The hydrodynamic regime at John Brewer Reef, Great Barrier Reef: Mooring CM8: Current Meter

An Aanderaa RCM current meter was attached to mooring CM8, which was deployed in 46m of water. Deployment Details:Date Deployed: 4/4/1987Date Recovered: 5/9/1987Instrument Deployed:RCM #4327; Depth: 23m The aim of this project was to collect field data to calibrate a numerical model for the combined tidal and wind-forced circulation at John Brewer Reef, and to apply those circulation patterns to calculate the trajectories, residence times and likelihood of outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish on areas of the reef. The transect CM3, CM8 and CM9 was laid to investigate the interaction between John Brewer Reef and Lodestone Reef. These reefs are only 7km apart and by studying both reefs at the same time it was possible to consider inter-reefal recruitment of crown-of-thorns starfish as well as self-seeding. The current meter attached to mooring CM9 (deployed 3/4/87) was not recovered.The locations for moorings CM6, CM7, CM8 and CM12 were chosen on the basis of results from a complementary project, where numerical models of hydrodynamics and dispersion were used to simulate the wind, tidal, long-period current and wave circulation around GBR reefs, for examination of dispersal of larvae of the crown-of-thorns starfish.