Water Quality/Biogeochemistry and Nearshore Sensors Eric H. De Carlo Margaret A. McManus Geno Pawlak Grieg Steward

Objectives of WQ/Sensor Component To develop and implement integrated real-time nearshore water property (quality) monitoring systems To provide government agencies and the public with timely WQ information for decision making wrt health and safety in the nearshore aquatic environment To provide researchers with high-quality time-series data that will enhance understanding of the response of the coastal ocean to natural and anthropogenic forcing

The economic well-being of the State of Hawaii depends upon healthy coastal ecosystems  Public confidence in water quality and safety is crucial Many current monitoring approaches are labor intensive and slow An integrated coastal sensor/ocean observing system will: Boost public confidence by emphasizing the usual high quality of Hawaii’s waters Contribute to public safety by providing early warning of water quality problems and forecasting areas likely to be affected Floodwaters in Ala Wai Canal Manual monitoring for pathogens is slow CRIMP - Kaneohe Bay Kilo Nalu - Kakaako Automated ocean observing platforms exist Vibrio vulnificus

Principal HIOOS WQ Assets Two buoys (Offshore Kaka`ako and Magic Island/Ala Wai) –Seabird sensor packages for salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and chlorophyll-a at 20 min frequency (deployed in first year) –Nitrate sensors (to be deployed in second year) –Satlantic telemetry by cell phone to UH system –CO 2 / O 2 measuring system (3 hr intervals with Iridium telemetry to NOAA/PMEL) Four “nearshore sensor” (NS) stations: –Seabird sensor packages as above (less oxygen) –Cell phone telemetry –Two systems implemented in year 1 in Ala Wai channel –Two systems implemented in year 2: Locations to be determined –Complemented by ADCP (from industry partnership) REMUS AUV surveys: –Event driven surveys Automated Water sampler (to be deployed in year 2): –Collects water samples upon “triggering” by sensors or remote access –Provide samples for laboratory based analyses (e.g., bio, microbes) –Samples backed by sensor data at time of collection

Buoy and Sensor Locations

Buoys and Sensors SBE 16+ SEACAT ® C-T (salinity, temperature) SBE-43 (Dissolved Oxygen) FLNTU (turbidity, fluorescence) Space for sensor development Telemetry (cellular)

AUV Water Quality Surveys Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV): REMUS Conductivity (salinity), temperature, flow velocity, fluorescence (Chl-a), 2 freq. optical backscatter, acoustic backscatter, bathymetry, bed morphology (sidescan sonar) 8 hour surveys (5 kts): 70 km 20 hour surveys (3 kts): >100 km

Event based surveys: (3 per year) Provide distributions, spatial gradients in water properties during- after “events” (identified by sensor network ‘flag’ or by users) Regular surveys: Bimonthly (6 per year) Spatial data on baseline water properties; provide spatial ‘context’ for nearshore/offshore sensor network, water sampling programs AUV Water Quality Surveys

WQ Products Time series water quality data: –Salinity, Temperature, DO, Chl-a, Turbidity, Nitrate –Data from two CRIMP-CO 2 type buoys and two/four nearshore moorings –Use of WQ data to identify ‘events’ that trigger AUV surveys and other sampling efforts. Near real time plots of WQ parameters on web –Updated plots of raw sensor data (20 minute intervals) –Bi-Monthly plots of quality controlled data for the preceding period or telephone alerts to State/C&C Agencies –Sudden large changes in salinity, turbidity or nitrate at buoys and other sensors Maps of WQ parameters from REMUS surveys –Processed data set including gridded 2D and f(x,y,z,t) observations of temp, sal, optical backscatter, fluorescence, velocity and acoustic backscatter for events (10-12/year)

Other Existing Nearshore Observing Systems Kilo Nalu Nearshore Reef Observatory –Key component of HIOOS near Kewalo Basin –Cabled seafloor array with real-time data transmission to shore –Funded by various federal programs for basic physical oceanographic and biogeochemical research CRIMP CO 2 in Kaneohe Bay –Collaborative project with NOAA/PMEL, first buoy of federal coastal CO 2 monitoring network –Interdisciplinary research platform for sensor development –Locally funded by NOAA/Sea Grant College Program

Kilo Nalu Nearshore Reef Observatory Bathymetry in meters Waves Directional wave spectra Wave characteristics Currents vs depth (10m, 20m) Water properties Temperature vs depth (10m, 20m) Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity and fluorescence (Chl-a) (10m) Acoustic backscatter (10m, 20m) Moored profiler (20m: T, S, DO, Chl) Surface water quality buoy (at 10m site) Meteorological (JABSOM roof): Wind, air temp, rel. hum., rainfall, irradiance Fall / Winter 2008: Temperature vs depth to 100m Spatial currents (2 ADCPs along 20m isobaths

Ocean Observatory Technology/Applications: Kilo Nalu Observatory A window into the Hawaiian coastal ocean environment… Technological Development/R&D Ocean technology test bed Instrumentation AUV/ROV applications Passive acoustics Ocean Observation/Prediction System: Real-time observations, validation  waves/currents/water chemistry  Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) surveys  Adaptive sampling Education, Outreach Graduate, undergraduate education synergy with Bishop Museum Funding: NSF CoOP, NSF OCE, ONR, UH Sea Grant

Kilo Nalu: Real-time Wave/Current Data Waves (via ADCP at 10m, 20m, 20 min avg) Directional wave spectra, wave characteristics Currents vs depth (10m, 20m, 20 min avg) Stratification Temperature vs depth (10m, 20m), Salinity (10m)

First buoy of the NOAA/PMEL coastal CO 2 program First high temporal resolution time-series study for a tropical coastal embayment. >24 months of buoy data and synoptic water column data throughout K-bay Kaneohe Bay is a sink of CO 2 during storms but remains a source to the atmosphere over annual scales Local research important in greenhouse gas budgets and ocean acidification (collaborations with F. Mackenzie, R. Feely, C. Sabine, W. Grossmann, etc.) CRIMP CO 2

Kaneohe Bay CRIMP CO 2 Multiparameter sondes (Conductivity/Salinity, T, pH, DO, Chl-a, Turb) at 10 minute frequency CO 2, O 2 sensors, CTD every 3 hours Climate from NWS, CI Data telemetry by Iridium to PMEL (daily plot updates on NOAA website) Synoptic profiles (Chl-a, Cond/Sal, DO, pH, Turbidity at multiple sites) Water samples for lab analyses

ßHyperspectral imaging of coastal zone ßThermal infrared imaging (to evaluate extent of submarine groundwater and other freshwater discharges) ßADCP (current meters to be co-located with buoys and nearshore sensors and provide detailed coastal currents) ßFlat panel interactive displays in public locations (e.g., yacht clubs, Waikiki Aquarium, hotels, paddling clubs, etc.) Other (Currently Unfunded) Components of Potential Interest

Mapping coastal run-off Hyperspectral Imaging of the Coastal Ocean Reef Health & Ecology

HIOOS Water Quality Network Strengths –near-real time –complements existing agency monitoring –covers most popular beaches on O‘ahu –capable of detecting plumes (effluent, runoff, spills) –data will be readily accessible –Mostly Federally funded Weaknesses –cellular system vulnerable (e.g., 2006 earthquake) –may not differentiate between certain effluents, runoff, and spills –cost currently precludes equipping buoys and NS arrays identically and fully

ßTime-series data useful to Local/State/Federal agencies ßDevelopment/testing site for new geochemical sensors ßSeries of complementary observatories provide broad range of data ßLocal but globally relevant data regarding direction and flux of greenhouse gases and ocean acidification ßTraining of technical workforce in ocean technology and outreach… Value of Ocean Observing to Hawaii and Science

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Stakeholders Hawaii State Dept. of Health (CWB) C&C Honolulu, Dept. of Env. Services Waikiki Hotel Association Wastewater Treatment Plants 501-c-3 organizations interested in water quality Researchers interested in land-coastal interactions Environmental firms working in coastal waters K-12 schools (science programs)