Coastal wetlands

Coastal wetlands are complex environments that include principally two different sub-systems: tidal flats, that are intertidal, non-vegetated, soft sediment habitats generally composed of mud and sand; and salt marshes, that are vegetated areas located at higher elevations within the intertidal fringe.

Sedimentation processes are studied using sediment traps or making samplings. The morphological changes are one of the key topics and they concerns both spatial and vertical variations of the tidal flat surfaces; the main analysis are made via drone and GPS surveys.

Papers dealing with coastal wetlands:

• Sedimentary and geomorphological evolution of a young tidal flat in the northern part of the Po delta (Italy)

R. Brunetta, E. Duo, P. Ciavola (2025) - Frontiers in Earth Science

• Evolution of wetlands in the northern part of the Po Delta: The experience of unmanaged realignments

R. Brunetta, P. Ciavola (2024) - Earth Surface Processes and Landforms

• Evaluating Short-Term Tidal Flat Evolution Through UAV Surveys: A Case Study in the Po Delta (Italy)

R. Brunetta, E. Duo, P. Ciavola (2021) - Frontiers in Earth Science

• Morphological Evolution of an Intertidal Area Following a Set-Back Scheme: A Case Study From the Perkpolder Basin (Netherlands)

R. Brunetta, P. Ciavola (2019) - Frontiers in Earth Science