Figure 5. — T-S curves (on a 6 jfield)of stations from CalCOFI cruise 6004-B. Curves from sta- 

 tions on line 120, off Point San Eugenio, are of "less transitional" California Current water than 

 those from line 143, off Magdalena Bay, which are "somewhat more transitional." The curve of 

 station 143.60 probably shows influence of central Pacific water at the surface. 



to a period of reduced prevailing northwest 

 winds and increased southeasterlies Great 

 Britain, {Air Ministry 1956). Such a north- 

 westerly countercurrent, though most pro- 

 nounced at depth, is evident at the surface 

 off southern Lower California between August 

 and November (Cromwell and Bennett, 1959). 

 There is good evidence that Gulf surface 

 water also contributes to this autumn counter- 

 current. Occasionally, surface salinities ex- 

 ceeding 34.80?oo, at times reaching 35/oo, occur 

 inshore off southern Lower California, usually 

 from about August to January. Salinities over 

 34. SO/oo are not found in California Current 

 water above a depth of about 125 m. so that 



upwelling would have to be particularly strong 

 to bring water from the salinity maximum 

 (150-200 m.) to the surface. Furthermore, 

 upwelling is at a minimum at this time of 

 year; nor do the isotherm distributions, cor- 

 responding to those of the isohalines showing 

 high inshore values, indicate upwelling. Infact 

 they generally show the northward flow men- 

 tioned (see CalCOFI data reports listed in 

 literature cited section). 



Surface salinities greater than 34. 75%«) rarely 

 are found in the eastern north Pacific Ocean, 

 except near the Equator (Sverdrup etal., 1942, 

 chart VI) and in the Gulf of California. There- 

 fore, eastern tropical Pacific water, with its 



11 



