Off Seward Alaska: "I thought you might like to know the results from the latest GLOBEC/EVOS GAK1 sampling (oceanographic station). It appears that we are seeing a 1 - 2C increase in water temperature from the surface to 250m depth (shelf to bottom) in the Gulf of Alaska. This is astounding and I think the largest anomaly recorded in our history (GAK 1 history). The ocean is reasonably well-mixed which is typical of this time of the year. We go out again in early April. At that time I expect the ocean to be stratifying (due to runoff) and the spring bloom to begin. MY SPECULATION is that this summer will also be anomalously warm again since the ocean is really only to gain heat from the atmosphere over the next few months. One other tentative conclusion is that the anomalous warm waters are not due to an influx of warm water from offshore (e.g., within the Alaska Stream) but probably warm shelf water originating far to the south. AGAIN A SPECULATION. In any case I wonder what the summer will offer biologically."--Tom Weingartner via Stan Senner <stans@oilspill.state.ak.us