Author(s): Matteo Postacchini; Eleonora Perugini; Lorenzo Melito; Giovanna Darvini; Maurizio Brocchini
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Keywords: Microtidal estuary; Misa River; River-sea dynamics; Flow hydrographs; Marine forcing
Abstract: Estuarine environments are dynamic zones where river and sea actions interact in complex ways. Understanding such processes is crucial, especially in urbanized areas increasingly exposed to flood risk. This study examines the microtidal estuary of the Misa River (Central Italy), where tides can propagate several kilometres upstream through the town of Senigallia. Based on a calibrated numerical model, we here explore how different tidal and surge conditions influence the propagation of flow hydrographs associated with different return periods. Preliminary results show that high-flow conditions (e.g., hydrograph peak) dominate the estuarine dynamics, while the sea action mainly affects the estuarine dynamics during lower flow conditions (e.g., rising limb, recession curve). The combined effect of river and sea actions on the urban area may thus be particularly dangerous in terms of bridge stability and urban flooding.
Year: 2026