Preface Coastal Lagoons Modelling, Ferrara Conference

Abstract

The Conference on “Southern European Coastal Lagoons: The Influence of River Basin-Coastal Zone Interactions”, held in Ferrara, Italy (10–12 November 2003) aimed at debating on different aspects of integrated watershed–lagoon–coastal functioning: lagoon fluid dynamics, river runoff influence, ecology, nutrient and other contaminant cycles, shellfish farming, macroalgal blooms, as well as the economical implications. Practical aspects such as the appropriate time and space scale to monitor the relevant river basin-coastal lagoon processes and the need for tools to help regional or national authorities in developing optimised and cost effective monitoring programmes were also examined.