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ABSTRACTThe Fiumarella di Corleto drainage basin is an emblematic sector of the southern Apennine thrust belt in the Basilicata region (Southern Italy), which is strongly affected by landslides. Landslides both affect the urban area and the facilities related to hydrocarbon exploitation, such as the pipelines and oil wells connected with the oil centre located just outside the eastern border of the study area. Based on a detailed field survey, supported by stereoscopic analysis, a landslide inventory map has been realized, which also reports the associated processes and landforms. The relationships between the different types of landslides and the various predisposing factors like outcropping lithologies, slopes steepness, slope exposition and land use have been also investigated. The acquired data relate to a geologically complex area of the southern Apennines subject to recent uplift and represent a fundamental contribution useful for the correct management of the territory.

The abandonment of inhabited places is a phenomenon widespread on a global scale that has spanned centuries. It has led to the birth of the so-called 'ghost towns'. These lifeless sites dot the internal Mediterranean and European areas, testifying to the changeability of the human settlements. Through a vision that reverses the paradigm that epitomises the 'ghost towns', these places can be transformed from a problem into an opportunity for the development of the territories that host them. The main topic of this article is to present and update investigations performed on three abandoned settlements sited in Portugal, Italy, and Albania in view of their tourist exploitation, considering three different tailored strategies: underwater tourism, dark tourism, and heritage tourism. For each site, we analysed the site history, the abandonment causes, and the territorial-geological features, thus arguing for the possible valorisation and enjoyment approaches with special attention to digital technologies, which are highly underexploited in the sector. This study, which is part of an international research landscape still in the initial stages, falls within the BEGIN project (aBandonment vErsus reGeneratIoN), which aims to develop a multilevel methodological–operational protocol useful in regional, national, EU, and non-EU contexts for the dissemination of knowledge, conservation, regeneration, valorisation, management, and fruition of areas classified as a 'ghost town'. The research findings can be useful for scholars, practitioners, and local entities entrusted to manage the abandoned towns. Furthermore, the methodological approach followed in this research can supply useful insights into aims to valorise and enjoy worldwide 'ghost towns'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several theoretical and applied studies are concerned with the topics of geological heritage management and geoconservation. The diversity of natural and anthropic scenarios into which geological heritage is inserted, as well as its troublesome management, make these topics challenging for scientific discussion. However, on the other hand, these topics highlight the complexity of a theoretical schematization of approaches and procedures, as well as of the practical application of theoretical assumptions. This paper concerns a practical application of a case study in geoconservation actions, which begins with the identification and the basic description of a site of multicultural interest (characterized by the coexistence of geo and non-geo aspects); subsequently, the needs and aims of the potential end users and stakeholders are analyzed. Finally, several geoconservation actions, differentiated according to end user and stakeholder goals, are proposed. The chosen area includes the Craco ghost town in southern Italy. It is a characteristic, evocative place, where it is possible to observe natural and anthropic contexts. The Craco ghost town is also nationally and internationally renowned, since some movie productions have been set there (such as some scenes in Mel Gibson's The Passion of Christ movie). In this area, the abBandono vErsus riGenerazIoNe (BEGIN) Project (ROP ERDF Basilicata 2014–2020 interregional and transnational cooperation projects) aims to develop an operative, unequivocal, and multi-layered procedure focused on sustainable management, disseminating knowledge and enhancing and using the cultural context of abandoned sites as an attractive force for tourist purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how hydrological drought affected suspended sediment yield (SSY) in the Mediterranean Ofanto River basin, southern Italy, and in its five sub-basins from 1951 to 1989. The Standardized Precipitation Evaporation Index over a scale of 12 months (SPEI12) has been used to compute the hydrological drought in the investigated span of time. SPEI12, mean and maximum monthly discharge (Qmean and Qmax), monthly rainfall erosivity, monthly simple daily intensity index and monthly SSY were used to assess the relationships between dry/wet cycles, streamflow and SSY through the Pearson correlation matrix. Qmean and Qmax are significantly correlated with SSY, while SPEI12 and rainfall intensity do not show good correlation with SSY. Furthermore, from the overall analyses it emerges that sediment yield estimations were higher mainly during the wet period following a period of drought or during a drought period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Topics related to geoheritage research, protection, and conservation, as well as the enhancement and dissemination of geoheritage knowledge, have experienced an important increase in interest regarding the perspectives of both research and management policies. In geoheritage and geodiversity management, geoconservation is a term that encompasses a series of actions dedicated to conservation, research on and the protection of geoheritage, and the enhancement as well as dissemination of knowledge in this area. Geoconservation is a kind of container, with several compartments dedicated to different aspects that identify geoheritage and geodiversity, including scientific, technical, administrative, didactical, and political aspects. These aspects are necessarily different according to (i) objects directly or indirectly involved in geoconservation actions; (ii) the area of application (protected and unprotected natural areas; emerged, submerged, or mixed areas; and urban, urbanized, and/or anthropized areas); (iii) final goals; and (iv) the final end users. This paper presents a schematization of geoconservation concepts and applications as expressed in the literature and as a result of personal experience in addressing issues related to geoheritage management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Southern Apennines consist of a Cenozoic to Quaternary fold and thrust belt characterized by a complex structural architecture. In the axial portion of the chain, corresponding to the Agri Valley, folds and faults with multiple styles formed during the progressive emplacement of various tectonic units, derived from different paleodomains. In the available geological maps, the geometry of these tectonic structures is often hindered by scarce cartographic detail due to the use of basic stratigraphic subdivisions. Therefore, at the aim to better define these structures and contextually update the outcropping stratigraphic units, we realized a detailed geological map, which take into consideration not only the formation as basic stratigraphic units, but also finer subdivisions such as members or beds. Using this approach, we improved the stratigraphy of the area, we recognized new geological units and, eventually, we reconstructed the structural setting, and the tectonic evolution of the Agri Valley in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sites of geo-cultural interest are often included in areas where multicultural contexts (geo and non geo) are present. Cultural heritage dissemination is sometimes mono-contextual, paying little attention to the possibility of inclusion in a wider multicultural context. When these different contexts are linkable to each other following a specific theme, multicultural heritage dissemination will be possible, and often the geo context can represent a fulcrum, a resilient tool in doing that. A portion of the Sinni river's catchment area (Basilicata region, Southern Italy) has been chosen to test and verify the multi-level/disciplinary approach applicability. The area is located on the southeastern edge of the Pliocene to Pleistocene Sant'Arcangelo basin in the Southern Apennines chain of Italy. Here, both basic observations on the physical geography landscape evolution and specialized observations on river dynamics and on the hydrographic network have been carried out. Educational routes will be proposed with different educational levels along a path that will include the San Giorgio Lucano hypogea. This paper represents the results of a qualitative study providing an overview of the possibility, in a multicultural context, about whether, when, and how the geo context may act as a link between the different disciplines and what is the best way to make it. A relational database, organized in contexts, areas, and themes, is planned at different levels of detail, and is currently being developed in order to make final products easily available. Each level will be provided with basic concepts, territorial contextualization, and of activities/itineraries. The goal is to provide a versatile tool that enhances the territorial multi-cultural heritage to reach a greater number of end users interested in both geo and non geo contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two volcaniclastic successions intercalated in Pliocene basinal clays from the Southern Apennines have been analysed to determine their provenance and their relationship with the geodynamic evolution of the Western Mediterranean. The studied deposits are exclusively made up of ashy pyroclasts, dominated by fresh acidic to intermediate glass, mostly in the form of shards, pumice fragments and groundmass fragments with vitrophyric texture. Crystals include P1, Opx, Cpx, Hbl and rare Bt. Sedimentological features suggest that the volcanic material accumulated near the basin margin by primary fallout processes and was later remobilized by density currents. [sup.40]Ar--[sup.39] Ar geochronology allowed dating of one succession at 2.24 [+ or -] 0.06 Ma, corresponding to the Late Pliocene. Composition of the volcaniclastic material is typical of a transitional high-K calc-alkaline series. The age and chemical composition constrain the provenance of the volcaniclastic rocks from the Southern Tyrrhenian domain. Here, volcanic centres were active during Pliocene time, approximately at the northern end of a volcanic arc formed before the opening of the southernmost part of the sea. This paper shows that a detailed study of volcaniclastic products from the southern Apennines and Calabria can be very useful in collecting new pieces of information on the eruption history of the southern Tyrrhenian domain, since they record additional data not available from the study of exposed volcanic edifices. Keywords: volcaniclastic deposits, calc-alkaline magmatism, Late Pliocene deposits, Tyrrhenian sea.

Italy is one of the European countries most affected by landslides. In order to mitigate the risk, the analysis of such phenomena should involve a broad spectrum of studies to understand the geological and geomorphological properties of the unstable areas, the geometric features of the landslides and the causes of their trigger, the evolution over time, and the works of risk mitigation taken as well as their effectiveness over time. This article is concerned with multidisciplinary investigations on a historical earth flow occurred in Montemurro (Basilicata, Southern Italy) in 1907. We analyse unpublished archive sources strictly coupled with new geological and geomorphological surveys. Furthermore, to gain information on the geometrical features of the landslide body, geophysical prospections (ERT) is used alongside the field surveys. Lastly, to gain insight on the landslide triggering factors, we employed historical–climatological analysis: in particular, we made use of the monthly simple daily intensity index (SDII) to evaluate extreme events and the standardised precipitation index (SPI) to consider previous wetness conditions. The earth flow was triggered on 26 February 1907 and the main movement lasted about one week, involving several buildings, including those of cultural interest. Historical documentary investigations and historical climatological analysis both indicate that the earth flow was triggered by a preceding heavy rain period, which independent historical sources suggest also caused the activation of landslides over a wider area around Montemurro. Currently, the earth flow is NE–SW oriented, extends for a length of ~1.1 km, and has an average width of ~220 m. The landslide is in a dormant activity phase. From a methodological point of view, the research stresses the importance of integrated approaches to investigate natural hazards, particularly by the use of historical data. This research may be of interest to academics, practitioners, and policymakers for both the methodological approach followed and results gained, useful in view of both risk mitigation and territorial planning of landslide-prone areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides represent a major geomorphological feature influencing the evolution of the southern Apennine slopes with earth flows being one of the most representative types of landslide. The development of earth flows in the southern Apennines is facilitated by the widespread occurrence of clayey lithologies. Earth flows can either produce marked scars along the slopes, when their activity is high, or give rise to bumpy areas that are frequently covered by vegetation, when their activity is low. In this latter case, although the risk is significantly reduced, the earth flow can still represent a problem for buildings and infrastructure. The Picerno earth flow in the Basilicata region is an example of a low-activity earth flow. This NW-SE–oriented landslide extends for a length of ~ 5.5 km, has an average width of ~ 680 m, and affects the village of Picerno. Our investigations mainly focused on the terminal portion of the landslide and revealed that some significant linear infrastructures (e.g., the Potenza–Naples railway) and important provincial and municipal roads are affected by the earth flow. In order to better define the amount of displacement characterizing the Picerno earth flow and gain insights into the lateral extension and the depth of the main detachment surface, we undertook a detailed geological and geomorphological survey. Interferometry synthetic aperture radar data provided by the processing of SAR images, with the aim of highlighting the regions of the landslide that are currently active, together with electrical resistivity tomography data which have been utilized to define the geometry of the landslide body. Our results provide useful suggestions for planning appropriate actions aimed at stabilizing the landslide body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Brindisi di Montagna Scalo Landslide in Southern Italy is an active complex mass movement, which affects the left slope of the Basento River. In the last few decades, this landslide has been continuously monitored, as it directly threatened some of the most important communication routes in the Basilicata Region. Nevertheless, little progresses have been made to prevent further landslide advancement, and continuous maintenance is required. With the aims of better understanding, the main factors controlling the evolution of this landslide, and suggesting the most appropriate countermeasures, a multidisciplinary study, based on the integration of direct and indirect techniques, was carried out. Direct techniques included multi-temporal geomorphological analysis of the slope, alongside geological and structural field observations. Indirect techniques consisted of electrical resistivity tomography acquisition. The combined analyses of the geological and geophysical data showed that Quaternary tectonic processes played a fundamental role as a predisposing factor, whereas seasonal rainfall, and the perpetual undercutting by erosional processes caused by the Basento River at the toe of the landslide are the main triggering mechanisms. The Brindisi di Montagna Scalo Landslide represents an outstanding case-study, concerning the interaction between a flow-like complex landslide and essential linear infrastructure, such as motorways and railways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of 4 year In-SAR Interferometry images and a detailed geomorphological survey have been carried out to detect a large Deep-Seated Gravitational Slopes (DSGSD) affecting the urban area of the Episcopia village, in Southern Italy. The DSGSD largely develops within phyllites of the Liguride Units and, in the upper slope, within Pleistocene sand and conglomerate deposits of the Sant'Arcangelo Basin. Field survey has shown trenches at the top and an evident bulge at the base of the DSGSD, corresponding to the Talweg of the Sinni River. Geological and geomorphological field surveys allowed us to hypothesize a listric geometry of the DSGSD subsurface plane reaching about 700 m of depth. Furthermore, the multi-temporal In-SAR Interferometry analysis collected from November 2014 to May 2017 revealed that a ground deformation of ±30 mm was occurred, and the process is still active in the whole area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mass transport deposits (MTDs), created by gravity-driven deformation of unlithified sediments, and tectonic mélanges produced by contractional deformation are characterized by a similar chaotic appearance. It follows that distinguishing structures formed by soft-sediment deformation during mass transport from those produced by contractional tectonics can be problematic. In fact, deformation occurring along detachment levels may completely obliterate the original sedimentary fabric. Although a number of advances have been made during recent decades, field criteria for discriminating structures within MTDs that are overprinted by later regional contraction are not readily applicable to all the exposed examples. We address some of these general issues through a detailed case study of the Monte Facito Formation in Italy. This Triassic unit was formed during the Africa–Europe continental separation and, since the Miocene, has been involved in contractional deformation during the construction of the Apennines. The Monte Facito Formation consists of a series of stratigraphically coherent units, separated by chaotic and often deformed intervals, whose origin has been previously attributed to either tectonic or sedimentary processes. An example is provided by a characteristic pebbly mudstone (or 'paraconglomerate') which has been interpreted as either a Triassic gravity-flow deposit, or alternatively, as a product of shearing along regional contractional detachments during the Miocene. This detailed field-based study allows us to recognize structures related to the depositional processes that created these chaotic intervals, and which can therefore be interpreted as MTDs. We also discriminate structures connected to later contractional tectonics that locally produced intense reworking of the MTDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rainfall erosivity index (EI30) is widely used in soil erosion models for predicting soil loss. This index consists in the product between the maximum intensity of 30-min rainfall and the total kinetic energy of a precipitation event. The main goal of this study was to characterize the soil erosion in Piedmont (Northwestern Italy), studying the magnitude, frequency, and trends of rainfall erosivity. Rainfall erosivity for twelve stations well distributed over the whole region were firstly computed on the basis of 10-min timeresolution rainfall data using a continuous 17-year series of daily rainfall events. For each station the equation to predict EI30 from daily rainfall data was calculated, and, using the Nash and Sutcliffe (1970) model-efficiency, the relationships between real EI30 and modeled EI30 was validated. The rainfall erosivity model was applied to the long term daily rainfall series of the selected stations, to create annual and seasonal erosivity time series for the climate normal period 1986-2015. Afterwards, the Mann-Kendall non-parametric test statistic to detect time trends in the rainfall erosivity time series was applied. The results have led to the conclusion that the annual rainfall erosivity should have experienced mixed trends in most of the study area, although more than half of the stations did not show a statistical trend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of geomorphological investigations carried out in Basilicata region (Southern Italy) in the sector of the youngest foredeep (Bradano trough) relative to most of the communal territory of Pisticci. The importance of the chosen area mostly lies in the presence of diffuse running-water landforms and landslides affecting urban areas. The geomorphological processes are linked with Quaternary tectonic uplift affecting the Apennine front-Bradanic foredeep sectors. A series of field surveys, supported by aerial photo interpretation, have led to the production of a geomorphological map at 1:35,000 scale which outlines the main processes and related landforms recognised in the study area. The latter are the result of the complex interplay of structural, gravitational and fluvial processes. Particular attention has been devoted to the recognition, identification and mapping of landslides which affect the slope, locally giving rise to hazardous conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of geomorphological investigations carried out in Basilicata region (southern Italy) from the most external thrust front of the Apennines, where the town of Craco is located, to the adjacent sector of the Apennines foredeep (Fossa Bradanica; Pisticci area). The importance of the chosen area mostly resided in the presence of really diffuse running-waters and gravity-induced landforms which strictly affect urban areas. The geomorphological processes are linked with the Quaternary tectonic uplift affecting the Apennine front-Bradanic foredeep sectors. Series of field surveys, supported by aerial photo-interpretation, have led to the production of a geomorphological map at 1:16,000 scale which outlines the main processes and related landforms recognized in the study area. The latter are the result of the complex interplay of structural, gravitational and fluvial processes. Particular attention was devoted to the recognition, identification and mapping of landslides which affect the slope of the main villages (Craco and Pisticci), locally giving rise to hazardous conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inventory and assessment of a geosite in a territory provides a sound basis for the protection and use of its geological heritage. This article aims to evaluate the most relevant geosites in the province of Chimborazo (Ecuador), applying the Spanish Inventory of Sites of Geological Interest (IELIG, in Spanish) method, and proposing alternatives for geotourism development in the studied area. The methodological process was based on: (i) the inventory and preliminary selection of geosites; (ii) a semi-quantitative geosite assessment and proposal of travel itineraries for geotourism; and (iii) the application of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) matrix to establish geotourism development strategies within a framework of sustainability. The global assessment of scientific, tourist, and academic interests demonstrates that 25% of the 20 evaluated geosites have very high interest and 75% have high interest. The top three geosites with the highest degrees of interest are the Chimborazo Volcano, known as 'Earth's Closest Point to the Sun', the Pallatanga geological fault, and the geosite named Comunidad Cacha. The SWOT analysis reveals that travel itineraries that combine cultural heritage elements and geosites could offer a real alternative for the region's sustainable development through geotourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ionian coast of the Basilicata region, southern Italy, is characterized by a remarkable archaeological heritage, valuable crops, and national and international tourism, contributing significantly to the regional economy. In the last two decades, the area has been affected by the heavy recurrence of flooding events, which caused significant damage to agriculture, tourist infrastructure, and archaeological heritage. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses of pluviometric, hydrometric, and erosion/deposition dynamics of main rivers have been carried out in order to investigate the role played by natural factors, climate changes, and human activity. The results show that flooding events in the Metaponto plain were certainly caused by extreme rainy events, but man has also played an important role. The Metaponto plain has been involved in a reclamation consisting of the building of an extensive channel network, which provided better land cultivation, easy access to the beaches, and archaeological heritage protection. The human impact related to the absence of channel cleaning has proved to be the most relevant factor that greatly amplified the effects of low-intensity rainfall events, thus triggering flooding events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Piping (tunnelling) appears to be one of the more significant methods of erosion in the badlands in the Plio-Pleistocene marine-sourced clays of the Basilicata area in Southern Italy. A detailed field investigation of the pedological, textural, mineralogical and geochemical properties of the clay-rich terrains widely outcropping in two selected badland field sites (the Fossa Bradanica area and the Bacino di Sant''Arcangelo) was undertaken to further elucidate process variability across the complex site. Paralleling findings from other piped badlands, certain physico-chemical properties of the clays were found to influence the different erosional processes in fundamental ways. The very dispersive nature of the materials enhances pipe enlargement so that subsurface flow rapidly becomes the dominant process, causing pipe enlargement by a process of positive feedback. The paper speculates on the progressive role of surface and subsurface processes in the genesis of all evolutional badland forms (calanchi, calanchi mammellonari and biancane). In an early stage, the calanchi mammellonari are produced, as slope mounds become increasingly separated by a dense network of small inclined pipes in the intermediate part of the slopes, a site which is presumed to favour elevated subsurface flow. When the overburden collapses, many cones are isolated in these portions of the slope. A second stage follows in which overland flow dominates, with the water canalizing into small gullies generated by the collapsed crust. At the base of many slopes, this same mechanism produces biancane as residual cones. Because of the structural weakness of piped materials, mass movements cannot be ruled out. In a few locations, landsliding may be involved, especially in the formation of calanchi mammellonari. In this case the intersection of the vertical pipes with the impermeable substratum focuses subsurface flow, and collapse of the surface along this failure plane. Subsequent remodelling occurs by surface processes, since the ‘catchment volume’ for large pipes no longer exists. This interpretation differs from that of others who have argued that in other locations the biancane formation is linked to the development of large vertical pipes along tectonic joints. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]