This derived dataset contains basic statistical products derived from the eReefs CSIRO hydrodynamic model v2.0 outputs at both 1 km and 4 km resolution and v4.0 at 4 km for both a daily and monthly aggregation period. The statistics generated are daily minimum, maximum, mean and range. For monthly aggregations there are monthly mean of the daily minimum, maximum and range, and the monthly minimum, maximum and range. The dataset only calculates statistics for the temperature and water elevation (eta).
These are generated by the AIMS eReefs Platform (https://ereefs.aims.gov.au/). These statistical products are derived from the original hourly model outputs available via the National Computing Infrastructure (NCI) (https://thredds.nci.org.au/thredds/catalogs/fx3/catalog.html).
The data is re-gridded from the original curvilinear grid used by the eReefs model into a regular grid so the data files can be easily loaded into standard GIS software. These products are made available via a THREDDS server (https://thredds.ereefs.aims.gov.au/thredds/) in NetCDF format and
This data set contains two (2) products, based on the periods over which the statistics are determined: daily, and monthly.
Method:
Data files are processed in two stages. The daily files are calculated from the original hourly files, then the monthly files are calculated from the daily files. See Technical Guide to Derived Products from CSIRO eReefs Models for details on the regridding process.
Data Dictionary:
Daily statistics:
The following variables can be found in the Daily statistics product:
temp_mean: mean temperature for each grid cell for the day.
temp_min: minimum temperature for each grid cell for the day.
temp_max: maximum temperature for each grid cell for the day.
temp_range: difference between maximum and minimum temperatures for each grid cell for the day.
eta_mean: mean surface elevation for each grid cell for the day.
eta_min: minimum surface elevation for each grid cell for the day.
eta_max: maximum surface elevation for each grid cell for the day.
eta_range: difference between maximum and minimum surface elevation for each grid cell for the day.
Depths:
Depths at 1km resolution: -2.35m, -5.35m, -18.0m, -49.0m
Depths are 4km resolution: -1.5m, -5.55m, -17.75m, -49.0m
Monthly statistics:
The following variables can be found in the Monthly statistics product:
temp_min_min: the minimum value of the "temp_min" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the minimum temperature for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
temp_min_mean: the mean value of the "temp_min" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the mean minimum temperature for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
temp_max_max: the maximum value of the "temp_max" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the maximum temperature for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
temp_max_mean: the mean value of the "temp_max" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the mean maximum temperature for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
temp_mean: the mean value of the "temp_mean" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the mean temperature for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
temp_range_mean: the mean value of the "temp_range" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the mean range of temperatures for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
eta_min_min: the minimum value of the "eta_min" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the minimum surface elevation for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
eta_min_mean: the mean value of the "eta_min" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the mean minimum surface elevation for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
eta_max_max: the maximum value of the "eta_max" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the maximum surface elevation for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
eta_max_mean: the mean value of the "eta_max" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the mean maximum surface elevation for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
eta_mean: the mean value of the "eta_mean" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the mean surface elevation for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
eta_range_mean: the mean value of the "eta_range" variable from the Daily statistics product. This equates to the mean range of surface elevations for each grid cell for the corresponding month.
Depths:
Depths at 1km resolution: -2.35m, -5.35m, -18.0m, -49.0m
Depths are 4km resolution: -1.5m, -5.55m, -17.75m, -49.0m
What does this dataset show:
The temperature statistics show that inshore areas along the coast get significantly warmer in summer and cooler in winter than offshore areas. The daily temperature range is lower in winter with most areas experiencing 0.2 - 0.3 degrees Celsius temperature change. In summer months the daily temperature range approximately doubles, with up welling areas in the Capricorn Bunker group, off the outer edge of the Prompey sector of reefs and on the east side of Torres Strait seeing daily temperature ranges between 0.7 - 1.2 degree Celsius.
Limitations:
This dataset is based on spatial and temporal models and so are an estimate of the environmental conditions. It is not based on in-water measurements, and thus will have a spatially varying level of error in the modelled values. It is important to consider if the model results are fit for the intended purpose.
Change Log:
2025-10-29: Updated the metadata title from 'eReefs AIMS-CSIRO Statistics of hydrodynamic model outputs' to 'Daily and monthly minimum, maximum and range of eReefs hydrodynamic model outputs - temperature, water elevation (AIMS, Source: CSIRO)'. Improve the introduction text. Corrected deprecated link to NCI THREDDS. Added a description of what the dataset shows.
