Integrated Geological and Digital Surveys to Know, Preserve and Promote a Geoheritage: the Sea Cliff of Vignanotica Bay (Gargano Promontory, Southern Italy)

Abstract

The sea cliff of Vignanotica Bay (Gargano Promontory, Southern Italy) is a site that, for its peculiar geological features, can be considered a witness of geodiversity and that, as such, should be evaluated as geosite. Since it is necessary to first know, then enhance, and finally protect a geosite, here we propose a modern method of study aimed at the understanding and dissemination of geological knowledge to a wide audience of non-experts. The cliff, located in the Gargano National Park, was investigated using both stratigraphic-sedimentological and digital methods. The former method, realised using macrofacies and microfacies analysis, allowed us to study features of a deep-marine environment, characterised by subaqueous slides (slumpings). The latter method allowed us to achieve a virtual 3D model of the entire sea cliff, highlighting many geological features, often difficult to observe since they are exposed along high vertical walls. The combined use of these methods led to a complete characterisation of the cliff, useful both to promote geological knowledge and to preserve the site

Coastline modification at worldwide

“…En las investigaciones del proceso de la costa rocosa, Sunamura en el año 2015, concluyó que las morfologías frente del acantilado y la batimetría al pie de éste afectan al tamaño de las olas, que chocan con el macizo rocoso, las mismas que retiran los depósitos de masas de suelos producto del deslizamiento, eliminando los escombros en la base de los acantilados (Sunamura, 2015). En la "Bahía de Vignanotica" al sur de Italia, Marsico en el año 2015 estudió el comportamiento de estos acantilados aplicando métodos geológicos clásicos, análisis estratigráfico-sedimentológico y con métodos digitales del levantamiento vertical 3D utilizando un escáner láser terrestre (TLS), procedimientos con lo que ilustró los rasgos lito estratigráficos del acantilado para obtener una explicación de su origen confirmando que este afloramiento se desarrolló en ambientes de aguas profundas (Marsico et al, 2016). Young en su investigación de deslizamientos profundos en "San Onofre" en los acantilados "Torre Muchia" y "Punta Lunga" formados por areniscas y los acantilados de "Punta Ferruccio" y "Punta Aderci" confirma que la evolución de los macizos rocosos se relacionan con procesos inducidos por la gravedad, rotura del macizo rocoso y deslizamiento de tierra controlados principalmente por su geometría y geología estructural (Young, 2015).…”

Stability Assessment and Geomorphological Evolution of Sea Natural Arches by Geophysical Measurement: The Case Study of Wied Il-Mielah Window (Gozo, Malta)

“…The stability of karstic rocks is being increasingly assessed through the use of geophysical surveys [3,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16]. For example, geophysical methods allow a rapid analysis of rock shearing [17][18][19][20].…”

3D Documentation with TLS of Caliphal Gate (Ceuta, Spain)

“…Its use has also been proposed for zoological analysis of cavernicolous fauna [14], forestry evaluations [15,16], and agriculture [17]. Several recent applications related to the enhancement, conservation, and broadcast of natural and/or cultural heritage have been mentioned [4,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26].…”