[Legacy Report] Seminar - Remotely Sensed Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of the Leeuwin Current using Time-series MODIS Data

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The Leeuwin Current has significant ecological impact on the coastal and marine ecosystems of south-western Australia. This study investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of the Leeuwin Current using monthly MODIS SST data for the period July 2002 to December 2012. Topographic Position Index layers were derived from the SST data for the mapping of the spatial structure of the Leeuwin Current. The semi-automatic classification process involves segmentation, “seeds” growing and manual editing. The mapping results enabled us to quantitatively examine the spatial and temporal dynamics of the Leeuwin Current, including its structure, extent, cross-shelf migration and chlorophyll a characteristics. It was found that the Leeuwin Current exhibits complex spatial structure, with a number of meanders, offshoots and eddies developed from the current core along its path. The Leeuwin Current also has a clear seasonal cycle. During austral winter, the current flows near the shelf break, increases its extent and has higher chlorophyll a concentrations. While, during austral summer, the current moves offshore, reduces its extent and chlorophyll a concentrations. The Leeuwin Current also has notable inter-annual variation due to ENSO events. In El Niño years the current is likely to reduce its extent, move further inshore and increase its chlorophyll a concentrations. The opposite occurs during the La Niña years. In addition, this study demonstrated that the Leeuwin Current has a significantly positive influence over the regional nutrient characteristics during the winter and autumn seasons. Apart from surface cooling and advection, the Leeuwin Current’s sizable cross-shelf migration may be another contributing factor to the seasonal and inter-annual variations of its chlorophyll a concentrations.


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  • Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
  • Australia
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Zhi Huang of Geoscience Australia

Topic:

Remotely Sensed Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of the Leeuwin Current using Time-series MODIS Data

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Address:Australian Capital Territory, Australia