Eyes Over Puget Sound on Feb. 4, 2014

By Sandy Howard, Communications Manager, Environmental Assessment Program



Carr Inlet near Pitt Passage.

What a beautiful cover pic showing a large tidal eddy transporting suspended sediment from the beach into Carr Inlet near Pitt Passage. We took this photo at 2:50 p.m.

Washington Conservation Corps intern Clifton Herrmann came along on this flight. Read his enthusiastic advice to aspiring scientists!

Ecology marine scientist Christopher Krembs says air temperatures have fallen due to unusually weak northern winds bringing in cold air. A dry beginning to winter causes low river flows. And, this dry winter brings new Puget Sound conditions with colder saltier waters observed in the northern regions.

Oxygen has stabilized again within expected ranges. Suspended sediments along wind and wave exposed beaches add artful brushstrokes to the Puget Sound waterscape. Jellyfish are still going strong in Eld Inlet.

We saw an oil sheen leaking from a boat in Commencement Bay and our Spills Program responded

We hope you enjoy our Feb. 4, 2014, Eyes Over Puget Sound.

Eyes Over Puget Sound combines high-resolution photo observations with satellite images, en route ferry data between Seattle and Victoria BC, and measurements from our moored instruments. Sign up to receive email notifications about the latest Eyes Over Puget Sound by subscribing to Ecology’s email listserv.

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