Naples Bay Research Articles

Marine Geohazards of the Bay of Naples (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy): A Review Integrating Morpho-Bathymetric and Seismo-Stratigraphic Analysis

Marine geohazards in the Bay of Naples, an eruptive region during the late Quaternary, have been assessed based on both morpho-bathymetric and seismic data. Previously identified areas of high marine hazard with slide potential (northern Ischia slope, Naples canyons, and Sorrento Peninsula–Capri slope) have been confirmed and integrated through the seismo-stratigraphic analysis of selected seismic sections. We evaluated the occurrence of important fossil submarine landslides in the stratigraphic record. Several kinds of submarine landslides have been individuated through morpho-bathymetric and seismic interpretation, including creeping, debris avalanches, and debris flows, among others, often controlled by volcanic eruptions. Submarine landslides of Naples Bay are primary geohazards in the marine and coastal areas, which has been ascertained with significant volcanic and tsunami hazards involving the gulf. Despite previous studies on these topics, much work is still needed to compile a systematic database of the submarine landslides of the Bay of Naples, representing a future step of this research.

Marine Geological Studies of the Bay of Naples (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy): Revised Applications of the Seismo-Stratigraphic Concepts and Evolving Technologies to a Late Quaternary Volcanic Area

Marine geological studies of Naples Bay are discussed and reviewed, focusing on the application of the seismo-stratigraphic concepts to a Late Quaternary volcanic area. The Naples Bay represents an active volcanic area in which the interactions between volcanic and sedimentary processes controlled a complex stratigraphic architecture during the Late Quaternary period. While the volcanic processes took place in correspondence with the activity of the Somma–Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei Ischia, and Procida volcanic complexes, the sedimentary processes were controlled by the fluvial processes in the Sarno-Sebeto coastal plain and by the tectonic uplift in correspondence with the Sorrento Peninsula’s structural high Key geophysical and stratigraphic studies of the three active volcanic complexes are revised and discussed. The seismo-stratigraphic concepts applied in the geological interpretation of seismic profiles of Naples Bay are reviewed and discussed: here, the classical concepts of seismic and sequence stratigraphy have been successfully applied, but only partly, due to the occurrence of several buried volcanoes and volcanic seismic units and tephra layers, calibrated by gravity cores.

Natural vs. anthropogenic metals for reconstructing the source-to-sink pathway (Naples Bay, eastern Tyrrhenian Sea)

The grain size, nutrients, and metals contents of sediments are important tracers for reconstructing the origin of the contaminants and the pathway of the sediments from the source to the sink. This is particularly important in areas with high geological variability and a high demographic pressure. The origin and distribution of contaminants and nutrients allow us to identify the source-to-sink pathway of the sediments. In particular, the Sarno River is one of the main contributing sources of anthropogenic contaminants due to the outflow from the large surrounding large industrial area. Geochemical and physical parameters of sediments were analyzed along a transect from the coastline to a water depth of 112 m, with the objective of exploring the spatial variability of sediment contamination in the continental shelf of Naples Bay. The latter is characterized by a complex geological area and is subject to river inflow from a highly industrialized area. The data have been analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical correlation analysis (CA), and analysis of variance (ANOVA). To distinguish between a natural and anthropogenic origin of contaminants and to construct the source-to-sink pathway, the relationship between geochemical and physical data and their distribution was examined, and the results were compared with published data collected onshore. Four distinct sectors with different associations of metals, grain size, and total organic carbon have been recognized: I) offshore Vesuvius volcano, the occurrence of coarse-grained sediments, associated with As, Fe, Mn, and low TOC values, suggests a natural origin of the contaminant due to the volcanic nature of the substrate; II) offshore the Sarno River, the presence of Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn, associated with the high TOC content, suggests an anthropogenic origin for the contaminants; III) offshore Sorrento Peninsula, the presence of As, Fe, Mn, and some gravel made up of pumice and bioclasts indicate a predominance of contaminants of natural origin; and IV) finally, the distal part is not subjected to a primary terrestrial input. Metals contamination of anthropogenic origin and the organic matter in sediments decreased rapidly with distance from the coast highlighting the main deposition area close to the river discharge.

The Coastal Areas of the Bay of Naples: The Sedimentary Dynamics and Geological Evolution of the Naples Canyons

The sedimentary dynamics and geological evolution of the Naples canyons during the Late Quaternary have been studied based on sedimentological and seismo-stratigraphic data. Several factors, including the sedimentary environments, tectonic setting, and volcanic eruptions, have controlled the geological evolution of the coastal and marine areas of the Bay of Naples. The main data and methods include the sedimentological data analysis, the seismo-stratigraphic techniques applied in the geological interpretation of seismic profiles, and the integrated analysis of core data that were previously published. The formation of the Dohrn canyon is controlled by fluvial processes, active in correspondence with the palaeo-Schiazzano River system and by the main eruptive events involving the submarine portion of Naples Bay, including the Campanian Ignimbrite (CI; 39 ky B.P.) and the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff (NYT; 15 ky B.P.). The formation of the Magnaghi canyon is controlled by erosional processes on the continental slope of Procida Island, which was active during the last eruptive phases of the island (Solchiaro Formation; 18 ky B.P.), triggering high rates of volcaniclastic supply.

Contrasting two urban wetland parks created for improving habitat and downstream water quality

This paper describes the ecology and management of two flow-through created wetlands that, in turn, defined 30 years of research by Bill Mitsch, 20 years in Columbus, Ohio (1992–2012) and 10 years in Naples, Florida (2012−2022). The Olentangy River Wetland Research Park was built in several stages from 1993 through 2010. The first stage was the creation of dual 1-ha kidney-shaped wetlands primarily fed by pumped Olentangy River water. A pattern of inflow that depended on river stage was maintained for 17 years. The two experimental wetlands were established by planting one of the wetlands with a variety of wetland macrophytes and leaving the second wetland unplanted to ultimately determine whether human introduction of wetland plants matter in the long run. In addition to maintaining data collection for hydrology, water quality, and other functions, these wetlands and several others constructed on the 20-ha floodplain site were heavily used as was the mesocosm compound, mostly for short-term (2 to 3 year) experiments by graduate students.Another 20-ha created wetland complex, called Freedom Park Wetlands, was constructed in 2007–2008 in Naples, Florida, at an abandoned citrus grove, to seasonally treat urban stormwater runoff. During that wet season, the design calls for an average water detention time of 18 days. The wetland system included a 1.9-ha deepwater pond for temporary storage of the urban stormwater pulses from what is mostly an urban watershed, followed by 2.7 ha of shallower vegetated wetland ponds designed to sequentially improve water quality. Within each wetland, there are three deep-water cells and two shallow-water cells. The water eventually exits the treatment wetlands via a rectangular and travels diffusely through a restored bottomland forest to the Gordon River and ultimately toward Naples Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. During our tenure at Florida Gulf Coast University's (FGCU) Everglades Wetland Research Park, Freedom Park was a venue with active mesocosm experiments in a constructed mesocosm compound. Several of these mesocosm experiments were the subjects of master's theses from FGCU and doctoral dissertations from our partner, University of South Florida. Our students also contributed to the local environmental communities by giving tours of the Freedom Park wetlands and our mesocosm research.

Combined Use of an Information System and LCA Approach to Assess the Performances of a Solid Waste Management System

A municipal solid waste information system, named W-MySir, is utilised to acquire high-quality data to implement an attributional life-cycle assessment (LCA) focused on the evolution of the environmental performances of municipal solid waste management in a specific area. The main aim was to investigate how this combined approach can be used for monitoring progress of the management scheme toward important targets, such as being CO2-neutral, increasing the circularity of the service, and planning a transparent approach to cost evaluation. The analysis was applied to the municipality of Procida, one of the three islands of Naples Bay (Italy), and focused on the last ten years of activity of the local solid waste service. The results of the life cycle impact assessment are reported in terms of the main impact categories. They indicate a positive evolution of the environmental performances, with improvements of up to 140% for global warming potential. The positive results are mainly due to the large increase in household source separation and separate collection in Procida during the period under analysis, together with the availability of a more integrated and sustainable regional system of solid waste management. Further improvements may be achieved through better performance at the sorting and remanufacturing stages of dry recyclable fractions and the availability of anaerobic digestion units to produce biomethane from organic fractions of municipal solid waste. The combined approach indicates potential further benefits for both the tools: LCAs could provide reliable results in shorter times; information systems could offer a wider spectrum of services for monitoring and planning waste management systems in a sustainable way.

Geologic and geomorphologic study of the Terra Murata and Centane-Panoramica sites (Island of Procida, Naples Bay, Southern Tyrrhenian sea) aimed at solving some applied geological and geotechnical problems

A geologic and geomorphologic study aimed at solving some geological and geotechnical problems, regarding the massive seepage of meteoric waters in the coastal cliffs of the Island of Procida (Naples Bay, southern Italy), composed of both tuffs and loose pyroclastic deposits, has been carried out in the geosites of Terra Murata (Middle Ages village and coastal cliff towards the Corricella Bay) and Centane-Panoramica (coastal cliff facing on the Tyrrhenian sea). A detailed geologic and geomorphologic survey has allowed to suggest solutions to the applied geological and geotechnical problems related to the occurrence of massive seepages of waters at the physical interface between pyroclastic rocks and loose pyroclastic deposits, characterized by different density, permeability and porosity and also controlled by a dense network of fractures, involving the pyroclastic deposits cropping out in the selected areas. Field sampling and geotechnical laboratory analyses have been carried out to calculate the values of main geotechnical parameters of the yellow tuffs cropping out at the Terra Murata promontory. At the same time, a detailed monitoring of the seepages of waters has been carried out through a detailed geological survey of the tuff outcrops of the promontory. The obtained results have suggested a strong control from both the geomorphologic instability of the coastal cliff and tectonic setting. At the Centane-Panoramica geosite the geological survey, coupled with geotechnical analyses and standard penetrometric tests, has accordingly evidenced that the geomorphologic instability was mainly concentrated in the sectors of the tuff coastal cliffs facing seawards towards the Tyrrhenian sea.

Geologic and geomorphologic study of the Terra Murata and Centane-Panoramica Sites (Island of Procida, Naples Bay, Southern Tyrrhenian Sea) aimed at solving some applied geological and geotechnical problems

A geologic and geomorphologic study aimed at solving some geological and geotechnical problems, regarding the massive seepage of meteoric waters in the coastal cliffs of the Island of Procida (Naples Bay, Southern Italy) composed of both tuffs and loose pyroclastic deposits, has been carried out in the geosites of Terra Murata (Middle Ages village and coastal cliff towards the Corricella Bay) and Centane-Panoramica (coastal cliff facing on the Tyrrhenian Sea).A detailed geologic and geomorphologic survey has allowed to suggest solutions to the applied geological and geotechnical problems related to the occurrence of massive seepages of waters at the physical interface between pyroclastic rocks and loose pyroclastic deposits, characterized by different density, permeability and porosity and also controlled by a dense network of fractures, involving the pyroclastic deposits cropping out in the selected areas.Field sampling and geotechnical laboratory analyses have been carried out to calculate the values of main geotechnical parameters of the yellow tuffs cropping out at the Terra Murata Promontory. At the same time, a detailed monitoring of the seepages of waters has been carried out through a detailed geological survey of the tuff outcrops of the promontory. The obtained results have suggested a strong control from both the geomorphologic instability of the coastal cliff and tectonic setting. At the Centane-Panoramica geosite, the geological survey, coupled with geotechnical analyses and standard penetrometric tests, has accordingly evidenced that the geomorphologic instability was mainly concentrated in the sectors of the tuff coastal cliffs facing seawards towards the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Estimating the Effects of a Hurricane on Carbon Storage in Mangrove Wetlands in Southwest Florida

Tropical and subtropical mangrove swamps, under normal conditions, can sequester large amounts of carbon in their soils but as coastal wetlands, they are prone to hurricane disturbances. This study adds to the understanding of carbon storage capabilities of mangrove wetlands and explores how these capacities might change within the scope of a changing storm climate. In September 2017, Naples Bay, FL, USA (28°5′ N, 81°47′ W) encountered a direct hit from hurricane Irma, a Saffir–Simpson category 3 storm. By comparing carbon storage, forest community structure, and aboveground productivity collected in 2013 and in 2019, we estimated the effects of hurricane Irma on mangrove functions. Aboveground biomass increased during the study period at a rate of approximately 0.72 kg m−2 yr−1, significantly less than the average found in undisturbed mangrove forests. Soil carbon storage decreased at all study sites. On average, 2.7 kg-C m−2 was lost in the top 20 cm between sample collections. Carbon loss in belowground pools could point to a feedback of mangrove swamps on climate change as they lose their ability to store carbon and increase net atmospheric carbon. Nevertheless, mangrove swamps remain resilient to tropical storms in the long term and can recover their carbon storage capacity in the years following a storm.

Integrated Morpho-Bathymetric, Seismic-Stratigraphic, and Sedimentological Data on the Dohrn Canyon (Naples Bay, Southern Tyrrhenian Sea): Relationships with Volcanism and Tectonics

Submarine canyons are geomorphologic lineaments engraving the slope/outer shelf of continental margins. These features are often associated with significant geologic hazard when they develop close to densely populated coastal zones. The seafloor of Naples Bay is deeply cut by two incisions characterized by a dense network of gullies, namely the Dohrn and Magnaghi canyons, which develop from the shelf break of the Campania margin, down to the peripheral rise of the Eastern Tyrrhenian bathyal plain. Seismic-stratigraphic interpretation of multichannel seismic reflection profiles has shown that quaternary tectonics and recent to active volcanism have exerted a significant control on the morphological evolution and source-to sink depositional processes of the Dohrn and Magnaghi submarine canyons. The Dohrn canyon is characterized by relatively steep walls hundreds of meters high, which incise a Middle-Late Pleistocene prograding wedge, formed by clastic and volcaniclastic deposits associated with the paleo-Sarno river system during the Mid-Late Pleistocene. The formation of the Dohrn canyon predates the onset of the volcanic eruption of the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff (NYT), an ignimbrite deposit of ca. 15 ka that represents the bedrock on which the town of Napoli is built. Integrated stratigraphic analysis of high-resolution seismic profiles and marine gravity core data (C74_12) collected along the flanks of the eastern bifurcation of the head of Dohrn Canyon suggests that depositional processes along the canyon flanks are dominated by gravity flows (e.g., fine-grained turbidites, debris flows) and sediment mass transport associated with slope instability and failure.

Correcting The Cove

The city of Naples, Florida, has helped improve water quality by developing an ecologically friendly approach to managing stormwater where it enters a small cove of Naples Bay. With its “living sho...

Compositional and textural study of modern beach sands in the active volcanic area of the Campania region (southern Italy)

The association among volcanism, tectonics and sedimentation may be critical for interpreting the paleogeographic and plate tectonic settings of the past. In modern and ancient sedimentary systems, volcaniclastic fragment classes have been distinguished on the basis of texture and composition. Criteria adopted for their temporal and spatial correlation with source volcanic areas, in terms of type of volcanism and particle-forming processes are still not well constrained and often a topic of controversy and misinterpretation. Here, we present data for volcaniclastic fragments occurring in modern beach sands of the Campanian coast of southern Italy, where there are two active volcanic areas, the Phlegrean Fields and Mt. Vesuvius. Despite their geographical proximity, these volcanoes are characterized by different magma compositions and eruptive mechanisms. We set out to test whether this translates into different textural and compositional characteristics of their associated volcaniclastic detritus in order to better constrain the criteria relating the type of volcanism to the nature of volcaniclastic sand fragments in the sedimentary record. Along a ~100 km coastal stretch, from the Volturno River mouth to Sorrento, 72 sand samples were collected mainly in beach berm environments. Detrital modes were defined for the medium sand fraction of each sample, where monocrystalline and lithic grains are easily identified. The analyzed samples show a mixed sedimentary and volcanic provenance. Samples from the northernmost coastal stretch show a sedimentary petrofacies at the Volturno River mouth. Bacoli marks the transition between the Apennine sedimentary and Phlegrean volcanic petrofacies. Along the Portici-Sorrento coastal stretch, volcanic lithic fragments dominate. Leucite and sanidine crystal components indicate that detritus from the Phlegrean Fields extends south from Licola to Naples Bay, whereas the Vesuvius provenance extends from Naples/Portici south to Castellammare di Stabia. Phlegrean Fields and Mt. Vesuvius volcaniclastic petrofacies have been discriminated through a different distribution of both compositions of the volcanic lithic fragments, leucite and K-feldspars content. Volcanic lithics with lathwork texture and leucite, are Mt. Vesuvius provenance source sensitive detrital grains, whereas volcanic lithics with vitric texture and K-feldspars marks the transition to the Phlegrean Fields petrofacies. The results formalize three different sandy petrofacies which were mapped from north to south as Sedimentary, Phlegrean (volcanic) and Vesuvius (volcanic) petrofacies.

Morphological and molecular responses in ovaries of Mytilus galloprovincialis collected in two different sites of the Naples Bay.

Mytilus galloprovincialis female specimens were collected from two mussel farms located in two sites next to Castel dell'Ovo, a historical complex located in the Naples Bay. Such sites were named, respectively, A-area and B-area for the different microbiological parameters so that mussels from A-area can be sold without purification, whereas mussels from B-area must be purified before sale. The mussels were collected during the nonreproductive (summer 2009) and reproductive periods (autumn 2009). Gonadosomatic index, structural organization of the ovary, presence of apoptosis, estrogen receptors expression, as well as the bisphenol A (BPA) content in the ovaries, were evaluated. Ovaries from specimens collected inarea B showed a different and significant distribution of the investigated biomarkers as well as ofBPA content in respect to those measured in the A-area specimens, confirming that mussels are valid sentinel organisms to biomonitor in the Naples bay too.

Geologic and geomorphologic study of the Terra Murata and Centane-Panoramica sites (Island of Procida, Naples Bay, Southern Tyrrhenian sea) aimed at solving some applied geological and geotechnical problems

A geologic and geomorphologic study aimed at solving some geological and geotechnical problems, regarding the massive seepage of meteoric waters in the coastal cliffs of the Island of Procida (Naples Bay, southern Italy), composed of both tuffs and loose pyroclastic deposits, has been carried out in the geosites of Terra Murata (Middle Ages village and coastal cliff towards the Corricella Bay) and Centane-Panoramica (coastal cliff facing on the Tyrrhenian sea). A detailed geologic and geomorphologic survey has allowed to suggest solutions to the applied geological and geotechnical problems related to the occurrence of massive seepages of waters at the physical interface between pyroclastic rocks and loose pyroclastic deposits, characterized by different density, permeability and porosity and also controlled by a dense network of fractures, involving the pyroclastic deposits cropping out in the selected areas. Field sampling and geotechnical laboratory analyses have been carried out to calculate the values of main geotechnical parameters of the yellow tuffs cropping out at the Terra Murata promontory. At the same time, a detailed monitoring of the seepages of waters has been carried out through a detailed geological survey of the tuff outcrops of the promontory. The obtained results have suggested a strong control from both the geomorphologic instability of the coastal cliff and tectonic setting. At the Centane-Panoramica geosite the geological survey, coupled with geotechnical analyses and standard penetrometric tests, has accordingly evidenced that the geomorphologic instability was mainly concentrated in the sectors of the tuff coastal cliffs facing seawards towards the Tyrrhenian sea.

Hurricane and seasonal effects on hydrology and water quality of a subtropical urban stormwater wetland

Understanding the hydrology of a created or restored wetland is a critical component in understanding the overall functioning of its design, and in determining if the original goals of the wetland are being met. Freedom Park, a 20-ha park constructed in Naples, Florida in 2009, includes a 4.6-ha subtropical stormwater wetland treatment system for improving the water quality of the downstream impaired Gordon River and estuaries that flow into the Gulf of Mexico. Subtropical wetlands often present significant issues of sustaining viable wetland vegetation communities because of long wet and then long dry patterns in the wetlands’ hydroperiods. The treatment wetland’s watershed includes 1766 ha of an urbanized Naples metro area. The goals of the stormwater wetlands are to improve the water quality, reduce peak flows discharging into Gordon River and further to Naples Bay, and provide an aesthetic water park for the public. A monthly hydrologic budget for the period August 1, 2016 to January 31, 2018 showed the following averages: pumped surface water inflow of 50.1 cm week−1; average surface outflow of 38.8 cm week−1; precipitation of 3.76 cm week−1, potential evapotranspiration (PET) of 5.34 cm week−1; and estimated seepage of 14.8 cm week−1. During the wet season, water pathways are largely influenced by pumped surface inflow and surface outflow, balanced to not produce significant changes in water level from month to month. Groundwater seepage and evapotranspiration are the most important outflows during the dry season. A stormwater pulsing study during Hurricane Irma (September 10, 2017) showed that after an initial inflow flush due primarily to rainfall, total phosphorus and total nitrogen concentrations were higher at the outflow than at the inflow for several days during and immediately after the hurricane. Similarly, the mass of nutrients leaving the system was 130% and 37% higher for TN and TP, respectively, than the mass entering the system during this 6-day period during and immediately after the hurricane. Ironically, the design of the pump-only inflow did not allow for major urban runoff during the hurricane to enter the wetlands. Samples taken at the inflow and outflow of the system for four other storm events throughout the 2017 wet season (July through October) were also analyzed for their effects on water quality. While total phosphorus removal during and after storm events is comparable to normal conditions at the Freedom Park wetlands and other stormwater treatment wetlands in the world, total nitrogen removal decreased during and after storm events.

Prominent features of the Augustan aqueduct in the Naples Bay area

Abstract The great Aqua Augusta served the Naples Bay area with fresh water during the time of the Roman Empire. There are very prominent features of the Aqua Augusta, some that are extraordinary when considering other great aqueducts in the Roman Empire. For example, the deep tunnels allowed access to a spring water source from a separate watershed, which resulted in transbasin diversion of the water supply. Each one of the prominent features was engineered to provide water to the public for various uses. The prominent structures included other shallower tunnels (with two major types of construction), hydraulic chutes, arcades (one to an island), baths (located along a well-traveled road), and storage reservoirs. Also, there is the epigraph discovered at the water source. Important villas that may have influenced the alignment of the aqueduct are also discussed.

Methane emissions from mangrove soils in hydrologically disturbed and reference mangrove tidal creeks in southwest Florida

Studies have suggested that some mangrove soils might contribute to wetland methane (CH4) production and emissions, especially when the mangroves are disturbed. CH4 emissions were measured seasonally from nine locations on two mangrove creeks on Naples Bay in southwest Florida, USA. One of the tidal creeks has been impacted in the past few decades with alteration of upstream watersheds and freshwater inflows; the other creek was an un-impacted reference tidal creek. Our study sites were established along a longitudinal gradient (distance to the creeḱs mouth) with different plant communities and freshwater influences, which were further evaluated by measurements during the dry and wet seasons. CH4 emission measurements were also performed during the flood and ebb tides (n=6) to incorporate the influence of water level fluctuations on CH4 emissions. Additionally, hydroperiods and soil pore water electrical conductivity (EC) as a measure of salinity were measured along the study creeks. Our study showed very small, if not negligible, CH4 emissions from mangrove soils in this southwest Florida location at all sampling locations and sampling times. Despite our collecting over 1900 methane samples from methane emission chambers, most analyses of rates of change in the chambers showed no methane emissions. Seasonal averages ranged from 0.24 to 1.68mg CH4-Cm−2d−1 (annual average of 0.32g CH4-Cm−2y−1). Ironically, the lowest methane emissions were at the end (December–January) of a typical wet season of daily rainfall and were highest in the dry season (March–April) when freshwater inputs from watersheds and precipitation were negligible. Water level fluctuations, freshwater inputs, and plant species composition did not play a significant role in CH4 emissions. There appeared to be a slight pattern of methane emissions versus air temperature but the relationship was not linear. Combining our results with carbon sequestration rates in a companion study suggested that mangroves in southwest Florida are clearly net sinks of both carbon and radiative forcing and therefore beneficial for mitigating climate warming.

A mangrove creek restoration plan utilizing hydraulic modeling

Despite the valuable ecosystem services provided by mangrove ecosystems they remain threatened around the globe. Urban development has been a primary cause for mangrove destruction and deterioration in south Florida USA for the last several decades. As a result, the restoration of mangrove forests has become an important topic of research. Using field sampling and remote-sensing we assessed the past and present hydrologic conditions of a mangrove creek and its connected mangrove forest and brackish marsh systems located on the coast of Naples Bay in southwest Florida. We concluded that the hydrology of these connected systems had been significantly altered from its natural state due to urban development. We propose here a mangrove creek restoration plan that would extend the existing creek channel 1.1km inland through the adjacent mangrove forest and up to an adjacent brackish marsh. We then tested the hydrologic implications using a hydraulic model of the mangrove creek calibrated with tidal data from Naples Bay and water levels measured within the creek. The calibrated model was then used to simulate the resulting hydrology of our proposed restoration plan. Simulation results showed that the proposed creek extension would restore a twice-daily flooding regime to a majority of the adjacent mangrove forest and that there would still be minimal tidal influence on the brackish marsh area, keeping its salinity at an acceptable level. This study demonstrates the utility of combining field data and hydraulic modeling to aid in the design of mangrove restoration plans.

Nutrient concentrations in tidal creeks as indicators of the water quality role of mangrove wetlands in Southwest Florida

Coastal mangroves have the potential to improve the water quality of urban and rural runoff before it is discharged into adjacent coastal bays and oceans; but they also can be impaired by excessive pollutants from upstream. Nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), salinity, and other water quality parameters were measured in five mangrove tidal creeks in different hydrogeomorphic and urbanization settings during high and low tides over a calendar year of wet (June and August 2015) and dry (February and April 2016) seasons in the Greater Naples Bay area in Southwest Florida, USA. Nutrient concentrations (ave.±std error) in the tidal creeks were 0.055±0.008mg-P/L for total phosphorus (TP) and 0.610±0.020mg-N/L for total nitrogen (TN), with an average N:P ratio of 11.4:1. Average wet season TP (0.075±0.010mg-P/L) was significantly higher than the dry season TP (0.033±0.003mg-P/L; p<0.01, f=15.17, fcrit=3.89) and the average wet season TN (0.75±0.03mg-N/L) was significantly higher than dry season TN (0.52±0.02mg/L; p<0.01, f=64.14, fcrit=3.89), suggesting that urban stormwater runoff is directly or indirectly affecting the nutrient conditions in these mangroves. Significant differences in nutrient concentrations between low tide and high tide were not found for either TP (p=0.43, f=.63, fcrit=3.88) or TN (p=0.20, f=1.66, fcrit=3.89). These differences were confirmed by a PCA and cluster analyses, which found differences to be seasonal. We could not conclude from these results whether these five mangrove wetlands were sources nor sinks of nutrients based simply on the measurement of nutrient concentrations. But we illustrated that nutrient concentrations were indicators of the mangroves’ hydrogeomorphic settings, their tidal fluxes from Naples Bay, and the Bay's upstream watersheds, and less by direct urban runoff.

High-resolution seismic stratigraphy of the Gulf of Pozzuoli (Naples Bay) and relationships with submarine volcanic setting of the Phlegrean Fields volcanic complex

High-resolution seismic stratigraphy of the Gulf of Pozzuoli has been studied to discuss volcanological implications on geological evolution of the Phlegrean Fields volcanic complex. A new seismo-stratigraphic framework of the Gulf of Pozzuoli is provided based on the geological interpretation of Sparker profiles, showing thirteen seismic units. The seismo-stratigraphic analysis has evidenced that the marine units prevail in the eastern Pozzuoli offshore (Baia town) while the volcanic units prevail in the western Pozzuoli offshore (Pozzuoli town). Two deep volcaniclastic units appear to be related to the northern margin of the Pentapalummo Bank, a relict volcanic edifice located in the outer Pozzuoli shelf. The Pozzuoli basin filling is made up of five seismic units, marine in origin, whose internal configuration is mostly characterized by parallel reflectors. The marine units are overlain by three volcanic units, whose origin is probably pyroclastic, both due to their seismic facies and to their deposition in palaeo-morphological depressions. A wedge-shaped seismic unit, acoustically transparent, has been interpreted in the Gulf of Pozzuoli as the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff deposits. Lowstand and highstand deposits, pertaining to the Late Quaternary depositional sequence are, respectively, characterized by progradational and parallel seismic reflectors, located in the Gulf of Pozzuoli. Different models on the geological structure of the Phlegrean caldera and its present-day unrest state have been taken into account to improve the discussion of the volcanological aspects related with the seismo-stratigraphic setting of the Gulf of Pozzuoli, representing the submerged border of the caldera itself. In the frame of research themes pertaining to the volcanic geology of the Campania continental margin, a stratigraphic correlation between the Gulf of Pozzuoli and Ischia island volcanic areas, whose geological data have been previously collected, has been performed and is herein presented, highlighting new interesting implications and results on the geology of the Naples Gulf.