Surface temperature and currents behind Rattray island, Great Barrier Reef. The background current is southeastward, somewhat oblique to the island. As a result, the northern vortex is clearly stronger than the southern one, but the weak northward current to the south east of the island indicates that a second vortex is present.

Isotherms are contoured every 0.1°C, with the lowest temperature indicated as less than 25.6°C. The lower temperatures in the island's wake are the result of increased mixing, which brings colder water to the surface. The broken line shows the ship's track along which the measurements were made.

Adapted from Wolanski et al. (1984).

© 1996 M. Tomczak

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