Publications

Resumo: Understanding how climatic and anthropogenic drivers will influence coastal lagoons is fundamental to guarantee their preservation and sustainability. The Ria Formosa (coastal lagoon, South coast of Portugal) is a very important ecosystem that supports diverse economic activities in the region. The 3D coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical model SCHISM was validated and used to assess the influence of climate change and anthropogenic pressures on the water quality of the Ria Formosa. Five scenarios were simulated: reference scenario (S0), mean sea level rise (SLR) of 0.5 m (S1), increase of the air temperature of 1.68 °C (S2), increase of the outflow from the wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) by 50% (S3) and a combined scenario (S4). Results suggest that SLR of 0.5 m promotes an increase of 0.5

Estuaries are coastal systems particularly vulnerableto climate change. Within these systems, agricultureis one of the most potentially affected sectors. This paperproposes a risk assessment approach for helping thedecision-making process at a local level, addressing two risksthat affect agricultural areas located in estuarine margins:the unavailability of freshwater for irrigation resulting fromthe upstream propagation of estuarine brackish water duringdroughts and land inundation by high water levels associatedwith high tides and storm surges. For each risk,quantitative consequence descriptors are proposed to supportrisk level determination and evaluation through a continuousconsequence

The morphological evolution of the Tagus estuary inlet in the last century is analyzed in order to characterize its dynamics, explain its behavior and anticipate its future evolution. First, the evolution is characterized through a literature review, complemented by new data analyses. This review synthesizes the present understanding of the inlet

This paper reviews the state-of-the-art in storm surge forecasting and its particular application in the northernAdriatic Sea. The city of Venice relies crucially on a good flood forecasting system in order to protect the extensive culturalheritage, their population, and their economic activities. Storm surge forecasting systems are in place to warn the populationof imminent flood threats. In the future, it will be of paramount importance to increase the reliability of these forecastingsystems, especially with the new MOSE mobile barriers that will be completed by 2021, and will depend on accurate storm35 surge forecasting to control their operation. In this paper, the physics behind the flooding of Venice is discussed, and the stateof the art of European storm surge forecasting is reviewed. The challenges that lie ahead for Venice and its forecasting systemsare analyzed, especially in view of uncertainty. Some extreme events that happened in the past and were particularly difficultto forecast are also described

To upgrade the response capability to coastal flood events, hazard predictions need to be improved throughintegrating the effect of the coastal morphological variability in the nearshore-foreshore-backshorehydromorphological processes induced by waves-tide-wind-atmospheric pressure. In order to evaluate the short-termmorphological response of different coastal typologies to potential flood conditions (spring high tide level, stormsurge, high wave height), field data acquired in 2019 in three sites in the West coast of Portugal with past floodingepisodes are presented and discussed. The preliminary results point out that under the same forcing conditions theshort-term response of the cross-shore beach profile that controls the flooding levels is dependent on the beachtypology, namely: the nature of the lower and upper limits of the beach face, profile gradient and its alongshorecontext. This knowledge can be used to develop robust and validated flood prediction tools contributing to improvemitigation and adaptation management strategies.

Estuarine flood risk management is a challenge for coastal managers since this type of system is usuallycomplex due to the presence of multiple trigger combinations that can induce flood events affecting differenttypes of human occupation. Furthermore, legal directives demanded countries to have flood risk assessmenttools therefore enhancing knowledge on estuarine triggers and flood damage typologies is useful for coastalmanagers. In this study three different flood events are compared and contrasted, each one having occurred in adifferent estuarine system chosen based on a set of criteria (temporal proximity, occurrence of human damagesand at least three flood triggers identified in each database). The diversity of data sources that characterizeseach database was examined, for the three events, which are described in terms of triggers and damages. Thecomparison highlighted that the local context was important in the estuarine flood combination of triggers anddisclosed two categories (one category comprising infrastructure economic and human damages; and anothercategory involving circulation interruption and functions disruption) of flood damages common between thestudied systems corresponding to different levels of relevance for management. The enhanced knowledgeacquired allowed the construction of a conceptual framework for damages that can contribute to more adequateestuarine flood risk frameworks.

The Portuguese continental coastal zone is characterized by its lithological, morphological, biological and landscapediversity. With a coastline extension of approximately 987 km, this zone has great importance in the nationalcontext. The increasing anthropic occupation of the coastal zone in the last seven decades led to a conflict with thenatural dynamics of these areas. The project MOSAIC.pt emerges from the need of a comprehensive flood riskmanagement framework for the Portuguese coastal zones, including estuaries. One of the innovative challenges ofthis project is to identify the coastal critical typologies affected by flooding, based in historical data. Hence, ahistorical database of coastal flood occurrences was created for the period 1980-2018. Historical data was collectedin national and regional newspapers. The database includes relevant information such as flood triggering factors andimpacts. For the period 1980-2018, a total of 398 occurrences of coastal overtopping and flooding were identified.The analysis shows that the vast majority of occurrences are located on the Portuguese western coast. In terms ofimpacts, the typologies associated with material, natural, environmental and lastly human impacts stand out. Resultsprovide relevant temporal and spatial information about coastal historical flood occurrences and contribute for thedesign of a risk framework.

The estuary of the Tagus river is one of the largest estuaries in Europe covering an area of about 320 km2. It is located in the Portuguese west coast, in the metropolitan area of Lisbon, and due to its social and economic context and environmental characteristics it is the Portuguese most relevant estuary. The estuary comprises along its margins 11 municipalities with about 1.6million inhabitants (Tavares et al., 2015). It hosts the Port of Lisbon, the national leader in the movement of vessels (in number and in GT), and the Tagus Estuary Natural Reserve considered one of the most important sanctuaries for birds in Europe.

Estuaries are highly variable systems and the most productive ecosystems in the world.Phytoplankton is a major contributor to the high productivity, rapidly responding to changes inthe environment

This work evaluates the morphological evolution of the coastal frontage south of Figueira da Foz (west coast of Portugal) after the extension of the north jetty based on the analysis of topo-bathymetric surveys located in twelve equidistant transepts in the study site. The results show that the study site has large inter-annual morphological variations and the complex morphological behaviour shows an erosive tendency of the beach face downdrift of the structures.

Climate change and the predicted increase of human activities in estuaries may increase the hazards inthese systems. Water observatories can support both the daily and the long-term management of estuarineecosystems. Although in the past water observatories were mostly based on observations, these tools haveevolved to account for forecasts, scenarios analysis and indicators

Coastal systems are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, providing multipleresources and guaranteeing the resilience of the coastal communities. Climate change (e.g.,sea level rise) represents a major threat to the world

Climate change, such as sea level rise, represents a major threat to the world

This study aims to investigate the changes in the infragravity wave energy under partialshort-wave breaking conditions induced by a longshore bar. Field observations of near-bottompressure records on a cross-shore array were analysed for such purpose. The bispectrum wasemployed to detect the phase-coupling between short and infragravity wave frequencies. This allowedto separate the infragravity wave energy in bound and free energy components.The bar crest induced a decrease on the short-wave energy due to depth-induced breaking. At thesame location, a damping on the bound infragravity wave energy was observed. This dampingcoincides with a negative value of the short-wave radiation stress cross-shore gradient. This providesevidence that bound infragravity wave energy decreases with a reduction in the forcing.

Resumo: Os processos de evolução costeira em Cabo Verde, resultantes de fatores naturais e deatividades humanas, são ainda pouco conhecidos. Analisa-se neste trabalho a evolução morfológica dabaía do porto da Praia, na ilha de Santiago, com base em levantamentos hidrográficos de 1882 a 2016,fotografia aérea, imagens de satélite e cartografia histórica. Recorre-se também à modelaçãomatemática de processos hidrodinâmicos e morfodinâmicos, considerando a interação ondascorrentes,para interpretar as condições locais. Os elementos analisados sugerem uma tendência deacumulação sedimentar, com uma taxa média de avanço da praia, a longo prazo, da ordem de 1 m/ano.Estima-se que o caudal sólido transportado episodicamente pelas ribeiras afluentes seja uma fontesedimentar importante. Embora a recente expansão do porto tenha diminuído a influência da ação dasondas, as condições mais favoráveis à remobilização e à circulação sedimentar no interior da baíapermanecem associadas aos períodos de agitação marítima mais energética

Evolution of Nazaré beach after the construction of the fishing harbour

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The hydrodynamics and sediment dynamics of a low energy estuarine beach was analysed. The beach is subjected to local wind waves generated in an area of restricted fetch, wake waves generated by catamarans and a semi diurnal meso-tidal regime. Only storm events of short duration modify the beach profile, which, once the normal hydrodynamic conditions are restored, naturally recovers its initial shape. The beach is characterised by having a steep upper slope until mean sea level, followed, seaward, by a low gradient terrace, and a bimodal sediment distribution. To investigate the hydro sedimentologic beach behaviour, wind, topo-hydrographic and sedimentologic data were used as input and validation of process based numerical modelling. Wave generation and transformation in an area of restricted fetch, nearshore circulation, sediment transport and morphological evolution were simulated for average annual conditions and storm conditions. The statistical analysis of a six-year wind data series allowed to derive the average wind regime, based on which, the average annual wave regime and the average annual longshore sediment budget, 14.5x103 m3year-1, were calculated. The contribution of the individual components of the representative wave regime, discretised by directional sector and height class of incidence, was evaluated as well as the spatial distribution of the longshore sediment transport in the active part of the beach profile. The characteristics of the wave groups generated by the passage of catamarans at different speeds were estimated and their action on the beach morphology was simulated. Although when the catamarans travel at 20 knots speed the average annual wake wave energy dissipated at the beach is 2.5 times higher than the average annual wind wave energy, the erosion effect on the beach profile is still not relevant for the present traffic. In opposition, short duration storm events generate the formation of an erosion scarp at the upper part of the beach face. The numerical modelling of this phenomenon allowed to acknowledge on the protective effect that the low gradient terrace has on the beach face.

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A two-dimensional model of wind-driven circulation in a closed basin was developed using a finite-volume technique for generalized curvilinear grids and applying some of the recent developments in hydrodynamic modeling. The terms in the Navier¬Stokes equations were treated separately according to the fractional step method and the propagation step, including the continuity equation and the pressure and stress terms in the momentum equations, was solved using a conjugate gradient method.The model was then applied to a number of test cases to examine the feasibility of the approach used by comparing with results obtained with the two-dimensional version of the three-dimensional model CH3D. These included a square basin with constant slope and with a V-shaped bottom and Lake Okeechobee, in South Florida. To evaluate the long-term numerical stability of the model, a ten-day model simu¬lation with varying wind was also run for Lake Okeechobee.

An examination of the causes for generation and dynamics of turbidity maxima in estuaries reveals the critical role of sediment tidal pumping phenomenon and, to a lesser extent, of the well-known effect of residual gravitational circulation due to salt water penetration. Both phenomena depend on the vertical sediment concentration profile and, consequently, on the magnitude of the vertical mass transport fluxes. Where high concentration suspensions occur regularly, the erosion/deposition fluxes can be drastically modified by sediment stratification, consequently influencing sus¬pended sediment response to currents and wave action. This influence is inherent in flow-sediment hysteresis, which therefore reflects the role of vertical mass transport in the estuarine and coastal suspended fine sediment regime.A vertical transport numerical model was used to investigate the influence of several key parameters describing sediment settling, bed properties and stabilized diffusion on the concentration profile. The model was also applied to simulate the influence of the same parameters on the time-lagged sediment response to flow variations, reflected in the characteristics of flow-sediment hysteresis loops.Field data obtained in Hangzhou Bay (People´s Republic of China), a high concentration environment, showed typical features of flow-sediment hysteresis and confirmed the importance of the vertical mass fluxes in contributing to sediment transport in the bay. A qualitative simulation provided by the numerical model, using settling parameters corresponding to local sediment, while confirming the importance of the hysteresis phenomenon, also revealed the critical need to use algorithms describing adequately stabilized diffusion and bed fluxes.Additional evidence of hysteresis was obtained through analysis of microscale variables, such as the Reynolds stresses and the variances of the velocity components resulting from combined effects of wave action and turbulence. Spectral analysis of the measured random variations did not support the commonly accepted hypothesis of similarity between the responses to turbulent flow of sediment concentration and temperature. The normalized turbulent intensities for all the measured veloc¬ity components showed their highest values during the period of lowest sediment concentration; this result is consistent with the hypothesis of turbulent intensity damping by suspended sediment.

A contribution to increased use and development of the method of artificial nourishment of beaches is the main objective of this thesis. It also aims at being a guide for the design of the reconsctrution or outright creation of beaches.In the first chapter, the subject is introduced and the objectives of the thesis are outlined. The second chapter cover´s some general considerations on littoral dynamics, beach equilibrium and sediment budget.Since the theoretical foundations of the artificial nourishment of beaches still leave much to be desired, a description of this method and its principles are presented in the third chapter. Important technical and economic aspects are included, such as: sampling, analysis and characterization of native and borrow material; selection Of nourishment sources; extraction and transport of borrow sand; and characteristics of the theoretical final beach profile. Such problems as the integration of ecological aspects, and cost-benefit analysis are also treated.in the fourth chapter, the Portuguese experience in this domain is described. The experience of such countries as France and the U.S., where this method has frequently been used is also mentioned. In this way a considerable amount of hitherto scattered information is presented in a unified way.The fifth chapter, treats briefly the problem of coastal model similitude, both as a support for the experimental work: which was carried out and to help engineers in the design of a coastal physical model or in merely assessing the possibilities of such a model.In the sixth chapter, an experimental study is described of the influence of both the grain size of borrow material and the nourishment method on the redistribution of sediments after the nourishment. The obtained results are compared with existing theoretical methods and some prototype results.Finally, in the last chapter the main conclusions and recomendations of the thesis are presented.

We provide a systematic analysis of the consistency, stability, convergence and accuracy of the numerical solution of the transport equation by a general Eulerian-Lagrangian Method (ELM). The method involvesthree basic steps: the backwards tracking of characteristic lines following the flow, the interpolation of concentrations at the feet of these lines, and the solution of dispersion taking such concentrations as initial conditions. The first two steps constitute the Backwards Method of Characteristics (BMC); the third step involves a time-discretization along the characteristic lines, and a spatial discretization of the dispersion operator, both based on conventional techniques (e.g.. Euler or Crank¬Nicholson for time; finite-elements or finite-differences for space).The choice of the spatial interpolator is shown to impact the consistency, stability and convergence, as well as the accuracy of the BMC. Most interpolators ensure consistency, but only a few ensure stability, hence convergence; stability criteria are derived from a newly developed generalized Fourier analysis, which can account for non-linearities introduced by quadratic grids. The comparison of formally derived propagation and truncation errors, complemented by numerical experimentation, provides a reference for the choice of the interpolator, given a specific transport problem characterized by prevailing concentration gradients.The BMC potentiates the use of large time-steps, well above Courant number of order one. In the limiting case of pure advection, optimal accuracy would be obtained for a At close to the total time of interest; the presence of dispersion constrains, however, the size of At, especially in the case of non-uniform flows. The comparison of the truncation errors for the three basic steps of ELM provides a reference to select At. as a function of Ax, of the spatial interpolators and time-discretization schemes, and of the gradients of flow and concentrations.

Apresenta-se um estudo sistemático, baseado simultaneamente em análises formais e em experimentação numérica, da precisão e estabilidade da solução da equação de transporte por um método Euleriana-Lagrangeana (MEL). 0 método decompõe a equação de transporte em equações separadas de advecção e de difusão, resolvendo a primeira pelo método das características regressivas no tempo (MCR), e a segundo por um método de elementos finitos, do tipo Galerkin.Mostra-se que as interpolações no espaço requeridas pelo MCR são um factor limitativo da precisão global do MEL, e comparam-se diversas técnicas alternativas de interpolação, algumas das quais originais. A combinação de esquemas compactos e não-compactos de interpolação, baseados em polinómios de Lagrange, é apontada como uma potencial solução óptima.Demonstra-se que, para uma adequada escolha do esquema de interpolação, o MCR é consistente, estável e convergente e tem boas características de precisão. Escolhas inadequadas do esquema de interpolação podem, no entanto, causar instabilidade e inconsistência.Estabelece-se a dependência da precisão do MCR no passo de cálculo, mostrando-se que essa precisão aumenta, em geral (para um tempo total fixo), quando se reduz o número de passos de cálculo, isto é, quando se aumenta o passo de cálculo (uma propriedade simultaneamente pouco habitual e muito conveniente). No entanto, na gama de valores muito pequenos do Número de Courant, a precisão é praticamente independente do passo de cálculo, o que evita que o método se torne divergente.Analisa-se brevemente o efeito de malhas irregulares e pluridimensionais sobre a aplicabilidade e precisão do MCR. Apesar de sensível à irregularidade da malha, o método mantém boas características de precisão desde que as distorções geométricas não sejam excessivas. Malhas pluri-dimensionais, quando simultaneamente irregulares, levantam problemas específicos de aplicabilidade de esquemas não-compactos de interpolação; esses problemas poderão se resolvidos através da utilização conjugada de esquemas compactos e não-compactos, para um mesmo problema. Investigação adicional a ainda requerida nestas áreas.Mostra-se ainda que a presença de mecanismos físicos de difusão beneficia tanta a precisão da solução da equação de advecção como a precisão global do MEL.Finalmente, demonstra-se a eficácia da aplicação do MEL (numa forma particular, restricta a esquemas de interpolação compactos) à simulação do transporte de poluentes em águas costeiras. 0 método permite, em particular, realizar simulações longas (várias marés) a custos moderados, mesma para malhas irregulares com elevado número de nós, e, também, evitar a necessidade do uso de difusividades artificiais como garante de estabilidade; em geral, e nestes dois aspectos em particular, o método revela-se superior a métodos Eulerianos, mais convencionais (por exemplo, métodos de elementos finitos, do tipo Galrkin ou Petrov-Galerkin, aplicados à equação de transporte indivisa).

No âmbito de um projecto de investigação intitulado caracterizarão de Formações Estuárias e do Meio Marítimo Litoral Por Técnicas de Detecção Remota , insere-se o estu¬do da avaliação de suspensões na água do mar com recurso à aplicação de técnicas de detecção remota como meio de caracterização de parâmetros de qualidade de água. 0 trabalho que se apresenta foi desenvolvido com os seguintes objectivos:1- Desenvolvimento de metodologias de análise e quantificação de suspensões na água do mar a partir de dados de satélite;2- Implementação sob forma de programas para computador de modelos de quantificação de suspensões orgânicas e inorgânicas na água do mar, a aplicar aos dados do radiómetro CZCS do satélite NIMBUS-7;3- Aplicação e verificação do modelo ao litoral português.Corn vista à consecussão destes objectivos, começa-se por apresentar uma extensa análise das formas de abordagem do problema, enumerando-se os diversos métodos actualmente seguidos, nomeadamente o Empírico, o Teórico e, neste, os métodos microscópico e macroscópico.Com base nesta análise, propõe-se um modelo numérico de quantificção das suspensões a partir dos dados do radiómetro CZCS do satélite NIMBUS-7, o qual, embora empírico na sua formulação como a maioria dos actualmente existentes, se apoia no comportamento radiomótrico da água do mar e dos seus constituintes típicos, cujas características se apresentam também.A implementação prática do modelo exige a filtragem da componente atmosférica presente nos dados rediométricos. Com este objectivo, apresenta-se um modelo baseado na metodo¬logia correntemente utilizada. Consiste na consideração da difusão simples, causada pelos constituintes básicos da atmosfera (moléculas gasosas, aerosóis e ozono) na gama de comprimentos de onda considerada (440, 520, 550 e 670nm). Esta metodologia conduz, porém, a um sistema de equações indeterminado e que é resolvido pela consideração de uma equação ´exterior´ ao processo de transferência radiativa que tem lugar na atmasfera. Para este efeito, utilizou-se a equação de Smith e Wilson por ser a mais divulgada, ressalvando-se, contudo, a necessidade de verificação da sua efectiva aplicação às águas do litoral português, o oqe não foi possível concretizar dada a inexistência de dados.

A numerical method for the solution of the two-dimensional, unsteady, transport equation is formulated, and its accuracy is tested.The method uses a Eulerian-Lagrangian approach, in which the transport equation is divided into a diffusion equation (solved by a finite element method) and a convection equation (solved by the method of characteristics). This approach leads to results that are free of spurious oscillations and excessive numerical damping, even in the case where advection strongly dominates diffusion. For pure diffusion problems, optimal accuracy is approached as the time-step, At, goes to zero; conversely, for pure-convection problems, accuracy improves with increasing At; for convection-diffusion problems the At leading to optimal accuracy depends on the characteristics of the spatial discretization and on the relative importance of convection and diffusion.The method is cost-effective in modeling pollutant transport in coastal waters, as demonstrated by an illustrative application to a case study (sludge dumping in Massachusetts Bay). Numerical diffusion is eliminated or greatly reduced, raising the need for realistic estimation of dispersion coefficients. Costs (based on CPU time) should not exceed those of conventional Eulerian methods and, in some cases (e.g., problems involving predictions over several tidal cycles), considerable savings may even be achieved.

0 principal objectivo desta tese é mostrar a habilidade do métodos dos elementos finitos e do método dos elementos de fronteira na modelação das ondas gravíticas de superfície.Na análise linear, as equações reduzidas do movimento ondulatório são resolvidas pelo método dos elementos finitos, levando em linha de conta a reflexão parcial, a radiação e o atrito de fundo. A modelação da radiação é feita com elementos infinitos ou com elementos de radiação, sendo estes encarados como um caso particular dos elementos de reflexão. 0 atrito de fundo é introduzido após a discretização e é levado a efeito através de um coeficiente empírico que se pode relacionar com o coeficiente de Chezy.Quer o modelo determinístico quer o modelo estocástico, obtido do primeiro com base na noção do estimador natural, permitem a realização de ensaios de ressonância ou de agitação. Nos ensaios de ressonância de uma bacia portuária tem particular interesse o conhecimento do espectro de resposta ao ruído bran¬co de banda limitada.A título de exemplo de aplicação mostram-se alguns aspectos do estudo das condições de ressonância do porto de Leixões.Logo que não sejam válidas as hipóteses simplificativas que permitem uma abordagem linear das ondas gravíticas de superfície, são resolvidas as equações não lineares do movimento ondulatório com superfície livre, pelo método dos elementos de fronteira. As suas peculiaridades permitem, sem qualquer dúvida, considerar o método dos elementos de fronteira como o mais vocacionado para este tipo de análise.Os programas de cálculo automático para o estudo da análise não linear estão ainda em fase de teste, pelo que não se apresentam exemplos de aplicação.

Este trabalho é dirigido principalmente para o uso da simulação numérica dos escoamentos em estuários como uma ferramenta pa¬ra estudos de engenharia. Fazem-se algumas considerações gerais sobre a definição e classificação de estuários seguidas por uma descrição sumária da hidrodinâmica dos estuários. Descrevem-se e comparam-se as várias técnicas utilizadas na solução de problemas de hidradinâmica de stuários.Faz-se a dedução formal de um modelo matemático do escoamento em estuários homogéneos e integram-se verticalmente as suas e¬quações, obtendo-se as conhecidas equações do escoamento em águas pouco profundas ("shallow water equations"). Estas equações são discretizadas utilizando os métodos dos elementos finitos e das diferenças finitas, respectivamente no espaço e no tempo.Faz-se a descrição de um sistema de cálculo para determinar a solução do modelo matemático discretizado e tecem-se várias considerações acerca do seu desenvolvimento e uso.Finalmente apresentam-se os resultados de alguns testes utilizados para verificar o funcionamento do sistema de cálculo.

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