Upwelling on the south-west coast of Australia - source of the Capes Current?

A series of temperature-salinity and CTD sections off the south-west coast of Western Australia show the presence of cooler water on the upper (<50 m) continental shelf during the summer months, indicative of upwelling in thi s region. These data are used to investigate the local dynamics in the regi on and to determine the source of the relatively cool water of the Gapes Cu rrent. In particular, a CTD transect off Cape Mentelle during early Februar y 1987, in conjunction with CTD transects taken earlier Gate January 1987) off Point D'Entrecasteaux and Albany, show that cooler water off Cape Mente lle is generated by localised upwelling during the summer period, forming t he source of the Gapes Current. A comprehensive data set in December 1994 r evealed upwelling over the inner shelf at Gape Mentelle, coincident with th e cool, northerly flow of the Gapes Current. Estimates of Ekman driven tran sports show that flushing of the upper continental shelf can occur between 5 and 9 times per summer. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.