Brief description
This dataset aggregates and summarises the water quality data collected by researchers from the Australian Institute of Marine Science from 1974 until the present. AIMS' biological oceanographers have studied the physical, chemical, and biological properties of seawater around northern Australia using a variety of methods including in situ sampling, moored sensors, and vertical profiles. This dataset contains in situ water quality information (list of analytes shown below) from northern Australia, with a large volume of data from the Great Barrier Reef, Queensland. It also contains an historical dataset transcribed from the reports of the Low Islands Expedition 1928-29 led by C.M. Yonge.This dataset contains biogeochemical data from many research expeditions (the majority led by Dr. Miles Furnas) as well as records from water quality monitoring programmes. Some data in this record were collected as part of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program for Inshore Water Quality (MMP WQ), which has collected in situ water quality data, along with time-series of temperature, salinity, fluorescence, and turbidity since 2005. More information about the MMP WQ can be found on its metadata record (see link below in Related Information).
Each water sample occurs at a unique combination of geographic location, time, and date. In the AIMS database, samples are assigned a unique alphanumeric identifier (called a ‘station’), which is comprised of a 3-letter area code and a 3-digit station number (e.g. WQM324). Using this code, water chemistry information can be linked to other associated data, such as vertical profiles of the water column (i.e., CTD casts), which can be retrieved from AIMS’ CTD database (link below). Variables in this database include: depth, silicate (Si), ammonium (NH4), nitrite (NO2), nitrate (NO3), dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), temperature (Temp), salinity (Sal), particulate nitrogen (PN), particulate phosphorus (PP), particulate organic carbon (POC), total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), total dissolved phosphorus (TDP), Chlorophyll-a (Chl), phaeophytin (Phaeo), suspended solids (SS), Secchi depth, and coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM). All analytes may not be available at every station.
Brief description of collection, storage and analysis method for parameters:
SAL: 250 mL unfiltered sample, stored refrigerated at 4ºC in screw-top plastic bottle, analysed on Guildline Portasal Salinometer (temperature-compensated and calibrated using OSIL standard seawater as reference)
TEMP: Electronic reversing thermometer attached to Niskin
SECCHI_DEPTH: The average of the vertical disappearance and reappearance depths of a Secchi disc
SS: Filtered onto pre-weighed 47 mm 0.4 µm polycarbonate membrane filter, rinsed with deionised water, dried at 60ºC for 12 hours, gravimetric analysis
CDOM: 50 mL filtered sample (0.2 µm acrodisc), CDOM absorption coefficient at 443 nm calculated from absorbance measured by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy
NH4, NO3, NO2, and DIP: 10 mL filtered sample (0.45 µm minisart), stored frozen at -25°C, filtrate analysed on segmented flow analyser
NH4_INSITU: Unfiltered 20 mL sample, processed immediately, OPA fluorescence method (post 2005)
SI: 10 mL filtered sample (0.45 µm minisart), stored refrigerated at 4ºC, filtrate analysed on segmented flow analyser (reported as Si)
PN_SHIM and POC: 500 mL filtered onto 25 mm GF/F, stored frozen at -25ºC, analysed by high temperature combustion (Shimadzu TOC-L)
PP: 250 mL filtered onto 25 mm GF/F (0.7 µm), stored frozen at -25ºC, persulphate digestion of filter, colorific (molybdate blue) analysis on UV-Vis spectrophotometer
TDN_PER and TDP_PER: 10 mL filtered sample (0.45 µm minisart), stored frozen at -25ºC, persulphate oxidation/digestion with mixture of NaOH, boric acid and K2S2O8 in autoclave, analysed on segmented flow analyser
DOC: 10 mL filtered sample (0.45 µm minisart), acidified with 100 µL HCl, stored refrigerated at 4ºC, analysed by high temperature combustion (Shimadzu TOC-L)
CHL and PHAEO: 100 mL filtered onto 25 mm GF/F (0.7 µm), stored frozen at -25ºC, extraction into 10 mL of acetone, read on Turner Fluorometer using acidification method
Data can be downloaded from AIMS' main water quality database (see link below in Data Downloads). Data are presented as depth-weighted means calculated using surface, bottom, and any intermediate samples.
Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: asNeeded
Statement: A detailed description of analytical procedures and quality assurance/quality control information for physico-chemical data in this record can be found in the Marine Monitoring Program's annual QA/QC report (see link below in Related Information).
Notes
CreditFurnas, M
Credit
Skuza, M
Skuza, M
Modified: 03 2024
text: westlimit=121.94824218750001; southlimit=-15.496032414238622; eastlimit=137.15332031250003; northlimit=-9.579084335882534
text: westlimit=142.42675781250003; southlimit=-23.039297747769726; eastlimit=154.81933593750003; northlimit=-8.798225459016345
text: westlimit=147.05466; southlimit=-19.26772; eastlimit=147.05466; northlimit=-19.26772
Subjects
Colored Dissolved Organic Matter |
Concentration of Particulate Nitrogen {PN} per unit volume of the water body |
Concentration of Particulate Organic Carbon {POC} per unit volume of the water body |
Concentration of Particulate Phosphorus {PP} per unit volume of the water body |
Concentration of Phaeophytin {Phae} per unit volume of the water body |
Concentration of ammonium {NH4} per unit volume of the water body |
Concentration of carbon (total inorganic) per unit mass of the water body |
Concentration of carbon (total organic) per unit mass of the water body |
Concentration of chlorophyll per unit volume of the water body |
Concentration of dissolved nitrite per unit volume of the water body |
Concentration of nitrate {NO3} per unit volume of the water body |
Concentration of phosphate {PO4} per unit volume of the water body |
Concentration of silicate {SiO4} per unit volume of the water body |
Concentration of suspended particulate material per unit volume of the water body |
Concentration of total dissolved nitrogen {TDN} per unit volume of the water body |
Depth of observation or sample collection |
Practical salinity of the water body |
Sea-floor depth below surface of the water body |
Secchi depth |
oceans |
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Other Information
Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan). Annual Monitoring Report. Reporting on data available from December 2004 to April 2006: Prange J, Haynes D, Schaffelke B and Waterhouse J (2007) Great Barrier Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan). Annual Monitoring Report. Reporting on data available from December 2004 to April 2006. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 115 p.
local : 11068/7620
Metadata record for Great Barrier Reef Marine Monitoring Program for Inshore Water Quality
uri :
https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/2b2aa4e4-1368-49e0-8b25-1559ee297854
Biological oceanography of the Great Barrier Reef: Furnas MJ and Mitchell AW (1997) Biological oceanography of the Great Barrier Reef. 1: 75-87. The Great Barrier Reef: Science, Use and Management: A National Conference. Proceedings. 25-29 November 1996 James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
local : 11068/3279
Environmental and oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Mermaid Reef and Broome, Western Australia: October 1997 to January 1999 and Final Project Review of Observations August 1993 to January 1999: Furnas MJ and Steinberg CR (1999) Environmental and oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Mermaid Reef and Broome, Western Australia: October 1997 to January 1999 and Final Project Review of Observations August 1993 to January 1999. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 121 p.
local : 11068/1652
Environmental, oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Western Australia: August 1993 to September 1994. Report submitted to Woodside Petroleum Pty. Ltd: Furnas MJ and Steinberg CR (1995) Environmental, oceanographic measurements at Scott Reef, Western Australia: August 1993 to September 1994. Report submitted to Woodside Petroleum Pty. Ltd. LIB 34. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 32 p.
local : 11068/2668
Water quality in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. ( pp. 35-58). In: Schaffelke B, Furnas MJ and Waterhouse J (eds) Report on status and trends of water quality and ecosystem health in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area: September 2005: Furnas MJ (2005) Water quality in the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. ( pp. 35-58). In: Schaffelke B, Furnas MJ and Waterhouse J (eds) Report on status and trends of water quality and ecosystem health in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area: September 2005. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority & CRC Reef Research. 162 p.
local : 11068/7473
Biological and chemical oceanographic processes in shallow north west shelf waters surrounding the Harriet A production platform: Furnas MJ and Mitchell AW (1998) Biological and chemical oceanographic processes in shallow north west shelf waters surrounding the Harriet A production platform. APPEA Journal. 38: 655-664.
local : 11068/3173
Water quality and ecosystem monitoring programme. Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Synthesis and spatial analysis of inshore monitoring data 2005-08: Thompson AA, Schaffelke B, De'ath AG, Cripps E and Sweatman HPA (2010) Water quality and ecosystem monitoring programme. Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Synthesis and spatial analysis of inshore monitoring data 2005-08. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 78 p.
local : 11068/8407
Regional variations in water column nutrients and other water quality parameters in Great Barrier Reef waters: Furnas MJ, Skuza MS, Wright M, Mitchell AW and Ghonim S (2004) Regional variations in water column nutrients and other water quality parameters in Great Barrier Reef waters. p. 29. Haynes D and Schaffelke B Catchment to reef : water quality issues in the Great Barrier Reef Region. 9-11 March 2004, Townsville. Conference abstracts. CRC Reef Research Centre
local : 11068/6651
Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring Programme - Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Final Report: Schaffelke B, Thompson AA, Carleton JH, De'ath AG, Feather G, Furnas MJ, Neale SJ, Skuza MS, Thomson DP, Sweatman HPA and Zagorskis IE (2007) Water Quality and Ecosystem Monitoring Programme - Reef Water Quality Protection Plan. Final Report. Australian Institute of Marine Science. 196 p.
local : 11068/7809
Water quality in the inshore Great Barrier Reef lagoon: Implications for long-term monitoring and management: Schaffelke B, Carleton JH, Skuza MS, Zagorskis IE and Furnas MJ (2012) Water quality in the inshore Great Barrier Reef lagoon: Implications for long-term monitoring and management. Marine Pollution Bulletin. 65: 249-260.
local : 11068/8995
AIMS Vertical Profiles of Conductivtiy Temperature Depth (CTD)
uri :
https://apps.aims.gov.au/metadata/view/9080e85b-d9a6-4001-b196-e21547d31653
Shelf-scale nitrogen and phosphorus budgets in the central Great Barrier Reef (16-19oS): Furnas MJ, Mitchell AW and Skuza MS (1997) Shelf-scale nitrogen and phosphorus budgets in the central Great Barrier Reef (16-19oS). 1: 809-814. Proceedings of the 8th International Coral Reef Symposium, Panama, 24-29 June 1996. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
local : 11068/1206
Biological and chemical oceanographic measurements in the far northern Great Barrier Reef - February 1990. Research Publication No. 34: Furnas MJ, Mitchell AW, Liston P, Skuza MS, Drew EA and Wellington JT (1996) Biological and chemical oceanographic measurements in the far northern Great Barrier Reef - February 1990. Research Publication No. 34. Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. 86 p.
local : 11068/8318
Glossary for data from the AIMS Physico-Chemical and Nutrient Database
Data Download for Phys-Chem Data
Identifiers
- global : 09163cdc-decc-40ec-b5a8-9a07dabf7fb8
