Hydrodynamics of Fringing Reef Systems. Ningaloo Marine Park is part of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. Coral reefs are in a state of decline worldwide, yet Ningaloo Reef has remained in a relatively pristine state. However, its close proximity to land makes it particularly vulnerable to human activities, which are forecast to significantly grow in the near future. Results from this project will advance our ability to predict circulation on reefs and other similar c ....Hydrodynamics of Fringing Reef Systems. Ningaloo Marine Park is part of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. Coral reefs are in a state of decline worldwide, yet Ningaloo Reef has remained in a relatively pristine state. However, its close proximity to land makes it particularly vulnerable to human activities, which are forecast to significantly grow in the near future. Results from this project will advance our ability to predict circulation on reefs and other similar coastal systems. This will provide insight into various ecological processes that are linked to hydrodynamics (e.g. recruitment), and will provide a foundation for conducting risk analysis of processes that threaten the integrity of nearshore environments (e.g. contaminant spills).Read moreRead less
Transient coastal upwelling along Western Australia: The dynamics of the Ningaloo Current system. This project will lead to significant advances in our understanding of the Ningaloo Current system that dominates the regional circulation surrounding Ningaloo Marine Park, part of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. The numerical model and field measurements will, for the first time, elucidate which physical factors drive the Ningaloo Current and the resulting spatial and ....Transient coastal upwelling along Western Australia: The dynamics of the Ningaloo Current system. This project will lead to significant advances in our understanding of the Ningaloo Current system that dominates the regional circulation surrounding Ningaloo Marine Park, part of the National Representative System of Marine Protected Areas. The numerical model and field measurements will, for the first time, elucidate which physical factors drive the Ningaloo Current and the resulting spatial and temporal variability of upwelling. This will ultimately provide insight into how various ecological processes are linked to hydrodynamics (e.g., nutrient delivery, bleaching) and help assess how susceptible the reef ecosystem may be to changes to physical forcing resulting from climate change.Read moreRead less