CALIFORMA CURREIW 



Usually described as a permanent ocean current, the California 

 Current is actually a poorly defined and variable southerly flow 

 easily influenced by the wind. Figure k shows the boundaries 

 within which the southward flow is observed, particiilarly during 

 March through September when the current extends to the coast and 

 includes the region usually occupied by the Davidson Current during 

 winter. Table 3 indicates the variability of flow of the California 

 Current by season in regions A and B, and for the months when the 

 current is observed in coastal regions C and D. Part of the 

 south-setting California Current is observed within the near-coastal 

 Davidson Current during winter. 



It Is evident from these data that even during summer, when 

 the California Current is most constant, it tends to be variable. 

 In region A the current sets directly south 23 percent of the timej 

 all other directions average about 10 percent. In region B the 

 current sets generally southeast through south to southwest 58 

 percent of the time; other directions average 8 percent. 



During winter in region A the current sets directly south only 

 about 19 percent of the time; it has little stability as 

 significant percentages of observations indicate north, east, 

 southeast, and west flows. In region B the current sets generally 

 southeast through south to southwest about kQ percent of the timej 

 other directions average 10 percent, with no significant secondary 

 flow. 



The minimum flow of I9 percent southward in region A during 

 winter coincides with the winds in the vicinity of 4o°W, which 



13 



