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Abstract

The seaward extent of New Zealand’s coastal zone (defined here in a biophysical sense as the area of terrigenous influence) was determined
from remotely sensed ocean colour and turbidity data. The cross-shore behavior of the colour and turbidity fields were quantified at a number of
transects around the coastline and the locations where these fields changed from coastal to oceanic signatures were identified. Results from these
analyses suggest that the coastal zone can extend several hundreds of kilometers offshore. Furthermore, the seaward extent determined from
these analyses was not correlated to the underlying bathymetry of the continental shelf and slope; features commonly used to define the offshore
extent of coastal zones. The estimated seaward limits determined from the analyses of the remotely sensed data were compared to limited available
in situ data and predictions from a numerical circulation model. Observations of coastal zooplankton species several hundreds of kilometers
offshore suggest good agreement with the predicted seaward extent of coastal zones determined from the remotely sensed data. Offshore transport
of surface particles predicted by the circulation model also suggested that pelagic organisms and suspended inorganic particles may be
advected offshore at least several hundreds of kilometers.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Gibbs, MT and Hobday, AJ and Sanderson, B and Hewitt, CL
Keywords:	coastal zone; New Zealand; ballast water; circulation model; SeaWiFS
Journal or Publication Title:	Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science
ISSN:	0272-7714
DOI / ID Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2005.08.015
Additional Information:	The definitive version is available at http://www.sciencedirect.com
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