WAMSI Node 3.1.6 - Physical oceanography of the Ningaloo Marine Park

Full description

From April to May 2006, the AIMS Research Vessel Cape Ferguson, measured key hydrodynamic variables at 25 sites spanning the lagoonal waters to the front reef slopes of Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Currents, waves, temperature and water level were measured using different observational arrays including wave gauges, single point current meters, current profilers and bottom mounted temperature loggers.

Lineage

Statement: An intensive field campaign during April to May 2006 focused on a stretch of reef approximately ~5 km in length, located in the Sandy Bay region of the NMP (see Figure 3.1 in attached .pdf file). The reef morphology in this region is typical of the Ningaloo system with a simple configuration of shore-parallel reef sections, punctuated by deeper channels, oriented perpendicular to the reef crests (see Figure 3.1 in attached .pdf file). The four-week field campaign, undertaken from the AIMS Research Vessel Cape Ferguson, measured key hydrodynamic variables at 25 sites spanning the lagoonal waters to the front reef slopes. The observational array included wave gauges and single point current meters deployed along cross-reef transects from the reef slope into the lagoons, and current profilers deployed within the deep channels. A number of bottom mounted temperature loggers were also deployed within a reef channel to provide data on intrusions (upwelling) of cooler oceanic water and the development and destruction of thermal stratification. Observational sites and the deployed instrumentation are summarised in Table 1 of the attached .pdf file. Offshore current conditions, including the interaction of the Leeuwin and Ningaloo currents and their annual and interannual variability were monitored by two existing AIMS moorings offshore from the Tantabiddi reef channel (see Figure 3.2 in attached .pdf file). The mooring sites are located in water depths of 100 m and 50 m and have been occupied contiguously since 1999.