Great Barrier Reef Water Clarity and River Discharge Relationships, 2002-2013

Australian Ocean Data Network hosts a dataset analyzing relationships between water clarity and river loads in the Great Barrier Reef from 2002 to 2013. It contains statistical correlations, mean photic depth, and environmental control variables for 35 zones, derived from 11 years of MODIS Aqua satellite data and river discharge records. The data were used to set regional water quality targets and revise understanding of river runoff effects.

Use Cases

• Modeling the impact of river freshwater discharge on coastal water clarity based on correlation statistics.
• Assessing recovery times of water clarity after flood events based on the 150-260 day recovery period mentioned.
• Setting regional water quality targets for fine sediment based on the ecologically relevant targets referenced in the description.
• Analyzing spatial variations in river influence across 35 zones, including inshore and outer shelf regions.

Strengths

• Covers 11 years of daily MODIS Aqua satellite data from 2002 to 2013.
• Analysis is broken down into 35 distinct zones along and across the Great Barrier Reef.
• Data distinguishes between dry years (2002-2006) and wet years (2007-2012) for controlled analysis.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• For the Normanby River region, daily discharge data are missing for most of the first four years (2002-2005).
• For Cape York, river discharge data were incomplete, requiring the use of rainfall as a proxy.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, aggregating data from NASA, DEHP, DERM, BOM, and UQ.

Collection Method

Remote sensing data from MODIS Aqua satellite combined with daily river discharge volumes from Queensland government sources.

Time Range

2002 to 2013

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-10 19:18:05.579337; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Great Barrier Reef, specifically Fitzroy, Whitsundays, Burdekin, Southern and Northern Wet Tropics, and Cape York regions.