Our experiments took place in Monterey Bay, California in the
summers of 2005 and 2006. In both years there was a near-shore
study
designed to elucidate the potential mechanisms governing
layer dynamics in northeastern Monterey Bay, and a series of
cruises and AUV deployments focused on delineating the along-
shore and cross-shore extent of thin layers. The experiments ran
from 11 August to 2 September 2005 and 11 to 28 July 2006. An
overview of the design and goals of the LOCO program, and a
description of the geography and oceanography of Monterey Bay
are provided by an ‘Introductory Paper’ (this issue). Our
characterization of the phytoplankton community was conducted
as part of the near-shore process study in the northeast corner of
Monterey Bay, in the vicinity of an array of physical, chemical,
optical and acoustical sensors