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The Río de la Plata is a large fluvial–estuarine–sea system discharging into the southwestern Atlantic Ocean, which has relevant features such as high fluvial discharge, microtidal astronomical tidal scales, a relevant meteorological tide, and a strong atmospheric forcing effect, due to its large width. The objective of this study is to advance the understanding of the estuarine hydrodynamics and salt transport, as well as discussing the main characteristics of the spatiotemporal variability of the salinity field. To achieve this, the results of a 3D model of the Río de la Plata and its maritime front were used, simulating an extensive period of 10 years. In this study, the model was validated using vertical salinity profiles collected at different locations in the estuary. The temporal variability of the salinity stratification was characterised at different temporal scales: annual, monthly, and storm. At the same time, the influences of fluvial flow and winds were determined. The correlation analysis between fluvial flow and the salinity field showed that high annual fluvial flows generate an extension of the freshwater area, with larger longitudinal salinity gradients and a shift of the salinity front towards the ocean. The tendency at the monthly scale is not as clear as that observed at the annual scale. The results show that the effect of a storm coming from the northwest is quite similar to that of storms coming from the southwest, especially in the central and southern zones of the Río de la Plata, where mixing increases and stratification decreases, according to the intensity of the storm. The effect of south–southeasterly storms increases the mixing process and reduces stratification; the opposite effect was identified with respect to northeasterly storms, under the influence of which the stratified area increases. Synthesising the obtained results, a global zonification of the vertical salinity stratification for the Río de la Plata is proposed.
Michelle Jackson; Gianfranco Sienra; Pablo Santoro; Mónica Fossati. Temporal and Spatial Variability Scales of Salinity at a Large Microtidal Estuary. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 2021, 9, 860 .
AMA StyleMichelle Jackson, Gianfranco Sienra, Pablo Santoro, Mónica Fossati. Temporal and Spatial Variability Scales of Salinity at a Large Microtidal Estuary. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering. 2021; 9 (8):860.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMichelle Jackson; Gianfranco Sienra; Pablo Santoro; Mónica Fossati. 2021. "Temporal and Spatial Variability Scales of Salinity at a Large Microtidal Estuary." Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 9, no. 8: 860.
The monitoring of surface-water quality followed by water-quality modeling and analysis are essential for generating effective strategies in surface-water-resource management. However, worldwide, particularly in developing countries, water-quality studies are limited due to the lack of a complete and reliable dataset of surface-water-quality variables. In this context, several statistical and machine-learning models were assessed for imputing water-quality data at six monitoring stations located in the Santa Lucía Chico river (Uruguay), a mixed lotic and lentic river system. The challenge of this study is represented by the high percentage of missing data (between 50% and 70%) and the high temporal and spatial variability that characterizes the water-quality variables. The competing algorithms implement univariate and multivariate imputation methods (inverse distance weighting (IDW), Random Forest Regressor (RFR), Ridge (R), Bayesian Ridge (BR), AdaBoost (AB), Hubber Regressor (HR), Support Vector Regressor (SVR) and K-nearest neighbors Regressor (KNNR)). According to the results, more than 76% of the imputation outcomes are considered “satisfactory” (NSE > 0.45). The imputation performance shows better results at the monitoring stations located inside the reservoir than those positioned along the mainstream. IDW was the model with the best imputation results, followed by RFR, HR and SVR. The approach proposed in this study is expected to aid water-resource researchers and managers in augmenting water-quality datasets and overcoming the missing data issue to increase the number of future studies related to the water-quality matter.
Rafael Rodríguez; Marcos Pastorini; Lorena Etcheverry; Christian Chreties; Mónica Fossati; Alberto Castro; Angela Gorgoglione. Water-Quality Data Imputation with a High Percentage of Missing Values: A Machine Learning Approach. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6318 .
AMA StyleRafael Rodríguez, Marcos Pastorini, Lorena Etcheverry, Christian Chreties, Mónica Fossati, Alberto Castro, Angela Gorgoglione. Water-Quality Data Imputation with a High Percentage of Missing Values: A Machine Learning Approach. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):6318.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRafael Rodríguez; Marcos Pastorini; Lorena Etcheverry; Christian Chreties; Mónica Fossati; Alberto Castro; Angela Gorgoglione. 2021. "Water-Quality Data Imputation with a High Percentage of Missing Values: A Machine Learning Approach." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 6318.
Land use/land cover is one of the critical factors that affects surface-water quality at catchment scale. Effective mitigation strategies require an in-depth understanding of the leading causes of water pollution to improve community well-being and ecosystem health. The main aim of this study is to assess the relationship between land use/land cover and biophysical and chemical water-quality parameters in the Santa Lucía catchment (Uruguay, South America). The Santa Lucía river is the primary potable source of the country and, in the last few years, has had eutrophication issues. Several multivariate statistical analyses were adopted to accomplish the specific objectives of this study. The principal component analysis (PCA), coupled with k-means cluster analysis (CA), helped to identify a seasonal variation (fall/winter and spring/summer) of the water quality. The hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) allowed one to classify the water-quality monitoring stations in three groups in the fall/winter season. The factor analysis (FA) with a rotation of the axis (varimax) was adopted to identify the most significant water-quality variables of the system (turbidity and flow). Finally, another PCA was run to link water-quality variables to the dominant land uses of the watershed. Strong correlations between TP and agriculture-land use, TP and livestock farming, NT and urban areas arose. It was found that these multivariate exploratory tools can provide a proper overview of the water-quality behavior in space and time and the correlations between water-quality variables and land use.
Angela Gorgoglione; Javier Gregorio; Agustín Ríos; Jimena Alonso; Christian Chreties; Mónica Fossati. Influence of Land Use/Land Cover on Surface-Water Quality of Santa Lucía River, Uruguay. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4692 .
AMA StyleAngela Gorgoglione, Javier Gregorio, Agustín Ríos, Jimena Alonso, Christian Chreties, Mónica Fossati. Influence of Land Use/Land Cover on Surface-Water Quality of Santa Lucía River, Uruguay. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (11):4692.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAngela Gorgoglione; Javier Gregorio; Agustín Ríos; Jimena Alonso; Christian Chreties; Mónica Fossati. 2020. "Influence of Land Use/Land Cover on Surface-Water Quality of Santa Lucía River, Uruguay." Sustainability 12, no. 11: 4692.
Plastic pollution is a global problem with great local and regional variability. Plastic litter reaches beaches directly and indirectly through different pathways, due to both terrestrial and marine pressures. In this study, we assess and characterize meso and microplastic pollution on four Uruguayan oceanic beaches along a gradient of tourist use within a complex regional coastal marine system. In Punta del Diablo we found a total mean density of 106 items m−2 of different debris (pellets, fragments, and foams) with different polymeric compositions, and diverse persistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals (PAHs, PCBs, OCs, heavy metals). However, the trend of plastic debris densities along this gradient was not what was expected. Fabeiro, one of the sites furthest from the urban center, had the highest total mean density of plastics (292 items m−2) suggesting that marine influences (winds, currents, and beach orientation) have a preponderant role in the distribution of micro and mesoplastics. Meanwhile, the density in the urban site (Pueblo) was highest during summer (March, 201 items m−2), 200 times higher than the density observed in winter (July, 1 item m−2). Although this difference could be associated to the peak season (southern summer), the analysis of types of plastics (171 pellets m−2 vs. 8 cigarette butts m−2) suggested a predominance of marine inputs. Seasonal changes in the configuration of the beaches due to natural geomorphological dynamics imply alternating states (Source or Sink of debris) that also affect the final density of plastics in the system. The relative importance of both sources is highly variable throughout the year and understanding them may directly improve beach management and stranded coastal plastic litter cleaning.
Carolina Rodríguez; Mónica Fossatti; Daniel Carrizo; Laura Sánchez-García; Franco Teixeira de Mello; Federico Weinstein; Juan Pablo Lozoya. Mesoplastics and large microplastics along a use gradient on the Uruguay Atlantic coast: Types, sources, fates, and chemical loads. Science of The Total Environment 2020, 721, 137734 .
AMA StyleCarolina Rodríguez, Mónica Fossatti, Daniel Carrizo, Laura Sánchez-García, Franco Teixeira de Mello, Federico Weinstein, Juan Pablo Lozoya. Mesoplastics and large microplastics along a use gradient on the Uruguay Atlantic coast: Types, sources, fates, and chemical loads. Science of The Total Environment. 2020; 721 ():137734.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarolina Rodríguez; Mónica Fossatti; Daniel Carrizo; Laura Sánchez-García; Franco Teixeira de Mello; Federico Weinstein; Juan Pablo Lozoya. 2020. "Mesoplastics and large microplastics along a use gradient on the Uruguay Atlantic coast: Types, sources, fates, and chemical loads." Science of The Total Environment 721, no. : 137734.
Rodrigo Alonso; Michelle Jackson; Pablo Santoro; Mónica Fossati; Sebastián Solari; Luis Teixeira. Wave and tidal energy resource assessment in Uruguayan shelf seas. Renewable Energy 2017, 114, 18 -31.
AMA StyleRodrigo Alonso, Michelle Jackson, Pablo Santoro, Mónica Fossati, Sebastián Solari, Luis Teixeira. Wave and tidal energy resource assessment in Uruguayan shelf seas. Renewable Energy. 2017; 114 ():18-31.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRodrigo Alonso; Michelle Jackson; Pablo Santoro; Mónica Fossati; Sebastián Solari; Luis Teixeira. 2017. "Wave and tidal energy resource assessment in Uruguayan shelf seas." Renewable Energy 114, no. : 18-31.
Pablo Santoro; Mónica Fossati; Pablo Tassi; Nicolas Huybrechts; Damien Pham Van Bang; J.C. Ismael Piedra-Cueva. A coupled wave–current–sediment transport model for an estuarine system: Application to the Río de la Plata and Montevideo Bay. Applied Mathematical Modelling 2017, 52, 107 -130.
AMA StylePablo Santoro, Mónica Fossati, Pablo Tassi, Nicolas Huybrechts, Damien Pham Van Bang, J.C. Ismael Piedra-Cueva. A coupled wave–current–sediment transport model for an estuarine system: Application to the Río de la Plata and Montevideo Bay. Applied Mathematical Modelling. 2017; 52 ():107-130.
Chicago/Turabian StylePablo Santoro; Mónica Fossati; Pablo Tassi; Nicolas Huybrechts; Damien Pham Van Bang; J.C. Ismael Piedra-Cueva. 2017. "A coupled wave–current–sediment transport model for an estuarine system: Application to the Río de la Plata and Montevideo Bay." Applied Mathematical Modelling 52, no. : 107-130.
Beaches are social-ecological systems that provide several services improving human well-being. However, as one of the major coastal interfaces they are subject to plastic pollution, one of the most significant global environmental threats at present. For the first time for Uruguayan beaches, this study assessed and quantified the accumulation of plastic and microplastic debris on sandy beaches of the major touristic destination Punta del Este during the austral spring of 2013. Aiming to provide valuable information for decision-making, we performed a detailed analysis of plastic debris, their eventual transport pathways to the coast (from land and sea), and the associated persistent pollutants. The results indicated that the smallest size fractions (<20 mm) were the dominant size range, with fragments and resin pellets as types with the highest number of items. PAHs and PCBs were found in plastic debris, and their levels did not differ from baseline values reported for similar locations. The abundance of plastic debris was significantly and positively correlated with both the presence of possible land-based sources (e.g. storm-water drains, beach bars, beach access, car parking, and roads), and dissipative beach conditions. The analysis of coastal currents suggested some potential deposition areas along Punta del Este, and particularly for resin pellets, although modeling was not conclusive. From a local management point of view, the development and use of indices that allow predicting trends in the accumulation of plastic debris would be critically useful. The time dimension (e.g. seasonal) should also be considered for this threat, being crucial for locations such as Uruguay, where the use of beaches increases significantly during the summer. This first diagnosis aims to generate scientific baseline, necessary for improved management of plastic litter on beaches and their watersheds.
J.P. Lozoya; F. Teixeira de Mello; D. Carrizo; F. Weinstein; Y. Olivera; F. Cedrés; M. Pereira; M. Fossati. Plastics and microplastics on recreational beaches in Punta del Este (Uruguay): Unseen critical residents? Environmental Pollution 2016, 218, 931 -941.
AMA StyleJ.P. Lozoya, F. Teixeira de Mello, D. Carrizo, F. Weinstein, Y. Olivera, F. Cedrés, M. Pereira, M. Fossati. Plastics and microplastics on recreational beaches in Punta del Este (Uruguay): Unseen critical residents? Environmental Pollution. 2016; 218 ():931-941.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ.P. Lozoya; F. Teixeira de Mello; D. Carrizo; F. Weinstein; Y. Olivera; F. Cedrés; M. Pereira; M. Fossati. 2016. "Plastics and microplastics on recreational beaches in Punta del Este (Uruguay): Unseen critical residents?" Environmental Pollution 218, no. : 931-941.
This article summarizes the main advances made by our group in the study of flow and substance transport dynamics in the Río de la Plata, based on the implementation of various models (RMA, MOHID, MARS) and incorporating existing high-quality field information. In the Río de la Plata, the main forcings that influence water circulation are flow discharge from its tributaries, tide waves (astronomic and meteorologic), and winds. There is a clear difference between the inner-middle region and the outer region of the Río de la Plata. The division between these two regions is known as the frontal region, where there is considerable widening of the section and an increase in depth. Because of these characteristics, the salinity field coming from the Atlantic Ocean reaches this region, with greater intensity in the deep regions where the saline stratification is more pronounced. This in turn gives the residual velocities in the middle region the typical two-dimensional characteristics of a flow discharge (net transport toward the outer region), while the residual flow in the outer region shows more complex, three-dimensional characteristics, with mainly incoming flow toward the continent in the deep areas and flow discharge mainly through the shallow coastal areas. There is an area of almost nil residual current in the frontal region. In addition to this clear spacial difference in the behavior of the body of the water, the meteorological conditions have a determining influence. The present study discusses diverse behaviors of the currents, salinity and fine sediment dynamics under calm and storm conditions.
Monica Fossati; P. Santoroa; R. Mosqueraa; C. Martíneza; F. Ghiardoa; Pablo Ezzatti; F. Pedocchia; I. Piedra-Cuevai. Dinámica de flujo, del campo salino y de los sedimentos finos en el Río de la Plata. Ribagua 2014, 1, 48 -63.
AMA StyleMonica Fossati, P. Santoroa, R. Mosqueraa, C. Martíneza, F. Ghiardoa, Pablo Ezzatti, F. Pedocchia, I. Piedra-Cuevai. Dinámica de flujo, del campo salino y de los sedimentos finos en el Río de la Plata. Ribagua. 2014; 1 (1):48-63.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMonica Fossati; P. Santoroa; R. Mosqueraa; C. Martíneza; F. Ghiardoa; Pablo Ezzatti; F. Pedocchia; I. Piedra-Cuevai. 2014. "Dinámica de flujo, del campo salino y de los sedimentos finos en el Río de la Plata." Ribagua 1, no. 1: 48-63.
The meteorological tide generation and the characteristics of its propagation into the Río de la Plata are examined in this paper. Meteorological tide refers to departures of the sea surface elevation from the predicted astronomical tide during days to a few weeks and is generated by atmospheric forcings. The study was carried out analyzing hydrographic records and also using a hydrodynamic numerical model. The numerical model was implemented both in a regional domain and in a local domain focused in the Río de la Plata. The numerical model allowed us to understand the generation of the events and the relative importance of the remote and local forcings. Based on hydrographic records of the Río de la Plata and NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data, the synoptic conditions leading to the most significant meteorological tide events were identified. Using simultaneous hydrographic records at various stations in the Río de la Plata, we analyzed the propagation time of the events between stations and the amplitudes changes. The results show that the main meteorological tide events are generated in the Argentinean continental shelf and then propagate northward as coastal trapped waves until they reach the estuary. For the largest events in the studied data series a good relationship between the amplification in their amplitudes and the local wind conditions was found.
Pablo E. Santoro; Mónica Fossati; Ismael Piedra-Cueva. Study of the meteorological tide in the Río de la Plata. Continental Shelf Research 2013, 60, 51 -63.
AMA StylePablo E. Santoro, Mónica Fossati, Ismael Piedra-Cueva. Study of the meteorological tide in the Río de la Plata. Continental Shelf Research. 2013; 60 ():51-63.
Chicago/Turabian StylePablo E. Santoro; Mónica Fossati; Ismael Piedra-Cueva. 2013. "Study of the meteorological tide in the Río de la Plata." Continental Shelf Research 60, no. : 51-63.
The numerical simulation of the water temperature in the Río de la Plata River and Montevideo's Bay was done using the numerical model of finite elements RMA-10 in its 2D vertical integrated mode. Parameters involved in the formulations of thermal exchange with the atmosphere were adjusted using measurements of water temperature in several locations of the water body. After calibrating the model, it was used to represent the operation of a power plant located in Montevideo's Bay. This central takes water from the bay in order to cool its generators and also discharges high-temperature water into the bay. The correct representation of temperatures at the water intake and discharge of the plant reflects that the model is able to represent the operation of the central. Several analysis were made to study the thermal plume, the effects of the water discharge on the water intake of the power plant, and the effect on environmental variables of the study area like currents.
Mónica Fossati; Pablo Santoro; Santiago Urrestarazu; Ismael Piedra-Cueva; Nica. Numerical Study of the Effect of a Power Plant Cooling Water Discharge in the Montevideo Bay. Journal of Applied Mathematics 2011, 2011, 1 -23.
AMA StyleMónica Fossati, Pablo Santoro, Santiago Urrestarazu, Ismael Piedra-Cueva, Nica. Numerical Study of the Effect of a Power Plant Cooling Water Discharge in the Montevideo Bay. Journal of Applied Mathematics. 2011; 2011 (1):1-23.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMónica Fossati; Pablo Santoro; Santiago Urrestarazu; Ismael Piedra-Cueva; Nica. 2011. "Numerical Study of the Effect of a Power Plant Cooling Water Discharge in the Montevideo Bay." Journal of Applied Mathematics 2011, no. 1: 1-23.
This paper presents the implementation and calibration of a pre-operational numerical model for the Río de la Plata river. This model is capable of predicting sea level variations in the Río de la Plata, and therefore constitutes a numerical tool of great value for the fluvial–maritime navigation and regional environmental management. A two-dimensional model (MOHID) with nested domains was used to simulate the hydrodynamics. This model was forced with a meso-scale atmospheric model (WRF) and a global tidal model (FES2004). The results obtained include astronomic and meteorological sea level variations in the Río de la Plata. Comparisons of modeled water levels with data have shown very good qualitative and quantitative agreement. The pre-operational test presented in this paper, a 4-day hydrodynamic forecast, was conducted in approximately 18 h.
P. Santoro; M. Fernández; M. Fossati; G. Cazes; R. Terra; I. Piedra-Cueva. Pre-operational forecasting of sea level height for the Río de la Plata. Applied Mathematical Modelling 2011, 35, 2462 -2478.
AMA StyleP. Santoro, M. Fernández, M. Fossati, G. Cazes, R. Terra, I. Piedra-Cueva. Pre-operational forecasting of sea level height for the Río de la Plata. Applied Mathematical Modelling. 2011; 35 (5):2462-2478.
Chicago/Turabian StyleP. Santoro; M. Fernández; M. Fossati; G. Cazes; R. Terra; I. Piedra-Cueva. 2011. "Pre-operational forecasting of sea level height for the Río de la Plata." Applied Mathematical Modelling 35, no. 5: 2462-2478.
The Río de la Plata discharges into the Atlantic Ocean. The particular characteristics of the study area, the variable width and shallowness of the river, the high fluvial discharges and the dynamic processes involving interactions between river discharges, tidal currents and wind, generate complex velocity and salinity fields. We applied the hydrodynamic model RMA-10 to examine the effects of various forcing (tides, flow discharge and winds) on residual currents and salinity fields in the Río de la Plata, focusing on the outer zone of the river. The RMA-10 code, developed by Ian King, is a multiparameter finite element model representing estuarine flow in three dimensions. In this study the model has been applied in a depth-averaged-baroclinic mode and a series of observed data is used for model calibration and verification. The model result shows that it is able to simulate velocity and the salinity fields with a reasonable accuracy. The analysis of residual currents in the river, when forced by freshwater discharge and astronomical tide, shows that the flow discharge takes place mainly over the shallower areas of the river and that the saline water is advected up-river through the deeper channels. The numerical simulations show that the winds from the South-West and North-East quadrants have a great influence over the salinity and velocity fields.
Mónica Fossati; Ismael Piedra-Cueva. Numerical modelling of residual flow and salinity in the Río de la Plata. Applied Mathematical Modelling 2008, 32, 1066 -1086.
AMA StyleMónica Fossati, Ismael Piedra-Cueva. Numerical modelling of residual flow and salinity in the Río de la Plata. Applied Mathematical Modelling. 2008; 32 (6):1066-1086.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMónica Fossati; Ismael Piedra-Cueva. 2008. "Numerical modelling of residual flow and salinity in the Río de la Plata." Applied Mathematical Modelling 32, no. 6: 1066-1086.