As tidal currents flow around headlands, the curvature induces secondary flow in the plane normal to the direction of the streamwise flow. ADCP measurements will be made of the area around Cape Saunders in order to quantify the nature and development of this secondary flow during the tidal cycle. The objective of this project is to understand the mechanics of secondary flow about a headland. We hope to attain results that corroborate the theory of curvature induced secondary flow, and are conclusive enough to form an accurate model in order to predict the secondary flow around other headlands.

Secondary flow is important to Māori as it is a possible mechanism that produces coastal upwelling. Upwelling is very important to the coastal marine environment as it provides nutrients which in turn brings an abundance of marine life. By developing a model for secondary flow around headlands, it is hoped that this knowledge will be related to the mātauranga of the tangata whenua for a particular rohe, and used to assist Kaitiakitanga.