Evidence of a significant wind‐driven circulation in Akaroa Harbour. Part 1: Data obtained during the September‐November, 1998 field survey

Abstract

Part 1 (P1) of a two‐part study of Akaroa Harbour, Bank's Peninsula, New Zealand, presents observational evidence of the development of a significant wind‐driven circulation in association with strong northerly and southerly wind events. These are common throughout the year though during the 3‐month field campaign (during the Southern Hemisphere spring of 1998) northerly wind events dominated. This wind‐driven circulation resulted in the weakening of density stratification within the Harbour, mixing the water column to depth over a significant portion of the study area.

Key words:

• Akaroa
• Harbour
• Banks Peninsula
• hydrodynamics
• vertical mixing
• wind‐driven circulation