Marine Science Faculty Publications
Determining the Effects of El Niño-Southern Oscillation Events on Coastal Water Quality
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-2001
Keywords
Fecal Coliform, ENSO Event, Fecal Pollution, Fecal Coliform Bacterium, ENSO Phase
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.2307/1353251
Abstract
The importance of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on regional-scale climate variability is well recognized although the associated effects on local weather patterns are poorly understood. Little work has addressed the ancillary impacts of climate variability at the community level, which require analysis at a local scale. In coastal communities water quality and public health effects are of particular interest. Here we describe the historical influence of ENSO events on coastal water quality in Tampa Bay, Florida (USA) as a test case. Using approximate randomized statistics, we show significant ENSO influences on water quality particularly during winter months, with significantly greater fecal pollution levels during strong El Niño winters and significantly lower levels during strong La Niña winters as compared to neutral conditions. Similar significant patterns were also noted for El Niño and La Niña fall periods. The success of the analysis demonstrates the feasibility of assessing local effects associated with large-scale climate variability. It also highlights the possibility of using ENSO forecasts to predict periods of poor coastal water quality in urban region which local agencies may use to make appropriate prepations.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Estuaries and Coasts, v. 24, issue 4, p. 491-497
Scholar Commons Citation
Lipp, Erin K.; Schmidt, Nancy; Luther, Mark E.; and Rose, Joan B., "Determining the Effects of El Niño-Southern Oscillation Events on Coastal Water Quality" (2001). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 510.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/510
