Abstract
The Venice lagoon inlets have undergone extensive modification during the past, responding in their evolution to the changing physical forcings and human intervention. In order to quantify the adaptation to these forcings the northernmost inlet (Lido) has been studied in detail through numerical modeling and high-resolution bathymetry data collected during three consecutive years.
Eleven sections have been chosen in these channels where the cross-sectional area has been determined. The discharges and with it the tidal prism through these sections have been computed through numerical simulations of an existing, calibrated hydrodynamic model (Shyfem). The obtained results have been compared to empirical relationships between the tidal prism and the cross-sectional area of tidal channels (O’Brien relation and Jarrett formula).
The computations have been repeated with available data from bathymetry charts for the years 1990, 1970 and 1930 to detect any temporal variation of the cross-sectional areas of the channels and their tidal prism and to evaluate the stability of the Lido inlet. Results from all inlets indicate a relative stability of the tidal prism entering Venice Lagoon, though some changes were detected for the year 1970.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Amos CL, Umgiesser G, Helsby RA, Friend PL (2004) Final report – CORILA 3.2 – Idrodinamica e morfologia della laguna di Venezia (VELMA). In: Scientific Research and Safeguarding of Venice, vol II, Corila, Venice, pp 189–202
Amos CL, Helsby R, Umgiesser G, Mazzoldi A, Tosi L (2005) Sand transport in northern Venice lagoon. CORILA 3.2 – Idrodinamica e morfologia della laguna di Venezia (VELMA). In Scientific Research and Safeguarding of Venice, vol III, Corila, Venice, pp 369–383
Escoffier FF (1940) The stability of tidal inlets. Shore Beach 8(4):114–115
Fontolan G, Pillon S, Delli Quadri F, Bezzi A (2007) Sediment storage at tidal inlets in northern Adriatic lagoons: Ebb-tidal delta morphodynamics, conservation and sand use strategies. Estuar Coast Shelf Sci 75:261–277
Helsby R, Amos CL, Umgiesser G (2006) Morphological evolution and sand pathways in northern Venice Lagoon, Italy. In: Campostrini P (ed) Scientific research and safeguarding of Venice, Proceedings of Corila Research programme 2004–2006, vol IV. Corila, Venezia, pp 388–402
Helsby R, Amos CL, Umgiesser G (2008) Tidal prism variation and associated channel stability in N. Venice lagoon. In: Campostrini P (ed) Scientific research and safeguarding of Venice, Proceedings of Corila Research programme 2004–2006, vol VI. Corila, Venezia, pp 453–466
Hume TM, Herdendorf CE (1988) A geomorphic classification of estuaries and its application to coastal resource management. J Ocean Shoreline Manag 11:249–274
Hume TM, Herdendorf CE (1993) On the use of empirical stability relationships for characterising estuaries. J Coast Res 9(2):413–422
Jarett JT (1976) Tidal prism-inlet area relationship. CERC-WES General Investigation of Tidal Inlets, Department of the Army, U.S Corps of Engineering, report 3, pp 1–32
LeConte LJ (1905) Notes on the improvement of river and harbour outlets in the United States. Transactions, American Society of Civil Engineers, LV(Dec), pp 306–308
Molinaroli E, Guerzoni S, Sarretta A, Masiol M, Pistolato M (2009) Thirty-year changes (1970 to 2000) in bathymetry and sediment texture recorded in the Lagoon of Venice sub-basins, Italy. Mar Geol 258:115–125
Nayak IV (1971) Tidal Prism-Area Relationship in a Model Inlet, University of California, Hydraulic Engineering Laboratory, Report HEL-24-1, Berkeley, CA, 72 pp
O’Brien MP (1931) Estuary tidal prism related to entrance areas. Civil Eng 1(8):738–739
O’Brien MP (1969) Equilibrium flow areas of inlets on sandy coasts. J Waterway Harbour Div ASCE 95(WW1):43–52
Renger E, Partenscky HW (1974) Stability criteria for tidal basins. In: 14th international coastal engineering conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, ASCE, pp 1605–1618
Shigemura T (1981) Tidal prism-throat width relationships of the bays of Japan. Shore Beach 49(3):34–39
Shore Protection Manual (1984) 4th ed, vol 2, U.S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC
Townend I (2005) An examination of empirical stability relationships for UK estuaries. J Coast Res 21(5):1042–1053
Umgiesser G, Melaku Canu D, Cucco A, Solidoro C (2004) A finite element model for the Venice Lagoon. Development, set up, calibration and validation. J Mar Syst 51:123–145
Umgiesser G, De Pascalis F, Ferrarin C, Amos CL (2006) A model of sand transport in Treporti channel: northern Venice lagoon. Ocean Dyn 56:339–351
Wessel P, Smith WHF (1991) Free software helps map and display data. EOS Trans AGU 72:441
Acknowledgements
This work has been carried out with the partial support of the Corila project 3.2 (Idrodinamica e morfologia della laguna di Venezia). The authors also want to thank the VECTOR project for partial funding.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Umgiesser, G., Helsby, R., Amos, C.L., Ferrarin, C. (2015). Tidal Prism Variation in Venice Lagoon and Inlet Response over the Last 70 Years. In: Maanan, M., Robin, M. (eds) Sediment Fluxes in Coastal Areas. Coastal Research Library, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9260-8_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9260-8_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-94-017-9259-2
Online ISBN: 978-94-017-9260-8
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)