In the framework of the revision of Italian geomorphological legend (CARG Project) published in 1... more In the framework of the revision of Italian geomorphological legend (CARG Project) published in 1994 by the National Geological Service, the AIGeo-Working Group Coastal Morphodynamic (WGCM) dealt with the revision of the legend concerning the landforms of the coast. The aims of the work were the updating of the symbology on the basis of the post-1994 results in the geomorphological researches and creating a legend more vocated to the solution of the problems of applied geomorphology and more suitable to be managed in GIS environment. The WGCM started from the critical analysis of the classifications of coastal landforms proposed during the last century and it continued through a scientific discussion on the work that the members of the group performed by means of 12 case studies in which a correlation between landforms, processes and, dynamics was made. The geomorphological legend proposed by the WGCM has to be considered as a starting point and a work in progress. It remains, indee...
In this study, we present a comprehensive map of a microtidal wave-dominated beach system based o... more In this study, we present a comprehensive map of a microtidal wave-dominated beach system based on an interdisciplinary sea-land approach and with the purpose of supporting a sustainable and successful beach management. The study area is located in a highly urbanized/industrialized coastal sector of the W side of Cagliari Gulf (S Sardinia, W Mediterranean). In the Main Map (1:15,000 scale), static and dynamic features of the beach system and adjacent inner shelf are divided into thematic sections, including geomorphological elements, bathymetry, sedimentological distribution, benthic habitat (mainly Posidonia oceanica meadow), hydrodynamics and anthropogenic features. The map constitutes an example of multidisciplinary benchmark to allow for long-term planning and management of this highly urbanized beach system. It is able to provide a substantial scientific support to policy-makers towards environmental restoration and sustainable development.
Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana, 2011
For self-assembling of TiO2 nanoparticles in multiple layers by layer-by-layer deposition to be a... more For self-assembling of TiO2 nanoparticles in multiple layers by layer-by-layer deposition to be applied to TiO2 thin films with defined and homogeneous thickness for large-scale applications, the proper functionalization of substrate surface is a prerequisite to guarantee sufficient adhesion. The substrates selected and tested in the present paper were conductive, fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass, nonconductive silica glass, and titanium alloy. The current study focusses on the analytical control of the stepwise functionalization of the substrates with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane and glutaraldehyde (GA) for both the FTO glass and silica glass and with 3-aminepropyl phosphonic acid and GA for Ti alloy. The analyses have been conducted by means of surface sensitive methods, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, and time-of-flight secondary ions mass spectrometry. Chemical composition of surface of functionalized substrates shows differences in the degree and type of modification in dependence on substrate. It could be demonstrated that the best functionalized substrates were the conductive FTO glasses. The analysis of the functionalized Ti substrates has revealed that the surface coverage with 3-aminepropyl phosphonic acid and GA molecules is an inhomogeneous one, and further optimization of the two-step functionalization on the Ti alloy substrate is necessary.
Rendiconti Online della Società Geologica Italiana, 2011
Because fast and efficient serial processing of rastergraphic images and other two-dimensional ar... more Because fast and efficient serial processing of rastergraphic images and other two-dimensional arrays is a requirement in land-change modeling and other applications, the effects of 10 factors on the runtimes for processing two-dimensional arrays with C and C++ are evaluated in a comparative factorial study. This study's factors include the choice among three C or C++ source-code techniques for array processing; the choice of Microsoft Windows 7 or a Linux operating system; the choice of 4-byte or 8-byte array elements and indexes; and the choice of 32-bit or 64-bit memory addressing. This study demonstrates how programmer choices can reduce runtimes by 75 percent or more, even after compiler optimizations. Ten points of practical advice for faster processing of two-dimensional arrays are offered to C and C++ programmers. Further study and the development of a C and C++ software test suite are recommended.
This paper presents a detailed (1:4000) geomorphological, sedimentological and ecological map of ... more This paper presents a detailed (1:4000) geomorphological, sedimentological and ecological map of a Mediterranean microtidal wave-dominated beach system and adjacent inner shelf. This map is an innovative cartographic product that integrates a range of processes of present and past timeframes. It is part of a larger cartography on the coastal geomorphology of Sardinia (Italy) aiming to facilitate coastal management practices and future scientific research. The study area is located in SW Sardinia (Italy), and focuses on Porto Pino beach, an important tourist destination of semi-pristine nature, facing environmental pressures common to many coastal Mediterranean settings. In this context, the main human impact on coastal dune habitats is described and a full environmental characterization of the beach system is presented.
Development of monitoring network and methodology for the study of sedimentary and morpho-dynamics processes of microtidal wave dominated mediterranean beaches (Sardinia)
ABSTRACT The monitoring network, set up in 2005 for the Project Interreg IIIA GERER “Gestion intè... more ABSTRACT The monitoring network, set up in 2005 for the Project Interreg IIIA GERER “Gestion intègrée de l’environnement à haute risque d’èrosion”, which was initially based on 4 beaches in Corsica and Sardinia, extended to 34 beaches over a 6 year-period. Study methodology was carried out regarding sedimentary processes and the morpho-dynamics of microtidal wave dominated beaches in a Mediterranean environment. A database was created through the use of the monitoring network and study methodology, conducted by the “Coastal and Marine Geology Group”; data from aerial photographs, satellite images, cartography, bathymetry-topography (DTM), sedimentology, wind, wave and hydrodynamics models of the relative beach systems was collected, catalogued, archived and analyzed. The data flow is gathered by “Centro Transfrontaliero per lo studio della dinamica dei litorali”, realized together with the P.O. Marittimo Res.Mar “Rete per l'ambiente nello spazio marittimo” – Subproject B, sited at the “Osservatorio Coste E Ambiente Naturale Sottomarino” (O.C.E.A.N.S.). The results are available in scientific publications, popular publications and on a webgis (www.osservatoriocostesardegna.eu).
Bars and troughs dynamic and short-term evolution of two beaches on NE Sardina: La Cinta (San Teodoro, OT) and Budoni (OT)
This paper describes the dynamics and evolution trend in two similar beaches located in NE Sardin... more This paper describes the dynamics and evolution trend in two similar beaches located in NE Sardinia. The study began a few days after the flood on the 24 th of September 09, which caused a different response on the beaches. La Cinta beach, located in San Teodoro is 5km long and composed of fine quartz rich sand, backed by well-developed dune ridge and San Teodoro’s lagoon. Budoni beach (4km) is composed of fine to gravelly quarz sand, few seasonal lagoons are developed behind the dunes. Short-term variations have been periodically monitored since October 09. Sedimentary and hydrodynamic characteristics were studied. Short-term evolution of La Cinta beach was tested using topo-bathymetric digital models, derived from data acquired in two different field surveys (2009-10) in order to examine the resilience of the system. From data collected, thematic maps and models were produced. The comparison between them allowed to identify the main controls and distribution mechanisms of the sedi...
This work describes the human conditioned evolution (medium term) and the short term dynamics (ma... more This work describes the human conditioned evolution (medium term) and the short term dynamics (mainly sediment transport) in southern Sardinia beach (between Giorgino and Cala d'Orri, about 11km), composed of fine to coarse quartz sand, backed by dune ridges and lagoons. The study was founded by NEPTUNE Project, Tender6 (L n. 7/2007). Geomorphological and bio-environmental indicators as: urbanization and coastal defence expansion, dune and beach changes, biotic indices (benthic foraminifera and Posidonia meadow) have been used. Medium-term evolution, over a period of 60 years, was carried out by ortho-images (1954-2015) for reconstructing coastline changes at this temporal scale. The main modifications were the building of the canal harbor, the consequent loss of 2.5km of beach, and the construction of several coastal defense structures, which caused asymmetric accumulations (lee zones) and erosion areas. Short-term variations have been periodically monitored (2014-2015) during 5 different field surveys (DGPS and Echo-sounder data) obtaining topo-bathymetric digital models. Sedimentary and hydrodynamic characteristics have been studied. Wave propagation, coastal currents and sediment transport, have been simulated through numerical models within Delft3D software. The results obtained allowed to visualize the response of the beach to wave stress, forced from SW, S, SE (Cagliari buoy and weather data). The comparison between data collected, thematic maps and models allowed to identify the main controlling factors and distribution mechanisms of the sedimentary paths on the shoreface. Those human modifications (e.g. building of the canal harbour and jetties, lagoon mouths stabilization, the consequent modified hydrodynamics and bottom trawling) have direct influence on the \textit{Posidonia oceanica} and on its upper limit. In 2002, the Italian Environment Office reported a wide area (between-4m and-20m) of degraded Posidonia and dead matte in front of the study beach. Reflecting the poor state of the Posidonia upper limit, during data collection it has been documented the presence of banquette, mainly composed of \textit{Caulerpa pro-lifera}, with which the Posidonia competes for the substrate. The roles of \textit{Posidonia oceanica} in coastal defence (sediment retainment, hydrodynamics attenuation), fish nursery and water oxygenation have been largely recognized. The health of the Posidonia meadow is also linked to the biotic communities. In order to evaluate the ecosystem quality of the investigated area, living benthic foraminiferal assemblages (Rose Bengal stained) were analysed. Benthic foraminifera are useful as bioindicator proxies for characterization of specific environments in coastal systems, because foraminifera have short life cycles reacting quite quickly to both short and long-term changes in marine and transitional-marine environments on both global and local scale. Results demonstrate, in medium-term scale, the human modification, and in short-term scale, the consequent human conditioning in sediment transport. The benthic foraminiferal biocoenosis and biotic indices decrease in the samples characterized by high environmental stress and are linked to the poor state of the Posidonia upper limit. The low abundance values and the dominance of indicative opportunistic species, such as \textit{Ammonia tep-ida}, \textit{Haynesina germanica} and bolivinids, are the result of these stressed conditions.
The activity of “Osservatorio Coste E Ambiente Naturale Sottomarino” (OCEANS) and the implementation of a monitoring network and study methodology for sedimentological and morphodynamic processes of Mediterranean microtidal wave-dominated beaches (Sardinia)
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