1,721,011 research outputs found
Detection of Natural and Anthropic Features on Small Islands
No full textCappucci, S.; Valentini, E.; Del Monte, M.; Paci, M.; Filipponi, F., and Taramelli, A., 2017. Detection of natural and anthropic features on small islands. In: Martinez, M.L.; Taramelli, A., and Silva, R. (eds.), Coastal Resilience: Exploring the Many Challenges from Different Viewpoints. Journal of Coastal Research, Special Issue No. 77, pp. 73-87. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. Mapping the distribution of seabed habitats, and estimating the spatial distribution of features and biocenosis over land and the seafloor, is particularly important for the analysis of human impacts. The present paper uses an innovative image analysis method that integrates different data sources from airborne remote sensing and in situ measurements for different features, allowing the detection of ecological 'tipping points' both in emerged and submerged coastal environments. Results show that it is possible to differentiate between the respective roles of: first, the internal variability of the natural morphological system and second, of external forcing factors. The final evidence, however, identifies a clear signature of external forcing, but whether of anthropogenic or natural origin, is unclear. The spatial pattern of the response to anthropogenic forcing may be indistinguishable from patterns of natural variability. It is argued that this novel approach to define tipping points following anthropogenic impacts could be most valuable in the management of natural resources and the economic development of coastal areas worldwide. © Coastal Education and Research Foundation, Inc. 2017
POSIDUNE, Interaction des sables et Posidonia oceanica avec l'environnement des dunes naturelles - Beachmed-e , INTERREG III C
No full textLe sous-projet POSIDUNE du projet Beachmed-e INTERREG III C est un projet pluridisciplinaire qui regroupe des organismes et des institutions de recherche étudiant les systèmes naturels de défense des cotes: les dunes et les prairies de Posidonia oceanica.
En effet, les dunes cotières et les dépots de biomasses végétales représentent deux éléments importants qui contribuente à la résilience et à l'équilibre du système plage-dune. Les dunes cotières constituent une défense naturelle de la cote et également un habitat de grande valeur naturelle et paysagère. Les dunes ont des effets positifs sur la plage et en général sur l'environnement cotier car elles constituent: 1) une digue pour les eaux, 2) une réserve de sable qui alimente la plage lors de bilan sédimentaire négatif, 3) une barrière physique pour protéger les territoires situés en arrière. Les actions finalisées à la protection des dunes se révèlent donc particulièrment stratégiqies pour la défense des littoraux
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SLIM: a numerical model to evaluate the factors controlling the evolution of intertidal mudflats in Venice Lagoon, Italy
No full textVenice Lagoon is suffering from a deficit in sediment supply, which results in the progressive destruction of salt marshes and tidal flats [Consorzio Venezia Nuova, 1996]. Nevertheless, some of the intertidal areas are accreting showing morphological changes, which are in contrast with the general trend within the Lagoon. The morphological evolution of Palude della Centrega, a well-preserved and vegetated intertidal area located in the northern part of the Lagoon, was investigated over a period of 3 years. The short-term accretion rate was measured to be 1.52 cm/year and was used to calibrate a three-element box model, Simulation of LIttoral Morphodynamics (SLIM) constructed to predict which of the accounted factors are more relevant to the evolution of the accreting intertidal mudflat.Sensitivity analyses using SLIM on Palude della Centrega suggest that the evolution of the flats is controlled by the balance between wave erosion during Bora events and tidal sedimentation during fine weather. This balance is strongly affected by (1) turbidity of the waters flooding the tidal flats, (2) sea grass density that suppresses wave action and tidal flow and (3) biostabilisation due to microphytobenthos, which enhances stability
Nearshore Sandbar Classification of Sabaudia (Italy) with LiDAR Data: The FHyL approach
Full text linkAn application of the FHyL (field spectral libraries, airborne hyperspectral images and topographic LiDAR) method is presented. It is aimed to map and classify bedforms in submerged beach systems and has been applied to Sabaudia coast (Tirrenyan Sea, Central Italy). The FHyl method allows the integration of geomorphological observations into detailed maps by the multisensory data fusion process from hyperspectral, LiDAR, and in-situ radiometric data. The analysis of the sandy beach classification provides an identification of the variable bedforms by using LiDAR bathymetric Digital Surface Model (DSM) and Bathymetric Position Index (BPI) along the coastal stretch. The nearshore sand bars classification and analysis of the bed form parameters (e.g., depth, slope and convexity/concavity properties) provide excellent results in very shallow waters zones. Thanks to well-established LiDAR and spectroscopic techniques developed under the FHyL approach, remote sensing has the potential to deliver significant quantitative products in coastal areas. The developed method has become the standard for the systematic definition of the operational coastal airborne dataset that must be provided by coastal operational services as input to national downstream services. The methodology is also driving the harmonization procedure of coastal morphological dataset definition at the national scale and results have been used by the authorities to adopt a novel beach management technique
Assessment of state transition dynamics of coastal wetlands in Northern venice lagoon, Italy
No full textCoastal wetlands represent particularly valuable natural resources, characterized by the interaction between their geomorphological and biological components. Their adaptation to the changing conditions depends on the rate and extent of spatial and temporal processes and their response is still not fully understood. This work aims at detecting and improving the understanding of the transition dynamics on eco-geomorphological structures in a coastal wetland ecosystem. The approach could support sustainable habitat management improving the detection and optimizing the offer of Earth Observation (EO) products for coastal system monitoring. Such course of action will strengthen evidence-based policy making, surface biophysical data sovereignty and the Space Data downstream sector through remote sensing techniques thanks to the capability of investigating larger scale and short-to-long-term dynamics. The selected case study is the Lido basin (Venice Lagoon, Italy). Our methodology offers a support in the framework of nature-based solutions, allowing the identification of ecosystem-level indicators of the surface biophysical properties influencing stability and evolution of intertidal flats on which a conceptual model is implemented. Landsat satellite imagery is used to delineate the spatial and temporal variability of the main vegetation and sediment typologies in 1990–2011. Within this period, specific anthropic activities were carried out for morphological restoration and flood protection interventions. Specifically, the lower saltmarsh shows its more fragmented part in the Baccan islet, a residual sandy spit in front of the Lido inlet. The area covered by Sarcocornia-Limonium, that triggers sediment deposition, has fluctuated yearly, from a minimum coverage of 13% to a maximum of 50%. The second decade (2001–2009) is identified as the period with major changes of halophytic and Algae-Biofilm cover typologies distribution. The power law and related thresholds, representing the patch size frequency distribution, is an indicator of the ecosystem state transition dynamics. The approach, based on multi-temporal and spatial EO analysis, is scalable elsewhere, from regional to local-to-global scale, considering the variability of climate data and anthropogenic activities. The present research also supports sustainable habitat management, improving the detection, and optimizing the offer of EO products for coastal system monitoring
Sustainable management of sedimentary resources: A case study of the EGADI project
No full textMultiple activities carried out on coastal areas expose marine sediments to contamination and their management has a great socioeconomic importance with a high impact on economic development of coastal areas. However, there is an increasing shift towards the use of more sustainable approaches for managing ‘contaminated’ sediments. Using a case study of the Favignana Habour in Italy, this paper evaluates three approaches for the management of these sediments. The results of simulations carried out by SiteWiseTM software show that the use of contaminated sediment as filling material for Confined Disposal Facilities has lower environmental footprint than treatment and reuse of sedimentary resources on shore. The implications for these results for the development of effective policies and practices by all key stakeholders are discussed
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