Reef used to road-test water quality forecasting system

Water quality is a major threat to the health of the World Heritage-listed reef and other sensitive aquatic systems.

But the CSIRO hopes to change that with its AquaWatch project, which will not only monitor sediment run-off but also help identify problem areas where interventions might be made.

Researcher Nagur Cherukuru says modelling and artificial intelligence will be applied to data from the sensors and from satellites to predict sediment flows.

That should identify parts of rivers, for example, where things can be done to limit sediment run-off and the environmental harms it can cause.

"The modelling and AI will integrate not only the AquaWatch sensor data, but other factors like ocean currents, wind speed, wind direction and tidal conditions to improve the accuracy of forecasts from AquaWatch," Dr Cherukuru said.

"Much like having a weather report for guidance, the information can be used by water managers to inform marine and land planning decisions, both during normal environmental patterns and in flood situations, when large volumes of sediment can be washed out to sea."

Too much sediment in river water can be a huge issue for aquatic health.

When it reaches the ocean it can stunt and smother seagrass, for example, robbing marine life such as dugongs and turtles of an important food source.

Dissolved organic matter can also block the light phytoplankton need for photosynthesis.

"We will also be able to identify higher levels of chlorophyll in the water, which can be indicative of a potential harmful algal bloom," says the CSIRO's Dr Alex Held.

"Harmful algal blooms can be devastating for marine ecosystems when they produce toxins that can cause health problems and even kill fish."

The reef is one of seven test sites for the AquaWatch project.

It is hoped the system will one day be able to provide national water quality monitoring and forecasts to all Australians, via an app.

Australian Associated Press