Hydrographic data and drogue observations were used to describe
the circulation and water masses in the upper 500 meters of
the region of the entrance to the Gulf of California in the early spring
of 1970.
The thermohaline structure of the water and the general circulation
in the vicinity of the entrance to the Gulf of California indicated
that four water masses were present. California Current water on
the western side of the entrance, Subtropical Surface water in the
middle part and Gulf water on the eastern side. Underlying these
three waters, Subtropical Subsurface water was found from about
150 to 500 meters.
The geostrophic calculations indicate that a broad region of
outflow from the Gulf existed on the eastern side associated with a
marked upward displacement of isopycnals towards the east.
Speeds were near 30 cm/sec at the surface and decreased to less
than 3 cm/sec at 300 meters. Outflow also occurred on the western
side, near the Baja California coast, at lower speeds. Inflow to the
Gulf was observed near the middle part of the entrance at speeds of
30 to 40 cm/sec at the surface, decreasing to less than 6 cm/sec at
300 meters.
The drogue observations were in agreement with the general
circulation pattern inferred from geostrophic currents. Drogue and
geostrophic velocities showed agreement better than 70% at 10 and 50
meters.
The decrease of geostrophic velocity with depth indicates that
a baroclinic condition existed. Comparison of these velocities with
the drogue measurements indicates that the baroclinic circulation
was predominant in the upper 100 meters.
In the upper 150 meters the low salinity water from the California Current was flowing into the Gulf. The high salinity Gulf water
was found in the regions of outflow as to be expected to avoid accumulation
of salt inside the Gulf by strong evaporation. / Graduation date: 1975
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ORGSU/oai:ir.library.oregonstate.edu:1957/28995 |
| Date | 12 August 1974 |
| Creators | Alvarez Sanchez, Luis Gustavo |
| Contributors | Neal, Victor T. |
| Source Sets | Oregon State University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
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