Peter Chandler

I am a physical oceanographer in the Ocean Sciences Division at the Institute of Ocean Sciences. I plan and supervise DFO’s British Columbia Shore Station Oceanographic Program with responsibility for the operation and development of the long-term monitoring of sea surface temperature and salinity at 14 stations on the west coast of Canada. This program includes the analysis, interpretation and presentation of oceanographic information, the maintenance of the monitoring instruments and the coordination of lighthouse keepers who collect the data. Since 1999, a series of about 73 stations, extending from the mouth of Juan de Fuca Strait up to the northern end of the Strait of Georgia, are monitored four times each year;

1. low winter discharge (December)
2. early freshet (April)
3. peak freshet (June)
4. end of freshet period (September)

My role as Chief Scientist is to coordinate the work of the 6 – 8 member science crew to make sure that the research objectives are accomplished to a high standard within the appropriate time and safety framework. The crews of the CCGS Vector have been integral to the success of this program. I am also the person to contact if you are interested in accessing the oceanographic information contained in the data archive at the Institute of Ocean Sciences.