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Sonar Finds Hidden Beaches
01 Mar 2005
Sonar studies of the Venice Lagoon have revealed submerged beaches that play a crucial role in preservation of its wetlands following surveys carried out by Southampton Oceanography Centre on behalf of CORILAS (Consortium for Co-ordination of Research Activities for the Venice Lagoon System).
With very little known about the Lagoon's hydrography, the studies were considered necessary to help understand the impact of a proposed flood barrier for protection of Venice city against rising sea levels.
Charting the seabed with a Marine Electronics' 1640 scanning sonar, the SOC team collected over 512 line km of bathymetric data and digital sidescan sonar images, resulting in the immediate discovery of a series of submerged beaches consisting of fine sand. They were seen to reduce wave action while protecting neighbouring marshes from wave erosion due to the presence of weed beds.
Further sonar studies are planned in association with local Venetian scientists to quantify movements of algae and sediment. Any loss of the beaches, officials say, would increase the volume of water within the lagoon and consequently reduce effects of the present natural tidal flushing mechanism.
