In this paper we show that operational oceanography products can be used to develop indicators as required by the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). We present a mixing indicator that is calculated using MyOcean Marine Service reanalysis products. Seasonal climatology data of the Brunt-Väisäla frequency (BVF) were computed for 2001-2010 and the vertical mixing coefficient was defined. A vertical mixing indicator was then computed in order to differentiate between different mixing conditions depending on the seasons and differentiating between the shelf and the open ocean in the central Mediterranean Sea.

This research proposes the acquisition of a time series from optical satellites to observe changes in the Venice lagoon, an ecosystem which is very challenging to monitor by means of in situ survey activities, let alone using remote sensing techniques, given the presence of land and sandbars (vegetated intertidal areas). The work describes the specific validation process performed by ISPRA on the results obtained as applied on some target sites of the Venice Lagoon, both natural and partially artificial islands, using fully artificial islands as reference.

In the present paper a numerical method for marine and coastal hydrodynamics is presented. It aims at developing a formulation for the complete wave-current coupling in the time domain. In this framework, both waves and currents are handled by complete Navier-Stokes equations. Indeed, waves are modified by currents and interaction with structures, the flow is forced by waves and structures as well. The numerical solution for fully 3D equations is outlined, showing that the proposed procedure is a revisited version of the fractional step method, i.e. the free surface fractional step method. Some numerical test cases in simple 2D geometries (vertical direction vs direction of wave propagation) are shown.

The Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) has developed the Geodatabase “Linea di Costa”. that allows to perform spatial analysis on the recorded geometrical elements, and to provide a periodic update on the evolution of the coastline. The main objective of this work is to highlight the potential of a continuously updated geodatabase over time in monitoring and analysing the state of the coasts at a local level, presenting one of several case studies carried out by ISPRA, following specific requests related to local coastal dynamics received from the stakeholders.