depth with speed proportional to the gradient 

 across them. Broken lines (figs. 2-5) represent 

 currents in water shallower than the reference 

 depths, which are calculated by the method 

 used by Bennett (1959). 



Surface Currents, to 1,500 db. 



Eddies complicated the pattern of surface 

 geostrophic currents during the spring, but the 

 predominant surface current within 185 km. of 

 shore was generally toward the north (fig. 2). 

 A major feature was the apparent divergence 

 of onshore flow near southern Vancouver Is- 

 land. North of the divergence, water from off- 

 shore veered toward the northwest and flowed 

 generally parallel to the coast. Northwestward 

 velocities were 10 and 12 cm. /sec. at two 

 locations on the northernmost line of stations. 



and a speed of 18 cm. /sec. occurred off the 

 Washington coast near lat. 47° N. The latter 

 flow turned eastward toward shore and was not 

 evident north of lat. 47"30' N. 



Although large eddies were also present off 

 the coast of Washington during fall, they were 

 absent off Vancouver Island (fig. 3). Maximum 

 speed off the coast of Washington was 11 

 cm./sec. in the anticyclonic eddy near lat. 47° 

 N., long. 127" W. The northward flow of 10 

 cm. sec. off the Columbia River in the vicinity 

 of the 1,829-m. depth contour appeared to be 

 dissipated by eddies as it proceeded north. Off- 

 shore water near lat. 48° N. flowed northeast- 

 erly toward southern Vancouver Island as it 

 had during spring, but the distinct divergence 

 over the continental slope was absent in the 

 fall, and most of the water appeared to flow 



Figure 4.— Geopotential topography, 200/1,500 m., spring 1963. (The 183- and 1,829-m. depth con- 

 tours are shown.) 



GEOSTROPHIC CIRCULATION 



227 



