STATE OF PRACTICE IN NATURE-BASED/INSPIRED SOLUTIONS FOR COASTAL EROSION

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) are imperative now, in view of the resulting effects of climate change and man-made alterations in coastal areas. The perspective to address coastal solutions may not be possible to be limited exclusively to ecological solutions. This article, based on a literature review, focuses on hybrid solutions for coastal erosion control. The review highlights examples from around the World that can be applied to islands, having Puerto Rico (PR) as a typical scenario. It presents a summary of how gray infrastructure commonly applied in the past decades can be re-designed and adapted to integrate natural solutions. This article provides significant facts about the merits of structural, ecological, and economical aspects that should be considered on NbS projects. This article helps understand the state of practice and possible solutions that can be implemented, especially, in tropical and sub-tropical regions

Water Quality Anomalies following the 2017 Hurricanes in Southwestern Puerto Rico: Absorption of Colored Detrital and Dissolved Material

Absorption of colored dissolved organic matter or detrital gelbstoff (aCDOM/ADG) and light attenuation coefficient (Kd490) parameters were studied at La Parguera Natural Reserve in southwestern Puerto Rico, before and following Hurricanes Irma (6–7 September) and María (20–21 September) in 2017. Water quality assessments involving Sentinel 3A ocean color products and field sample data was performed. The estimated mean of ADG in surface waters was calculated at >0.1 m−1 with a median of 0.05 m−1 and aCDOM443 ranged from 0.0023 to 0.1121 m−1 in field samples (n=21) in 2017. Mean ADG443 values increased from July to August at 0.167 to 0.353 m−1 in September–October over Turrumote reef (LP6) with a maximum value of 0.683 m−1. Values above 0.13 m−1 persisted at offshore waters off Guánica Bay and over coral reef areas at La Parguera for over four months. The ADG443 product presented values above the median and the second standard deviation of 0.0428 m−1 from September to October 2017 and from water sample measurement on 19 October 2017. Mean Kd490 values increased from 0.16 m−1 before hurricanes to 0.28 right after Hurricane Irma. The value remained high, at 0.34 m−1, until October 2017, a month after Hurricane María. Analysis of the Sentinel (S3) OLCI products showed a significant positive correlation (rs = 0.71, p = 0.0005) between Kd490_M07 and ADG_443, indicating the influence of ADG on light attenuation. These significant short-term changes could have ecological impacts on benthic habitats highly dependent on light penetration, such as coral reefs, in southwestern Puerto Rico