WAMSI Kimberley Research Projects
The Western Australian Government has declared an intention to establish a number of MPAs in the Kimberley region to preserve and manage its unique biodiversity and conservation values. The WAMSI science plan for physical and biological oceanography in the Kimberley is focused on the southern designated MPA area (Camden Sound) to support physical and biogeochemical process model development. This metadata record describes observational data collected in support of the observational requirements for WAMSI KMRP Projects:
2.2.1 - Physical oceanographic dynamics in the Kimberley
2.2.2 -Pathways to Production : Biogeochemical Processes in the Kimberley Region
2.2.6 - Terrestrial-Ocean Linkages: the role of rivers and estuaries in sustaining marine
productivity in the Kimberley.
Primary data sources are:
Moored ADCPs
Moored Temperature salinity loggers
Underway Thermosalinograph
CTD casts
The purpose of the data are to assist in quantifying key physical and biological oceanographic processes in nearshore waters of the coastal Kimberley under wet and dry season conditions to:
1. better define seasonal ranges in properties and rates in Collier Bay as a basis for identifying potential climate-related changes,
2. better define marine productivity and seasonal forcing processes
3. acquire oceanographic and biogeochemical information necessary to develop system models.
Detailed descriptions of science plans for each of the above listed projects is available from the project specific WAMSI II Science Project Plans.