58 



averaged 60 to 70 feet in depth, reaching its maximum develop- 

 ment in the central shelf area and thinning to the north and 

 south. This was likely due to superposition of the water by 

 current action over in situ water to the north and south, 

 brought about by the deflection of the main inshore flow. 

 October 1955 



The characteristic temperatures for the various water 

 units during October 1955 are shown in Figure 19. In this 

 month the fall season began, as indicated by the decrease 

 in the temperature differences between the surface to the 

 bottom, from spreads of as much as 12° in the preceding 

 summer months. Also, the Surface Water Unit was then com- 

 posed of two main units, transitional and surface, rather 

 than three, and the nearshore warm submit was markedly 

 decreased and was more restricted. Surface layer tempera- 

 tures, including the transitional subunit, ranged from 57° 

 to 63°F. The subsurface water ranged from 53° to 55° and 

 probably represented a different subsurface condition than 

 existed earlier in the year. The boundaries of the various 

 units are less distorted, probably because of the reduced 

 density differences. In addition, the summer months were 

 periods during which stronger density slopes were created 

 in the shelf water mass, adding to the complexity of the 

 boundaries. These were less dominant in the fall months as 

 the vertical water temperature spread decreased. 



The profile in the Point Vicente region shows that 

 probably stronger currents were present as evidenced by the 

 abrupt changes in boundary slopes. This area was the site of 



