Seagrass meadows as a nature based solution

Seagrass meadows, such as Zostera marina, influence coastal hydrodynamics by altering flow velocity, turbulence, and mixing processes. This study investigates the impact of seagrass on the circulation of the Adriatic Sea using the SHYFEM-MPI hydrodynamic model. A numerical ensemble of 27 parameterized seagrass scenarios was developed, varying key morphological traits such as leaf density, length, and width. Results indicate that seagrass presence significantly reduces near-bottom current velocities due to increased drag, leading to enhanced stratification and localized changes in salinity and temperature distribution. The vegetation modifies vertical mixing, reducing freshwater intrusion into deeper layers and altering the lateral transport of saline water. Spectral analysis reveals a dampening effect on high-frequency flow variations while maintaining dominant tidal signals. These findings highlight the role of seagrass in shaping coastal circulation and stratification patterns. Future work should integrate sediment transport processes and further refine hydrodynamic modeling approaches to improve predictions of seagrass-induced flow modifications.