50 research outputs found

    Late Quaternary environmental evolution of the intermontane Valle Caudina basin, southern Italy

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    The Valle Caudina intermontane basin in the southern Apennines (Italy) lies between the Mt. Taburno on the North and the Avella–Partenio mountains on the South. An analysis of its present-day landscape, and of its stratigraphic and geoarcheological features, has been carried out to reconstruct the Late Quaternary evolution of the basin, filled by alluvial, colluvial and volcaniclastic deposits. The depositional pattern and geomorphological context allow to recognize lacustrine and fluvial–lacustrine sediments, interbedded with ignimbritic layers originating from the Phlegrean Fields and with a Vesuvius pumice level, that represent significant chronological markers. The two lacustrine episodes are connected with volcanic events radiometrically dated (De Vivo et al., 2001). The older predates the Campanian Ignimbrite deposit (~39 kyr BP), while the younger deposited before 5 kyr BP, as indicated by the recovery of Neolithic artifacts. The presence of Roman ruins in the center of the valley suggests that the lake has suffered a substantial downsizing or has disappeared between 5 kyr BP and the Roman Age. A clayey deposit testifies a first lacustrine phase, which has affected the whole plain. Above this unit, heterogeneous deposits indicate the end of the lacustrine phase and the beginning of a clear fluvial sedimentation. Volcaniclastic deposits from the erosion of the Campanian Ignimbrite follow. They are overlapped by a widespread second lacustrine unit. Finally, a reworked and altered volcaniclastic level closes the stratigraphic sequence, while particularly fertile topsoil covered all the plain

    - Arretramento della linea di riva in risposta all’intercettazione del flusso di sedimenti: caso in studio nel Golfo di Castellammare di Stabia (Golfo di Napoli).

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    Riassunto Lo studio dell’evoluzione morfologica di un’area costiera include gli effetti delle modificazioni naturali ed antropiche. L’analisi della morfoevoluzione della fascia costiera del Golfo di Castallemmare nel periodo 1865 – 2008, in cui l’attività antropica ha prevalso nettamente sui fenomeni naturali, conferma che l’osservazione di un’area costiera va approfondita a partire dalla sua prima e più importante modificazione antropica. Tutti gli interventi successivi determinano solo effetti relativi che devono essere comunque relazionati alla storia evolutiva dell’area nel suo complesso, anche al di fuori dell’unità fisiografica. L'analisi in oggetto prende avvio da una carta storica ricca di particolari del 1865 in cui il litorale prospiciente il Golfo di Castellammare era sabbioso, ampio ed allo stato naturale. Il porto di Torre Annunziata, finito di costruire nel 1871 e che limita verso N l’unità fisiografica del Golfo Castellammare, ha determinato da questo periodo l’intercettazione dei sedimenti di deriva litoranea provenienti dalle aree settentrionali e con movimento da NW verso SE. L’accumulo dei sedimenti ha generato una nuova ampia spiaggia sabbiosa a NW del suddetto porto, all’esterno del Golfo, che si è accresciuta in adiacenza ad un promontorio di natura lavica; costituendo essa il punto di recapito dei sedimenti, risulta in continua progradazione (fino a circa 170 m). A tale significativo intervento ha fatto riscontro una drastica modificazione della morfologia della fascia costiera posta a S, consistente in una prima generalizzata erosione del tratto litoraneo, in tutta la fascia costiera dell’unità fisiografica del Golfo di Castellammare, più marcata nel tratto meridonale. Il ridotto apporto di sedimenti ha sottratto una forte aliquota al budget sedimentario dell’unità fisiografica, scarsamente ricostituibile a causa dei modestissimi apporti solidi del F. Sarno, Fiume di risorgiva, dei suoi tributari e di alcuni altri Rivi. A questo nuovo e sostanziale assetto morfologico derivato si sono aggiunti nel tempo altri interventi antropici che hanno contribuito a modificare localmente i caratteri morfologici della spiaggia emersa e sommersa, quali: opere di difesa litoranea trasversali, radenti, e parallele anche soffolte, muri di contenimento, moli guardiani alla foce del F. Sarno ed intensa urbanizzazione del sistema dunare. Recentissime nuove opere trasversali eseguite nel periodo 2003-2006 hanno invece contribuito a suddividere l’unità fisiografica in due sub-unità, modificando ulteriormente il transito sedimentario lungo riva e quindi la morfologia costiera nella sua parte emersa e sommersa. Nella spiaggia sommersa, gli interventi antropici hanno contribuito modificare la morfologia innescando locali processi di accumulo ma soprattutto di erosione dei sedimenti di fondo mobile per evacuazione attraverso canali incisi nel fondo; il porto di Castellammare ha peraltro sottratto al budget sedimentario dell’unità fisiografica i depositi di antichi apparati di rivi montani ivi confluenti. Abstract The morphologic and morphoevolution analysis of the coastal feature of the Gulf of Castellammare takes to start from 1865 in which the sandy littoral it was wide and to the natural state. The harbour of Torre Annunziata, constructed in 1871, has determined from this date an interception of sediments been involved in the sedimentary transit along coast coming from North and directed towards South, inducing the genesis of one new beach to NW of this harbour (the wide approximately 170 m). This process has determined a generalized erosion of the littoral to SE, in all the coastal fisiografic unit of the Gulf of Castellammare (delimited from two ports), plus marked in the southern feature. The sedimentary reduced input has removed one strongly sediment share from the sedimentary budget not more restorable because of the insufficient solid contribution of the Sarno river and its tributary. So, it is recorded, one weak rotation of the line of river towards East and a general tendency to the regression with a typical generalized accentuation of the concavity of the shoreline, weakly marked in the southern portion and a strongly increasing of the beaches to the ends of the falcate. To this new and important derived morphologic order other recent and most recent anthropic participations have joined that they have ulteriorly contributed to modify the morphologic characters of the emerged and submerged beach. Also the intense use of the territory has determined modifications on the fluvial tracing and on the system of mouth with effects direct or indirect it is on the hydrographical reticulum of F. Sarno and on the shoreline

    Observations sur l'évolution géomorphologique du Mont Alpi (Apennins Lucaniens, Italie méridionale)

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    Il M. Alpi (1 900 m) è uno dei più elevati rilievi dell'Appennino lucano ; per la sua mole si distingue nettamente dalla circostante zona dalla quale si éleva con versanti molto ripidi. La prima fase tettonica, nel corso délia quale il rilievo esaminato comincià ad assumere i suoi principali lineamen- ti morfostrutturali in linea générale puà essere riferita ad un periodo posteriore al Miocene, che indicativamente pub essere datato tra il Pliocene e gli inizi del Pleistocene. Durante i primi periodi freddi quaternari (Gùnz o Mindel ?) si manifestarono azioni crioclastiche che, a luoghi, produssero accumuli di brecce. Dopo uno di questi periodi glaciali il M. Alpi fu interessato da una successiva fase tettonica che porto, fra l'altro, alla riattivazione délia faglia del versante occidentale del rilievo. Nel corso dei successivi periodi freddi rissiano e wù'rmiano sui versanti del rilievo si manifestarono fenomeni di gelifrazione e di soliflusso che portarono aile formazioni di accumuli detritici. Infine, probabilmente, durante o dopo il Wùrm una nuovo fase tettonica intéressa il rilievo.Boenzi F., Pennetta L. Observations sur l'évolution géomorphologique du Mont Alpi (Apennins Lucaniens, Italie méridionale). In: Méditerranée, troisième série, tome 45, 2-1982. pp. 47-52

    Main types of coastal cliffs in the Sorrento Peninsula and in the Isle of Capri: Characters and morphoevolutive outlines. Principali tipi di falesia nella Penisola Sorrentina e nell’Isola di Capri: caratteri e lineamenti morfoevolutivi.

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    Rocky coasts in the Surrentine Peninsula and in the Isle of Capri (Italy) are subject to different rates of recession in terms of time and space. Two major morphologies are recognised: sloping shore platform (type-A1 and type-A2 platforms) and plunging cliffs. The recent evolutionary history, when the sea level has reached its present position after the Versillian transgression (6 ky b.p.), is not only connected to mechanical wave erosion that cuts back the cliffs, since sea cut notches are not well developed. The cliff recession phenomenon is mainly due to a range of processes such as wave erosion, physical and chemical weathering, bio-erosion, that are collectively responsible for mass movements. The occurrence probability of these movements increases usually during winter time. This may be explained by the greater intensity of the processes which affected the cliffs, such as the strong wave action at their base and the large amount of rain which penetrates the weathered rocks at the top or along the cliff. The morphotype of coast characterised by a type AT shore platform frequently developed in the investigated area at the expenses of weak and/or vulnerable to weathering lithologies: highly fractured limestones, weathered tuffs, terrigenous successions, terrigenous deposits overlain by limestones. As a consequence, the shore platform is 200 m to 500 m wide and gently sloping (< 10%); the base of the cliff is characterised by little depth or by narrow pocket beaches. The types of mass movement phenomenon giving rise to parallel retreat of cliffs are mainly rock falls, in limestone and flysch, toppling in tuff and wedge failure in limestone. In terrigenous deposits the cliff morphoevolution is due to shortening; this type of rocky coast is characterizes the tip of the Surrentine Peninsula, with lithology sometimes subjected to significant weakening of strength. The wave erosion as well as the physical-chemical weathering concurred to model these slopes; in particular, slopes of this kind are frequently affected by mass movements (e.g. rotational slide). Along the southern and eastern coasts of the Isle of Capri as well as in the carbonate headland bordering the Bay of Sorrento, type A2 cliffs are well developed, resulting from the evolution of a plunging cliff Such cliff is formed by resistant lithology, even if it usually shows a complex network of fissures and fractures, due to processes occurred in the severe climatic conditions of the last glaciation. During this period, therefore, the state of fracturing could trigger the instability along the slope, and the consequent deposition of significant debris at its base. The rise of sea level that followed, caused the gradual erosion of such talus, the parallel retreat of the cliff, locally associated to slope decline, and the development of a narrow shore platform (wideness maximum 100 m and sloping: 10-30%). At Punta Campanella, near the tip of the Surrentine Peninsula, and in the western side of Capri the coast is characterised by plunging cliffs, likely controlled by faults. In these coasts the water depth at the base of the cliff is greater than the breaker depth; incident waves do not break, but are reflected from the cliff face resulting in standing waves. The low rate of recession of these cliffs is also determined by rocks that are very strong and highly resistant to weathering. However, where fractures belonging to different sets intersect, intense rock falls are often recognised. In few littoral stretches of the Surrentine Peninsula a specific type of rocky coast is observed, this is characterised by the presence of an emerged sea terrace, remodelled during the last sea level rise. The terrace was subject to recession, so at present the palceo-cliff is located landward. The edge of such terrace represents the face to breaker waves. In the submerged area a narrow and steep shore platform (type A2) is recognised
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