RT journal article
T1 A First Attempt to Describe the Real-Time Behavior and Fate of Marine Litter Items in the Nearshore and Foreshore under Low Energetic Marine Conditions
A1 Anfuso Melfi, Giorgio
A1 Álvarez Esteban, Óscar
A1 Dilauro, Grazia
A1 Sabato, Gaetano
A1 Scardino, Giovanni
A1 Sozio, Angelo
A1 Rizzo, Angela
A2 Ciencias de la Tierra
A2 Física Aplicada
K1 Apulia region
K1 beach litter
K1 buoyancy
K1 coastal processes
K1 Stokes drift
K1 windage
AB A field assessment was carried out in May 2023 in a natural protected area in South Italy to investigate the real-time behavior and fate of common marine litter items at different depths at the nearshore and foreshore under low energetic conditions. The field data were also compared with theoretical values calculated using theoretical formulations considering the Stokes drift current, wind-induced current, and current at breaking position. The wind approached from N to W, with values ranging from 2.4 to 3.8 m/s. The propagated significant wave height ranged from 14 to 21 cm, with an associated period of 3 s. Items with a positive buoyancy recorded different velocities. Very protruding (above water surface) items were greatly affected by windage and recorded velocities from 0.23 to 0.33 m/s; higher than the theoretical values that do not take into account windage. Theoretical values correctly predicted the velocity of other less-protruding items but slightly underestimated the velocity of neutral buoyancy items, evidencing in both cases the low relevance of the Stokes drift current. Items with a negative buoyancy moved (or not) in the bottom with different velocities. Different behaviors were observed at the breaking point, where items surfed (or not) spilling breaking waves, and at the foreshore, where items moved along the plunge step or in a “zig–zag” movement due to a swash–backwash process.
PB Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
SN 2073-4441
YR 2024
FD 2024
LK http://hdl.handle.net/10498/32615
UL http://hdl.handle.net/10498/32615
LA eng
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Cádiz
RD 06-nov-2026