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The objective of this work is to gain new insight on the variability and offshore export of turbid coastal waters in the Adriatic Sea, which are optically classified as Case 2 waters. This is done by means of the 1998–2004 SeaWiFS ocean color products (chlorophyll, Case 2 flags and light attenuation coefficient at 490 nm, k₄₉₀) and NOAA AVHRR sea surface temperature. The role of wind‐driven circulation in the redistribution of the above ocean color features is also analyzed both at seasonal and interannual time scales and in the light of particular wind and current situations occurring in 2003, via scatterometer wind data as well as atmospheric and marine circulation medium and high resolution model output. Results indicate that turbid (Case 2) waters are exported offshore at the Po delta and Ancona headland during the colder months, in concomitance of Bora wind events and when the 2003 daily Po river …