As part of the NOAA CREST project a different sampling design was performed in Mayaguez Bay to better understand the spatial variability of bio-optical properties. On May 2 of 2007, the bio-optical package was lying down on deck and connected to the water intake of the R/V Sultana. Seawater from the surface flowed continuously through the different instruments while the boat travel along the Bay from the Añasco to the Guanajibo rivers, and covering from inshore to offshore waters. The graduate students Patrick Reyes, Vilmaliz Rodriguez (both sponsored by NOAA CREST), and Ramon Lopez from Marine Sciences, participated during this cruise that was sponsored by Sea Grant. Patrick collected water for suspended sediments and CDOM measurements, Vilmaliz will be processing the data from the bio-optical package, and Ramon collected data with the FastTracka. This work will provided for the first time a more comprehensive analysis of the spatial variability of the measured parameters, which will help to develop new models and algorithms for coastal waters.
