Cairns Region Estuarine Water Quality Measurements Since 2015

Monthly water quality monitoring data from estuarine and marine sites in the Cairns region between Cardwell and the Daintree River. The dataset contains chemical, physical, and biological profile measurements collected by the Department of the Environment, Science and Tourism since 2015 to support environmental reporting and trend assessment.

Use Cases

• Analyze long-term trends in Chlorophyll-a (ug/L) and nutrient parameters like Total Nitrogen to assess algal biomass and eutrophication.
• Model relationships between physicochemical parameters such as Dissolved Oxygen, Temperature, and pH to understand estuarine health dynamics.
• Use Secchi depth (m) and Turbidity (NTU) measurements to develop water clarity indices for environmental report cards.
• Correlate spatial data from Monitoring site latitude and longitude with salinity and nutrient levels to map pollution gradients.

Strengths

• Monthly sampling frequency provides consistent temporal resolution for time-series analysis.
• Includes a comprehensive suite of over 15 measured parameters covering nutrients, physics, and biology.
• Data collection spans from 2015 onward, enabling long-term trend assessment.

Limitations

• Row count and dataset size are unknown, limiting assessment of statistical power.
• Limited freshwater monitoring may restrict analysis to primarily tidal and estuarine environments.
• Specific column structure and sample data are unavailable, complicating initial data exploration.

Provenance

Source

Department of the Environment, Science and Tourism (DETSI) and predecessor organisations.

Collection Method

Monthly sampling at fixed sites using laboratory analyses and in situ measurement instruments from drifting boats or bankside.

Time Range

Since 2015

Freshness

Monthly

Geography

Estuarine and marine monitoring sites in the Cairns region between Cardwell and the Daintree River, Australia.