Dataset of wind setup in a regulated Venice lagoon

Abstract

This data article includes the dataset of wind setup in the Venice lagoon computed by means of a 2-D hydrodynamic model. The capability of the model to reproduce the hydrodynamic regime of the lagoon has been extensively investigated, with particular attention to the calibration of the wind shear stress at the water surface, in order to precisely characterize the contribute of wind setup on the water level estimation inside the lagoon.We analyze the wind setup induced considering all the reliable wind speeds (with step of 1 m/s) and wind directions (with step of 30°) potentially blowing over the Venice lagoon, comparing the results obtained considering the present not-regulated configuration of the lagoon (pre-Mo.S.E. scenario) to the regulated configuration (post-Mo.S.E. scenario), which refers to the hydrodynamic regime when the Mo.S.E. movable barriers will be operational. The analysis shows that the wind setup significantly increases when the gates at the three inlets of the Venice lagoon are regulated, up to exceeding four times the pre-Mo.S.E. scenario. We deem this result is of paramount importance for the management of the Mo.S.E. barriers and for the definition of their operating strategy aiming at preventing the flooding at all the urban settlements of the lagoon. Keywords: Venice lagoon, Wind setup, Mo.S.E. barriers, Flood hazard, Sea level forecast