State and trends of physical and chemical processes

Marine environment (2011)

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

State and trends in indicators of marine ecosystem health

State and trends of physical and chemical processes

Ocean currents, structure and dynamics

Significant changes in dynamics of currents in the south-east, and changes are increasing

Year(s):

2011

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

Storms, cyclones, wind patterns

Wind patterns are changing in the south-west and south-east, affecting ocean ecosystems

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

Sediment inputs

Substantial changes to sediment input regimes in the south-east

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

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

Water turbidity, transparency and colour

State and trends in indicators of marine ecosystem health

Substantial changes to inshore water conditions and processes in the south-east

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

Sea temperature

Significant changes in all regions, and changes are increasing

Year(s):

2011

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

Sea level

Significant changes in the south-west and south-east, and changes are increasing

Year(s):

2011

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

Nutrient supply and cycling—land based

Major changes in land-based nutrient inputs in the south-east

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Adequate

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

Nutrient supply and cycling—ocean based

Significant changes in ocean-based nutrients in the south-east

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

Freshwater inflow; surface and groundwater run-off

Major changes in freshwater inflows in the south-west and south-east

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

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

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

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.

Dumped Wastes

Pressures affecting the marine environment

Significant issues with dumped wastes in the east and south-east

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

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.

Climate change - ocean acidification

Acidification is a significant risk in all regions, although only limited evidence of change to date

Year(s):

2011

Deteriorating

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

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

Climate change - ocean salinity

Significant changes evident in the south-east

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

Low oxygen—dead zones

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 - 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

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Limited

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

Regional features

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

Year(s):

2011

Stable

Confidence (in grade):

Adequate

Confidence (in trend):

Limited

Comparability (to previous reports):

Not assessed

Topics

Marine ecosystem health

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

Improving
Stable
Deteriorating
Unclear

Confidence

Adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence and high level of consensus
Somewhat adequate: Adequate high-quality evidence or high level of consensus
Limited: Limited evidence or limited consensus
Very limited: Limited evidence and limited consensus
Low: Evidence and consensus too low to make an assessment

Comparability

Comparable: Grade and trend are comparable to the previous assessment
Somewhat comparable: Grade and trend are somewhat comparable to the previous assessment
Not comparable: Grade and trend are not comparable to the previous assessment
Not previously assessed

Ward T (2011). Marine environment: State and trends of physical and chemical processes. In: Australia state of the environment 2011, Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra, https://soe.environment.gov.au/assessment-summary-64-state-and-trends-physical-and-chemical-processes, DOI 10.4226/94/58b657ea7c296

The assessment summaries in State of the Environment reporting provide snapshots of key information, and focus on identifying areas for continued or more concentrated attention on strengthening environmental systems to cope with pressures in the future. Assessment summaries are provided for state and trend, pressures and management responses in each of the themes. The summary text in the assessment tables should be read in conjunction with the explanatory text in each section of the theme chapters.

The authors have indicated the strength of the evidence for assessments with a ‘level of confidence’. If adequate high-quality data were available or consensus was high, confidence is indicated as high. If there were only limited data or consensus to determine grades, confidence is indicated as low. Where data are insufficient to attempt scores, this is also indicated, and the component remains on the list to remind readers that it is still an important aspect of the Australian environment, and that more information is needed to improve our understanding and capacity to respond to environmental challenges.

Dr Trevor Ward

State and trends of physical and chemical processes