Giandomenico Foti

Shoreline behind a Breakwater: Comparison between Theoretical Models and Field Measurements for the Reggio Calabria Sea

ABSTRACT Barbaro, G. and Foti, G., 2013. Shoreline behind a breakwater: comparison between theoretical models and field measurements for the Reggio Calabria Sea. Longshore sediment transport is affected by coastal structures, which cause phenomena such as the erosion and deposition of sediments. These phenomena may also occur at locations far from the coastal structure. The prediction and management of shoreline evolution are necessary to protect coasts; they should take into account both long-term and short-term effects and should consider the presence or absence of coastal structures. In this paper several models that predict shoreline evolution behind a breakwater have been analyzed. The results of the predictions have been compared with real shoreline evolution measured in the Natural Ocean Engineering Laboratory (NOEL) in Reggio Calabria, where an experiment concerning the possibility of converting wave energy into electricity using a particular device placed in a breakwater is being investigated. A breakwater was installed in March 2005 and is still there, and it has altered the natural coastal processes affecting the shoreline profile. Comparisons were made in June 2005 (3 months after the installation of the breakwater) and in September 2010. The results indicate that the shoreline profile is not symmetrical about the centerline of the structure, but the salient (the point where advancement is prominent) is displaced toward the south side such that erosion is deeper on the north side.

A Formula for the Calculation of the Longshore Sediment Transport Including Spectral Effects

ABSTRACT Barbaro, G.; Foti, G.; Sicilia, L., and Malara, G., 2014. A formula for the calculation of the longshore sediment transport including spectral effects. The objective of this paper is to propose an expression for the calculation of the longshore sediment transport (LST), including the effect of the spectral shape associated with the free surface displacement. The expression is derived theoretically by using the wave flux approach in conjunction with the spectral representation of the wave field propagating to the coast. The resulting expression possesses the simplicity of implementation of classical LST formulae, with the additional feature of including a dimensionless coefficient encapsulating the spectral shape influence. The reliability of the proposed formula is assessed against the results of pertinent field data. Furthermore, its adequacy is investigated in the light of existing formulae. In this article, we show that the proposed LST formula is capable of reducing the large overestimations associated with the LST calculation and of reducing scattering between calculated and the measured LST rates.

Shoreline behind a breakwater for wave energy absorption in Reggio Calabria: comparison between theoretical models and experimental data

This paper deals with models proposed for calculating the shoreline change behind a breakwater. In particular, models developed by Hsu and Silvester, McCormick, Gonzalez and Medina and Hsu et al. are discussed. Shoreline change behind a breakwater is estimated by these models. Results are compared with experimental data measured at the NOEL laboratory of Reggio Calabria, for a caisson breakwater for wave energy absorption made using nine cellular caissons in reinforced concrete. The structure is 16.2 m long and located in a 2 m water depth. Waves in the undisturbed wave field are measured at the same water depth, 20 m away from the structure, by means of two pressure transducers and two ultrasonic probes located on two piles of small diameter (0.05 m). Tide is measured by probes in the undisturbed wave field and by pressure transducers on the breakwater.

Protection and Management of the Annunziata River Mouth Area (Italy)

A better understanding and prediction of the dynamic processes that govern the coastal zone is the topic of the current paper; in particular, a deep investigation of the coastal processes that affect the shoreline dynamic and flood inundation risk is carried out at the Annunziata river mouth area (Italy). The Annunziata River is situated in the Northern part of Reggio Calabria city; it is, at the same time, a source of danger and an important environmental and hydrological resource for Reggio Calabria, since on the right side there is the city port and on the left side there is the public beach. The protection and management of coastal areas should be supported by a deep knowledge of the interaction between water motion and seabed topography, which affects the natural response of coastal systems to changes in external conditions and to human interferences. This work tries to analyze the coastal morphology through the use of some recent models based on spectral theory.

Contemporaneity of Floods and Storms. A Case Study of Metropolitan Area of Reggio Calabria in Southern Italy

The environmental balance is being increasingly altered by mankind’s direct and indirect actions. Waterproofing of territory and continuous climate change are amongst the main factors of hydrogeological risk. In the presence of complex orographies and particular geographical exposure, meteorological phenomena can have devastating consequences. Calabria, located in the southern part of Italy, stands at the confluence of the Tyrrhenian and Ionian Seas and is particularly exposed to such phenomena. Its unique geomorphological formation makes it subject to flooding and sea storms that have revealed the fragility of its territory. When such phenomena occur concurrently, the effects can be devastating, both in terms of infrastructure damage and inconvenience to the local population, as downstream flooding interacts with wave run-up. We will analyze the history of contemporary flooding and storms in the Metropolitan Area of Reggio Calabria, which is located in the south of Calabria and in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea. Two case studies will be illustrated, one relating to the Ionian coast and the other to the Tyrrhenian coast.

Maximum Wave Forces: Evaluation and Case Studies

To define and predict all forces exerted by sea storms on structures is necessary to give support to coastal and offshore engineering.In this paper the horizontal force on offshore gravity platforms and on breakwaters is analyzed. Two cases study in two different locations are proposed, the first one concerns Italian coasts (Ortona), the second one is in the USA (Alaska). The results will be compared.The purpose of this paper is to compare recent methods for calculating force on structures with the well-known Morison’s equation and the Goda’s model.Wave climate was studied using the ISPRA (Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale) and NDBC (National Data Buoy Center) measurements.Copyright

Flash Floods in Urban Areas: Case Studies in Reggio Calabria (Italy)

Flash flood is a precipitation of short duration and strong intensity which, generally, takes place in small portions of territory. Italy, due to climate, morphology and anthropization, is particularly subject to these phenomena. The major consequences of the flash floods occur in small basins, characterized by modest times of concentration and low storage capacity, especially if located close to urban areas. From this point of view, the development of alert systems can mitigate the impact of the phenomenon on the population. The paper will analyze the problems related to flash flood through two case studies near Reggio Calabria. It is a site of interest because it is located at the southern end of Calabria region, in the South of Italy, and is particularly prone to flash floods and environmental risks due to the morphological and climatic characteristics of its territory.

Evaluation of the Horizontal Wave Forces on Piles

Reliability of offshore platforms is an important issue in the prevention of environmental disasters. In this paper, the variation of the horizontal force exerted on an offshore gravity platform is analyzed to achieve a deep comprehension of a storm scenario. Considering the wave motion as a potential motion, the quasi-determinism theory is applied to obtain the kinematic characteristics of a storm. The evolution of force against time is analyzed through the Morisons equation, diffraction theory, and a simplified method. Moreover, two case studies are examined, one in the Ortona region of the Italian coast and the other in the Gulf of Alaska, USA.

Historical Evolution of the Shoreline of Reggio Calabria

The urban development in the last century was characterized by a depopulation of the mountains and a concentration of the population in urban areas, most of them are located near the coast. This factor increased significantly the problems and risks connected to coastal erosion. Thus, it implied a stricter monitoring activity in order to protect the coast and the population, as well. This paper discusses the historical variation of the shoreline in Reggio Calabria.