East Australian current adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef

摘要: Hydrographic data from a series of cruises during 1980-1981 are used to determine the circulation in western Coral Sea region immediately adjacent Great Barrier Reef. The show flow westward towards Reef, bifurcating just north 18oS. During monsoon season (December February), bifurcation point moves at least 14os. geostrophic has subsurface maximum depth about 150 m. South point, is south-eastward on upper continental slope and north-eastward offshore. North surface transport (relative 900 dbar) northward. However, there sometimes south-eastwards near-surface shear. Near currents weak variable. All these features reflected paths followed by satellite-tracked drifters. Although drifters were fixed infrequently, drifter indicate possible presence small cyclonic eddies bifurcation. went aground Reef within 30 days entering offshore consistent with recent models wind-driven Pacific that propose bifurcates 20oS., 17 x 106 m3 s-1 flowing through Indonesian Archipelago Ocean Indian Ocean.