526
J. Ojeda Zújar et al.
2) develop specific applications which allow the systematic exploitation of the
ample collection of satellite images available to the regional ministry (Ojeda
et al. 1994). Both the original images and the results of the thematic
applications will be incorporated as information sources within the
Andalucian System of Environmental Information (SinambA) developed by
the Regional Environmental Ministry. Among the various thematic
applications is one directed at the evaluation and monitoring of coastal water
quality, to which there are two strands:
i)
mapping water quality parameters such as turbidity, suspended solids,
heavy metals etc. from satellite images ( Fernández Palacios et al., 1994)
assist the monitoring authorities to locate sampling sites which are
spatially and temporally representative throughout the year
ii)
This chapter relates to this second aspect and presents the methods used, the
conclusions reached concerning the dynamics of the estuary, and the spatial
distribution of the various water masses under differing synoptic situations. This, in
turn, will improve the sampling design on which the monitoring of water quality is
based.
Study Area
The Tinto-Odiel estuary is formed by the confluence of the rivers Tinto and Odiel on
the Atlantic Coast of SW Spain near Huelva (Fig. 1). This stretch of coast is
semidiurnal mesotidal (average tidal range 2.10m.) with a slight daily irregularity as
shown by the data taken at the harbour of Huelva (Borrego, 1992).
The presence of marshes, dunes, and beaches, associated with the estuarine
dynamics, makes this area very valuable from an ecological point of view, and many of
these areas have been declared Natural Protected Areas by the regional government.
On the other hand, as in most European estuaries, many activities and intensive land
uses are beside the estuary, harbours at Huelva and Puerto Umbría, a city at Huelva,
tourist resorts at Puerto Umbría and Mazagón, petrochemical industries, settlements,
and intensive agriculture. As usual, such an industrial and urban concentration causes
high levels of pollution in the estuary. To remedy this situation it was necessary for the
administration to take special measures through the Plan for the Management of
Industrial Spillage, which is now concluded, having solved, in general, the
environmental problems of the estuary. However, monitoring remains necessary
because of the intensive industrial activity on the banks of the estuary.
Plan for the Monitoring of Andalucian Coastal Waters
The job of monitoring and controlling pollution in coastal waters in the Autonomous
Community of Andalucía has been undertaken by the regional administration since
J. Ojeda Zújar et al.
2) develop specific applications which allow the systematic exploitation of the
ample collection of satellite images available to the regional ministry (Ojeda
et al. 1994). Both the original images and the results of the thematic
applications will be incorporated as information sources within the
Andalucian System of Environmental Information (SinambA) developed by
the Regional Environmental Ministry. Among the various thematic
applications is one directed at the evaluation and monitoring of coastal water
quality, to which there are two strands:
i)
mapping water quality parameters such as turbidity, suspended solids,
heavy metals etc. from satellite images ( Fernández Palacios et al., 1994)
assist the monitoring authorities to locate sampling sites which are
spatially and temporally representative throughout the year
ii)
This chapter relates to this second aspect and presents the methods used, the
conclusions reached concerning the dynamics of the estuary, and the spatial
distribution of the various water masses under differing synoptic situations. This, in
turn, will improve the sampling design on which the monitoring of water quality is
based.
Study Area
The Tinto-Odiel estuary is formed by the confluence of the rivers Tinto and Odiel on
the Atlantic Coast of SW Spain near Huelva (Fig. 1). This stretch of coast is
semidiurnal mesotidal (average tidal range 2.10m.) with a slight daily irregularity as
shown by the data taken at the harbour of Huelva (Borrego, 1992).
The presence of marshes, dunes, and beaches, associated with the estuarine
dynamics, makes this area very valuable from an ecological point of view, and many of
these areas have been declared Natural Protected Areas by the regional government.
On the other hand, as in most European estuaries, many activities and intensive land
uses are beside the estuary, harbours at Huelva and Puerto Umbría, a city at Huelva,
tourist resorts at Puerto Umbría and Mazagón, petrochemical industries, settlements,
and intensive agriculture. As usual, such an industrial and urban concentration causes
high levels of pollution in the estuary. To remedy this situation it was necessary for the
administration to take special measures through the Plan for the Management of
Industrial Spillage, which is now concluded, having solved, in general, the
environmental problems of the estuary. However, monitoring remains necessary
because of the intensive industrial activity on the banks of the estuary.
Plan for the Monitoring of Andalucian Coastal Waters
The job of monitoring and controlling pollution in coastal waters in the Autonomous
Community of Andalucía has been undertaken by the regional administration since