Elsevier

Marine Pollution Bulletin

Volume 137, December 2018, Pages 370-381
Marine Pollution Bulletin

Baseline
Baseline physio-chemical characteristics of Sydney estuary water under quiescent conditions

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.10.041Get rights and content

Highlights

  • First estuary in Australia to have documented baseline water quality data

  • Baseline data are essential to assess magnitude of anthropogenic influences.

  • Tables and maps provide baseline physio-chemical surface water values for any location.

  • Strong inter-parameter baseline relationships enable interpolation between water quality data.

  • Study was undertaken in response to numerous requests by researchers, government and contractors.

Abstract

The current study establishes baseline water quality properties for Sydney estuary, Australia for long periods of quiescence, which characterize the region. The study was undertaken in response to numerous requests for such data by researchers, government agencies and contractors.

During quiescent periods, the range in Secchi depth transparency, turbidity, salinity and total suspended solid (TSS) values was 0.3–5.3 m, 18.6–0.1 NTU, 26.4–35.3 PSU and 8.3–1.0 mg/L in the upper and lower estuary, respectively. Baseline particulate metal concentrations were high, however TSS metal mass was greater during high rainfall.

Tables and GIS-based maps allow baseline physio-chemical values to be extracted from the database for any location in Sydney estuary for quiescent conditions. Strong inter-parameter baseline relationships enable interpolation between water quality data. Baseline physio-chemical values were used to assess the impact of a high-precipitation event to demonstrate the utility of the new database.

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

Tom Savage produced tens of thousands of chemical analyses and ensured data quality and assurance over three decades. Numerous students who took part in field work and on various parts of the study made an enormous contribution and are sincerely thanked for their efforts. Marco Olmos is thanked especially in this regard.

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