The warmer the water, the faster metabolic processes take place like photosynthesis and respiration. Almost all of the animals living on a coral reefs, except for marine mammals like dolphins and some fishes like tuna, have their body temperature at the same temperature as seawater in which they live. The speed of the ocean currents over Conch Reef is measured by the S4 in two directions, north and east. This allows us to compute the direction from which the current is coming, as well as the strength of the current. Strong currents during hurricanes can break the reef apart as well as remove sediments and overgrowths of algae.
Currents provide flushing and a source of oxygen to the organisms living on the reef.
The depth measurement is important in determining tidal and wave activity. The S4 takes readings at a maximum rate of twice a second. With this rapid data rate, we can use the variations of the depth to determine wave heights and tidal movements.