

State and trends of physical and chemical processes
State and trends of physical and chemical processes
This assessment summary has changed in 2016
- The new 2016 assessment summary combines ecological processes, physical & chemical processes and pests, introduced species. diseases and algal blooms
Significant changes in dynamics of currents in the south-east, and changes are increasing
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Wind patterns are changing in the south-west and south-east, affecting ocean ecosystems
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Substantial changes to sediment input regimes in the south-east
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Inshore water turbidity, transparency and colour
This assessment summary component has changed in 2016.
- The assessment title was revised to maintain distinction between coastal and marine environments for the purposes of the report.
- This component is now included in a different summary
Substantial changes to inshore water conditions and processes in the south-east
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Significant changes in all regions, and changes are increasing
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Significant changes in the south-west and south-east, and changes are increasing
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Major changes in land-based nutrient inputs in the south-east
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Significant changes in ocean-based nutrients in the south-east
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Major changes in freshwater inflows in the south-west and south-east
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Toxins, pesticides, herbicides
This assessment summary component has changed in 2016. It is now reported on under Pressures
- Toxins, pesticides, herbicides can be regarded as pressures impacting the marine environment. The assessment for Toxins, pesticides, herbicides has been moved to the Pressures affecting the marine environment section of the report.
Significant changes in the south-west and south-east
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Dumped wastes
This assessment summary component has changed in 2016. It is now reported on under Pressures.
- Dumped wastes can be regarded as pressures impacting the marine environment. The assessment for Dumped wastes has been moved to the Pressures affecting the marine environment section of the report.
Significant issues with dumped wastes in the east and south-east
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Ocean acidity
This assessment summary component has changed in 2016. It is now reported on under Pressures and the component title changed
- Many components identified as physical and chemical processes in SoE 2011 are collectively presented under impacts associated with the pressure of climate change in SoE 2016. This is because many of the changes being observed in these components during the SoE reporting period are the direct result of changes occurring as a result of climate change. Sea temperature is included in the Climate change - ocean acidification assessment in the Pressures affecting the marine environment section of the report.
Acidification is a significant risk in all regions, although only limited evidence of change to date
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Ocean salinity
This assessment summary component has changed in 2016.
- Many components identified as physical and chemical processes in SoE 2011 are collectively presented under impacts associated with the pressure of climate change in SoE 2016. This is because many of the changes being observed in these components during the SoE reporting period are the direct result of changes occurring as a result of climate change. Sea temperature is included in the Climate change - ocean salinity assessment in the Pressures affecting the marine environment section of the report.
This component is now included in a different summary
Significant changes evident in the south-east
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Low oxygen—dead zones
This assessment summary component has changed in 2016.
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Many components identified as physical and chemical processes in SoE 2011 are collectively presented under impacts associated with the pressure of climate change in SoE 2016. This is because many of the changes being observed in these components during the SoE reporting period are the direct result of changes occurring as a result of climate change. Sea temperature is included in the Climate change - dissolved oxygen and oxygen minimum zones assessment in the Pressures affecting the marine environment section of the report.
Each region has one or more examples, and these have major or extreme local impacts, but limited regional consequences
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Assessed 13 regional features; impacts on river discharges in the east and changes to the East Australian Current were assessed as major changes with significant impacts on ecosystem functions
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Assessment Summary Key
Grades
Very good
There are no significant changes in physical or chemical processes as a result of human activities
Good
There are some significant changes in physical or chemical processes as a result of human activities in some
areas, but these are not to the extent that they are significantly affecting ecosystem functions
Poor
There are substantial changes in physical or chemical processes as a result of human activities, and these are
significantly affecting ecosystem functions in some areas
Very poor
There are substantial changes in physical or chemical processes across a wide area of the region as a result of
human activities, and ecosystem functions are seriously affected in much of the region
Recent Trends
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Improving
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Stable
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Deteriorating
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Unclear
Confidence
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Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
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Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
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Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
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Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
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Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment
Comparability
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Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
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Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
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Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
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Not previously assessed