Water temperatures are typically colder adjacent to shore than further offshore for most of the California coastline north of Pt. Conception—the bend in the coastline at 34.5 N. Notice that the strength of the upwelling, as evidenced by how far the cold water extends offshore, varies substantially along the coastline. Pronounced upwelling filaments, where upwelled water is pushed hundreds of miles offshore, are associated with several prominent points along the coastline. Image courtesy of Sanctuary Quest 2002, NOAA/OER.
