Modeling studies of the coastal circulation off Northern California: shelfresponse to a major Eel river flood event

The region surrounding Cape Mendocino is the subject of a high-resolution m ultiply nested modeling study. The highest resolution model (1 km) is used for a 40-day simulation containing the major Eel River flood event of Decem ber 30, 1996-January 3, 1997. The complex forcing due to rapidly shifting s torm-driven winds, flood-induced river discharge and rugged bathymetry and coastline generate energetic coastal circulation off northern California du ring this time. The Eel River plume mixes significantly in the down-stream direction and influences the velocity structure of the shelf flow. Coastlin e irregularities are important in generating an eddy over the Eel River mar gin through the establishment of an alongshore pressure gradient. Time seri es and statistics of the modeled alongshore velocity held show good agreeme nt with observed values at the S60 and G65 ADCP sites. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sc ience Ltd. All rights reserved.