Continental Shelf Research (1992) 12(7/8), 907-921
Location and mesoscale variability of surface temperature and chlorophyll in the northern Great Barrier Reef, Australia*
Liston P, Furnas M J, Mitchell A W, Drew E A
Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB No 3, MSO, Townsville, Queensland 4810, Australia
*Contribution No 797 from the Australian Institute of Marine Science
Abstract
Continuous transects of near-surface water temperature and chlorophyll fluorescence on the northern Great Barrier Reef shelf were sampled in October 1987 and February 1990. In 1987, local spatial variability of both temperature and chlorophyll were higher within or close to the reef matrix than in open waters of the GBR lagoon. Temperature and chlorophyll fluorescence were negatively correlated at short length scales in data sets. Correlation at longer scales were inconsistent. Vertical mixing forced by flow diversion around reefs or through gaps between reefs appears to be the major process responsible for the observed spatial heterogeneity of near-surface temperature and chlorophyll fields. Individual features in linear transects, however, are often difficult to attribute to specific gaps between reefs at distances greater than a few kilometres from a particular gap.