I . INTRODUCTION 



The Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) , conducted two environmental 

 surveys aboard USS REHOBOTH (AGS 50) in the ocean area off Point 

 Arguello, California, in January and November-December 1964. Both 

 surveys were undertaken to provide oceanographic information to the 

 Pacific Missile Range, Point Mugu, California. The primary purpose 

 of the surveys was to investigate the currents of the area; however, 

 standard Nansen casts were taken, and bottom sediment and plankton 

 samples were obtained. Figure 1 shows the physiographic features 

 of the Point Arguello area. 



F 







CONTOURS IN FATHOMS 



FATHOMS 



METERS 



100 



183 



500 



914 



1000 



1829 



1500 



2743 



2000 



3658 



J^ 



FIGURE I. PHYSIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF POINT ARGUELLO AREA 



The ocean area off Point Arguello is quite complex as several 

 North Pacific current regimes interact. It is a profound oceanographic 

 and faunistic boundary between true Subarctic and Equatorial Waters. 

 The area of the surveys is located inshore of the California Current 

 system. This current system transports water southeastward from 

 the West Wind Drift (off Alaska) to the North Equatorial Current 

 (off Mexico) . A subsurface countercurrent below 200 meters (660 

 feet) is present close to the coast throughout the year. As upwelling 

 ceases in the winter and the character of the prevailing winds changes. 



1 



