A series of five hydrographic and acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) cruises were carried out during February, May, August, and November 1991 and February 1992 over the continental shelf and slope in the vicinity of the Farallon Islands, CA. The purpose of the five cruises was to describe the general circulation in the region throughout the year, particularly as it would affect the dispersal of dredged materials released in the study region. The approach during each cruise was to occupy a grid of closely spaced conductivity- temperature-depth (CTD) stations across the shelf and slope, while making continuous direct current observations using a hull-mounted acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP). (AN)