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Continuous high-frequency monitoring of estuarine water quality as a decision support tool: a Dublin Port case study

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Abstract

High-frequency, continuous monitoring using in situ sensors offers a comprehensive and improved insight into the temporal and spatial variability of any water body. In this paper, we describe a 7-month exploratory monitoring programme in Dublin Port, demonstrating the value of high-frequency data in enhancing knowledge of processes, informing discrete sampling, and ultimately increasing the efficiency of port and environmental management. Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests were used to show that shipping operating in Dublin Port has a small–medium effect on turbidity readings collected by in situ sensors. Turbidity events are largely related to vessel activity in Dublin Port, caused by re-suspension of sediments by vessel propulsion systems. The magnitudes of such events are strongly related to water level and tidal state at vessel arrival times. Crucially, measurements of Escherichia coli and enterococci contamination from discrete samples taken at key periods related to detected turbidity events were up to nine times higher after vessel arrival than prior to disturbance. Daily in situ turbidity patterns revealed time-dependent water quality “hot spots” during a 24-h period. We demonstrate conclusively that if representative environmental assessment of water quality is to be performed at such sites, sampling times, informed by continous monitoring data, should take into account these daily variations. This work outlines the potential of sensor technologies and continuous monitoring, to act as a decision support tool in both environmental and port management.

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Acknowledgments

This work was performed as part of the EU Framework 7 project “ATWARM” (Marie Curie ITN, No. 238273) and as part of The Beaufort Marine Research Award which is carried out under the Sea Change Strategy and the Strategy for Science Technology and Innovation (2006–2013) with the support of the Marine Institute funded under the Marine Research Sub-Programme of the National Development Plan 2007–2013. The authors also wish to thank the staff at Poolbeg Marina for permission, assistance and access to the deployment location and marina facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine and Environmental Sensing Technology Hub (MESTECH), National Centre for Sensor Research (NCSR), School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland

    Ciprian Briciu-Burghina, Timothy Sullivan, James Chapman & Fiona Regan

  2. School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

    James Chapman

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  1. Ciprian Briciu-Burghina
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  2. Timothy Sullivan
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  3. James Chapman
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  4. Fiona Regan
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Correspondence to Fiona Regan.

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Briciu-Burghina, C., Sullivan, T., Chapman, J. et al. Continuous high-frequency monitoring of estuarine water quality as a decision support tool: a Dublin Port case study. Environ Monit Assess 186, 5561–5580 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-014-3803-9

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