Abstract
The general topic here is the application of high-resolution satellite imagery to the study of ocean phenomena having horizontal length scales of several meters to a few kilometers. The present study investigates whether multiple images acquired quite closely in time can be used to derive a spatial map of the surface current in situations where the near-surface hydrodynamics are dominated by bed-generated turbulence and associated wave–current interaction. The approach is illustrated using imagery of turbulent tidal flow in a channel through the outer part of the Great Barrier Reef. The main result is that currents derived from the imagery are found to reach speeds of nearly 4 m/s during a flooding tide—three times larger than published values for other parts of the Reef. These new findings may have some impact on our understanding of the transport of tracers and particles over the shelf.
Highlights
The general topic here is the application of high-resolution visible-band satellite imagery to the study of ocean phenomena having horizontal length scales in the range of several meters to a few kilometers
We first take a look at the nature of the boil signatures that are to be
We first take a look at the nature of the boil signatures that are to used as tracers; surface velocity fields are derived for both the mid-flood and latebe used as tracers; surface velocity fields are derived for both the mid-flood and flood cases
Summary
The general topic here is the application of high-resolution visible-band satellite imagery to the study of ocean phenomena having horizontal length scales in the range of several meters to a few kilometers. Imagery that can capture the movement of a naturally occurring tracer, such as small-scale patterns of suspended material or algae This is possible, for example, with satellites capable of in-line “stereo”, or from satellites that follow each other closely in time on similar orbits. We will apply this general approach to an investigation of turbulent tidal flow in a deep channel through part of the Great Barrier Reef. This scenario can be taken as representative of high-energy conditions such as: fast-flowing tidal currents of ~1 m/s on the continental shelf [3,4]; tidal flow through straits and inlets [5], and around headlands and islands [2]; and tidal flow over a sill [6,7]. Strong currents and associated turbulence can impact physical structures [8] and be of ecological significance [9], and in some cases can pose a challenge to making in-situ measurements
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