What do flood plumes do to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area?
Pollutants are transported to the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area mostly during flood events. Floodwaters carry sediments and nutrients that are eroded from the land. A large proportion of the nitrogen and phosphorus carried in flood plumes is attached to fine sediment particles. Heavy metals and pesticides also attach to soil particles are carried out to the marine environment during flood events. For further information regarding flood plumes please refer to Research Publication No 68 – Flood Plumes in the Great Barrier Reef: Spatial and Temporal Patterns in Composition and Distribution.
