Study of the marine environment of the northern Gulf of California
The author has identified the following significant results. Preliminary analysis of the first three months of ERTS-1 imagery have revealed that the MSS images have particular utility for study of turbidity patterns, current phenomena, and bathymetry throughout the test area. Early indications are that well defined spatial distributions of turbidity exist in the northern Gulf of California, and that for any one point in time, these distributions vary with depth. From a single set of images, as many as 3 turbidity maps may be generated, each indicating a vertical spatial relationship of the turbidity masses. The spatial distribution of turbidity masses depend partially upon the coincident currents. In the band of deepest penetration, a map can be gathered which roughly corresponds to the bathymetry of the area. The extreme tides in the northern Gulf of California result in vast areas which can be classified as intertidal mud flats. Information on the amount of exposure at the varying tidal states is important in analysis of these mud flat areas as nursery ground for Mexican commercial fisheries.