WAMSI 2 – Kimberley Node – Project 2.2.6 - Terrestrial-Ocean Linkages: The role of rivers and estuaries in sustaining marine productivity in the Kimberley

Terrestrial landscapes and coastal marine environments are linked by the rivers that flow between them. This is particularly true in the Kimberley, where each year large amounts of freshwater enter coastal waters. This project aimed to understand how dissolved and particulate material from freshwater systems in the Kimberley are transported by the tides and currents into the coastal marine environment and whether these exports from land play a role in coastal productivity. The project linked closely with WAMSI 2 KMRP projects 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 to better understand how freshwater discharge influences marine food web structure and sustains the productivity of Kimberley inshore ecosystems.

Oceanographic and biogeochemical data was collected over two field campaigns (October/November 2013 and April/May 2014) from the Walcott Inlet, Collier Bay area (16° 22.624’S 124° 26.235’E to 16° 24.487’S 124° 54.035’E) and models integrated with those for Collier Bay (KMRP Project 2.2.2). The hydrology component focussed on catchments flowing into Walcott Inlet and Collier Bay, but climate projections and stream flow data analysed for whole of Kimberley. Chemical data to apportion sources of organic matter was also collected. This data was used to support development of the biogeochemical model. No primary data was collected in the hydrology component, but major data sets were collated, including data from 88 streamflow gauging stations managed by the Department of Water.

A coupled physical-biogeochemical model and a catchment carbon export model was developed to understand the link between exported material and coastal productivity and has been an important component of the research project as it has allowed estimates of freshwater flow under current and future climate scenarios and an estimate of export of nutrients (carbon and nitrogen) and the forms in which they exist. Historical data used from 1961 to 2012 was used for calibration of the model, and future simulations were run for the period 2013 – 2064.

This metadata record only relates to data either collected or generated by CSIRO. For data held by other project partners, please refer to the ‘supplementary information’ section.

陆地景观与沿海海洋环境通过其间连通的河流形成紧密关联。这一点在金伯利（Kimberley）地区尤为显著，每年均有大量淡水注入近岸海域。本项目旨在探究金伯利地区淡水系统中的溶解态与颗粒态物质如何通过潮汐与海流输送至沿海海洋环境，同时阐明这类陆地输出物质是否对沿海生产力起到调控作用。本项目与WAMSI 2 KMRP的2.2.1、2.2.2项目紧密协作，以更深入解析淡水排放如何影响海洋食物网结构，并维持金伯利近岸生态系统的生产力。

研究团队于两次野外考察期间（2013年10/11月及2014年4/5月）在沃尔科特湾口、科利尔湾区域（坐标范围：16°22.624’S 124°26.235’E 至 16°24.487’S 124°54.035’E）采集了海洋学与生物地球化学数据，并整合了科利尔湾相关模型（KMRP项目2.2.2）。水文组分聚焦于汇入沃尔科特湾口与科利尔湾的集水区，同时针对整个金伯利地区开展气候预测与径流数据分析。研究同时采集了用于溯源有机质来源的化学数据，该数据用于支撑生物地球化学模型的构建。水文组分未采集原始数据，仅对公开数据集进行整合，其中包含由水务部（Department of Water）管理的88个径流监测站的观测数据。

本研究构建了耦合物理-生物地球化学模型与流域碳输出模型，用于解析物质输出与沿海生产力之间的关联；该模型作为本项目的核心组成部分，可用于估算当前及未来气候情景下的淡水径流量，同时量化营养盐（碳与氮）的输出通量及其赋存形态。研究采用1961年至2012年的历史数据对模型进行校准，并针对2013年至2064年开展未来情景模拟。

本元数据记录仅涵盖由联邦科学与工业研究组织（CSIRO）采集或生成的数据。如需获取其他项目合作方持有的数据，请参阅“补充信息”章节。