Data

Water Quality Sampling in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia from 1977 - 1981

Australian Ocean Data Network
Chiffings, Anthony (Tony)
Viewed: [[ro.stat.viewed]] Cited: [[ro.stat.cited]] Accessed: [[ro.stat.accessed]]
ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Adc&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2FANDS&rft_id=https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/693b6990-17d0-11dc-9787-00188b4c0af8&rft.title=Water Quality Sampling in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia from 1977 - 1981&rft.identifier=https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/693b6990-17d0-11dc-9787-00188b4c0af8&rft.description=This dataset contains water quality data from a uniform grid of sampling locations in Cockburn Sound and surrounding areas from 1977 to 1981. This data was used to determine the eutrophic status of Cockburn Sound and reasons for this nutrient enrichment and phytoplankton response. A PhD thesis was based on this data and the data formed a baseline for an ongoing monitoring program through to the present day.Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlannedStatement: The first phase, which started in May 1977, was carried out as part of the Cockburn Sound Study. Data were collected over a 16 months period (August 1977 to November 1978) and management recommendations were made to Government. Six months later, in June 1979, a second phase of research was started to obtain data during the period when initial reductions in the nutrient load to the Sound were expected. This work continued until June 1981 and, provided another 26 months of data.Statement: - Derived from Chiffings (1987) thesis - Sampling stations were established on a uniform grid covering Cockburn Sound and Owen Anchorage. The grid was aligned on a principal axis extending north-south through both basins along a shipping channel cut through Parmelia and Success Banks. The grid had, as it's primary unit, equidistant points of 0.5 km. Stations were numbered sequentially across the grid. The number of stations that could be sampled during a three day period was then determined and this number of stations selected from the grid points. Stations were generally uniformly distributed but with some allowance for topographic features (see thumbnail). The grid was chosen so that if, in the future, the Sound has to be monitored in greater detail, stations can be randomly selected within designated management zones for the region from the primary grid. The data from the present study can be used to obtain estimates of sampling frequency for long term programs. A total of 22 stations were sampled in Cockburn Sound and 5 in Owen Anchorage during the first phase of the research (August, 1977-November, 1978). Sampling was also carried out at a single station in the middle of Warnbro Sound, and at another some 5 km offshore from the southern end of Garden Island in Sepia Depression (see thumbnail). Sampling cruises were conducted at approximately 6 weekly intervals throughout the first phase of the study. Sampling was interrupted for six months at the end of the initial phase, and the number of stations in Cockburn Sound and Owen Anchorage was then reduced because, as shown below, the results from the first phase had shown that temporal variability was considerably greater than spatial variability. A higher sampling frequency was then possible at four week intervals. Over the 26 months of phase two (June 1979-August 1981) sampling was carried out at 12 stations in Cockburn Sound, three in Owen Anchorage, one in Warnbro Sound, and also at the coastal station in Sepia Depression. The sample stations used during the second phase were selected from those used during the first phase (see thumbnail). Throughout phase 1, and for the first seven cruises in phase 2, sampling in Warnbro Sound and Sepia Depression was repeated three times in the vicinity of the station on each cruise to obtain a measure of variability. This was discontinued once it became clear that variation for each cruise was not significant compared with variation between cruises. Samples were collected using plastic Niskin bottles, at three depths, i.e. a metre from the surface, a metre above the bottom, and at mid depth. Sampling depths were measured using a meter wheel, and total depth using the vessel's echo sounder. Water samples for inorganic nutrient analysis were filtered through Millipore 0.45 um filter papers, stored in plastic bags (Whirlpak, Nasko, Kansas), kept on ice in the field and deep frozen in the laboratory until analysis. Samples for total nitrogen and phosphorus were not filtered but were otherwise treated in the same way. Soluble reactive phosphorus, referred to here as orthophosphate, was analysed by the single solution method (Major et al 1972). Nitrate and nitrite combined was analysed, after copper-cadmium reduction, with a Technicon auto-analyser II, and ammonium nitrogen by the phenol-nitroprusside method (Dal Pont et al 1974). Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorus were measured after sulphuric and perchloric acid digestion respectively using the methods for ammonium and orthophosphate (Anon. 1971, McGlynn 1974). Chlorophyll a, used as a measure of phytoplankton biomass, was determined after filtering a known volume (in the region of 2 litres) on to a GFC filter, using acetone (90 percent) extraction and the method of Strickland and Parsons (1972). All filtration was done in the field immediately after sample collection using a vacuum of less than after a Hammond bridge (Yeo-Kal, Victoria) was used to measure temperature and salinity. Light profiles were made with either a Licor 185 or 188 quantum meter and underwater head (2-sensor) for downwards irradiance. - References - ANON.(1971). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater 13th Ed. American Public Health Association. Chiffings, A.W. (1987) Nutrient Enrichment and Phytoplankton Response in Cockburn. Sound, PhD Thesis, Univ. West. Aus. Strickland, J.D.H., and Parsons, T.R.(1972). A practical handbook of seawater analysis . Bulletin 167 (2nd Ed.), Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Dal Pont, G., Hogan, M., and Newell, B.(1974). Laboratory techniques in marine chemistry II. Report No 55, Division of Fisheries and Oceanography, CSIRO, Australia. Major, G.A., Dal Pont, G., Kyle, J., and Newell, B.®(1972). Laboratory techniques in marine chemistry, a manual . Report No 51. CSIRO, Division of Fisheries and Oceanography. Australia. McGlynn, J.A.(1974). Examination of waters: Evaluation of methods for selected characteristics. Australian Water Resources Council Technical Paper No 8. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.&rft.creator=Chiffings, Anthony (Tony) &rft.date=2007&rft.coverage=westlimit=115.6; southlimit=-32.4; eastlimit=115.75; northlimit=-32.05&rft.coverage=westlimit=115.6; southlimit=-32.4; eastlimit=115.75; northlimit=-32.05&rft.coverage=uplimit=21; downlimit=0&rft.coverage=uplimit=21; downlimit=0&rft_rights=Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/au/&rft_rights=The citation in a list of references is: citation author name/s (year metadata published), metadata title. Citation author organisation/s. File identifier and Data accessed at (add http link).&rft_rights=Due to the type of equipment used when this data was collected (late 1970's to early 1980's) the location and data will have accuracy limitations.&rft_subject=oceans&rft_subject=NUTRIENTS&rft_subject=EARTH SCIENCE&rft_subject=TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE&rft_subject=WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY&rft_subject=WATER TEMPERATURE&rft_subject=OXYGEN&rft_subject=CONDUCTIVITY&rft_subject=depth&rft_subject=time&rft_subject=sea_water_temperature&rft_subject=fractional_saturation_of_oxygen_in_sea_water&rft_subject=irradiance&rft_subject=concentration_of_orthophosphate_in_sea_water&rft_subject=concentration_of_total_phosphorus_in_sea_water&rft_subject=concentration_of_ammonium_in_sea_water&rft_subject=concentration_of_nitrate_plus_nitrite_in_sea_water&rft_subject=concentration_of_total_kjeldahl_nitrogen_in_sea_water&rft_subject=concentration_of_chlorophyll_a_in_sea_water&rft.type=dataset&rft.language=English Access the data
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The citation in a list of references is: citation author name/s (year metadata published), metadata title. Citation author organisation/s. File identifier and Data accessed at (add http link).

Due to the type of equipment used when this data was collected (late 1970's to early 1980's) the location and data will have accuracy limitations.

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Brief description

This dataset contains water quality data from a uniform grid of sampling locations in Cockburn Sound and surrounding areas from 1977 to 1981. This data was used to determine the eutrophic status of Cockburn Sound and reasons for this nutrient enrichment and phytoplankton response. A PhD thesis was based on this data and the data formed a baseline for an ongoing monitoring program through to the present day.

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Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: The first phase, which started in May 1977, was carried out as part of the Cockburn Sound Study. Data were collected over a 16 months period (August 1977 to November 1978) and management recommendations were made to Government. Six months later, in June 1979, a second phase of research was started to obtain data during the period when initial reductions in the nutrient load to the Sound were expected. This work continued until June 1981 and, provided another 26 months of data.
Statement: - Derived from Chiffings (1987) thesis - Sampling stations were established on a uniform grid covering Cockburn Sound and Owen Anchorage. The grid was aligned on a principal axis extending north-south through both basins along a shipping channel cut through Parmelia and Success Banks. The grid had, as it's primary unit, equidistant points of 0.5 km. Stations were numbered sequentially across the grid. The number of stations that could be sampled during a three day period was then determined and this number of stations selected from the grid points. Stations were generally uniformly distributed but with some allowance for topographic features (see thumbnail). The grid was chosen so that if, in the future, the Sound has to be monitored in greater detail, stations can be randomly selected within designated management zones for the region from the primary grid. The data from the present study can be used to obtain estimates of sampling frequency for long term programs. A total of 22 stations were sampled in Cockburn Sound and 5 in Owen Anchorage during the first phase of the research (August, 1977-November, 1978). Sampling was also carried out at a single station in the middle of Warnbro Sound, and at another some 5 km offshore from the southern end of Garden Island in Sepia Depression (see thumbnail). Sampling cruises were conducted at approximately 6 weekly intervals throughout the first phase of the study. Sampling was interrupted for six months at the end of the initial phase, and the number of stations in Cockburn Sound and Owen Anchorage was then reduced because, as shown below, the results from the first phase had shown that temporal variability was considerably greater than spatial variability. A higher sampling frequency was then possible at four week intervals. Over the 26 months of phase two (June 1979-August 1981) sampling was carried out at 12 stations in Cockburn Sound, three in Owen Anchorage, one in Warnbro Sound, and also at the coastal station in Sepia Depression. The sample stations used during the second phase were selected from those used during the first phase (see thumbnail). Throughout phase 1, and for the first seven cruises in phase 2, sampling in Warnbro Sound and Sepia Depression was repeated three times in the vicinity of the station on each cruise to obtain a measure of variability. This was discontinued once it became clear that variation for each cruise was not significant compared with variation between cruises. Samples were collected using plastic Niskin bottles, at three depths, i.e. a metre from the surface, a metre above the bottom, and at mid depth. Sampling depths were measured using a meter wheel, and total depth using the vessel's echo sounder. Water samples for inorganic nutrient analysis were filtered through Millipore 0.45 um filter papers, stored in plastic bags (Whirlpak, Nasko, Kansas), kept on ice in the field and deep frozen in the laboratory until analysis. Samples for total nitrogen and phosphorus were not filtered but were otherwise treated in the same way. Soluble reactive phosphorus, referred to here as orthophosphate, was analysed by the single solution method (Major et al 1972). Nitrate and nitrite combined was analysed, after copper-cadmium reduction, with a Technicon auto-analyser II, and ammonium nitrogen by the phenol-nitroprusside method (Dal Pont et al 1974). Kjeldahl nitrogen and total phosphorus were measured after sulphuric and perchloric acid digestion respectively using the methods for ammonium and orthophosphate (Anon. 1971, McGlynn 1974). Chlorophyll a, used as a measure of phytoplankton biomass, was determined after filtering a known volume (in the region of 2 litres) on to a GFC filter, using acetone (90 percent) extraction and the method of Strickland and Parsons (1972). All filtration was done in the field immediately after sample collection using a vacuum of less than after a Hammond bridge (Yeo-Kal, Victoria) was used to measure temperature and salinity. Light profiles were made with either a Licor 185 or 188 quantum meter and underwater head (2-sensor) for downwards irradiance. - References - ANON.(1971). Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater 13th Ed. American Public Health Association. Chiffings, A.W. (1987) Nutrient Enrichment and Phytoplankton Response in Cockburn. Sound, PhD Thesis, Univ. West. Aus. Strickland, J.D.H., and Parsons, T.R.(1972). A practical handbook of seawater analysis . Bulletin 167 (2nd Ed.), Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Dal Pont, G., Hogan, M., and Newell, B.(1974). Laboratory techniques in marine chemistry II. Report No 55, Division of Fisheries and Oceanography, CSIRO, Australia. Major, G.A., Dal Pont, G., Kyle, J., and Newell, B.®(1972). Laboratory techniques in marine chemistry, a manual . Report No 51. CSIRO, Division of Fisheries and Oceanography. Australia. McGlynn, J.A.(1974). Examination of waters: Evaluation of methods for selected characteristics. Australian Water Resources Council Technical Paper No 8. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Notes

Credit
Based on research undertaken for the Environmental Protection Authority (was Dept. of Conservation and Environment)
Credit
Support was given by Dr Graham Chittleborough, Dr John Ottaway and Cockburn Sound Study Group.
Credit
Arthur McComb and staff from Botany Dept. particularly the Wetland Laboratory.
Credit
WA Department of Fisheries
Credit
CSBP and Farmers Ltd
Credit
Kwinana Nitrogen Co. Pty Ltd
Credit
B.P. (Australia) Ltd
Credit
Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewage & Drainage Board
Credit
Michael Forde, Kim Gray, Chris Simpson and Hank Van der Wiele for field and lab. assistance.
Credit
Ray Steeman and Peter Craig for their model.
Credit
John Rosher: Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
Credit
Media Services Centre, The University of Western Australia (UWA)

Created: 11 06 2007

Data time period: 1977-05 to 1981-06

This dataset is part of a larger collection

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115.75,-32.05 115.75,-32.4 115.6,-32.4 115.6,-32.05 115.75,-32.05

115.675,-32.225

text: westlimit=115.6; southlimit=-32.4; eastlimit=115.75; northlimit=-32.05

text: uplimit=21; downlimit=0

Subjects
Conductivity | EARTH SCIENCE | Nutrients | Oxygen | TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE | WATER QUALITY/WATER CHEMISTRY | Water Temperature | concentration_of_ammonium_in_sea_water | concentration_of_chlorophyll_a_in_sea_water | concentration_of_nitrate_plus_nitrite_in_sea_water | concentration_of_orthophosphate_in_sea_water | concentration_of_total_kjeldahl_nitrogen_in_sea_water | concentration_of_total_phosphorus_in_sea_water | depth | fractional_saturation_of_oxygen_in_sea_water | irradiance | oceans | sea_water_temperature | time |

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Other Information
Location of stations/sampling sites in decimal minutes (Location - Decimal minutes.doc)

uri : https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/693b6990-17d0-11dc-9787-00188b4c0af8/attachments/Location - Decimal minutes.doc

Physical and Nutrient data - Cockburn Sound (1977 - 1981) (Cockburn Sound (77-81) Physical and Nutrient data - Chiffings.xls)

uri : https://catalogue.aodn.org.au:443/geonetwork/srv/api/records/693b6990-17d0-11dc-9787-00188b4c0af8/attachments/Cockburn Sound (77-81) Physical and Nutrient data - Chiffings.xls

Identifiers
  • global : 693b6990-17d0-11dc-9787-00188b4c0af8