SEASONAL PATTERNS OF SURFACE WIND STRESS AND HEAT-FLUX OVER THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BIGHT

Patterns of wind stress and heat flux between the atmosphere and the o cean over the Southern California Eight are described based on observa tions from buoys and ships. During the winter, the wind stress is spat ially homogeneous and temporally variable, with strong events correspo nding to low-pressure systems sweeping through the area. During the su mmer, Spatial patterns are more persistent, with large gradients. Insh ore of a line running approximately between Point Conception and Ensen ada, Mexico, winds are weak. Offshore wind speeds are comparable in ma gnitude to those found over the continental shelf north of Point Conce ption. The boundary is the location of maximum wind stress curl, and t he spatial resolution afforded by California Cooperative Fisheries Inv estigation (CalCOFI) observations suggests maximum wind stress curls o ver 3 times larger than the values proposed by Nelson [1977]. Net heat flux estimates derived from the CalCOFI measurements are somewhat lar ger than the values proposed by Nelson and Husby [1983], due to differ ences in latent heat flux estimates. Possible mechanisms responsible f or the spring-summer spatial structure in the wind and the relationshi p between these gradients and the properties of the underlying ocean a re discussed.