Evidence of mesoscale lows off the west coast of New Zealand

Mesoscale lows are observed off the central west coast, South Island, New Z ealand. These features are evidenced in pressure dips measured at a buoy mo ored about 50 km off the west coast. They do not appear in measurements fro m coastal stations. Wind data at the buoy show complex variations sometimes consistent with the passage of cyclonic vortices in the flow. Further, win d data from satellite scatterometers often indicate high spatial variabilit y near the buoy at the time of these pressure dips, and satellite imagery d epicts cloud movements consistent with small-scale cyclonic circulations ne ar the coast. These features are often observed in the cool air after the p assage of a trough or front.