Morphotectonic map of the Aventino-Lower Sangro valley (Abruzzo, Italy), scale 1:50,000

Abstract

This work presents the Morphotectonic map of the Aventino-Lower Sangro valley, located in the southern Abruzzi area, and extending from the Apennines chain to the eastern piedmont, from the Maiella Mountain to the Adriatic coast. It is the result of an extensive drainage basin scale geomorphological analysis carried out in the Abruzzi area and incorporates four main sections: orography and hydrography (upper right on the map); morphotectonic section (centre and left on the map); quaternary fluvial deposits and terraces section (right on the map) and the long morphotectonic profile (lower right on the map).The map presented in this work provides a basis for the recognition of morphotectonic features at basin scale, the detection of tectonic control on landscape, and the reconstruction of paleo-landscapes. It contributes to defining the main phases of the post-orogenic landscape evolution of the transition zone between the Apennines chain and the eastern piedmont area, resulting from the combination of alternating morphotectonics and surface processes, due to rock uplift processes, local tectonics and slope and fluvial processes.

Long-term geomorphological evolution in the Abruzzo area, Central Italy: twenty years of research

“…The Adriatic Piedmont landscape (D'Alessandro et al 2003(D'Alessandro et al , 2008Paron 2004;Della Seta et al 2008;Buccolini et al 2010;Miccadei et al 2012cMiccadei et al , 2013; for surrounding areas see also Coltorti et al 1991Coltorti et al , 1996Giannandrea et al 2014 started to develop more recently, during the emersion phase that occurred in the late Early Pleistocene (Fig. 4).…”

“…Since the Early Pleistocene, it has been located in its present position near the outer and more superficial thrusts. In this area, geomorphological studies and mapping (D'Alessandro et al 2008;Della Seta et al 2008;Miccadei et al 2012cMiccadei et al , 2013 have shown the development of intense selective erosion processes induced by the regional uplift and controlled by the passive role of morphostructures and lithology in terms of hardness, fracturing and erodibility. These processes resulted in the formation of major thrust ridges (Gran Sasso, eastern Morrone) and exhumed anticlinal ridges (Maiella) along the chain front.…”

“…The latter are characterized by fluvial deposits arranged in flights of at least four orders of terraces that formed in the Middle Pleistocene-Holocene interval. The slopes are extensively covered by landslide and colluvial deposits (Della Seta et al 2008;D'Alessandro et al 2008;ISPRA 2010 a,b,c,d;Miccadei et al 2013; for the surrounding areas see also Coltorti et al 1991Coltorti et al , 1996Bracone et al 2012;Nesci et al 2012;Giannandrea et al 2014; and references therein). Secondary valleys show clear geomorphological evidence of tectonics, such as river bends, hanging valleys and counterflow confluences.…”

Morphotectonics of the Pescara River basin (Central Italy)

“…Field survey (scale 1:10,000) was carried out in the years 2013-2016, investigating bedrock, Quaternary continental (post-orogenic) deposits, and the main morphotectonic elements (Centamore et al, 1996;Chelli, Segadelli, Vescovi, & Tellini, 2015;Ciccacci, Fredi, Lupia Palmieri, & Salvini, 1986;Griffiths, Smith, & Paron, 2011;Miccadei et al, 2013;Panizza & Castaldini, 1987;Picotti, Ponza, & Pazzaglia, 2009). Morphotectonic elements were classified according to their location in the landscape (ridges, slopes, valleys, hydrography forms, and fluvial terraces) and morphogenetics.…”

“…As part of an extensive geomorphological analysis in the central-eastern Apennines (Miccadei, Orrù, Piacentini, Mascioli, & Puliga, 2012b;Miccadei, Piacentini, Dal Pozzo, La Corte, & Sciarra, 2013;Miccadei, Piacentini, Gerbasi, & Daverio, 2012a;Piacentini, Sciarra, Miccadei, & Urbano, 2015;Piacentini, Urbano, Sciarra, Schipani, & Miccadei, 2016;Santo et al, 2014;Sciarra, Coco, & Urbano, 2016), this map provides a basis for the study of morphotectonic features at basin-scale and the reconstruction of paleo-landscapes with special regard to drainage network evolution.…”