Near-bottom currents in Monterey submarine canyon and on the adjacent shelf

Abstract

Near-bottom currents in Monterey Submarine Canyon and the adjacent shelf were collected using Savonius current meters. Simultaneous measurements were made with one current meter on the shelf at a depth of 91 meters and one meter located in the Canyon at 366 meters. Another record was taken in the Canyon at the 366-meter location. Current speed, current direction and water temperature were recorded continuously for approximately seven days in each record. First-order statistics were calculated and plotted for these time-series data. Scatter diagrams, progressive vector diagrams and power spectra were also computed and analyzed for the records collected during this study and for records of sufficient length from previous investigations. Net current set was in a cross-canyon direction for many of the records; however, the currents in the Canyon oscillated as reported in previous investigations. The oscillations were not as evident on the shelf record. Mean and maximum current speeds recorded in the Canyon were 10 and 51 cm/sec, respectively. On the shelf these values were 7 and 25 cm/sec. Observed values of net current set and volume transport are related to Monterey Bay seasonal water conditions.http://archive.org/details/nearbottomcurren1094512714Lieutenant, United States Coast GuardApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited