ABSTRACT

Plume Mapping ................................................................................. 163 8.4 Monitoring and Mapping of Flood Plumes in the Tully-Murray Marine

Region, Great Barrier Reef: A Case Study ................................................... 165 8.4.1 Introduction ...................................................................................... 165

Riverine œood plumes are the major conduit between land use and the marine waters, providing an important transport mechanism of pollutants into the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Measurement of the extent of plume waters coupled with information on water quality concentrations can be useful in quantifying the impact of higher concentrations of nutrient and sediments on marine ecosystems. Ocean color associated with these potential changes in water quality has been identižed as a useful tool for eutrophication monitoring and assessment of coastal environments. Riverine plumes are visible as turbid, low salinity waters easily visible in the early stages by aerial photography or satellite imagery (Figure 8.1).