Variability of the oceanic temperature and salinity fields on the West Coast continental shelf South Island, New Zealand

Abstract

Abstract Observations on temperature and salinity with depth made over the continental shelf on the northern half of the West Coast, South Island in January, March, and May, 1982 are presented and discussed. The presence of non‐seasonal temperature and salinity variations extending over the entire shelf is evidenced by the change in the salinity and temperature fields between March and May. Continental slope current measurements and near‐shore daily temperature observations both exhibit periodicities of 1–4 and 6 weeks; whether or not these periodicities are correlated with the major exchanges of shelf water cannot be determined conclusively from the present observations. Seasonal temperature variations on the West Coast, South Island, are much smaller than elsewhere on the New Zealand coast.