Coastal monitoring in Gulf of Trieste through the integration of oceanographic instruments data and numerical models

Coastal variables monitoring and study are crucial activities for researchers to develop and enhance the knowledge about how climate changes effects are modifying the maritime hydrodynamics.
This study focuses on local effects on the hydrodynamic circulation and significant wave height in the Gulf of Trieste (GoT) through coastal high frequency radars (HFRs) measurements and wave buoys. In a semi-enclosed basin, characterized by an average depth equal to 18m and maximum depth of 25m, the variables investigated are surface currents direction (θcurr) and eastward and northward velocity component (ucurr,vcurr), mean wave direction (θw) and spectral significant wave height (Hm0). 
The HFRs network installed in GoT are composed by four WERA (WEllen RAdar) systems installed in the east and south part of the gulf and operating at a frequency of 24.5 MHz. Two wave buoys are installed in the central and north parts of the GoT at different depths, recording the wave energy spectral distribution characterizing the area. Finally numerical method to estimate power spectral density are implemented in this study with high resolution allowing to increase the knowledge of spatial and temporal hydrodynamic evolution inside the GoT.
The HFR measurements can return a spatial information about waves and currents variable, improved by the calibration process. This information is crucial to reproduce the coastal hydrodynamic. Coupling all data is possible to underline the wave spectral evolution inside the gulf, the hydrodynamic peculiarity and have a focus on the extreme events effect on semi-enclosed basins. 
Joining the HFR and wave buoys data and implementing the numerical model, this research shows innovative methods to deepening knowledge and monitoring the extreme events that characterise the study area.