Giovanni Gabbianelli

DISTRIBUTION OF MERCURY AND OTHER HEAVY METALS IN CORE SEDIMENTS OF THE NORTHERN ADRIATIC SEA

Seven sediment cores were collected along a transect about20 km off from the mouth of the Po River, in the northernAdriatic Sea (Italy). Cores were characterised by differentdepositional sequences associated with late Pleistocene-Holocene lowstand (LST), transgressive (TST) and highstand (HST) system tracts. Sediment samples were analysed for mercury, copper, nickel, chromium, manganese and iron, aswell as for total organic matter. Metal distributiongenerally showed vertical and spatial variability ascribed tograin size effects with no significant anthropogenicperturbation. Conversely, mercury showed vertical profilescharacterised by surface enrichment, with concentrations inthe upper layer (50–230 ng g-1) exceeding 3–11 times the background value of 20 ng g-1 determined in bottomcores. Surface maxima were attributed to anthropogenic mercurydelivered mainly by the Po River.

Climate and water budget change of a Mediterranean coastal watershed, Ravenna, Italy

It is generally difficult to quantify exactly the freshwater going in or out of the coastal watersheds along the northern Adriatic Sea because, on one hand, excess water is drained and pumped into the sea to prevent flooding but, on the other hand, water is brought onto the land from far away for irrigation. Fragmentation of water authorities makes it difficult to collect all the necessary information. Climate change and increasing salinization of the coastal aquifers make it imperative, however, to better know the quantities of freshwater involved in these small basins. The water budget of a small coastal agricultural watershed along the Adriatic Sea in Italy (The Quinto Basin near Ravenna) is presented here considering different land uses. The evaporation of open water and the evapotranspiration of wetlands, pine forests, bare soil and irrigated agriculture are calculated based on the Penman–Monteith equation and the Cropwat program. The current water budget is based on average climate data from 1989 to 2008 and drainage and irrigation data. Predictions for future evapotranspiration, net irrigation and hydrologic deficit are calculated with climate data from IPCC (The Fourth Assessment Report (AR4) 200, Climate change 2007). From the study results, the soil type may determine whether or not a crop will need more or less irrigation in the future. Regulations on land use should therefore consider which crop type can be grown on a specific soil type. Water budget analysis in scenarios A1b and A2 both show an increase of water deficits in the summer and an increase of water surplus in the winter. This is explained by the fact that a larger percentage of the rain will fall in winter and not during the growth season. The open water evaporation will decrease under future climate scenarios as a result of increased relative humidity in winter and decreased wind velocity. This may have a positive effect on the water cycle. The current irrigation is very abundant, but has beneficial effects in contrasting soil salinization and saltwater intrusion into the coastal aquifer.

Irrigation Management in Coastal Zones to Prevent Soil and Groundwater Salinization

Soil salinization is one of the most widespread soil degradation processes on earth and, worldwide, one billion hectares are affected, mainly in the arid–semiarid regions of Asia, Australia and South America [1]. In Europe, soil salinity has effects on one million hectares mainly in the Mediterranean countries [1]. There are two types of salinization: primary salinization caused by natural events such as sea spray or rock weathering or seepage [2] and secondary salinization that is caused by human activities such as irrigation with salty water, groundwater overexploitation and excessive drainage [1].

Multiple DPSI frameworks for support of integrated research: a case study of the Bahía de Cádiz Nature Park (Spain)

System thinking and integrated research are widely applied approaches in environmental management, often facilitating the organization of information from different levels and sources. They are here applied to support the review of (1) political and management instruments and (2) elements that characterize the Bahia de Cádiz Nature Park (Spain). The latter objective is sustained by the DPSIR (Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response) framework. A first DPSI conceptual map offers a broader view of the park capturing a range of elements that act at global, national and regional levels. Next, through expert consultation, prioritized DPSI issues describing the current situation of Bahia de Cádiz Nature Park are highlighted. A second DPSI map is designed to explore specific land-use and land-cover changes and their effects on the park’s ecological integrity, offering a greater level of detail. ‘Responses’ are discussed separately, through a review of most recent response actions that have originated at various levels, and future ones proposed by the park’s management. The framework proves to be appropriate to identify elements from both social and environmental dimensions, but excludes global-scale elements that do not fit the scope of this analysis. The review hopes to support future integrated research initiatives, involving in-depth analysis though the use of tools as are indicators or models.

Integrated Management Study of Comacchio Coast (Italy)

ABSTRACT The study area covers 21 km of sandy coast between Porto Garibaldi and Porto Corsini (northern Adriatic Sea). The main problem in the area is beach erosion. This is due to the evolution of the delta of the Reno River, and to the effects of past anthropogenic impacts that modified the sediment transport dynamics of the beach. An important factor affecting the morphological evolution of the site is land subsidence. This caused an important modification of the relative elevation of the ground at sea level, increasing the beach erosion. Another phenomenon analysed in the study is the closure of the mouth of the Bellocchio channel, that links the Adriatic Sea with the existing lagoons (Ancone di Bellocchio and Valli di Comacchio). The mouth sanding process influences the water exchange and the hydraulic circulation within the lagoons and creates severe water quality problems. The study takes into account the most important physical and biological variables of the local environment and suggests some management interventions defined and verified with the use of numerical models. The solutions follow the basic principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management established by the European Community take a wide ranging perspective, build on an understanding of specific conditions in the area of interest, work with natural processes, ensure that decisions taken today do not foreclose options for the future.

AN OPTIMAL DECISION MODEL FOR COASTAL AQUIFERS MANAGEMENT

Abstract A general decision model for sustainable groundwater management is described through the identification of the decision variables, and the formalization of the objective function and the constraints. The objectives of the decision problem represent the goals that are pursued by the management strategies, according to the specific exigencies of the decision makers, while the constraints represent limits to be respected, exigencies to be fulfilled, and can also be used to take into account the various aspects of the problem. The decision model is applied to the coastal freatic aquifer of the Cervia city that is polluted by salt water.