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Observing, Monitoring and Evaluating the Effects of Discharge Plumes in Coastal Regions

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Intakes and Outfalls for Seawater Reverse-Osmosis Desalination Facilities

Part of the book series: Environmental Science and Engineering ((ENVSCIENCE))

Abstract

Our ability to predict, observe, and monitor the performance of ocean outfall discharges is rapidly transforming through advances in numerical modeling, remote sensing and underwater vehicle technology. The rapid implementation of sensor and AUV technology has transformed our ability to monitor effluent plumes from coastal discharges of both brine and wastewater. Advances in remote sensing technology provide new views of anthropogenic discharges into coastal seas and oceans. Improved spatial and temporal resolution of coastal models provides more comprehensive dispersion estimates from these discharges. The combined capabilities now provide more detailed observations of the oceanographic processes affecting the dispersion of these discharges and produce statistical maps of the dispersion of properties related to the effluents. These results will contribute to management and design of ocean outfalls and enable better interpretation of discharge effects on coastal ocean ecosystems.

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Acknowledgments

The activities supporting the observations presented took place between 2009 and 2012. Those whose efforts contributed to the success of the observations include Ivona Cetinic, Carl Oberg, Arvind Pereira, the Orange County Sanitation District Environmental Monitoring Division, and Ray Arntz and Kayaa Heller from Sundiver for their operational support that was essential to the success of these efforts. Financial support for the research was provided by USC Sea Grant, Orange County Sanitation District, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s ECOHAB and MERHAB programs, the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observation System (part of NOAA IOOS), and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Burton Jones, Elizabeth Teel, Bridget Seegers & Matthew Ragan

Authors
  1. Burton Jones
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  2. Elizabeth Teel
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  3. Bridget Seegers
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  4. Matthew Ragan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Burton Jones .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. U.A. Whitaker College of Engineering, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida, USA

    Thomas M. Missimer

  2. King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

    Burton Jones

  3. Schlumberger Water Services, Fort Myers, Florida, USA

    Robert G. Maliva

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Jones, B., Teel, E., Seegers, B., Ragan, M. (2015). Observing, Monitoring and Evaluating the Effects of Discharge Plumes in Coastal Regions. In: Missimer, T., Jones, B., Maliva, R. (eds) Intakes and Outfalls for Seawater Reverse-Osmosis Desalination Facilities. Environmental Science and Engineering(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13203-7_22

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13203-7_22

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-13202-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-13203-7

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