Episodic estuarine hypoxia: resolving the geochemistry of coastal floodplain blackwaters

deoxygenated dead zones cause devastation to estuarine, coastal and marine waters and to the communities and economies that depend upon them. A major cause of deoxygenation in coastal estuaries in Australia is the formation of blackwaters in coastal floodplains during floods and their subsequent release into rivers during the flood recession by drainage systems. Despite their major impact, the geochemistry of blackwaters in drained coastal wetlands remains poorly understood. This project builds on recent advances by the research team and will employ innovative geochemical approaches to provide the understanding necessary to mitigate the formation estuarine dead zones, and to improve the health and sustainability of our coastal environments.