Dataset: CTD data from Bongo plankton net tows from RV Bob and Betty Beyster and RV Shearwater cruises in the Southern California Bight from fall 2020 to spring 2021.

This study is carried out within the temperate to subtropical Southern California Bight and surrounding coastal areas between 32° and 35° N, and 117° and 120° W. Specific locations sampled fall within the CalCOFI and CCE-LTER programs quarterly survey grid from lines 76.7 to 93.4 and stations 26 to 55. 

Sampling stations were sampled ~2-7 days after the California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations (CalCOFI) & California Current Ecosystem Long-term Ecological Research Program (CCE-LTER) Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 surveys had sampled the same stations. The CalCOFI & CCE-LTER Spring 2021 survey was delayed by ~2 weeks relative to this project.

Each cruise no is composed of one or more day trips using one of two research vessels (RV Bob & Betty Beyster or RV Shearwater). The two-three letters indicate the research vessel, the four digits indicates YYMM.

CTD was attached to a wire and positioned just above a 71cm diameter dual Bongo plankton net system to record depth and physical variables during horizontal net tows at a ship speed of 1.5-2.5 knots down to 13-62 m depth. The CTD was not allowed to acclimate before deployment and the positioning of the CTD caused substantial interference from water mixing and air bubble release from the nets during the down-cast. Therefore, only the up-cast is reported. Following initial data processing (see Data Processing) up-cast Depth ~ Temperature, Salinity, Density profiles were inspected and went through two series of point checking where outlier values were manually removed.

The SonTek CastAway-CTD model CC1403002 was used. Temperature and conductivity sensor calibration date 4/3/2015. Pressure sensor calibration date 3/13/2015.