A framework for data analysis from long-term monitoring in anthropized coastal areas

In heavily urbanised coastal areas, such as port basins, long-term monitoring of key parameters can provide deep insights into local physical and ecological processes, supporting sustainable coastal planning and enhancing effective environmental management strategies. This study introduces a novel, user-friendly framework for analysing multi-year time series data at monitored coastal sites, to assess variations arising from human or natural changes. It explores how physical drivers can influence biological and ecological conditions across various temporal and spatial scales. This approach makes monitoring a vital tool for planning and control. While the proposed data processing techniques have been discussed in previous literature, their integration into a unified framework is what differentiates the present work from prior studies. The framework’s applicability is demonstrated in the Bari Port area in Southern Italy, where monitoring stations have been in place since 2019 due to dredging operations. Despite its specific application, the framework is adaptable to any coastal area with meteo-oceanographic stations providing high-quality data. Key findings indicate that dredging primarily reduced turbulent mixing due to containment measures, affecting the distribution and transport of turbidity and oxygen. Additionally, our analysis shows that evaluating tracers’ diffusivity requires consideration of turbulence, waves, and tides.