Dataset: CTD casts paired with bi-weekly water sampling events at instrument mooring sites near the Monterey Peninsula, California, USA from June to August 2018 and 2019

Sampling Locations:
Sampling was conducted near the Monterey Peninsula near Pacific Grove and Monterey, California, USA. Kelp sites ranged from 8.8 to 10.3 meters deep and offshore sites ranged from 13.1 to 16.5 m deep.

Instrument moorings were deployed in 2018 in the following areas: a wave-protected kelp forest, ~100 meters offshore of the protected site, in a wave-exposed site devoid of kelp (historically has had kelp), and ~100 meters offshore of the exposed site.

Instrument moorings were deployed in 2019 in the following areas: a wave-protected kelp forest, ~175 meters offshore of the protected site, in a wave-exposed kelp site, and ~180 meters offshore of the exposed site.

Methodology:
CTD (SeaBird Electronics 19Plus V2 SeaCAT) casts were made at instrument moorings bi-weekly accompanied by discrete water sample collections. The CTD was first suspended ~1 meter below the surface for approximately 3 minutes to allow instruments to equilibrate. After 3 minutes, the CTD was raised to just below the surface and lowered to the seafloor at a rate of approximately 1 m/s. Once at the bottom, the CTD was pulled back up, pulled on the boat, and switched off. The CTD was thoroughly washed with fresh water after each day of use.