Looking at yesterday’s low TLAPS analyses at 850 hPa and at the surface (or 10 metre winds) there is an interesting southerly current along the west coast from the southwest corner of the continent up to northwest Cape.

This is a fairly interesting phenomenon.  It seems a pervasive feature during the summer.  One would assume it could have both negative or positive effects on tropical convective activity: the negative effect being advection of dry air, the positive effect being one of mass convergence.

The sandgropers on this list have presumably been staring at this phenomenon for many years now... Does anyone have any thoughts on the meteorology of this and what role it plays on the meteorology of WA?

A couple of related issues: a) This persistent flow is opposite in direction to the Leeuwin Current;
b) One would assume that the southerly flow would cause upwelling: Is this observed?

C) The surface theta gradient is also interesting.  Looking at yesterday’s chart, there is a front-like gradient in theta along the west coast, that once again is a semi-permanent feature at this time of year.  It is interesting to me that this seems to be dynamically inert.  That is, it doesn’t seem to generate mobile fronts within passing troughs, as happens (a la the Barry Hanstrum mechanism) along the eastern-Bight/Spencer-Gulf area.  Does anyone have thoughts on why not?