eNews

#05 2023

Shallow Marine and Coastal Research Infrastructure programme: New estuarine datasets

By Tim Parker-Nance and Shaun Deyzel, Elwandle Coastal Node, NRF-SAEON

The data team of the Elwandle Coastal Node have uploaded new estuarine datasets onto the Observations Database as part of the Shallow Marine and Coastal Research Infrastructure (SMCRI) programme of the Department of Science and Innovation.

Professor Tommy Bornman (SAEON Elwandle Node and SMCRI manager) operating a YSI multiparameter instrument in the Gamtoos Estuary.

Phumlile Cotiyane-Pondo (SAEON Elwandle Node and SMCRI early career scientist) filtering water from the Gamtoos Estuary for subsequent analysis of chlorophyll-a and nutrient concentration.

Continuous monitoring datasets 

Launched in 2012, the CT logger mooring network now includes the Kariega, Sundays, Swartkops, Gamtoos, Kromme, Knysna and Touws River estuaries.

These datasets have temperature and salinity variables sampled every hour with StarOddi CT loggers moored in various reaches of estuaries to observe changes over the entire tidal range. Moorings are serviced quarterly during the seasonal estuary surveys when additional aspects such as water quality and hydrodynamics are studied.

Six datasets have been added for the lower, middle and upper regions of the Sundays River Estuary for a timespan of observation ranging from December 2020 to June 2023. Twelve datasets have been added for the lower, middle and upper regions of the Kariega River Estuary from February 2021 to May 2023. Sixteen datasets have been added for the lower, middle, Geelhout and upper regions of the Kromme River Estuary from April 2021 to July 2023.

A total of 34 datasets and 564 027 observations are now verified and served through the Observations Database. Charts of all these datasets are also available in the South African Estuary Information System.

SAEON Elwandle team servicing a Conductivity-Temperature mooring by retrieving and replacing a StarOddi sensor set for another four months of data collection.

Multiparameter meter datasets 

These datasets have temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and turbidity variables sampled every quarter with the aid of a Xylem YSI ProDSS multiparameter instrument. Vertical profiles are taken at selected stations from the mouth to the upper reaches of estuaries under observation.

From March 2021 to August 2023, 126 datasets have been added from 18 stations on the Sundays River Estuary. From February 2021 to August 2023, 175 datasets have been added from 25 stations on the Kariega River Estuary, and 210 datasets have been added from 30 stations on the Kromme River Estuary.

Query results can be viewed and inspected graphically before downloading with the chart function available in the Observations Database.

Users can engage with estuary data archived with the Observations Database through the South African Estuaries Information System (SAEIS). Select the variable of choice and view the graphical representation of the data before downloading it to your operating system.

This brings the total of multiparameter datasets to 511, which equates to 340 060 observations. Many thanks to data team technicians Belicia Matsha and Imkitha Makoyi for their hard work in uploading the 904 087 observations to the Observations Database.

Data team technicians Belicia Matsha (left) and Imkitha Makoyi uploaded the 904 087 observations to the Observations Database