WATER QUALITY IN COASTAL WATERS

Abstract

The aim of this work is to introduce the potential of satellite-based remote sensing data to agencies responsible for monitoring and managing water quality in the coastal zone of Western Australia. There exists a knowledge and/or expertise gap between satellite data providers and potential end users. This project aims to close the gap by developing a fundamental management tool that will be geographically transferable around the State and Australian Coastal Zone and which will be able to provide information at local, regional and statewide spatial scales, as required for management. We expect to provide management agencies with the ability to monitor anthropogenic impacts on the coastal zone (eg. nutrient-rich wastewater intrusions, industrial and urban discharges, river and estuarine outflows) as well as monitor the long-term trends in water quality indicators over local to regional scales.