IMOS Ocean Radar: South Australia Gulfs Surface Currents and Wave Data

An HF ocean radar system covering 40,000 square kilometres between Kangaroo Island and the Eyre Peninsula measures surface currents, wind direction, and significant wave height. The WERA phased array system operates at 8.512 MHz with a maximum range of 200 km, linking dynamics from the Great Australian Bight to Tasmania. Data collection was supported by the South Australia Research and Development Institute.

Use Cases

• Modeling shelf current connections to the Flinders Current based on measured surface current data.
• Analyzing cross-shelf exchange and summertime upwelling systems based on ocean current and wave drift data.
• Studying the dispersal of larvae for fisheries management based on data linking ocean circulation and environmental variability.
• Monitoring shipping thoroughfare conditions based on significant wave height and wind direction calculations.

Strengths

• Covers a large observation area of approximately 40,000 square kilometres.
• Provides multiple derived measurements: surface currents, wind direction, and significant wave height.
• Uses a specific WERA phased array radar system operating at 8.512 MHz with a 200 km range.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last updated 2026-07-09 23:57:33.429502; freshness should be verified.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network via data_gov_au

Collection Method

Data collected by a WERA phased array HF ocean radar system with receive arrays at Cape Wiles and Cape Spencer.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-09 23:57:33.429502

Geography

South Australia Gulfs region, bounded by Kangaroo Island to the east and the Eyre Peninsula to the north, Australia.