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Concept image of AquaSat-1

AquaSat-1 Feasibility Study Report

In response to shared water challenges and as a logical next step to previous studies, CSIRO’s AquaWatch Australia program (AquaWatch) […]

Courtney smiles at the camera with CSIRO Earth observation photos blurred in the background.

Engaging with the Earth observation community

The CSIRO Earth observation team in attendance at the Advancing Earth Observation Forum. Last week, CSIRO was represented at the […]

Three girls hold their phones up to take a photo with a river in the background.

How can your phone help us monitor water quality from space?

Help us keep an ‘Eye on Water’ by measuring local water quality with nothing more than your phone camera.

Four people sit at a trestle table at an event booth with CSIRO banners in the background.

CSIRO explores water quality monitoring for the Murray Darling Basin

AquaWatch Lead, Alex Held, and AquaWatch Deputy Lead, Janet Anstee, recently represented CSIRO at the Conference of the Murray-Darling Association (MDA) in Tamworth.

Two men and one woman stand on a river bank in Sacramento in discussion.

Australian technology forecasting water quality in California

An important water body for agriculture and natural ecosystems of the San Francisco Bay, has become a test site for the AquaWatch Australia mission. We’re working with partners in California to test and enhance AquaWatch.

A group of people surrounding a large touchscreen table at an exhibition booth.

AquaWatch on the global stage

The 10th World Water Forum, held in Indonesia in May, recently brought together over 30,000 participants to discuss water challenges being faced around the world. The event was an opportunity to promote CSIRO’s work on AquaWatch to high-level politicians, NGOs, multilateral organisations and the private sector.

Engaging with New Caledonia on water quality

CSIRO, CNES and local communities brought together to improve water quality monitoring in New Caledonia

Satellite view of Southwest England with bright, light blue algal bloom visible in the dark water.

Australia joins with UK to deliver large-scale water quality monitoring from space

Australia’s AquaWatch system, a mission to develop a ‘weather service’ for water quality will be established in the UK, following bilateral support and co-funding from the two countries’ space agencies.

Diver floats underwater looking at a large sea turtle in the foreground.

Meet Janet Anstee: keeping an eye on water

Janet Anstee, Deputy Mission Lead for AquaWatch Australia, is focused on delivering our ‘weather service’ for water quality and driving Indigenous co-design opportunities.

Circular fish farm pen seen from a drone in the Spencer Gulf.

Satellites and seafood: expanding our water quality monitoring

As is tradition, many Aussies celebrating the summer holidays will soon be reaching for the prawns and oysters. One region in South Australia plays a big role in getting seafood to our plates. Spencer Gulf is often referred to as ‘Australia’s seafood basket’, with local aquaculture worth about $238 million a year.

Satellite image showing sediment flow from the Fitzroy River out to Keppel Bay and the Southern Great Barrier Reef.

World-first system to monitor the ‘seafood basket’ of Australia

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has completed initial testing of a ‘weather service’ for water quality in the Spencer Gulf in South Australia – which provides much of the country’s seafood – with plans to use the technology in local seafood farms.

Sentinel-2 satellite orbiting Earth

Out of the blue: Australia’s waters get a health check from above

Our AquaWatch Mission is using satellites to monitor water quality from space. It turns out that getting a satellite’s view allows us to not only detect large algal blooms, but also track them as they grow and move.

Brown sediment plume mixes with blue sea water at Darumbal Sea Country Keppel Bay.

Muddy waters: Our ‘weather service’ for water quality arrives at the Great Barrier Reef

Near the Southern Great Barrier Reef, the Fitzroy River disperses sediment in brown plumes into the sea, impacting the environment and tourism in the area. Enter our AquaWatch mission.

AquaWatch sensor is lower into the water at Keppel Bay Darumbal Sea Country.

CSIRO deploys world-first sensors in Southern Great Barrier Reef

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has installed specialised sensors on Darumbal Sea Country in the Southern Great Barrier Reef to help monitor and forecast sediment run-off, which impacts the UNESCO World Heritage site’s marine ecosystem.

Satellite image showing sediment flowing from a river to the coast

AquaWatch: the ‘weather forecast for water quality’ that’s an Australian world first

Satellites and high-tech sensors are revolutionising the way water quality challenges will be monitored and responded to into the future.

Large numbers of dead fish float on the surface of a river.

Expert commentary: Menindee fish kill

CSIRO scientists explain what led to the mass fish kill in Menindee and how we can better prepare for future events.

CSIRO AquaWatch HydraSpectra Lake Tuggeranong

CSIRO embarks on mission to create a ‘weather service’ for water quality

CSIRO has launched a world first mission to develop an extensive network of Earth observation satellites and ground-based water sensors to deliver near real time monitoring and forecasting for water quality.

Using satellite data to unlock water quality knowledge

Data cubes built using decades of satellite images reveal how the quality of estuarine and coastal waters changes after weather events, and over time.