Wave Data Recording Program
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Wave data recording program Queensland wave climate annual summary November 2011 – October 2012 Science Delivery Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts Science Delivery Prepared by Coastal Impacts Unit Science Delivery Division Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts PO Box 5078 Brisbane QLD 4001 © The State of Queensland (Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts) 2012 The Queensland Government supports and encourages the dissemination and exchange of its information. The copyright in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Australia (CC BY) licence Under this licence you are free, without having to seek permission from DSITIA, to use this publication in accordance with the licence terms. You must keep intact the copyright notice and attribute the State of Queensland, Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts as the source of the publication. For more information on this licence visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/au/deed.en Disclaimer This document has been prepared with all due diligence and care, based on the best available information at the time of publication. The department holds no responsibility for any errors or omissions within this document. Any decisions made by other parties based on this document are solely the responsibility of those parties. Information contained in this document is from a number of sources and, as such, does not necessarily represent government or departmental policy. If you need to access this document in a language other than English, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Library Services on +61 7 3170 5725 Coastal data report No. 2012.2 ISSN 1449-7611 Acknowledgements DSITIA acknowledges the following team members who contributed their time and effort to the preparation of this report: Kieran Harper; John Maher; Vince Cunningham; Gary Hart; Jeff Shortell; Colin Newport; Fred Ventura; Kane Nielsen; John Ryan and Jim Waldron. Cover photo: Abbot Point wave buoy post deployment 31 October 2012 Page ii of x Wave data recording program: Queensland wave climate annual summary for season 2011/2012 Abstract This summary of wave climate in Queensland is one of a series of technical wave reports prepared annually by the Coastal Impacts Unit of the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA). Annual wave reports supplement the reporting ability of DSITIA’s Coastal Impacts Unit by providing information on wave climates in Queensland. This information is later compiled into more comprehensive regional wave data, providing the more thorough, long-term presentation of regional conditions. The information presented here summarises the primary analyses of wave data recorded using Datawell Waverider buoys positioned off the Queensland coastline from 1 November 2011 to 31 October 2012. The data recorded covers all of the seasonal variations for one year, and includes the 2011–12 cyclone season, which extends from 1 November through to 30 April. This period is also classed as ‘summer’ in both this annual report and the regional technical reports. The remainder of the year (1 May to 31 October) is classed as ‘winter’ in these reports. The wave recording program utilised the Waverider system, manufactured by Datawell of the Netherlands, to measure the sea surface fluctuations at each offshore location. Directional Waverider buoys operated at all sites except Cairns where a non-directional Waverider buoy is deployed due to the sheltered nature of the site. For all stations, the wave data has been statistically compared to the long- term average conditions at each site. Also provided are brief details of the recording equipment, the methods of handling raw data and the type of analyses employed. The information in this report can be used by the general public and by professionals involved in the study of coastal processes in Queensland. Wave information is important for a broad range of activities – from planning marine operation activities to designing structures that are capable of withstanding extreme waves and severe storm events. The information is also used by the insurance industry and in public liability claims, and it helps in identifying whether climate change is having an impact on wave patterns and how this may affect the Queensland coastline. Page iii of x Science Delivery Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................................. iii Contents ................................................................................................................................................. iv List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ........................................................................................................................................ vi 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Wave recording stations .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Recording ................................................................................................................................. 2 1.2.1 Accelerometer Buoys ............................................................................................................. 3 1.2.2 GPS Buoys ............................................................................................................................ 3 1.3 Laboratory calibration checks ................................................................................................. 4 1.4 Wave recording and analysis procedures .............................................................................. 5 1.5 Data losses ............................................................................................................................... 6 2. Overview ............................................................................................................................................ 7 3. Tweed Heads ................................................................................................................................... 17 4. Gold Coast ....................................................................................................................................... 30 5. Brisbane .......................................................................................................................................... 43 6. Central Moreton .............................................................................................................................. 55 7. North Moreton ................................................................................................................................. 66 8. Mooloolaba ...................................................................................................................................... 78 9. Gladstone ........................................................................................................................................ 91 10. Emu Park ....................................................................................................................................... 104 11. Hay Point ....................................................................................................................................... 116 12. Mackay ........................................................................................................................................... 128 13. Townsville ..................................................................................................................................... 140 14. Cairns ............................................................................................................................................ 152 15. Albatross Bay ................................................................................................................................ 162 16. References .................................................................................................................................... 174 Other published wave data reports in this series ............................................................................ 175 Appendix A Zero up-crossing analysis ...................................................................................... 177 Appendix B Glossary of Terms ................................................................................................... 177 Page iv of x Wave data recording program: Queensland wave climate annual summary for season 2011/2012 List of Tables Table 1.1: Wave recording stations November 2011 - October 2012 .................................................. 1 Table 1.2: Wave parameters involved in the analysis .......................................................................... 5 Table 2.1: Details of tropical cyclones in Queensland region during 2011-12 ................................... 7 Table 2.2: Wave recording history .....................................................................................................