Areal photographs of Rattray island, Great Barrier Reef of Australia, and its wake. The tidal current approaches the island from the top right in the first image and from the top left in the second image. It meets the island at a somewhat oblique angle, which results in one vortex being stronger than the other. The photographs show only the main vortex.

The size of the island can be estimated by the wake of the speed boat seen in the first image. From Wolanski et al. (1984).


© 1996 M. Tomczak

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