Hobart

Seminar Abstract

Thursday 3 December 2009, 2.00pm (Tas time)
CSIRO Auditorium, Hobart

Charitha Pattiaratchi
Oceans Institute and School of Environmental Systems Engineering
University of Western Australia

Coastal Physical Oceanography off South-West Australia

In this presentation, I will outline recent observational results from south-western Australia between Jurien Bay and Albany which includes the current main area of interest of the West Australian node of Australia’s Integrated Marine Observation System (IMOS). Data collected from Southern Surveyor voyages and through IMOS infrastructure, particularly Slocum gliders will be presented in relation to understanding of different processes operating in the region. These include: Leeuwin current dynamics offshore Cape Leeuwin where it accelerates into the southern Ocean; the interaction and relationship between the Flinders Current, Leeuwin Current and the Leeuwin Undercurrent; coastal wind driven upwelling; and, cascade of dense water along the continental shelf. The region experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot summers and cold winters. During the summer months the inner continental shelf waters increases in salinity due to evaporation. In winter as this higher salinity waters cool its density is higher than offshore waters and a gravitational circulation is set-up where the inner shelf water are transported as higher salinity plumes into deeper waters. In addition, there are major topographic features such as the Rottnest Island and Perth Canyon which influence the shelf and slope circulation.

Seminar recording

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Location:
CSIRO = Marine Laboratories Auditorium, Castray Esplanade, Hobart

For further information, or to schedule a seminar, contact:
To schedule a seminar, contact:
Clothilde Langlais, (Oceanographic seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5399
Natalie Kelly, (Biology/Modelling seminars) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research 0438 452 483
Jillian Enraght-Moony, (seminar administrator) CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research (03) 6232 5320
Communications Manager, Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC (03) 6226 2265
Margaret Hazelwood, Institute of Antarctic and Southern Ocean Studies (IASOS) University of Tasmania (03) 6226 2971

Last updated 8/12/09