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During the last millennium, several moderate to strong earthquakes occurred in the Umbria-Marche Apennines and Marche foredeep, making this region one of the most seismically active areas of Europe. Seismic activity is mainly clustered in the southern part of the region. Nevertheless, beside the presence of high magnitude historical earthquakes, the lack of significant instrumental seismicity (i.e. ML > 2.5 earthquakes) makes the northern sector of the study area as a prominent seismic gap. Such a northern area is highly challenging for the detection of active, often blind, faults that are essential to a reliable seismic hazard assessment of the region. To tackle this issue, we test an integrated methodological approach based on available geological information together with the analysis of high-resolution seismological data and stress inversion analysis. Furthermore, GIS-based morphotectonic analyses are also used to study the correlation between the identified structures and neotectonic processes. Topography analysis includes the creation of seven swath profiles (20 km in width) and of maximum, minimum, mean elevation and relief maps. River network analysis is carried out using river long profiles and transformed (𝝌) long profiles coupled with slope/area diagrams. The former allowed the location of knickpoints/knickzones, whereas the latter allowed the spatial distribution of the Ksn (normalized steepness) index to be obtained. Combined data from topography and river network mark the different neotectonic behaviour of the northern and southern sectors of the Umbria-Marche Apennines. In fact, the southward increase of (i) mean and minimum elevations, (ii) local relief, (iii) abundance of non-lithology controlled knickpoints, and (iv) Ksn values, suggest the presence of a locus of enhanced vertical motion (i.e., surface uplift) in the south. Here, the largest historical earthquakes and the strongest instrumental seismicity also occur, thus suggesting active tectonics is more intense in this area of stronger uplift.The results of our multidisciplinary analysis are consistent with evidence of along-strike segmentation of the fold and thrust belt where each sector is characterised by different active tectonic behaviour and thickness of Pliocene deposits. Boundaries of sectors roughly coincide with major transversal fault systems, segmenting the outer portion of the fold and thrust belt in the Marche foothills. Such transversal systems are accompanied by diffuse seismicity (< M= 5.5) and probably mark the loci of long-lived, deep-seated fault zones that exert a major control on the active tectonic behaviour of large crustal blocks also compartmentalizing the axial zone of the chain.

Flash floods occur quickly and instantly with respect to triggering rainfall and are particularly frequent in river basins of limited extent. In the Mediterranean area, flash floods are acknowledged as the most widespread geo-hydrological hazard. They may have a particularly catastrophic character due to combination of intense precipitation and strong orographic forcing (cumulative rainfall values in the order of hundreds of mm in a few hours) with the widespread presence of steep, small river basins, referred to as Small Mediterranean Catchments. The natural susceptibility associated with Small Mediterranean Catchments eventually results in high hydrogeological risk notably for densely-urbanized and populated alluvial fans at catchment outlets. Therefore, the evaluation of sediment budgets of flash-flood prone, torrential catchments is important for the assessment of flood susceptibility and hazard in piedmont areas.Our study addresses the evaluation of the sediment volume that has the potential to be entrained and delivered downstream during flash floods in torrential catchments. With the final aim of developing an approach useful to the definition of the order of magnitude of future flash flood events in terms of debris loads, our goal is to obtain reliable quantification of sediment storage through the geomorphological analysis of high-resolution topographic data.We developed and tested a predictive, quantitative geomorphological technique for estimating the magnitude of debris flows related to flash floods triggered by extreme rainfall events. We applied our method to steep torrential catchments that (i) are underlain by resistant rocky bedrock, therefore not prone to large landslides, and (ii) allowed testing of our technique through quantification of the effects of recently-occurred flash floods. The three study catchments are located in southern Italy and experienced flash flood-related debris flows triggered by a rainstorm with a recurrence interval > 200 yrs. We estimated the sediment volumes stored in the investigated mountainous catchments prior to the flash flood and compared our results with the sediment volumes entrained by the debris flows. The latter volumes were estimated by post-event data collected by means of both field surveys and remote sensing (drone surveys). The results were mutually consistent so supporting our approach. The approach can be applied extensively, even in the absence of field data and measurements, to ungauged catchments similar to those we analysed for flash flood hazard assessment and planning of mitigation strategies.

The growth of a mountain chain results from a complex interplay between endogenous and exogenous processes. The former depends on the geodynamic setting and cause the uplift of the orogenic wedge whereas the latter tend to erode the uplifted topography. Surface uplift may act at uneven temporal and spatial scale and reconstructing its distribution through space and time may provide fundamental data to unravel either the future tendency of geomorphic processes (e.g., increased erosion in uplifted areas) or to identify areas affected by active tectonics. In this study, we adopted a morphotectonic approach to unravel the spatial distribution of surface uplift in active orogens, such as the southern Apennines of Italy. Features of the topography (e.g., maximum, mean and minimum elevation maps, relief maps and swath profile) and the river network (e.g., river long profile and chi-long profile, Ksn index, chi index map) have been derived through ArcGis and Matlab softwares. The combined analysis of all indexes allows recognising a locus of enhanced surface uplift that moves from NE (the Bradanic foredeep) to the SW (the outer sector of the orogenic wedge). Surface uplift do not extend towards the inner sector of the orogenic wedge and its spatial distribution roughly follow the main divide. Furthermore, a natural tendency of the main divide to shift towards the NE has been also identified, that is consistent with the uneven spatial distribution of vertical motions. To quantify differences in surface uplift between the foredeep-outer chain and the inner chain, we analysed published data about MIS5 paleoshorelines. These data also confirmed the uneven distribution of surface uplift at the orogen scale, thus confirming that the adopted morphotectonic approach may be considered a powerful tool to constrain the spatial distribution of vertical motions.

A morphometric approach, based on the investigation of the topography and river network features of two hydrographic basins, Utcubamba and Chiriaco, was applied to determine the relationship between the irregular distribution of vertical motions (e.g., surface uplift) and the genesis of supergene Zn deposits located in the Bongará district, in the north-eastern sector of the Peruvian Andes. In the area three mixed supergene-hypogene ore deposits have been recognized: Mina Grande, Cristal and Florida Canyon. The Florida Canyon deposit falls within the Eastern Cordillera, in the Utcubamba Basin, and represents one of the most important Zn-Pb MVT deposits hosted in the carbonate and former evaporite-bearing rocks of the Pucarà Group. The mineralization consists mainly of sulfides and only one-third of the resource is nonsulfides and is hosted in Triassic rocks. The Mina Grande and Cristal deposits fall within the western margin of the Subandean Fold-and-Thrust Belt, in the Chiriaco Basin, and consist mainly of nonsulfide ores with less sulfides hosted in more recent Jurassic rocks. The MVT sulfide mineralizations formed at the same time (70 – 80 Ma) at two different depths of 2,500 - 3,000 m b.s.l. for Florida Canyon and 1,5000 - 2,000 m b.s.l. for Mina Grande - Cristal and currently outcrop approximately at the same altitude of around 2,700 m a.s.l. Since the late Oligocene, when Andean deformation migrated eastward from the Western Cordillera to the present Sub-Andean zone, the rocks of the Pucará Group were repeatedly uplifted and eroded allowing the exhumation of primary sulfide bodies and the formation of the supergene deposits.The research has been carried out through the evaluation of the parameters such as elevation, local relief, swath profile, river longitudinal profiles, slope/area analysis to derive the normalized channel steepness index (ksn) and transformed river profiles (χ-long profiles). The spatial distribution of such indexes allowed to derive some consideration about the spatial distribution of vertical motions (e.g., surface uplift). Furthermore, the sharp increase in maximum, mean and minimum elevation moving from the Utcubamba Basin to the Chiriaco Basin, coupled with a jump in the mean Ksn values, suggest that the Chiriaco Basin has experienced either more recent surface uplift or surface uplift at rates higher than the Utcubamba Basin. This trend seems to be confirmed by the uneven erosion that the Florida Canyon and the Mina Grande – Cristal deposits have experienced. In fact, the Utcubamba Basin has been subjected to an uplift protracted in the time, resulting in a rugged local relief and lowering the mean and minimum elevations, which would have removed the Jurassic succession and exposed at the weathering the Triassic-hosted Florida Canyon. In the Chiriaco Basin, the higher surface uplift in terms of time and/or rate has exposed at the weathering the Jurassic-hosted Mina Grande – Cristal deposits allowing the almost complete alteration of primary sulphides and the development of non-sulphide mineralization.

The interest of the scientific community about geotourism is abruptly increasing, as well as that on geoparks. According to UNESCO, geoparks should define management policies addressed to increasing the awareness of local people and tourists about Earth’s dynamics to reduce the impact of climate change and natural disasters. With this aim in mind, we tried to provide a solid scientific approach to geotourism that could be useful to the development of a geotourism strategy in the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni (CVDA) Geopark, in Southern Italy. Starting from the official inventory of the CVDA Geopark, we defined the potential Education Value (EV) and potential Touristic Value (TV) of each of the 160 sites listed by applying the Brilha method. Then we selected 20 geosites and geomorphosites with high values of both the EV and TV, and we included them in two geoitineraries. The two geoitineraries move in the inner sector of the Geopark (i.e., from the Paestum archaeological area to the Vallo di Diano basin) and along a portion of the coastal stretch (i.e., from Punta Telegrafo cape to the Lambro and Mingardo rivers’ mouths). Selected sites are representative of several geoscience disciplines (e.g., geomorphology, structural geology, quaternary geology, hydrogeology), thus suggesting that the CVDA Geopark is an ideal place where dissemination of geoscience concepts may be carried out. The latter point enhances the high geotourism potential of the area. This kind of approach was not tried before in the CVDA Geopark and can be a useful example of how to promote touristic development strategies in the area.

This paper deals with the problem of cliff stability and proposes a geomorphological zonation of a cliff using a sector of the Posillipo promontory (named the Coroglio-Trentaremi sea cliff, Italy), in the Campi Flegrei coastal area, as a case study. A detailed geological and geomorphological analysis was carried out, by combining field work with analysis of detailed scale topographic maps, orthophoto, and stratigraphical data from deep boreholes. Field and borehole data, together with structural data collected in seven different stations along the cliff, allowed us to derive six geological cross-sections and to reconstruct the complex stratigraphical and structural setting of the cliff. Geomorphological analysis focused on the detection of the main geomorphological factors predisposing to cliff instability. We selected the most significant factors and divided them into two groups: factors influencing landslide intensity and factors influencing cliff instability. Then, by means of a heuristic approach, we constructed a matrix that was used to derive a map showing the geomorphological zonation of the sea cliff. This map may enable to development of a reliable scenario of cliff instability and consequent retreat, which may be useful either to plan intervention works in the most critical areas or to organize prevention plans aimed at risk mitigation.

The Zagros thrust belt formed due to the convergence between the Arabian and Eurasian plates during the closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. GPS measurements show that the northward relative motion of ...

&ldquo, Geotourism&rdquo, is a particular type of &ldquo, sustainable tourism&rdquo, that is still in an embryonic stage, especially in Italy. The main goal is the transmission of geological knowledge to increase the awareness about geoheritage, geo-resources and geo-hazards. The geoparks represent ideal sites, with a strong educational significance for students, teachers, geo-tourists, and guides interested in geological and environmental sciences, though at different levels. With this in mind, we propose a geoitinerary through some of the most geologically interesting coastal areas in the Cilento, Vallo di Diano, and Alburni Geopark. The aim of the geoitinerary is to provide a good example of how geosites could be promoted through geotourism and used as means of divulgation of geological and environmental knowledge. The selected sites are the San Marco coast, the Licosa Cape and the Elea-Velia archaeological area. They are included in the official list of geosites and geomorphosites of the Geopark and have a relevant stratigraphic and geoarcheological value. The San Marco coast and the Licosa Cape are the &ldquo, best sites&rdquo, in the Geopark where Quaternary coastal deposits and morphologies are represented. The Elea-Velia site is one of the most famous archeological sites in the Geopark, which is also representative of complex human-environment interactions. Despite their high scientific significance, the sites that we have selected are not included in a specific promoting program. We have so tried to fill this gap by providing the scientific background for their geotouristic promotion that could also serve as an instrument for the increase of the local economy.

The Mountain Front Flexure is a major structure of the Zagros orogenic system, and is underlain by the deeply rooted and seismically active Mountain Front Fault system. These coupled structural features divide the belt from its foreland and their trace is sinuous, forming salients and recesses. The origin and tectonic significance of the Mountain Front Fault system and its sinuosity are still unclear, with most of hypotheses pointing to a strong structural control exerted by geological inheritances. In this work we combine interpretation of seismic reflection profiles, earthquake data, geomorphic analysis, and geological observations, to build a balanced cross section across the Mountain Front Flexure in the Lurestan region. Our data are suggestive of a hybrid tectonic style for the Lurestan region, characterised by a major and newly developed crustal ramp in the frontal portion of the belt (i.e the Mountain Front Fault) and by the reactivation of steeply dipping pre-existing basin-bounding faults, along with a minor amount of shortening, in the inner area. Specifically, the integration of our results with previous knowledge indicates that the Mountain Front Fault system developed in the necking domain of the Jurassic rift system, ahead of an array of inverted Jurassic extensional faults, in a structural fashion which resembles that of a crustal-scale footwall shortcut. Within this structural context, the sinusoidal shape of the Mountain Front Flexure in the Lurestan area arises from the re-use of the original segmentation of the inverted Jurassic rift system.

To unravel how and where coseismic and interseismic deformation impacts the spatial and temporal patterns of rock uplift of the Lurestan sector of the Zagros Mountains, we performed an investigation of the large‐scale features of topography and river network coupled with 2‐D finite element modeling. Geomorphological analysis and constraints from parameters such as elevation, local relief, normalized channel steepness index (ksn), river longitudinal profiles, and transformed river profiles (chi plots) were used to unravel the time‐space distribution of vertical motions. Whereas the much longer timescale over which topography grows and/or rivers respond to tectonic or climatic perturbations with respect to even multiple seismic cycles, the outputs of the finite element model yield fundamental information on the source of the late part of the spatiotemporal evolution of surface uplift recorded by the geomorphology. Model outputs shed new light into the processes controlling relief evolution in an actively growing mountain belt underlain by a major blind thrust. The outputs illustrate how coseismic slip controls localized uplift of a prominent topographic feature—the Mountain Front Flexure—located above the main upper crustal ramp of the principal basement thrust fault of the region, while continuous displacement along the deeper, aseismic portion of the same basement fault controls generalized uplift of the whole crustal block located farther to the NE, in the interior of the orogen.

The map is aimed at illustrating the relationships between landscape evolution and human occupation in the Isernia basin since the Middle Pleistocene. We carried out a detail scale geological–geomorphological investigation integrated with archaeological data. Overall data suggest enhanced landscape modification related to the long-term evolution of the Isernia basin. Moreover, during the Middle Pleistocene an alluvial plain environment was present, as testified also by the famous Lower Palaeolithic site of Isernia La Pineta dated to ca. 600 ky. From 600 ky onwards, extensional tectonics and related valley incision reshaped the Isernia basin, with the formation of terraced surfaces and the deposition of a travertine plateau. Archaeological findings from the Lower Palaeolithic up to the Chalcolithic Age testify to pre- and protohistoric settlements on these surfaces. In historical times, Romans settled on the Isernia terrace ridge taking advantage of the outcropping travertines to support wall foundations and to extract construction material.

Naples and its surroundings are a very young landscape, originated from 40 ka in response to strong and explosive volcanic processes, which created the Campi Flegrei, one of the largest volcanic fields of the world. Despite the repeated and continuous volcanic activity, this territory was selected for human settlements since Neolithic times and hosted some of the most important Greek and Roman towns in the Mediterranean area (e.g., Cuma, Parthenope, Neapolis, Baia and Puteoli). Geoarcheological data and historical chronicles testify to human coexistence with eruptions, bradyseismic ground motions, coastline changes, floods and landslides. With the aim of describing the geomorphological evolution of this area to a wide audience, including also non-experts, we constructed a synthetic geomorphological map of the area and sketches that synthesise the main stages of the geomorphological evolution of the historical centre of Naples and the coastal belt of the Gulf of Pozzuoli during the last millennia.

This Special Issue wants to outline the role of Geoheritage and Geotourism as potential touristic resources of a region. The term “Geoheritage” refers to a peculiar type of natural resources represented by sites of special geological significance, rarity or beauty that are representative of a region and of its geological history, events and processes. These sites are also known as “geosites” and, as well as archaeological, architectonic and historical ones, they can be considered as part of the cultural estate of a country. “Geotourism” is an emerging type of sustainable tourism, which concentrates on geosites, furnishing to visitors knowledge, environmental education and amusement. In this meaning, Geotourism may be very useful for geological Sciences divulgation and may furnish additional opportunities for the development of rural areas, generally not included among the main touristic attractions. The collected papers focused on these main topics with different methods and approaches and can be grouped as follows: (i) papers dealing with geosites promotion and valorisation in protected areas; (ii) papers dealing with geosites promotion and valorisation in non-protected areas; (iii) papers dealing with geosites promotion by exhibition, remote sensing analysis and apps; (iv) papers investigating geotourism and geoheritage from the tourists’ perspective.

The actively extending axial zone of the southern Apennine mountain belt of Italy is characterized by a substantial flow of non- volcanic gas to the surface. In this study, we have analyzed the correlation between the active tectonic framework of the Matese Ridge area and the high gas emissions found to the southwest, which includes large amounts of CO2 (up to 99 vol%), CH4 (up to 0.55 vol%), and He (up to 52 ppmv). We measured CO2 and CH4 fluxes of up to 34000 g d-1 and 2000 g d-1, respectively, from zones of focused degassing (gas vents and associated strong diffuse emission). This anomalously high flux of CO2 (advective plus diffusive) indicates that the study area has one of the largest non- volcanic natural emissions of CO2 ever measured on Earth. The isotope composition of C in CO2 and CH4 shows there is a dominant crustal contribution of emissions (as opposed to a source from the mantle), indicating that thermometamorphism of the buried Apulian Platform carbonates is probably the main cause of CO2 production. This process has likely been enhanced by Quaternary magmatism, which provides an additional local source of heat triggering decarbonation of Apulian Platform limestones and dolostones at depth. The advective flux is concentrated at gas vents located along active fault segments located at the western tip of a major crustal structure, the South Matese fault zone. We believe that the very high gas emission in the Matese Ridge area is the result of both the presence of a dense network of active fault strands, which provides efficient pathways for fluid flow toward the surface, and the dramatically reduced thickness of the clay-rich mélange zone acting elsewhere in the south- ern Apennines as a top seal overlying the buried Apulian Platform carbonates.

Defining the origin of ground deformation, which can be a very challenging task, may be approached through several investigative techniques. Ground deformation can originate in response to both natural (e.g., tectonics) and anthropic (e.g., groundwater pumping) contributions. These may either act simultaneously or be somewhat correlated in space and time. For example, the location of structurally controlled basins may be the locus of enhanced human-induced subsidence. In this paper, we investigate the natural and anthropic contributions to ground deformation in the urbanized area of the inner Sarno plain, in the Southern Apennines. We used a multidisciplinary approach based on the collection and analysis of a combination of geomorphological, stratigraphical, structural, hydrogeological, GPS, and DInSAR datasets. Geomorphological, stratigraphical, and structural data suggested the occurrence of a graben-like depocenter, the Sarno basin, bounded by faults with evidence of activity in the last 39 ka. Geodetic data indicated that the Sarno basin also experienced ground deformation (mostly subsidence) in the last 30 years, with a possible anthropogenic contribution due to groundwater pumping. Hydrogeological data suggested that a significant portion of the subsidence detected by geodetic data can be ascribed to groundwater pumping from the alluvial plain aquifer, rather than to a re-activation of faults in the last 30 years. Our interpretation suggested that a positive feedback exists between fault activity and the location of area affected by human-induced subsidence. In fact, fault activity caused the accumulation of poorly consolidated deposits within the Sarno basin, which enhanced groundwater-induced subsidence. The multidisciplinary approach used here was proven to be successful within the study area and could therefore be an effective tool for investigating ground deformation in other urbanized areas worldwide.

A multidisciplinary methodology, integrating stratigraphic, geomorphological and structural data, combined with GIS-aided analysis and PS-InSAR interferomettic data, was applied to characterize the relationships between ground deformations and the stratigraphic and the morphostructural setting of the Venafro intermontane basin. This basin is a morphostructural depression related to NW-SE and NE-SW oriented high angle normal faults bordering and crossing it. In particular, a well-known active fault crossing the plain is the Aquae Juliae Fault, whose recent activity is evidenced by archeoseismological data. The approach applied here reveals new evidence of possible faulting, acting during the Lower to Upper Pleistocene, which has driven the morphotectonic and the environmental evolution of the basin. In particular, the tectonic setting emerging from this study highlights the influence of the NW-SE oriented extensional phase during the late Lower Pleistocene- early Middle Pleistocene, in the generation of NE-SW trending, SE dipping, high-angle faults and NW-SE trending, high-angle transtensive faults. This phase has been followed by a NE-SW extensional one, responsible for the formation of NW-SE trending, both NW and SE dipping, high-angle normal faults, and the reactivation of the oldest NE-SW oriented structures. These NW-SE trending normal faults include the Aquae Juliae Fault and a new one, unknown until now, crossing the plain between the Venafro village and the Colle Cupone Mt. (hereinafter named the Venafro-Colle Cupone Fault, VCCF). This fault has controlled deposition of the youngest sedimentary units (late Middle Pleistocene to late Upper Pleistocene) suggesting its recent activity and it is well constrained by PSInSAR data, as testified by the increase of the subsidence rate in the hanging wall block. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The proclivity of river networks to progressively carve mountain surfaces and preserve markers of landscape adjustments has made analyses of fluvial systems fundamental for understanding the topographic development of orogens. However, the transient nature of uplift and erosion has posed a challenge for inferring the roles that tectonics and/or climate have played on generating topographic relief. The Mt. Alpi region in the southern Apennines has a heterogeneous distribution of elevated topography, erosionally-resistant lithology and uplift, making the area optimal for conducting topographic and river analyses to better understand the landscape development of a transient orogen. Stream length-gradient, normalized channel steepness, stream convexity and first-order channel gradient indices from 10 m digital elevation data from the region exhibit stream profile inconsistencies along the current drainage divide and a dominance of high values subparallel but inboard of the primary chain axis irrespective of known transient landscape factors, suggesting that the current river network may be in a state of transition. The location of these stream profile anomalies both near the modern drainage divide and subparallel to an isolated swath of high topography away from catchment boundaries is thought to be the topographic expression of an imminent drainage divide migration driven primarily by the ~ northeast-vergent extension of the western chain axis.

The coastal area between the towns of Naples and Pozzuoli represents a unique environment in the Italian peninsula, because of the diffuse presence of Greek and Roman archaeological sites in a dynamic landscape. The geomorphological evolution of this area has been strongly influenced by the young (

The Molise Region, on the Adriatic coast of southern Italy, experienced human presence since prehistoric times. Site distribution is not homogeneous throughout the region and a comprehensive census of all known archaeological sites has never been performed. In this paper, we present the results of a three-year project for the GIS mapping and database creation for all the known archaeological sites of the Molise Region. As a result, 3111 archaeological sites have been mapped, stored in a GIS database and then analysed through Spatial Analyst tools. Most of the mapped sites have been classified as area of archaeological finds (57.1% of the total sites), followed by settlements (12.9%) and buildings (9.8%). Site distribution is mainly clustered along the Biferno river valley, in the central and in the south-western sectors of the Molise Region. The largest human occupation of the region occurred during the Samnite and Roman ages. Archaeological sites are also located at different elevation a.s.l., with a general increasing trend of site elevation through time. This GIS database is, up to now, the most complete census of archaeological sites in the study area, thus representing a powerful tool to promote the archaeological heritage of the Molise Region and to address urban planning.

The southern Apennines is a fold-and-thrust belt, which was formed during the late Cenozoic convergence between the African and Eurasian plates. Late Quaternary and active tectonics are dominated by extensional faulting mainly acting in both the inner and the axial belts of the mountain belt. Since the Early-Middle Pleistocene, activity of high-angle normal faults caused the formation of large coastal grabens and intramountain basins that are often limited by mountain fronts, up to 2000 high, formed in carbonate rocks. Late Quaternary activity of some of these high-angle normal faults, that mainly trend NW-SE and E-W, has been proved through field geomorphological and/ or stratigraphical and structural data and could be inferred by quantitative investigation of landforms. To test the suitability of the quantitative analysis approach to assess the state of activity of faults placed at the boundaries between mountain fronts and alluvial basins, and to verify the limits of applicability of this method, we have carried out a comprehensive analysis of some mountain fronts in the Southern Apennines. We have compared the following indexes: mountain front sinuosity, swath profile, river long profile, slope/area data, alluvial fan and drainage basin metrics. Overall data point to variable geomorphic features of different mountain fronts and along-strike variability of some parameters at the mountain front scale in response to either rock-type resistance or fault behaviour. This study highlights the importance of the tectonic geomorphology approach in active orogens and suggest that this method is suitable to application worldwide to compare mountain front maturity.

Rugged peaks, large intermontane basins and frequent seismicity all characterize the active extensional tectonic setting of the southern Apennines. The Matese ridge typifies the active tectonic setting of the southern Apennines with steep carbonate mountain fronts and large depositional centres. Moderate to high magnitude earthquakes have affected the northern, western and eastern sectors of the Matese ridge in historical times. However, the seismogenic potential of the extensional fault system bounding the southern Matese mountain front has not been fully assessed to date. To unravel the active tectonic setting of the southern Matese mountain front, we have carried out a comprehensive geomorphological and tectonic-geomorphology investigation of the mountain front and its piedmont and have constrained results through chronological (i.e., tephrostratigraphical and 40Ar/39Ar) and structural data. Our study highlights that in the last ∼600 ka, activity along E-W trending normal faults has identified a locus of higher slip rate tectonic activity in the central part of the analysed mountain front. These active E-W-striking normal faults are inherited, reactivated structures, which have interacted with newly formed NW-SE-striking normal faults during NE-SW extension active on the regional scale, causing fault bending and local extension to be oriented N-S. Consequently, lower slip rates have been recorded along the NW-SE-striking normal faults at the north-western and south-eastern tips of the southern Matese front. The long-term displacement rate of the fault system at the boundary of the central part of the southern Matese front is consistent with mean values of displacement of faults that, in the southern Apennines, show evidence of activity during the late Quaternary. Despite strong historical seismicity clustering primarily around the study area, our data highlight that it cannot be ruled out that moderate to high magnitude seismicity could affect the southern Matese mountain front. Our case study represents an example of the possible modes of formation and evolution of mountain front-basin systems in extensional setting, and shows how the combination of different data sets allows unravelling the interaction between tectonic, erosional and sedimentary processes, which lead to landscape evolution of active mountain belts.

The Sarno plain corresponds to the southernmost sector of the Campana Plain peri-Tyrrhenian graben, and it is limited towards the northwest by the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic edifice. The Sarno plain corresponds to the depocenter of a Quaternary sedimentary basin which is more than 2000 m thick and is bounded by high angle faults with NE-SW, E-W and NW-SE trends. Our study focussed on the less investigated, inner part of the Sarno plain, and aimed at reconstructing the recent (Late Pleistocene - Holocene) geomorphological and tectonic evolution of the area. The study was based on detailed geomorphological investigation combined with subsurface stratigraphic analyses of around 80 borehole logs. The geomorphological-stratigraphical approach has allowed the identification of the main geomorphological features of the alluvial plain and adjacent piedmont areas, and the reconstruction of the shallow subsurface setting of the inner Sarno Plain. The results indicate post-Late Pleistocene subsidence of the investigated area and the presence of an articulated fault system at the northeastern boundary of the investigated area. Surface morphological features and the characteristics of the drainage network are consistent with the subsurface stratigraphy in pointing to the activity of E-W and NW-SE trending fault strands during the late Quaternary. Overall evidence suggests the occurrence of vertical displacements postdating the emplacement of the Campania Ignimbrite regional chronostratigraphical marker, which implies fault activity continuing in the last 40 ka in the inner part of the densely populated Sarno Plain.

Coastal areas are very dynamic environments where natural and man-induced modifications often interact. This is the case of the Graeco-Roman town of Elea-Velia, along the Cilento coast of southern Italy. The town was founded in the 6th century BCE on a hilly promontory bounded by two profound gulfs and assumed a prominent role in maritime commercial routes in the Graeco-Roman period. It declined in the Late Antiquity and was abandoned in the Middle Ages also due to serious landscape changes. In this study, the integration of geomorphology, borehole stratigraphy and analysis of archaeo-stratigraphical trenches was used to detail the relationship between geological and archaeological evidence. The huge amount of collected data allowed providing chronological constraints to the landscape modification occurred before and after the town foundation. The main environmental changes consisted in enhanced coastal progradation and alluvial fan deposition that mainly affected the lower quarters of the town. The results of this study suggest that alluvial flooding was one of the main causes of the Elea-Velia decline and subsequent abandonment. The increasing disruption of slope stability was driven by the neglect in the management of the hillslopes behind the town during periods of social-economic crisis, but a concomitant climate forcing cannot be excluded. To the final abandonment also contributed the declining of harbour activities and the consequent decreased relevance of Elea-Velia as a maritime centre.

This paper presents the results of the geological and geomorphological investigation carried out during the first level seismic microzonation project in the Isernia Province territory. The study area falls in one of the most seismically active areas of the Apennine chain and it has been struck, in historical times, by destructive earthquakes that caused several causalities and diffuse damages to the buildings. The analysis points out the occurrence of geological features that can determine possible site amplification phenomena related to areas with extensive outcrops of thick continental deposits or to unstable areas (both covering about 48% of the investigated areas). The latter are sometimes combined with geomorphological features such as scarps, isolated peaks, and ridges that are also responsible for possible site amplification. In addition, a susceptibility to local seismic amplification index has been introduced which highlights that more than 64% of the investigated area, along with a significant percentage of buildings, fall within the highest categories of susceptibility to local seismic amplification.

Seismically induced ground effects characterize moderate to high magnitude seismic events, whereas they are not so common during seismic sequences of low to moderate magnitude. A low to moderate magnitude seismic sequence with a Mw = 5.16±0.07 main event occurred from December 2013 to February 2014 in the Matese ridge area, in the southern Apennines mountain chain. In the epicentral area of the Mw=5.16 main event, which happened on December 29th 2013 in the southeastern part of the Matese ridge, field surveys combined with information from local people and reports allowed the recognition of several earthquake induced ground effects. Such ground effects include landslides, hydrological variations in local springs, gas flux, and a flame that was observed around the main shock epicentre. A coseismic rupture was identified in the SW fault scarp of a small-size intermontane basin (Mt. Airola basin). In order to detect the nature of the coseismic rupture, detail scale geological and geomorphological investigations, combined with geoelectrical and soil gas prospections, were carried out. Such a multidisciplinary study, besides allowing reconstruction of the surface and subsurface architecture of the Mt. Airola basin, and suggesting the occurrence of an active fault at the SW boundary of such basin, points to the gravitational nature of the coseismic ground rupture

Seismically induced ground effects characterize moderate to high magnitude seismic events, whereas they are not so common during seismic sequences of low to moderate magnitude. A low to moderate magnitude seismic sequence with a M w = 5.16 ± 0.07 main event occurred from December 2013 to February 2014 in the Matese ridge area, in the southern Apennines mountain chain. In the epicentral area of the M w = 5.16 main event, which happened on December 29th 2013 in the southeastern part of the Matese ridge, field surveys combined with information from local people and reports allowed the recognition of several earthquake-induced ground effects. Such ground effects include landslides, hydrological variations in local springs, gas flux, and a flame that was observed around the main shock epicentre. A coseismic rupture was identified in the SW fault scarp of a small-sized intermontane basin (Mt. Airola basin). To detect the nature of the coseismic rupture, detail scale geological and geomorphological investigations, combined with geoelectrical and soil gas prospections, were carried out. Such a multidisciplinary study, besides allowing reconstruction of the surface and subsurface architecture of the Mt. Airola basin, and suggesting the occurrence of an active fault at the SW boundary of such basin, points to the gravitational nature of the coseismic ground rupture. Based on typology and spatial distribution of the ground effects, an intensity I = VII−VIII is estimated for the M w = 5.16 earthquake according to the ESI-07 scale, which affected an area of at least 90 km2.

The present study focuses on the morphotectonic evolution of the axial portion of the Southern Apennine chain between the lower Calore River valley and the northern Camposauro mountain front (Campania Region). A multidisciplinary approach was used, including geomorphological, field-geology, stratigraphical, morphotectonic, structural, Ar-40/Ar-39 and tephrostratigraphical data. Results indicate that, from the Lower Pleistocene onwards, this sector of the chain was affected by extensional tectonics responsible for the onset of the sedimentation of Quaternary fluvial, alluvial fan and slope deposits. Fault systems are mainly composed of NW-SE, NE-SW and W-E trending strike-slip and normal faults, associated to NW-SE and NE-SW oriented extensions. Fault scarps, stratigraphical and structural data and morphotectonic indicators suggest that these faults affected the wide piedmont area of the northern Camposauro mountain front in the Lower Pleistocene-Upper Pleistocene time span. Faults affected both the oldest Quaternary slope deposits (Laiano Synthem, Lower Pleistocene) and the overlying alluvial fan system deposits constrained between the late Middle Pleistocene and the Holocene. The latter are geomorphologically and chrono-stratigraphically grouped into four generations, I generation: late Middle Pleistocene-early Upper Pleistocene, with tephra layers Ar-40/Ar-39 dated to 158 +/- 6 and 113 +/- 7 ka; II generation: Upper Pleistocene, with tephra layers correlated with the Campanian Ignimbrite (39ka) and with the slightly older Campi Flegrei activity (Ar-40/Ar-39 age 48 +/- 7 ka); III generation: late Upper Pleistocene-Lower Holocene, with tephra layers correlated with the Neapolitan Yellow Tuff (15ka); IV generation: Holocene in age. The evolution of the first three generations was controlled by Middle Pleistocene extensional tectonics, while Holocene fans do not show evidence of tectonic activity. Nevertheless, considering the moderate to high magnitude historical seismicity of the study area, we cannot rule out that some of the recognized faults may still be active. Copyright (c) 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In this study, we outline the tectonic and surface processes that have governed the landscape evolution of the outer Apenninic wedge and foreland basin in the Molise area during the late stages of the Apennines formation (Amorosi et al., 2009; Bracone et al., 2012; Amato et al., 2017), with a focus on the Trigno, the Saccione, the Biferno, the Sinarca and the Fortore River valleys. The work has been based on the combination of field data with morphometrical analysis of both the topography and the river drainage systems, resulting from the investigation of a 90m resolution DTM in a GIS environment. This approach has been widely used in literature and represents a useful tool to the landscape evolution reconstruction (Scotti et al., 2013; Buscher et al., 2017). In particular, the morphometrical investigation has been based on the elaboration of some swath profiles running parallel to the coastline and on the determination of the: 1- basin asymmetry (AF); 2- the hypsometrical integral (HI); 3- the river long profile and the derived concavity () and normalized steepness (Ksn) indexes of the main trunks and their tributaries. The results point to a north-westward increase of the medium elevation (e.g. from the Fortore to the Trigno valley, Fig. 1), which is independent from the lithological features of the study area. Also the normalized steepness index enhances an increasing trend towards the north-west (Fig. 2a). River long profile enhance a slight concave up shape for the Fortore river and a rectilinear shape for both the Biferno and the Trigno rivers (Fig. 2b). The hypsometrical integral analysis shows a north-westward increase in the HI value, suggesting a decrease in the maturity of the drainage basins from SE (e.g., from the Fortore River) to NW (e.g., to the Trigno River) (Fig. 2c and 2d). In addition, a slight asymmetry of all of the drainage basins has been recognized, with AF values generally lower than 50 suggesting valley shifting towards the hydrographic right flank (Fig. 2d). This data is also consistent with the river terraces distribution, which form a river terrace step on the hydrographic left flank of most valleys and that are less preserved on the opposite sides. The combination of field, morphostructural and morphometrical data with available stratigraphic constraints has allowed a better reconstruction of the growth and evolution of the outer Apenninic wedge in the Molise segment of the Apennines belt. In fact, it has strongly helped unravelling the features and style of the Apennines outer wedge - foredeep system recent (Late Quaternary) uplift. The picture resulting from the geomorphological data set discussed above points to differential uplift along the strike of the Apennines mountain front, with a general increasing trend of uplift towards the NW.

In the southern Apennines, low-temperature thermochronometry data indicate that exhumation of previous tectonically buried sedimentary units started at around 10 Ma and took place mostly during the last 6 Ma. Relatively high exhumation rates are obtained from apatite fission track (AFT) and (U-Th)/He (AHe) analysis, pointing to a substantial contribution of tectonic processes to rock exhumation besides erosion. Exhumation rates derived from new apatite (U-Th)/He data (AHe) for the last 3 Ma are generally lower than rates determined by AFT data and almost in line with erosion rates inferred from cosmogenic nuclides and sediment yield, thus suggesting that tectonic exhumation was dominant during the older exhumation stages of this region. However, younger cooling ages in the Monte Alpi area from both AFT and AHe analyses point out focused exhumation during the last 3 Ma. Structural and morphotectonic analyses indicate that fast exhumation occurred specifically in this area—where the Apulian Platform reservoir carbonates, elsewhere buried beneath a several kilometer-thick allochthonous cover, are exposed at the surface—as a result of a complex interplay between steep-rooted reverse faulting and shallow low-angle extension. This deformation involved the development of foreland-dipping low-angle normal faults affecting the allochthonous cover units during the late stages of reverse fault-related anticlinal growth in the underlying buried carbonates. Extension of the region triggered focused exhumation in the footwall of the extensional low-angle faults, which was followed by widespread crustal extension and associated development of high-angle normal faults, leading to surface uplift of Monte Alpi.

Sinkholes are widely found in Italy in both carbonate slopes and alluvial plain settings. Since they may occur catastrophically, without showing premonitory signs and resulting in severe economic losses and casualties, they constitute a significant risk in many areas, and even pose a threat to human life. In this paper, we carried out a detailed multidisciplinary study of the Fossa San Vito sinkhole (southern Italy) that is a particular type of cover collapse sinkhole. The latter is a sub-circular, closed depression, with a diameter of 200 m and with inner walls up to 25 m high, located in the piedmont area placed along the inner border of the Sarno River alluvial plain. The study entailed morphological and stratigraphic analysis by means of field surveys, including nine trenches, four boreholes, and the reinterpretation of stratigraphical data from the literature. In addition, hydrogeological and soil gas analysis were carried out to investigate the possible role of deep-water uprising. The study attempted to identify the genetic mechanism and include the reconstruction of a detailed subsurface stratigraphic model, showing that the infilling of the depression is about 45 m thick and consists of well-laminated, silty-clay lacustrine sediments interbedded with tephra layers. C-14 dating of fossil wood found at the base of the lacustrine deposits constrains the age of the collapse at 5483 cal. years B.P. The collapse of the topographic surface involved a volume of about 400,000 cubic metres and originated at depth >80 m. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The Latin colony of Aesernia was the seat of an important road junction for communications, especially to the south with Bovianum and Beneventum, to the north with Aufidena and the Sangro Valley and to the west with Venafrum and the Liri River Valley. While some archaeological contexts of this colony are documented by very detailed studies, others still require an overall analysis and a systematic study. Particularly, there is the lack of an organic and complete reading of the known data and a concrete need to acquire new data on still unexplored areas.The present paper illustrates the results of the integrated geo-archaeological research carried out at Isernia and based on the analysis of historical sources, archaeological surveys, geologic, geomorphological and topographic investigations and geophysical prospections. All data were stored in a Geographic Information System that allowed for spatial analyses and the production of thematic maps. The purpose of the research was to help fill the many knowledge gaps in the history of Aesernia and to add new data by using a multiple system of analysis. The integrated geo-archaeological approach allowed drawing up a new archaeological map that gives an updated view of the rich archaeological heritage of Isernia.