earth has one big ocean with many features.

OCEAN LITERACY PRINCIPLE #4

The ocean makes Earth habitable.

OCEAN LITERACY PRINCIPLE #7

The ocean is largely unexplored.

OCEAN LITERACY PRINCIPLE #2

The ocean and life in the ocean shape the features of Earth.

OCEAN LITERACY PRINCIPLE #5

The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems.

OCEAN LITERACY PRINCIPLE #3

The ocean is a major influence on weather and climate.

OCEAN LITERACY PRINCIPLE #6

The ocean and humans are inextricably interconnected.

Observations today from the Point Arena Lighthouse peninsula and from Saunders Reef

• No whales seen at either site
• 4 California sea lions
• 1 great blue heron
• 2 black oyster catchers
• 2 adult ravens; four offspring nearly as large as their parents still in their nest
• 1 osprey seen at Saunders Reef
• 8 brown pelicans flying north at Saunders Reef

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA

• No whales seen today
• 55 harbor seals
• 2 sea lions swimming south
• 2 adult ravens tending to their four large chicks in their nest; chicks now covered with black feathers
• Still quite windy with increasing whitecaps

OBSERVATIONS FROM GERSTLE COVE AT SALT POINT STATE PARK IN  SONOMA COUNTY

• No whales seen
• two osprey

OBSERVATIONS FROM THE POINT ARENA LIGHTHOUSE PENINSULA

• No whales seen today
• 41 harbor seals
• two adult ravens tending to four growing and hungry chicks which seem just about ready to fledge from their nest
• one adult bald eagle, quickly and efficiently escorted out of the area by the two adult ravens
• one great blue heron
• 8 pelicans flying north
• 1 charismatic raccoon
• still extremely windy, blowing northwest at  28-35 mph with 9-10 foot seas

Although these strong  winds greatly reduce our visibility for spotting whales and their blows, it does serve a valuable purpose in the ocean.  According to NOAA Fisheries:

Upwelling can occur year-round off the northern and central California coast. The winds transport surface waters (upper 15 m) offshore, which are replaced by the upwelling of deep (100-125 m), cold (8°C), and nutrient-rich waters from the shelf break region. 

The upwelled water fuels high phytoplankton production and subsequent high biomass of copepods, euphausiids, and other zooplankton during the summer.