THE EAST AUCKLAND CURRENT, 1994-95

The East Auckland Current (EAUC) was investigated in 1994-95 using dat a from three CTD surveys (conductivity, temperature, depth) and moored current meters. The strength and position of the EAUC was found to be highly variable with most of the current re-circulating around an ant icyclonic eddy north-east of North Cape-the North Cape Eddy. The posit ion and intensity of this eddy changed resulting in complex flow patte rns with a south-east flowing EAUC not always present as a contiguous feature. The current meter data showed a high level of mesoscale varia bility with low spatial coherence, suggesting that the along shore cor relation length scale was c. 100 km in this current system. Near North Cape, a persistent but variable counter-current was found inshore of the EAUC. To the south-east a permanent anticyclonic East Cape Eddy fo und north of East Cape appears to dominate the flow field and the gene sis of the East Cape Current.