INTRASEASONAL SEA-LEVEL VARIABILITY ON THE WEST-COAST OF NEW-ZEALAND

Sealevel variability in the weather band (periods 5-20 days) was exami ned using 19-month records at two sites off the west coast of New Zeal and. These records were considerably longer than those previously avai lable, allowing investigation of the seasonal changes in wind-forced c oastal-trapped wave activity. The records show no seasonal changes in long-wave activity and no propagation of energy from the North Island to the South Island shelf. Dynamical modelling of the New Plymouth rec ord re-affirmed that most of the variability arose through the alongsh ore wind stress. In contrast, empirical modelling of the Abut Head (So uth Island) record required the inclusion of long-wave generation in t he Taranaki Bight/Cook Strait region as well as the alongshore wind st ress. The largest event in both records was associated with tropical c yclone Bola, but had different characteristics at each site.