Publication:
Long-term trends in water quality parameters in coastal waters of Puerto Rico
Long-term trends in water quality parameters in coastal waters of Puerto Rico
Authors
Amirrezvani, Ali
Embargoed Until
Advisor
Armstrong, Roy A.
College
College of Arts and Sciences - Sciences
Department
Department of Marine Sciences
Degree Level
M.S.
Publisher
Date
2016
Abstract
Ocean color remote sensing technology has been widely used in coastal water quality
research. Of particular importance is the influence of river discharge on turbidity and
chlorophyll concentration in coastal areas, which is seasonally and spatially variable. The
coastlines and landscapes of Puerto Rico exhibit regional variability. In this study, Sea-Viewing
Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) and Moderate Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
Aqua satellite chlorophyll a concentration ([Chla]) and diffuse attenuation coefficient at 490nm
(Kd490) data, at high spatial resolution, in combination with river streamflow discharge from the
United Stated Geological Survey (USGS) were used to assess long-term trends impacting the
diverse (i.e., Western, Northern, Eastern, and Southern) coastal waters along Puerto Rico for the
years 1998 to 2013. The evaluation of Kd490, [Chla], river discharge time-series, and their
correlation coefficients from 2km to 16km from the river mouth showed seasonal and spatial
variation for the four regions of the island. Chlorophyll a concentration was the main contributor
to turbidity in coastal waters of Puerto Rico during 1998 to 2013. Higher turbidity trends were
primarily due to increased [Chla] (i.e., biogenic particles) compared to inorganic sediments, as
shown by the high correlation between Kd490 and [Chla], especially during the dry season,
compared to the rainy season. Kd490 and [Chla] were not related to river discharge.
Keywords
Stream measurements-Puerto Rico,
Effect of turbidity on rivers-Puerto Rico,
Shelf topography-Puerto Rico,
Chlorophyll concentration-analysis-Puerto Rico
Effect of turbidity on rivers-Puerto Rico,
Shelf topography-Puerto Rico,
Chlorophyll concentration-analysis-Puerto Rico
Usage Rights
Persistent URL
Cite
Amirrezvani, A. (2016). Long-term trends in water quality parameters in coastal waters of Puerto Rico [Thesis]. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11801/220