Local Beach Research Articles

An Impact-Control Study to Assess the Potential Accumulation of Metals and Metalloids from Sewage Effluent and Biosolids to Sydney Rock Oysters, Saccostrea glomerata

Sewage effluent has been identified as a potential source of metal(loid) contamination in the aquatic environment. The Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea glomerata, can accumulate most metals and is well established as a biomonitor of metals in the marine environment. To determine if Burwood Beach wastewater treatment works (WWTW) is a source of metal(loid) contamination, S. glomerata was deployed for 6 weeks in effluent receiving waters (Burwood Beach near and Burwood Beach far) and at reference locations (Redhead, Fingal Island 1 and Fingal Island 2) at depths 4, 8 and 12 m. In dried oyster tissue, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) was employed to measure concentrations of a suite of metal(loid)s including aluminium, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, iron, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver and zinc. It was found that for all metal(loid)s, S. glomerata tissue concentrations were not significantly higher at Burwood Beach locations in comparison to all reference locations. Concentrations of metal(loid)s were similar to those which have been detected in previous studies of background locations in New South Wales (NSW). Further, all metals fell below National Food Authority maximum residue levels (MRLs), except for arsenic and this does not appear uncommon for concentrations in biota within NSW. Comparisons to historical data suggested that concentrations of metal(loid)s in sewage effluent from Burwood Beach WWTW, assessed via concentrations in oyster tissue, are similar or lower, suggesting that changes in treatment processes initiated in the intervening time have lowered metallic inputs.

Characterization of radioactive particles from the Dounreay nuclear reprocessing facility

Radioactive particles originating from nuclear fuel reprocessing at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority's Dounreay Facility were inadvertently released to the environment in the late 1950s to 1970s and have subsequently been found on site grounds and local beaches. Previous assessments of risk associated with encountering a particle have been based on conservative assumptions related to particle composition and speciation. To reduce uncertainties associated with environmental impact assessments from Dounreay particles, further characterization is relevant.Results of particles available for this study showed variation between Dounreay Fast Reactor (DFR) and Materials Test Reactor (MTR) particles, reflecting differences in fuel design, release scenarios, and subsequent environmental influence. Analyses of DFR particles showed they are small (100–300 μm) and contain spatially correlated U and Nb. Molybdenum, part of the DFR fuel, was identified at atomic concentrations below 1%. Based on SR-based micrometer-scale X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure spectroscopy (μ-XANES), U may be present as U(IV), and, based on a measured Nb/U atom ratio of ~2, stoichiometric considerations are commensurable with the presence of UNb2O7. The MTR particles were larger (740–2000 μm) and contained U and Al inhomogeneously distributed. Neodymium (Nd) was identified in atomic concentrations of around 1–2%, suggesting it was part of the fuel design. The presence of U(IV) in MTR particles, as indicated by μ-XANES analysis, may be related to oxidation of particle surfaces, as could be expected due to corrosion of UAlx fuel particles in air. High 235U/238U atom ratios in individual DFR (3.2 ± 0.8) and MTR (2.6 ± 0.4) particles reflected the presence of highly enriched uranium. The DFR particles featured lower 137Cs activity levels (2.00–9.58 kBq/particle) than the MTR (43.2–641 kBq 137Cs/particle) particles. The activities of the dose contributing radionuclides 90Sr/90Y were proportional to 137Cs (90Sr/137Cs activity ratio ≈ 0.8) and particle activities were roughly proportional to the size. Based on direct beta measurements, gamma spectrometry, and the VARSKIN6 model, contact dose rates were calculated to be approximately 74 mGy/h for the highest activity MTR particle, in agreement with previously published estimates.

Satellite Telemetry Reveals Spatial Overlap Between Vessel High-Traffic Areas and Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) Near the Mouth of the Chesapeake Bay

During winter months, humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) frequent the coastal waters of Virginia near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Located within the Bay is Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval military installation, and the Port of Virginia, the sixth busiest container port in the United States. These large seaports, combined with the presence of recreational boaters, commercial fishing vessels, and sport-fishing boats, result in a constant heavy flow of vessel traffic through the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay and adjacent areas. From December 2015 to February 2017, 35 satellite tags were deployed on humpback whales to gain a better understanding on the occurrence, movements, site-fidelity, and overall behavior of this species within this high-traffic region. The tags transmitted data for an average of 13.7 days (range 2.7–43.8 days). Location data showed that at some point during tag deployment, nearly all whales occurred within, or in close proximity to, the shipping channels located in the study area. Approximately one quarter of all filtered and modeled locations occurred within the shipping channels. Hierarchical state-space modeling results suggest that humpback whales spend considerable time (82.0%) engaged in foraging behavior at or near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay. Of the 106 humpback whales photo-identified during this research, nine individuals (8.5%) had evidence of propeller strikes. One whale that had previously been tagged and tracked within shipping channels, was found dead on a local beach; a fatality resulting from a vessel strike. The findings from this study demonstrate that a substantial number of humpback whales frequent high-traffic areas near the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay, increasing the likelihood of injurious vessel interactions that can result in mortalities.

Effects of Repeated Sand Replenishment Projects on Runs of a Beach-Spawning Fish, the California Grunion

Beach habitats are diminishing globally, particularly in urban areas, as sea-level rise, erosion, and shoreline hardening, along with reduced sediment inputs, combine to squeeze the coast. In California, USA an endemic marine fish, the California grunion, spawns on sandy beaches during late-night spring tides. Its unique recreational fishery is managed by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The City of Oceanside, CA contracts for annual harbor dredging and, after testing, places the sandy sediment on its public beach. The effects on local beach wildlife from this annual sand replenishment are not known. We examined the effect of this repeated activity as a case study over three years on the spawning runs of the California grunion. Some spawning runs occurred in all three years, but the fish avoided areas with high scarps in the intertidal zone that developed following sand placement activity. Grunion spawning runs have declined in the habitat range as a whole over the past two decades, and those in Oceanside have declined to an even greater extent. Increasing sandy beach habitat can be beneficial to wildlife, but the method of placement, timing of the project, and fate of the beach afterward can modulate or prevent beneficial effects. Frequent repetition of sand placement may accumulate impacts without allowing sufficient time for the ecosystem to recover. Rather than improving the habitat, these repeated projects in Oceanside may degrade the spawning habitat for the grunion. Alternative discharge methods and locations, slope and elevation designs, sediment volumes, and greater care in beach fill practices should be implemented to reduce future impacts.

Incidence and public health burden of sunburn among beachgoers in the United States

The beach environment creates many barriers to effective sun protection, putting beachgoers at risk for sunburn, a well-established risk factor for skin cancer. Our objective was to estimate incidence of sunburn among beachgoers and evaluate the relationship between sunburn incidence and sun-protective behaviors. A secondary analysis, of prospective cohorts at 12 locations within the U.S. from 2003 to 2009 (n = 75,614), were pooled to evaluate sunburn incidence 10–12 days after the beach visit. Behavioral and environmental conditions were cross-tabulated with sunburn incidence. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the association between new sunburn and sun-protective behaviors. Overall, 13.1% of beachgoers reported sunburn. Those aged 13–18 years (16.5%), whites (16.0%), and those at beach locations along the Eastern Seaboard (16.1%), had the highest incidence of sunburn. For those spending ≥5 h in the sun, the use of multiple types of sun protection reduced odds of sunburn by 55% relative to those who used no sun protection (Odds Ratio = 0.45 (95% Confidence Interval:0.27–0.77)) after adjusting for skin type, age, and race. Acute health effects of sunburn tend to be mild and self-limiting, but potential long-term health consequences are more serious and costly. Efforts to encourage and support proper sun-protective behaviors, and increase access to shade, protective clothing, and sunscreen, can help prevent sunburn and reduce skin cancer risk among beachgoers.

The Relation between Effective Temperature and Thermal Sensation Vote in Tropical Vernacular Houses

One of the factors to enable energy efficiency in buildings is creating thermal comfort for the occupants of buildings so that the artificial vaporization is not required. The thermal sensation vote (TSV) is an indicator in analyzing the occupants’ satisfaction on the thermal comfort of their buildings. Some climate variables that relate to the TSV include air temperature, humidity, and wind speed. The three variables can be combined into a variable using a psychrometric chart. The combined variable is known as an effective temperature. The present research aims at analyzing the connection between effective temperature and TSV in vernacular houses in the tropical mountain and beach locations and comparing the results of the analysis. The quantitative method was employed in the research by measuring the variables of climate using a thermal measuring instrument. The TSV was measured with ASHRAE (American Standard of Heating, Refrigerating, Air-Conditioning Engineer)’s seven-point sensation scale. The measurement was carried out in transitional periods from the dry season to the wet season. Interpretation of graphs and charts was made for analysis based on the variable of effective temperature. The results of the research indicated that there was a connection between effective temperature and TSV. The effective temperature in vernacular houses in tropical mountain locations tended to be lower, and therefore the cool thermal sensation had the greatest percentage of TSV. Meanwhile, the effective temperature in tropical beach locations tended to be high, and therefore the warm thermal sensation had the greatest percentage. In a neutral scale, the percentage of TSV in tropical mountain locations was greater than that of TSV in tropical beach locations. Therefore, it is concluded that the occupants of vernacular houses in tropical mountain location felt more comfortable than those of vernacular houses in tropical beach locations.

Reality Check: Adding Plastic to Natural History

ABSTRACTEnvironmental changes are about to invade every aspect of human life (and all life) across the planet. Young people will be particularly affected by these changes; regions where large youth populations are projected to be present in the coming decades are among the most vulnerable to environmental problems. Many young people feel overwhelmed by the impeding threat of environmental destruction and climate change. At Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, the museum youth forum is a club for young people aged 14–25. In 2018, the youth forum brought plastic from local beaches into the museum’s natural history displays, transforming the natural history galleries into a platform for showcasing the detrimental impact of pollution on the environment. This article investigates how this youth-led environmental project at Amgueddfa Cymru provided a reality check for the way natural history was portrayed in the museum, and also challenged the museum to become more activist in its stance.

Facing the Sun by Janice Lynn Mather

Reviewed by: Facing the Sun by Janice Lynn Mather Deborah Berglind, Editor Mather, Janice Lynn Facing the Sun. Simon, 2020 [416p] Trade ed. ISBN 9781534406049 $18.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9781534406063 $10.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 8-12 Four Bahamanian teenaged girls share narration: Eve, the straitlaced pastor's daughter, whose time is spent caring for younger brothers and sisters; KeeKee, the spoken-word poet, whose mother is the neighborhood provider of shelter, period products, and condoms; Faith, who's flirting with somebody's boyfriend while aching over her mother's mental deterioration at home; and Nia, who longs to escape her strict and overprotective mother. When the local beach is sold to a developer for the building of a hotel, that means the end of their haven and of Eve's father's beach church, and the loss seems to symbolize other major changes in the girls' lives. This is a sprawling, lushly written, high-class soap opera filled with old-fashioned reveals about parentage (two of the girls turn out to be half-sisters), betrayal (one girl plagiarizes another's work), mental illness (though Faith's mother's illness is at one point labeled as dementia, it seems more a classic gothic presentation), and tragedies (one parent is keeping advancing cancer from their family). While the girls' voices are somewhat indistinguishable and the events melodramatic, that over-the-top eventfulness is the point with this kind of story, and Mather writes with inviting, atmospheric prose that vividly conveys life on Pinder Street, the intertwining dynamics of the families there, and the emotional intensity of teenaged life in the face of all kinds of change. Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Spectacular Bodies: Los Angeles Beach Cultures and the Making of the “California Look” (1900s-1960s)

This article explores the origins, whitewashing, and eventual fetishization of the “California look”—a body ideal centered on bronzed skin, bleached hair, and bulging muscles, which gained a prominent place within American visual imagery in the second half of the twentieth century. Rather than solely focusing on representations of California bodies in popular culture, as other studies have done, the article locates the origins of the California look in the social history of Los Angeles’ beaches and, in particular, their use as sites of corporeal spectacles. Unlike in Europe and the East Coast, where hygienist justifications for seaside recreation endured, from the early twentieth century onwards Southern California beachgoers set medical concerns aside and focused on having fun, and shaping and parading their bodies. In parallel, consumer capitalism, aided by the rise of the beauty, exercise, and diet industries, transformed these local pursuits of health and fitness into a marketable lifestyle and coherent set of body aesthetics. Despite African-American, Asian, and Latino Angelenos’ continuing engagement with local beach cultures, national and popular culture representations of such trends systematically erased non-white bodies, thereby constructing the California look as a conspicuously white icon.

Greater efficacy of SPF 100+ sunscreen compared with SPF 50+ in sunburn prevention during 5 consecutive days of sunlight exposure: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial

Beach vacations are high-risk settings for overexposure to ultraviolet radiation. To compare the sunburn protective efficacy of SPF 50+and SPF 100+sunscreens under actual use at the beach. A prospective, randomized, double-blind, single-center, split-body/face study of 55 healthy individuals. Each participant applied both sunscreens to randomized sides of the face/body for up to 5 consecutive days. Blinded clinical evaluation of erythema by a single grader and objective instrumental assessments, colorimetry, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy were performed the morning after each sun exposure. After 5days, 31 (56%) participants had more sunburn on the SPF 50+side compared to 4 (7%) on the SPF 100+side. Overall, mean erythema intensity showed statistically significantly less erythema on the SPF 100+side compared with the SPF 50+side. The first observation of sunburn exclusively on the SPF 50+side occurred after 1day of sun exposure, whereas that for SPF 100+occurred after 3days of sun exposure. Only initial sunscreen application was monitored, only 1 participant with skin phototype I was recruited, and participants were recruited from a local beach area. SPF 100+was significantly more effective in protecting against ultraviolet radiation-induced erythema and sunburn than SPF 50+in actual use in a beach vacation setting.

Monitoring nest incorporation of anthropogenic debris by Northern Gannets across their range

Anthropogenic marine debris is a recognised global issue, which can impact a wide range of organisms. This has led to a rise in research focused on plastic ingestion, but quantitative data on entanglement are still limited, especially regarding seabirds, due to challenges associated with monitoring entanglement in the marine environment. However, for seabird species that build substantial surface nests there is the opportunity to monitor nest incorporation of debris that individuals collect as nesting material. Here, we monitored nest incorporation of anthropogenic marine debris by Northern Gannets (Morus bassanus) from 29 colonies across the species' range to determine a) the frequency of occurrence of incorporated debris and b) whether the Northern Gannet is a suitable indicator species for monitoring anthropogenic debris in the marine environment within their range. Using data obtained from visual observations, digital photography and published literature, we recorded incorporated debris in 46% of 7280 Northern Gannet nests, from all but one of 29 colonies monitored. Significant spatial variation was observed in the frequency of occurrence of debris incorporated into nests among colonies, partly attributed to when the colony was established and local fishing intensity. Threadlike plastics, most likely from fishing activities, was most frequently recorded in nests, being present in 45% of 5842 nests, in colonies where debris type was identified. Comparisons with local beach debris indicate a preference for threadlike plastics by Northern Gannets. Recording debris in gannet nests provides an efficient and non-invasive method for monitoring the effectiveness of actions introduced to reduce debris pollution from fishing activities in the marine environment.

Extreme Water Levels for Australian Beaches Using Empirical Equations for Shoreline Wave Setup

AbstractEmpirical equations for wave breaking and wave setup are compared with archived shoreline wave setup measurements to investigate the contribution of wind waves to extreme Mean Total Water Levels (MTWL, the mean height of the shoreline), for natural beaches exposed to open ocean wind waves. A broad range of formulations is compared through linear regression and quantile regression analysis of the highest measured values. Shoreline wave setup equations are selected based on the availability of local beach slope data and the ability of the quantile regression to show a good representation of the highest measured levels. Wave parameters from an existing spectral wave hindcast are used as input to the selected equations and are combined with a storm tide time series to quantify the relative contribution of shoreline wave setup to the extreme MTWL climate along Australian beaches. A multipass analysis is provided to understand the ability to capture the shoreline wave setup estimates with and without considering beach slope. The national scale analysis which does not include beach slope indicates there are multiple contributing factors to MTWL. Examples are provided at two locations of differing local beach slope to show the importance of including local beach slope in determining the contribution of waves to MTWL. A tool is in development for further investigation of wave setup for Australian beaches.

Great Lakes Cladophora harbors phylogenetically diverse nitrogen‐fixing microorganisms

AbstractNitrogen‐fixing microorganisms are among the epiphytic communities in Cladophora, potentially benefitting the algae in nutrient‐deficient waters, but their abundance and diversity remain unexplored. In this study, we determined the abundance and taxonomic composition of these nitrogen‐fixing microorganisms in Cladophora growing on rocks, breakwall structures, or submerged dreissenid mussel beds around southern Lake Michigan (N = 33) during the summer 2015, using two complementary genomic techniques: quantitative PCR (qPCR) and shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Genomic DNA was extracted from processed algal pellets, and the nitrogen‐fixing microbes were quantified by qPCR by targeting the nifH gene. Mean nifH concentrations (log10 copy numbers/gram algae fresh weight ± SE) were 5.54 ± 0.09, ranging from 4.31 to 6.57. Mean nifH concentrations in water samples (log10 copy numbers/milliliter of water ± SE) were: 3.25 ± 0.06, ranging from 2.41 to 3.90. Shotgun sequencing of a subset of algal samples representing the four sampling locations (N = 10) revealed as many as 267 nifH reads from among the sequences of the 10 shotgun metagenomes (averaging 27 reads per metagenome), ranging from 5 to 91 reads from Jeorse Park (September) and North Beach (September) locations. Taxonomic assignment of nifH sequences identified members from bacteria and archaea domains showing a clear separation of reads at domain and lower taxonomic levels. Bacteria were relatively more abundant than archaea. Anabaena, Bradyrhizobium, Geobacter, Methylocystis, Oscillatoria sp., and Skermanella (all bacteria), and Methanoregula, Methanothrix, and Methanosarcina (archaea) were among the nitrogen‐fixing genera identified by the MEGAN Community Edition program. Collectively, these findings show that phylogenetically diverse nitrogen‐fixing microbial communities are part of the Cladophora microbiome, likely contributing to the algal nitrogen needs.

Resident status influences perceptions about beach resource valuation and restoration

Sandy beaches represent typical destinations for recreation and tourism worldwide, as well as being a lifestyle for people living along the shore. In the Northeastern United States coastal environments are build-up and overexploited, threatening both ecosystem integrity and coastal communities. Following hurricane Sandy, the US government funded a number of restoration projects aimed at increasing resiliency of coastal ecosystems and human communities. In light of this, research about human perceptions and concerns during a restoration project was conducted to assist in planning and decision making for continued beach restoration and management, including monitoring avian resources. Objectives were to determine if there were differences among permanent coastal residents, part-time residents (summer), and non-residents (tourists) concerning visitation to the beach, knowledge about the restoration project, birds using the beach, and ratings of ecological resources and beach management options. There were no differences in knowledge of the bird species that were endangered nor in the conservation projects aimed at protecting birds as a function of resident status. People were aware of the roped-off nesting areas, but less aware of the conservation areas or even stewards on the beach. However, permanent residents were significantly more aware of the protective signage and that dogs were not allowed on the beach than others. Less than half of the people knew about the recent restoration project, and part-time residents were more aware of building up the dunes and creating nesting habitat, and less aware of dredging, beach replenishment and habitat restoration than other types of residents. When asked to rate different protection values, there were no differences for protecting the environment, but non-residents rated protecting birds, protecting endangered species, and providing conservation information to the public higher than others, and part-time residents rated predator control higher than others. This information can be used to target different segments of the beach-using community, particularly to residents on the importance of their local beach to protection of the environment, endangered species, and birds.

Nearshore survey and cleanup of benthic marine debris using citizen science divers along the Mediterranean coast of Israel

Information on marine debris along the Mediterranean coast of Israel, especially on the seafloor, is limited. Many recreational divers are enthusiasts of marine conservation and can thus contribute to data collection which does not require highly specialized training. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel together with The Israeli Diving Federation established the diver volunteer program “Sea Guard” (“Mishmar Hayam” in Hebrew), which supports marine conservation through citizen science. The divers were trained in marine ecology and survey methods to conduct independent surveys and lead underwater cleanups. For the first time, we have described the patterns of benthic debris density and composition in the nearshore environment of the southeastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. We found that benthic marine debris in the nearshore along the Israeli Mediterranean coast is primarily plastic, likely originating from the use of local beaches. Fishing, boating and domestic activities also play an important role as sources for marine debris. The currents' regime prevented the debris from accumulating on the seafloor in the nearshore environment, with the exception of several “debris traps”. Our findings will be useful for the development of programs to improve coastal waste management.

Immature beach/dune sands along a passive continental margin: Composition, grain size and hydraulic properties of coastal sands, Parque del Plata and Las Vegas, Uruguay

AbstractThe modal composition of sandstones has long been used as a tool for palaeotectonic and palaeoenvironmental analyses. Herein it is demonstrated that caution must be used when beach sand composition is utilized to assess tectonic provenances at both the local and continental scales. The occurrence of quartz arenites and compositionally mature sands along the coast of Brazil corresponds well to their passive margin location. However, modern sands from some beach locations in coastal Uruguay are less compositionally mature compared to the quartz arenites found in coastal Brazil. Along the beaches of Las Vegas and Parque del Plata, the composition of the beach and dune sands is impacted by the transport of continental outwash sediments derived from the Palaeozoic and Precambrian rocks in the interior to the beach by a low‐gradient stream, Arroyo Solis Chico, and the erosion of Pleistocene‐age formations that crop out on the beach and along an erosional scrap. The mean beach composition ratio of monocrystalline quartz to feldspar to rock fragments plus composite quartz grains is 67.5/8.0/24.5 compared to the ratio along the coast of Brazil at 86/4/10. The beach and coastal dunes environment studied is representative of about 35% of coastal Uruguay. At the smaller scale, changes in the textural properties of the beach and dune sands (grain‐size distribution and roundness) are caused by the addition of the sediment derived from erosion and stream transport. Porosity values show little influence and range between 0.35 and 0.36, but hydraulic conductivity is influenced to a greater degree, ranging from 18.5 to 31 m/day. Within one kilometre down‐drift of the river, the mean grain diameter and the mean hydraulic conductivity increase to the same values found in the up‐gradient area before influence of the sediment flux, due to the offshore transport of the finer sediment fraction during down‐gradient movement along the beach. The Arroyo Solis Chico area demonstrates that abrupt changes in composition and hydraulic properties can occur over short distances in sands deposited in passive margin environments. The potential for this local variability in sand composition and hydraulic properties should be considered in the analyses of ancient marine sandstones deposited in beach and coastal dunes environments.

Plastic waste occurrence on a beach off southwestern Luzon, Philippines

The Philippines is one of the countries with the highest plastic waste inputs into the ocean yet there is dearth of information on the level of contamination by plastic wastes in local marine ecosystems. This study aims to provide a plastic litter profile in a local beach as an initial report on plastic waste contamination in a typical coast. Likewise, microplastic (MP) occurrence is measured to establish baseline data on MP level. Results showed that, at sampling time, the beach had a high level of plastic contamination. The Clean-coast index was calculated at 13.14 (classified under ‘dirty’) and, indeed, plastics comprised 85% of the beach litter. The most abundant plastic litter was plastic wrapper as sachet, which is a ubiquitous packaging type in the Philippines. Furthermore, microplastic count sans fibers was at 0.26 items/g, which is comparable to regional data so far.

Using wave runup modeling to inform coastal species management: An example application for sea turtle nest relocation

The inundation of foreshore and backshore coastal environments caused by wave runup or groundwater intrusion can be extremely detrimental for beach-dwelling organisms. For beach-nesting species, whose eggs require sufficient gas exchange with the surrounding environment for proper embryonic development, inundation for prolonged periods can result in embryonic mortality. Management strategies such as the relocation of nests high on the beach to avoid wave action have been applied for some species, though this strategy may result in unnecessary nest manipulation. To improve the identification of beach locations potentially exposed to inundation caused by wave wash-over which may require management action, wave runup models were tested in Fort Morgan, Alabama, USA for the 2016 sea turtle nesting season. The potential exposure of sea turtle nesting sites to wave wash-over was determined by comparing observed nest elevations to the predicted combined elevation of wave runup, tide, and surge (i.e., total water level). Total water level was calculated using three different definitions of beach slope: foreshore, nest, and dune-to-water (DTW), and two LiDAR-derived elevation estimates: the most recent survey from 2016 and a time-averaged digital elevation model (DEM). Models using the time-averaged DEM performed as well as, or better than, those using the 2016 LiDAR survey in the majority of comparisons. Wash-over state was correctly identified for up to 83.3% of sites when using nest slope in the wave runup calculation. However, DTW slope performed the best when predicting the wash-over frequency of a site. Mapping of the predicted 98th percentile of wave runup indicated that only 11.2% of nesting sites were exposed to wave wash-over, in contrast to the 21.3% of nests which were relocated. Wave runup models have not previously been used to inform sea turtle conservation actions; however, it holds promise for improved targeted management interventions and can assist other species (e.g., shorebirds, beach mice), which rely on dry beach habitat for nesting, feeding, and migratory rest stops. Wave runup models can also be used to investigate past storm events, forecast approaching storm impacts, and supplement sea level rise scenarios for coastal species management at multiple spatial scales.

The impact of wind turbines on local recreation: Evidence from two travel cost method – contingent behavior studies

This paper analyzes recreation demand on the fringe of an urban center in Norway. Specifically, it investigates the potential impact of wind energy projects on local recreation values. Recreation areas near cities are often scarce and under increasing pressures from growing populations with associated real-estate development and expanding or emerging industries. Hence, public planners and policy makers who seek to make optimal resource management decisions need information on all opportunity costs, including those associated with diminished recreational access or quality. Two separate case studies utilize the travel cost method (TCM) to derive baseline recreation demands. Supplementary information from contingent behavior (CB) scenarios provides identification of the impact of wind turbines on recreation benefits. For a unique comparison, one case examines a possible inland wind farm near a popular local mountain area, whereas the other case examines an offshore wind farm near local beaches. Econometric estimations are performed in a joint revealed preference (RP) – stated preference (SP) pseudo-panel count-data framework. The analysis generates baseline consumer surplus estimates in the range of NOK 70–155 per trip and indicates that the wind turbines would have negative impacts that are both statistically and economically significant.

Pro-social behaviour in crowdsourcing systems: Experiences from a field deployment for beach monitoring

Abstract The paper presents experiences from the rapid introduction and deployment of a data crowdsourcing and data sharing system, motivated by an urgent civic need arising due to the appearance of jellyfish in the swimming coastal areas of western Greece during the summer season. The system was tailored for mobile use and although the pressing need for its deployment negated the time for thorough design, a rich set of lessons and findings emerge from its public use by 13,340 users, over a period of 2 months, reporting over 1,800 times on the condition of 189 local beaches, of which 157 were added to the system by the users themselves. This work touches on issues of usability, motivation, data reliability and public utility of mobile participatory systems and demonstrates that effective outcomes for public bodies may rise when systems are designed for the immediate benefit of citizens, by openly exposing the collected data. Most importantly, participation in mobile crowdsourced systems where the data is openly shared between participants is found to be strongly driven by altruistic motives and not by financial or ethical awards. Additionally, the altruistic motives behind participation overcome the added difficulty of participating from a purely mobile use context, and safeguard the quality of the contributed data, reducing the need for complex quality monitoring and safeguarding mechanisms. Finally, the paper identifies barriers and opportunities for the opportunistic participation in mobile crowdsourcing systems during leisure time.