Currents through Torres Strait.

Abstract

A five month field study of the circulation in the Torres Strait was carried out. Baroclinic effects were negligible. The Arafura Sea and the Coral Sea forced a different tide on either side of Torres Strait, resulting in fluctuations of sea level difference of up to 6 m on either side of the strait. The tidal dynamics in the strait were controlled by a local balance between the acceleration, the sea level slope and the bottom friction. Only 30% of the semidiurnal tidal wave was transmitted through Torres Strait. There were also fluctuations of the high frequency sea level residuals (up to 0.8 m peak to trough) which appeared to be related to complex flows both through the strait and across the strait. Low frequency sea level fluctuations were incoherent on either side of the strait, and resulted in fluctuations of the low frequency sea level differences on either side of the strait of typically 0.3 m. These sea level gradients and the local wind forcing generated low frequency current fluctuations through the strait.