High-resolution temperature, salinity and depth data from southeastern Australian estuaries, 2018-2021

Area of Science:

• Estuarine science
• Environmental monitoring
• Marine biology

Background:

• Estuaries are vital land-sea interfaces with significant environmental and economic value.
• These ecosystems face increasing pressures from eutrophication, harmful algal blooms, habitat loss, and climate change impacts.
• Understanding water quality dynamics is crucial for effective estuarine management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an open-access, quality-controlled water quality dataset from twelve diverse southeastern Australian estuaries.
• To capture high-resolution environmental data across various extreme weather events (drought, wildfire, flood).
• To provide a valuable resource for the aquaculture industry, researchers, and environmental regulators.

Main Methods:

• Water depth, temperature, and salinity data were collected using high-accuracy Seabird MicroCAT field sensors.
• Data were gathered autonomously every 10 minutes over two years (2018-2021).
• Measurements were taken within oyster leases across a 1000 km stretch of coastline, with downstream quality checking and public website uploading.

Main Results:

• A comprehensive dataset of water quality parameters was generated for twelve estuaries.
• Data collection spanned periods of drought, wildfire, and flood, offering insights into extreme event impacts.
• The dataset provides simultaneous, high-resolution, longitudinal environmental data across multiple estuaries.

Conclusions:

• The presented dataset is a rare and invaluable resource for the Southern Hemisphere.
• It supports the aquaculture industry by providing critical environmental insights.
• The data will aid researchers and environmental regulators in understanding and managing estuarine health.