Ocean Productivity Pertubation EXperiment
(OPPEX)

The Ocean Productivity Perturbation EXperiment (OPPEX-I) was a field experiment designed to test the Karl and Letelier hypothesis, namely that deep nutrient rich water with excess phosphorus relative to nitrogen compared to the Redfield ratio of 16N:1P, upwelled into the photic zone would stimulate a two stage phytoplankton bloom. This hypothesis may be a more general mechanism to explain the observed enigmatic summertime blooms that develop near Station ALOHA, 22^o 45'N, 158^o 00'W.

This experiment utilized commercially available Atmocean Wave Driven Ocean Upwelling Pumps. This commercial technology has not been extensively field tested so this was a true test of the technology. We conducted two research cruises aboard the R/V Kilo Moana spaced eleven days apart to test this hypothesis.

This report provides a detailed discussion of the operations, results including science and engineering, the future, cruise reports, and the abstract to a manuscript currently being prepared.