Fate of terrestrial runoffs on the coastal zone of Noumea (New-Caledonia) : Moorings and CTD profiles

As the main city of New Caledonia, Nouméa, rapidly expends, the amount of anthropogenic compounds it releases to the nearby lagoon increases. These human-induced bulks are then transported through terrestrial runoffs and can stress sensitive ecosystems. Besides, the area faces recurring atmospheric extreme events, with more than one cyclone and two tropical depressions every year. The heavy downpours and devastating winds such events carry have the potential to alter the lagoon water mixing and bring human-induced matter up to usually undisturbed areas. Therefore, in order to understand the spatial extent and the propagation kinetics of runoff plumes produced by these events, observations (CTD profiles and pressure, temperature and conductivity moorings) have been conjointly conducted over the 2016-2017 tropical summer (from December to April). During this period the lagoon encountered two major events: Cook cyclone and a moderate tropical depression.  Sampling strategy available on Sextant - Marine Geographic Information System. More information on PRESENCE project.