BASIN WATERS OF SOU! HERN CALIFORNIA 



By K. O. Emery 



Allan Hancock Foundation 



University of Sotithern California 



Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. 



Abstract 

 Off the coast of southern California are 14 basins that are separated 

 by submerged ridges. The sills of the basins are 475 to 1900 meters 

 deep and from 150 to 880 meters above the basin floors. In general, 

 the basins that are located farthest south have the deepest sills. Water 

 below sill depth in the basins is isothermal at the same temperature 

 that was found in the earliest measurements in 1931. It is also isohaline 

 except for effects of diagenesis near the bottom. A close relationship 

 between temperature and sill depth exists,— such that the northern basins 

 with their shallow sills contain the warmest water. It is evident that 

 the water in the basins comes from adjoining basins or from the open 

 sea at a depth which is within 200 meters above to 40 meters below 

 sill depth. This relationship makes possible the tracing of basin waters, 

 which were found to flow northwesterly, in contrast to the general 

 southeasterly moving surface currents. 



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