The physical oceanography of Bowling Green Bay, north Queensland

An array of oceanographic instruments was deployed in Bowling Green Bay and at the Yongala Wreck between October 1984 and June 1985. The array consisted of 7 current meters, 5 tide gauges and a wave gauge.Requirements for setting up the array and the choice of locations for deployment of instruments were determined by numerical modelling of historical data on sea levels and currents recorded at the Yongala Wreck, 24km east of Cape Bowling Green.Current meter stations BG01, BG02, BG03 and BG04 were established along a line joining Cape Cleveland and Cape Bowling Green, and a weather station was placed on Cape Bowling Green to investigate the relationship between winds and boundary currents. A tide gauge was also deployed at station BG02 and the mooring at station BG03 also had a wave gauge attached. Stations BG01 and BG04, at either end of the bay, were placed to measure the longshore flow through the end boundaries. Stations BG02 and BG03 were placed to obtain measurements that could be classed as more in the far field.The current meter station BG05 was placed to investigate the complex coastal jet. The current meter stations BG06 and BG07 were also placed to investigate the complex coastal jet as well as the strong tidal currents in the southeast corner of the bay.Tide gauge station BG08 was placed to measure the cross-bay phase and amplitude change. Tide gauge stations BG09 and BG10, were placed at either end of the bay to determine the amplitudes and phases of constituents along the open boundary. This study was initiated to:1. gain an understanding of the circulation of water in Bowling Green Bay2. complement concurrent studies by AIMS scientists researching the ecology, nutrient regime and trophodynamics of the coastal boundary of the Great Barrier Reef lagoon.

1984年10月至1985年6月期间，研究团队于鲍灵格林湾（Bowling Green Bay）及永加拉沉船遗址（Yongala Wreck）布设了一套海洋观测仪器阵列。该阵列包含7台海流计、5台潮位计与1台浪高仪。
仪器阵列的布设方案与部署点位的选取，基于对鲍灵格林角（Cape Bowling Green）以东24公里处永加拉沉船遗址的历史海平面与海流观测数据开展的数值模拟结果确定。
沿克利夫兰角（Cape Cleveland）与鲍灵格林角连线布设了BG01、BG02、BG03、BG04共4个海流计观测站；同时在鲍灵格林角架设了一座气象站，用于探究风场与沿岸边界流的相互关系。BG02站点同时搭载了潮位计，BG03的锚定观测系统还加装了浪高仪。
布设于海湾两端的BG01与BG04站点，用于监测通过海湾末端边界的沿岸流；BG02与BG03站点则用于获取可归类为远场区域的观测数据。
海流计观测站BG05用于研究复杂的沿岸急流过程。BG06与BG07海流计观测站同样用于探究沿岸急流，同时监测海湾东南角的强潮流现象。
潮位计站点BG08用于测量跨海湾的相位与振幅变化。布设于海湾两端的BG09与BG10潮位计站点，用于确定开边界处各潮汐分潮的振幅与相位。
本研究的立项目标如下：
1. 明晰鲍灵格林湾的水体环流特征
2. 配合澳大利亚海洋科学研究所（AIMS）科研人员同期开展的大堡礁泻湖（Great Barrier Reef lagoon）沿岸边界生态、营养盐状况及营养动力学相关研究。