Table 1 Predictor variables used to determine the drivers of change in temperature, pH and salinity in east Australian estuaries.
From: Climate change rapidly warms and acidifies Australian estuaries
Predictor variable | Conceptual link and source of evidence | Type of predictor | Appropriate for analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
Days elapsed | Time | Temperature, pH and salinity | |
Month of measurement | Intra-annual variability28 | Time | Temperature, pH and salinity |
Retention factor | Ratio of estuary potential total volume to run-off volume17 | Geomorphology | Temperature, pH and salinity |
Latitude of site (°S) | Geomorphology | Temperature, pH and salinity | |
Size of the catchment (km2) | Approximate freshwater input3 | Geomorphology | Salinity |
Average depth (m) | Geomorphology | Temperature, pH and salinity | |
Total flush time of the estuary (days) | Geomorphology | Temperature, pH and salinity | |
Percentage of the estuary area covered by seagrass | Photosynthetic activity34 | Geomorphology | pH |
Percent of catchment cleared (%) | Stream and catchment shading and heating of overland flow over cleared landscapes22 | Human disturbance | Temperature, pH and salinity |
Percentage of the catchment urbanised | Urban heat22 | Human disturbance | Temperature |
Proportional increase in nitrogen load | Human disturbance | Temperature, pH and salinity |
