GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
Institut für Küstenforschung
Max-Planck-Str.
21502 Geesthacht

http://www.gkss.de

Email:	Friedhelm.Schroeder(at)gkss.de
Phone:	+49 (04152) 87 - 2371
Fax:	+49 (04152) 87 - 2366

Working package 4 aims at delivering additional data to the project which cannot be obtained by the field campaigns but which are necessary for the assessment of the water quality (seasonal nutrient-plankton variations). By continuous measurements of the main water quality parameters seasonal trends of the water quality and short-term events will be observed.

The objective of WP4 is to provide real-time data and long-term time series by using a stationary FerryBox Module on a jetty. These data will be used for the following purposes:

• Continuous monitoring and assessment of water quality of Paranaguá Harbour.
• Interpretation of variations in the water quality which are measured during the scarce sampling campaigns.
• Identification of short-term events, e.g., from storms, dredging activities, plankton blooms, illegal discharges or accidents.
• “Early Warning System” via Internet for managers and the general public for environmental hazards and accidents.
• As calibration and validation source for the water quality model in WP3
• For In situ truth calibration of Remote Sensing data

For this purpose an automated wat .er quality station will be installed near Pontal do Sul. The station consists of a „stationary FerryBox-module“ in a container, i.e. a module that has been sucessfully applied in different FerryBoxes (http://www.ferrybox.org).The following parameters will be measured at two water depths:

• temperature,
• salinity
• turbidity
• dissolved oxygen
• pH
• chlorophyll-a (fluoresecence)
• Addtionnally by sampling: Nutrient concentrations

One of the major advantages of the „FerryBox-module“ are its automated control-, cleaning- and anti-fouling capabilities which reduce the necessary maintenance. All data are transferred to a PC in Pontal do Sul by wireless transmission. There the data are stored in a data base which can be accessed by the internet.

In addition to the automated measurements three times per year field campaigns will be carried out by boat. During these campaigns a new developed „pocketFerryBox“ will be used which allows the continuous measurement of the following parameters:

• salinity
• turbidity
• dissolved oxygen
• pH
• algal pigments (chlorophyll-a, phycoerythrin, phycocyanin)
• CDOM (coloured dissolved organic matter)
• Water depth (echo sounder)
• Position (GPS)

In addition nutrient concentrations will be determined by sampling/lab analyses

The following picture shows the location of the station and the planned profiles during the field campaigns.

Due to its exposed location in the estuary the automated station will monitor some of the main water bodies of the tidal-influenced estuary. With a residence time of about 4 days in the estuary it can give an indication of main water quality situation. An assessment of its representativity will be carried out by means of the numerical circulation model (WP 3). The continuous time series measured by the monitoring station (automated measurements and sample processing) will be of great value for an interpretation of the field campaigns which can only be carried out 1-2 times per year and for the calibration and validation of the water quality model.

Another important aspect of the automated monitoring is the detection of short-term events, such as increased turbidity during storms, fast algae growth and others. In this context, the function of the monitoring station as “early warning system”, for example at ship accidents with spill of chemicals or oil, is an important monitoring task. In these cases changes in water quality, e.g., pH, salinity or oil-fluorescence are measured as proxies for the pollutants and the data are transmitted in real-time to the internet. Scientists, authorities and managers can easily follow the events from their office via the internet and take action according to the situation. The samples taken during these events are analysed in the lab and can be used for legal action.

Results and expected products

• Dynamic of oceanographic and water quality parameters at different hydrodynamic and hydrological conditions such as wind, sun, tides, fresh water discharge etc.
• Tools for fast and specific access to given environmental data such as Internet available environmental information from operational stations.
• Monitoring strategies of dynamic processes through real-time data and remote sensing.
• Nutrient budget of Paranaguá
• Assessment of the water quality and recommendations for an improvement together with the other Working packages.