AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF DAVID LOUIS CUTCHIN for the DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (Name) (Degree) in OCEANOGRAPHY presented on \1) V) (Major) (Date) Title: LOW FREQUENCY VARIATIONS IN THE SEA LEVEL AND

Abstract approved: Sea level and current observations made over the Oregon continental shelf exhibit wavelike characteristics in a frequency band from approximately 0. 15 to 0.45 cpd. In a narrow band around 0. 22 cpd the current-sea level relationship is consistent with the predicted values for the first mode of Robinso&s continental shelf waves. In addition, an interesting relationship exists between the form of the sea level-current coherency spectra and the arrangement of the maximum frequencies for the first three shelf wave modes. The currents were measured in 100 m of water about seven nautical miles off Depoe Bay, Oregon. Current meters were placed at 25, 50 and 75 m depth. The duration of the experiment was fro