Leeuwin Current

Question 1

What two forces drive the Leeuwin current?

Answer 1

1. Geopotential gradient
2. Wind stress

Question 2

When is the geopotential gradient that drives the Leeuwin current strongest and weakest?

Answer 2

Maxima in winter
Minima in summer

Question 3

When does the Leeuwin current accelerate along the entire Great Australian Bight? How is its energy dissipated?

Answer 3

July/August
Flow becomes unstable and dissipates its energy by shedding mesoscale eddies

Question 4

How do winds on the south coast change between autumn & winter compared to summer and what impact does it have on the Leeuwin current on the south coast?

Answer 4

In autumn and winter winds are mainly westerly resulting in stronger current that flows closer to the shelf and deeper.
In summer winds are mainly easterly and weaken the current

Question 5

Describe the Flinders current?

Answer 5

Surface to >1000m
Flows easterly
On continental shelf it flows as an under current below Leeuwin current

Question 6

What is the name of the easterly near shore current on the south coast? What drives it and when is it strongest?

Answer 6

Cresswell current
Wind drives it and it is strongest in summer when wind speeds are higher and from the south eat

Question 7

Describe what happens to Flinders current off cape Leeuwin?

Answer 7

It splits into two arms, one feed the Leeuwin under current, one flows into the Indian ocean

Question 8

Is the Cresswell current cool or warm and why? What current does it feed into?

Answer 8

It is a cool current due to upwelling and feeds into the Capes current