European Coastal Environments Research Articles

The near future expected wave power in the coastal environment of the Iberian Peninsula

The main target of the proposed work is to assess the expected wave energy dynamics in the coastal environment of the Iberian Peninsula. This study is motivated by the fact that the Iberian nearshore is considered among the most promising European coastal environments for wave energy extraction with experimental wave projects already operating there since many years. The near future period considered for this analysis is the 20-year time interval 2026–2045 under the Representative Concentration Pathway scenario 4.5 (RCP4.5). In parallel, in order to have a coherent degree of comparison, the results are compared with those corresponding to the recent past 20-year time interval 2001–2020. A wave modelling system based on the third-generation spectral phase averaged model SWAN (acronym from Simulating WAves Nearshore) was implemented for the entire North Atlantic basin and focused on the Iberian nearshore. Furthermore, calibrations and extensive validations of this wave prediction system have been performed. Thus, system reliability was evaluated both against buoy and satellite data and the results were found as having good accuracy. The wave energy data corresponding to the near future (2026–2045) are compared with those from the other 20-year period from the recent past (2001–2020). In this way, a comprehensive picture of the expected wave power dynamics in the coastal environment of the Iberian Peninsula is provided. The results show that there are no significant differences between the two periods considered, especially in the transition seasons (spring and autumn), both in terms of maximum values and also as regards the general patterns of the wave power fields. However, in the near future, a decrease of the resources is expected near to the coast in the summer season, compared to the values simulated for the recent past (from 12 kW/m to 9 kW/m). A contrary tendency corresponds to the winter season when for the near future we find a maximum value higher by about 14 kW/m than in the recent past.

Marine monitoring in Europe: is it adequate to address environmental threats and pressures?

Abstract. We provide a review of the environmental threats and gaps in monitoring programmes in European coastal waters based on previous studies, an online questionnaire, and an in-depth assessment of observation scales. Our findings underpin the JERICO-NEXT1 monitoring strategy for the development and integration of coastal observatories in Europe and support JERICO-RI2 in providing high-value physical, chemical, and biological datasets for addressing key challenges at a European level. This study highlights the need for improved monitoring of environmental threats in European coastal environments. Participants in the online questionnaire provided new insights into gaps between environmental threats and monitoring of impacts. In total, 36 national representatives, scientists, and monitoring authorities from 12 European countries (Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, UK) completed the questionnaire, and 38 monitoring programmes were reported. The main policy drivers of monitoring were identified as the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD), Regional Seas Conventions (e.g. OSPAR), and local drivers. Although policy drivers change over time, their overall purposes remain similar. The most commonly identified threats to the marine environment were marine litter, shipping, contaminants, organic enrichment, and fishing. Regime change was identified as a pressure by 67 % of respondents. The main impacts of these pressures or threats were identified by the majority of respondents (> 70 %) to be habitat loss or destruction, underwater noise, and contamination, with 60 % identifying undesirable disturbance (e.g. oxygen depletion), changes in sediment and/or substrate composition, changes in community composition, harmful microorganisms, and invasive species as impacts. Most respondents considered current monitoring of threats to be partially adequate or not adequate. The majority of responses were related to the spatial and/or temporal scales at which monitoring takes place and inadequate monitoring of particular parameters. Suggestions for improved monitoring programmes included improved design, increased monitoring effort, and better linkages with research and new technologies. Improved monitoring programmes should be fit for purpose, underpin longer-term scientific objectives which cut across policy and other drivers, and consider cumulative effects of multiple pressures. JERICO-RI aims to fill some of the observation gaps in monitoring programmes through the development of new technologies. The science strategy for JERICO-RI will pave the way to a better integration of physical, chemical, and biological observations into an ecological process perspective.

A parallel evaluation of the wind and wave energy resources along the Latin American and European coastal environments

Considering the trend to develop renewable projects in marine environment, the objective of the present work is to provide a comprehensive picture of the wind and wave energy for some significant coastal sites from Latin America and Europe. Thus, a reanalysis database that covers 17 years of wind and wave data (2000–2016) is considered, evaluating also some statistical parameters. In this way, we identified the most interesting sites for a marine project. At the same time, the performance of five wind turbines (Senvion 6.2M 126, BARD 5.0, SWT–3.6 –120, Vestas V90–3.0 and Vestas V80–2.0) and five wave energy converters (Wave Dragon, PPC, Pelamis, Aqua Buoy, Seabased AB) is also assessed. The results show that in Latin America, the coastal region located close to Tierra del Fuego presents the best wind resources, indicating a maximum wind power value of 1759 W/m2 (at 80 m height). This is relatively similar to the conditions encountered at the Carloway site, in Europe close to Ireland (1778 W/m2). As regards wave power, a maximum value of 82.59 kW/m is assessed for the Carloway site. According to the total harmonic distortion index, the best sites to develop a joint wind-wave project are in Latin America, where for this index most of the values are below the 0.8 limit. Looking at the performances of wind and wave generators, we notice a maximum power output of 4.26 MW for the Senvion 6.2M 126 turbine, compared to an expected electric power of 2.64 MW, which results for the Wave Dragon energy converter. The results show that the capacity factors of the wave systems are significantly smaller than in case of the wind turbines.

Emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in surface water and sediment of the North and Baltic Seas

Along with the phase-out of legacy long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs) and their precursors, attention has been drawn to emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). This study is aimed at investigating the importance of selected emerging PFASs as pollutants in European coastal environments and a possible transition from legacy long-chain PFCAs and PFSAs to replacement compounds. Therefore, the spatial distribution of 29 PFASs was analysed in surface water and sediment of the North and Baltic Seas sampled in 2017. Levels of the replacement compound HFPO-DA were approximately three times higher than those of its predecessor PFOA in surface water from the North Sea, which is characterised by the influence of point sources and constant exchange with open water. Reanalysis of sample extracts from the last decade showed that HFPO-DA had already been present in 2011, when it had not yet been in focus. In the Baltic Sea with a limited water exchange and dominance of diffuse sources, the proportion of HFPO-DA was negligible, whereas long-chain PFCAs and PFSAs still contributed to ∑PFASs with about 30%. The emerging cyclic compound perfluoro-4-ethylcyclohexanesulfonate (PFECHS), which has not yet been reported in European coastal environments, was detected in 86% of the Baltic Sea samples. Influenced by sediment characteristics in addition to source-specific contributions, the spatial distribution of PFASs in surface sediments was more variable than for water samples. The linear isomer of the long-chain legacy substance PFOS was the predominant compound found over the entire study area. Of the emerging PFASs, 6:6 and 6:8 perfluoroalkyl phosphinic acids (PFPiAs) were identified close to potential industrial inputs and in sedimentation areas. The results show that particular emerging PFASs play a relevant role in the investigated coastal environments and that a shift to replacements is dependent on sources and geographical conditions.

Cholinesterase from the common prawn ( Palaemon serratus) eyes: Catalytic properties and sensitivity to organophosphate and carbamate compounds

The main purpose of this study was to describe the kinetic properties of the cholinesterase (ChE) enzyme present in the eyes of the prawn Palaemon serratus, an abundant, ecological and commercially relevant species of European coastal environments. The obtained results suggest that the studied enzyme is a ChE and not a non-specific esterase, due to its apparent affinity for choline esters and the high sensitivity to eserine sulphate. This ChE displays a distinct preference for the substrate acetylthiocholine, showing a triphasic behaviour, with activation at low concentrations and inhibition by excess of substrate. Moreover, irreversible ChE inhibition by several organophosphate and carbamate compounds was characterized. All the irreversible inhibitions were homogeneous following a second-order rate reaction. The bimolecular rate constant ( k i ) values of ChE inhibition by the tested pesticides were also estimated and compared with available data from other invertebrate and vertebrate species. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that prawn eyes possess only one ChE with typical properties of acetylcholinesterase, which is highly sensitive to the tested anti-cholinesterase compounds.

Distribution and new ecological data of Pseudothurammina limnetis (Scott and Medioli) on the brackish tidal marshes of Minho/Coura estuary, Northern Portugal

Pseudothurammina limnetis (Scott and Medioli) revealed an important contribution to the characterization of IB and IA2 subzones of high marsh from present brackish environments of Minho/Coura tidal marsh. Its occurrence can represent up to 68% of living assemblage probably under optimum salinity values between 8‰ and 14‰, strongly contrasting with published data where P. limnetis tends to be associated to higher salinity values and always with low proportions. This unusual dominance under such environmental conditions can be seen as a new ecological data of P. limnetis. Its dominance at the Minho/Coura high marsh must also be stressed because no previous record of P. limnetis was found in the European coastal environments. The record and abundance of living P. limnetis in marsh sediments can be markedly influenced by the lab processing of the sediment marsh samples, considering its way of occurrence, frequently attached to plant debris, and test fragility. The complete analysis of residue larger than 63 μm, including a careful observation of plant debris under wet conditions, is strongly suggested.

Reactive and organic halogen species in three different European coastal environments

Abstract. We present results of three field campaigns using active longpath DOAS (Differential Optical Absorption Spectroscopy) for the study of reactive halogen species (RHS) BrO, IO, OIO and I2. Two recent field campaigns took place in Spring 2002 in Dagebüll at the German North Sea Coast and in Spring 2003 in Lilia at the French Atlantic Coast of Brittany. In addition, data from a campaign in Mace Head, Ireland in 1998 was partly re-evaluated. During the recent field campaigns volatile halogenated organic compounds (VHOCs) were determined by a capillary gas chromatograph coupled with an electron capture detector and an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (GC/ECD-ICPMS) in air and water. Due to the inhomogeneous distribution of macroalgae at the German North Sea Coast we found a clear connection between elevated levels of VHOCs and the appearance of macroalgae. Extraordinarily high concentrations of several VHOCs, especially CH3I and CH3Br of up to 1830 pptv and 875 pptv, respectively, were observed at the coast of Brittany, demonstrating the outstanding level of bioactivity there. We found CH2I2 at levels of up to 20 pptv, and a clear anti-correlation with the appearance of IO. The IO mixing ratio reached up to 7.7±0.5 ppt(pmol/mol) during the day, in reasonable agreement with model studies designed to represent the meteorological and chemical conditions in Brittany. For the two recent campaigns the DOAS spectra were evaluated for BrO, OIO and I2, but none of these species could be clearly identified (average detection limits around 2 ppt, 3 ppt, 20 ppt, resp., significantly higher in individual cases). Only in the Mace Head spectra evidence was found for the presence of OIO. Since macroalgae under oxidative stress are suggested to be a further source for I2 in the marine boundary layer, we re-analyzed spectra in the 500–600 nm range taken during the 1998 PARFORCE campaign in Mace Head, Ireland, which had not previously been analyzed for I2. We identified molecular iodine above the detection limit (~20 ppt), with peak mixing ratios of 61±12 ppt. Since I2 was undetectable during the Brittany campaign, we suggest that iodine may not be released into the atmosphere by macroalgae in general, but only by a special type of the laminaria species under oxidative stress. Only during periods of extraordinarily low water (spring-tide), the plant is exposed to ambient air and may release gaseous iodine in some way to the atmosphere. The results of our re-analysis of spectra from the PARFORCE campaign in 1998 support this theory. Hence, we feel that we can provide an explanation for the different I2 levels in Brittany and Mace Head.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) burden of mussels ( Mytilus sp.) in different marine environments in relation with sediment PAH contamination, and bioavailability

Sediments and mussels ( Mytilus edulis, Mytilus galloprovincialis) were sampled in different European coastal environments (Germany, France, Spain) and analysed for their polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Bioaccumulation factors of individual compounds from the sediment were calculated and discussed according to the compound solubility. The mussels showed different accumulation patterns according to the pollution source they were exposed to (dissolved fraction of PAHs, particulate fraction, petroleum present in the water column). The exposure source also depends on the geographical location of the mussels. In the Mediterranean Sea, the bivalves were mainly exposed to the dissolved fraction of PAHs, while in the Baltic Sea and in the Atlantic Ocean, the PAHs associated to the particles were significant sources.

Variability of butyltin determination in water and sediment samples from european coastal environments

AbstractA large amount of data has appeared in the literature within the last few years dealing with the monitoring of butyltin compounds in coastal environments. However, the strategies used strongly differed from one author to another, which led to difficulties in the comparison of contamination levels and the evaluation of long‐term trends. In this paper, different causes of pitfalls due to uncontrolled sources of variability are addressed; they involve precautions to be undertaken for the monitoring of butylins in water and sediment, particularly: sample collection; sample pretreatment (filtration/centrifugation, acidification, sieving); sample storage (different methods for storage and drying procedures); variability over the same site; variations over a tidal cycle; and variability due to diffusion (e.g. due to flushing).