Western Australia
Marine environments off Western Australia are shaped by the Indo-Pacific climate and the poleward-flowing Leeuwin Current, which transports warm, low-nutrient waters southward and creates globally unique ecosystems. Intermittent upwelling, internal tides, and eddies regulate exchange from the coast to the deep ocean. Wind, waves, ocean temperature and sea level variability shape our coastal environments and impact marine industries.
IMOS observational infrastructure in Western Australia contributes to understanding and predicting ocean processes that impact our marine ecosystems, marine operations and coastal populations.
Yasha Hetzel, UWA
IMOS’ sustained ocean observing infrastructure in Western Australia
Ships of Opportunity
National Mooring Network
Ocean Radar
Ocean Gliders
Marine Microplastics
Coastal Wave Buoys
Understanding of Marine Imagery
Animal Tracking
Biomolecular Observing
Western Australia state government co-invested infrastructure
The Western Australian marine science community has used IMOS observations to produce
378
Journal Articles
137
Reports
140
Projects
44
Data Products
95
Postgraduate Projects
Western Australian institutional users of IMOS observations
30
Government Departments & Research Agencies
7
Research Collaboration & Non-government
20
Industry & Services
4
Universities
State partnerships
Principal participants are the University of Western Australia, the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and CSIRO, with Curtin University as an associate participant. IMOS observation data are used by Western Australian universities and government agencies.
In 2025, the Western Australian Government co-invested to expand IMOS observing infrastructure in the state to increase long-term ocean observations in Exmouth Gulf and at six coastal locations, supporting a wide range of end user needs, including researchers, coastal managers and diverse marine industries.