Observations of northeastward flow on a narrow shelf dominated by the Agulhas Current

Water column currents and bottom temperature from September 2005 to 2006 across the narrow shelf region off Port Edward on east coast of South Africa, combined with satellite observations, highlighted dominant influence Agulhas Current (AC) circulation. Stronger southwestward flow occurred during austral summer autumn suggesting an intensification shoreward movement AC these seasons. In situ moored observations also showed that extended as far inshore 3.2 km coast. Weak non-significant correlations between wind current, temperature, indicated minimal local forcing current variations responses. A total 11 northeasterly events, ranging 1 15 days, were observed, only 4 events associated passage mesoscale cyclonic eddies along edge AC. The remaining all suggested small-scale movements resulting in enhanced Ekman veering layers further offshore, full water reversals close inshore. Contrary expectation, no clear seasonal variation temperatures was evident, poorly correlated, since both warming cooling southwesterly flows. Substantial short-term fluctuations up °C shoreward/offshore AC, southward propagation eddies. Advection warmer waters around advection upwelled north served complicate observed