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High frequency radar measurements of tidal currents flowing through San Pablo Strait, San Francisco Bay

February 1, 1980

High frequency (HF) radar measurements of the surface current averaged over the upper 0.5 m in San Pablo Strait were compared with current meter measurements of the subsurface current made at 9.4 m below mean lower low water (MLLW) over two 12.4-h tidal cycles. After averaging the radar and current meter data over two tidal cycles, a southerly (ebbing direction) surface current of 32 cm·s−1 was deduced from the radar measurements and a northerly (flooding direction) subsurface current of 7 cm·s−1 from the current meter measurements. This nontidal flow is maintained by freshwater discharge from the Sacramento–San Joaquin Rivers into Suisun and San Pablo Bays. The radar measurement technique provides quantitative estimates of the surface currents that previously were determined only from surface drifter studies.

Publication Year 1980
Title High frequency radar measurements of tidal currents flowing through San Pablo Strait, San Francisco Bay
DOI 10.4319/lo.1980.25.5.0929
Authors Joseph W. Maresca, Robin R. Padden, Ralph T. Cheng, Erwin Seibel
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Limnology and Oceanography
Index ID 70175093
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization San Francisco Bay-Delta; Pacific Regional Director's Office