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

The region surrounding Cape Mendocino is the subject of a high-resolution multiply nested modeling study. The highest resolution model (1 km) is used for a 40-day simulation containing the major Eel River flood event of December 30, 1996–January 3, 1997. The complex forcing due to rapidly shifting storm-driven winds, flood-induced river discharge and rugged bathymetry and coastline generate energetic coastal circulation off northern California during this time. The Eel River plume mixes significantly in the down-stream direction and influences the velocity structure of the shelf flow. Coastline irregularities are important in generating an eddy over the Eel River margin through the establishment of an alongshore pressure gradient. Time series and statistics of the modeled alongshore velocity field show good agreement with observed values at the S60 and G65 ADCP sites.