Temporal space behavior of three environmental quality determinants from touristic beaches in cartagena, Colombia

Abstract

In this research paper, monitoring campaigns were conducted at three points distributed in two beaches of Cartagena de Indias between the months of October 2010 and September 2013. The parameters studied were density of users, solid waste, Total Coliform, Fecal Coliform and Enterococci. The objective of this study is to analyze the temporal space behavior of these parameters and their relationship to each other. The results show that the monitoring points established, have an intensive load since 2012. The months with the highest concentration of people are June and July. Plastic is the mostly found waste on the beach, followed by cigarette butts; the month with the highest presence of solid waste was September. Total Coliform concentrations increased in October, In May increased the Fecal Coliform and Enterococci in September. January and February were the months with the less presence of the three microorganisms. The parameters studied do not have a significant association; this indicates that the behavior of one does not influence the other.