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)

The monitoring network, set up in 2005 for the Interreg IIIA GERER Project “Gestion intègrèe de l’environnement à haute risque d’èrosion”, which was initially based on 4 sample beaches in Corsica and Sardinia, was extended to 35 beaches over a 6 year-period. Methodology was also implemented regarding the study of sedimentary processes and the morpho-dynamics of microtidal beaches dominated by wave movement 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, bathymetrical-topographical (DTM), sedimentological, wind and wave movement and hydrodynamics 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” (Trans-cross-border Centre for the study of coastal dynamics), realized together with the P.O. Marittimo Res.Mar “Rete per l'ambiente nello spazio marittimo” – Subproject B. The “Centro Transfrontaliero per lo studio della dinamica dei litorali” (Trans-crossborder Centre for the study of coastal dynamics) has recently been realised by the P.O. Marittimo Res.Mar “Rete per l'ambiente nello spazio marittimo” – Sub-project B. Free use of the lighthouse of OCEANS has been granted to the university and it is used for institutional objectives, mainly by researchers from the Coastal and Marine Geology Group, coordinated by Prof. Sandro DeMuro. Research results are available in scientific publications, popular publications and on a webgis (www.osservatoriocostesardegna.eu).