Water circulation around reefs in a region of high reef density on the Great Barrier Reef

From January to March 1994, vector-averaging Aanderaa and InterOcean S4 current meters were deployed at four locations along a cross-shelf transect between Bowden Reef and Darley Reef and a fifth current meter was deployed in a gully through the reef crest at Darley Reef. A tide gauge was also deployed in shallow waters at Old Reef. CTD data were collected at each mooring on deployment and on recovery. All current meters and the tide gauge recorded 30 minute averaged data.A series of models were used to calculate currents, predict the trajectories of water born-tracers and calculate tidally-predicted currents. Results from the field and the model were visualised using IBM's Data Explorer. This research was initiated to collect field data to enable modelling of the circulation of water around reefs in a region of high reef density.