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The Oceans Surrounding Monterey Bay, California, USA

Today's article will discuss the oceans surrounding Monterey Bay, California. Monterey Bay is located on the Monterey Peninsula in Northern California. It is also situated against the Pacific Ocean, making it a prime spot for migrating whales. The bay is known for its historical sites, kayaking, museums, hiking, & the Monterey Bay Aquarium.


Monterey Bay is approximately 25 miles across, & has many, many different kinds of marine features. As a result of its diversity of environment, it has a biodiversity of animals, including the rare Abalone. The Bay is one of the few places in California where the sport of Abalone diving is permitted, & done.


Since it is close to many metropolitan cities, & has many different museums, it is extremely popular among tourists. The bay, along with the town, is also the capital in oceanic science, for both its environment, & the laboratories that are built along the coast.


The town of Monterey has many historical sites as well, due to its functioning as the capital of Alta California under Spanish, & Mexican rule, & its existence being 6 years older than that of the United States. The bay is extremely biodiverse, & which makes it a favorite among marine creature watchers. The most popular of these creatures to watch are Sea Otters, California Sea Lions, Whales, & Dolphins.


Monterey Bay is also one of the largest marine protected areas in the USA. This protects animals from harassment, protects the environment from environmentally damaging activities such as fishing, & protects the environment from harmful human interaction.


In this article, we will discuss the salinity, tides, temperatures, & marine geography of Monterey Bay, the most prominent ecosystems of Monterey Bay, the documented marine flora & fauna of the bay, & finally, & how ocean acidification has affected Monterey Bay. With that being said, let us delve into the oceans surrounding the beautiful, illustrious Serengeti of the Sea.



A marvelous photograph of Monterey Bay's bluffy cliffs in all of their glory.
A marvelous photograph of Monterey Bay's bluffy cliffs in all of their glory.


The Salinity, Temperatures, Tides, Marine Geography, & Basic Information Of The Oceans Surrounding Monterey Bay

Monterey Bay rests along the Northeastern Pacific Ocean. Since Monterey Bay is so large, the Salinity changes between the areas. The salinity of the bay doesn’t fall below 31 parts per thousand, & doesn’t rise above 34 parts per thousand. Salinity is measured in 1,000 grams. For every 1000 grams of water, there will be a certain number of grams that are pure salt. This is the way that salinity is currently measured. There is a river flowing into the bay, but this doesn’t cause any saline disparities. Aside from this, there are no external factors currently that seem to be affecting the salinity.


The temperature charts of Monterey Bay can be found on a plethora of websites, including but not limited to: https://seatemperature.net, https://seatemperature.info, https://seatemperature.info, & finally https://www.watertemp.org. The average annual temperature of Monterey Bay is approximately 56° Fahrenheit (13.3333 Celsius). With this average, a 7-millimeter-thick full wetsuit or an 8-millimeter thick semi-drysuit is recommended for swimming or oceanic sports.


The tidal charts can be found on similar websites, including https://www.tide-forecast.com, https://www.tideschart.com, https://www.tideschart.com, & finally https://www.tidetime.org. The tide usually doesn’t get over 7.45 feet (2.27076 meters) or below 0.34 feet (0.103632 meters). Monterey Bay is protected from Open Oceanic currents, however this does not mean it doesn’t have riptide. Before entering the bay, one should always make sure that the riptide isn’t strong. Riptide is a strong type of current that pulls out of inlets. If a swimmer gets caught in a riptide, the swimmer will have major issues getting back to shore, & will possibly need to be rescued.


Swimming in Monterey Bay is common, & a very enjoyable experience for those who are used to colder temperatures. The bay is also popular for surfing, kayaking, & paddle boarding. Snorkelling & Scuba Diving are incredibly esteemed as the variety of marine ecosystems & marine fauna creates an interesting experience like no other.


Pollution isn’t bad in the bay, as nearly the entire bay is considered a marine protected area. As said in the introductory section, the bay's deepest oceanic point is approximately 12,437 feet (3790.7976 meters) deep. The marine geography of the island is extremely varied, & is not flat in the majority of areas that aren’t coastal. From a variety of perspectives, the best beaches of Monterey Bay are currently considered to be Del Monte Beach, Lovers Point Beach, Spanish Bay Beach, Monterey Municipal Beach, Asilomar State Beach, McAbee Beach, Salinas River State Beach, Monterey State Beach, San Carlos Beach, & finally Carmel River State Beach.



The Most Prominent Marine Ecosystems Of The Oceans Surrounding Monterey Bay



Ecosystem Type No. 1: Underwater Canyon

Monterey Bay has one of the deepest underwater canyons in the entirety of California, which provides an interesting marine habitat. These canyons typically have seagrasses, ray-skinned fish, & crustaceans. Marine mammals usually stay away from these areas as they all breathe air & getting to the surface can be challenging from these areas. These canyons usually go between 1000 feet, & 12,437 feet deep. Usually, this will be rocky rather than sandy. The Monterey Underwater Canyon begins off the coast of Moss Landing, & ends in the open ocean.



Ecosystem Type No. 2: Kelp Forests

The Kelp forests are the pinnacle of California’s Ecosystems, & are widely considered to be the rainforests of the sea. Kelp forests are areas where kelp, a kind of macroalgae, grow In abundance & great density, similar to a forest. Over 25 different species of kelp encompass these forests, with the most common being Macrocystis Pyfiera.


These forests are used as shelter, sustenance, hunting grounds, spawning grounds, & breeding grounds. Additionally, a few different aquaculture farms will use kelp from these areas to feed various farmed fish. Kelp forests also capture carbon at a much quicker rate than land forests, which makes them a massive contributor to lowering carbon dioxide levels.



Ecosystem Type No. 3: Oceanic Mounds / Hills

Oceanic mounds are found all over Monterey Bay. Oceanic Mounds are areas of the ocean in which there are large underwater mounds. These mounds will cause the waves above to become much larger, which can be more or less noticeable depending on the size of the mound. Oceanic mounds typically have more marine mammals near them than deeper oceanic areas.



Ecosystem Type No. 4: Estuaries

Estuaries are a kind of coastal ecosystem created by freshwater mixing with saltwater, creating a brackish shallow ecosystem. In Monterey Bay's case, the largest estuary was made by the Salinas River. Many estuaries also support seagrass meadows, as is the case with Monterey. These estuaries are quite shallow, & are important for fish spawning. In certain areas, such as Morro Bay, estuaries can cause salinity issues, however thankfully in Monterey Bay they do not. The most common marine fauna found in this area are small fish, which are often eaten by waterfowl.



The Documented Marine Flora Of The Oceans Surrounding Monterey Bay

Monterey Bay is extremely biodiverse, with at least 3 different species of marine plants living in the bay. The primary marine seaweeds are Macrocystis Pyfiera (Giant Kelp / Bladder Kelp), & Nereocystis luetkaena (Bull Kelp), though seaweeds are not technically plants, & are instead protists. There is no endemic marine flora that arwill beecognized in 2025.



The Documented Marine Fauna Of The Oceans Surrounding Monterey Bay

Monterey Bay is extremely biodiverse due to the variety of marine environments. From Sea Otters to Fringeheads Monterey Bay hosts a humongous array of different sea creatures. Animals frequently migrate in & out of the bay, so accurately tracking how many species are in the bay is not simple. As of 2025, there are no endemic marine species. Often the best place to see these animals is in the official permitters of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.


In this area, one can see seals, sea lions, sea otters, whales, dolphins, & many different waterfowl all year round. The bay is nationally recognized as a hot spot for viewing marine life, both in the wild, & in captivity. Monterey has at least 19 different marine mammals, 200 different species of fish, & 360 different species of Molluscs. For more information on the exact species of Monterey Bay, Please visit https://www.inaturalist.org/places/monterey-bay.



How Ocean Acidification & Pollution Are Affecting Monterey Bay

Ocean acidification & general rising oceanic temperatures are affecting the marine flora & fauna in Monterey Bay moderately. As the bay acidifies, it causes fish to migrate away, or change their behavioral patterns. For example, due to ocean acidification juvenile rockfish have been less energetic & slower, & as a result, are being eaten by predators in higher numbers.


Ocean acidification is a very complex subject, & is primarily caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels have increased, largely because of human-caused burning of fossil fuels, & deforestation, for the past 150 years.  When carbon dioxide contacts sea water, it forms carbonic acid.  Carbonic acid gives off positive H+ ions, which causes increased oceanic H+ concentrations & decreased oceanic Ph. When the ocean has decreased Ph, it effectively acidifies. When this happens, it causes conditions that will eat at the shells of bivalves. Though many conservationists are working to slow down the effects of this, if nothing is done Monterey will be a bay devoid of paradise.



The Rivers That Monterey Bay Supports


River No. 1: Salinas River

The mouth of the Salinas River opens into central Monterey Bay. The Salinas River is approximately 175 miles (281.635 kilometers) long, & is freshwater. This river is commonly used by farmers to help irrigate their crops. These crops are primarily lettuce, artichoke, broccoli strawberries, & cauliflower. It is not clear how much marine flora & fauna the bodies of water share, however, they do share waterfowl. There are approximately 90 different species of waterfowl documented around the bay & the river.



Directories / Credits

Citation No. 1: “Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Overview”, Written by the Superintendent, & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By The National Atmospheric & Oceanic Administration. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2023.




Citation No. 2: “Physical Oceanography II. Water Masses & Hydrography”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By The National Atmospheric & Oceanic Administration. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2023.




Citation No. 3: “Wetsuit thickness and temperature guide”, Written By Mark Evans, & Published On April 24th, 2023, at 3:05 PM. Published By Scuba Divers Magazine. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2023.




Citation No. 4: “The Ultimate Guide To Monterey Beaches”, Written By Christine Sarkis, & Published on August 6th, 2023. Published By the Family Vacationist. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2023.




Citation No. 5: “Wildlife Viewing”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published By the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2023.




Citation No. 6: “Climate Change”, Written By Unknown & Published at an Unknown Date. Published by the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Retrieval Date: October 15th, 2023.




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