Potential Energy Resources of the Gulf of California, Northwestern Mexico

• Main Author: Popkin, Barney P.
• Language: en_US
• Published: Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 1982
• Subjects: Hydrology > Arizona.; Water resources development > Arizona.; Hydrology > Southwestern states.; Water resources development > Southwestern states.
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10150/301310

From the Proceedings of the 1982 Meetings of the Arizona Section - American Water Resources Assn. and the Hydrology Section - Arizona - Nevada Academy of Science - April 24,1982, Tempe, Arizona === The Gulf of California in northwestern Mexico is a tropical sea of the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Earthquake activity is common in the region, especially towards the northwest where transform faults are associated with volcanic and geothermal activity, and features such as the San Andreas fault zone. The Gulf contains 132,000 cu km of seawater, with a surface area of 162,000 sq km, and a mean depth of 815 m. Its surface salinity is about 35 ppt. The Gulf is subject to the second highest tides (>10 m in range) in North America. The region is currently undergoing extensive human development and energy exploration. After reviewing the climatic, geologic, soil and vegetation, and oceanographic settings, the potential energy resources of the Gulf are evaluated. These resources include those controlled by climate (solar, wind), geology (hydrocarbon, geothermal), biology (biomass) and oceanography (tidal, wave, hydrothermal). Climatic energy sources (unproven technology) have fair potential for modest-scale, onshore and near-use development. Geologic sources are online, and have high potential for large-scale commercial development with export value. Biological sources (unproven technology) have low potential for small-scale, near-use development. Oceanographic sources have high potential for moderate -scale near-use potentially exportable development.