Large-scale landslide and deep-seated gravitational slope deformation of the Upper Scrivia Valley (Northern Apennine, Italy)

Abstract

The Scrivia river is a right tributary of the Po river, the main Italian water course, which flows eastwards into the Adriatic Sea. The head of the Scrivia valley is located in the Northern Apennines, a very short distance from the Ligurian Sea. Its catchment is characterized by landslide areas greater than both the regional and national average. In this work, the causes of this high landslide density have been investigated and a large-scale map of landslide phenomena is produced. Based on geomorphological constraints, several previously unknown deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSDs) were also identified. DSGSDs have been distinguished in sackungen and lateral spreads. Their characteristics were analyzed in a geographical information system (GIS) environment and compared with landslide distribution. Field surveys, aerial photo-interpretation and GIS analyses led to the production of a large-scale landslide and DSGSD overview map at 1:35,000. The massive presence of DSGSDs and their connection to landslide distribution and activity raise important implications for both geological mapping and land planning.

Bridging Terrestrial and Marine Geoheritage: Assessing Geosites in Portofino Natural Park (Italy)

“…There are also slow slope movements with surface of rupture in the marly-calcareous bedrock. In this case, numerous morphotectonic clues suggest a process of the mountain slope deformation type [101]. Along the boundary between the conglomerate and flysch, there are landslides of diverse origin and state of activity owing to the contrast of resistance and deformability between adjacent rock masses [11].…”

Short-Term GIS Analysis for the Assessment of the Recent Active-Channel Planform Adjustments in a Widening, Highly Altered River: The Scrivia River, Italy

“…), and it is characterized by narrow and deep-incised valleys, where competent rocks (e.g., marly limestones and conglomerates) outcrop, and by wide and gentle valleys, often characterized by alluvial fans, in case of hilly landscapes made up of soft rocks. In this section of the basin, the Plio-Quaternary tectonic evolution strongly affected both the hydrographic network (e.g., abrupt changes in direction) and the basin morphology (e.g., basin asymmetry) [48,[51][52][53][54][55]. The lower sector includes the main floodplain, where the Scrivia River becomes unconfined, and presents a series of wide fluvial terraces.…”

Morphostructural, Meteorological and Seismic Factors Controlling Landslides in Weak Rocks: The Case Studies of Castelnuovo and Ponzano (North East Abruzzo, Central Italy)

“…The deformation rates can only be estimated comparing all the available data and field observation to the previous studies [22,23]. Since the deformation detected before 12 February 2017 is very slow (i.e., up to 3 cm/year on average [22]) and the deformation after 23 February 2017 is also slow (up to 65 cm in 5 months, 13 cm/month on average and maximum 10 cm/day [23], most of the deformation has occurred in a 10-days' time span (12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22). Comparing field observation and remote data is possible to infer a movement up to 0.5~1 m/h in the first day and slower, at <1 m/day, in the next few days, accomplishing the total translational movement of up to 15-18 m toward the ESE.…”

“…This investigation should be based on the integration of different approaches (e.g., detailed geological and geomorphological survey, geomechanical survey, subsurface direct-indirect investigations, remote sensing, numerical modelling, etc.) [3,7,[13][14][15][16].…”