Characteristics of temporal variability in the California Current system are analyzed using a 30-month time series of Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) imagery. About 20--25% of the variance is produced by a periodic annual cycle with peak values in winter. Analysis of ship-based chlorophyll measurements indicates that the winter peak is only characteristic of the upper portion of the euphotic zone and the total water column chlorophyll peaks during the spring upwelling season. Satellite studies of intra-annual variability are modulated by strong 5- to 6-day oscillation in the availability of usable imagery, resulting from a combination of satellite orbital dynamics, which produces images of the study area roughly 4 out of every 6 days, and an oscillation in cloud cover, which controls the availability of clear imagery. The cloud cover oscillation, which is also present in coastal winds, undoubtedly affects the ocean surface and biases the data obtained by satellites. Analysis of data using a 5-day time step indicates that the predominant mode of nonseasonal variability is characterized by imphase fluctuations throughout the southern and central California coastal region. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1988