Endurance Array

The Endurance Array is a multi-scaled array utilizing fixed and mobile assets to observe cross-shelf and along-shelf variability in the coastal upwelling region of the Oregon and Washington coasts. The array also provides an extended spatial footprint that encompasses a prototypical eastern boundary current regime and overlaps the Regional Scale Nodes (RSN) cabled network. This integrated infrastructure bridges processes from the coastal zone, through their transition into the ocean basin interior (RSN), and outward to the pelagic North Pacific (Station Papa).

The backbone of the Endurance Array includes two cross-shelf moored array lines, the Oregon Line (also called the Newport Line) and the Washington Line (also known as the Grays Harbor Line). Each these lines contain three fixed sites spanning the slope (500-600 m), shelf (80 m) and inner-shelf (25 m). These mooring lines will provide synoptic, multi-scale observations of the eastern boundary current regime.

The three sites across the shelf and slope are associated with unique physical,geological, and biological processes. The Oregon and Washington Lines are both affected by wind-driven upwelling and downwelling, but shelf stratification and upper-ocean properties are influenced differently at each location by the Columbia River outflow. Observations at both locations will allow for a greater understanding of coastal ocean ecosystem responses to climate variability. To bridge the distances between the fixed sites and allow for adaptive sampling, OOI will employ gliders. An array of ~6 gliders will travel along five east-west transect lines from approximately the 20-m isobaths to 126 W (and out to 128 W along the Newport and Gray’s Harbor lines), as well as a north-south transect along 126 W.

A transformative design element of the 500 m and 80 m sites on the Newport Line will be the cabled infrastructure that connects the Endurance Array with the RSN cabled infrastructure. This partnership will extend the reach and capability of the RSN infrastructure into the coastal environment and allow the OOI to support synoptic experiments across a range of scales. The cabled infrastructure will support an extensive suite of core sensors deployed on profilers and at benthic boundary layer nodes. Equally important, the cabled infrastructure will enable benthic and water column experiments requiring high power, high bandwidth sensors. Surface moorings at the 500 m and 80 m sites will provide continuous meteorological and surfaceboundary layer measurements.

Together, the gliders, surface buoys, profilers, and benthic nodes will provide near real time data from the air-sea interface, through the water column and to the sea-sediment interface. This full water column coverage at several sites with bottom cabled infrastructure provides experimental capabilities that are unique within the OOI.

Oregon (Newport) Line: 44° 39′N, 125°W to coast

Washington (Grays Harbor) Line: 47° 0′N, 125°W to coast

• Two Mooring Lines
• Three Fixed Platform Sites on each line. Approximate depths – 25 m, 80 m, 600 m
• Supports surface moorings, water column profilers & benthic boundary layer sensors
• Gliders