Six-Year (1993-1999) Synoptic Maps of Near-Surface Currents
off the Southern and Central California Coasts through Data and Model Blending

AVHRR image of Southern California coastal water temperature, reflecting circulation patterns modeled in this study

Principal Investigators: Dong-Ping Wang in collaboration with researchers at Princeton University and Scripps Institute of Oceanography

Funded by Minerals Management Service, Department of Interior

Students Supported: Chi-Chao Chen (Ph.D.), JKyoko Ohashi (Ph.D.), Timothy Chaffey (M.S.)

Project Description: The project is a long-term collaborative research between the MSRC, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Princeton University to study the circulation in the Santa Barbara Channel (SBC) and Santa Maria Basin (SMB) off the central California coast. The project includes multiple phase field and modeling programs with a 1992-1995 field effort focused on SBC and a 1996-1999 field effort on SMB.

The primary goal is to combine data and model in a dynamically consistent manner so as to maximize the predictive skill of model trajectories within the SBC/SMB region.

Related Publications:

Ohashi, K. and D.-P. Wang, 2004. Circulation in the Santa Maria Basin, California, during 1998. J. Geophys. Res. (to appear)

Oey, L-Y., E. Dever, C. Winant, W.R. Johnson and D-P. Wang, 2004. A data-assimilated model of the near-surface circulation of the Santa Barbara Channel: Comparison with observations and dynamical interpretation. J.Phys. Oceanogr., 34, 23-43.

Oey, L-Y., D-P. Wang, T. Hayward, C. Winant and M. Hendershott, 2001. Upwelling and cyclonic regimes of the near-surface circulation in the Santa Barbara Channel, J. Geophys. Res., 106, 9213-9222.

Chen, C.-S., and D.-P. Wang, 2000. Data assimilation model study of wind effects in the Santa Barbara Channel, J. Geophys. Res., 105, 22,003-22,013.

Chen, C.-S., and D.-P. Wang, 1999. Data assimilation model study of the Santa Barbara Channel, J. Geophys. Res., 104, 15,727-15,742.

Wang, D.-P. 1997. Efects of small-scale wind on coastal upwelling with application to Point Conception. J. Geophys. Res., 102, 15,555-15,566.

Study site with the current meter moorings, weather buoys & sea level stations marked

Comparison of model synthesized surface flow and temperature fields for November 1997 and 1998. Note that 1997 is much warmer (El Nino)