Residual Currents in the Peconic Bays Estuary

Observations of low frequency currents and sea level in the Peconic Bays Estuary are analyzed to establish forcing and response relationships using simple spectral techniques. Results suggest that for periods shorter than approximately five days currents at all moorings respond to coastal sea level fluctuations which are presumably meteorologically forced. Analysis of current fluctuations at longer periods suggest that tidal rectification contributes to the residual circulation in the vicinity of certain moorings.