Selection of parameters in the design of beach coastal water quality monitoring programs

Water quality analyses form an important part of a beach monitoring program in order to ensure the water’s recreational adequacy, aesthetic value, and ecosystem health. While the inclusion of multiple water quality parameters in the program’s design allows for comprehensive analyses, limiting the number of parameters included may be beneficial to balance costs and permit sufficient spatio-temporal sampling. In order to inform decision-making with regards to the selection of parameters, this study presents an analysis of the relationships between 16 water quality parameters, based on data collected from 61 beaches of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia between 2001 and 2011. Correlation coefficients show moderate to very strong relationships among parameters related to water clarity (turbidity, transparency, total suspended solids) and among microbiological parameters, suggesting that the number of these parameters selected for monitoring could be reduced. In consideration of these results as well as other factors such as costs, technical complexity of analyses, and the identification of established reference values, it is recommended that a beach water quality monitoring program include as a minimum, the basic in situ  arameters (temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen), one parameter related to water clarity (turbidity),  and at least one microbiological parameter (Enterococos o Escherichia coli). Selection of the specific parameters to be included will depend largely on the technical capacity to measure each parameter, the reference values identified  or comparison, available financial resources, as well as the specific priorities and local characteristics of each beach.Water quality analyses form an important part of a beach monitoring program in order to ensure the water’s recreational adequacy, aesthetic value, and ecosystem health. While the inclusion of multiple water quality parameters in the program’s design allows for comprehensive analyses, limiting the number of parameters included may be beneficial to balance costs and permit sufficient spatio-temporal sampling. In order to inform decision-making with regards to the selection of parameters, this study presents an analysis of the relationships between 16 water quality parameters, based on data collected from 61 beaches of the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Colombia between 2001 and 2011. Correlation coefficients show moderate to very strong relationships among parameters related to water clarity (turbidity, transparency, total suspended solids) and among microbiological parameters, suggesting that the number of these parameters selected for monitoring could be reduced. In consideration of these results as well as other factors such as costs, technical complexity of analyses, and the identification of established reference values, it is recommended that a beach water quality monitoring program include as a minimum, the basic in situ  arameters (temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen), one parameter related to water clarity (turbidity),  and at least one microbiological parameter (Enterococos o Escherichia coli). Selection of the specific parameters to be included will depend largely on the technical capacity to measure each parameter, the reference values identified  or comparison, available financial resources, as well as the specific priorities and local characteristics of each beach. 

Pathways and hot spots of floating and submerged microplastics in Atlantic Iberian marine waters: a modelling approach

Plastic pollution has been observed in many marine environments surrounding the Iberian Peninsula, from the surface water to deeper waters, yet studies on their pathways and accumulation areas are still limited. In this study, a global ocean reanalysis model was combined with a particle-tracking Lagrangian model to provide insights into the pathways and accumulation patterns of microplastics originating in southern Portuguese coastal waters (SW Iberian). The study investigates microplastics floating on the surface as well as submerged at different water depths. Model results suggest that the North Atlantic Gyre is the main pathway for microplastics in surface and subsurface waters, transporting the microplastics southwards and eastwards towards the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands. Currents flowing out of the Mediterranean Sea act as the main pathway for microplastics in deep waters, transporting the microplastics along western Iberia. An average residence time of twenty days in the coastal waters suggests that microplastics do not accumulate close to their sources due to their relatively fast transport to adjacent ocean areas. Notably, a significant proportion of microplastics leave the model domain at all depths, implying that SW Iberia may act as a source of microplastics for the adjacent areas, including the Mediterranean Sea, Morocco, the Canary Islands, Western Iberia, and the Bay of Biscay.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Coastal subsidence increases vulnerability to sea level rise over twenty first century in Cartagena, Caribbean Colombia

Cartagena is subsiding at a higher rate compared to that of global climate-driven sea level rise. We investigate the relative sea level rise (RSLR) and the influence of vertical land movements in Cartagena through the integration of different datasets, including tide gauge records, GPS geodetic subsidence data, and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) observations of vertical motions. Results reveal a long-term rate (\u3e 60 years) of RSLR of 5.98 ± 0.01 mm/yr. The last two decades exhibited an even greater rate of RSLR of 7.02 ± 0.06 mm/yr. GPS subsidence rates range between − 5.71 ± 2.18 and − 2.85 ± 0.84 mm/yr. InSAR data for the 2014–2020 period show cumulative subsidence rates of up to 72.3 mm. We find that geologically induced vertical motions represent 41% of the observed changes in RSLR and that subsidence poses a major threat to Cartagena’s preservation. The geodetic subsidence rates found would imply a further additional RSLR of 83 mm by 2050 and 225 mm by 2100. The Colombian government should plan for the future and serve as an example to similar cities across the Caribbean

Coastal subsidence increases vulnerability to sea level rise over twenty first century in Cartagena, Caribbean Colombia

Cartagena is subsiding at a higher rate compared to that of global climate-driven sea level rise. We investigate the relative sea level rise (RSLR) and the influence of vertical land movements in Cartagena through the integration of different datasets, including tide gauge records, GPS geodetic subsidence data, and Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) observations of vertical motions. Results reveal a long-term rate (\u3e 60 years) of RSLR of 5.98 ± 0.01 mm/yr. The last two decades exhibited an even greater rate of RSLR of 7.02 ± 0.06 mm/yr. GPS subsidence rates range between − 5.71 ± 2.18 and − 2.85 ± 0.84 mm/yr. InSAR data for the 2014–2020 period show cumulative subsidence rates of up to 72.3 mm. We find that geologically induced vertical motions represent 41% of the observed changes in RSLR and that subsidence poses a major threat to Cartagena’s preservation. The geodetic subsidence rates found would imply a further additional RSLR of 83 mm by 2050 and 225 mm by 2100. The Colombian government should plan for the future and serve as an example to similar cities across the Caribbean

Assessing, quantifying and valuing the ecosystem services of coastal lagoons

The natural conservation of coastal lagoons is important not only for their ecological importance, but also because of the valuable ecosystem services they provide for human welfare and wellbeing. Coastal lagoons are shallow semi-enclosed systems that support important habitats such as wetlands, mangroves, salt-marshes and seagrass meadows, as well as a rich biodiversity. Coastal lagoons are also complex social-ecological systems with ecosystem services that provide livelihoods, wellbeing and welfare to humans. This study assessed, quantified and valued the ecosystem services of 32 coastal lagoons. The main findings of the study are: (i) the definitions of ecosystem services are still not generally accepted; (ii) the quantification of ecosystem services is made in many different ways, using different units; (iii) the evaluation in monetary terms of some ecosystem service is problematic, often relying on non-monetary evaluation methods; (iv) when ecosystem services are valued in monetary terms, this may represent very different human benefits; and, (v) different aspects of climate change, including increasing temperature, sea-level rise and changes in rainfall patterns threaten the valuable ecosystem services of coastal lagoons.DEVOTES project, from the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration [308392]; networks and communities of Eurolag; Future Earth Coasts; SCOR; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) Investigador Programme [IF/00331/2013]; Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia [UID/MAR/04292/2013]; CESAM by FCT/MEC national funds (PIDDAC) [UID/AMB/50017/2013 - POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007638]; FEDER; European Commission, under the 7th Framework Programme through the collaborative research project LAGOONS [283157]; FCT [SFRH/BPD/107823/2015, SFRH/BPD/91494/2012

BASIC : Cartegena

Contains some text in SpanishThe study monitored upstream impacts on freshwater runoff, from the Dique Canal into Cartagena Bay via the Magdalena River, and the effects on the bay’s hydrodynamic processes of water renewal. The presentation reports on the Basin Sea Interactions with Communities (BASIC) project in terms of climate change conditions and socio-economic change. The uses of marine waters are examined along with pollution research and water quality monitoring. Results of the water analysis show types of contamination in sediments and fish and where the contaminants originate. Coastal communities require early warnings to alert them to pollution and extreme weather events. The presentation is in English and Spanish

Impacts of landuse and runoff water quality on coral reef environments in Barbados

The effects of terrestrial runoff on the Bellairs fringing reef environment were assessed by a study of water quality. This study is partitioned into two components. The first documents terrestrial discharge of sediments and nutrients into coastal waters and maps the resulting seawater quality by analyzing samples taken from a grid of stations. Terrestrial water samples were analyzed for turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS), nitrate-nitrite-nitrogen (NOx-N), and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). Seawater was analyzed for turbidity, TSS, and salinity while sedimentation rates were measured upon the seafloor. Results indicated that on all four events, water above the reef exceeded the guidelines for turbidity, TSS, or both. Post-discharge changes in seawater quality around the outlet depend on a runoff event's TSS load and total discharge, though above the reef which lies 600m from the outlet, there is the added dependence of the prevailing winds. Spatial trends were not observed across the reef, though directly in front of the outlet there was an apparent northward trend for plumes. Sedimentation rates on the reef were much higher than guidelines for 35 of the 118 days monitored. The second component of this study characterizes the watershed draining to the aforementioned coastal outlet in terms of hydrology and water quality, and the latter's relation to landuse. Water samples were taken at the outlet over time as well as at four upstream locations on two events, and were analyzed for turbidity, TSS, NOx-N, and SRP. Observed hydrological characteristics included spatially heterogeneous rainfall, flash floods, internal drainage of runoff into the karstic aquifer, and a correlation between event total runoff volumes and event runoff coefficients (r = 0.89). Water quality results identified a first flush phenomenon for TSS, and sources of high TSS, turbidity, and SRP to be industry, urban areas, and agriculture. Considering the low proportion of agrLes effets de ruissellement de surface sur l'environnement des récifs de Bellairs ont été évaluer par une étude de la qualité de l'eau. Cette étude est divisée en deux composantes. La premiere documente les déversements terrestres des éléments nutritifs et des sédiments dans les eaux côtières. De plus, la mer est divisée en grille, permettant l'analyse d'échantillons survenant de chaque région et des tendances de ces résultats. Des prélèvements de ruisellement de surface ont également été analysées pour leur turbidité, le totale des matieres solides en suspension (TSS), les nitrates-nitrites-nitrogen (NOX - N), et de phosphore soluble réactif (PSR). La turbidité, TSS, salinité, et le taux de sédimentation sur le fond marin ont toutes été obtenus des échantillons maritimes. Les résultats ont démontré que pour les quatre occasions de déchargements terrestres, l'eau au dessus des récifs excédés les limites de conseil de TSS, turbidité ou les deux. Après un événement de déchargement, les changements de qualité d'eau maritime autour d'une sortie dépendent sur le TSS. Par contre, au dessus des récifs, à 600m de la sortie, il y a le facteur supplementaire de vent. Des tendances spatiales n'ont pas été observés a travers le récif, mais une apparente direction des décharges envers le nord a été remarqué en avant des sorties. Le taux de sédimentation excédé les limites de conseil pendant 35 jours des 118 jours d'observations totales. La deuxième composante de cette étude caractérise le bassin d'évacuation lié à la sortie maritime mentionné en terme d'hygrologie, qualités des eaux, et de la relation entre ce dernier et l'utilisation des terres. Des échantillons d'eaux ont été pris à travers le temps à la sortie, ainsi qu'à quatre endroits d'amont à deux reprise chacune. Les analyses incluent la turbidité, TSS, PSR et NOX-N. Les caractéristiques hydrologiques observées sont une distribution s