Hydrographic and dynamical characterisation of the Bagnoli-Coroglio Bay (Gulf of Naples, Tyrrhenian Sea)

ABSTRACT

Hydrographic and current measurements collected within the ABBaCo project during 3 basin-scale surveys in two different seasons and high-resolution regional ocean modelling data provide, for the first time, an assessment of the physical and dynamical oceanography inside the small but important Bagnoli-Coroglio Bay within the Gulf of Naples (Tyrrhenian Sea). Temperature and salinity distributions indicate the typical seasonal differences of the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea with warmer temperature and a more stratified water column in June compared to October and December. Current measurements, along with realistic ocean circulation modelling, show a predominant barotropic anticyclonic circulation over the bay during Autumn, which appears to be generated mainly by the local wind stress curl. Sensitivity numerical experiments confirm that the variability of the local wind forcing plays a major role in shaping the dynamics inside the bay.

KEYWORDS:

• Hydrographic measurements
• current measurements
• coastal ocean modelling
• Tyrrhenian Sea
• Gulf of Naples

Acknowledgements

This research has been supported by the ABBaCo Project, funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research - Fondo Integrativo Speciale per la Ricerca (determina CIPE - GU n.56 8.3.2017), CUP C62F16000170001, in agreement with the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (SZN). Support from the University of Naples Parthenope (Contracts No. DSTE315, DSTE315B and DSTE 341) is kindly acknowledged.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Pasquale Castagno is a researcher at the Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Italy. He is a physical oceanographer with an interest in the Southern Ocean. He has participated in several oceanographic cruises in Antarctica and in the Tyrrhenian Sea. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Science (University of Naples “Parthenope”) and a PhD in Polar Science (University of Siena, Italy).

Paola de Ruggiero is a researcher at the Department of Science and Technology, University of Naples “Parthenope”, Italy. Her research field is physical oceanography focusing on ocean modelling. She obtained a Master degree in Navigation Science and Technology at the University of Naples “Parthenope” and a PhD in Marine Sciences and Engineering at the University of Naples Federico II (Italy).

Stefano Pierini is full professor of Oceanography and Atmospheric Physics at the Parthenope University of Naples. His main current research interests are concerned with Climate Dynamics and Physical Oceanography. His research activity in Climate Dynamics includes model studies based on low-order nonautonomous dynamical systems and the analysis of their pullback attractors and of the tipping points induced by noise and parameter drift. His research activity in Physical Oceanography includes process-oriented studies based on both numerical circulation models and laboratory experiments performed with rotating platforms. His numerical modelling activity concerns the intrinsic variability and transition properties of western boundary currents (WBCs, with particular attention to the Kuroshio Extension and the Gulf Stream), the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the Campania coastal system in the Tyrrhenian Sea. His laboratory modelling activity concerns the analysis of highly nonlinear WBCs and of their intrusion through lateral gaps. Other less recent researches have been concerned with linear aspects of the wind-driven ocean circulation, including Rossby wave propagation; regional and coastal oceanographic modelling; nonlinear and dispersive long wave modelling; nonlinear stability analysis of geophysical flows.

Enrico Zambianchi holds a Laurea in Physics (La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy), and a PhD in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography (RSMAS - University of Miami, USA). Formerly adjunct professor at the University of Miami and adjunct research scientist at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of the Columbia University, he is full professor of Oceanography and coordinator of the PhD course in Environmental Phenomena and Risks at the University of Naples “Parthenope”, Italy.

Arturo De Alteris holds a degree in Nautical Science (University of Naples “Parthenope”, Italy). He is a physical oceanographer and since 1994 he is an executive officer for the Department of Science and Technology of the University of Naples “Parthenope”. He has participated in several oceanographic cruises, many of them in Antarctica. He has held political and administrative management roles in the environmental field in private companies and state agencies.

Massimo De Stefano holds a Geological Sciences degree (University of Naples Federico II, Italy). Since 1994 he is a scientist at the Department of Science and Technology – University of Naples “Parthenope”, Italy. Since 1995 he participated in several oceanographic cruises in Antarctica as laboratory manager (Italian National Research Programme in Antarctica – PNRA) and in the Mediterranenan Sea as part of national research projects (LIVEX, EUCUMM95, PRISMA, POEM). Since 2000 he is chief Manager of the meteoreological network in the Gulf of Naples at the Department of Science and Technology.

Giorgio Budillon is Full Professor of ‘Oceanography and Atmospheric Physics’ at the University of Naples “Parthenope” (Italy) where is the Director of the Department of Science and Technology. Since 1989 he has been involved in oceanographic studies in the Mediterranean Sea - where he carried out over 30 expeditions - and in Antarctica - where he carried out 15 oceanographic expeditions many of which as principal investigator. Since 2016 he is a member of the National Scientific Commission for Antarctica; since 2014 he is the national representative of the Southern Ocean Observing System and member of the SCAR (Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research) Permanent Scientific Committee for Physical Sciences. Since 2018 he has been member of the Scientific Committee of the National Technological Cluster ‘Blue Italian Growth’. He is author and co-author of more than 400 works including publications in national and international scientific journals, encyclopedic entries, conferences and conference proceedings.

Additional information

Funding

This research has been supported by the ABBaCo Project [grant number C62F16000170001], funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, in agreement with the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (SZN). Support from the Università degli Studi di Napoli Parthenope (Contracts No. DSTE315, DSTE315B and DSTE 341) is kindly acknowledged.