Tidal influence on BTEX biodegradation in sandy coastal aquifers

A numerical study was conducted to investigate the influence of tides on the fate of terrestrially derived BTEX discharging through an unconfined aquifer to coastal waters. Previous studies have revealed that tide-induced seawater circulations create an active salt–freshwater mixing zone in the near-shore aquifer and alter the specific subsurface pathway for contaminants discharging to the coastal environment. Here the coupled density-dependent flow and multi-species reactive transport code PHWAT was used to examine the impact of these tidal effects on the aerobic biodegradation of BTEX released in a coastal aquifer and its subsequent loading to coastal waters. Simulations indicated that tides significantly enhance BTEX attenuation in the near-shore aquifer. They also reduce the rate of chemical transfer from the aquifer to the ocean and exit concentrations at the beach face. For the base case consisting of toluene transport and biodegradation, 79% of toluene initially released in the aquifer was attenuated prior to discharge with tides present, compared to only 1.8% for the non-tidal case. The magnitude of tidal forcing relative to the fresh groundwater flow rate was shown to influence significantly the extent of biodegradation as it controls the intensity of salt–freshwater mixing, period of exposure of the contaminant to the mixing zone and rate of oxygen delivery to the aquifer. The oxygen available for biodegradation also depends on the rate at which oxygen is consumed by natural processes such as organic matter decomposition. While simulations conducted with heterogeneous conductivity fields highlighted the uncertainties associated with predicting contaminant loadings, the study revealed overall that BTEX may undergo significant attenuation in tidally influenced aquifers prior to discharge.     

Signatures of low-dimensional chaos in hourly water level measurements at coastal site of Mariupol,Ukraine

Variations of water levels in ports and estuaries are important for ship guidance and navigation and are influenced by a variety of factors. The hourly data that was collected from the coastal site at the Port of Mariupol, Ukraine during January–December 2005 were analysed with an objective to reveal features of chaotic behaviour. The concepts and methods of chaos theory (average mutual information, correlation dimension, false nearest neighbours, Lyapunov exponents) were applied. The manifestation of low-dimensional chaos was found in the time series. The possibility of nonlinear prediction was concluded.     

Mixing at the interface between fresh and salt waters in 3D steady flow with application to a pumping well in a coastal aquifer

We consider 3D steady flow of fresh water over a salt water body in a confined aquifer of constant thickness D, with application to a pumping well in a coastal aquifer. With neglect of mixing, a sharp interface separates the two fluid bodies and an existing analytical solution, based on the Dupuit assumption, is adopted. The aim is to solve for the mixing between the fresh and salt waters for α_T/D  1 (α_T transverse dispersivity), as field studies indicate that α_T = O(10⁻³ − 10⁻² m). The mixing zone around the interface is narrow and solutions by existing codes experience numerical difficulties. The problem is solved by the boundary layer (BL) approximation, extending a method, applied previously to two-dimensional flows. The BL equations of variable-density flow are solved by using the Von Karman integral method, to determine the BL thickness and the rate of entrainment of salt water along the interface. Application to the pumping well problem yields the salinity of the pumped water, as function of the parameters of the problem (well discharge, seaward discharge, well distance from the coast and density difference).     

Development and application of a remote sensing-based salinity prediction model for a large estuarine lake in the US Gulf of Mexico coast

Salinity in estuaries is highly variable due to river discharge, tidal motion, and winds. Information on the spatial and temporal changes in salinity can provide important ecological indications, but accurate monitoring of the space–time variability for a large estuary is often costly and time-consuming. This study applied remote sensing techniques to develop a salinity prediction model for Lake Pontchartrain, a large estuarine lake located in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, USA. “Ground truth” salinity was measured along two transects across the lake and near the shoreline. Water-leaving reflectance from the measurement locations was extracted from Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) images pre-processed through “banding” noise reduction and radiometrical correction approaches. Ordinary least square and ridge regression methods were performed to identify model parameters and to determine relationships between salinity and reflectance. Salinity in the lake on eight dates was predicted with the developed model. Difference in salinity level and patterns, and impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on salinity were assessed with ANOVA and Fuzzy Similarity methods. The results showed that the model achieved a high power in prediction of the lake salinity (R² = 0.89 and RMSE of validation = 0.27). Reflectance from TM bands 1, 2, and 4 was positively correlated to salinity levels and explained 1.9%, 20.3%, and 10.2% variance in salinity levels. Reflectance from bands 3 and 5 was negatively correlated to salinity and explained 34.1% and 31.2% variance. Under normal circumstances without the impacts of hurricanes, the lake salinity presented two patterns with average salinity level of 5.5 ppt. After Katrina’s landfall, the average was significantly increased by 1.1 ppt and the spatial patterns were altered. The pattern on 30 August 2005 was the most dissimilar one as compared to the two normal patterns, and then followed by the patterns on 9 and 25 October, and 7 September 2005. This study demonstrated that satellite remote sensing techniques can be applied to monitor salinity in coastal environments, and that freshwater discharge not only affects salinity levels and patterns under normal conditions but also is crucial for the return of salinity patterns to normal conditions after hurricane disturbance.     

Hydrogen peroxide production in marine bathing waters: Implications for fecal indicator bacteria mortality

Hydrogen peroxide concentrations [H(2)O(2)] have been measured over the last two decades in multiple studies in surface waters in coastal, estuarine and oceanic systems. Diurnal cycles consistent with a photochemical production process have frequently being observed, with [H(2)O(2)] increasing by two orders of magnitude over the course of the day, from low nM levels in the early morning to 10(2)nM in late afternoon. Production rates range from <10 for off-shore ocean waters to 20-60nMh(-1) for near-shore coastal and estuarine environments. Slow night-time loss rates (<10nMh(-1)) have been attributed to biological and particle mediated processes. Diurnal cycles have also frequently been observed in fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) levels in surf zone waters monitored for microbial water quality. Measured peak peroxide concentrations in surface coastal seawaters are too low to directly cause FIB mortality based on laboratory studies, but likely contribute to oxidative stress and diurnal cycling. Peroxide levels in the surf zone may be increased by additional peroxide production mechanisms such as deposition, sediments and stressed marine biota, further enhancing impacts on FIB in marine bathing waters.     

Site correction of ground motion in Fujian area

On the basis of the interpretation of the high-resolution satellite remote sensing images, in combination with the data of engineering geological exploration and shear-wave velocity testing, the site category-zoning map of FJ area with the scale of 1:200,000 is generated according to the site classification standard of “Code for Seismic design of Buildings” of China (GB50011 2010). By the method of Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Analysis, we obtain bedrock seismic ground motion parameters of five recurrent periods (50, 200, 500, 1000, and 2500 a) of FJ area. By using the 617 typical soil layer structures of the site classifications in FJ area, we build seismic response models of soil layers and make seismic response analysis, then obtain the statistic sample space of site amplification factors, which possess reasonable distribution and sufficient data. Considering the distribution characteristics of The Quaternary Strata in FJ area, according to the statistic zoning (mountains and coastal areas respectively) and site classifications as well as the level of bedrock importing ground motion, the site magnification-factors of ground motion in FJ area are obtained by classification statistics.     

Near shore waves,long-shore currents and sediment transport along micro-tidal beaches,central west coast of India

Coastlines are undergoing constant geomorphologic changes with respect to the incident wave climate.Based on waves measured at 9 m water depth,simulation of near shore wave transformation is done using REFDIF-1numerical model and the near shore breaker parameters are estimated at two micro-tidal beaches along central west coast of India.Model results are validated with measured values.From the breaker parameters,long-shore current and long-shore sediment transport rates（LSTR） are computed by using semi-empirical equations.Estimated long-shore current and LSTR are showing dramatic variations with respect to seasons.Predominant direction of LSTR is observed towards north since the approach waves are from south-west direction during pre-monsoon and post monsoon.During monsoon season,waves are from west south-west and resulted in southerly transport.The estimated annual net and gross LSTR by Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants（CERC） at two locations are in the same order whereas LSTR estimated by Walton ＆ Bruno and Kamphuis equations are showing different estimations because of difference in surf-zone width and foreshore slope between the two locations.For micro-tidal beaches with length less than 6 km,Kamphuis equation is giving agreeable estimation of LSTR.Sensitivity analysis of LSTR estimate shows that coastal inclination is the prominent factor in determining LSTR than incident wave angle.     

Modeling the impact of climate change on sediment transport and morphology in coupled watershed-coast systems:A case study using an integrated approach

Climate change is an issue of major concern nowadays.Its impact on the natural and human environment is studied intensively,as the expected shift in climate will be significant in the next few decades.Recent experience shows that the effects will be critical in coastal areas,resulting in erosion and inundation phenomena worldwide.In addition to that,coastal areas are subject to ＂pressures＂ from upstream watersheds in terms of water quality and sediment transport.The present paper studies the impact of climate change on sediment transport and morphology in the aforementioned coupled system.The study regards a sandy coast and its upstream watershed in Chalkidiki,North Greece;it is based on：（a）an integrated approach for the quantitative correlation of the two through numerical modeling,developed by the authors,and（b）a calibrated application of the relevant models Soil and Water Assessment Tool（SWAT）and PELNCON-M,applied to the watershed and the coastal zone,respectively.The examined climate change scenarios focus on a shift of the rainfall distribution towards fewer and more extreme rainfall events,and an increased frequency of occurrence of extreme wave events.Results indicate the significance of climatic pressures in wide-scale sediment dynamics,and are deemed to provide a useful perspective for researchers and policy planners involved in the study of coastal morphology evolution in a changing climate.     

Dominance patterns in macroalgal and phytoplankton biomass under different nutrient loads in subtropical coastal lagoons of the SE Gulf of California

Nine macroalgal blooms were studied in five coastal lagoons of the SE Gulf of California. The nutrient loads from point and diffuse sources were estimated in the proximity of the macroalgal blooms. Chlorophyll a and macroalgal biomass were measured during the dry, rainy and cold seasons. Shrimp farms were the main point source of nitrogen and phosphorus loads for the lagoons. High biomasses were found during the dry season for phytoplankton at site 6 (791.7 ± 34.6 mg m⁻²) and during the rainy season for macroalgae at site 4 (296.0 ± 82.4 g m⁻²). Depending on the season, the phytoplankton biomass ranged between 40.0 and 791.7 mg m⁻² and the macroalgal biomass between 1 and 296.0 g m⁻². The bulk biomass (phytoplankton + macroalgal) displayed the same tendency as the nutrient loads entering the coastal lagoons. Phytoplankton and macroalgal biomass presented a significant correlation with the atomic N:P ratio.