Seafloor morphology changes in the inner-shelf area of the Pozzuoli Bay, Eastern Tyrrhenian Sea

Multibeam Echosounder (MBES) data collected along the coastal sector of the Pozzuoli Bay, offshore Bagnoli (Eastern Tyrrhenian Sea) reveal the morphological evolution occurred over a 10-year time span of the inner shelf area between 2 and 15 m of water depth. Horizontal and vertical errors associated with the data acquisition were computed in order to compare the accuracy of the measurements and validate the datasets comparison. A series of morphological features, located within 15 m of depth, were mapped on both Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) generated from datasets. Most of these seafloor features remained substantially unchanged over the years and were used as check points to verify the datasets accuracy, whereas other geomorphic features such as depositional bedforms and depressions, display significant changes. The difference DTM calculated from the datasets indicates that the size of the depressed areas has increased by 25–50%. Moreover, the volumes of marine deposits involved in the processes of morphological changes were also evaluated, thus providing information on the dynamics of sediment erosion, transports/redistribution and accumulation occurred over the years in the study area.