title: Fine sediment and nutrient dynamics related to particle size and floc formation in a Burdekin River flood plume, Australia.
abstract: The extreme 2010-2011 wet season resulted in highly elevated Burdekin River discharge into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon for a period of 200 days, resulting in a large flood plume extending >50km offshore and >100km north during peak conditions. Export of suspended sediment was dominated by clay and fine silt fractions and most sediment initially settled within ∼10km of the river mouth. Biologically-mediated flocculation of these particles enhanced deposition in the initial low salinity zone. Fine silt and clay particles and nutrients remaining in suspension, were carried as far as 100km northward from the mouth, binding with planktonic and transparent exopolymer particulate matter to form large floc aggregates (muddy marine snow). These aggregates, due to their sticky nature, likely pose a risk to benthic organisms e.g. coral and seagrass through smothering, and also by contributing to increased turbidity during wind-induced resuspension events.
authors.affiliation: School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia. zoe.bainbridge@jcu.edu.au
authors.forename: Zoe T
authors.initials: ZT
authors.lastname: Bainbridge
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wolanski
authors.forename: Jorge G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Romero
authors.forename: Stephen E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Jon E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Brodie
mesh_terms: D057894:Coral Reefs; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005427:Flocculation; D055868:Floods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis*; D011793:Queensland; D058998:Remote Sensing Technology; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D054712:Salinity; D018531:Spacecraft; D014872:Water Movements; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen