ANNUAL VARIABILITY OF OCEAN CURRENTS AT 350-M DEPTH OVER THE CONTINENTAL-SLOPE OFF POINT-SUR, CALIFORNIA

Currents were measured at 350 m from May 1989 through February 1995 ov er the 800-m isobath off Point Sur, California. Mean flows were direct ed toward 334 degrees T at 7.6 cm/s. The pattern of monthly mean flow reveals a distinct annual pattern: the spring transition begins in mid -April and is marked by a tripling of undercurrent speeds, onshore now and minimum temperatures. The strong poleward flow persists until mid -July and is accompanied by steady warming. When the flow decelerates, temperatures remain elevated until mid-December, when cooling begins. El Nino conditions resulted in warming during much of the period betw een July 1991 and November 1992; no dramatic change of the current pat tern was observed.