Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studieshttp://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/231132024-03-28T22:00:39Z2024-03-28T22:00:39ZInnovative Spectral Characterisation Of Beached Pelagic Sargassum Towards Remote Estimation Of Biochemical And Phenotypic PropertiesFidai, Y.A.Machado, B.Jayson-Quashigah, P.N.et al.http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/411862024-02-12T15:23:28Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZInnovative Spectral Characterisation Of Beached Pelagic Sargassum Towards Remote Estimation Of Biochemical And Phenotypic Properties
Fidai, Y.A.; Machado, B.; Jayson-Quashigah, P.N.; et al.
In recent years, pelagic sargassum (S. fluitans and S. natans, henceforth sargassum) macroalgal
Blooms have become more frequent and larger with higher biomass in the Tropical Atlantic region.
They have environmental and socio-economic impacts, particularly on coastal ecosystems, tourism,
fisheries and aquaculture industries, and on public health. Despite these challenges, sargassum
biomass has the potential to offer commercial opportunities in the blue economy, although it is
reliant on key chemical and physical characteristics of the sargassum for specific use. In this study,we aim to utilise remotely sensed spectral profiles to determine species and morphotypes at different
decomposition stages and their biochemical composition to support monitoring and valorisation of
sargassum. For this, we undertook dedicated field campaigns in Barbados and Ghana to collect
the first time, in situ spectral measurements between 350 and 2500 nm using a Spectra Vista Corp
(SVC) HR-1024i field spectrometer of pelagic sargassum-stranded biomass. The spectral
measurements were complemented by uncrewed aerial system surveys using a DJI Phantom 4 drone
and a DJI P4 multispectral instrument. Using the ground and airborne datasets, this research
developed an operational framework for remote detection of beached sargassum and created
spectral profiles of species and morphotypes and decomposition maps to infer biochemical composition.
We were able to identify some key spectral regions, including a consistent absorption feature (920 –
1080 nm) found in all of the sargassum morphotype spectral profiles; we also observed distinction
between fresh and recently beached sargassum, particularly around 900–1000 nm. This work can
support pelagic sargassum management and contribute to effective utilisation of the sargassum
biomass to ultimately alleviate some of the socio-economic impacts associated with this emerging
environmental challenge.
Research Article
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZAn Ecotoxicologically Relevant Approach To Water Quality Monitoring For Contaminants Of Emerging ConcernSchoenfuss, H.L.Kolok, A.S.http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/411692024-02-12T15:19:23Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZAn Ecotoxicologically Relevant Approach To Water Quality Monitoring For Contaminants Of Emerging Concern
Schoenfuss, H.L.; Kolok, A.S.
Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) have been documented across the
seven continents, including Antarctica, and are likely an impediment to the
sustainable management of natural resources. Most studies to date have relied
on sweeping chemistry surveys, reliant upon sophisticated instrumentation. This
approach is expensive, relies on limited laboratory capacity, and generates results
that are spatially and temporally constrained. Here, we review existing approaches
that can overcome these limitations by focusing on
Research Article
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZLiving within the safe and just Earth system boundaries for blue waterStewart-Koster, B.Gordon, C.Bunn, S.E.et al.http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/410742023-12-20T11:30:44Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZLiving within the safe and just Earth system boundaries for blue water
Stewart-Koster, B.; Gordon, C.; Bunn, S.E.; et al.
Safe and just Earth system boundaries (ESBs) for surface water and
groundwater (blue water) have been defined for sustainable water
management in the Anthropocene. Here we assessed whether minimum
human needs could be met with surface water from within individual
river basins alone and, where this is not possible, quantified how much
Groundwater would be required. Approximately 2.6 billion people live in
river basins where groundwater is needed because they are already outside
the surface water ESB or have insufficient surface water to meet human
needs and the ESB. Approximately 1.4 billion people live in river basins where
demand-side transformations would be required as they either exceed the
surface water ESB or face a decline in groundwater recharge and cannot
meet minimum needs within the ESB. A further 1.5 billion people live in river
basins outside the ESB, with insufficient surface water to meet minimum
needs, requiring both supply- and demand-side transformations. These
results highlight the challenges and opportunities of meeting even the most basic
human access to water and protecting aquatic ecosystems.
Research Article
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZMulti‑decadal shoreline changes in Eastern Ghana—natural dynamics versus human interventionsMann, T.Appeaning‑Addo, K.Jayson‑Quashigah, P.N.et al.http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh:8080/handle/123456789/410692023-12-20T11:28:58Z2023-01-01T00:00:00ZMulti‑decadal shoreline changes in Eastern Ghana—natural dynamics versus human interventions
Mann, T.; Appeaning‑Addo, K.; Jayson‑Quashigah, P.N.; et al.
Human infrastructure, such as dams, seawalls, and ports, can affect both the sedimentary budget and nearshore hydrodynamics, enhancing and accelerating the loss or gain of coastal sediments. Understanding the processes and factors controlling
beach morphodynamics is essential for implementing adequate adaptation strategies in coastal areas, particularly in those
regions where coastal protection measures are scarce. This study analyzes shoreline changes in the Keta Municipal District.
located in southeastern Ghana (West Africa). This area is characterized by the sedimentary input of the Volta River, which forms a river delta situated to the west, i.e., updrift, of our study site. Following the construction of two dams (Akosombo and
Kpong) on the Volta River in 1965 and 1982, groins and revetments have been built along the coast between 2005 and 2015
to reduce the high rates of coastal erosion in this area. Here, we explore the influence of these dams and the hard protection
constructions on beach morphodynamics using historical maps and satellite images complemented by a shoreline survey
undertaken with a different GNSS in 2015. The multi-decadal evolution between 1913 and 2015, reconstructed for 90 km
of shoreline suggests that local erosion rates in the region predate the construction of the two dams on the Volta River.
indicating that these structures might not be the primary driver of coastal erosion in this area, as previously suggested. We
emphasize that delta dynamics under conditions of high-energy longshore drift, modified by anthropogenic drivers such as
Sand mining plays a key role in the long-term evolution of this coast. Our results also show that the infrastructures built to
halt coastal erosion result in localized erosion and accretion down-current along the coastline towards the border with Togo,
highlighting the need for a transnational perspective in addressing the problems caused by coastal erosion.
Research Article
2023-01-01T00:00:00Z