Lewis, Stephen, McCloskey, Gillian, Bainbridge, Zoe, Davis, Aaron, Bartley, Rebecca, and Turner, Ryan (2024) Sediment and nutrient flux from land. In: Wolanski, Eric, and Kingsford, Michael J., (eds.) Oceanographic Processes of Coral Reefs: Physical and Biological Links in the Great Barrier Reef. CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, USA, pp. 126-142.

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Abstract

Increased delivery of sediment and nutrients from the land threatens the health and productivity of key ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) lagoon. This chapter is an update to the Furnas and Mitchell (2000) “Runoff of terrestrial sediment and nutrients into the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area” chapter from the first edition and incorporates our latest understanding of GBR catchment sediment and nutrient generation processes, transport, and transformations. We provide a review of the history of monitoring and research in the GBR Catchment Area (GBRCA) that has led to improved estimates of sediment and nutrient loads and how it has changed over time under catchment development. This includes targeted monitoring, tracing, and modelling approaches and proxy-based evidence within both the catchment and lagoon. This review emphasises the increasing use of the latest high temporal frequency near real time sensor technologies to capture the complexity of hydrology, sediment and nutrient runoff at small-scale tributary sites, including the highly elevated concentrations associated with the first-flush runoff. We present the latest ‘best available’ load estimates from each of the 35 basins of the GBRCA for fine sediment (< 20 µm fraction), particulate nitrogen and phosphorus, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen. Finally, we consider the available management options to reduce the loads of sediment and nutrients delivered to the GBR lagoon that include policy instruments.

Item ID:	79969
Item Type:	Book Chapter (Research - B1)
ISBN:	9781032340746
Copyright Information:	© 2024 selection and editorial matter, Eric Wolanski and Michael Kingsford; individual chapters, the contributors.
Date Deposited:	22 Aug 2023 01:47
FoR Codes:	41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4105 Pollution and contamination > 410504 Surface water quality processes and contaminated sediment assessment @ 50% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring @ 50%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1802 Coastal and estuarine systems and management > 180205 Measurement and assessment of estuarine water quality @ 100%
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