EPHESUS: REMOTE SENSING FOR COASTAL PROCESSES IN SOUTHERN BOHAI SEA - CHINA

Hydrological processes in coastal areas of the Southern Bohai Sea are highly impacted by morphological changes and mixing between continental fresh waters (surfi cial and groundwater) and marine waters. Natural factors combine with human perturbations such as excessive exploitation of natural resources. The effects of overexploitation are evident in coastal areas, considering e. g. salt contamination, land degradation, pollution and subsidence, which determine serious damages to the soils, freshwater resources as well as jeopardize the ecological system. The main purpose of the ongoing project "EPHESUS - Ecological and Physical Effects of the Surfi cial and groundwater exchanges between land and Sea" is directed to identify, assess and monitor the effects on coastal ecosystem, which is exposed to those hazards, in order to prevent further deterioration. In this work we present the rationale of the project and describe the satellite data and the methods of investigation which will be used.