Upper-ocean water mass characteristics of the California current, Summer 1993

摘要: Abstract Two large, high-resolution upper-ocean surveys of the California Current region were conducted in summer 1993. Temperature and salinity measured from a Seasoar vehicle, velocity was by ship-borne acoustic Doppler current profiler. Both extended continental margin to 128°W, consisted zonal sections 28 km apart. The first survey (7–28 June) 39.5°N 36.25°N, second (16 August 1 September) 39.0°N 37.0°N. field fairly simple June, showing an equatorward surface jet with only one gentle meander, nearly continuous poleward Undercurrent near margin, two anticyclonic subsurface eddies offshore jet. By meanders had strengthened, dominated flow field. Large-scale trends water-mass characteristics (“spiciness”) along three isopycnal surfaces (26.4, 26.0 25.6 kg m -3 ) show that temperature tend increase towards equator shore, consistent advection margin. Local minima spiciness coincide maxima are associated which have core depth about 150 m, seem originate over slope at local latitudes. We identified several different eddies, each characteristics; all we observed diameters larger than baroclinic radius deformation. Water-mass migration rates formation within preceding 6–8 months.