- Dona Paula, Goa, India.
- +91-0832- 2450327
- iiosc2020[at]nio[dot]org
| Abstract Submission No. | ABS-2022-02-0092 |
| Title of Abstract | Identifying metocean drivers of turbidity using two decades of MODIS satellite: Implications for marine habitats under climate change |
| Authors | Paula Cartwright* |
| Organisation | The University of Western Australia |
| Address | 162A Washington Street Victoria Park, Western Australia, Australia Pincode: 6100 Mobile: 407400970 E-mail: paula.cartwright@research.uwa.edu.au |
| Country | Australia |
| Presentation | Oral |
| Abstract | Turbidity impacts the growth and productivity of marine benthic habitats due to light limitation. Daily/monthly synoptic and tidal influences often drive turbidity fluctuations, however, our understanding of what drives turbidity across seasonal/interannual timescales is often limited, thus impeding our ability to forecast climate change impacts to ecologically significant habitats. Here, we analysed long term (18-year) MODIS-aqua data to derive turbidity and the associated meteorological and oceanographic (metocean) processes in an arid tropical embayment (Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia) within the eastern Indian Ocean. We found turbidity was associated with El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycles as well as Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events. Winds from the adjacent terrestrial region were also associated with turbidity and an upward trend in turbidity was evident in the body of the gulf over the 18 years. Our results identify hydrological processes that could be affected by global climate cycles undergoing change and reveal opportunities for managers to reduce impacts to ecologically important ecosystems |