Large in situ measured ship-induced depression waves (Bernoulli wakes) in the Malamocco–Marghera industrial channel of the Venice Lagoon are interpreted as long-living strongly nonlinear Riemann (simple) waves of depression. The properties of these depressions are numerically replicated using nonlinear shallow water theory and the CLAWPACK software. The further behaviour of measured depressions is analysed by means of replicating the vessel-induced disturbances with the propagation of initially smooth free waves. It is demonstrated that vessel-driven depressions of substantial height (> 0.3 m) often propagate for more than 1 km from the navigation channel into areas of the lagoon of approximately 2 m water depth. As a depression wave propagates into the lagoon, its front slope becomes gradually less steep, but the rear slope preserves an extremely steep bore-like appearance and the amplitude becomes almost independent of the initial properties of the disturbance. Analysis suggests that even modest ships in terms of their size, sailing speed, and blocking coefficient may generate deep depressions that travel as compact and steep entities resembling asymmetric solitary waves over substantial distances into shallow water adjacent to navigation channels. Their impact may substantially increase the environmental impact of ship wakes in this and similar water bodies.
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