Mixing of Burdekin River flood waters in the Great Barrier Reef

Abstract

Wind fluctuations in the central region of the Great Barrier Reef from December 1980 to February 1981 generated low-frequency, reversing, longshore currents superimposed on the northward longshore currents initially generated both by intense direct rainfall over the continental shelf and by Burdekin River floods. The river plumes, which account for terrigenous mud distribution on the sea floor, were swept over the Great Barrier Reef. It is suggested that intense direct rainfall over the continental shelf and Burdekin River floods may create a barotropic shelf wave.