The coastal zone is one of the most dynamic system of the Earth found at the intersection between marine, terrestrial and atmospheric processes. Deltaic coasts are even more complex due to additional shaping (and energy) related to fluvial processes. Correspondingly, the emerging landforms are very complex and dynamic and a scientific approach is crucial in understanding the genesis and behavior of coastal landforms, which holds the key for adaptation of human comunities to the unavoidable and frequently fast coastal landscape changes.
Research interests:
- Large scale coastal behavior (LSCB): Deltaic systems evolution reconstruction needs detailed investigations on the development of the deltaic lobes, of marine fields and barrier islands.
- Coastal morphodynamics: Beach, dune, bars and mouth bar evolution is tracked through sedimentary computations and analysis of environmental forcings such as wind, waves, longshore currents and the influences of floods in shaping the coastal landforms.
- Coastal hazards: Measured data give information regarding the climate and the impact of marine storms, their importance in shore dynamics and in coastal zone vulnerability.
- Geoarchaeology: Geoarchaeological reconstructions assess the impact of landscape changes on human communities development from different historical ages (from Neolithic to Modern times).
- GIS applied in coastal geomorphology: Geographic Information Systems allow the quantification and analysis of spatial data, revealing precious information regarding the dynamics of the coastal zone.
- Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM): Through understanding the functioning of coastal systems, efficient policies and management plans can be adopted based on the principle of sustainable development