Strange object on the Great Barrier Reef

[BillyBob]

This object appears to have four 'legs' and a tower like structure, as the shadow at bottom left shows.

It is situated on top of a reef, in what would have to be very shallow water.

[Tom Baldwin]

See here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_Sea_Islands

...where we read quote:

Automatic, unmanned weather stations are located on following reefs or atolls:

Bougainville Reef
Cato Island
Flinders Reef (Flinders Coral Cay)
Frederick Reef
Holmes Reef
Lihou Reef (Turtle Islet)
Marion Reef
Moore Reef

Lighthouses are located on following reefs or islands:

Bougainville Reef
East Diamond Islet
Frederick Reefs
Lihou Reef
Saumarez Reef

unquote.

Take your pick!:yep:

[BillyBob]

Thanks for that Tom.

The ones you mentioned, however, are in the Coral Sea, which starts at the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef.

The one I pointed out is inside the reef, and appears to be part of Arlington Reef.

It could be the Arlington Reef Primary Light, but the only coordinates I can find are 16 43.3548 146. 6.6745 and they don't work in GE.

[eliya]

The pacific is supposed to be lined with warning devices to monitor and warn Tzunami waves. I am not sure this is one of them, but on TV they looked like small light-houses.
They can give an advance warning of the size, and direction of aTzunami wave.

[Munden]

It's an interesting idea, but tsunami warning systems are buoys out in deeper water with the sensors on a line down below. They'd not be put in the shallow water on top of a reef.

Here's a sample shot of one of the buoys:
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2004/s2358.htm

I think a light or other warning system for the reef probably makes the most sense.

[BradG7]

So, just from what I gathered, it is the light for the reef, since there is no other structure by it, and a buoy is definitely ruled out, just because it has 4 concrete pillars, and is roughly 50feet x 50feet, so the reef light is the only explanation.
:givebeer:

[SSSALVI]

Thanks for that Tom.

It could be the Arlington Reef Primary Light, but the only coordinates I can find are 16 43.3548 146. 6.6745 and they don't work in GE.



The translation to deg gives co-ordinates as 16.72258S, 146.111E , which matches with the placemark given in kmz file. So it is 'the light'.

Tsunami wrning systems are floating platforms and are not 'installed' on ground because they have to measyre wave hight/speed parametrs.

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S^3