Research

Coral reef and nearshore hydrodynamics


*Ningaloo Reef surf zone at low tide*	*Kimberley reef at ebb tide*	Ningaloo coral reef communities

Wave-dominated reefs

This research involves improving our process-understanding of the dynamics of wave transformation and wave-driven circulation within a broad range of coastal reef systems. For many coral and temperate rocky reef systems, the hydrodynamic forcing by incident swell waves drives mean water level variability (wave setup), mean currents, as well as excites lower frequency wave motions (infragravity waves). This coastal response is largely shaped by the interactions between the hydrodynamic forcing and the complex morphology and bottom roughness characteristics of a reef. To investigate these dynamics, major reef field programs have been established on wave-dominated reef systems in Ningaloo Reef (Australia), the temperate reef systems along Western Australia, and in Hawaii.

Macrotidal reefs

The remote Kimberley region in northwestern Australia experiences the largest tides of any tropical region in the world (in excess of 10 m). Research is investigating how these extreme tides interact with the morphology of reef terraces to control water level variability, circulation and flushing, and heat budgets within these macrotidal reef environments.

Beach processes and sediment transport

Research is being conducted to investigate the nearshore hydrodynamics, sediment transport and morphodynamics of sandy beaches along the coast of Western Australia. Many of these beaches are influenced by a patchy network fringing and offshore rocky reef systems. These reefs influence the shoreline (swash zone) processes and rates of coastal erosion (over seasonal to decadal time scales).