The ubiquitous presence of microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment has become an increasingly evident crisis. Yet, fundamental questions regarding their origin, transport pathways and fate remain largely unanswered, particularly in estuaries. While international policy frameworks to reduce plastic pollution at their source are negotiated, targeted interventions are critically needed to prevent MPs from entering the ocean...

Numerical models are essential tools for the study and analysis of the hydrodynamics of estuarine systems. However, the model results contain uncertainties, which need to be minimized to increase the accuracy of predictions. In this work, the ensemble technique is proposed as a solution to improve hydrodynamic forecasts for estuarine regions. Two numerical models, openTELEMAC-MASCARET and Delft3D, were considered for the appli...

Increasing sea level rise (SLR), and frequency and intensity of storms, paired with degrading ecosystems, are exposing coastal areas to higher risks of damage by storm events. Coastal natural habitats, such as dunes or saltmarshes, can reduce exposure of coastlines to these events and help to reduce the impacts and the potential damage to coastal property. The goal of our study was to evaluate the current vulnerability of the...

The understanding and anticipating of climate change impacts is one of the greatest challenges for humanity. It is already known that, until the end of the 21st century, the mean sea level (MSL) will rise at a global scale, but its effects at the local scale need to be further analyzed. In this context, a numerical modelling tool and a methodological approach for the river Minho estuary (NW of the Iberian Peninsula) are presen...