A set of guidelines as support for the integrated geo-environmental characterization of highly contaminated coastal sites.

The knowledge of geomorphodynamic aspects is crucial for understanding marine and coastal processes/dynamics as well as for characterizing coastal environments heavily affected by anthropogenic activities. To provide a framework of analysis that can be applied in a consistent way for the geo-environmental characterization of highly contaminated coastal sites, in this paper a set of operational guidelines is proposed. Special attention is given to the role of geomorphological-based surveys and analyses in defining (i) the site-specific geological model of the investigated site, (ii) the anthropogenic impacts on marine and coastal sediments, (iii) the expected morphodynamic variations induced by climate change and anthropogenic interventions, (iv) tailored dissemination activities and community engagement plans. Then, an evaluation of the state of the art of activities already performed for the characterization of the coastal contaminated sites located in the Apulia region (southern Italy) is provided. The outcomes of this research are also provided in the form of infographics to favor their dissemination among communities and stakeholders.

Sediment pollution in coastal and marine environments.

Sediment pollution in coastal and marine environments has emerged as a pressing concern due to its far-reaching ecological, environmental, and human health impacts. This Special Issue of the Marine Pollution Bulletin assembles a diverse range of studies investigating sediment pollution, its causes, and potential mitigation strategies, covering topics such as geophysical assessment of anthropogenic activities, biological responses to pollution, contamination, and ecological risk assessments, and microplastics in coastal sediments. The findings emphasize the need for effective monitoring, management, and interdisciplinary research to address the multifaceted challenges posed by sediment pollution. As the global population grows and human activities expand, it is essential to prioritize sustainable practices and policies to minimize anthropogenic impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems. By advancing collective knowledge and sharing best practices, we can work towards ensuring a healthier and more resilient future for these crucial ecosystems and the lives they support.

Sediment pollution in coastal and marine environments.

Sediment pollution in coastal and marine environments has emerged as a pressing concern due to its far-reaching ecological, environmental, and human health impacts. This Special Issue of the Marine Pollution Bulletin assembles a diverse range of studies investigating sediment pollution, its causes, and potential mitigation strategies, covering topics such as geophysical assessment of anthropogenic activities, biological responses to pollution, contamination, and ecological risk assessments, and microplastics in coastal sediments. The findings emphasize the need for effective monitoring, management, and interdisciplinary research to address the multifaceted challenges posed by sediment pollution. As the global population grows and human activities expand, it is essential to prioritize sustainable practices and policies to minimize anthropogenic impacts on coastal and marine ecosystems. By advancing collective knowledge and sharing best practices, we can work towards ensuring a healthier and more resilient future for these crucial ecosystems and the lives they support.

Morpho-bathymetric acoustic surveys as a tool for mapping traces of anthropogenic activities on the seafloor: The case study of the Taranto area, southern Italy.

In this study, an investigation procedure for mapping the traces of anthropogenic activities on the seafloor is proposed. Analyses are based on the interpretation of acoustic data (Multibeam Echosounder and Side Scan Sonar) acquired in the Taranto coastal area. Specific GIS tools supported the acoustic data analysis, interpretation, and mapping. These analyses highlighted that the seafloor of both coastal basins included in the investigated area is affected by a high distribution of traces related to different anthropogenic activities such as dredging, shipping, and mussel farming activities. Such kind of traces resulted efficiently detectable from morpho-bathymetric acoustic data. In particular, groove traces resulted highly distributed in both basins, while sunken mussel farm facilities are widely distributed in the Mar Grande basin. The results highlight as acoustic surveys represent a useful tool for orienting effective coastal management actions. This study points out how geophysical surveys support the geo-environmental characterization of highly urbanized coastal sectors.

The nauticAttiva project: A mobile phone-based tool for the citizen science plastic monitoring in the marine and coastal environment.

Plastic pollution is involving large coastal areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Innovative methods of plastic monitoring can be addressed through the citizen science approaches integrated with mobile phones. On the other hand, the availability of mobile phones is increasing among several users. Mobile phones can be integrated with a web mobile app, which allows to collect a lot of data for extended areas and in a short temporal range. In this study, the web service of iNaturalist was applied to implement a mobile phone-based tool to collect pictures of plastic items. At present, the web mobile app has been used to collect pictures of plastic debris in the Mediterranean Sea. Results were compared with the Mediterranean hydrodynamic regime, to highlight the pathways and densities of the plastic items. The proposed mobile phone-based tool represented a citizen science approach useful for the acquisition of plastic observations in the marine and coastal environment.

The enigmatic 1693 AD tsunami in the eastern Mediterranean Sea: new insights on the triggering mechanisms and propagation dynamics.

The disastrous earthquake of 1693 AD caused over 60,000 causalities and the total destruction of several villages and towns in south-eastern Sicily. Immediately after the earthquake, a tsunami struck the Ionian coasts of Sicily and the Messina Strait and was probably recorded even in the Aeolian Islands and Malta. Over the last few decades, the event has been much debated regarding the location of the seismogenic source and the possible cause of the associated tsunami. The marine event has been related to both a submarine landslide and a coseismic displacement at the seafloor. To better define the most reliable sources and dynamics of the tsunami, we couple high-resolution marine seismic survey data with hydrodynamic modelling to simulate various scenarios of tsunami generation and propagation. Results from the simulations are compared with geomorphological evidence of past tsunami impacts, described in previous work along the coast of south-eastern Sicily, and within historical chronicles and reports. The most reliable scenario considers the 1693 event composed by two different tsunami waves: a first wave generated by the coseismic fault displacement at the seafloor and a second wave generated by a submarine landslide, triggered by the earthquake shaking. Tsunami modelling shows that a simultaneous movement between fault displacement and submarine mass movement could determine a destructive interference on the tsunami waves, resulting in a reduction in wave height. For this reason, the second tsunami wave probably occurred with a maximum delay of few minutes after the one generated by the earthquake and induced a greater flooding. The double-source model could explain the observation because in the course of other destructive earthquakes in south-eastern Sicily, such as that of 1169 AD, the associated tsunami caused less damages. This implies the need to better map, define and assess the hazard responsible for this type of tsunami events.

A rapid assessment of litter magnitudes and impacts along the Torre Guaceto marine protected area (Brindisi, Italy).

This study focuses on assessing litter magnitudes along the Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (Brindisi, Italy). Collected litter was grouped into twenty different types and classified into four litter typologies according to the Guidance on Monitoring of Marine Litter in European Seas. All data were analyzed using an index-based approach that allowed the classification of a coastal stretch in terms of cleanliness, and presence of plastics as well hazardous items. The average litter abundance in the study area was 0.5 items/m2, being plastics the most common litter item. Hazardous litter items were found along the study area, reaching 21.3% of the total collected items. The application of environmental indices allowed to define the study area with a "moderate cleanliness" and a "moderate" presence of hazardous litter items. Sampled litter typologies and related magnitudes suggest a combination of sources that mainly include direct activities on the nearby coastal zones and river basins (dumping).