U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey ft- HYDRODYNAMIC MEASUREMENTS IN SUISUN BAY, CALIFORNIA, 1992-93 Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4039 Prepared in cooperation with the CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES AND U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION uses science for a changing world Hydrodynamic Measurements in Suisun Bay, California, 1992-93 By Jeffrey W. Gartner and Jon R. Burau U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Water-Resources Investigations Report 99-4039 Prepared in cooperation with the CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES U.S. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION O CO Sacramento, California 1999 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Charles G. Groat, Director The use of firm, trade, and brand names in this report is for identification purposes only and does not constitute endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey. For additional information write to: Copies of this report can be purchased from: District Chief U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Geological Survey Information Services Placer Hall, Suite 2012 Box 25286 6000 J Street Federal Center Sacramento, CA 95819-6129 Denver, CO 80225 CONTENTS Abstract........................................................................................................................._^ 1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Scope ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 Study Area .................................................................................................................................................................. 3 Sampling Strategy........................................................................................................................................................ 6 Acknowledgments........................................................................................................... 8 Data Presentation.................................................................................................._^ 9 Plotting of Oceanographic Data .................................................................................................................................. 10 Harmonic Analysis ..................................................................................................................................................... 10 Low-Pass Filter ..........................................................................................................................................................^ 11 Hydrologic and Meteorologic Conditions......................................................................................................... 12 Tidal Currents ..................................................................................................................._^ 12 Residual Currents ................................................................................................................................................................. 13 Salinity Characteristics ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 Summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 18 References Cited.................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Appendix A Data-Reduction Details ................................................................................................................................. 22 Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler Data ..................................................................................................................... 22 Sea-I^vel Data ..................................... 22 Salinity Data .........................................................................................................................^^ 22 Conductivity-Temperature Sensors................................................................................................................... 22 Conductivity-Temperature-Depth Sensors ....................................................................................................... 23 Salinity Computation ........................................................................................................................................ 23 Current-Meter Data ..................................................................................................................................................... 26 File Formats .....................................................................................................................^ 26 Tims-Series File Format ................................................................................................................................... 26 Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler File Format ................................................................................................ 27 Appendix B Station BULLS .............................................................................................................................................. 30 Appendix C Station CONC ............................................................................................................................................... 39 Appendix D Station CUT .................................................................................................................................................. 43 Appendix E Station GRIZ ................................................................................................................................................. 49 Appendix F Station HB ..................................................................................................................................................... 55 Appendix G Station HDOL ............................................................................................................................................... 59 Appendix H Station HS ..................................................................................................................................................... 63 Appendix I Station MAL ................................................................................................................................................... 67 Appendix J Station MART ................................................................................................................................................ 81 Appendix K Station MID .................................................................................................................................................. 87 Appendix L Station RYER ................................................................................................................................................ 99 Appendix M Station WICK ............................................................................................................................................... 105 Contents III FIGURES 1., 2. Maps showing: 1. San Francisco Bay Estuary, California.............................................................................................................. 2 2. Data-collection locations and station names ...................................................................................................... 3 3-13. Graphs showing: 3. California Department of Water Resources Delta outflow estimates, December 11, 1992, through May 31,1993, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta................................................................................... 5 4. Wind direction and speed at channel marker 27 in Suisun Bay and channel marker 11 in San Pablo Bay, and visible light at channel marker 11 in San Pablo Bay, December 11, 1992, through May 31, 1993 ........................................................................................................................... 6 5. Barometric pressure collected at channel marker 11 in San Pablo Bay and low-pass- filtered sea level at Martinez, December 11,1992, through May 31,1993 ..................................................... 7 6. Low-pass-filtered wind direction and speed at channel marker 27, Suisun Bay, December 11,1992, through May 31,1993 .................................................................................................... 7 7. Water-column variation in phase with respect to the surface current for the M2 and Kj partial tides ...................................................................................................................................................... 12 8. Water-column variation in semimajor axis magnitude for the M2 and Kj partial tides ..................................... 12 9. Low-pass-filtered residual current velocity data at station BULLS, January 21 through March 21,1993 ....... 14 10. Time-series plots of Delta outflow, near-surface and near-bed longitudinal and transverse residual current speed, station CUT ............................................................................................... 15 11. Time-series plots of Delta outflow, near-bed longitudinal and transverse residual current