Simultaneous Field Measurements of Turbulence and Water Quality in a Sub-Tropical Estuary in Australia

Abstract

In natural systems, mixing is driven by turbulence, but current knowledge is very limited in estuarine zones. A series of detailed field studies was conducted in a small subtropical creek in eastern Australia. Hydrodynamic and physio-chemical parameters were measured simultaneously at high frequency to assess the complexity of the estuary and the interactions between turbulence and environment. The results provide an original data set to complement long-term monitoring. Unlike many such field observations, velocity and physio-chemistry (scalars) were measured herein with sufficient spatial and temporal resolutions to determine quantities of interest in the study of turbulence. In particular the results yielded contrasted outcomes, and the finding impacts on the selection of "key water quality indicators".