Calculating loads discharged from an estuary

Theme: Environmental Management

Description: 

The Great Barrier Reef Catchment Loads Monitoring Program (GBRCLMP) provides essential data which is used to track trends and to calibrate catchment scale models linking land management practices and water quality. Catchment load is calculated as the product of discharge and concentration. At sites where there is tidal influence, volume can be computed from the discharge, or a freshwater discharge can be derived from de-tiding the discharge.

However, no adjustments are currently made to concentrations of sediment during a flood tide, which anecdotally, may accumulate above the sampling point to later be remobilised in larger events. When resuspension isn’t accounted for, and concentrations are applied to either a de-tided discharge or a volume, it would assume a seaward flux of analytes, which would bias the resultant load.

This project would collate evidence for movement of constituents back and forth due to tidal influence at GBRCLMP monitoring sites and investigate options for accounting for this influence when calculating loads. The work would contribute to improving confidence in the loads calculations that are foundational to tracking progress for the Reef 2050 Water Quality Improvement Plan.

Additional Information: 

The Michael St John Warne (1962 – 2024) Memorial Scholarship is administered by the Reef Catchments Science Partnership in the School of the Environment. The purpose of the scholarship is to support UQ honours students. Up to three (3) scholarships will be awarded. Each scholarship is worth $5,000 (half paid in February 2026 and half paid on submission of thesis). A top up writing scholarship of $1,000 is available to publish one (1) journal paper from your thesis research after submission.
See https://environment.uq.edu.au/michael-st-john-warne-memorial-scholarship for more information or email rcsp.info@uq.edu.au

Contact: Assoc. Prof. Ryan Turner