Physical processes

Physical processes contribute to a resilient and functioning Reef ecosystem. Components of physical processes include sea temperatures, ocean currents, cyclones and wind, sediment exposure, freshwater inflows, sea level and light. Such processes can drive significant ecosystem change, either positively or negatively, depending on the health and resilience of the Reef. 

Ocean currents connect habitats and transport marine species, larvae, and nutrients supporting coral growth and biodiversity. Cyclones can be destructive when frequent and localised. However, breakage or removal of individual colonies can also promote diversity through creating a range of microhabitats and enabling the growth of corals with varying morphologies and rates of growth. Seasonal variations in sea temperature affect coral spawning events, while sunlight and water clarity directly impact the symbiotic algae living within coral tissues essential for coral survival. 

Physical processes do not act in isolation, they are interconnected and influenced by larger global systems, such as the South Equatorial Current, which plays a key role in distributing heat and nutrients across the Reef. These interconnected physical processes create the conditions that shape the function and resilience of the Reef.