For many coastal areas of Italy, it is essential to know the sea level at all times, for the hydraulic safety of the territory and for protection of the cultural and environmental patrimony, but also to establish the current mean value and to monitor its trend. At present, the elevation of any point of land in Italy is obtained from the first order levelling network and thus is referred to the Mean Sea Level (MSL) established at Genova from continuous tide gauge data collected in the period 1937-1946 (national vertical datum: called Genova 1942). By consequence till now the elevation of the coastal areas has not been related to the local sea level. Thanks to the National Tide Gauge Network (NTG), we have now complete 10-year series of sea level data along the Italian coast. Hence, it is possible to calculate the elevations of coastal areas also with respect to the local mean sea levels. Moreover thanks to the connection between the NTG and the first order levelling network, the differences between the heights of land referred to local mean sea level and to National vertical datum can be assessed. In this paper, we present the results of calculations of the local mean sea level with respect to the national vertical datum and of its trend of variation for all the NTG stations in the period 1999-2008. The procedure for quality control and processing of sea level data is based on international standards. A progressive decrease of the mean sea level from north to south is pointed out. Starting from ca. +0.08 m for Trieste and Venice, the level passes to and -0.26 m for Taranto and Otranto. A first interpretation of this result is attempted. Moreover the local trends obtained from monthly data show remarkable differences.

RECENT SEA LEVEL VARIATIONS ALONG THE ITALIAN COAST WITH RESPECT TO THE FIRST ORDER LEVELLING NETWORK

PELLEGRINELLI, Alberto;RUSSO, Paolo
2010

Abstract

For many coastal areas of Italy, it is essential to know the sea level at all times, for the hydraulic safety of the territory and for protection of the cultural and environmental patrimony, but also to establish the current mean value and to monitor its trend. At present, the elevation of any point of land in Italy is obtained from the first order levelling network and thus is referred to the Mean Sea Level (MSL) established at Genova from continuous tide gauge data collected in the period 1937-1946 (national vertical datum: called Genova 1942). By consequence till now the elevation of the coastal areas has not been related to the local sea level. Thanks to the National Tide Gauge Network (NTG), we have now complete 10-year series of sea level data along the Italian coast. Hence, it is possible to calculate the elevations of coastal areas also with respect to the local mean sea levels. Moreover thanks to the connection between the NTG and the first order levelling network, the differences between the heights of land referred to local mean sea level and to National vertical datum can be assessed. In this paper, we present the results of calculations of the local mean sea level with respect to the national vertical datum and of its trend of variation for all the NTG stations in the period 1999-2008. The procedure for quality control and processing of sea level data is based on international standards. A progressive decrease of the mean sea level from north to south is pointed out. Starting from ca. +0.08 m for Trieste and Venice, the level passes to and -0.26 m for Taranto and Otranto. A first interpretation of this result is attempted. Moreover the local trends obtained from monthly data show remarkable differences.
2010
Pellegrinelli, Alberto; F., Ricchieri; Russo, Paolo
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/1684710
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