Marine pollution in Australia, with special emphasis on central New South Wales estuaries and adjacent continental margin

2000 ◽  
Vol 13 (1/2/3/4/5/6) ◽  
pp. 573 ◽  
Author(s):  
G.F. Birch
Keyword(s):  
Continental Margin ◽  
Marine Pollution ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
South Wales

Effect of coastal cities on surficial sediments mantling an adjacent high-energy continental margin - central New South Wales, Australia

2000 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 565 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Matthai ◽  
G. F. Birch
Keyword(s):  
Trace Metals ◽  
Continental Margin ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Fine Fraction ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Surficial Sediments ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Shelf Sediment ◽  
Low Concentrations

Trace metal (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) concentrations in the fine fraction (<62.5 µm) of surficial sediments adjacent to the major urban centres of Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong on the central New South Wales (NSW) continental margin, Australia, are elevated above regional background. The nature of enrichment off these major urban centres is distinct. The fine fractions of sediments adjacent to Newcastle are enriched in Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn, associated with the disposal of dredged harbour spoil in an offshore dumpsite, whereas adjacent to Sydney, enrichment of Cu, Pb and Zn in the fine fraction of sediments results mainly from the disposal of large volumes of sewage effluent. The source and regional dispersion of trace metals on the central-NSW continental margin can only be established from analysis of the fine fraction of the sediment, because total sediment distributions of contaminants are confounded by a highly variable sediment texture. Generally, low mud contents (<2%) and low concentrations of trace metals in inner-shelf sediment are evidence of efficient dispersal of fine material and associated contaminants on this high-energy continental margin.

The sedimentology and tsunamigenic potential of the Byron submarine landslide off New South Wales, Australia

2020 ◽  
Vol 500 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kendall C. Mollison ◽  
Hannah E. Power ◽  
Samantha L. Clarke ◽  
Alan T. Baxter ◽  
Emily M. Lane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Continental Margin ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Colour Change ◽  
Submarine Landslide ◽  
Radiocarbon Age ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Age Gap ◽  
Failure Event ◽  
Australian Coastline

AbstractExtensive evidence for submarine landslide failure is found along the east Australian continental margin. This paper assesses the sedimentological properties and models the failure event that created the Byron landslide scar, located on the SE Australian continental margin, c. 34 km off the coast of Byron Bay, New South Wales. Sedimentological analyses and dating (radiocarbon and biostratigraphic) were conducted on three gravity cores collected from within the Byron landslide scar. A paraconformity, identified in one of the three cores by a distinct colour change, was found to represent a distinct radiocarbon age gap of at least 25 ka and probably represents the detachment surface of the slide plane. The core-derived sediment properties for the Byron landslide scar were used to inform hydrodynamic modelling using the freely available numerical modelling software, Basilisk. Model results highlight the important role of sediment rheology on the tsunamigenic potential of the slide and on the resulting inundation along the east Australian coastline, therefore providing a greater understanding of the modern hazard posed by comparable future submarine landslide events for the east Australian coastline.

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