Remotely Sensed Seasonal Shoreward Intrusion of the East Australian Current: Implications for Coastal Ocean Dynamics

Abstract

For decades, the presence of a seasonal intrusion of the East Australian Current (EAC) has been disputed. In this study, with a Topographic Position Index (TPI)-based image processing technique, we use a 26-year satellite Sea Surface Temperature (SST) dataset to quantitatively map the EAC off northern New South Wales (NSW, Australia, 28–32°S and ~154°E). Our mapping products have enabled direct measurement (“distance” and “area”) of the EAC’s shoreward intrusion, and the results show that the EAC intrusion exhibits seasonal cycles, moving closer to the coast in austral summer than in winter. The maximum EAC-to-coast distance usually occurs during winter, ranging from 30 to 40 km. In contrast, the minimum distance usually occurs during summer, ranging from 15 to 25 km. Further spatial analyses indicate that the EAC undergoes a seasonal shift upstream of 29°40′S and seasonal widening downstream. This is the first time that the seasonality of the EAC intrusion has been confirmed by long-term remote-sensing observation. The findings provide new insights into seasonal upwelling and shelf circulation previously observed off the NSW coast.