During the February–March 1992 Gulf of Alaska surface scatter and air–sea interaction experiment a series of detailed air–sea boundary zone measurements were closely coordinated with numerous acoustic scatter and reverberation experiments. A primary scientific objective was to evaluate the influence of various physical features of the ocean environment on subsurface bubbles and near-surface backscatter. The background meteorology, wind history, directional wave field, and mixed layer variability were carefully measured. The results allowed estimation of other air–sea boundary features including wind stress, heat flux, and surface buoyancy flux. A wide variety of surface weather conditions were experienced, including two events with winds ≥18 m/s and peak significant wave heights of approximately 5 m. Air temperatures mostly remained 1–3 °C cooler than the ocean surface and calculations show the average daily heat flux was negative (upwards). These unstable atmospheric conditions, coupled with a notably deep mixed layer extending to ≥100 m, resulted in an ideal environment for exceptionally deep penetration of subsurface bubbles.