Geomorphological Evolution and Sedimentology of the Ombrone River Delta, Italy

Authors

  • Lucia Innocenti
  • Enzo Pranzini

Keywords:

Beaches, beach erosion, coastal morphology, coastal processes, foredunes, human impact, sediment transport, shoreline changes, textural parameters

Abstract

The geomorphological evolution and nearshore sediments textural characteristics of the Ombrone River delta are here described. The delta evolution, as deduced from archaeological and historical sources as well as from traditional geological studies, has been influenced by changes in land use that occurred during the last 2,500 years within the Ombrone River catchment area. The sedimentological study has been carried out using different granulometric data analysis techniques, such as the comparison of graphic parameters, grain-size spectra map analysis, and cluster analysis. These results are concordant with data coming from numerical modelling of longshore transport energy. The resulting sediment grain-size uniformity is explained on the basis of the recent Ombrone River plain evolution, which prevented coarse sediments from reaching the outlet, and also by wave energy which attacks the beach and removes the fines even at greater depths.

 

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Published

1993-04-10

Issue

Vol. 9 No. 2 (1993): Journal of Coastal Research

Section

Articles

License

Authorization for personal use is granted by the Coastal Education and Research Foundation [CERF]. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright for their article is transferred to the publisher if the article is accepted for publication. Assignment of copyright is not required, however, from authors who work for organizations which do not permit such assignment, The copyright covers the exclusive rights to reprduce and distribute the article, inclduing reprints, photographic reproductions, microform, or any other reproductions of a similar nature, and translations.