The warm Agulhas Current is a major western boundary current along the east coast of South Africa flowing south-westwards (Schumann et al., 1991). It reaches its maximum velocities and is closest to the coast between Port Edward and the Bashee River (Boyd et al., 1992). The current follows the South African continental shelf closely until south of Port Elizabeth, where it becomes unstable and forms meanders and frontal eddies (Lutjeharms et al., 1989). The current core moves farther offshore and follows the eastern margin of the Aulhas Bank. Just east of the tip of the Agulhas Bank, the current leaves the continent and turns back on itself (retroflects) (Boyd and Oberholster, 1994). This eastward flow is known as the Agulhas Return Current, which follows the northern edge of the Subtropical Convergence near 40°S (Lutjeharms and Ansorge, 2001).

At the retroflection, warm core Agulhas rings are spawned (estimated at nine annually) and play a crucial role in the global heat flux. Other features associated with the Agulhas Current are Natal pulses, counter-currents, lee eddies, upwelling, early retroflection and shear-edge eddies. The Agulhas Current has an influence on much of the shelf circulation. (Lutjeharms and van Ballegooyen, 1988; Schumann et al., 1991).

It is important to understand the Agulhas Current in terms of interbasin exchange as well as its influence on biota. Various fish species are affected by the current due to the availibility and position of food sources, as well as transport and migration by the current. This affects where they spawn, and where they travel to, which in turn affects many fishing industries. (Boyd et al., 1992).

CLASSIC PAPER

Lutjeharms, J. R. E., Catzel, R. and Valentine, H. R. (1989). Eddies and other boundary phenomena of the Agulhas Current. Continental Shelf Research, 9 (7), 597-616.

Bibliography

• Boyd, A. J. and Oberholster, G. P. I. (1994). Currents off the West and South Coasts of South Africa. South African Shipping News and Fishing Industry Review, Sept/Oct, 26-28.
• Boyd, A. J., Taunton-Clark, J. and Oberholster, G. P. J. (1992). Spatial features of the near-surface and midwater circulation patterns off western and southern South Africa and their role in the life histories of various commercially fished species. South African Journal of Marine Science, 12, 189-206.
• Lutjeharms, J. R. E. and Ansorge, I. J. (2001). The Agulhas Return Current. Journal of Marine Systems, 30,115-138.
• Lutjeharms, J. R. E., Penven, P. and Roy, C. (2003). Modelling the shear edge eddies of the southern Agulhas Current. Continental Shelf Research, 23, 1099-1115.
• Lutjeharms, J. R. E. and van Ballegooyen, R. C. (1988). The retroflection of the Agulhas Current. Journal of physical Oceanography, 18 (11), 1570-1583.
• Schumann, E. H., Lutjeharms, J. R. E., Boyd, A. J., Grundlingh, M. L. and Brundrit, G. B. (1991). Physical oceanography in South Africa: 1987 to 1990. South African Journal of Science, 87, 486-492.
• Walker, N. D. (1986). Satellite observations of the Agulhas Current and episodic upwelling south of Africa. Deep Sea Research Part A. Oceanographic Research Papers, 33 (8), 1083-1106.