This study investigates the impact of off-shore cross-coast winds on the coastal-jet along the Central California Coast specifically Vandenberg AFB. Events that resulted in synoptic-scale offshore flow over most of the Central Californian coast were identified and considered for this study throughout the late spring through early fall 2006 season. A total of 18 events were found along the central coast during this time frame. Two cases were selected from the 18 events for detailed analyses by examining the cross-coast offshore winds, length of duration, the degree of marine boundary layer compression, and westward migration of coastal jet. Results indicate changes in the California Coast Jet are dominantly influenced by two major processes: subsidence due to increase of low to mid-level thickness above the boundary layer and downsloping winds directly above the marine boundary layer from flow over Coastal Mountain Ranges. Both processes lead to compression of the marine boundary layer near coast, increasing the east-west thermal gradient in the inversion above the marine boundary layer causing the coastal jet to migrate westward near the tightest temperature and pressure gradient.

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