Terrestrial discharge into the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon: nutrient behavior in coastal waters

Devlin, MJ ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2194-2534 and Brodie, J (2005) Terrestrial discharge into the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon: nutrient behavior in coastal waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 51 (1-4). pp. 9-22. ISSN 0025-326X

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Abstract

Pollution of coastal regions of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) is dominated by river discharge associated with agricultural development of the adjacent catchments. Runoff of sediment, nutrients and pesticides has sharply increased since European settlement. Since 1991 plumes from river discharge entering the GBRWHA have been mapped by aerial mapping of plume edges and concentrations of contaminants in plumes measured. Plume dispersion is governed primarily by wind speed and direction. Most plumes spread in a band up to 50 km from the coast. Particulate material discharged in the plumes is trapped within 10 km of the coast. Dissolved nutrients disperse much further and elevated nutrient concentrations are measurable at distances of hundreds of kilometres from river mouths. This differential transport of particulate versus dissolved nutrients is important for the potential effects of these materials and management of their generation on the Great Barrier Reef catchment.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: flood plumes,great barrier reef,land runoff,nutrients,suspended sediment,water quality
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Science > School of Environmental Sciences
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Collaborative Centre for Sustainable Use of the Seas
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 24 Sep 2016 00:37
Last Modified: 02 Mar 2023 10:30
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/60139
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2004.10.037

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