Shell‐shape and morphometric variability in Mytilus galloprovincialis from micro‐tidal environments: responses to different hydrodynamic drivers

Tidal conditions differently influence inter‐tidal organisms in terms of general physiological and metabolic responses. In this study we investigated the morphological response in shells of Mytilus galloprovincialis native to different micro‐tidal coastal environments in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Our purpose was to highlight the ecophenotypic variability across tidal levels and to elucidate how tidal currents and waves produced by anthropogenic activities may play a part in modulating shell morphology. Three sampling sites were selected: an open‐sea area 15 km off‐shore and two sites within the lagoon of Venice, the first near one of its three inlets, and the other one in the proximity of Venice city centre. At each sampling site, organisms were seasonally collected at different depths within their vertical zonation, either in the inter‐tidal zone – i.e. at both the highest and lowest tide zonation limits, and subtidally. The mussel shells were analysed by investigation of their morphometric relationships (height/length and width/length ratios) and by elliptic Fourier analysis of the shell contours. Shell thickness and condition index were also evaluated for a better comprehension of energy allocation/partitioning. Estimates based on long‐term measurements, visual observation, wind statistics and wave growth laws allowed an evaluation of the forces acting on shells. At the open‐sea site, the observed phenotypic variability of both shell shape and thickness was clearly related to the tidal vertical zonation. At the two lagoon sites, the currents generated by tidal flow through the inlet and the waves caused by the frequent passage of boats influenced both shell shape and thickness. A trade‐off between protection and growth was apparent along the tide gradient, as emphasized by the differences in the partitioning and allocation of energy between shell and flesh production.     

The predictability of meteo-oceanographic events

We have explored the predictability of storms in a small enclosed basin with a complicated surrounding orography. We have considered two exceptional storms in the far past and three mild events happened in recent years. A posteriori forecasts have been done up to 6 days before the events. The results have been compared versus measured data and the related analysis. Good predictability (10–15% error in surface wind speed and wave height) have been found up to day 4, mildly larger (<30%) up to day 6 before the event. In no case was a storm missed. This suggests that the effective predictability in more open basins may extend to even larger ranges.     

A Critical Analysis of the Wind Climatology of the Adriatic Sea from Different Sources

Summary  We consider the wind climatology of the Adriatic Sea derived from three different sources: an operational meteorological model, a simplified wind model, and traditional ship reports. The simplified wind model is found to provide reliable results in storm conditions, but it partly smoothes the fields when the meteorological pattern is not well defined and fairly uniform at the basin scale. The ship reports show a strong evident bias towards low values. This is partly interpreted as a tendency for ships to avoid rough weather and not to report in these types of conditions. A second reason is a bias present in the transfer from the Beaufort to the metric scale. The best results are provided by the operational meteorological model, after its results have been corrected for a bias in wind speed, associated with the resolution of the model with respect to the dimensions of the basin under study. Received October 23, 1997 Revised August 10, 1998     

On the interaction between ocean surface waves and seamounts

Of the many topographic features, more specifically seamounts, that are ubiquitous in the ocean floor, we focus our attention on those with relatively shallow summits that can interact with wind-generated surface waves. Among these, especially relatively long waves crossing the oceans (swells) and stormy seas are able to affect the water column up to a considerable depth and therefore interact with these deep-sea features. We quantify this interaction through numerical experiments using a numerical wave model (SWAN), in which a simply shaped seamount is exposed to waves of different length. The results show a strong interaction that leads to significant changes in the wave field, creating wake zones and regions of large wave amplification. This is then exemplified in a practical case where we analyze the interaction of more realistic sea conditions with a very shallow rock in the Yellow Sea. Potentially important for navigation and erosion processes, mutatis mutandis, these results are also indicative of possible interactions with emerged islands and sand banks in shelf seas.     

Modeling multiple wave systems in the eastern equatorial Pacific

Ocean Dynamics - While moderate wind and wave conditions prevail in the eastern equatorial Pacific, modeling waves in this area remains challenging due to the presence of multiple wave systems...     

A semi-rigid connector for buoys and marine platforms

A system is described which has the capability of maintaining two large structures apart, floating or submerged, but allowing their relative movements due to current, waves and wind.Such a system has been designed and built. The tests carried out show that the developed theory is correct within the specified limits of validity. A practical test in the sea has shown the efficiency of the system and suggested some possible improvements.Its main characteristics are simplicity, reliability and low cost.     

A new hybrid procedure for the definition of seismic vulnerability in Mediterranean cross-border urban areas

Assessment of seismic vulnerability of urban areas provides fundamental information for activities of planning and management of emergencies. The main difficulty encountered when extending vulnerability evaluations to urban contexts is the definition of a framework of assessment appropriate for the specific characteristics of the site and providing reliable results with a reasonable duration of surveys and post-processing of data. The paper proposes a new procedure merging different typologies of information recognized on the territories investigated and for this reason called “hybrid.” Knowledge of historical events influencing urban evolution and analysis of recurrent building technologies are used to evaluate the vulnerability indexes of buildings and building stocks. On the other hand, a vulnerability model is calibrated by means of experimental and numerical investigations on prototype buildings representative of the most recurrent typologies. In the final framework, the vulnerability index, calculated through simplified assessment forms, is linked to the seismic intensity expressed by the peak ground acceleration and associated with an index of damage expressing the economical loss. The procedure has been tested on the urban center of Lampedusa island (Italy) providing as the output vulnerability index maps, vulnerability curves, critical PGA maps, and estimation of the economical damage associated with different earthquake scenarios. The application of the procedure can be suitably repeated for medium-to-small urban areas, typically recurring in the Mediterranean by carrying out each time a recalibration of the vulnerability model.     

Characteristics of quadrant and octant advection schemes in wave models

We point out one problem of the grid advection schemes when used in wave models in coastal areas. The deficiency of the schemes is investigated by means of the ‘third' generation WAM wave model, in which the wave energy is advected by a first order upwind scheme. Two similar, alternative modifications of this scheme are analyzed, the second of which is shown to solve most of the problems encountered with advection along the co-ordinate axes.     

Wave response of a spar buoy with and without a damping plate

Report on a computer analysis of wave response of a spar buoy that has been operated successfully in the Mediterranean over the past ten years, to find out how the presence of a large horizontal plate at the bottom affects its wave response. The calculations show that the addition of a damping plate decreases have response for short waves but increases the response for very long waves.