title: Simulations of dredged sediment spreading on a Posidonia oceanica meadow off the Ligurian coast, Northwestern Mediterranean.
abstract: The sandy deposits from dredging can have negative effects on the environment such as increase in suspended solids in the water column and their consequent transport. An experimental study was conducted to characterize water masses, dynamics, and sedimentation rates on the Ligurian continental shelf (Italy), where both a sand deposit, that could be used for beach nourishment, and a nearby Posidonia oceanica meadow coexist. The environmental plan provides a mathematical simulation of the sediment-dispersion to evaluate the possible impact on the meadow. It has been calculated that the dredging could double the concentration of suspended particles, but its scheduling will preclude a sediment accumulation. All the information obtained from this work will be used to study the environmental feasibility of the sand deposit exploitation and as starting point for drawing up the monitoring plan in case of dredging.
authors.affiliation: DISTAV, University of Genoa, 26 Corso Europa, 16132 Genoa, Italy. Electronic address: capello@dipteris.unige.it.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capello
authors.affiliation: DISTAV, University of Genoa, 26 Corso Europa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cutroneo
authors.affiliation: DISTAV, University of Genoa, 26 Corso Europa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ferranti
authors.affiliation: DIST, University of Naples "Parthenope", Centro Direzionale di Napoli, Isola C4, 80133 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Budillon
authors.affiliation: ARPAL, Ligurian Environmental Protection Agency, 8 Via Bombrini, 16149 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bertolotto
authors.affiliation: egeos, Earth Observation, 71 Via Cannizzaro, 00156 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciappa
authors.affiliation: DIST, University of Naples "Parthenope", Centro Direzionale di Napoli, Isola C4, 80133 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cotroneo
authors.affiliation: DISTAV, University of Genoa, 26 Corso Europa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castellano
authors.affiliation: DISTAV, University of Genoa, 26 Corso Europa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Povero
authors.affiliation: DISTAV, University of Genoa, 26 Corso Europa, 16132 Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tucci
mesh_terms: D035961:Alismatales / Q000502:physiology*; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D007558:Italy; D008956:Models, Chemical; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Dredging; Mathematical simulation; Numerical model; Posidonia oceanica meadow; Total suspended solids; Turbidity