Some relations between meteorology and coast gradient‐currents off the Pacific coast of North America

An extensive investigation is being made of the ocean‐currents off the Pacific Coast of North America north of the Columbia River, in which seasonal observations of the gradient‐currents in the sea and continuous observations of the meteorology of the coast are being made concurrently. The influence of the variations in the latter upon the former are significant, and their general effect will be briefly indicated by consideration of two of the seasonal conditions existing during 1936 off the west coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. There are three factors affecting the movements of the ocean‐waters, namely, the tides, wind‐currents, and gradient‐currents, each of which has a primary independent variation, and secondary interrelationships. In this progress‐report it is proposed to limit the discussion to the simple relationships between meteorology of the coast and the vectors of the gradient‐currents parallel to the coast of Vancouver Island.