Autonomous Platforms for Studies in the Coastal Zone (original) (raw)
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Joint use of satellite and in-situ data for coastal monitoring
Ocean Science Discussions, 2011
Sea surface Temperature, Chlorophyll and turbidity are three variables of the coastal environment commonly measured by monitoring networks. The observation networks are often based on coastal stations which do not provide a sufficient coverage to validate the model outputs or to be used in assimilation over the continental shelf. Conversely, the products derived from satellite reflectance show generally a decreasing quality shoreward and an accurate assessment of these data is required. In this text, we show that the satellite-derived chlorophyll products, obtained through a dedicated coastal algorithm, fulfil the first requirement of a monitoring system: the ability to represent correctly the mean annual cycle. The annual cycle, mean and percentile 90 of the chlorophyll concentration, derived from MERIS/ESA and MODIS/NASA, have been compared to in-situ observations at twenty six selected stations from the Mediterranean Sea to the North-Sea. Keeping in mind the validation, the forcing or the assimilation in hydrological, sediment-transport or ecological models, the non-algal Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) is also a parameter which is expected from the satellite imagery. However, the monitoring networks measure essentially the turbidity and a consistency between chlorophyll, representative of the phytoplankton biomass, non-algal SPM, and turbidity is required. In this study, we derive the satellite turbidity from chlorophyll and non-algal SPM with a common formula applied to in-situ or satellite observations. The distribution of the satellite-derived turbidity shows the same main statistical characteristics that measured in-situ; which satisfies our first condition to monitor the long-term changes or the large-scale spatial variation over the continental shelf and along the shore. For the first time, maps of turbidity, so useful for the surveillance of the benthic habitats, are proposed operationally from space on areas as different as the Southern North-Sea or the Western Mediterranean Sea, with validation at coastal stations.
A new generation of coastal monitoring platforms
Chemistry and Ecology, 2004
The need for new instruments and systems for environment monitoring encouraged the development of a network of coastal platforms combining a high versatility with ease of use and affordability. Almost every instrument can be fitted on the platforms, thanks to the large amount of available power provided by both solar panels and wind generators. All the platforms host a pumping system that pumps water from five depths into a measurement chamber where a multiparametric probe is fitted and from where other devices (e.g. samplers or analysers) can draw samples. In situ temperature measurements are provided at the same pumping depths. A colorimetric nutrient analyser and a meteorological station complete the basic equipment. On one of the platforms, a remotely controlled water sampler and an ADCP are also fitted. The data-acquisition and transmission system enables the platform to be controlled remotely using a special macro-commands set. Several examples of use are presented.
Marine Technology Society Journal, 2007
A case is made that the national process of special appropriations monies to establish the coastal observing component of the integrated ocean observing system (IOOS) network is not well organized and without substantive value, given the way that it has been orchestrated. Alternatively, a case is made that the special appropriations monies could and should be better spent in pursuit of the establishment of the national backbone that is needed to greatly improve atmospheric, oceanic and coastal "weather" forecasting, broadly defined, for ecosystem management and to document climate variability and change in coastal zones. Part of the problem is historical and cultural. An example of a sub-regional effort to focus on societal needs is presented by way of example to show that university partners (to federal agencies) could have an important role to play in the future of ocean and coastal observing and prediction systems and networks.
Opportunities and challenges of establishing coastal observing systems
Estuaries and Coasts, 2006
Some of the challenges to establishing and sustaining environmental monitoring are potentially overcome under the framework of global observing systems. Observing systems go beyond monitoring by enabling links between user needs and observations and by providing valued information products to user groups at appropriate spatial and temporal scales. The United Nations established three global observing systems; for climate, oceans, and land and freshwater. Initiatives have also begun to address important issues within coastal ecosystems. Recent socio-political awareness and technical advances have improved the opportunities for establishing these observing systems and ensuring their sustainability. Awareness and current technology alone are not enough, and ongoing implementation of these systems is still stymied by a variety of factors. We make several recommendations to promote their success now and in the future.
Tasks of contemporary coastal research: The PIONEER Project as an example of operational analysis
Proceedings of the 5th international Scientific Conference Hydrodynamic and ecological aspects of nutrient forecasting for Odra and Ebro estuaries, 9-22. DOI: 10.13140/2.1.2266.9606, 2000
After decades of successful research into the understanding of processes the coastal environment and the development of quasi-realistic dynamical models, the overall scope of coastal research is beginning to focus on applications. Systems analysis helps to comprehend the coast as one environment, and allows the reconstruction of past developments as well as the construction of plausible scenarios of possible future developments. Operational analysis provides governmental and commercial users with low-cost, real time information about the detailed state and near-future evolution of the coastal seas. Finally, understanding of the social dynamics responsible for the political decision process is mandatory for facilitating the rational use of natural science knowledge in managing the coast. The European project “Preparation and Integration of Analysis Tools towards Operational Forecast of Nutrients in Estuaries of European Rivers” (PIONEER) is one of the few attempts to implement operational analysis in coastal zone management. In the project a prototypical marine integrated monitoring system is built which merges low-cost specific observational measures with routine general monitoring data and quasi-realistic models. This system will deliver low-cost, real-time spatially disaggregated distributions of nutrients in coastal waters. The system will be set up for the test cases Lower Odra, Odra Lagoon and Ebro Delta. The general concept of the PIONEER project is outlined in this article.
Collaborative and flexible processing infrastructure for Coastal Monitoring
Coastline Watch aims to assess the best practices to continuously monitor changes caused by natural processes (such as waves, tides and currents) and strengthen by human intervention or global climate changes. The current solution processes coastal information from Satellite open data for monitoring and makes insitu measurements using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) for impact analysis. It uses a collaborative infrastructure to make processing requests, analyze and share the resulting outcomes with a project team. The first experimental processing service implements a shoreline monitoring chain to detect changes, to establish trends and indicators and to identify potential risks and critical areas. The service uses Landsat program data and it is prepared to support other open or commercial satellites, such as the Sentinel program. After identifying critical areas, the solution uses a methodology to determine impact of changes by making aerial data acquisitions and then estimating surface volumes changes. A cloud infrastructure, based on Amazon AWS technology, provides a distributed environment solution composed by a web portal, processing resources and an OGC database. The portal allows the users to generate new coastal products based on automated scripts, to share the results with the team and to view/download the final products. The service is being demonstrated on the coastal areas of Figueira da Foz and Óbidos lagoon over specific timeframes, being iteratively fine-tuned with users/researchers feedback. The current infrastructure is still under consolidation, with the final goal to provide automated processing tools and a methodology that could be collaboratively and continuously updated by researchers and professionals to generate data from new areas and update existing ones.
Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment, 2016
This paper addresses the past and current uses of remote sensing technologies that are supporting Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM). Satellite and airborne remote sensing have a key role to play in studying the marine and coastal environment. The paper introduces the characteristics of remote sensing systems of interest for studying the oceans and coastal ecosystems. Secondly, a conceptual framework is defined which relates all important components of ICAM/MSP: 1) Ecosystem health and pollution, 2) Natural (coastal) hazards, 3) Marine Space and Use, 4) Coastal land cover and use, 5) population (dynamics), with their respective data collection goals and the most appropriate stateof-the-art sensor technologies to study them, summed up in a comprehensive table. A summary of achievements of remote sensing in each component of ICAM and MSP is given, with a particular interest for developing countries where their implementation is made difficult by several technical and governance issues. Opportunities are also presented to nuance those challenges in the form of programs and initiatives to increase capacity and resources to exploit RS in a MSP/ICAM context, but also to facilitate RS data accessibility and usability. Finally, future satellite missions of particular interest for ICAM and MSP are introduced. Overall, the word "Integrated" in ICAM suggests that a multidisciplinary approach is needed to understand the dynamics of marine and coastal environments, and remote sensing is identified as a piece of the puzzle which coastal and ocean managers should not hesitate to integrate in their practices. This paper acknowledges the need for more in-depth understanding of the underlying structures and ecological functioning of ecosystems, their habitats and their species, before RS can become a truly reliable tool in biophysical variable monitoring.