The anomalous tides near Broad Sound

Inter-annual variability of wet season freshwater plume extent into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon based on satellite coastal ocean colour observations

“…Another region where CDOM may not be attributed solely to terrestrial runoff was Broad Sound (Fig. 9), a shallow estuary, where turbidity was dominated by tidal resuspension of bottom sediments composed of terrigenous mud in the near-shore areas (Kleypas, 1996;Middelton et al, 1984). The freshwater extents estimated for this region were potentially overestimated as no rivers empty directly into Broad Sound and an along-shore transport of northward directed freshwater from the Fitzroy River was observed in years of high discharge only (Fig.…”

Tidal corrections for TOPEX altimetry in the Coral Sea and Great Barrier Reef Lagoon: Comparisons with long‐term tide gauge records

“…The tides of the Coral Sea and GBR region (Figure 1) exhibit a number of interesting and characteristic features which result from interaction of the tide with the complex topography of the Coral Sea Basin [e.g., Webb , 1973a, 1973b; Amin and Lennon , 1992], and from additional effects induced by the varying width of continental shelf and the Barrier Reef matrix [ Middleton et al , 1984; Church et al , 1985; Bode , 1986; Andrews and Bode , 1988]. These characteristics provide a challenge, both for tidal modellers and satellite altimetry experts alike, to resolve tidal and low‐frequency sea levels and currents with sufficient accuracy and reliability.…”

“…The tides along the broad continental shelf of the southern GBR [ Bode et al , 1997, Figure 19], which is our particular focus, are essentially progressive, with M2 propagating up the Capricorn Channel to the north west between lat 22 and 25 S, with gradual amplification to the west [ Griffin et al , 1987]. The tides near Broad Sound (22 S) are anomalously high due to an effect first recognised and explained by the explorer, Mathew Flinders, as recounted by Middleton et al [1984], and Bode [1986]. Using linear analytical models Middleton et al [1984] showed that the dense reef matrix seaward of the Sound effectively blocks the tide, with the result that tidal waves penetrating large gaps in the matrix to the north and south converge in the GBR Lagoon and are amplified by a significant factor.…”

“…The tides near Broad Sound (22 S) are anomalously high due to an effect first recognised and explained by the explorer, Mathew Flinders, as recounted by Middleton et al [1984], and Bode [1986]. Using linear analytical models Middleton et al [1984] showed that the dense reef matrix seaward of the Sound effectively blocks the tide, with the result that tidal waves penetrating large gaps in the matrix to the north and south converge in the GBR Lagoon and are amplified by a significant factor. Further amplification results from resonant effects, due to the shape and size of Broad Sound.…”

Active open boundary forcing using dual relaxation time-scales in downscaled ocean models

“…The HARD relaxation is essentially clamped with no passive character. Tidal amplification occurs across the GBR shelf (Middleton et al, 1984), resulting from a combination of damped semi-diurnal resonance in the southern GBR lagoon and alongshore convergence (e.g. tidal ranges are $4.5 m at the coast in Broad Sound but have a range of $ 0.8 m off the shelf along the open boundary).…”