The southland current

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Abstract
An analysis is given of 77 temperature‐salinity‐depth stations occupied between 17 September and 11 October 1967 off the east coast of New Zealand in the region bounded by latitudes 39° 30'S and 44° 00'S, and by longitude 178° E and the east coast of New Zealand. Near latitude 44° S the Southland Current flows northwards on the continental shelf and slope on the western side of the Mernoo Gap in the Chatham Rise. This flow is continuous along the east coast of the South Island as far north as latitude 42° 30’ S, where the current branches: one branch meanders eastwards to combine with the East Cape Current; a second branch diverges north‐eastwards immediately north of latitude 42° 30’ S, sweeping across the southern end of Cook Strait, and continues northwards along the east coast of the North Island; and a third branch flows northwards along the coast and enters the southwestern side of Cook Strait. In its passage northwards, the water in the eastern margin of the Southland Current continually mixes with the water in the western margin of the East Cape Current; the transport of the Southland Current is generally offshore near latitude 40° 30’ S. The boundary between the cool, low salinity water of the Southland Current and the warmer, more saline water of the East Cape Current was best defined from sub‐surface observations.

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