LAND-OCEAN INTERACTIONS IN THE COASTAL ZONE
March `99
No. 10
LOICZ NEWSLETTER
The impact of economic
discharge reaches 9,880 X 106 m3.
activities on
Agno River is the longest at 275
km, drains 70% of total catchment
biogeochemical
area and accounts for 70% of total
cycling in Lingayen Gulf,
discharge into the Gulf. Groundwa-
northern Philippines:
ter seepage into the Gulf was esti-
A preliminary synthesis
mated to be 1 X 109 m3/yr or 10%
of total surface runoff. Flushing
time is approx. 1.1 months.
L. Talaue-McManus, D. McGlone, M.
The provinces of Pangasinan and
L. San Diego-McGlone, F. Siringan,
C. Villanoy, and W. Licuanan
La Union surround the Lingayen
Gulf. From a total of 2.6 million
Man's actions to extract goods and
people in 1990, population is ex-
derive services from nature have
pected to reach 4.6 million in 30
long been recognized as major de-
years at an annual growth rate of
terminants of environmental
1.45%, which is lower than the na-
change. Economic activities on
tional growth rate of 2.3% per year.
land and in water generate waste
The agriculture, fishery and
that affects the cycling of materials
forestry sectors collectively ac-
and the consequent health of the
counted for 43% of regional GDP
coastal environment. This study at-
while the service sector contributed
tempts to determine how residuals
42%, and industry generated 15%
derived from economic activities,
in 1995. In this study, the contribu-
influence biogeochemical pro-
cesses in Lingayen Gulf, northern
tions of nitrogen and
Philippines. (Figure 1).
phosphorus gener-
Lingayen Gulf is a u-shaped em-
ated by economic ac-
bayment located along the north-
tivities were deter-
west coast of Luzon, facing the
mined as major pa-
South China Sea. About 2,100 km2
rameters in calculat-
wide, its coastline extends approx.
ing nutrient budgets.
160 km long. The gulf has an aver-
Using the rapid as-
age depth of 46 m, reaching a
sessment method de-
maximum of 110 m at its mouth. Its
veloped by the World
western section is dominated by
Health Organization
about 200 km2 of coral reefs and
(1), appropriate eco-
associated seagrass and algal
nomic sectors gener-
beds. The bayhead has mostly a
ating each residual
muddy substrate as it receives ma-
were identified, and
terials from the Agno River, the
the residual produc-
largest of six river systems empty-
tion and environmen-
ing into the Gulf. Most of the estu-
tal assimilation along
arine aquaculture areas with sec-
its transport to coastal
ondary stands of mangrove and
waters were calcu-
nipa swamps are located here. In-
lated. Table 1 sum-
land areas are used extensively for
marizes waste gener-
agriculture. The eastern section
ation by each eco-
has a sandy substrate and its
nomic activity or sec-
beaches provide for a moderately
tor. Household activi-
flourishing coastal tourism.
ties accounted for
Six major river systems drain into
32% of nitrogen and
the Lingayen Gulf. Their total
52% of phosphorus
drainage area extends to 8,810 km2
Figure 1 Lingayen Gulf
estimated to reach
and annual aggregate freshwater
coastal waters. Non-
point agricultural
page 2
LOICZ NEWSLETTER
runoff contributed 64% of total ni-
Table 1. Residuals from economic activities entering coastal waters of Lingayen Gulf
trogen, 45% of total phosphorus
(in metric tons yr-1).
and 97% of suspended solids.
Economic Activity
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Suspended
solids
These values show that population
Household activities
4,912
1,252
-
and agriculture significantly con-
· Domestic sewage
4,467
563
-
tribute to the loading of nutrients
· Solid waste
445
69
-
and suspended solids in Lingayen
· Detergents
-
620
-
Urban Runoff
354
29
66,253
Gulf.
Agricultural Runoff
9,706
1,081
2,743,592
Estimates of waste loading were
· Crop fertilization
5,097
973
-
used in refining calculations of stoi-
· Cropland erosion
4,607
108
2,743.592
chiometrically linked water-salt-
Livestock
83
14
2,687
· Commercial piggery
71
14
2,194
nutrient budgets. Preliminary bud-
· Poultry
12
-
493
gets were made using the LOICZ
Aquaculture
62
11
66
Biogeochemical Modelling Guide-
Mining
-
-
20,732
lines (2). Complete mixing of the
TOTAL
15,117
2,387
2,833,329
water column was assumed and
only annual means were consid- the system is nearly in balance distance gradient from river
ered. The influence of groundwater metabolically as it efficiently recy- mouths and point sources. The nu-
seepage was also taken into ac- cles organic matter. However, the trient characterization of groundwa-
count.
slight heterotrophy and a high initial ter will also be done. With these
About 15,000 mt/yr (1 X 109 moles/ estimate of DOP at +0.09 mol/ additional parameters, net
yr) of nitrogen, mainly from agricul- m2/yr (almost 2 orders of magni- metabolic rates can be established
tural run-off and household activi- tude higher than DIP), suggest along a distance gradient using dis-
ties, enter the gulf. This estimated that an increase in organic pollution aggregated box models to validate
input was obtained using derived could lead to changes in recyling if net autotrophy dominates near
values of assimilation rates for dif- efficiency and perhaps to a likely river mouths, and if net heterotro-
ferent nitrogen sources, and which greater metabolic imbalance.
phy increases with increasing dis-
ranged from 60% for domestic The DIN estimated for the Gulf tance from shore. Simulations of
sewage to 80% for agriculture and was 0.1 mol/m2/yr and which changes in demography and eco-
domestic solid waste (3,4). Be- translated to a (nfix-denit) of the nomic activities can be made to
cause only 33% of total nitrogen same rate. A net denitrifying state determine first-order changes in
were inorganic (5), DIN input from of the Gulf could be sustained by nutrient concentrations, and their
economic activities was estimated significant concentrations of DON consequences on net metabolism
to be 360 X 106 moles/yr or 41% of and decomposition of organic mat- at various levels of the gulf's as-
ambient DIN concentration in the ter.
similative capacity.
Gulf (Table 2).
Suspended solids derived from
The important sources of phospho- economic activities and that References:
rus in terms of economic activities reached the Gulf were estimated to (1) World Health Organization (WHO). 1993.
Rapid Assessment of Sources of Air, Water,
include household activities and be 2.8 million mt/yr, 97% of which and Land Pollution. Geneva, Switzerland.
agricultural run-off. Estimated total came from agricultural run-off
P input assuming an average as- (Table 1). This delivery could ac- (2) Gordon, D. C. Jr., P. R. Boudreau, K. H.
similation rate of 80% as for nitro- count for 37 to 100% of measured Mann, J.-E. Ong, W. L. Silvert, S. V. Smith,
G. Wattayakorn, F. Wulff and T. Yanagi.
gen, was 2,400 mt/yr (77 X 106 ambient concentration (Table 2). 1995. LOICZ Biogeochemical Modelling
moles/yr). Of this input, only 50% Given this level of anthropogenic Guidelines. LOICZ/R&S/95-5, vi + 96 pp
or 39 X 106 moles/yr were inorganic influence on the flux of suspended LOICZ, Texel, The Netherlands.
(DIP) (5) and accounted for 33% of solids into the Gulf, changes in
ambient DIP concentration in the economic activities that increase (3) Valiela, I., G. Collins, J. Kremer, K. Lajtha,
M. Geist, B. Seely, J. Brawley and C. H.
Gulf (Table 2).
delivery rates can have profound Sham. 1997. Nitrogen loading from coastal
The calculated phosphorus budget impacts. These may include watersheds to receiving estuaries: New
indicated that the Gulf is a net DIP changes in carbon fixation by and method and application. Ecological Applica-
source with DIP being +0.001 in the species composition of au- tions 7(2), pp. 358-380.
mol/m2/yr. Assuming that organic totrophs and changes in sediment (4) Moffat, A. S. 1998. Global nitrogen over-
matter entering the Gulf includes dispersal patterns and their conse- load problem grows critical. Science 279
plankton with C:P = 106:1 as well quences on bathymetry and coastal (5353): 988-989.
as organic waste material with a geomorphology, among others.
C:P = 47:1 due to partial oxidation, Future studies in Lingayen Gulf will (5) San Diego-McGlone, M.L., S. V. Smith,
and V. Nicholas. Stoichiometric interpretation
(p-r) was estimated to range from include the empirical measure- of C:N:P ratios in organic waste materials.
0.07 to 0.03 mol/m2/yr. Overall, ments of concentrations and fluxes (Submitted)
the small DIP flux and correspond- of the dissolved organic forms of
ingly low (p-r) values suggest that nitrogen and phosphorus along a
Table 2. Total material concentrations in Lingayen Gulf and those contributed by economic activities.
Material
Ambient Concentration
Concentration derived from
economic activities (% contribution)
DIN
0.81 µmol/L
0.33 µmol/L (41)
DIP
0.12 µmol/L
0.04 µmol/L (33)
TSS
2.5 ± 4.5 mg/L
2.6 mg/L (37-100)
page 3
LOICZ NEWSLETTER
SCOR in Rio de Janeiro in Octo- portunity for detailed discussions
Submarine Groundwater
ber, 1997. Bill Burnett (USA) and on the LOICZ "budgets" approach.
Evgeny Kontar (Russia) are the While there was accord on the ap-
Discharge:
co-chairs and Robert Buddemeier proach, issues such as effects of
Global Assessment
(USA) is the LOICZ liaison for the water residency times, and the im-
team. The group held an organisa- plications of spatial and temporal
by Bill Burnett, Florida State
tional meeting in conjunction with variation on methodologies were
the Western Pacific Geophysical considered in some depth, and
University, USA
Meeting in Taipei (July 20-24, added further to the successful
1998) and plans a meeting of the progress of LOICZ Focus 3 initia-
The Scientific Committee on full working group during the Inter- tives.
Oceanic Research (SCOR) and national Association of Hydrologi-
Submarine Groundwater Discharge cal Sciences (IAHS) Meeting in
have recently established a work- Birmingham, UK (July 19-30,
ing group of experts to examine
A Boost for Coastal
1999).
groundwater discharge in the
Typology
coastal zone. Direct groundwater
flow into the ocean occurs as
More Estuarine Budgets
The development of a coastal ty-
springs and seeps in near-shore
from Australasia
pology system that describes the
areas in many parts of the world.
global coastal zones is an impera-
Submarine springs are well known More than 30 new estuarine bio- tive for LOICZ. This has been a
off both coasts of Florida; Mexico's geochemical budgets were devel- taxing issue for the program as a
Yucatan Peninsula; in several ar- oped for Australia, New Zealand whole - not just the collection and
eas around the Pacific rim includ- and New Guinea at a workshop in development of "useful" databases
ing Chile, Hawaii, Guam, American Canberra, Australia on 12-14 Octo- but, importantly, the development
Samoa, and Australia; in the Per- ber 1998. Hosted by CSIRO Land of an appropriate methodology.
sian Gulf near Bahrain; in the & Water and led by Steve Smith, While vital to LOICZ, this is a "red-
Mediterranean Sea Off Spain, the 20 scientists presented stoi- hot" issue in current global re-
France, Italy, Greece, Syria, chiometric C-N-P budgets across search.
Lebanon, Israel, and Libya; and tropical and subtropical systems
many other locations around the with locations ranging in scales Some exciting and cutting-edge
world. Some of these springs are from 10's to 100's of km2. The developments are being made by
large enough to have been ex- resulting budgets add to the hand- LOICZ researchers. These devel-
ploited for human needs. Perhaps ful of existing assessments for the opments were carried further in a
much more important is the slow region and are being posted to the recent LOICZ workshop (16-18 Oc-
yet persistent seepage of ground- LOICZ Web site. A comprehensive tober 1998) hosted by the Univer-
water that flows out along most report (LOICZ Reports & Studies sity of Hawaii and led by Bob Bud-
shorelines of the world. Although No. 12) will be published in March demeier. Eight researchers brought
less spectacular than large springs, 1999.
together their research advances,
seepage may occur over broad ar- The workshop demonstrated an ex- previously developed through e-
eas and deliver a potentially signifi- tensive amount of data and contin- mail collaboration. Questions of
cant amount of flow and dissolved uing research on nutrients science scaling, databases, coastal system
components to the world's oceans. and management regimes to ame- analyses, methods and approaches
liorate impacts on catchments wa- to aggregation of sites and pixels,
Although submarine groundwater ters from urban and agricultural and the selection of test sites were
discharge has been recognised for developments, and groundwater debated and tested.
many years, the process has not aquifers. It is likely that further
received much scientific attention evaluations of existing time-course The questions of scaling and ag-
because of either (i) a perception data could demonstrate direct sys- gregation of data are vexing is-
that it is unimportant; and/or (ii) the tem responses resulting from op- sues, in which fractal analyses may
difficulty in measurement. Studies tions taken in the management of contribute some partial answers.
performed over the past few years human activities in estuarine catch- The modification of databases to
have presented convincing argu- ments and the biogeochemical pro- discriminate between coastal
ments that direct groundwater flow cesses and systems performance. (coastline), coastal seas and terres-
to the ocean can be important, at
trial blocks of information is not a
least in some areas. The measure- Latitudinal comparisons of estuar- trivial process - the LOICZ Typol-
ment difficulties haven't been over- ine net productivity, nitrification ogy Database offered a starting
come but progress is being made.
and nutrient loads are being made point for examination of direct and
from the array of sites investigated. derivative information and indica-
It thus appeared opportune to es- These are reported in the workshop tors of processes and numeric pa-
tablish an international working publication, and are expected to rameters. Ways to define similarity
group to address questions relating link closely with companion devel- or disimilarity between the 9000-
to assessment of the magnitude opments LOICZ is making in its odd 1-degree pixels which outline
and influence of groundwater dis- global typology approaches.
the global coastal zone is a chal-
charge in the coastal zone. SCOR/
lenge - simple regression and cor-
LOICZ Working group 112 was ap- The workshop provided a vital op- relation approaches are not useful
proved at the General Meeting of
page 4
LOICZ NEWSLETTER
economic problems. In addressing year phase. New projects, new re-
to segregate or aggregate the these issues, the workshop demon- gional collaborations, increasing in-
heirachies of information.
strated clearly that climate change volvement of individual re-
at global and regional scales can searchers, and science-delivering
The group is continuing its work have major implications for the re- workshops and publications (some
and gaining a wider collaboration gion's coastal zone; its processes, reported here) are the norm across
with other interested researchers. It biogeomorphology and its socio- all four LOICZ Foci.
is currently building on the work- economic future.
A 5-year Strategic Work Plan is
shop outcomes, presently further The workshop was not a one-off being completed by the SSC to
developing methods and ap- event but was a further step in the guide LOICZ towards meeting the
proaches, acquiring and adapting process of building a framework of goal of a first global synthesis of
databases, and delivering prelimi- communication and research effort LOICZ questions for IGBP by end
nary products in-house.
on land-ocean interaction within the 2002. The Plan, founded on the
The apparent quantum jump being region. The workshop report and LOICZ Implementation Plan, sets
made in these developments is ex- recommendations will be published key priorities and directions and will
pected to be more widely demon- in early new year.
be listed on the LOICZ Website
strated by scientific publications in
and published in the immediate
the near future.
future. Its tenets form the basis of
IGBP Synthesis of
current activities.
Global Change
LOICZ is extending its regional ac-
Climate Change and
tivities and involvement in Europe,
Coastal Processes in
South Asia, Oceania, the
An IGBP Congress of the 11 pro- Caribbean, and Latin America. In
West Africa
jects, including LOICZ, to be held Europe, we have developed a
in Yokohama, Japan in May will strong working association with the
provide a major step in the synthe-
Current research across West
ELOISE program and built close
sis of the inidividual core project
Africa on climate change and
links with the UK LOIS program.
science to a programme statement
coastal processes was addressed
Collaboration with other global (eg.
on Global Change.
at a recent workshop hosted by the
IOC-GOOS, IOC-ICAM), regional
The IGBP Congress will greatly
Université Nationale du Benin and
(eg. SASCOM) and IGBP (eg.
extend and follow up on the
sponsored by START-IOC-LOICZ.
START, LUCC) projects is proving
"synthesis process". Here IGBP is
About 40 scientists from Morocco
a fruitful approach to further en-
working to bring together the re-
to South Africa, from francophone
gage with coastal research in the
sults and build an integrated picture
and anglophone nations enthusias-
other regions.
of global change.
tically joined in presentations and
More details are available on the
The recent IGBP-SC meeting in
discussions of environmental is-
LOICZ web site - www.nioz.nl/loicz/
Estoril set further guidelines and a
sues, current research on coastal framework for the "synthesis pro-
and catchment changes, and man- cess". A major Conference is
agement implications from the sci- planned for Amsterdam in mid HAVE YOU SEEN........
ence.
2001 which will see the presenta-
The diversity of the West Africa tion of the global change picture.
coastal zone and the human pres- The "younger" IGBP projects
sures provided the backdrop for (LOICZ, GLOBEC and LUCC) are Meybeck, M., 1998. Man and
clear outcomes dealing with priori-
river interface: multiple impacts
contributing to the synthesis, and
ties for sub-regional research on
on water and particulates
will continue their own work through
natural and socio-economic pro- and beyond this period. Their out-
chemistry illustrated in the
cesses, data standard and access, comes will combine with and ex-
Seine river basin. Hydrobiolo-
communication and dissemination tend the current "synthesis" results
gia 373/374: 1-20.
of science findings, and risk and particularly in highlighting the hu-
policy considerations.
man dimension in global change Gilbert, A.J. & R. Janssen,
Water and erosion along with the processes.
1998. Use of environmental
disjunct between science findings
functions to communicate the
and effective policy-making were
values of a mangrove ecosys-
major messages. The coastal zone
tem under different manage-
of the region is the location of large
IPO News & Update
ment regimes. Ecological Eco-
cities and high population density.
nomics 25: 323-346.
Natural oceanographic forcing cou- Administrative and meetings of the
pled with anthropogenic activities is LOICZ Executive Committee Arthurton, R.S, 1998. Marine-
causing widespread degradation of (September 1998) and IGBP IPO's
related physical natural haz-
the coastal environment through (October 1998) have assisted the
ards affecting coastal megaci-
shoreline erosion, siltation, flood- direction and activities of LOICZ.
ties of the Asia-Pacific region -
ing, salt water intrusion, subsi- LOICZ science activities are
awareness and mitigation.
dence and pollution. These haz- rapidly increasing as we move into
Ocean & Coastal Management
ards are leading to major socio- the second year of our second 5-
40: 65-85.
page 5
LOICZ NEWSLETTER
Mackenzie, F.T, A. Lerman &
The River Basin Dimension of
Advanced Study Course on
L. M. B. Ver, 1998. Role of the Coastal Region Management,
Multiscale Coastal Dynamics:
continental margin in the global LOICZ Reports & Studies No. 14.
Fluxes and Predictions for the
carbon balance during the past Will be published within 1 or 2
Physical Component. 28 June
three centuries. Geology; May; months time.
till 9 July, Barcelona, Spain.
v. 26; no. 5; p. 423-426; 3 fig-
ures; 1 table.
Other reports:
Non-CO Greenhouse Gases
2
People and Pixels. Linking re-
(NCGG-2) Scientific under-
Brandt, A., J. Calmen & J.R.
mote sensing and social science.
standing, control and imple-
Rottier, 1998. A quatitative lit-
National Research Council, USA.
mentation. 8-10 September
toral classification system.
(Limited copies are available from
99, Noordwijkerhout, The
Oceanography 11 (1): 51-57.
IPO).
Netherlands.
ESCAP (1998), Emerging
15th Biennial International Es-
policy initiatives and activities
tuarine Research Federation
LOICZ CALENDAR
in coastal zone management
Conference, "Where the River
and non-living resources as-
meets the Sea", 25-30
sessment in Asia and the
LUCC Data Expert Meeting
September 99.
Pacific. Development and
on Coastal Zones of South-
Management of Non-living
ern India (LUCC-DIS, in col-
3rd International Symposium
resources in the coastal
laboration with LOICZ), 7-9
Environmental Geochemistry
zones of the Asia-Pacific Re-
April 1999, Goa, India.
in Tropical Countries. 25-29
October 99, Rio de Janeiro,
gion Series, Vol. 3. Eco-
nomic and social commis-
2nd IGBP Congress and
Brazil.
sion for Asia and the Pacific,
SSC9 Meeting, 7-13 May
United Nations, N.Y., 143 p.
1999, Yokohama, Japan.
IPO STAFF
Scialabbam, Nadia (ed.).
LOICZ 4th Open Science
1998. Integrated coastal area
Meeting, 15-18 November
management and agriculture,
1999, Bahía Blanca,
CHRIS CROSSLAND
forestry and fisheries. FAO
Argentina.
Executive Officer
Guidelines. Environment and
HARTWIG KREMER
Natural Resources Service,
South American Estuaries
Deputy Executive Officer
FAO, Rome, 256 p.
Modelling Workshop,
CYNTHIA PATTIRUHU,
November 1999, Bahía
Office Manager
Blanca, Argentina.
MILDRED JOURDAN,
Office Assistant
LOICZ PUBLICATIONS
ELOISE Conference, 1-4 De-
cember 1999, Noordwijker-
MAARTEN SCHEFFERS
SCOR Working Group 104
hout, The Netherlands.
Liaison Officer
(American Zoology limited
copies available from the LOICZ
IGBP Open Science Millen-
IPO).
nium Conference,
Copies will be available in
April or May 2001,
FOR MORE INFORMATION,
January 99.
(proposed) Washington,
PLEASE CONTACT:
USA.
Towards Integrated Modelling
LOICZ INTERNATIONAL PROJECT
and Analysis in Coastal Zones:
OFFICE
Principles and Practices, LOICZ
NETHERLANDS INSTITUTE FOR SEA
Reports & Studies No. 11.
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Australasian Estuarine Systems:
Carbon, Nitrogen and Phospho-
1790 AB DEN BURG - TEXEL
rus Fluxes, LOICZ Reports &
2nd International Convention
THE NETHERLANDS
Studies No. 12. Will be published
on Environment and Devel-
in April 99.
opment. 14-18 June, Ha-
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vana, Cuba.
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bon, Nitrogen and Phosphorus
Human Dimensions of Global
WWW HOME PAGE: HTTP://
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search Community, 24-26
No. 13. Will be published in May
June, Kanagawa, Japan.
99.