FAU’s CAROSEL offers new ‘spin’ on real-time water quality monitoring – | The Invading Sea

Report on Advanced Aquatic Ecosystem Monitoring and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Addressing Water Quality Challenges in Line with Global Sustainability Targets

The health of aquatic ecosystems is critically dependent on the chemical exchanges occurring at the sediment-water interface. Benthic fluxes, specifically the release of nitrogen and phosphorus from sediments, are a primary driver of eutrophication and the proliferation of harmful algal blooms (HABs). These blooms severely degrade water quality, threatening biodiversity and human activities. This challenge directly relates to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 14 (Life Below Water). Traditional methods for monitoring these fluxes are inefficient and provide low-resolution data, hindering effective management and restoration efforts. Addressing this technological gap is essential for protecting and restoring water-related ecosystems as mandated by SDG Target 6.6 and reducing marine pollution as per SDG Target 14.1.

The CAROSEL System: An Innovation for Sustainable Water Resource Management

Technological Advancement in Environmental Monitoring

Researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute have developed an autonomous, underwater monitoring system named CAROSEL (Chamber ARray for Observing Sediment Exchanges Long-term). This technology represents a significant advancement in environmental science, aligning with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by enhancing scientific research and technological capabilities.

• Autonomous Operation: CAROSEL operates automatically for extended periods (several weeks), taking multiple measurements daily without human intervention.
• High-Frequency Data: The system provides an unprecedented, high-resolution view of nutrient exchanges, capturing real-time, hourly fluctuations.
• Enhanced Efficiency: It overcomes the cost, labor, and time limitations of conventional methods, which typically yield only a single data point per deployment.

Direct Contributions to Sustainable Development Goals

The development and application of the CAROSEL system provide a powerful tool for achieving key sustainability targets.

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: By providing detailed data on nutrient pollution sources, CAROSEL directly supports Target 6.3, which aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution. It enables more effective management of water bodies like Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, where benthic fluxes are the dominant nutrient source.
2. SDG 14: Life Below Water: The technology is crucial for understanding and mitigating the impacts of land-based pollution on coastal and marine ecosystems (Target 14.1). It helps in the sustainable management and protection of these vital habitats from the effects of eutrophication and HABs (Target 14.2).
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: CAROSEL is a prime example of the innovation needed to build resilient infrastructure and foster sustainable industrialization (Target 9.5). Its design, which allows for the integration of any existing underwater sensor, promotes further technological development in environmental monitoring.

Field Study Findings and Implications for Ecosystem Management

Key Observations from Initial Deployment

A test deployment in a freshwater retention pond yielded critical insights into the dynamic nature of sediment-water interactions, challenging previous assumptions of slow, steady processes.

• Sediments were a consistent source of ammonium release, a preferred nutrient for algal blooms.
• Oxygen levels in the water column followed a clear diurnal cycle (daytime production, nighttime consumption), while sediments consistently consumed oxygen.
• Nutrient fluxes responded rapidly to environmental changes, such as rainstorms, highlighting the sensitivity of these systems.
• The data revealed sharp, short-term fluctuations in nutrient and oxygen exchange, underscoring the need for high-frequency monitoring to accurately model and manage aquatic ecosystems.

Future Applications and Broader Impact on Sustainability

Versatility and Potential for Widespread Application

The CAROSEL system’s adaptability makes it a valuable tool for a wide range of environmental challenges, reinforcing its importance for achieving global sustainability.

• Environmental Versatility: The system is designed for both freshwater and marine environments.
• Parameter Flexibility: It can be adapted to monitor various substances beyond nutrients, including carbon dioxide, organic contaminants, and heavy metals.
• Targeted Projects: Future deployments are planned to establish baseline nutrient flux data in the Indian River Lagoon and directly monitor legacy nutrient pollution in Lake Okeechobee.

This technology offers a pathway to improve the performance of Best Management Practices (BMPs), such as retention ponds, which are integral to community infrastructure and contribute to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). By providing precise data, CAROSEL can help ensure these systems effectively reduce nutrient flow to coastal estuaries, protecting both community health and ecosystem integrity.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the CAROSEL water monitoring system addresses several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on water quality, ecosystem health, and technological innovation.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most prominent SDG, as the entire article revolves around monitoring and understanding nutrient pollution (nitrogen and phosphorus) in lakes and coastal waters to improve water quality.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The research directly targets the health of coastal and marine ecosystems. It discusses how nutrient pollution fuels harmful algal blooms in coastal waters and estuaries like the Indian River Lagoon, disrupting wildlife and degrading aquatic habitats.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article also addresses freshwater ecosystems, which fall under this goal. It specifically mentions research in Lake Okeechobee and freshwater retention ponds, highlighting the need to protect and restore inland water bodies from pollution.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The development of the CAROSEL device is a clear example of scientific innovation. The article details how this new technology provides a more efficient, autonomous, and detailed method for environmental monitoring, representing an advancement in the infrastructure used for scientific research and water management.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article connects to this SDG by discussing the use of retention ponds as a “Best Management Practice (BMP)” to manage nutrient runoff, often originating from urban and suburban areas. It also notes that degraded water quality and algal blooms can “reduce property values,” affecting the economic well-being of communities.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution. The article’s central theme is understanding and managing “benthic fluxes of nitrogen and phosphorus” to combat the pollution that fuels “harmful algal blooms” and degrades water quality. The CAROSEL device is designed to provide the data needed to achieve this target.
2. Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems. The research aims to provide insights that are “an essential step in managing and protecting aquatic ecosystems.” The work in Lake Okeechobee and retention ponds directly supports the goal of restoring the health of freshwater ecosystems.
3. Target 14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution, including nutrient pollution. The article explicitly focuses on “nutrient pollution” as a primary driver of ecosystem degradation in coastal waters. The CAROSEL’s application in the Indian River Lagoon is a direct effort to monitor and ultimately help manage this type of marine pollution.
4. Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation and restoration of inland freshwater ecosystems. The study’s application in Lake Okeechobee, a major freshwater lake, and in freshwater retention ponds directly aligns with the goal of understanding and restoring the health of these inland water systems.
5. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research and upgrade technological capabilities. The invention and successful testing of the CAROSEL represents a technological upgrade over “traditional monitoring methods [that] are slow, costly and challenging.” The article highlights it as a “powerful new tool” that enhances scientific research capabilities for environmental monitoring.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions and implies several specific indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• Concentration of Nutrients: The article explicitly mentions measuring “benthic fluxes of nitrogen and phosphorus,” “ammonium,” and “nitrate.” The amount of these nutrients, measured in units like “pounds per square meter of sediment area per day,” serves as a direct indicator of water pollution levels (relevant to Targets 6.3 and 14.1).
• Water Quality Parameters: The article discusses monitoring “oxygen fluxes” and the risk of “low oxygen ‘dead zones’.” Dissolved oxygen levels are a key indicator of the health of an aquatic ecosystem (relevant to Targets 6.6, 14.1, and 15.1).
• Frequency and Extent of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs): The article identifies HABs as a primary negative outcome of nutrient pollution. Tracking the occurrence, duration, and size of these blooms is a critical indicator of ecosystem health and the effectiveness of pollution management strategies.
• Adoption of Innovative Technology: The development and deployment of the CAROSEL system itself is an indicator of progress in scientific research and innovation (relevant to Target 9.5). The article notes its use in “two new funded projects,” which indicates its adoption by the scientific and environmental management community.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: theinvadingsea.com