Observations of the California Countercurrent
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Authors
Harrod, Robert L.
Subjects
California countercurrent
California undercurrent
Davidson current
California current
eastern boundary currents
metered currents
California undercurrent
Davidson current
California current
eastern boundary currents
metered currents
Advisors
Wickham, Jacob B.
Tucker, S.P.
Date of Issue
1984-06
Date
June 1984
Publisher
Monterey, California. Naval Postgraduate School
Language
en_US
Abstract
Results from moored current meters, 150 - 350 m, are
discussed for a region over the continental slope off Cape
San Martin, California from January 1979 to April 1980.
Current vector time series were constructed from the
data and compared to a local upwelling index . Progressive
vector diagrams of the data were also constructed, and
spectrum analysis was performed for alongshore and cross-slope
currents.
The California Countercurrent was found to be present in
the study area during the entire period. Seasonally, the
countercurrent was substantially stronger during the
spring. Frequent current reversals and oscillations
occurred between equatorward and poleward flow, less often
at the nearshore station. Preferred low frequency energy
peaks were found at periods of about 10 days. The
intensity of the countercurrent increased with increasing
coastal upwelling index, and the cross-slope flow also
appeared to be related to the local coastal upwelling
index.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Oceanography
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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.