Sources of Turbidity in Torres Strait Waters

This report gives details of laboratory analyses carried out by the Ocean Sciences Institute on behalf of the Maritime Systems Division, Defence Science and Technology Organisation. The terms of reference for the study were as follows:

1. To make grain size analyses by Malvern Laser Diffraction Particle Sizer on 6 water samples;
2. To compare and contrast the clay mineralogy of filtered water samples with core samples from the Great North East Channel and Fly River mouth using combination of X-ray diffraction and energy dispersive x-ray analysis;
3. To compile carbonate content data (measured in the mud size fraction) of surficial sediment samples from the Great North East Channel and central to northern Torres Strait; and
4. To interpret the results derived, with respect to the source and nature of water turbidity in the Torres Strait area.