Chemical and biological oceanographic surveys of the Gulf of Papua and Torres Strait (1979)

An oceanographic survey of the Gulf of Papua and Torres Strait was undertaken in November and early December 1979, prior to the monsoon season. In the Gulf of Papua, sampling positions were selected to measure the diffusion of river water into the Gulf. An additional transect was made through the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon (from the Coral Sea to slightly west of Torres Strait) in a preliminary examination of zooplankton production. This dataset contains temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, dissolved inorganic and organic nutrient, chlorophyll and phaeophytin data from a range of depths at the 45 stations sampled during this survey. Zooplankton abundance data is also available for 12 stations.Comparisons of AIMS and CSIRO sampling and analytical methods were also made at an intercalibration station in the Coral Sea off Raine Entrance. The Gulf of Papua is bordered by a coastline of very high productivity with extensive mangrove forests, and is the catchment area for massive freshwater runoff from the Fly, Turama, Aird and Purari River systems. The adjoining Torres Strait forms a potential pathway for transport of waters between the Arafura Sea and the Coral Sea. The effects of water circulation in this region on the reef ecosystems is of considerable scientific interest. A number of additional studies of currents and water movements were also undertaken simultaneously with this cruise, within these waters and the northern region of the Great Barrier Reef. Measurements of the discharge of streams flowing into the Gulf of Papua were programmed by the Office of Minerals and Energy of Papua New Guinea. A CSIRO buoy was also released from RV Lady Basten in the Gulf of Papua during this period and tracked by satellite. The Coastal Zone Colour Scanner on board NOAA satellite Nimbus-7 was programmed for operation over the northern Great Barrier Reef during the cruise. Moored current meters and water level recorders were also deployed by AIMS for several weeks in this period at various locations in the northern region of the Great Barrier Reef. Towards the conclusion of this cruise, geophysical tows were made by the Australian Department of Mineral Resources in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon, south of 11°S. The AIMS components of these additional studies are described separately.