IV. ANALYSIS AND RESULTS 



A. Temperature. 



During the January survey, surface temperatures were cooler offshore 

 with the isotherms oriented almost north-south (Fig. 4). At depths 

 below 100 meters (330 feet) , temperatures decreased seaward with 

 the isotherms paralleling the bottom topography. Figure 5 shows 

 horizontal temperature distribution at 200 meters (660 feet). 



A more complex, and essentially opposite, distribution of temperature 

 developed during the November-December survey. Surface temperatures 

 increased seaward with a lobe of cooler water extending south from 

 Point Arguello (Fig. 6). Warmer water occurred along the northern 

 side of Santa Barbara Channel. A similar pattern existed at 200 

 meters (Fig. 7). Station 9 exhibited anomalously low temperatures 

 at all depths below 100 meters. 



B. Salinity. 



Surface salinities in January were higher near shore with an ill- 

 defined lobe of more saline water extending south and west from Point 

 Arguello (Fig. 8). A small salinity range of about .02''/oo existed 

 below 100 meters, but generally, the lower values were to the south 

 and east. 



Surface salinities during the November-December survey decreased 

 seaward (Fig. 9). The range of salinity values was again small below 

 100 meters, but higher values occurred in the Santa Barbara Basin 

 and at the outer stations southwest of Point Arguello. 



C. Dissolved Oxygen. 



In January, dissolved oxygen distribution below 100 meters indicated 

 a wedge of relatively low oxygen content water extending toward Point 

 Arguello from the southwest. During the November-December survey, 

 this same low oxygen xredge existed, although displaced slightly to 

 the north. In the Santa Barbara Basin, low dissolved oxygen content 

 values existed below sill depth during both surveys. 



D. Currents. 



1. Tides . A mixed tide with a mean range of 3.7 feet characterizes 

 the Point Arguello area. The diurnal range is less than 5.4 feet, 

 and the extreme range, attained during the spring tides of the solstices, 

 is 8.8 feet (USC&GS, 1964). 



The tide wave moves from southeast to northwest at such a rate 

 that high tide reaches Point Buchon about 30 minutes after passing 

 Port Hueneme. The associated currents theoretically reach their 



