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FIGURE 7 Bathymetric maps of Cala Azzurra derived from Survey  variations in median grain diameter d50 along beach       Research & development
              1 and Survey 2 data                              profile and little difference between the two sites. So,
                                                               as an approximation, consistently with the purpose
FIGURE 8 Bathymetric maps of Lido Burrone derived from Survey  of the present work, a constant value of d50=0.20 mm
              1 and Survey 2 data                              was assumed for both Cala Azzurra and Lido Burrone
                                                               beaches.
FIGURE 9 Bathymetric variations estimated from Survey 1 to
              Survey 2                                         %DWK\PHWU\RIVXEPHUJHGEHDFKHV
                                                               Based on survey data, a quite complex morphology of
                                                               submerged beach was observed at both sites. Mean
                                                               slope of submerged beach can be estimated as 2.5% at
                                                               Cala Azzurra and 1.8% at Lido Burrone.
                                                               For example purpose, bathymetric contour maps
                                                               derived from surveys 1 and 2 are plotted in Figures 7
                                                               and 8. Depending on instruments operation and safety
                                                               of navigation, the minimum investigated depth is about
                                                               1.5-2.0 m.
                                                               Examples of bathymetric changes estimated by two
                                                               consecutive surveys are plotted in Figure 9. Positive
                                                               bathymetric variations indicate sediment deposition,
                                                               being the opposite for bottom erosion. To a large
                                                               extent, slight bathymetric variations can be noticed
                                                               between the surveys at both sites, whereas only in
                                                               a few limited areas bathymetric changes of 1 m in
                                                               absolute value can be observed. Overall, Cala Azzurra
                                                               showed greater bathymetric variations than Lido
                                                               Burrone. Similar results were obtained comparing data
                                                               from the other surveys.
                                                               However, for a correct interpretation of results,
                                                               considering the various sources of uncertainty in data
                                                               acquisition and processing, bathymetric differences
                                                               lower than 0.30 m in absolute value should be
                                                               regarded as negligible.
                                                               In Figures 10-13,beach profiles extracted from measured
                                                               data at selected cross-shore transects are plotted. As
                                                               regards Cala Azzurra, profile CA09 is representative of
                                                               the western bay, whilst CA21 corresponds to the eastern
                                                               bay. As regards Lido Burrone, profile LB10 is taken near
                                                               the North-West end of the site, where emerged beach is
                                                               absent, whilst LB23 corresponds to the part of the bay
                                                               where emerged beach is present.
                                                               As already observed from contour maps, submerged
                                                               beach has a quite complex geometry and bathymetric
                                                               changes among different surveys are relatively small. In
                                                               particular, survey data do not seem to indicate a clear
                                                               seasonal regime of submerged beach profiles.

                                                               53EAI Energia, Ambiente e Innovazione 4/2015
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