Matching monitoring and modeling in the Gulf of Trieste

The Gulf of Trieste, northern Adriatic Sea, is about 29 km in length; its width at the open boundary is 21 km and its depth does not exceed 25 m (Fig. 1). It is characterized by high variability, being subjected to a pronounced seasonal cycle, relevant heat fluxes (associated with Gulf of Trieste) and strong meteorological events (MalaImageiImage and Petelin, 2001). The Isonzo River also exerts a strong impact on the hydrology of the gulf, as other rivers only contribute about 10% of the freshwater balance ( Olivotti et al., 1986). These physical features affect the productivity of this shallow ecosystem ( Malej et al., 1995), as well as mucilage appearance in the area and bottom oxygen depletion ( Aleffi et al., 1992; Malej and MalaImageiImage, 1995; Deggobis et al., 1995). In addition, the presence of two coastal cities (Trieste in Italy and Koper in Slovenia) with intense maritime traffic, fisheries and seasonal tourism, generate a noticeable anthropogenic pressure. These features highlight the need for an integrated monitoring system, capable of evaluating human impacts on this shallow coastal area.