Recreational beach use values with multiple activities

ABSTRACT The Morris J Berman oil spill was a large and significant spill occurring at the height of the tourist season in San Juan, Puerto Rico in January 1994. Two major categories of injury were compensated through a single land acquisition project. Restoration for lost recreational beach use was wholly compensated with the land acquisition project. The eolianite reef injury was mostly satisfied by the same land acquisition restoration project, but with the addition of two other restoration projects. Creating new recreational beach use opportunities by acquiring privately owned coastal habitat was a natural choice for restoration. Demonstrating the resource service link between a variety of coastal habitats and eolianite habitat was more challenging. The Trustee Council undertook a Habitat Suitability Analysis to demonstrate this service linkage. The Habitat Suitability Analysis (HSA) showed that habitats different from eolianite reef, including seagrass, mangroves and shallow hard-bottom, could provide habitat services to biota that rely upon eoliniate habitat for some part of their life cycle. The land acquired contained a variety of coastal habitats including mangroves, herbaceous wetlands, the mouths of two coastal rivers, the Sabana and Pitahaya Rivers, and reef communities immediately offshore. Additionally, the beach habitat on the parcel was identified in both the Leatherback and Hawksbill Sea Turtle Recovery Plans as being important conservation targets thus increasing their ecological importance. After selecting land acquisition as a restoration alternative, the need to identify a seasoned land acquisition partner was apparent given the intense demand and competition for a limited resource such as coastal land in Puerto Rico. Finding the right partner to assist in land acquisition, as well as engaging the public early were key elements in the success of this restoration alternative. Strategies and recommendations for other Trustees considering land acquisition as a restoration alternative are explored as well as the pitfalls and lessons learned.

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SWRL Net: A Spectral, Residual Deep Learning Model for Improving Short-Term Wave Forecasts

Weather and Forecasting ◽

10.1175/waf-d-19-0254.1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 35 (6) ◽

pp. 2445-2460

Author(s):

Jonny Mooneyham ◽

Sean C. Crosby ◽

Nirnimesh Kumar ◽

Brian Hutchinson

Keyword(s):

Wave Height ◽

Western Coast ◽

Bulk Wave ◽

Short Term ◽

Spectral Residual ◽

Recreational Beach ◽

Wave Models ◽

Circulation Dynamics ◽

Deep Learning Model ◽

Beach Use

AbstractSkillful nearshore wave forecasts are critical for providing timely alerts of hazardous wave events that impact navigation or recreational beach use. While typical forecasts provide bulk wave parameters (wave height and period), spectral details are needed to correctly predict wave and associated circulation dynamics in the nearshore region. Currently, global wave models, such as WAVEWATCH III (WW3), make spectral predictions, but do not assimilate regional buoy observations. Here, Spectral Wave Residual Learning Network (SWRL Net), a fully convolutional neural network, is trained to take recent WW3 forecasts and buoy observations, and produce corrections to frequency-directional WW3 spectra, transformed into directional buoy moments, for up to 24 h in the future. SWRL Net is trained with 10 years of collocated NOAA’s WW3 CFSR reanalysis predictions and buoy observations at three locations offshore of the U.S. western coast. At buoy locations SWRL Net residual corrections result in wave height root-mean-square error (RMSE) reductions of 23%–50% in the first 6 h and 10%–20% thereafter. Sea frequencies (5–10 s) show the most improvement compared to swell (12–20 s). SWRL Net reduces mean direction RMSE by 28%–54% and mean period RMSE by 20%–56% over 24 forecast hours. While each model is trained and tested at independent locations, SWRL Net exhibits generalization when introduced to data from other locations, suggesting future development may be composed of training sets from multiple locations.

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Beach Uses and Users in Four Beaches of the Ecuadorian Coast: The Importance of Physical and Socioeconomic Conditions for Recreational Beach Use Assessment in Latin American Contexts

Tourism in Marine Environments ◽

10.3727/154427319x15634413181250 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (3) ◽

pp. 163-177

Author(s):

Carla Ricaurte-Quijano ◽

David Nacipucha ◽

Julio Gavilanes ◽

Fanny Manner ◽

Alba Calles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Developing Countries ◽

Urban Development ◽

Latin American ◽

Sandy Beaches ◽

Socioeconomic Conditions ◽

Recreational Beach ◽

Tourism Services ◽

Recreational Use ◽

Beach Use

The understanding of the different conditions that shape the recreational use of sandy beaches is key for their management. This article explores visitors' and residents' recreational use of four sandy beaches in Ecuador in relation to the physical and socioeconomic context in which this use takes place, including beach morphodynamics, level of urban development, as well as the type and quality of tourism services available. Results show that visitors and residents use the beach for the same recreational activities (i.e., walking and swimming) on beaches with different morphologies and socioeconomic conditions. However, respondents also indicated that physical characteristics (e.g., beach size and swell) are important aspects for choosing a beach. Visitors to rural beaches are more likely to consume informal catering services located within the beach area than formal ones located outside. This particular emerging theme should be taken into consideration for further research on management initiatives in the context of developing countries.

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Children Exposure-Related Behavior Patterns and Risk Perception Associated with Recreational Beach Use

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph16152783 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 16 (15) ◽

pp. 2783 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Alesia Ferguson ◽

Courtney Del Donno ◽

Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi ◽

Kristina Mena ◽

Tanu Kaur Altomare ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Perception ◽

Health Study ◽

Behavior Patterns ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Hygiene Practices ◽

Recreational Beach ◽

Risk Of Exposure ◽

Gender Variations ◽

Children’S Exposure ◽

Beach Use

Background: Oil spill chemicals (OSCs) result not only from the crude oil components but also from dispersants used in the clean-up activities, where some may result in adverse health effects under certain exposure and dosage conditions. One of the main populations of concern for exposure to OSCs are children, who are frequent beach users. Activities such as ingestion of and digging in sand can increase dermal and ingestion exposure. Longer times spent at the beach can also increase exposures for all routes. Objectives: The Beach Exposure and Child Health Study (BEaCHeS) was initiated to evaluate the risk of exposure to children from oil contaminants. Reported here are results for surveys collected, as a part of the project, to address exposure-related behavior patterns and risk perception for parents or guardians who visit the beach. Methods: Over 400 parental surveys were collected at four beaches, two in Miami and two in Texas, to evaluate children’s exposure related activities. Surveys consisted of three general sections: demographics, exposure, and risk perception. Surveys were analyzed in REDcap and Stata to evaluate demographic and regional differences on activities related to beach behavior and potential exposures to oil contaminants (e.g., how much time spent on beach, cleaning habits following beach activities). The statistical analysis included the mean and standard errors, along with regressions to evaluate associations between parameters. Results: Overall, the data showed high variability in how children play on the beach, influenced more by age and less by gender. Variations were also seen in certain variables by beach region (e.g., hygiene practices). By race, variations were seen in income, distance of travel to beach, and preferred method of communication for beach warning. Other important findings are reflected in the article. Discussion: The data presented here may prove useful for those evaluating children exposures to a variety of contaminants, chemical, or bacterial in origin. In addition, coastal managers may find the risk perception and general behaviors useful for planning and maintenance of beach areas.

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Field and Model Study on the Protection of Recreational Beach against Wave Action

Coastal Engineering 1974 ◽

10.1061/9780872621138.087 ◽

1974 ◽

Author(s):

Shoji Sato ◽

Norio Tanaka

Keyword(s):

Wave Action ◽

Model Study ◽

Recreational Beach

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Geosites Inventory in Liguria Region (Northern Italy): A Tool for Regional Geoconservation and Environmental Management

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13042346 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 2346

Author(s):

Andrea Ferrando ◽

Francesco Faccini ◽

Flavio Poggi ◽

Paola Coratza

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Environmental Management ◽

Literature Review ◽

Quantitative Assessment ◽

Management Plan ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Value Assessment ◽

Field Surveys ◽

Environmental Management Plan ◽

Use Values

The Liguria Region in Northern Italy is characterized by a wide geological and geomorphological variety, encompassing an important and valuable geoheritage. The Ligurian regional law (L.R. 39/2009) protects and enhances geodiversity and geosites, establishing the Regional Inventory of Geosites; however, an approved official inventory is still lacking. In this work, a first reasoned inventory of 120 geosites is proposed for the Liguria Region on the basis of field surveys and literature review. A quantitative assessment of the value and the degradation risk of geosites has been carried out: the value assessment takes into account scientific, additional and potential-for-use values; the degradation risk assessment considers geosites’ fragility and vulnerability. The results, providing knowledge on the Ligurian geoheritage, can serve as the basis for the Regional Inventory of Geosites and can be useful tools for the implementation of any regional geoconservation strategy or environmental management plan.

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Effect of recreational beach tennis on ambulatory blood pressure and physical fitness in hypertensive individuals (BAH study): rationale and study protocol

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-020-10117-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rodrigo Ferrari ◽

◽

Leandro de Oliveira Carpes ◽

Lucas Betti Domingues ◽

Alexandre Jacobsen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Pressure ◽

Physical Fitness ◽

Ambulatory Blood Pressure ◽

Training Group ◽

Reduce Blood Pressure ◽

Control Group ◽

Recreational Sports ◽

Exercise Interventions ◽

Recreational Beach ◽

Fitness Parameters

Abstract Background Different physical activities are widely recommended as non-pharmacological therapies to reduce blood pressure. However, the effectiveness of exercise programs is associated with its continuity and regularity, and the long-term adherence to traditional exercise interventions is often low. Recreational sports emerge as an alternative, being more captivating and able to retain individuals for longer periods. Besides, sport interventions have demonstrated improvements in physical fitness components that are associated with a lower incidence of hypertension. However, no studies have investigated the effects of recreational sports on 24 h ambulatory blood pressure. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effect of beach tennis training on ambulatory blood pressure and physical fitness in individuals with hypertension. Methods This study will be a randomized, single-blinded, two-arm, parallel, and superiority trial. Forty-two participants aged 35–65 years with previous diagnosis of hypertension will be randomized to 12 weeks of beach tennis training group (two sessions per week lasting 45–60 min) or a non-exercising control group. Ambulatory (primary outcome) and office blood pressures, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength/power and quality of life will be assessed at baseline and after the intervention period. Discussion Our conceptual hypothesis is that beach tennis training will reduce ambulatory blood pressure and improve fitness parameters in middle-aged individuals with hypertension. The results of this trial are expected to provide evidences of efficacy of recreational beach tennis practice on blood pressure management and to support sport recommendations for clinical scenario in higher risk populations. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03909321. Registered on April 10, 2019.

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