OCEANOGRAPHIC DATA REPORT, SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND AREA, OCTOBER TO DECEMBER 1966
Abstract
The report presents sediment, deep towed profiler, physical oceanography, visibility, and current data collected in the San Clemente Island Test Range from October to December 1966 aboard the USNS DAVIS (T-AGOR 5). The sediments vary in size from clays to sand and the bearing strength ranges from 0.8 g/sq cm near the tops of several cores to 58.7 g/sq cm for near the bottom of one of the longer cores (80-87cm interval). The deep towed profiler traces show hillocks six feet in height and subbottom reflecting layers from 3 to 50 feet below the sediment surface. Sea water temperature values range from 18.5C at the surface to 2.85C at 1483 meters depth in San Clemente Basin. Minimum sound velocity values for the area occur between 700 and 800 meters depth. Alpha values for the water column range from 0.03 ln/m (150-200 meters depth) to 0.28 ln/m (30-40 meters depth). This represents visibility ranges from about 130 meters to 14 meters respectively. Tidal forces appear to exert an influence on the current regime to the greatest depth measured (1829 meters). Current speeds for the water column range from zero to about 1.5 knots with rotary direction vectors. Instrumentation development pertinent to the survey is also discussed. Conclusions reached in this report are tentative based on the limited amount of survey data available. More seasonal investigations of the currents, temperature, and visibility, and more detailed measurements of sea floor topography and sediments are essential in order to clearly define the oceanographic environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1967
- Accession Number
- AD0663116
Entities
People
- James L. Berger
- Louis J. Franc
- Robert K. Oser
Organizations
- Naval Oceanographic Office