Understanding Two Decades of Turbidity Dynamics in a Coral Triangle Hotspot: The Berau Coastal Shelf
Faruq Khadami,
Ayi Tarya,
Ivonne Milichristi Radjawane,
Totok Suprijo,
Karina Aprilia Sujatmiko,
Iwan Pramesti Anwar,
Muhamad Faqih Hidayatullah,
Muhamad Fauzan Rizky Adisty Erlangga
Affiliations
Faruq Khadami
Research Group of Environmental and Applied Oceanography, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Ayi Tarya
Research Group of Environmental and Applied Oceanography, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Ivonne Milichristi Radjawane
Research Group of Environmental and Applied Oceanography, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Totok Suprijo
Research Group of Environmental and Applied Oceanography, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Karina Aprilia Sujatmiko
Research Group of Environmental and Applied Oceanography, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Iwan Pramesti Anwar
Research Group of Environmental and Applied Oceanography, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Muhamad Faqih Hidayatullah
Korea-Indonesia Marine Technology Cooperation Research Center, Bandung Institute of Technology, Cirebon 45611, Indonesia
Muhamad Fauzan Rizky Adisty Erlangga
Oceanography Study Program, Faculty of Earth Sciences and Technology, Institut Teknologi Bandung, Bandung 40132, Indonesia
Turbidity serves as a crucial indicator of coastal water health and productivity. Twenty years of remote sensing data (2003–2022) from the Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite were used to analyze the spatial and temporal variations in turbidity, as measured by total suspended matter (TSM), in the Berau Coastal Shelf (BCS), East Kalimantan, Indonesia. The BCS encompasses the estuary of the Berau River and is an integral part of the Coral Triangle, renowned for its rich marine and coastal habitats, including coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses. The aim of this research is to comprehend the seasonal and interannual patterns of turbidity and their associations with met-ocean parameters, such as wind, rainfall, and climate variations like the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD). The research findings indicate that the seasonal spatial pattern of turbidity is strongly influenced by monsoon winds, while its temporal patterns are closely related to river discharge and rainfall. The ENSO and IOD climate cycles exert an influence on the interannual turbidity variations, with turbidity values decreasing during La Niña and negative IOD events and conversely increasing during El Niño and positive IOD events. Furthermore, the elevated turbidity during negative IOD and La Niña coincides with rising temperatures, potentially acting as a compound stressor on marine habitats. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of turbidity dynamics in the BCS, thereby supporting the management of marine and coastal ecosystems in the face of changing climatic and environmental conditions.