A Large-Scale Seasonal Modeling Study of the California Current System
Authors
Batteen, Mary L.
Cipriano, Nicholas J.
Monroe, James T.
Subjects
California Current
eastern boundary
currents
numerical modeling
ocean modeling
coastal circulation
mesoscale eddies
eastern boundary
currents
numerical modeling
ocean modeling
coastal circulation
mesoscale eddies
Advisors
Date of Issue
2003
Date
Publisher
Language
Abstract
A high-resolution, multi-level, primitive equation ocean model has been used to investigate
the combined role of seasonal wind forcing, seasonal thermohaline gradients,
and coastline irregularities on the formation of currents, meanders, eddies, and
filaments in the entire California Current System (CCS) region, from Baja to the
Washington-Canada border. Additional objectives are to further characterize the
meandering jet south of Cape Blanco and the seasonal variability off Baja. Model
results show the following: All of the major currents of the CCS (i.e., the California
Current, the California Undercurrent, the Davidson Current, the Southern California
Countercurrent, and the Southern California Eddy) as well as filaments, meanders
and eddies are generated. The results are consistent with the generation of eddies
from instabilities of the southward current and northward undercurrent via
barotropic and baroclinic instability processes. The meandering southward jet, which
divides coastally-influenced water from water of offshore origin, is a continuous feature
in the CCS, and covers an alongshore distance of over 2000 km from south of
Cape Blanco to Baja. Off Baja, the southward jet strengthens (weakens) during spring
and summer (fall and winter). The area off southern Baja is a highly dynamic environment
for meanders, filaments, and eddies, while the region off Point Eugenia, which
represents the largest coastline perturbation along the Baja peninsula, is shown to be
a persistent cyclonic eddy generation region.
Type
Article
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Journal of Oceanography, Vol. 59, pp. 545 to 562, 2003
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.