Quantifying coastal freshwater extremes during unprecedented rainfall using long timeseries multi-platform salinity observations
Abstract During 2022, extreme rainfall occurred across southeast Australia, making it the wettest year on record. The oceanic impact of extreme rainfall events in normally ‘dry’ regions is not well understood, as their effects are challenging to observe. Here, we use unique multi-platform timeseries...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44398-2 |
| _version_ | 1797276437860843520 |
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| author | Neil Malan Moninya Roughan Michael Hemming Tim Ingleton |
| author_facet | Neil Malan Moninya Roughan Michael Hemming Tim Ingleton |
| author_sort | Neil Malan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract During 2022, extreme rainfall occurred across southeast Australia, making it the wettest year on record. The oceanic impact of extreme rainfall events in normally ‘dry’ regions is not well understood, as their effects are challenging to observe. Here, we use unique multi-platform timeseries and spatial data from 36 autonomous ocean glider missions over 13 years, and we define an extreme salinity threshold inshore of the East Australian Current. We show that the freshwater plume extended fivefold further than previously thought. The compound effect of multiple large rainfall events resulted in a newly observed stratification (‘double-stacking’) dynamic, with the stratification being largely controlled by salinity. Extreme salinity events are known to be important for species composition of local fisheries as well as detrimental for coastal water quality. Such events and their impacts may become more common as extreme rainfall events are projected to become more frequent in a changing climate. Hence, comprehensive observing strategies facilitating identification of salinity extremes are essential. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:29:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-de71835ce76f470ab5ba9375aa5c26d5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T15:29:09Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-de71835ce76f470ab5ba9375aa5c26d52024-03-05T16:35:06ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232024-01-0115111410.1038/s41467-023-44398-2Quantifying coastal freshwater extremes during unprecedented rainfall using long timeseries multi-platform salinity observationsNeil Malan0Moninya Roughan1Michael Hemming2Tim Ingleton3Coastal and Regional Oceanography Lab, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW SydneyCoastal and Regional Oceanography Lab, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW SydneyCoastal and Regional Oceanography Lab, School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW SydneyWaters, Wetlands and Coastal Science, New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment (DPE)Abstract During 2022, extreme rainfall occurred across southeast Australia, making it the wettest year on record. The oceanic impact of extreme rainfall events in normally ‘dry’ regions is not well understood, as their effects are challenging to observe. Here, we use unique multi-platform timeseries and spatial data from 36 autonomous ocean glider missions over 13 years, and we define an extreme salinity threshold inshore of the East Australian Current. We show that the freshwater plume extended fivefold further than previously thought. The compound effect of multiple large rainfall events resulted in a newly observed stratification (‘double-stacking’) dynamic, with the stratification being largely controlled by salinity. Extreme salinity events are known to be important for species composition of local fisheries as well as detrimental for coastal water quality. Such events and their impacts may become more common as extreme rainfall events are projected to become more frequent in a changing climate. Hence, comprehensive observing strategies facilitating identification of salinity extremes are essential.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44398-2 |
| spellingShingle | Neil Malan Moninya Roughan Michael Hemming Tim Ingleton Quantifying coastal freshwater extremes during unprecedented rainfall using long timeseries multi-platform salinity observations Nature Communications |
| title | Quantifying coastal freshwater extremes during unprecedented rainfall using long timeseries multi-platform salinity observations |
| title_full | Quantifying coastal freshwater extremes during unprecedented rainfall using long timeseries multi-platform salinity observations |
| title_fullStr | Quantifying coastal freshwater extremes during unprecedented rainfall using long timeseries multi-platform salinity observations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Quantifying coastal freshwater extremes during unprecedented rainfall using long timeseries multi-platform salinity observations |
| title_short | Quantifying coastal freshwater extremes during unprecedented rainfall using long timeseries multi-platform salinity observations |
| title_sort | quantifying coastal freshwater extremes during unprecedented rainfall using long timeseries multi platform salinity observations |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-44398-2 |
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