Water column currents and bottom temperature from September 2005 to September 2006 across the narrow shelf region off Port Edward on the east coast of South Africa, combined with satellite observations, highlighted the dominant influence of the Agulhas Current (AC) on shelf circulation. Stronger southwestward flow occurred across the shelf during austral summer and autumn suggesting an intensification and shoreward movement of the AC during these seasons. In situ moored observations also showed that the AC extended as far inshore as 3.2 km from the coast. Weak and non-significant correlations between wind and current, and between wind and bottom temperature, indicated minimal influence of local wind forcing on current variations and temperature responses. A total of 11 northeasterly flow events, ranging from 1 to 15 days, were observed, with only 4 events associated with the passage of mesoscale cyclonic eddies along the inshore edge of the AC. The remaining events all suggested small-scale movements of the AC resulting in enhanced Ekman veering in the bottom layers further offshore, and full water column current reversals close inshore. Contrary to expectation, no clear seasonal variation in bottom temperatures was evident, and temperatures and currents were poorly correlated, since both warming and cooling occurred during southwesterly and northeasterly flows. Substantial short-term fluctuations of up to 4 °C were associated with shoreward/offshore movements of the AC, and southward propagation of eddies. Advection of warmer AC waters around eddies and southward advection of waters upwelled further north served to complicate the observed temperature responses.

2005年9月至2006年9月，在南非东海岸爱德华港附近狭窄陆架区的水柱洋流和底部温度，再结合卫星观测，突显了阿古拉斯海流（AC）对陆架环流的主要影响。在夏季的夏季和秋季，整个大陆架发生了更强烈的西南向流动，这表明在这些季节中AC的加剧和向岸运动。现场系泊观测还显示，AC延伸至距海岸3.2公里的近岸。风与流之间以及风与底部温度之间的相关性较弱且不显着，表明局部风强迫对电流变化和温度响应的影响最小。总共观测到11次东北向气流事件，范围为1到15天，只有4个事件与中尺度气旋涡沿着AC近海边缘的通过有关。其余事件均表明，AC的小规模运动导致离岸更远的底层Ekman转向性增强，而近岸的水柱全流逆转。与预期相反，底部温度没有明显的季节性变化，并且温度和水流的相关性很差，因为在西南和东北方向的流动都发生了变暖和变冷。短期最高波动高达4°C与AC的上/下运动以及涡流的向南传播有关。涡流周围较暖交流水的平流和北上向上上升的水的南平流使观测到的温度响应变得复杂。