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

HF ocean radar data from the South Australia Gulfs region covering approximately 40,000 square kilometres. The WERA phased array system measures surface currents and collects data for calculating wind direction and significant wave height. The dataset is managed by the Australian Ocean Data Network and was last updated in July 2026.

Use Cases

• Modeling shelf current dynamics and their connection to regional influences like the Southern Ocean based on surface current measurements.
• Analyzing cross-shelf exchange processes, including summertime upwelling systems, based on ocean current and wave drift data.
• Studying the impact of ocean circulation and eddies on sediment and nutrient distribution for fisheries research.
• Assessing environmental variability's effect on lower trophic levels (phytoplankton and zooplankton) and larval dispersal.

Strengths

• Covers a large observation area of approximately 40,000 square kilometres.
• Provides multiple data products including surface currents, wind direction, and significant wave height.
• Operates with a maximum radar range of 200 km, offering broad spatial coverage.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Last updated 2026-07-13 20:25:38.741563; freshness should be verified.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Data collected by a WERA phased array HF ocean radar system with 16-element receive arrays at Cape Wiles and Cape Spencer.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-13 20:25:38.741563

Geography

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