A new risk assessment method for water quality degradation in harbour domains, using hydrodynamic models

Grifoll, Manel; Jordà, Gabriel; Borja, Ángel; Espino, Manuel

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2009.08.030

Cited by 55 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…On estuaries and semi-enclosed bays, variations in current intensity during energetic events modifies the water circulation pattern, affecting water exchange with the open sea (Valle-Levinson et al 2001), enhancing mixing process (Whitney and Codiga 2011) deepening or even breaking of the pycnocline (Dyer, 1991), changing biophysical properties (Jordi et al 2008) and determining water quality issues (Grifoll et al 2010). Moreover, the stratification grade of the water column can modulate the hydrodynamic response of the water body (Guo and Valle-Levinson 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrodynamic response in a microtidal and shallow bay under energetic wind and seiche episodes

Cerralbo

Grifoll

Espino

2015

Journal of Marine Systems

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In this contribution we investigate the hydrodynamic response in a micro-tidal and shallow semienclosed domain. We chose a set of observations which include currents, hydrography and meteorological data obtained in Alfacs Bay (NW Mediterranean Sea). Short-term response to energetic winds events was found in the hydrography and water velocity observations, sometimes inverting the estuarine circulation or developing one-layered flow. In comparison to previous investigations in Alfacs Bay, we observed that water current variability, and also maximum velocities, were directly related to the development of surface standing waves (i.e. seiches). Mixing mechanisms versus buoyancy sources are studied through potential energy anomaly equation, proving the leading freshwater contribution to stratification, enhanced by heat fluxes in summer. On the other hand, mixing is directly related to winds, mainly in winter and early spring when both buoyancy forces are lower. We also study turbulent bottom mixing by seiches through observations, dimensionless relations and numerical modelling. Seiche induced mixing is suggested as an eventual mechanism that may break the stratification within the Bay under special circumstances.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrodynamic response in a microtidal and shallow bay under energetic wind and seiche episodes

Cerralbo

Grifoll

Espino

2015

Journal of Marine Systems

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“…Harbour basins are considered semi-enclosed areas and, as such, can be affected by water quality degradation [1] and high contamination levels of marine sediments [2]. The maintenance or achievement of good Ecological Potential (gEP), as prescribed by the Water Framework Directive (Council Directive 2000/60/EC), cannot be obtained without the knowledge of hydrodynamic behaviour of port areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water renewal time and trace metal concentration in civitavecchia port (rome), italy

Bonamano¹,

Piazzolla²,

Madonia³

et al. 2018

Int. J. EI

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Most of the harbours can be considered as semi-enclosed areas where water stagnation leads to physical and chemical alterations due to anthropogenic activities. These features affect the quality of the port waters as well as the environmental health of coastal ecosystems in the surrounding areas. In order to understand the potential degradation of water quality within the harbour area it is essential to evaluate the hydrodynamic behaviour of the system. In this study, the DELFT3D-FLOW model, which allows to estimate the three-dimensional field velocity, was used to spatially characterize the water renewal time within the harbour. In particular, the flushing time (FT), which represents the time required for the total mass of a conservative tracer originally within the water body to be reduced to a factor 1/e, was examined. The concentration of contaminants in sediments is indeed a proper parameter to test the reliability of the calculated water renewal time within the semi-enclosed basins, since it relies on time-integrated measurements compared to single observations of water column. This research aims at studying the relation between the FT and the pollution due to trace metals in marine sediments. For this purpose, surface sediment samples were collected along a series of stations located in the innermost part and near the mouth of the Civitavecchia harbour. As, Cr, Hg, Ni, Cu, zn, Pb and Al concentrations were analysed to calculate the enrichment factor, which provides an estimate of the heavy metal contamination in the harbour surface sediment. The obtained results show a high correlation between the FT and the enrichment factor within the Civitavecchia port, confirming that water renewal can be used as an indicator of water quality degradation in semi-enclosed areas.

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“…The EU Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) has emerged as a common policy framework to protect continental, underground and coastal waters, and it also covers harbours and their adjacent waters. An understanding of water circulation patterns within harbours is an essential aspect in the management of issues related to water quality degradation (Hartnett and Nash 2004), risk analysis of pollution events (Grifoll et al 2010) and accidental spills (Jordà et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water circulation forecasting in Spanish harbours

Grifoll¹,

Jordà²,

Sotillo³

et al. 2012

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY: This paper describes the first harbour circulation forecasting system implemented in Spain. The configuration design was based on previous analyses of the morphologic and hydrodynamic behaviour of three harbours: Barcelona, Tarragona and Bilbao. A nested system of oceanic models was implemented, with a scope ranging from the regional scale (with a mean horizontal resolution of 5 km) to the harbour scale (with a mean horizontal resolution of 40 m). A set of sensitivity tests was carried out in order to determine the optimal configurations. The results of the operational system were compared with available observations, revealing that the intermediate models are able to reproduce the averaged hydrodynamic behaviour but not the spatio-temporal variability. With the harbour models the quality of the forecasts improves, reaching a correlation and RMSE of ~0.6 and 6 cm s -1 , respectively, for Bilbao harbour. In addition, numerical experiments were carried out to evaluate the sensitivity of the forecasts to error sources. The results suggest that the errors in the information prescribed in the lateral boundary conditions are the most influential in the quality of the predictions. Errors in the wind field also have a smaller but non-negligible influence. Although the system is in the initial implementation phase and should be improved upon in the future, it is now a useful tool for harbour management. The predictions will be very helpful for harbour operations, pollution risk management and fighting oil spills.Keywords: operational oceanography, harbour hydrodynamics, Barcelona harbour, Bilbao harbour, Tarragona harbour. RESUMEN: Predicción de la circulación marina en los Puertos esPañoles. -En este artículo se describe el primer sistema operacional de predicción de la circulación en puertos implementado en España. El diseño del sistema se ha basado en un análisis previo de las características hidrodinámicas y morfológicas de tres puertos de estudio: Barcelona, Tarragona y Bilbao. Se ha establecido un sistema de modelos oceánicos anidados que cubre desde la escala regional (con una resolución media horizontal de 5 km) al dominio portuario (con una resolución de 40 m). Diferentes experimentos de sensibilidad se han llevado a cabo para determinar las configuraciones óptimas. Los resultados del sistema operacional se han comparado con las observaciones disponibles, mostrando que los modelos intermedios son capaces de resolver el comportamiento hidrodinámico promedio, pero no la variabilidad espacio-temporal. En cuanto a los modelos portuarios, la calidad de las predicciones mejora, alcanzando una correlación y un RMSE de ~0.6 y 6 cm s -1 , respectivamente, para el puerto de Bilbao. Adicionalmente se han realizado diferentes experimentos para determinar la sensibilidad del sistema a distintas fuentes de error. Los resultados sugieren que los errores en las condiciones de contorno laterales son los más determinantes sobre la calidad de las predicciones portuarias. Los errores en el viento, aun siendo menos importan...

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A new risk assessment method for water quality degradation in harbour domains, using hydrodynamic models

Cited by 55 publications

References 39 publications

Hydrodynamic response in a microtidal and shallow bay under energetic wind and seiche episodes

Hydrodynamic response in a microtidal and shallow bay under energetic wind and seiche episodes

Water renewal time and trace metal concentration in civitavecchia port (rome), italy

Water circulation forecasting in Spanish harbours

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