Trace Metal Concentrations in Torres Strait Waters, Sediments, and Seagrasses 2019-2020

NESP TWQ 5.14 project data comprises four spreadsheets of trace metal concentrations measured in waters, benthic and suspended sediments, and seagrasses across the Torres Strait. The dataset includes sampling locations with coordinates, general chemical and physical parameters, and laboratory quality control data. It was collected by CSIRO and JCU to assess the influence of the Fly River discharge on the region.

Use Cases

• Assessing spatial distribution of metal pollution based on trace metal concentrations in waters, sediments, and seagrasses.
• Investigating the fate of Fly River discharge based on water and sediment samples collected around Boigu and Saibai.
• Analyzing historical trends in seagrass metal uptake based on the inclusion of data from previous studies in 1993 and 2018.
• Evaluating laboratory quality control protocols based on the provided quality control data.

Strengths

• Includes four distinct data components: water, benthic sediment, suspended sediment, and seagrass trace metal concentrations.
• Provides geographic context with sampling location coordinates and maps.
• Supported by historical seagrass data from studies in 1993 and 2018 for temporal comparison.
• Contains laboratory quality control data to support data reliability.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

Australian Ocean Data Network, originating from the NESP TWQ 5.14 project (CSIRO and JCU).

Collection Method

Water samples filtered and analyzed by ICP-MS; sediment samples digested with mixed acids via microwave and analyzed by ICP-MS; seagrass samples rinsed, weighed, and analyzed for trace metals.

Time Range

2019 to 2020, with historical seagrass data from 1993 and 2018.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-07-16 02:28:02.880332; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Torres Strait, with specific sampling around Boigu and Saibai islands.