Application of wind‐forced, long, coastal‐trapped wave theory along the California coast

Abstract

The theory of wind‐forced, frictional, long, coastal‐trapped waves is applied along the California coast (1) to examine the sensitivity of the model to the numerous arbitrary and subjective choices which must be made during the application procedure and (2) to hindcast observable quantities in the region of the Coastal Ocean Dynamics Experiment (CODE) in an attempt to understand the dynamics of the region. Results of the model sensitivity study show that the model predictions are highly sensitive to the choice of wind stress used to force the model. Along the California coast, measured coastal and buoy winds are far superior to the calculated (Bakun) winds. The model predictions are relatively insensitive to uncertainties in the other model inputs. Hindcast results show that bottom pressure and alongshelf currents over the shelf are primarily wind forced throughout the year with most of the forcing located between Pigeon Point (∼200 km south of CODE) and the CODE site. While the time variability is hindcast quite well, the model systematically underpredicts the bottom pressure and alongshelf currents by a factor of 1.2–2.5 and fails to predict the observed midshelf vertical structure of the alongshelf currents. Cross‐shelf velocities and temperatures are poorly hindcast throughout.