Evidence of the South Tropical Counter-Current in the Coral Sea

Abstract

In the Coral Sea, the mean dynamic topography of the sea surface indicates virtually zonal circulation with one westward flow and two eastward flows at 163º E. and two westward flows and one eastward flow at 158º E. One of the eastward flows may be defined as the South Tropical Counter-Current and its position suggests it originates in the western Coral Sea rather than north of New Guinea. However, the data of the abnormal years 1958 and 1972 point out only westward flow.