Great Barrier Reef, Queensland
Location: Fitzroy River and Keppel Bay, QLD (Darumbal Country)
Impact: Environment
Focus: Sediment and dissolved organic carbon flows
Buoy with water quality sensor at Great Barrier Reef, Keppel Bay.
Explore how we’re using AI to understand water quality at the Southern Great Barrier Reef
AquaWatch pilot summary
The AquaWatch Great Barrier Reef pilot project is developing and demonstrating a novel remote sensing approach to estimating land-to-ocean fluxes of sediment and carbon to ecosystem managers in the Southern Great Barrier Reef coastal region. The work by AquaWatch contributes to CSIRO’s broader science work on the Great Barrier Reef.
The approach integrates near real-time in situ observations and high-resolution satellite data on cloud computing platforms to provide rapid estimates of management relevant knowledge about coastal water quality to project end users. CSIRO hopes to to address the current limited knowledge about the estuarine and coastal outflows, their variability, and their impact on coastal ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Reef.
AquaWatch HydraSpectra sensor on tall pylons at Fitzroy River
Sediment and dissolved carbon
Sediment flows from rivers to the ocean and the Great Barrier Reef pose a problem as they can negatively impact the health of the ecosystem, particularly seagrasses. Sedimentation reduces water clarity, affecting light penetration necessary for photosynthesis and hampering the growth and productivity of marine plant life.
This can disrupt the food chain and habitats of numerous marine species that depend on sea grass. Addressing sediment flows through improved land and water management practices is essential to preserve the Great Barrier Reef’s biodiversity and ecological balance.
Rivers also transport dissolved organic carbon from terrestrial sources, such as decaying plant matter and soil erosion, into the marine environment. This dissolved carbon can have various effects on ocean ecosystems, from providing nutrients to increasing ocean acidity.
Understanding the dynamics of dissolved carbon transport from rivers to the ocean is crucial for assessing the global carbon budget, predicting the impacts of climate change, and implementing effective strategies for the sustainable management of marine ecosystems.
Technology
- HydraSpectra insitu sensing
- Use of satellite imagery for remote sensing
- Advanced analytics (EASI)
- Water quality modelling
- AI for water quality forecasting
Implication for water management
The use of AquaWatch at Fitzroy River and Keppel Bay and outflows to the Great Barrier Reef can provide information on patterns in sediment flow so water managers can make decisions such as:
- Identifying areas where river bank management is needed
- Manage land in the area to prevent sediment flows
- Identify impacts of sediment and dissolved organic carbon on natural ecosystems
- Measure outcomes of any interventions made
