Historical and future naturalization of Magallana gigas in the Galician coast in a context of climate change

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGMagallana gigas is a naturalized species on the north coast of Galicia (Rías Altas, Northwest Iberian Peninsula), where it was unintentionally introduced. In recent decades, a greater abundance of M. gigas has been observed on the Galician coast, expanding towards the south, reaching the Artabro Gulf (Rías Centrales, NW Galician coast), probably due to ocean warming. Although this species has been cultivated in the Rías Baixas since the early 1990s and spawning has been reported, recruitment was never observed, which is likely due to the cold water upwelled during the spawning months. The future rise in seawater temperature may favor the naturalization of the non-indigenous species M. gigas southwards, in the Rías Baixas. Thermally, the Ría de Arousa seems to be the most favorable estuary for the future settlement of M. gigas, which may occur in the next decades. The extent of thermally favorable zones within estuaries is projected to increase rapidly by mid-century, and reaching 100 % of the estuarine area by the end of the century. As has already happened in other areas of the world, the expansion and naturalization of the Pacific oyster on the Galician coast will likely affect the native communities and economic activities, making it necessary to implement monitoring and management strategies to mitigate its effect.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481B-2021-103Xunta de Galicia-FEDER | Ref. ED431C 2021/44Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDP/50017/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDB/50017/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. LA/ P/0094/202

Examining the ability of CMIP6 models to reproduce the upwelling SST imprint in the Eastern boundary upwelling systems

Knowing future changes in the sea surface temperature (SST) is of vital importance since they can affect marine ecosystems, especially in areas of high productivity such as the Eastern Boundary Upwelling Systems (EBUS). In this sense, it is key to have fine resolution models to study the SST patterns as close as possible to the coast where the upwelling influence is greater. Thus, the main objective of the present work is to assess the ability of 23 General Circulation Models (GCMs) from phase six of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) in reproducing the upwelling SST imprint in the EBUS through a comparison with the Optimum Interpolation of Sea Surface Temperature (OISST ¼) database of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the common period of 1982–2014. The results have shown that most of the CMIP6 GCMs overestimate nearshore SST for all the EBUS with the exception of Canary. Overall, the models with better resolution showed lower Normalized Root Mean Squared Error (NRMSE) and Normalized Bias (NBias), although the ability of the models is dependent on the study area. Thus, the most suitable models for each EBUS are the CNRM-HR, GFDL-CM4, HadGEM-MM, CMCC-VHR4, and EC-Earth3P for Canary; CESM1-HR, CMCC-VHR4, ECMWF-HR, and HadGEM-HM for Humboldt; and HadGEM-HH and HadGEM-HM for California. In the case of Benguela, no model adequately reproduces the SST imprint under the conditions established in the present study.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2021/44Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481B-2021-108European Union | Ref. MAR-02.01.01-FEAMP-0022European Union | Ref. PRTR-C17.I1Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia | Ref. UIDP/50017/2020Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia | Ref. UIDB/50017/2020Portugal 2020 | Ref. MAR-02.01.01-FEAMP-002

Will climate change compromise the thermal comfort areas of socio-economically important bivalve species in the Rías Baixas (NW Spain)?

Ponencia presentada en: XII Congreso de la Asociación Española de Climatología celebrado en Santiago de Compostela entre el 19 y el 21 de octubre de 2022.[ES]Los bivalvos infaunales Ruditapes decussatus, Ruditapes philippinarum, Venerupis corrugata y Cerastoderma edule forman parte de una de las pesquerías con mayor importancia socioeconómica en las Rías Baixas (NO de España). El calentamiento del océano podría afectar a estas pesquerías ya que el aumento de la temperatura daría lugar a un incremento del estrés al que se ven sometidas estas especies, reduciendo su productividad e incluso propiciando cambios en su distribución geográfica. En este estudio se analizó cómo el aumento de la temperatura del agua podría afectar a la distribución geográfica de las zonas de confort térmico de estos bivalvos a finales del siglo XXI. El modelo Delft3D se utilizó para simular la hidrodinámica de las Rías Baixas durante los meses de julio y agosto del periodo histórico (1990-2019) y el periodo futuro (2075-2099) bajo el escenario RCP8.5. Durante el periodo histórico, las zonas más favorables para especies intermareales como R. decussatus, R. philippinarum y C. edule se observaron principalmente en la parte interior de las rías. Para V. corrugata, las zonas con confort se sitúan en el intermareal inferior y submareal somero. Las proyecciones futuras sugieren un aumento general de la extensión de las zonas con condiciones térmicas óptimas en comparación con el periodo histórico para R. decussatus, C. edule y V. corrugata. En el caso de R. philippinarum, la extensión podría disminuir en el futuro. Por último, la productividad de estas especies podría verse reducida en las áreas de marisqueo situadas en las zonas menos profundas de los sectores interiores de las Rías Baixas debido al aumento de la temperatura del agua.[EN]The infaunal bivalves Ruditapes decussatus, Ruditapes philippinarum, Venerupis corrugata and Cerastoderma edule are part of one of the most socio-economically important shellfisheries in the Rías Baixas (NW Spain). Ocean warming may affect these fisheries as the increase in water temperature would increase the stress conditions these species are subjected to. It could reduce their productivity and even change their geographical distribution. The present study analysed how rising ocean temperatures could affect the geographical distribution of the thermal comfort areas of these bivalves at the end of the 21st century. The Delft3D model was used to simulate the hydrodynamics of the Rías Baixas during the months of July and August of the historical period (1990-2019) and the future period (2075-2099) under the RCP8.5 scenario. Historically, the most comfortable areas for intertidal species such as R. decussatus, R. philippinarum and C. edule are mainly found in the inner part of the rias. For V. corrugata, the comfort zones are located in the lower intertidal and shallow subtidal. Future projections suggest a general increase in the extent of areas with optimal thermal conditions compared to the historical period for R. decussatus, C. edule and V. corrugata and a decrease for R. philippinarum. Finally, the productivity of these species could be reduced in the shellfishing areas located in the shallower areas of the inner sectors of the Rías Baixas due to the increase in water temperature

Economic feasibility of floating offshore wind farms considering near future wind resources: case study of Iberian Coast and Bay of Biscay

Wind energy resources are subject to changes in climate, so the use of wind energy density projections in the near future is essential to determine the viability and profitability of wind farms at particular locations. Thus, a step forward in determining the economic assessment of floating offshore wind farms was taken by considering current and near-future wind energy resources in assessing the main parameters that determine the economic viability (net present value, internal rate of return, and levelized cost of energy) of wind farms. This study was carried out along the Atlantic coast from Brest to Cape St. Vincent. Results show that the future reduction in wind energy density (2%–6%) mainly affects the net present value (NPV) of the farm and has little influence on the levelized cost of energy (LCOE). This study provides a good estimate of the economic viability of OWFs (Offshore Wind Farms) by taking into account how wind resources can vary due to climate change over the lifetime of the farm.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. Project PID2019-105386RA-I00Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2017/64Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. SFRH/BD/114919/2016Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDP/50017/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDB/50017/202

Aprovechamiento de la energía undimotriz a lo largo de la costa gallega

Ponencia presentada en: XII Congreso de la Asociación Española de Climatología celebrado en Santiago de Compostela entre el 19 y el 21 de octubre de 2022.[ES]Se ha calculado el recurso undimotriz a lo largo de la costa gallega (noroeste de España) durante el periodo 2014-2021 usando datos horarios de alta resolución espacial procedentes del modelo Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN). Además, se analizó la potencia eléctrica (PE) y el rendimiento que puede obtenerse del conversor de energía undimotriz (WEC) Wave Dragon. El rendimiento del Wave Dragon se calculó atendiendo a dos parámetros: el factor de carga de potencia (ε) y el ancho de captura normalizado respecto a la geometría del WEC (eficiencia). Los resultados muestran que el recurso undimotriz es menor que 10 kWm-1 cerca de la costa, pero aumenta hasta 55 kWm-1 en mar abierto. Wave Dragon presenta valores de PE menores a 500 kW en el interior de las rías y ~2200 kW en mar abierto. Además, alcanza valores de 25−30% en la costa noroeste y la eficiencia alcanza hasta el 40% en la costa oeste. Debido a su profundidad óptima de operación y a los resultados obtenidos, Wave Dragon parece ser una buena opción para aprovechar la energía undimotriz en la costa gallega.[EN]The wave power resource (WP) has been calculated along the Galician coast (NW Spain) over the period 2014-2021 using high spatial resolution hourly data from the Simulating Waves Nearshore (SWAN) model. In addition, the electrical power energy (PE) that can be extracted for the Wave Dragon wave energy converter (WEC) was analyzed. The performance of Wave Dragon has also been calculated attending to two parameters: the power load factor (ε) and the normalized capture width with respect to the WEC’s geometry (efficiency). Results show that the WP resource is lower than 10 kWm-1 onshore but it increases to about 55 kWm-1 offshore. Wave Dragon presents PE values less than 500 kW inside the estuaries and ~2200 kW offshore. Additionally, ε reaches values of 25−30% on the Northwest Coast and the efficiency reaches up to 40% on the West Coast. Due to its optimum operating depth and the results obtained, Wave Dragon seems to be a good option to implement wave energy on the Galician coast

Comparing mesh-free and mesh-based numerical methods to deal with sloshing tank problems

Peer Reviewe

Harnessing of different WECs to harvest wave energy along the Galician Coast (NW Spain)

The wave power resource (WP) was calculated along the Galician coast (NW Spain) over the period 2014–2021 using high spatial resolution hourly data from the SWAN model. In addition, the electrical energy (PE) that can be extracted for a particular wave energy converter (WEC) was analyzed for four different WECs (Oyster, Atargis, Aqua Buoy, and Pelamis). The performance of every WEC was also calculated attending to two parameters: the power load factor (ε) and the normalized capture width with respect to the WEC’s geometry (efficiency). Results show that the WP resource is lower than 10 kWm−1 onshore, but it increases to about 50 kWm−1 offshore. Atargis obtained the highest PE, and it is the most efficient device (ε ~40% and efficiency ~45%). Pelamis showed the lowest performance in offshore areas (ε ~15%, efficiency < 10%). A different type of WEC should be considered for every location along the coast depending on its size, performance parameters, and coexistence with other socio-economic activities and protected environmental areas.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2021/44Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. PID2020-113245RB-I00Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDP/50017/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. UIDB/50017/2020Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia | Ref. LA/P/0094/2020Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. IJC2020-043745-

Efficiency and survivability of a floating oscillating water column wave energy converter moored to the seabed: an overview of the EsflOWC MaRINET2 database

Floating oscillating water column (OWC) type wave energy converters (WECs), compared to fixed OWC WECs that are installed near the coastline, can be more effective as they are subject to offshore waves before the occurrence of wave dissipation at a nearshore location. The performance of floating OWC WECs has been widely studied using both numerical and experimental methods. However, due to the complexity of fluid–structure interaction of floating OWC WECs, most of the available studies focus on 2D problems with WEC models of limited degrees-of-freedom (DOF) of motion, while 3D mooring effects and multiple-DOF OWC WECs have not been extensively investigated yet under 2D and 3D wave conditions. Therefore, in order to gain a deeper insight into these problems, the present study focuses on wave flume experiments to investigate the motion and mooring performance of a scaled floating OWC WEC model under 2D wave conditions. As a preparatory phase for the present MaRINET2 EsflOWC (efficiency and survivability of floating OWC) project completed at the end of 2017, experiments were also carried out in advance in the large wave flume of Ghent University. The following data were obtained during these experimental campaigns: multiple-DOF OWC WEC motions, mooring line tensions, free surface elevations throughout the wave flume, close to and inside the OWC WEC, change in the air pressure inside the OWC WEC chamber and velocity of the airflow through the vent on top of the model. The tested wave conditions mostly include nonlinear intermediate regular waves. The data obtained at the wave flume of Ghent University, together with the data from the EsflOWC tests at the wave flume of LABIMA, University of Florence, provide a database for numerical validation of research on floating OWC WECs and floating OWC WEC farms or arrays used by researchers worldwide.European Commission | Ref. n. 731084European Cooperation in Science & Technology | Ref. COST Action CA17105 WECANe