Sediment Particle Size and Geochemistry from Australian River Flood Plumes, 2016-2019

NESP TWQ 5.8 project data contains particle size distribution and major/trace element geochemistry for sediment samples from end-of-river and flood plume sites. The dataset includes samples from the Burdekin, Tully, Johnstone, Ross, and Haughton Rivers in Australia, collected during flood events from the 2016-2017 to 2018-2019 water years. Analysis was performed using laser diffraction and chemical treatment protocols to examine primary grain size.

Use Cases

• Modeling sediment transport dynamics based on particle size distribution data from treated samples.
• Analyzing geochemical signatures of river-borne sediments based on major and trace element data.
• Studying the impact of flood plumes on coastal marine environments based on salinity gradient sampling.
• Comparing sediment characteristics across different Australian river systems (Burdekin, Tully, Johnstone, Ross, Haughton).

Strengths

• Includes data from 15 Burdekin River samples, three Tully River samples, and samples from three other rivers.
• Covers multiple flood events across three water years (2016-2017 to 2018-2019).
• Represents first analyses of end-of-river and plume samples treated to examine primary grain size.
• Contains samples from high-salinity zones (>25 PSU) in plumes, which were previously rare.

Limitations

• Dataset is currently under embargo, limiting immediate access.
• Row count and column-level documentation are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Sample size is relatively small for some rivers (e.g., one sample each for the Herbert and Haughton Rivers).

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network via data_gov_au, associated with the NESP TWQ 5.8 project and James Cook University (JCU).

Collection Method

Samples collected off bridges and using a SediPump® high-volume filtration system; grain size analyzed with a Malvern Mastersizer 3000 laser diffraction after H2O2 treatment.

Time Range

2016-2017 to 2018-2019 water years.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-14 09:11:06.056372; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Burdekin, Tully, Johnstone, Ross, and Haughton Rivers in Queensland, Australia, including estuarine and flood plume areas.