Characteristics and coastal effects of a destructive marine storm in the Gulf of Naples (Southern Italy)

Abstract

Abstract. Destructive marine storm bring large waves and unusually high surges of water to coastal areas, resulting in significant damages and economic loss. In this study it is examined the characteristics of a destructive marine storm on the strongly inhabited coastal area of Naples Gulf, along the Italian coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea, which is highly vulnerable to marine storms due to the accelerated relative sea level rise trend and the increased anthropogenic impact on the coastal area. The marine storm, occurred on the 28th December 2020, was analysed through an unstructured wind-wave coupled model that takes into account the main weather-marine components of the coastal setup. The model, validated with in-situ data allowed to establish threshold values for the most significant marine and atmospheric parameters (i.e., wind intensity and duration) beyond which an event can produce destructive effects. Finally, a first assessment of the return period of this event was evaluated using local press reports on damage on urban furniture and port infrastructures.

Assessing the physical vulnerability of the coastal area of Nigeria to climate change

“…The coastal region of Nigeria is very important considering its rapidly expanding population, and its high concentrations of residential, commercial, educational, military, tourism, and industrial facilities including its vast oil fields and infrastructure [1] . Incidentally, this zone is the most at risk in terms of the adverse impacts of climate change [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] . Some of the most reported impacts of climate change in Nigeria are extreme weather events, changes in the timing of seasons, and sea level rise [12,13] .…”