C-Vector derived three dimensional circulations in Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.

Abstract

Neglecting the ageostrophic circulation is not very realistic for the ocean circulation in coastal waters andparticularly in regions with strong temperature and salinity gradients like the Farallones Natinal Marine Sanctuary. The C- Vector method has been developed to diagnose the three dimensinal flow including ageostrophic circulation. This thesis uses the C- Vector concept and data collected from the R/V Point Sur in the area of Farallones National Marine Sanctuary in order to describe and illustrate the three dimensional pseudo-vorticity fields of the ageostrophic circulation and the total circulation (geostrophic and ageostrophic) of the region.