Brief description
Wistari Reef is a lagoonal platform reef, situated on the Tropic of Capricorn, within the Capricorn and Bunker region of the southern Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Surface samples were taken from the reef-rim to determine the mean grainsize and the sorting coefficient and also the proportion of aragonite to calcite within the samples. In this area the average mean grainsize is ~0.21phi, with an average sorting coefficient of 0.62phi. It should be noted that the sediments of the reef edge vary greatly in grainsize and sorting; ranging from moderately well-sorted to poorly sorted coarse sand.Lineage
Statement: Surface samples were collected on reef walks or on boat transects across Wistari Reef. Deeper samples were obtained by diving. Samples were collected using a hand-held scoop and 600ml plastic bottles. Sediment samples were sieved in order to determine modal particle diameters, and sorting data. Samples were first dry sieved. Sieves of sizes -1.0phi to 2.5phi were stacked and installed on a sieving shaker. Samples were weighed out to approximately 250g, and each sample was sieved for 15minutes to ensure correct separation of size fractions. Each fraction was then removed from the sieve and weighed. The size fractions 2.5phi, 3.0phi, 3.5phi and 4.0phi were pre-weighed, and wet sieved separately using a low pressure water hose, through smaller micropalaeontological sieves. Sediment textures are expressed in terms of mean grainsize, and sorting coefficient, represented by standard deviation.
Statement: Although the data represents the average, the sediments on the reef edge vary greatly in grainsize and sorting. In general, the reef edge supports a very low proportion of sediments due to the high energy conditions. The only sediments seen here exist in protected pools and other slightly lower energy environments. Scanned histograms are used to highlight the percentage of sediments within each grainsize bracket. The exact percentage figures are not available.
Parameters: Average mean grainsize (phi), average sorting coefficient (phi), dominant coarse biota, dominant fine biota.
Notes
CreditFunded by The Australian Research Council (ARC)
Credit
The Australian National University (ANU)
The Australian National University (ANU)
Purpose
To provide an overview of the sedimentary zones of Wistari Reef. Conducted as part of a broader study looking at Holocene production and accumulation of sediments on Wistari Reef.
To provide an overview of the sedimentary zones of Wistari Reef. Conducted as part of a broader study looking at Holocene production and accumulation of sediments on Wistari Reef.
Issued: 07 06 2007
Data time period: 1998 to 1998
text: westlimit=151.5; southlimit=-24.5; eastlimit=153; northlimit=-23
Subjects
COASTAL PROCESSES |
Coral Reefs |
EARTH SCIENCE |
OCEANS |
Oceans | Marine Sediments | Sediment Grain Size |
dominant_coarse_biota |
dominant_fine_biota |
environment |
grainsize |
sorting_coefficient |
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Other Information
(ANU_Ryan_Rfrm_1_data.xls)
global : 73b7f720-148e-11dc-80b6-00188b4c0af8
Identifiers
- global : 5ee387b0-1493-11dc-80b6-00188b4c0af8
