Southern California Bight

The Southern California Bight is the curved coastline of Southern California from Point Conception to San Diego. The area includes the Channel Islands and part of the Pacific Ocean. Native Americans occupied the Southern California Bight before the arrival of Spanish explorers in the 16th century. This region is known for having a climate similar to that of the Mediterranean with similar weather patterns consisting of rainy winters and dry summers. The Southern California Bight has a thriving ecosystem that is home to many species of plant life, fish, birds, and mammals.

In 1513, there were an estimated 700,000 Native Americans living in the region making it the most populated area of North America. In 1542, Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo of Spain and his crew were the first European explorers to land on this coastal region in the present day San Diego Bay. The first permanent European settlers of the Southern California Bight led by Juan Pérez arrived in 1769 on the San Antonio. The Spanish government had planned a three-part occupation plan to check the Russian’s settlement in Alta California. The Chumash Indian tribe occupied the coastal region of Southern California for thousands of years prior to the arrival of international explorers.

In 2013 to 2014, scientists witnessed the largest die-off of sea stars ever recorded along the Pacific Coast. The outbreak of sea star wasting disease caused significant changes to the ecosystem as sea stars are a keystone species that plays an important role in controlling the numbers of other creatures.

The climate of the region that constitutes the Southern California Bight is consistent throughout the area. There is a difference in monthly mean temperature of 10°C between the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego. Most precipitation in this coastal area takes place in the months of December, January, and February with a monthly mean rate of 2.0-3.3in.

The Southern California Bight acts as a transition between many different water masses, including the Pacific subarctic, Pacific equatorial, and the North Pacific central water masses. Due its central location, the fish fauna includes species native to these other water masses. A total of 481 species of California marine fish, 195 species of birds, and 7 species of pinnipeds inhabit the Southern California Bight.

...
Wikipedia