Accumulation of conservative substances in a sub-tropical coastal lagoon

Cardoso-Mohedano, J.G.; Bernardello, R.; Sanchez-Cabeza, J.A.; Molino-Minero-Re, E.; Ruiz-Fernández, A.C.; Cruzado, A.. 2015 Accumulation of conservative substances in a sub-tropical coastal lagoon. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 164. 1-9. 10.1016/j.ecss.2015.06.022

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2015.06.022

Abstract/Summary

Coastal lagoons provide important ecosystem services worldwide but are subject to high and multiple environmental stresses. Little information exists on the inner creeks of low-flow coastal lagoons, where the low-exchange rates may exacerbate anthropogenic impacts. In this work, we used a model with high spatio-temporal resolution to describe the hydrodynamics and to estimate the accumulation of conservative contaminants in the upper estuary of the Urias sub-tropical coastal lagoon, in northwestern Mexico. The lagoon shows a weak anti-estuarine behavior and its hydrodynamics is governed by astronomical tides and topography. The mean steady-state water age in the three lagoon areas was ∼15, ∼30 and ∼70 days in the Harbor, Intermediate and Upper Areas, respectively. Thus, the Upper Area, which shelters a mangrove forest, is the most vulnerable to pollution due to the high potential for accumulation. As a best case scenario, the simulation of the release of conservative substances in the Upper area indicated that, 50 days after the release started, conservative pollutants mostly remained in the Upper Area and were not significantly exported to the open ocean. This methodology can be used to model the impact of conservative substances in coastal lagoons worldwide, and can be complementary and useful for the optimization of long-term coastal zone management activities.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1016/j.ecss.2015.06.022
ISSN:	02727714
Additional Keywords:	Coastal lagoon; Mangrove; Contamination; Vulnerability; Dispersion; Estuaries
Date made live:	02 Oct 2015 13:43 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/511943

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

10.1016/j.ecss.2015.06.022

ISSN:

02727714

Additional Keywords:

Coastal lagoon; Mangrove; Contamination; Vulnerability; Dispersion; Estuaries

Date made live:

02 Oct 2015 13:43 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/511943