Salinity and its variability in the Lagoon of Venice, 2000–2009

The Lagoon of Venice exhibits a stable, steady-state salinity distribution characterized by three distinct zones: a northern freshwater-influenced area with high tidal variability (salinity <28 PSU), a southern marine zone with low tidal variability (salinity >32 PSU), and an intermediate transition zone. This stability, supported by data from 13 stations spanning 2000–2009, indicates that salinity changes are primarily driven by rainfall events and tidal motion rather than intrinsic water composition shifts. The study confirms the lagoon's long-term (to 1961) equilibrium, fostering at least three separate ecosystems. Researchers analyzed monthly and bimonthly salinity data alongside semi-continuous 2009 measurements to validate these findings.

Zirino, A., Elwany, H., Neira, C., Maicu, F., Mendoza, G., & Levin, L. A. (2014). Salinity and its variability in the Lagoon of Venice, 2000–2009. Advances in Oceanography and Limnology, 5(1), 41–59. https://doi.org/10.1080/19475721.2014.900113