Circulation in Tasman Bay |
| |
| Authors: | R A Heath |
| |
| Institution: | Department of Scientific and Industrial Research , New Zealand Oceanographic Institute , P.O. Box 12–346, Wellington North , New Zealand |
| |
| Abstract: | Direct current measurements at four locations in Tasman Bay and numerical model results are used to analyse the mean flow in Tasman Bay. The mean circulation conforms to that previously found from drift card experiments: a clockwise circulation in Golden Bay, and an anti‐clockwise flow in Tasman Bay, with a return south‐westerly flow on the coast near Nelson. Typical mean speeds are 0.02–0.05 m.s‐1. The circular flow appears asymmetrical in both bays, with a stronger outflow along Farewell Spit in Golden Bay and near D'Urville Island in Tasman Bay. An analytical tidal solution is used to exhibit the influence of Cook Strait in producing smaller tidal amplitudes in eastern Tasman Bay. Tidal speeds of 0.15–0.30 nus‐1 are typical, with tidal ellipses having degenerated into north‐east, south‐west lines. |
| |
| Keywords: | macrobenthos Otago Harbour New Zealand sediments contaminants chromium |
|
|
