Geofizički seminar 05.10.2026. u 14:15 h

ABSTRACT: Understanding water circulation in coastal seas and associated river-sea transitional environments is one of the key topics in oceanographic and climate research. Hydrodynamic modelling of coastal seas has become a fundamental tool for describing the dynamics of marine environments, assessing human impacts on the sea, and supporting the sustainable development of marine resources. In this context, the Northern Adriatic Sea represents a long-standing natural laboratory for hydrodynamic modelling. The unique historical, morphological, and oceanographic characteristics of this basin, together with its complex coastline, have stimulated the development and application of numerous ocean and coastal models over several decades.

Floods and droughts are among the most critical extreme events affecting river-sea systems worldwide, significantly altering hydrodynamics, stratification, and water exchange processes at the land-sea interface. These extremes also have substantial environmental and socio-economic impacts, affecting freshwater availability, agricultural productivity, ecosystem functioning, and coastal resource management. In this study, these processes are investigated using an unstructured three-dimensional hydrodynamic model applied to two coastal systems, the Venice Lagoon and the Po Delta, located in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Two extreme events are considered as case studies: the 2019 storm surge event, which caused severe flooding in Venice, and the exceptionally dry summer of 2022, which led to unprecedented saltwater intrusion in the Po Delta.