Sediment Flux and Water Circulation at One Tree Reef

Australian Ocean Data Network provides data on suspended-sediment transport and water movement patterns at One Tree Reef in the southern Great Barrier Reef. Measurements were collected during a monitoring campaign in March and April 1979. The dataset documents flow reversals, sediment flux across different reef zones like windward algal flats and leeward margins, and net sediment losses from the system.

Use Cases

• Analyzing sediment flux differences between spring and neap tides across reef zones like algal flats and sand sheets.
• Modeling water circulation patterns, including flow reversal features on the windward and leeward reef margins.
• Correlating mud distribution in the lagoon with observed energy patterns and sediment transport data.
• Quantifying net sediment loss from the reef system via spring tide flushing over the leeward margin.

Strengths

• Data captures specific tidal cycles (spring and neap) for comparative analysis.
• Observations cover multiple distinct reef zones: windward margin, leeward margin, coral flats, algal flats, sand sheets, and lagoon.

Limitations

• Dataset size and row count are unknown, limiting statistical analysis scope.
• Data is from a single monitoring period in 1979, offering a historical snapshot but not current conditions.
• Specific measurement columns and instrumentation details are not provided in the description.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network

Collection Method

Field monitoring of water circulation and sediment flux over reef margins.

Time Range

March/April 1979

Freshness

null

Geography

One Tree Reef, southern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia