This year's kelp crop

I've only been in/on the ocean once this season so far and I immediately noticed the kelp, it's thicker than I ever remember in 25 years of diving, during an ab dive in June not only was there allot of kelp on top but there was just a gazillion more little bullheads striving to reach the surface. I've also read a few other posts recently that mention it.

Any theories on why??

dale

My theory; more sunlight than normal this year and with the upwelling it provides cooler water temps than normal for the time of year.

Having been living in inland Oregon all year I can't speak to the current climate on the California coast..however there are several factors that might be in play

More sunlight

More upwelling.. it's not the cold water so much as it's the extra nutrients being brought up to the surface

Fewer big storms (less wear and tear)

Brian

More sunlight,

Now that you mention it it was the driest spring in what 150 years?  So less probably fewer storm clouds,

And some really significant wind and cold water (from upwelling I'd guess)

So far I've been to the coast a few times, only been "in" it once and the kelp is something else this year.

Might just be sunlight and nutrients, it is significantly different.


thanks

Fewer big storms (less wear and tear)
Brian

There is going to be some SERIOUS stench when all that kelp comes loose and washes up on the beaches!!!!

Wish shark week going on this week it makes me a bit hopeful that it's true that they don't wander into the kelp.   

What kind of effect, if any, would all of the extra kelp have on the ab population?  Isn't kelp thier primary souce of food?

  My first thought was less storms to clear the stuff out. Course less storms means more sun.

We had really great upwelling conditions this year (those strong NW spring winds).  Not only does upwelling bring up the nutrients (kelp does not use roots for nutrient input. Nutrients are absorbed osmotically through all outside surfaces), but it also increases the rate of recruitment from the planktonic stage of development.

Bull kelp has 2 stages. The first is a free floating stage as a very small organism.  The free-floating stage then has to settle in the right places to develop into the giant organism we observe.  If the currents are not suitable, this does not occur.  This year we had really good recruitment and really good growth conditions.

Around the Mendo area where I've been on the water for a long time, I've never seen it like this.  Craig, the kayak guide guy out of Van Damme told me it's so thick he was unable to do his regular tours until he went out there and hacked trails through it with a machete.

I'm not sure what it all means, but clearly it's an abalone's dream.

When Norm and I were out at Van Damme yesterday, I was metering some that was nearly 100'.  In the Mendo area, that's unusual.