Sea Level Rise Projections for Failaka Island in The State of Kuwait

As a result of climate change, many lands are under risk due to the rising sea levels (RSL). Studies show that the mean sea level will likely rise by 0.16 to 0.63 metres before 2050, and 0.2 to 2.5 metres by 2100. Lower-lying islands are more endangered from RSL. One of such islands is Failaka, a small island in Kuwait lying at the entrance of Kuwait Bay, which is located on the north-western side of the Arabian Gulf (Also called the Persian Gulf). Most of Failaka Island is lower than three meters. The Governmental plans are to develop and populate the island. SLR should be considered in such planning. This study focuses particularly on detecting the areas of Failaka Island which are under high threat from the SLR. To detect these areas, spatial analysis of the Digital elevation model (DEM) are used. DEM is estimated for three SLR scenarios (1, 2 and 3 metres). It is expected that 31% of the island will be under sea level height for the SLR of 1 m; 54% for the SLR of 2 metres; and 87% for the SLR of 3 m. Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) is estimated as well. The CVI shows that the eastern coast is the most susceptible with regard to the SLR. The model was validated through using ground elevation points (n = 40), and a positive correlation was found with  of 0.8019. Geographic Information System (GIS) and Remote sensing (RS) are confirmed to be effective tools for estimating spatial influence of the SLR

Sinking Jelly-Carbon Unveils Potential Environmental Variability along a Continental Margin

Particulate matter export fuels benthic ecosystems in continental margins and the deep sea, removing carbon from the upper ocean. Gelatinous zooplankton biomass provides a fast carbon vector that has been poorly studied. Observational data of a large-scale benthic trawling survey from 1994 to 2005 provided a unique opportunity to quantify jelly-carbon along an entire continental margin in the Mediterranean Sea and to assess potential links with biological and physical variables. Biomass depositions were sampled in shelves, slopes and canyons with peaks above 1000 carcasses per trawl, translating to standing stock values between 0.3 and 1.4 mg C m2 after trawling and integrating between 30,000 and 175,000 m2 of seabed. The benthopelagic jelly-carbon spatial distribution from the shelf to the canyons may be explained by atmospheric forcing related with NAO events and dense shelf water cascading, which are both known from the open Mediterranean. Over the decadal scale, we show that the jelly-carbon depositions temporal variability paralleled hydroclimate modifications, and that the enhanced jelly-carbon deposits are connected to a temperature-driven system where chlorophyll plays a minor role. Our results highlight the importance of gelatinous groups as indicators of large-scale ecosystem change, where jelly-carbon depositions play an important role in carbon and energy transport to benthic systems

Regional Bio-optical Relationships and Algorithms for the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea and the English Channel/North Sea Suitable for Ocean Colour Sensors

Regional bio-optical relationships and empirical algorithms were developed on the basis of measurements collected during the CoASTS 1995-2005 bio-optical time-series in the northern coastal Adriatic Sea as well as during ship campaigns performed in coastal regions of the Adriatic Sea, the Baltic Sea and the English Channel/North Sea between 2000 and 2005. The empirical algorithms aim at the retrieval from ocean colour data of the Chlorophyll a and Total Suspended Matter concentrations, of the absorption coefficient of the Coloured Dissolved Organic Matter, of the diffuse attenuation coefficient of downwelling irradiance and of the Secchi depth. Bio-optical relationships relating the marine optically significant components to their absorption or scattering properties are also presented for the investigated coastal areas.JRC.H.3-Global environement monitorin

Spatiotemporal Variation of Microbial Communities in the Ultra-Oligotrophic Eastern Mediterranean Sea

Marine microbial communities vary seasonally and spatially, but these two factors are rarely addressed together. In this study, the temporal and spatial patterns of the bacterial and archaeal community were studied along a coast-to-offshore transect in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) over six cruises, in three seasons of 2 consecutive years. Amplicon sequencing of 16S rRNA genes and transcripts was performed to determine presence and activity, respectively. The ultra-oligotrophic status of the Southeastern Mediterranean Sea was reflected in the microbial community composition dominated by oligotrophic bacterial groups such as SAR11, even at the most coastal station sampled, throughout the year. Seasons significantly affected the microbial communities, explaining more than half of the observed variability. However, the same few taxa dominated the community over the 2-year sampling period, varying only in their degree of dominance. While there was no overall effect of station location on the microbial community, the most coastal site (16 km offshore) differed significantly in community structure and activity from the three further offshore stations in early winter and summer. Our data on the microbial community compositions and their seasonality support previous notions that the EMS behaves like an oceanic gyre.This study was funded by the Israel Science Foundation grant (ISF #1243/16) to LS and from the United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF, no. 2019612 to LS) and the United States National Science Foundation (NSF, OCE1924464 to LG-C). The seasonal cruises were supported by funding from the Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences (Haifa University, Israel). MH was supported by an Inter-Institutional post-doctoral fellowship from the Haifa University and a Helmsley Trust fellowship.Peer reviewe

Yes, We Can! Large-Scale Integrative Assessment of European Regional Seas, Using Open Access Databases

Substantial progress has been made in assessing marine health in an integrative way. However, managers are still reluctant in undertaking such assessments, because: (i) lack of indicators; (ii) absence of targets; (iii) difficulty of aggregating indicators from different ecosystem components, habitats, and areas; (iv) absence of criteria on the number of indicators to be used; (v) discussion on the use of “one-out, all-out” (OOAO) principle in aggregating; and (vi) lack of traceability when integrating data. Our objective was, using open access databases with indicators across all the European seas with agreed targets, to demonstrate if the Nested Environmental status Assessment Tool (NEAT), can be used at the European scale, serving to managers and policy-makers as a tool to assess the environmental status under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). We have used MSFD Descriptor D3 (commercial fish) from 341 stocks, 119 species and two indicators from each of them (years 2013–2015); D5 (eutrophication) with 90th percentile of Chlorophyll-a (years 2009–2014); and D8 (contaminants), with Anthracene, Fluoranthene, Naphthalene, Cadmium, Nickel, and Lead as indicators (years 2009–2013). We have calculated the environmental status for each European subdivision, subregion, and regional sea, nested at different levels. The analyses include weighting and no-weighting by each assessment area; for ecosystem component (water column, phytoplankton, fish, crustaceans, and molluscs); descriptor (three), and habitat (pelagic, demersal/benthic), with the confidence value of the status. A sensitivity analysis was undertaken to determine a minimum number of indicators to include for a robust assessment. We demonstrated that using NEAT in assessing the status of large marine areas, by aggregating indicators, ecosystem components and descriptors, at different spatial scales, can remove at least four out of the six barriers that managers and policy-makers confront when undertaking such assessments. This can be done by using open-access databases and already established targets. Aggregating indicators of different origin is possible. Around 40 indicators seem to be enough to obtain robust assessments. It is better to integrate the assessment items using an ecosystem-based approach, rather than using the OOAO principle. Using NEAT, this approach supports identifying the problematic environmental issues needing management attention and measures

Characterizing Surface Temperature and Clarity of Kuwait's Seawaters Using Remotely Sensed Measurements and GIS Analyses

Kuwait sea surface temperature (SST) and water clarity are important water characteristics that influence the entire Kuwait coastal ecosystem. The aim of this project was to study the spatial and temporal distributions of Kuwait SST using MODIS images (January 2003 - July 2007), and Kuwait Secchi Disk Depth (SDD), a water clarity measure, using SeaWiFS and MODIS data (November 1998 - October 2004 and January 2003 - June 2007, respectively). MODIS SST images showed a significant relationship with in situ SST data (r2= 0.98). Also, the semi-analytical diffuse light attenuation coefficient at 490 nm, Kd(490), and 488 nm, Kd(488), of SeaWiFS and MODIS, respectively, showed a significant relationship with in situ SDD (r2= 0.67 and r2= 0.68, respectively). The SeaWiFS and MODIS data provided a comprehensive view of the studied seawater characteristics that improved their overall estimation within Kuwait's waters

Bio-optical Algorithms for European Seas: Performance and Applicability of Neural-Net Inversion Schemes

The report presents and discusses the application of Multi Layer Perceptron (MLP) neural networks to derive Chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a), absorption of the yellow substance at 412 nm (ays(412)) and concentration of the total suspended matter (TSM) from remote sensing reflectance Rrs values. MLPs were developed on the basis of data collected within the framework of the Coastal Atmosphere and Sea Time Series (CoASTS) and Bio-Optical mapping of Marine Properties (BiOMaP) programs carried out by the Institute for Environment and Sustainability (IES), JRC of E.C., Italy. Investigated oceanographic regions include the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Ligurian Sea, the Northern Adriatic Sea, the Western Black Sea, the English Channel and the Baltic Sea. The study verifies the applicability of MLPs to retrieve ocean color data products in each basin. For instance, the highest accuracy in retrieving Chl-a has been found in the Easter Mediterranean Sea and the Ligurian Sea (14 and 25 %, respectively). In the case of ays(412), the MLP is the most performing in the waters of the English Channel and the Baltic Sea (14 and 13%). Instead, the TSM retrieval is the most accurate in the Black Sea and at the Acqua Alta Oceanographic Tower (14 and 19%). To enhance mission specific ocean color resuls, MLP coefficients are also computed applying band-shift corrections to produce Rrs spectra at wavelengths matching those of SeaWiFS, MODIS and MERIS. Resulting tables of MLP parameters are reported to permit independent applications of neural networks presented in this analysis.JRC.H.3-Global environement monitorin

Optical constituent concentrations and uncertainties obtained for Case 1 and 2 waters from a spectral deconvolution model applied to in situ IOPs and radiometry

A spectral deconvolution model (SDM) for inversion of light absorption, a(λ) and backscattering, bb(λ), to estimate concentrations of chlorophyll (CHL), coloured dissolved organic material (CDOM) and non-biogenic mineral suspended solids (MSS) in offshore and shelf waters is presented. This approach exploits the spectral information embedded in the ratio bb(λ)/a(λ), without the need to know each parameter separately. The model has been applied to in situ inherent optical properties (IOPs), a(λ) and bb(λ), and to in situ remote sensing reflectance, rrs(λ). CHL, MSS and CDOM estimates are provided by propagating uncertainties in input IOPs and material-specific IOPs using a bootstrapping approach. Application of the SDM to a data set collected in the Ligurian Sea provides Mean Average Errors (MAE) of < 0.7 mg m-3 for CHL, < 0.02 m-1 for CDOM and < 0.2 g m-3 for MSS. The SDM is found to perform as well as, or in some cases better than, single parameter algorithms and other semi-analytical algorithms (SAA) for each parameter for the Ligurian Sea data set. The SDM CHL product is tested using the NOMAD, Case 1 dominated, global data set and found to perform consistently with the QAA algorithm (Lee et al. 2002) but with slightly poorer performance than standard OCx algorithms. However, the additional estimates of CDOM and MSS provided by the SDM suggest that the approach may be particularly useful for Case 2 waters. Successful retrieval of constituent concentrations with uncertainties suggests good potential to adapt this technique for satellite remote sensing

Multi-Year Analysis of Standard Ocean Colour Products for the European Seas

A 10-year time series of ocean colour products has been assembled for the European Seas from the SeaWiFS and MODIS full resolution satellite imagery. The JRC ocean colour archive is first briefly described. Then the study focuses on the analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of standard products such as the chlorophyll a pigment concentration and the diffuse attenuation coefficient. The European seas are partitioned into a set of specific regions for which average time series are derived and analysed in terms of seasonal and inter-annual variability. Finally, a statistical analysis yields a decomposition of the series into seasonal, irregular and linear trend components, thus providing a classification of the European waters on the basis of their temporal variations.JRC.H.3-Global environement monitorin

Integrated Approaches For The Monitoring And Assessment Of Environmental Status Of The Adriatic Sea In The Framework Of The European Marine Strategy Directive

openAd oggi esistono fortissime evidenze che le attività antropiche stanno causando rapidi cambiamenti alle dinamiche degli ecosistemi marini. Molti di questi cambiamenti stanno già avvenendo negli oceani del nostro pianeta, con potenziali conseguenze negative nelle prossime decadi. La Direttiva Quadro sulla Strategia Marine (MSFD, 200856/EU), approvata nel 2008 dal Consiglio Europeo e dal Parlamento Europeo, richiede agli Stati Membri di fornire informazioni sullo stato di salute dei mari di loro pertinenza " stabilendo un quadro per le azioni comunitarie nel campo delle politiche ambientali marine", e le relative strategie da adottare per migliorare la qualità degli ecosistemi marini al fine di assicurare lo sfruttamento delle risorse anche alle generazioni future. L'obiettivo principale di questa tesi di dottorato è quello di identificare pattern utili alla definizione del buono stato ambientale (GES) come richiesto dalla Direttive Europea per i descrittori 5 (eutrofizzazione) e 7 (alterazioni idrografiche) della Direttiva, attraverso l'integrazione di dati fisici e biologici misurati in situ, dati da satellite e output di modelli revisionali a diverse scale spazio temporali. Al fine di comprende meglio anche le dinamiche a piccola scala, sono stati elaborati dati relativi alla portata dei fiumi e al carico dei nutrienti che si immette nelle zone costiere della Regione Marche e il loro impatto sulle acque marine costiere. I risultati di questo studio hanno evidenziato nel periodo preso in esame cambiamenti differenti a grande e piccola scala. Se a scala di bacino il mare Adriatico sta subendo negli ultimi anni un riscaldamento delle acque, con corrispondente aumento della biomassa fitoplantonica, e un innalzamento del valori di salinità, a scala locale le dinamiche marine sembrano più influenzate dalle dinamiche fluviali. Questi risultati permettono di definire delle linee guida necessarie per sviluppare soglie e determinare adeguati standard per le acque del Mare Adriatico, oltre a migliorare la conoscenza della variabilità temporale sia del bacino adriatico sia a scala locale, dove la forzante principale è rappresentata dalle dinamiche fluviali.There are growing evidence that human activities together with climate change are driving profound changes of marine ecosystems with important repercussions on the goods and services they provide for human wellbeing. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD, 2008/56/EU), approved in 2008 by the European Parliament and transposed at Italian level in 2010 (Legislative Decree 190/2010), requires Member States to provide information on marine environmental status and to take the necessary measures to achieve or maintain Good Environmental Status (GES) of the marine environment by the year 2020. The main objective of this PhD thesis is to improve knowledge on the trophic and thermohaline conditions of the Adriatic Sea related to descriptors 5 (eutrophication) and 7 (hydrographic alterations) which are included in the MSFD and used along with other 9 descriptors for the assessment of GES, through the use and integration of outputs of predictive models, physical and biological data measured in situ and satellite data analyzed at different spatial and temporal scales. In order to better clarify dynamics occurring at local scale, data on thermohaline and biogeochemical characteristics of coastal waters of Marche Region have been acquired along with information on the river outflows and nutrient load. Results of this study highlight that during the investigated period temporal patterns occurring at the basin scale are different than those observed at local scale. In particular, while at the basin an increase of water temperature and salinity together with an increase of the phytoplankton biomass have been observed in the last 10-15 years, at a local scale patterns of thermohaline and biogeochemical characteristics on a decade are generally opposite and influenced by the river dynamics. Overall results of this study on the one hand highlight the importance of using integrated tools and approaches for the study of the thermohaline and biogeochemical characteristics at different spatial scales (Adriatic basin vs. local scale), and on the other represent an important benchmark for a better understanding of the functioning of the Adriatic Sea and the potential changes that could affect the achievement of GES and its maintenance over time.PROTEZIONE CIVILE E AMBIENTALEBusca, ClaudiaBusca, Claudi