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Continental shelves are amongst the most dynamic and vulnerable regions in the oceans, and understanding their dynamics has implications for the transport of organisms and materials in both coastal and offshore zones. Determining the circulation patterns in systems experiencing high variability is crucial, but challenging as continuous and high‐resolution long‐term data sets are still scarce. In this paper, we use 9‐years (2010–2018) of High‐Frequency Radar surface current observations and satellite‐derived Sea Surface Temperature to investigate the spatiotemporal variability of surface currents on the offshore, shelf break and inner continental regions along the Wadjemup (Rottnest) Continental Shelf (WCS), South‐West Australia. We use the indigenous Noongar calendar that defines six‐seasons: Birak (DJ), Bunuru (FM), Djeran (AM), Makuru (JJ), Djilba (AS), and Kambarang (ON); to better represent the seasonal changes in local winds and surface circulation. The surface currents revealed the poleward‐flowing Leeuwin Current (LC), the equatorward‐flowing Capes Current (CC), their interactions, and eddy features (radii >10 km). The LC was the strongest (weakest) over Djeran/Makuru (Birak/Bunuru), whilst CC and offshore eddies were persistent from Kambarang‐Bunuru. Along WCS, CC and offshore eddies locally modulated LC strength and position, whereas the El Niño Southern Oscillation influenced its interannual variability. During El Niño (La Niña) years, LC was weakened (strengthened), whilst CC and offshore eddy activity were strengthened (weakened). Particularly during La Niña years, LC increased its cross‐shore migration and had an unseasonal peak in 2011. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the variability of boundary and coastal currents, and their local impacts on coastal circulation. Plain Language Summary: Variability in surface circulation influences the transport of suspended material and organisms. We investigated how patterns of surface currents change over intra‐seasonal, seasonal to interannual timescales across the Wadjemup (Rottnest) Continental Shelf using 9 years of High‐Frequency Radar maps of surface current and satellite Sea Surface Temperature (SST). The current patterns in the offshore, continental shelf break and the inner continental shelf were compared to local winds, sea level, and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events to explain observed patterns. We adopted the 6 Noongar seasons to better represent winds and surface circulation variability. Results revealed distinct surface flow patterns along WCS: the poleward‐flowing Leeuwin Current (LC), the equatorward‐flowing Capes Current (CC) and associated eddy features. LC was the strongest (weakest) over Djeran (AM)/Makuru (JJ) (Birak (DJ)/Bunuru (FM)), whilst CC and offshore eddies were persistent during Kambarang (ON)‐Bunuru. The interannual variability of surface flows were modulated by ENSO. During El Niño (La Niña) years, LC was weakened (strengthened), whilst CC and offshore eddy activity were strengthened (weakened). Particularly during La Niña years, LC increased its cross‐shore migration and had an unseasonal peak in currents in 2011. Key Points: Long‐term HFR‐surface current observations revealed different flow regimes with strong spatiotemporal variability across the continental shelf and slopeSeasonal surface flow patterns reflected wind forcing related to local indigenous seasonsEl Niño Southern Oscillation events controlled the inter‐annual variability in the surface currents [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South‐west Australia has been identified as a global hotspot for the occurrence of meteotsunamis. In this study, a numerical hydrodynamic model (Regional Ocean Modelling System) was configured to investigate the generation of meteotsunamis through propagating thunderstorms. A range of simulations were performed using realistic and synthetic atmospheric forcing to establish the sensitivity of meteotsunami wave heights and waveforms along different parts of the coast to variations in the propagation speed and bandwidths of propagating pressure jumps associated with the thunderstorms. When a pressure jump propagated from the north and north‐west quadrants with a speed (U) of 8–15 ms−1, both the Proudman and Greenspan resonances were possible mechanisms for the generation of meteotsunamis. However, the response changed for different bandwidths of the propagating pressure jump and resulted in different meteotsunami waveforms at the coast. When U > 15 ms−1, long waves were amplified initially through shoaling at the shelf slope, with Proudman resonance enhancing the wave heights at corresponding resonant depths on the shelf, and then propagated as free waves on the continental shelf. The waves were further amplified at the coast through refraction and shoaling effects and resulted in an elevation wave at the coast. Numerical simulations also indicated that edge waves can also be excited near the coast when the incoming free wave wavelengths were equal to or half the edge wave wavelength. The study provides observational and numerical evidence to suggest that the bandwidth of propagating air pressure jumps plays a major role in meteotsunami generation and their waveforms. Plain Language Summary: The numerical simulation results show that meteotsunamis on the southwest Australian coast can be generated over a range of traveling pressure jump speeds and bandwidths, where Proudman resonance, Greenspan edge wave, refraction, and shoaling were responsible for the initial wave amplification. The simulations also revealed that resonance and shoaling amplification were determined by both the speed and bandwidth of the propagating pressure jumps. The pressure jump with constant translational speed can cause significantly different wave heights and waveform meteotsunami when the bandwidths were different. As the wave propagates southward with speeds of 15–28 ms−1, it undergoes subcritical, critical, and supercritical states over the shelf. The findings of this study provide preliminary guidelines for forecasting meteotsunamis generated by summer thunderstorms along the south‐west Australian coastline. Key Points: A range of moving atmospheric pressure jump speeds were conducive to meteotsunami generation on the southwest Australian coastProudman resonance, Greenspan edge waves, refraction, and shoaling were responsible for the generation and amplification of meteotsunamisThe resonance and shoaling amplification were influenced by both the speed of propagation and the bandwidths of the pressure jumps [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Background: Measuring coastal-pelagic prey fields at scales relevant to the movements of marine predators is challenging due to the dynamic and ephemeral nature of these environments. Whale sharks (Rhincodon typus) are thought to aggregate in nearshore tropical waters due to seasonally enhanced foraging opportunities. This implies that the three-dimensional movements of these animals may be associated with bio-physical properties that enhance prey availability. To date, few studies have tested this hypothesis. Methods: Here, we conducted ship-based acoustic surveys, net tows and water column profiling (salinity, temperature, chlorophyll fluorescence) to determine the volumetric density, distribution and community composition of mesozooplankton (predominantly euphausiids and copepods) and oceanographic properties of the water column in the vicinity of whale sharks that were tracked simultaneously using satellite-linked tags at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Generalised linear mixed effect models were used to explore relationships between the 3-dimensional movement behaviours of tracked sharks and surrounding prey fields at a spatial scale of ~ 1 km. Results: We identified prey density as a significant driver of horizontal space use, with sharks occupying areas along the reef edge where densities were highest. These areas were characterised by complex bathymetry such as reef gutters and pinnacles. Temperature and salinity profiles revealed a well-mixed water column above the height of the bathymetry (top 40 m of the water column). Regions of stronger stratification were associated with reef gutters and pinnacles that concentrated prey near the seabed, and entrained productivity at local scales (~ 1 km). We found no quantitative relationship between the depth use of sharks and vertical distributions of horizontally averaged prey density. Whale sharks repeatedly dove to depths where spatially averaged prey concentration was highest but did not extend the time spent at these depth layers. Conclusions: Our work reveals previously unrecognized complexity in interactions between whale sharks and their zooplankton prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine baseline water properties and bottom water patterns in hadal trench environments across the Southern Ocean, Indian Ocean, and western Pacific. Significant differences are identified in the South Fiji Basin and surrounding the Philippine Sea, primarily due to the movement of cold Lower Circumpolar Deep Water along topographic features, highlighting the importance of a trench's geospatial position. We present the first hydrographic profiles in the Java Trench, warranting further research. Salinity increases with increasing depth for profiles over 10 000 dbar, with potential causes including instrumentation error, internal mixing, and saline pore water expulsion. These hadopelagic variations are crucial for assessing climate change impacts, especially regarding Antarctic Bottom Water. The study underscores the importance of incorporating these adiabatic conditions to gain insights into ecological biodiversity, alongside the indispensable baseline conditions presented, which are crucial for future oceanographic research across multiple disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine baseline water properties and bottom water patterns in hadal trench environments across the Southern Ocean, Indian Ocean, and Western Pacific. Significant differences are identified in the South Fiji Basin and surrounding the Philippine Sea, primarily due to the movement of cold Lower Circumpolar Deep Water along topographic features, highlighting the importance of a trench's geospatial position. We present the first hydrographic profiles in the Java Trench, warranting further research. Increases in salinity patterns in depths over 10,000 dbar are investigated, with potential causes including instrumentation error, internal mixing, and saline pore water expulsion. These hadopelagic variations are crucial for assessing climate change impacts, especially regarding Antarctic Bottom Water. The study underscores the importance of incorporating these adiabatic conditions for insights into ecological biodiversity, alongside the baseline conditions presented being indispensable for future oceanographic research across multiple disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding sexual reproduction and recruitment in seagrasses is crucial to their conservation and restoration. Flowering, seed production, seed recruitment, and seedling establishment data for the seagrass Posidonia australis was collected annually between 2013 and 2018 in meadows at six locations around Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Variable annual rates of flowering and seed production were observed among meadows between northern and southern sides of the island and among years. Meadows on the northern shore consistently flowered more intensely and produced more seeds across the years of the survey. Inter‐site variation in clonal diversity and size of clones, seed production, wind and surface currents during pollen and seed release, and the large, but variable, impact of seed predation are likely the principal drivers of successful recruitment into established meadows and in colonizing unvegetated sands. The prolific but variable annual reproductive investment increases the probability of low levels of continuous recruitment from seed in this seagrass, despite high rates of abiotic and biotic disturbance at seedling, shoot, and patch scales. This strategy also imparts a level of ecological resilience to this long‐lived and persistent species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Spiny lobsters are critically affected by ocean current movements over their long journey from hatching to swimming post-larvae (puerulus). Methods: Isolating three different larval stages of the Western rock lobster (Panulirus cygnus), we have applied three-dimensional larval-dispersal modelling techniques Aims: To better understand a period of unusually low puerulus settlement in the late 2000s. Key results: Model results showed that transport mechanisms assisting pueruli in reaching nearshore habitats may have been inhibited by a strengthening of the southward-flowing Leeuwin Current over the austral summer at the settlement stage. As a result, modelled pueruli were transported significantly less northward, in some cases southward, during and after the period of unusually low settlement. Hatching-stage trajectories also suggest increased dispersal off the coast during 2007 and 2008, transporting modelled larvae further offshore and possibly contributing to decreased recruits into the fishery. Conclusions: Our study distinguishes the influence that ocean circulation patterns off Western Australia have on three different larval stages. Implications: Larval dispersal modelling of pueruli, therefore, provides a possible explanation for the changes in puerulus settlement over the past two decades and future considerations. In late 2000, western rock lobster post-larvae (puerulus) numbers declined causing fisheries management changes and investigations on why this happened, with no clear answer found. Here we use larval dispersal modelling to understand whether the oceanographic conditions at different larval stages may have contributed. We found that over the years of low settlement, a weakened northward summer current and a stronger Leeuwin Current meant that pueruli had to likely travel further and in weaker conditions to reach the nearshore areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that light pollution disrupts the early dispersal of marine turtles. But now, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are replacing traditional lights, however, we know little about how they influence hatchling dispersal. Here, we used acoustic telemetry to assess the early in-water dispersal and predation rates of hatchlings in response to different intensities of LEDs ranging from 10 to 120 W. We found no effect of LEDs on hatchling bearing when lights were in the direction they dispersed under ambient conditions. When LEDs were not in their usual direction of travel, variability in mean bearing increased, and a change in bearing occurred with the highest light intensity. We found weak evidence that predation was also higher at this light intensity compared to ambient, and also in two of the lower light intensities (10 and 30 W), but only on one experimental night. We were unable to find a relationship between hatchling speed and time spent in the tracking area with light intensity. However, reduced sample sizes (due to predation) might have affected our ability to detect effects. Although more effort is required to increase the confidence in our findings, LEDs disrupted hatchling dispersal and are therefore likely to negatively affect their survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]