scholarly journals New Radiometric Approaches to Compute Underwater Irradiances: Potential Applications for High-Resolution and Citizen Science-Based Water Quality Monitoring Programs

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (16) ◽  
pp. 5537
Author(s):  
Carlos Rodero ◽  
Estrella Olmedo ◽  
Raul Bardaji ◽  
Jaume Piera
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Attenuation Coefficient ◽  
Optical Sensors ◽  
Vertical Direction ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient ◽  
Monitoring Programs ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Vertical Accuracy

Measuring the diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd) allows for monitoring the water body’s environmental status. This parameter is of particular interest in water quality monitoring programs because it quantifies the presence of light and the euphotic zone’s depth. Citizen scientists can meaningfully contribute by monitoring water quality, complementing traditional methods by reducing monitoring costs and significantly improving data coverage, empowering and supporting decision-making. However, the quality of the acquisition of in situ underwater irradiance measurements has some limitations, especially in areas where stratification phenomena occur in the first meters of depth. This vertical layering introduces a gradient of properties in the vertical direction, affecting the associated Kd. To detect and characterize these variations of Kd in the water column, it needs a system of optical sensors, ideally placed in a range of a few cm, improving the low vertical accuracy. Despite that, the problem of self-shading on the instrumentation becomes critical. Here, we introduce a new concept that aims to improve the vertical accuracy of the irradiance measurements: the underwater annular irradiance (Ea). This new concept consists of measuring the irradiance in an annular-shaped distribution. We first compute the optimal annular angle that avoids self-shading and maximizes the light captured by the sensors. Second, we use different scenarios of water types, solar zenith angle, and cloud coverage to assess the robustness of the corresponding diffuse attenuation coefficient, Ka. Finally, we derive empirical functions for computing Kd from Ka. This new concept opens the possibility to a new generation of optical sensors in an annular-shaped distribution which is expected to (a) increase the vertical resolution of the irradiance measurements and (b) be easy to deploy and maintain and thus to be more suitable for citizen scientists.

scholarly journals Underwater annular irradiance: New concept to measure the light diffuse attenuation coefficient through the KduSTICK, a Do-It-Yourself device

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Rodero ◽  
Raul Bardaji ◽  
Joaquin Salvador ◽  
Estrella Olmedo ◽  
Jaume Piera
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Attenuation Coefficient ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Water Transparency ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Light Extinction ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient ◽  
Monitoring Programs ◽  
Do It Yourself

<p>Measuring water transparency allows us to monitor the water body's environmental status. One parameter to estimate water transparency is the light diffuse attenuation coefficient (Kd). This coefficient is of particular interest in water quality monitoring programs.</p><p>The Kd describes the light extinction as function as the depth of downwelling irradiance, Ed. However, self-shading by the instrument itself can cause errors in Ed estimations. To avoid this effect, relative complex structures must be required to install the sensors that limit the vertical resolution of Ed measurements. Here we propose to use optical sensors in an annular-shape distribution to mitigate these limitations. For this, we introduce a new concept: the annular irradiance, Ea. We first compute the optimal angle to avoid self-shading while maximizing the light captured by the sensor. Second, we assess the robustness of the corresponding diffuse attenuation coefficient, Ka, in different scenarios of water types, solar angle and cloud coverage. Finally, we correlate Ka measurements with Kd at PAR region, and we derive empirical functions from translating Ka to Kd measurements.      </p><p>This new coefficient is the basis of the new generation of the KdUINO instrument  (Bardaji et al., 2016) as a KduSTICK, which estimates the near-surface light extinction coefficient based on Ka measurements. Since the design of the instrument avoids self-shading, the device is expected to be particularly useful in those underwater environments where high vertical Ed resolution is required.</p><p>Furthermore, instruments based on this light-sensing approach are much simpler to deploy and maintain, and it is possible to design low-cost and Do-It-Yourself (DIY) versions. All these features facilitate its use for non-academic users, making the KduSTICK an optimal instrument to be used in Citizen Science water quality monitoring programs.</p>

Methodological Approaches to Organization of Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Programs

2020 ◽  
pp. 4-8
Author(s):  
Yu.A. Novikova ◽  
I.O. Myasnikov ◽  
A.A. Kovshov ◽  
N.A. Tikhonova ◽  
N.S. Bashketova
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Drinking Water Quality ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Water Supply Systems ◽  
Monitoring Programs ◽  
Supply Systems

Summary. Introduction: Drinking water is one of the most important environmental factors sustaining life and determining human health. The goal of the Russian Federal Clean Water Project is to improve drinking water quality through upgrading of water treatment and supply systems using advanced technologies, including those developed by the military-industrial complex. The most informative and reliable sources of information for assessing drinking water quality are the results of systematic laboratory testing obtained within the framework of socio-hygienic monitoring (SGM) and production control carried out by water supply organizations. The objective of our study was to formulate approaches to organizing quality monitoring programs for centralized cold water supply systems. Materials and methods: We reviewed programs and results of drinking water quality laboratory tests performed by Rospotrebnadzor bodies and institutions within the framework of SGM in 2017–2018. Results: We established that drinking water quality monitoring in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation differs significantly in the number of monitoring points (566 in the Krasnoyarsk Krai vs 10 in Sevastopol) and measured indicators, especially sanitary and chemical ones (53 inorganic and organic substances in the Kemerovo Region vs one indicator in the Amur Region). Discussion: For a more complete and objective assessment of drinking water quality in centralized cold water supply systems, monitoring points should be organized at all stages of water supply with account for the coverage of the maximum number of people supplied with water from a particular network. Thus, the number of points in the distribution network should depend, inter alia, on the size of population served. In urban settlements with up to 10,000 inhabitants, for example, at least 4 points should be organized while in the cities with more than 3,000,000 inhabitants at least 80 points are necessary. We developed minimum mandatory lists of indicators and approaches to selecting priority indices to be monitored at all stages of drinking water supply.

scholarly journals From data to decisions: understanding information flows within regulatory water quality monitoring programs

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Kumpel ◽  
Clara MacLeod ◽  
Kara Stuart ◽  
Alicea Cock-Esteb ◽  
Ranjiv Khush ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Information Flows ◽  
Monitoring Programs

Development of Multiple Water Quality Measurement Devices

2011 ◽  
Vol 695 ◽  
pp. 606-609
Author(s):  
Pill Jae Kwak ◽  
Seog Ku Kim ◽  
Sang Leen Yun ◽  
Sung Won Kang ◽  
Hyun Dong Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Optical Sensors ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Water Quality Monitoring ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Temperature Conductivity ◽  
High Data ◽  
Water Quality Measurement

The water quality measurement device that we developed measures pH, water temperature, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity and nitrate. And it measures all parameters simultaneously. The water resistant and screw packing technology also applied for improved mechanical reliability during water quality monitoring. A comparison between the performances of major company products (YSI, Hydrolab etc.) and this device don't provide a stark contrast. This device was verified through the KOREA’s Environmental Examination Methods. This device is offered reliable and cost-effective water quality monitoring solutions. Upgrades will be available and will include the technologies that are self-cleaning optical sensors with integrated wipers remove biofouling and maintain high data accuracy and optimal power management and built-in battery compartment extends in situ monitoring periods.

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