1999 Melbourne to Osaka Current Information

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The East Australian Current runs southward to Sugarloaf Point and then it angles well out to sea. Current speeds in the EAC will be up to 3 knots just beyond the shelf edge. The speed will decrease roughly linearly in across the shelf, but it will drop to very low values in shore of temperature fronts of 2 deg C or so. Near shore it is possible that a weak northward current may be encountered. Nearshore southward current hot spots are likely to be encountered around places like Sugarloaf, Smoky, Byron, and Indian Head on Frazer Island (where we measured 4 1/2 knots in November 1997).

There appears to be an anticlockwise eddy centred ESE of Jervis Bay and elongated ESE/WNW. The current around it (since it is only small) is likely to be up to 2 knots.

With assistance from CSIRO's Remote Sensing Unit, based in Hobart, regular satellites images are being uploaded to this site until the conclusion of the race.

Further Information:
CSIRO Division of Marine Research
GPO Box 1538
HOBART TASMANIA AUSTRALIA
Phone (03) 6232 5222 International +61 3 6232 5222
Fax (03) 6232 5000 International +61 3 6232 5000