Characterizing the Hydrodynamics of Jurien Bay, Western Australia
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Characterizing the Hydrodynamics of Jurien Bay, Western Australia Kellie Holloway June 2006 Professor Charitha Pattiaratchi ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This dissertation is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Bachelor of Engineering (Applied Ocean Science) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Abstract Abstract Jurien Bay is a small town on the Central West Coast of Western Australia. With an expanding economy based on fishing, aquaculture and tourism and proximity to Perth, Jurien Bay is expected to grow rapidly over the coming years. Increasing anthropogenic pressure has the potential to compromise the currently pristine natural environment. The livelihood of the town and the economy relies on the quality of the marine environment in particular; hence it is important to understand the dynamics of the system. This study investigates the characteristics of circulation in Essex Lagoon, a deep basin to the south of the main Jurien Bay settlement. This area is a particularly important for investigation due to the future impact of the adjacent Ardross Estates development and the aquaculture zone located within Essex Lagoon. An Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) was deployed in summer 2006 to obtain profiles of current velocity and magnitude over three weeks in Essex Lagoon. This data complemented similar data collected during winter 2002 in Essex Lagoon and was used to carry out a seasonal comparison of currents, to characterize circulation patterns and to examine the potential for outside forcing such as atmospheric pressure systems and the Leeuwin Current to influence circulation. A distinct seasonality was found in the circulation characteristics between summer and winter and this was primarily influenced by seasonality in the wind field. Circulation in summer is dominated by the effect of the diurnal sea breeze, while circulation in winter is influenced by the passing of winter storms. Other mechanisms found to affect currents and circulation were seiching, tides to a small extent and meteorology. It is thought that under extended periods of calm winds, flushing and mixing may become restricted. The influence of the Leeuwin Current was also detected in the nearshore waters by advection. The incursion of Leeuwin Current waters into Jurien Bay is thought to be linked to the wind field and to characteristic meanders and eddies to the north, near the Abrolhos Islands. Future directions for this work include linking the known circulation characteristics with density characteristics (salinity, temperature) in order to better understand the stratification and mixing and the influence of the Leeuwin Current. Also, determining the annual frequency and duration of events that may lead to periods of limited flushing would be a useful exercise. i ii Acknowledgements The support and assistance of a number of people in contributing to the completion of this project is gratefully acknowledged. I would firstly like to thank my supervisor, Professor Charitha Pattiaratchi. Your support, guidance and knowledge throughout the course of this project and throughout my degree are greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank those who assisted me in Jurien Bay. Melissa Robins helped with deployment; Andrew Tennyson, Peter Quintana and Michael Mulligan (Edith Cowan University) provided assistance with deployment and retrieval of the ADCP, as well as providing the use of their boat. David Fairclough, Steven Moore and Elaine Lek (Murdoch University) provided accommodation in Jurien Bay as well as photos of the moored ADCP and local marine life. Additional data was supplied by the Bureau of Meteorology and the Department for Planning and Infrastructure’s Coastal Data Centre. Thank you to Philip Kindleysides (Oceanica) and Ray Lawrie (CALM) for supplying aerial imagery of Jurien Bay. My gratitude is also extended to Alan Pearce (formerly CSIRO), who provided several key references and expert advice when sought. To all my friends and family who have been supportive and encouraging over the past 12 months, thank you so much! I would especially like to thank the special crew from ‘Team Ocean’ with whom I have shared the past four and a half years of learning. Finally, I would like to dedicate my achievement to my parents. You have provided me with every opportunity for success, and unconditional support and guidance along the way. Thank you! iii iv Table of Contents ABSTRACT................................................................................................................................ I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ III LIST OF TABLES.................................................................................................................... VII LIST OF FIGURES.................................................................................................................. VII 1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................. 1 1.1 RATIONALE................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 AIMS .......................................................................................................................... 2 1.3 BACKGROUND (PREVIOUS STUDIES)............................................................................ 4 2 LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................... 5 2.1 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING .......................................................................................... 5 2.1.1 Climate and Meteorology..................................................................................... 5 2.1.2 Geology and Geomorphology.............................................................................. 8 2.1.3 Hydrology and Groundwater................................................................................ 9 2.1.4 Biological Setting ............................................................................................... 10 2.2 CULTURAL SETTING.................................................................................................. 12 2.2.1 History................................................................................................................ 12 2.2.2 Administration .................................................................................................... 14 2.2.3 Land Use and Future Development................................................................... 14 2.2.4 Commercial Activities......................................................................................... 14 2.2.5 Recreational Activities........................................................................................ 18 2.2.6 Research............................................................................................................ 19 2.2.7 Conservation...................................................................................................... 21 2.3 OCEANOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................... 26 2.3.1 Regional Circulation........................................................................................... 26 2.3.2 Hydrodynamic Processes .................................................................................. 29 2.3.3 Physical Properties ............................................................................................ 37 3 METHODS ...................................................................................................................... 40 3.1 DATA COLLECTION ................................................................................................... 40 3.1.1 Currents ............................................................................................................. 40 3.1.2 Sea Temperature............................................................................................... 42 3.1.3 Navigation/Position Fixing ................................................................................. 42 3.1.4 Winds ................................................................................................................. 43 3.1.5 Aerial Imagery.................................................................................................... 43 3.1.6 Bathymetry......................................................................................................... 43 3.1.7 Satellite Imagery ................................................................................................ 43 3.1.8 Wave and Sea Level Observations ................................................................... 44 3.1.9 Synoptic Charts.................................................................................................. 44 3.2 DATA ANALYSIS........................................................................................................ 44 3.2.1 Currents ............................................................................................................. 44 3.2.2 Temperature ...................................................................................................... 45 v Table of Contents 3.2.3 Analysis of Wind ...............................................................................................