An investigation of diurnal variability in wind and ocean currents off Huntington Beach, California

Download
Author
Taylor, Kelly E.
Date
2003-03Advisor
Rosenfeld, Leslie K.
Second Reader
Wash, Carlyle H.
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
In conjunction with the Huntington Beach Phase III Investigation, the diurnal variability in the wind and ocean currents from July 1 - October 12, 2001 over the San Pedro Shelf is investigated. Results suggest that the diurnal currents are driven by the diurnal winds but that the strength of the ocean response is modulated by the low frequency flow regime. The spectral peak of the near-surface currents is at the diurnal frequency, which is below the inertial frequency (1.107 cpd). The diurnal currents are surface-intensified, decaying with depth to a minimum at 10-13 m and increasing slightly in strength below that. The near-surface diurnal currents are in phase across the shelf, and are close to in phase with the winds over the shelf. The amplitude modulation of the diurnal energy of the ocean currents is correlated with the direction of the low frequency flow along the shelf;the energy is enhanced when the flow is equatorward, and weak when the flow is poleward. The amplitudes of the diurnal near-surface currents are also correlated with the diurnal winds. However, the low frequency currents and winds are not well correlated.
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.Collections
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
Anomalous diurnal currents in the vicinity of the Yermak Plateau
Prazuck, Christophe (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 1991-06);Unexpectedly strong diurnal tidal currents, in a region dominated by semi-diurnal tidal surface displacements, were observed in the ARCTEMIZ 86 and 87 and CEAREX 89 records of buoy drift over the Yermak Plateau, submarine ... -
A study of time variability of surface currents at a point in Monterey Bay.
Howton, Harry Marshall. (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 1972-12);The geomagnetic electrokinetograph (GEK) was used to measure surface currents near the center of Monterey Bay during six separate 24-hour periods from May through July, 1972. An average of 244 current vectors were derived ... -
Evolution of diurnal surface winds and surface currents for Monterey Bay
Foster, Michael D. (Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School, 1993-12);The diurnal-period fluctuations of winds and surface currents are analyzed for September 1992 in and around Monterey Bay. Wind records are compared for three coastal stations and two mooring sites. Remotely-sensed surface ...