Physical dynamics controlling variability in nearshore fecal pollution: Fecal indicator bacteria as passive particles

Authored by M A Rippy, P J S Franks, F Feddersen, R T Guza, D F Moore

Date Published: 2013

DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.09.030

Sponsors: United States Office of Naval Research (ONR) United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) United States National Science Foundation (NSF) California Sea Grant

Platforms: MATLAB

Model Documentation: Other Narrative Mathematical description

Model Code URLs: Model code not found

Abstract

We present results from a 5-h field program (HB06) that took place at California's Huntington State Beach. We assessed the importance of physical dynamics in controlling fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentrations during HB06 using an individual based model including alongshore advection and cross-shore variable horizontal diffusion. The model was parameterized with physical (waves and currents) and bacterial (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus) observations made during HB06. The model captured surfzone FIB dynamics well (average surfzone model skill: 0.84 \{E. coli) and 0.52 \{Enterococcus)), but fell short of capturing offshore FIB dynamics. Our analyses support the hypothesis that surfzone FIB variability during HB06 was a consequence of southward advection and diffusion of a patch of FIB originating north of the study area. Offshore FIB may have originated from a different, southern, source. Mortality may account for some of the offshore variability not explained by the physical model. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}}, Publisher = {{PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Tags
California Escherichia-coli Zone water-quality Surf-zone Sunlight inactivation Huntington-beach Budget analysis Lake-michigan Marine beach Enterococci