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• Introduction
• Materials and Methods
•   ENSO
•   River Flow
•   Salinity
• Discussion
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The Pacific Northwest is known for its varying physical properties as well as its estuaries in which both salt and fresh water have an influence (Hickey et al. 2003). The Salish Sea is such a region. Salt water from the Strait of Juan de Fuca and fresh water from the Fraser River mix in this region influencing the chemical and biological properties of local waters (Masson and Penna 2009).

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO)

ENSO and PDO are known to heavily impact the Pacific Northwest region (Moore et al. 2008, MacDonald and Case 2005). ENSO can cause variations in upwelling and is the major source of inter-annual climate variability in the Pacific Northwest. PDO is the predominant source of inter-decadal climate variability. Both ENSO and PDO can affect temperature and stratification (Moore et al. 2008). ENSO can be in El Niño or La Niña phases, while a PDO can be in either a cool or a warm phase. Both phases are determined by the sea surface temperature of the equator.

Figure taken from NOAA

Purpose

The purpose of our study was to understand how upwelling and river flow (local factors) and ENSO and PDO (climatic factors) influence Salish Sea waters. We theorized that increased upwelling in this region would have a drastic effect on both salinity and nutrient concentrations. Fresh water input from the Fraser River should decrease the salinity and influence nutrients (Johannessen and MacDonald 2009). Temperature fluctuations should be seen in relation to ENSO and PDO phases. Results from this study provided information on the variability of this marine system as well as the factors that influence it.

• Western Washington University
• Bellingham, Washington