Estimating sediment transport from acoustic measurements in the Venice Lagoon inlets

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a 3-year-long (November 2004–November 2007) study based on the use of acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCPs) to estimate the solid transport through the three inlets of Venice lagoon. In each of the three inlets instruments were mounted both on survey boats and deployed on the channel bed. The three bottom-mounted ADCPs were positioned in the central part of the inlets, continuously monitoring vertical profiles in the water column. Periodic transects along the investigated sections were collected by the boat-mounted ADCP. Both installations measured current speed and acoustic backscatter intensity. The latter expresses the attenuation of acoustic energy due to material in the water column. The conversion of acoustic backscatter into suspended solids concentration (SSC) was carried out by means of direct measurements of concentration; also an indirect method was used. Boat-mounted ADCP acquisitions were used to calibrate and to validate the bottom-mounted ADCP data. Hourly time series of water discharge and SSC were obtained by calculation from the current speed and acoustic backscatter data recorded by the fixed ADCPs. Hourly solid flux time series were computed. The solid flux and SSC time series at the three inlets were analyzed in relation to the hydrodynamic and atmospheric conditions, highlighting the impact of intense meteorological events on the resuspension process. The lagoon sediment budget is estimated to be about 0.5×10 6 t/yr and shows a tendency for sediment loss.