New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts

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An oceanographic survey of the subtropical convergence zone in the Tasman Sea

B. R. STANTON N. M. R1DGWAY

New Zealand Oceanographic Institute
Division of Water Sciences
Department of Scientific and Industrial Research
Private Bag, Kilbirnie, Wellington New Zealand

Abstract Abstrac t A survey of the Subtropical Convergence (STC) in the Tasman Sea during October/November 1977 revealed two frontal zones. The southern front, centred on surface salinity 34.9, was interpreted as the main STC front because all nearsurface water north of this front was of subtropical origin. The front wiis found near 44° S in the western Tasman Sea but east of 160° E it swung southwards, passing to the so uth of New Zealand. The shallower northern front w£is centred on the 35.2 isohaline and exhibited larger meanders. This front was not part of the STC if this is defined as a water mass boundary. It appeared strongest in the mid Tasman Sea and was possibly associated with East Australian Current (EAC) Eddy A, although it had been suggested previously that the position of this front is strongly influenced by the latitudinal position of the atmospheric high-pressure belt. There was no particular enhancement of geostrophic flows in the STC zone. This was because of the counteracting effects of the temperature and salinity changes which lead to relatively small density contrasts across the front. Some observations made in EAC Eddy B showed that the summer capping of this eddy had started at this time.

Keywords Subtropical Convergence; oceanic fronts; East Australian Current; Tasman Sea

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 1988, Vol. 22: 583-593 Crown copyright 1988Received 6 August 1987; accepted 12 February 1988

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