A drift bottle study of the southern Monterey Bay

The purpose of this study is to extend the knowledge of the surface circulation of Monterey Bay, particularly the southern portion of the bay. The area where this study was carried out is an area of high population density. No current observations have been made off Del Monte Beach or Cannery Row that reveal the prevailing flow patterns. Drift bottles were dropped at five stations in southern Monterey Bay twice per drop day over a period of 14 months. The indicated circulation in the southern bay agrees with models driven by wind stress and momentum transfer from the offshore ocean currents. (Modified author abstract)