Effects of tropical cyclones on catchment sediment delivery to coastal ecosystems

Jorquera, E; Saco, PM; Verdon-Kidd, D; Rodríguez, JF; Timmermans, H; Nelson, F

Effects of tropical cyclones on catchment sediment delivery to coastal ecosystems

Jorquera, E Saco, PM Verdon-Kidd, D Rodríguez, JF Timmermans, H Nelson, F

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Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Catena, 2024, 238, pp. 107805
Issue Date:: 2024-04-15

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Jorquera, E
dc.contributor.author	Saco, PM
dc.contributor.author	Verdon-Kidd, D
dc.contributor.author	Rodríguez, JF
dc.contributor.author	Timmermans, H
dc.contributor.author	Nelson, F
dc.date.accessioned	2025-03-24T02:16:32Z
dc.date.available	2025-03-24T02:16:32Z
dc.date.issued	2024-04-15
dc.identifier.citation	Catena, 2024, 238, pp. 107805
dc.identifier.issn	0341-8162
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/186163
dc.description.abstract	Coastal areas in the tropics are remarkably vulnerable to extreme weather-related events (e.g. floods, storm surge, erosion), which are expected to intensify in the future. Erosion of catchments is affected by changes in climate and vegetation, which alters the production of sediment transported into coastal areas and can lead to the loss of important ecosystem services. In many areas in the tropics, cyclones and depressions (TCs) produce the largest floods and massive discharges of sediment, which can affect coastal habitats in wetlands, lagoons and reefs. Here we focus on the Pacific Islands, but the methodology can be used in any tropical catchment affected by cyclones. A hydro-sedimentological model was used to analyse the sediment outputs of the Dreketi River (Fiji) and their relationship with cyclone activity over the last 45 years. The model was developed based on satellite and ground information on topography, soils, land use, and climatic data. The sediment export was related to TCs in the area, which were identified using the Southwest Pacific Enhanced Archive of Tropical Cyclones (SPEArTC) database. TC-related precipitation events were found to be three times more intense than non-TC events, and the average annual contribution of TCs to sediment export was about 25 %, with years contributing more than 50 %. TC-related events produced six times the sediment export of non-TC events, indicating a strong relation with precipitation intensity. Relations between precipitation rate and sediment export were developed for both TC and non-TC events, which can be used to predict the effects of increase of cyclone activity in the future.
dc.language	en
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FT140100610
dc.relation.ispartof	Catena
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.catena.2024.107805
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	0403 Geology, 0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience, 0503 Soil Sciences
dc.subject.classification	Geochemistry & Geophysics
dc.subject.classification	3707 Hydrology
dc.subject.classification	3709 Physical geography and environmental geoscience
dc.subject.classification	4106 Soil sciences
dc.title	Effects of tropical cyclones on catchment sediment delivery to coastal ecosystems
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	238
utslib.for	0403 Geology
utslib.for	0406 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience
utslib.for	0503 Soil Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2025-03-24T02:16:29Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	238

Abstract:

Coastal areas in the tropics are remarkably vulnerable to extreme weather-related events (e.g. floods, storm surge, erosion), which are expected to intensify in the future. Erosion of catchments is affected by changes in climate and vegetation, which alters the production of sediment transported into coastal areas and can lead to the loss of important ecosystem services. In many areas in the tropics, cyclones and depressions (TCs) produce the largest floods and massive discharges of sediment, which can affect coastal habitats in wetlands, lagoons and reefs. Here we focus on the Pacific Islands, but the methodology can be used in any tropical catchment affected by cyclones. A hydro-sedimentological model was used to analyse the sediment outputs of the Dreketi River (Fiji) and their relationship with cyclone activity over the last 45 years. The model was developed based on satellite and ground information on topography, soils, land use, and climatic data. The sediment export was related to TCs in the area, which were identified using the Southwest Pacific Enhanced Archive of Tropical Cyclones (SPEArTC) database. TC-related precipitation events were found to be three times more intense than non-TC events, and the average annual contribution of TCs to sediment export was about 25 %, with years contributing more than 50 %. TC-related events produced six times the sediment export of non-TC events, indicating a strong relation with precipitation intensity. Relations between precipitation rate and sediment export were developed for both TC and non-TC events, which can be used to predict the effects of increase of cyclone activity in the future.

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