WAMSI PhD Top-up - 3.9.7 - Hydrodynamic processes in the Ningaloo reef system over a range of space and time scales

As part of the WAMSI PhD Top-up scholarship - the hydrodynamic processes in the Ningaloo reef system over a range of space and time scales was studied.A coupled wave-circulation numerical model of Ningaloo Marine Park was created. It used an extensive field data set collected from April - May 2006 in an ~5 km region around Sandy Bay, to validate its performance. The analysis of field data collected on the forereef, reef flat and in the channel revealed a strong correlation between the incident wave height and currents inside the reef lagoon and channel. Parameters include wave parameters (wave height, period, direction) and depth average current velocity (ubar and vbar).