ORCA Project Overview
Current conditions:
03-Jul-2009
Deep Oxygen Concentrations:
Hoodsport: near-hypoxic.
Hansville (North): moderate.
03-Jul-2009
Deep Oxygen Concentrations:
Hoodsport: near-hypoxic.
Hansville (North): moderate.
Weather
Hoodsport: 63.1F, 14mph
Hansville (North): 86.1F, 0mph
The Oceanic Remote Chemical Analyzer (ORCA) is an autonomous moored profiling system providing real-time data streams
of water and atmospheric conditions. It consists of a profiling underwater
sensor package with a variety of chemical and optical sensors, and a surface mounted weather station, solar power
system, winch, and custom computer and software package equipped with WIFI/cellular communication.
Since its deployment in 2000, the ORCA system has provided a near-continual stream of high-resolution water quality data from locations in the Puget Sound, Washington State. There are currently 4 ORCA mooring systems deployed, all in Hood Canal, a long arm of the Puget Sound west of the main basin. Past deployments of the ORCA system have been in South Puget Sound (Carr Inlet), and the main basin of Puget Sound (near Point Wells).
