Real-Time Monitoring of Seawater Quality Parameters in Ayia Napa, Cyprus

Abstract

Real-time monitoring systems are crucial for the comprehensive management of operations and processes, as well as for assessing the impacts of coastal infrastructures on the marine environment. These systems not only support environmental protection and data-driven decision-making but also enable the early detection of adverse events and the issuance of timely warnings for prompt responses. Although water quality is a critical parameter in this monitoring framework, there are currently limited permanent systems in place dedicated to maintaining these objectives. Even fewer systems leverage their data for research purposes, leading to a gap in the literature regarding effective processing approaches for real-time water quality data. In this context, this study presents a real-time water quality monitoring system integrated into a broader in-field laboratory installed at a coastal area off the coast of Ayia Napa, Cyprus, as well as an initial measured data set of different qualitative quantities. It proposes a holistic approach for post-processing real-time seawater quality data, employing both time and frequency domain analyses, alongside filtering techniques. The study discusses the advantages of each method and emphasizes the importance of their combined use. Utilizing data collected from a three-month operational period, the study assesses the current state of marine seawater quality and examines both temporal and cyclic variations in various seawater quality parameters. The findings reveal that the examined seawater parameters are within reasonable values, indicating that the construction and operation of a nearby marina and the necessary infrastructures (e.g., breakwater) did not affect the seawater quality in the area. Additionally, the study identifies pronounced daily cyclic responses in different seawater quality parameters, including temperature, density, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity. Finally, notable correlations are observed between temperature and dissolved oxygen, temperature and conductivity, oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) and salinity, ORP and dissolved oxygen, and ORP and TDS.