Water Quality in Catchments

Understand the processes in catchments that influence water quality. What is the origin and flux of solutes in catchments, from micro-scale to macro scale and how can this understanding be used to improve water quality simulation and prediction in catchments, and its impact on environmental and agricultural systems? What are the biochemical processes that happen in lakes and reservoirs that lead to water quality issues such as blue-green algae outbreaks?

Example Projects:

• Development of a global model on blue-green algae risk in reservoirs and lakes.
• Participation in the development of standardised water quality models for catchments
• Movement of solutes and carbon in catchments. [ Varcoe,J., van Leeuwen,J.A., Chittleborough,D.J., Cox,J.W., Smernik,R.J. and Heitz,A. (2010) Changes in water quality following gypsum application to catchment soils of the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia. Organic Geochemistry 41 (2) 116-123.]

Key Staff:

• Prof David Chittleborough
• Prof Graeme Dandy
• A/Prof Justin Brookes
• Dr John Tibby
• Prof Jim Cox
• Dr Kane Aldridge
• Dr Todd Wallace