Geology and mass movements of the Licetto River catchment (Calabrian Coastal Range, Southern Italy)

Abstract

The paper presents a detailed mass movement inventory map of the Licetto River basin, an intermountain catchment of 50 km 2 formed during the Quaternary in response to extensional tectonics dissecting fold-and-thrust belts of the Calabrian Coastal Range (Southern Italy). The map (Main Map) is the result of both an integration between geological and morphological data derived from the visual analysis of aerial photographs at different times and scales, and the collection of new data obtained from multi-temporal field surveys. The study area is affected by a total of 824 mass movements, frequently made by superimposed bodies of different types, states of activity and sizes, including some kilometre-scale Deep-Seated Gravitational Slope. The majority of the mapped landslides, mainly of slide type, involve low-grade metamorphic rocks which also show the exclusive presence of deep-seated gravitational slope deformations. Analysis of the inventory map revealed that 40% of the mapped landslides, often attributable to very slow-moving landslides, can be considered active. The Main Map represents a useful tool for territorial planning and engineeringgeological and environmental purposes in this complex geostructural area, providing a useful contribution for quantitative landslide risk analyses and the design of appropriate risk-mitigation measures.

Climate Change and Social Perception: A Case Study in Southern Italy

“…In particular, in December 2019, following severe weather events, the Amantea coastal plain was affected by storm surges with consequent flooding and coastal erosion that threatened the population and caused damage to buildings and infrastructures ( Figure 1A). The municipal area of Lago ranges from 142 m above sea level to 1155 m of elevation and it is mainly characterized by a mountain morphology and by a high frequency of both superficial and deep landslide phenomena of different types, shown in Figure 1B [53,54]. In the map of the seismic classification of Italian territory, the municipalities of Amantea and Lago fall into Zone 1-that is the most dangerous area, where major earthquakes may occur [55].…”

“…1A). The municipal area of Lago ranges from 142 m above sea level to 1155 m of elevation and it is mainly characterized by a mountain morphology and by a high frequency of both superficial and deep landslide phenomena of different types, shown in Figure 1B [53,54]. In the map of the seismic classification of Italian territory, the municipalities of Amantea and Lago fall into Zone 1-that is the most dangerous area, where major earthquakes may occur [55].…”

Inventory of geo-hydrological phenomena in Genova municipality (NW Italy)

“…The detailed and complete view of the geo-hydrological hazard in a critical area like Genova Municipality is an important tool for decision makers to plan and for adopting the more adequate activities for risk mitigation and reduction (Di Salvo, Ciotoli, Pennica, & Cavinato, 2017;Borrelli & Muto, 2017;Conforti, Muto, Rago, & Critelli, 2014;Nicu, 2017a;.…”

Geology, slow-moving landslides, and damages to buildings in the Verbicaro area (north-western Calabria region, southern Italy)

“…Their usefulness is particularly pronounced in very complex geological contexts where urbanized areas are affected by mass movements. This is the case of the Calabria region (southern Italy, Figure 1) where widespread landslides of different type, often spatially interconnected and superimposed, involve low-grade metamorphic rocks (Antronico et al, 2013(Antronico et al, , 2015Borrelli & Muto, 2017;Borrelli, Antronico, Gullà, & Sorriso-Valvo, 2014Calcaterra & Parise, 2005;Conforti, Muto, Rago, & Critelli, 2014;Dramis & Sorriso-Valvo, 1994;Gullà et al, 2000;Gullà, Peduto, Borrelli, Antronico, & Fornaro, 2017;Ietto, Perri, & Cella, 2016;Sorriso-Valvo & Tansi, 1996). These rocks, due to both their intrinsic lithological characteristics and the complex geological processes that took place in Calabria during the Neogene-Quaternary period (Bonardi et al, 1982), are mainly constituted by a 'mélange structure' made up of degraded, broken and fissured phyllites embedding blocks, and fragments of different nature (e.g.…”