Oceanographic observations made in May 1963 off the southern Oregon coast provided unique data for studying the early stages of coastal upwelling. The offshore transport associated with the upwelling was computed from changes in the distribution of temperature and salinity, heat budget considerations, and Ekman transport. Estimates of water transported offshore during the 76-hour survey period ranged from 4.4 X 109 to 8.8 X 10 ø g/cm. The vertical velocities inferred from the displacement of •t surfaces decreased from 7.0 X 10 -8 cm/sec inshore to 0.2 X 10 -8 cm/sec at a distance of 65 km from shore.

Oceanographic data gathered along the west coast of Vancouver Island since 1933 have been examined in an effort to derive an appreciation of oceanographic processes in this region.One area, which was the source of most data, was chosen as representative for the study, principally to satisfy continuity and partly to offset the tendency to use isolated sets of data as examples of "typical" coastal structure under rather general circumstances.The temperature and salinity structures and distributions are revealed as basically being functions of fresh water input, insolation, wind, and the ocean influence. The local climate is outlined, and some pertinent physical processes are reviewed, prior to a generalized description of the coastal oceanographic system.Predominant northwest winds and local runoff result in a shallow (20 to 40 m) springtime halocline in coastal waters. Summer insolation and the resulting stability of the thermocline, coincident with the halocline, limit the depth of mixing so that the summer runoff from mainland sources is mainly preserved in the shallow (10 to 20 m) upper zone of the salinity structure.Intermittent wind-induced divergence and an entrainment demand is offered as reason for the occurrence of cold, saline bottom water in this region during the summer.Autumnal cooling and southeasterly winds destroy the vertical structures and result in a near-shore accumulation of dilute surface water in winter. Relatively warm bottom temperatures offer evidence of a winter convergence, or relaxation of the divergence mechanism.Coastal oceanographic structures are often dominated by short-term variabilities. The significance of these is demonstrated by the ranges of variation obtained during time-series observations.

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Oceanographic data collected in a line of stations extending seaward of the west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, were reviewed and analyzed. On the basis of these data and the large-scale meteorological processes of wind, insolation, and precipitation, the characteristic structure of temperature and salinity in the coastal region was denned in five temporal stages throughout the year. These stages are presented as vertical sections along the line with characteristic ranges of values to be found in each of the structural elements.