Exploring the temporal dynamics of methane ebullition in a subtropical freshwater reservoir.

The transport of methane from sediments to the atmosphere by rising gas bubbles (ebullition) can be the dominant, yet highly variable emission pathway from shallow aquatic ecosystems. Ebullition fluxes have been reported to vary in space and time, as methane production, accumulation, and bubble release from the sediment matrix is affected by several physical and bio-geochemical processes acting at different timescales. Time-series analysis and empirical models have been used for investigating the temporal dynamics of ebullition and its controls. In this study, we analyzed the factors governing the temporal dynamics of ebullition and evaluated the application of empirical models to reproduce these dynamics across different timescales and across different aquatic systems. The analysis is based on continuous high frequency measurements of ebullition fluxes and environmental variables in a mesotrophic subtropical and polymictic freshwater reservoir. The synchronization of ebullition events across different monitoring sites, and the extent to which ebullition was correlated to environmental variables varied throughout the three years of observations and were affected by thermal stratification in the reservoir. Empirical models developed for other aquatic systems could reproduce a limited fraction of the variability in observed ebullition fluxes (R2 < 0.3), however the predictions could be improved by considering additional environmental variables. The model performance depended on the timescale. For daily and weekly time intervals, a generalized additive model could reproduce 70 and 96% of ebullition variability but could not resolve hourly flux variations (R2 = 0.19). Lastly, we discuss the potential application of empirical models for filling gaps in ebullition measurements and for reproducing the main temporal dynamics of the fluxes. The results provide crucial information for emission estimates, and for the development and implementation of strategies targeting at a reduction of methane emissions from inland waters.

Microbiological water quality assessment of sewage discharge through Barra da Tijuca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) submarine outfall.

Submarine outfalls have been employed to convey urban effluents to their fate in the open ocean due to their dilution capacity and organic matter decay. This work analysed Escherichia coli concentrations in the Barra da Tijuca (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) submarine outfall plume, considering an hourly variable bacterial die-off due to environmental parameters associated with dynamic changes, vertical plume position, and thickness in response to hydrodynamic conditions. The adopted modelling procedure included coupling a near-field mixing zone model, NRFIELD, with the far-field Lagrangian transport and water quality model of the SisBaHiA® ( http://www.sisbahia.coppe.ufrj.br ). The coupling methodology simulated E. coli concentrations considering simultaneous variations in temperature, salinity, solar radiation, and hydrodynamic conditions. The results showed substantial variability in E. coli concentrations in the marine environment due to variable environmental conditions, regulating solar radiation levels over the submerged plume.

Mapping of suspended sediment transport using acoustic methods in a Pantanal tributary.

Generally, fluvial systems are used for different objectives including energy production, water supply, recreation, and navigation. Thus, many impacts must be considered with their use. An understanding of sediment dynamics in fluvial systems is often of value for a variety of objectives, given that erosion and depositional processes can change the fluvial system morphology and can substantially alter the fluvial environment. In this sense, sediment monitoring is important because it helps to explain and quantify sediment dynamics in the environment. Hence, this study presents an innovative sediment monitoring technique: the use of the acoustic Doppler current profiler, commonly used to obtain discharge measurements, to obtain suspended sediment concentration (SSC). This paper aims to describe the application of additional corrections to the ADP-M9 signal to obtain SSC from measurement campaigns that used the ADP only for discharge measurements. The analyses were based on traditional sediment sampling methods and discharge measurements, with the ADP-M9, from 7 field campaigns at the Taquari River, a major tributary from the Alto Paraguay Basin, in the Pantanal Biome, known as the largest freshwater wetland system in the world. The correlation was assessed considering the following: (a) the equipment frequency operation mode (Smart Pulse or Fixed Frequency) and (b) by checking the influence of the sediment attenuation coefficient. Furthermore, extrapolation was conducted in filtered and unmeasured areas of the ADP to map the suspended sediment concentration over the entire cross section. Results indicate that ADP correlations can be an effective tool for estimating SSC in the Taquari River when samples cannot be collected. Correlations could be applied to past and future ADP measurements made at the location where the correlation was created, as long as similar environmental conditions are present as when the correlation was developed. The described technique can expand the amount of sediment data available at a monitoring site even with reduced traditional sampling and by leveraging instruments used for other monitoring purposes.

Benchmarking for using an acoustic Doppler current profiler for bathymetric survey.

This research aims to improve data post-processing from an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) to obtain additional depth information with a high-quality bathymetric result. To validate the depth, dataset in a control area was used a scaled rod, the RTK (Real-Time Kinematic) positioning technique, and a single beam echo sounder (SBES). The developed post-processing and validation in the control area applied to a small region of a water supply reservoir in Brazil. A robust local regression method eliminated outliers from the raw data. Subsequently, a linear regression model was generated for the beams from the ADCP to adjust depths and improve the dataset. The statistical hypothesis test performed before and after the adjustment supported the validation of data processing. The resulting volumes calculated from the ADCP raw data showed a difference of 30% with SBES, which is usually the standard equipment used for bathymetric surveys. The proposed post-processing techniques declined to < 1% of the volume discrepancy. The raw dataset standard deviation was 0.15 m on average for Doppler beams, and after adjusts, this value dropped to 0.03 m. The results showed the necessity of a post-processing method to improve depth data quality from ADCP. Thus, the procedure described in this document can be used for bathymetric surveys using ADCP for analysis concerning the estimation of reservoir volume.

Implementation of comparative detection approaches for the accurate assessment of sediment thickness and sediment volume in the Passaúna Reservoir.

Siltation has significant economic and social impacts as it directly reduces the useable amount of water in reservoirs. Giving a solution to the issue of sedimentation is a complicated task and maybe one of the most important engineering and environmental challenges of the 21st century. The deposited volume and the distribution pattern of the sediment are often unknown and not easy to assess. The sedimentation process is highly dynamic, initially due to the hydrological conditions of the incoming rivers, but also due to common internal phenomena like resuspension or density currents. Sediment remediation measures such as mechanical sediment removal or flushing are planned based on the sediment thickness distribution and the overall sediment volume/mass. Often, the sediment thickness is calculated through topographic differencing between the pre-impoundment reservoir lake bottom and the actual lake bottom. However, it is common that the previous depth distribution map is not available or in insufficient quality. In this regard, alternative measurement techniques have to be taken into consideration. In this study, we assessed the best possible approach depending on the characteristics of the sediment and of the reservoir. We combined three different acoustic systems (a multibeam, a sub-bottom profiler, and a single beam dual frequency system) with sediment coring and dynamic free fall penetrometer measurements for an improved assessment of sediment stock and sediment distribution in the Passaúna Reservoir. Our results showed that topographic differencing could not be applied, as the data for the pre-impoundment lake bottom was insufficiently accurate. The parametric sub-bottom profiler could detect the sediment thickness in high accuracy, but significant limitations were recorded in areas with high gas contents. The dual-frequency echosounder derived the sediment thickness with a normalized mean absolute error of 56% due to the high volumetric gas content in the sediment. The dynamic free-fall penetrometer showed satisfying results compared to the other systems. The normalized mean absolute error was 22%, and sediment thickness could be detected in areas with up to 1.8 m of sediment. Sediment coring is also a reliable technique for sediment thickness determination. However, the results showed that if only traditional coring devices are used (gravity corer), the limited penetration depth of the equipment combined with sampling disturbances often prevent a correct assessment of the sediment thickness. The overall results of this study can help for an improved decision-making regarding reservoir management. The accurate assessment of sediment volume and distribution can reduce costs for sediment removal and assist in having a precise overview of the reservoir lifetime.

Correction to: High-frequency measurements of gas ebullition in a Brazilian subtropical reservoir-identification of relevant triggers and seasonal patterns.

The original version of this article unfortunately did not contain all information in Figure 3.

High-frequency measurements of gas ebullition in a Brazilian subtropical reservoir-identification of relevant triggers and seasonal patterns.

Water bodies, either natural or constructed impoundments, are sources of methane to the atmosphere, in which ebullition is frequently mentioned to be the dominant pathway. Ebullition is a complex process that is spatially dependent on factors acting over large distances (atmospheric pressure changes, wind) and factors acting locally (sediment characteristics, gas production) and is temporally variable due to the parameters' oscillation with time. Its quantification through measurements is still limited, as is the identification of production processes and triggers for ebullition. This research focused on obtaining high temporal resolution measurements of gas ebullition from a water supply reservoir located in Brazil, to compare its temporal variability with changes in reservoir conditions, and obtain insights on its spatial patterns. Three automated bubble traps were deployed in the reservoir and measured gas flux from February 2017 to March 2018. The time series data showed a large temporal variability in ebullition. Less intense fluxes occurred with higher frequency, and short-duration events made a larger contribution to the total amount of gas emitted. A strong seasonal variation was observed, in which the mean flux recorded during periods when the reservoir was stratified was 2-16 fold the bubbling rates recorded during colder months and mixed water column. In addition, high flux events were correlated with decreasing atmospheric pressure and increased wind intensities. Lastly, we show that the mean gas emission flux tends to be underestimated during short sampling periods (probability > 41% for sampling periods shorter than 10 days).

A method for the assessment of long-term changes in carbon stock by construction of a hydropower reservoir.

Sustainability of hydropower reservoirs has been questioned since the detection of their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions which are mainly composed of carbon dioxide and methane. A method to assess the impact on the carbon cycle caused by the transition from a natural river system into a reservoir is presented and discussed. The method evaluates the long term changes in carbon stock instead of the current approach of monitoring and integrating continuous short term fluxes. A case study was conducted in a subtropical reservoir in Brazil, showing that the carbon content within the reservoir exceeds that of the previous landuse. The average carbon sequestration over 43 years since damming was 895 mg C m[Formula: see text] and found to be mainly due to storage of carbon in sediments. These results demonstrate that reservoirs have two opposite effects on the balance of GHGs. By storing organic C in sediments, reservoirs are an important carbon sink. On the other hand, reservoirs increase the flux of methane into the atmosphere. If the sediments of reservoirs could be used for long term C storage, reservoirs might have a positive effect on the balance of GHGs.

Long-term hydrodynamic modeling of the Arabian Gulf.

A 3-D prognostic baroclinic hydrodynamic model of the Arabian Gulf (AG) was developed using Delft3D-FLOW. The model was forced with long-term time averaged climatological data over the computational domain and long-term salinity and temperature boundary conditions applied at its tidal open boundary. The model simulation results were thoroughly validated against measured tides from 5 stations and measured currents at 4 locations in the central and southern parts. Water salinity and temperature were validated in space and time using observations spanning over 73 years from 1923 to 1996 for the AG, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman. The bottom flow of the AG basin at the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz was also validated against the available measurements. Seasonal evaporation and surface density spatial distribution maps were produced and compared with available records. The developed model setup successfully generated the AG seasonal stratification and hydrographic conditions.

Dynamic coupling of near field and far field models for simulating effluent discharges.

In many cases, (processed) wastewater or thermal effluents are discharged into the marine environment, rivers or lakes. To accurately determine the dispersion, recirculation and environmental impacts of outfall plumes, it is important to be able to model the different characteristics of the outfall plume in detail - from the near field (metres around the outfall) to the far field (up to kilometres away). The solution for engineering practice is to combine different types of models (near and far field models) that each focus on specific scales, with corresponding optimised resolutions and processes. However, to adequately describe the hydrodynamic processes on these different scales, it is essential to couple these models in a dynamic and comprehensive way. To achieve this, a dynamic coupling between the open-source Delft3D-FLOW far field model and the CORMIX near field expert system is proposed. This coupled modelling system is able to use the computed far field ambient conditions in the near field computations and, conversely, to use the initial near field dilution and mixing behaviour in the far field model. Preliminary results are presented to provide a first indication of the potential of the method for modelling the complete trajectory of effluent outfall plumes, allowing an accurate assessment of the environmental effects and the design of possible mitigating measures.

Occurrence of selected estrogens in mangrove sediments.

This paper presents results related to the occurrence and distribution of estrogens along the Brazilian coast. Three mangrove areas were chosen to evaluate the presence of estrogens in surface sediments of mangrove forests. The presence of estrogens was observed in all studied sites. 17-α-Ethinylestradiol (EE2), a synthetic estrogen, was the most common and has been found in higher concentration (0.45-129.78 ng/g) compared to 17-ß-estradiol (E1) and estrone (E2) (both being natural estrogens). The concentrations of E1 and E2 ranged from 0.02 to 49.27 ng/g and 0.03 to 39.77 ng/g, respectively. Theoretically, under anaerobic conditions EE2 can be reduced to E1 even in environments such as sediments of mangrove forests, which are essentially anaerobic. Even if the concentrations of estrogens seem to be insignificant in some samples, the effects remain uncertain.