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An international team of researchers has developed a new, timelier method to identify harmful bacteria levels on recreational beaches. The new method provides beach health managers with an easily accessible computer model to predict harmful bacteria levels from all potential pollution sources.
The team optimized and validated their model using a 10-day monitoring dataset from the popular Virginia Beach in Miami, Florida. The predictive model uses information on waves, tides, rainfall and solar radiation to more accurately predict harmful bacteria concentration and movement along the shore, allowing for improved beach management decision-making. The new model provides beach managers with a better prediction tool to identify when closures are required to protect beachgoers from harmful contaminates in the water.Image credit: University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School
