The Civitavecchia Coastal Environment Monitoring System (C-CEMS): a new tool to analyze the conflicts between coastal pressures and sensitivity areas

Abstract

Abstract. The understanding of the coastal environment is fundamental for efficiently and effectively facing the pollution phenomena as expected by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, and for limiting the conflicts between anthropic activities and sensitivity areas, as stated by Maritime Spatial Planning Directive. To address this, the Laboratory of Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology developed a multi-platform observing network that has been in operation since 2005 in the coastal marine area of Civitavecchia (Latium, Italy) where multiple uses and high ecological values closely coexist. The Civitavecchia Coastal Environment Monitoring System (C-CEMS), implemented in the current configuration, includes various components allowing one to analyze the coastal conflicts by an ecosystem-based approach. The long-term observations acquired by the fixed stations are integrated with in situ data collected for the analysis of the physical, chemical and biological parameters of the water column, sea bottom and pollution sources detected along the coast. The in situ data, integrated with satellite observations (e.g., temperature, chlorophyll a and TSM), are used to feed and validate the numerical models, which allow the analysis and forecasting of the dynamics of pollutant dispersion under different conditions. To test the potential capabilities of C-CEMS, two case studies are reported here:(1) the analysis of fecal bacteria dispersion for bathing water quality assessment, and (2) the evaluation of the effects of the dredged activities on Posidonia meadows, which make up most of the two sites of community importance located along the Civitavecchia coastal zone. The simulation outputs are overlapped by the thematic maps showing bathing areas and Posidonia oceanica distribution, thus giving a first practical tool that could improve the resolution of the conflicts between coastal uses (in terms of stress produced by anthropic activities) and sensitivity areas.

Land Uses Simplified Index (LUSI): Determining Land Pressures and Their Link With Coastal Eutrophication

“…Although coastal pressures are not easy to quantify and proof of their impact is hard to obtain, several assessment methods are available. Quantitative methods are typically based on readily measurable variables, such as wastewater discharges or human population size (Bonamano et al, 2016;Cai et al, 2016). Others evaluate land use from land cover maps (Comeleo et al, 1996;Jordan et al, 1997;Nedwell et al, 2002;Giupponi and Vladimirova, 2006;Rodriguez et al, 2007;Xian et al, 2007;Lopez y Royo et al, 2009, 2010Tran et al, 2010) or satellite images (Barale and Folving, 1996;Stefanov et al, 2001;Lopez y Royo and Casazza, 2007;Xiao and Weng, 2007).…”

Physical and Biological Water Column Observations during Summer Sea/Land Breeze Winds in the Coastal Northern Tyrrhenian Sea

“…During the summers from 2012 to 2016, high-resolution observations were conducted in the study area. Data were collected at fixed stations [50] and hydrographical in situ surveys were performed using three different measuring strategies. The experiment aimed at identifying the variations of both the coastal circulation and the water column in response to the 180 • rotation in the wind direction.…”

Preface: Oceanographic processes on the continental shelf: observations and modeling

“…Last but not least, in order to converge towards an integrated ocean observing system capable of providing useful information and contributing to effective management and plan-ning activities, all data collected in our shelf regions should be brought in contact and integrated with existing numerical models (Williams et al, 2011). In this special issue volume, Bonamano et al (2016) presented a multiplatform observing network in the coastal marine area of Civitavecchia (Latium, Italy), integrated with numerical models, to analyze coastal processes at high spatial and temporal resolution. The in situ data acquired at long-term fixed stations and during dedicated surveys are integrated with satellite observations (e.g., temperature, chlorophyll a, and TSM), and then used to feed and validate numerical models to describe the dynamics of pollutant dispersion under different conditions.…”