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Hypersaline Hamelin Pool, with mean salinity >65, is located in Shark Bay, Western Australia. The high salinity has reduced its biodiversity, but it is home to a diverse assemblage of modern marine stromatolites. The limited exchange of water between Hamelin Pool and the rest of Shark Bay, due to the presence of the shallow Faure Sill together with high evaporation and low rainfall-runoff have resulted in a hypersaline environment. With climate-change-induced mean sea level rise (MSLR), hydrodynamic processes that maintain the hypersaline environment may be affected and are the focus of this paper. Oceanographic observations, together with hydrodynamic model results, were used to examine the hydrodynamic processes under present and future MSLR scenarios. A large attenuation in the tidal range, changes in the tidal characteristics, and current speeds together with a strong salinity gradient were observed across the Faure Sill under present-day conditions. Under an MSLR scenario of 1 m, the tidal amplitude decreased by up to 10% to the north, whilst to the south, the tidal range increased by up to 15%. Regions of strong vertical stratification were present on both sides of the Faure Sill. The simulations indicated that, under MSLR scenarios, these regions expanded in area and exhibited higher levels of vertical stratification. The salt flux across the Faure Sill was maintained as a diffusive process under MSLR scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the interconnection between the southern South China Sea (SSCS) and Java Sea (JS) by simulating seasonal circulations and associated transports using the Regional Ocean Modelling System (ROMS). The seasonal circulation was predominantly driven by monsoonal wind stress and water exchanges between the SSCS and the JS. During the boreal winter, cooler and saltier waters from the SSCS were advected into the JS, while during the boreal summer, cooler waters from the JS were advected into the SSCS, with the advection of fresher water onto the Peninsular Malaysia's east coast in the SSCS being the new finding provided by this study. The various water transports were driven southward into the JS during the boreal winter and northward into the SSCS during the boreal summer. The various water transports estimated by ROMS peaked in May during the inflow months from the JS into the SSCS, which was attributed to the simulated anticyclonic eddy in the SSCS, which differed from previous studies that peaked between June and August. The annual mean volume, freshwater, heat, and salt transports were 0.96 Sv, 0.04 Sv, 0.10 PW, and 0.03 × 109 kg s−1, respectively, directed from the SSCS into the JS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean sound speed is an essential foundation for marine scientific research and marine engineering applications. In this article, a model based on a comprehensive optimal back propagation artificial neural network model is developed. The Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm is used to optimize the model, and the momentum term, normalization, and early termination method were used to predict the high precision marine sound speed profile. The sound speed profile was described by five indicators: date, time, latitude, longitude, and depth. The model used data from the CTD observation dataset of scientific investigation over the South China Sea (2009–2012) (108°–120° E, 6°–8° N), which includes comprehensive scientific investigation data from four voyages. The feasibility of modeling the sound speed field in the South China Sea is investigated. The proposed model uses the momentum term, normalization, and early termination in a traditional BP artificial neural network structure and mitigates issues with overtraining and difficulty when determining the BP neural network parameters. With the LM algorithm, a fast-modeling method for the sound field effectively achieves the precision requirement for sound speed prediction. Through the prediction and verification of the data from 2009 to 2012, the newly proposed optimized BP network model is shown to dramatically reduce the training time and improve precision compared to the traditional network model. Results showed that the root mean squared error decreased from 1.7903 m/s to 0.95732 m/s, and the training time decreased from 612.43 s to 4.231 s. Finally, the sound ray tracing simulations confirm that the model meets the accuracy requirements of acoustic sounding and verify the model's feasibility for the real-time prediction of the vertical sound speed in saltwater bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Natural formations of rock and coral can support geologically controlled beaches, where the beach dynamics are significantly influenced by these structures. However, little is known about how alongshore variations in geological controls influence beach morphodynamics. Therefore, in this study we focus on the storm response of a beach (Yanchep in south Western Australia) that has strong alongshore variation in the level of geological control because of the heterogeneous calcarenite limestone reef. We used a modified version of XBeach to simulate the beach morphodynamics during a significant winter storm event. We find that the longshore variation in topography of the reef resulted in: (1) strong spatial difference in current distribution, including areas with strong currents jets; and (2) significant alongshore differences in sand flux, with larger fluxes in areas strongly geologically controlled by reefs. In particular, this resulted in enhanced beach erosion at the boundary of the reef where strong currents jet-exited the nearshore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land–sea breeze (LSB) system, driven by the thermal contrast between the land and the adjacent ocean is a widely known atmospheric phenomenon, which occurs in coastal regions globally. South-west Australia experiences a persistent and one of the strongest LSB systems globally with maximum wind speeds associated with the LSB system often exceeding 15 ms−1. In this paper, using field measurements and numerical simulations, we examine: (1) the local winds associated with the land–sea breeze with an emphasis on the ocean; and, (2) the response of the surface currents to the diurnal wind forcing. The measurements indicated that the wind speeds decreased between midnight and 0400 and increased rapidly after 1100, reaching maxima >10 ms−1 around 1800) associated with the sea breeze and decreased to midnight. Wind directions were such that they were blowing from south-east (120°) in the morning and changed to almost southerly (~200°) in the afternoon. Decomposition of the wind record to the diurnal and synoptic components indicated that the diurnal component of winds (i.e., LSB) was oriented along the south-west to north-east axis. However, the stronger synoptic winds were from the south-east to south quadrant and in combination with the LSB, the winds consisted of a strong southerly component. We examined the evolution, horizontal extent, and propagation properties of sea breeze fronts for characteristic LSB cycles and the sea breeze cell propagating offshore and inland. The results indicated that the sea breeze cell was initiated in the morning in a small area, close to 33° S, 115.5° E, with a width of ~25 km and expanded onshore, offshore and alongshore. The sea breeze cell expanded faster (30 kmh−1) and farther (120 km) in the offshore direction than in the onshore direction (10 kmh−1 and 30–40 km). Winds during the LSB cycle followed a counterclockwise rotation that was also reflected in the surface currents. The winds and surface currents rotated anticlockwise with the surface currents responding almost instantaneously to changes in wind forcing but were modified by topography. The diurnal surface currents were enhanced due to the resonance between the LSB forcing and the inertial response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western Australia is susceptible to tsunamis from seismic sources that originate from distant sources including the Sunda Arc. Many surface and subsurface topographic ocean features are located between the Australian continent and locations where tsunamigenic earthquakes occur. These include the Venin Meinesz Seamounts (including Christmas Island) and Horizon Ridge, Exmouth, Zenith and Cuvier Plateaus. Numerical simulations of idealised tsunamigenic earthquakes along the Sunda Arc revealed that these topographic features have a large influence on the distribution of tsunami heights, propagating speeds and energy distribution. The interaction between tsunami waves and Venin Meinesz Seamounts and Horizon Ridge, located close to the earthquake locations, scatter the tsunami energy into several beams. Exmouth Plateau acts as a focusing feature to increase wave heights between North West Cape and Barrow Island whilst Cuvier Plateau deflects energy towards Shark Bay. Although Zenith Plateau has a local effect, it does not influence tsunami waves along the coast. Southwest Australia is "sheltered" from the direct effect of tsunami waves from Sunda Arc due to the combined effects of the Seamounts and Cuvier Plateau in the scattering and refraction of tsunami waves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface circulation associated with the Leeuwin Current System off the southern coast of Western Australia was simulated using the Regional Ocean Model Systems (ROMS). The Leeuwin current (LC) and Flinders current (FC) were reproduced in two simulation: with and without wind stress. The inclusion of wind resulted in a strong LC during autumn and winter months with the LC flowing close to the shelf, accelerating after reaching the south-west corner at Cape Leeuwin. The geopotential gradient was present through all seasons, indicating that it is the major driving force of the currents. At the subsurface, continuation of the opposing undercurrent present at the southwest corner. Interchanging of strength and transport between LC and FC can be seen between seasons, where LC strength drops significantly in autumn and winter when the wind stress is low and this subsequently increases the FC transport. The FC strength declines in summer when there is no wind stress, which during this time LC is stronger. Meanwhile, the analysis shows an inshore presence of Cresswell current is evident along the coast when there is south-easterly wind in summer. The study provides comprehensive overview of the complex currents system where wind influence proves to be determining factors to the current system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vietnam, located in the tropical region of the northwest Pacific Ocean, is frequently impacted by tropical storms. Occurrence of extreme water level events associated with tropical storms are often unpredicted and put coastal infrastructure and safety of coastal populations at risk. Hence, an improved understanding of the nature of storm surges and their components along the Vietnam coast is required. For example, a higher than expected extreme storm surge during Typhoon Kalmegi (2014) highlighted the lack of understanding on the characteristics of storm surges in Vietnam. Physical processes that influence the non-tidal water level associated with tropical storms can persist for up to 14 days, beginning 3–4 days prior to storm landfall and cease up to 10 days after the landfall of the typhoon. This includes the forerunner, 'direct' storm surge, and coastally trapped waves. This study used a continuous record of six sea level time series collected over a 5-year period (2013–2017) from along the Vietnam coast and Hong Kong to examine the contribution of the forerunner to non-tidal water level. The forerunner is defined as the gradual increase in mean water level, 2–3 days prior to typhoon landfall and generated by shore parallel winds and currents that result in a mean higher water level at the coast. Results indicated that a forerunner was generated by almost all typhoons, at least at one station, with a range between 20 and 50 cm. The forerunner contributed up to 50% of the water level change due to the storm. Combination of forerunner and onshore winds generated storm surges that were much higher (to 70 cm). It was also found that the characteristics of the typhoon (e.g., path, speed, severity and size) significantly influenced the generation of the forerunner. It is recommended that the forerunner that is not currently well defined in predictive models should be included in storm surge forecasts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea-level data from six tide gauge stations along the northern coast of the Persian Gulf were analyzed both in time and frequency domain to evaluate meteorological forcing. Spectral analyses indicated that mixed, predominantly semi-diurnal tides were dominant at all stations, but low-frequency fluctuations correlated well with atmospheric pressure and wind components. Non-tidal sea-level fluctuations up to 0.75 m were observed along the northern coasts of the Gulf due to the combined action of lower atmospheric pressure and cross-shore wind. Coherency between low-frequency sea-level records and mean sea-level pressure indicated that the latter usually leads to sea-level fluctuations between 1 and 6.4 days. In contrast, the same analysis on the wind velocity and sea level revealed that the former lags between 3 and 13 days. The effect of wind stress on coastal sea-level variations was higher compared with the effect of atmospheric pressure. Concurrent analysis of low-pass-filtered sea-level records proved that the non-tidal wave moves from west to east along the northern coasts of the Persian Gulf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new merged high-frequency radar (HFR) data set collected using SeaSonde and WERA (WEllen RAdar) systems was used to examine the ocean surface circulation at diurnal, seasonal and inter-annual time scales along the south-west coast of Australia (SWWA), between 29°–32° S. Merging was performed after resampling WERA data on the coarser SeaSonde HFR grid and averaging data from the two HFR systems in the area of common overlap. Direct comparisons between WERA and SeaSonde vectors in their overlapping areas provided scalar and vector correlation values in the range Ru = [0.24, 0.76]; Rv = [0.39, 0.83]; ρ = [0.44, 0.75], with mean bias between velocity components in the range [−0.02, 0.28] ms−1, [−0.16, 0.16] ms−1 for the U, V components, respectively. The lower agreement between vectors was obtained in general at the boundaries of the HFR domains, where the combined effects of the bearing errors, geometrical constraints, and the limited angular field of view were predominant. The combined data set allowed for a novel characterization of the dominant features in the region, such as the warmer poleward-flowing Leeuwin Current (LC), the colder Capes Current (CC) and its northward extensions, the presence of sub-mesoscale to mesoscale eddies and their generation and aggregation areas, along with the extent offshore of the inertial-diurnal signal. The contribution of tides was weak within the entire HFR domain (<10% total variance), whilst signatures of significant inertial- and diurnal-period currents were present due to diurnal–inertial resonance. A clear discontinuity in energy and variance distribution occurred at the shelf break, which separates the continental shelf and deeper offshore regions, and defined the core of the LC. Confined between the LC and the coastline, the narrower and colder CC current was a feature during the summer months. Persistent (lifespan greater than 1 day) sub-mesoscale eddies (Rossby number O (1)) were observed at two main regions, north and south of 31.5° S, offshore of the 200 m depth contour. The majority of these eddies had diameters in the range 10–20 km with 50% more counter clockwise rotating (CCW) eddies compared to clockwise (CW) rotating eddies. The northern region was dominated by CCW eddies that were present throughout the year whilst CW eddies were prevalent in the south with lower numbers during the summer months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Along the majority of Australian shallow coastal regions, summer evaporation increases the salinity of shallow waters, and subsequently in autumn/winter, the nearshore waters become cooler due to heat loss. This results in the formation of horizontal density gradients with density increasing toward the coast that generates gravity currents known as dense shelf water cascades (DSWCs) flowing offshore along the sea bed. DSWCs play important role in ecological and biogeochemical processes in Australian waters through the transport of dissolved and suspended materials offshore. In this study a numerical ocean circulation model of Rottnest continental shelf, validated using simultaneous ocean glider and mooring data, indicated that the passage of cold fronts associated with winter storms resulted in rapid heat loss through evaporative cooling. These conditions resulted in enhancement of the DSWCs due to modifications of the cross-shelf density gradient and wind effects. Specifically, onshore (offshore) directed winds resulted in an enhancement (inhibition) of DSWCs due to downwelling (vertical mixing). Consequently, the largest DSWC events occurred during the cold fronts when atmospheric temperatures reinforced density gradients and onshore winds promoted downwelling that enhanced DSWCs. Advection of DSWCs was also strongly influenced by the wind conditions, with significantly more transport occurring along-shelf compared to cross-shelf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Shark Bay, a large hypersaline bay in Western Australia, longitudinal density gradients force gravitational circulation that is important for Bay-ocean exchange. First-time observations of vertical stratification and velocity are presented, confirming the presence of a steady, near-bed dense water outflow from Shark Bay’s northern Geographe Channel that persisted through all stages of the tide. Outflow velocities were 2–3 times stronger than the outflows recorded previously in Naturaliste Channel (in the west), and were more resistant to breakdown by tidal mixing. Estimates of turbulent kinetic energy production derived from the variance method showed a more complex structure in the Geographe Channel, due to shear between surface and bottom layers. Turbulence varied between flood and ebb tide, with peak levels of turbulence occurring during reversal of tidal flows. For both channels, the main source of turbulence was tidal flow along the seabed, with the bottom current speed cubed, |Ub3|, providing a reasonable proxy for tidal mixing and prediction of dense water outflows from Shark Bay majority of the time. Orientation and deeper water of the Geographe Channel along the main axis of the longitudinal density gradient provided an explanation for the predominant outflow from the Bay’s northern entrance. These density-driven currents could potentially influence recruitment of commercially fished scallops and prawns through the dispersal and flushing of larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]