Southern Oscillation Influences on the Gold Coast's Summer Wave Climate

Authors

  • Stuart R Phinn
  • Peter A Hastings

Keywords:

Tropical cyclones, El Niño, Southern Oscillation, coastal management, wave generation area.

Abstract

Tropical cyclone-generated wave conditions coincident with extreme phases of the Southern Oscillation were examined for Gold Coast (eastern Australia) beaches over the period 1972-1989. The study expands upon similar previous research conducted on Sydney's wave climate. Values of summer (Southern Hemisphere) mean-monthly deepwater wavepower on northern Gold Coast (Australia) beaches were found to be significantly lower during EI Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phases of the Southern Oscillation than during the opposing anti-ENSO phases. It is proposed that Southern Oscillation-related variability of Australian/south-west Pacific tropical cyclone activity is an important mechanism underlying the observed contrast. A tropical cyclone wave generation area was constructed for Gold Coast beaches using individual tropical cyclone and site data. Possible coastal management implications of these findings are discussed.

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Published

1995-07-09

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (1995): Journal of Coastal Research

Section

Articles

License

Authorization for personal use is granted by the Coastal Education and Research Foundation [CERF]. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright for their article is transferred to the publisher if the article is accepted for publication. Assignment of copyright is not required, however, from authors who work for organizations which do not permit such assignment, The copyright covers the exclusive rights to reprduce and distribute the article, inclduing reprints, photographic reproductions, microform, or any other reproductions of a similar nature, and translations.