Near Real-time Temperatures From The Aleutian Islands Bottom Trawl Survey 2022

NOAA Fisheries scientists are sharing information on ocean temperatures recorded during the recorded during the Aleutian Islands Bottom Trawl Survey in 2022.

Alaska

Survey Progress and Bottom Temperatures

Four map panels showing bottom temperatures in Aleutian Islands — Near real-time ocean bottom temperatures collected June 10-August 13 2022 during the Aleutian Islands (Jun 07-Aug 17 2022) survey aboard the F/V Ocean Explorer. On August 13, a station 184-16 (51.66°N, -176.254°W; >5–5.5°C) was surveyed by the F/V. Data have NOT been through final review. Final, validated data (e.g., temperature and species collected at each station), will be publicly accessible on FOSS platform. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

Survey Mission

During 2022's Aleutian Islands Bottom Trawl Survey, we are collecting and sharing near real-time temperature data from the ocean seafloor. This page will be updated daily on business days during the survey.

The goal of the survey is to collect data on the distribution and abundance of crab, groundfish, and other bottom-dwelling species in the Aleutian Islands. These data are used for ecosystem monitoring and to aid in the management of commercially important species in Alaska. NOAA Fisheries has conducted this survey since 1980 (except in 2008 and 2020), and formally standardized the survey in 1991.

Survey Dates

The Aleutian Islands bottom trawl survey is being conducted from June 6 to August 18. In 2022, start dates are staggered for the two vessels conducting the survey, the F/V Ocean Explorer (departing Dutch Harbor on June 10) and the F/V Alaska Provider (departing Dutch Harbor on June 11). Due to COVID-related concerns, port calls and outreach will again be minimized for the safety of our survey teams, vessel crews, and the communities of Alaska.

Survey Location

NOAA Fisheries near-real time ocean bottom temperatures collected between June 10 and June 12, 2022 during the Aleutian Islands (Jun 07 - Aug 17 2022) survey aboard the F/V Ocean Explorer. On June 12, 3 stations with station IDs of 318-73 (near 54.195°N and -166.171°W, measuring >4–4.5°C), 315-71 (near 54.089°N and -166.385°W, measuring >5–5.5°C), and 322-77 (near 54.378°N and -165.871°W, measuring >4–4.5°C) were surveyed by the F/V Ocean Explorer. These data have not been through final review. — Survey regions depicted in survey progress gif and pdf. Credit: NOAA Fisheries

The Aleutian Islands bottom trawl survey begins in Unimak Pass in June, sweeping westward along the north side of the Aleutian archipelago until reaching Samalga Pass.

In Samalga Pass and at the Islands of Four Mountains (Chuginadak), the survey begins trawling on both the north and south sides of the archipelago as it continues to sweep westward through the Aleutian Islands chain. Crew changes occur twice during the summer in late June and again in late July at Adak Island.

The survey ultimately sails past Attu Island (the last U.S. island in the Aleutian chain) and steams to Stalemate Bank to collect the last of our samples in early August. Both vessels then return to Dutch Harbor to demobilize and the survey scientists return to Seattle and Alaska to finalize and report the data collected.

Survey Importance

Collecting environmental data while on the survey helps us better understand the organisms’ habitats and the greater ecosystem. Water temperature is important to many species, as it affects their spawning times, access to food, growth rates, and their overall distribution patterns. To learn more about the Aleutian Islands ecosystem please refer to our ecosystem status report.

The final, validated, survey data, including temperature and species collected at each station among other observations, will be made publicly accessible about a month after the survey is complete on the Fisheries One Stop Shop (FOSS) platform. While we expect the data presented here will not need to be improved upon, it has not been through our robust data checking process and is technically ‘unreviewed.’

Downloadable PDF

PDF (50 pages as of August 3, 2022)

Document updates automatically 7 days per week for duration of survey unless ships are at port.

This PDF provides static maps of each day's progress and bottom temperatures (Celsius). The last page includes a map of the full Aleutian Islands survey grid.