Elvidio Lupia Palmieri

Morphological and geochemical evidence of neotectonics in the volcanic area of Monti Vulsini (Latium, Italy)

Interdisciplinary research has been carried out to contribute to the definition of the neotectonic arrangement of the eastern area of Monti Vulsini, affected by Upper Pleistocene volcanic activity. Particularly, geochemical and geomorphological inquiries have been performed to identify tectonic elements whose recent activity could be related to the volcanic history of this area. The morphological field evidence of tectonics, as well as the analysis of azimuthal distribution of stream channels and the statistical analysis of the amplitude of relief (Ar), revealed the eastern Monti Vulsini volcanic area to be controlled by different tectonic alignments. At the same time the geochemical contribution, focused on geostatistical elaboration of soil–gas data, has attempted to process unbiased criteria to define soil–gas anomalies and to infer correlation with their fault-related linear geometry. In particular, rose diagrams of anomalous gas concentration alignments and azimuthal distribution of stream channels, performed for each hierarchical order, were compared to obtain information about the location and orientation of tectonic elements, as well as about the possible reconstruction of their activity in recent times, by means of relative chronology.

Runoff Impact on Active Geomorphosites in Unconsolidated Substrate. A Comparison Between Landforms in Glacial and Marine Clay Sediments: Two Case Studies from the Swiss Alps and the Italian Apennines

The cultural value of geomorphological heritage (i.e., geomorphosites) is universally recognised and at the same time the interest on its mutability, as a consequence of both natural-climate and human pressure, is growing. In some cases a sudden increase in the velocity of processes can cause irreversible modifications threatening the survival of sites as well as their scientific value in terms of integrity. The focus of this paper is put on two types of geomorphosites (active geomorphosites and evolving passive geomorphosites), in which it is possible to observe and quantify the geomorphological processes varying mainly as a response to climate change. The study cases are runoff-derived landforms on unconsolidated deposits in two morphoclimatic contexts: ‘calanchi’ on marine originated clays in the Italian Apennines in Mediterranean climatic context (Crete d’Arbia and Radicofani, Tuscany) and earth pyramids formed in glacial deposits in continental Alpine environment (Pyramides d’Euseigne, Canton Valais, Switzerland). In both sites, human activities have strongly contributed to landscape evolution. To investigate erosion rates, dendrogeomorphological analysis (i.e. stress indicators and root exposure analysis) were combined with traditional quantitative geomorphological techniques. Analysis of the roots exposure, well correlated with the climatic data (denudation rates are higher during wet period), show that denudation rates are lower at Pyramides d’Euseigne due to the different texture of the deposits. Unfortunately, at the moment, a comparison between the two sites based on geomorphological monitoring data is not possible due to the different time interval of analysis, and only conclusions on denudation rates coming from roots exposure are allowed. Both geomorphosites have a high scientific value (representativeness and educational exemplarity) and are characterised by dynamicity. Providing data for modelling the sites evolution and possible decrease of their scientific value, caused by proceeding of the process itself, may be particularly significant.

Morphological Regions of Italy

This chapter presents a synthesis of the wide variety of landscapes that makes Italy a very interesting country from a geomorphological point of view. The complex and lively geological history, responsible for the peculiar tectonic arrangement of Italy, the high heterogeneity of outcropping rocks and the distinct distribution of altitudes, together with the different types of climates are the main causes of the landscape varieties. The main natural aspects of the “Morphological Regions” of Italy are described; that is to say those areas of the Italian territory marked by a dominant type of landscape—even though often strongly diversified within themselves—which resulted from both the conditioning of the geological structure and the predominance of given exogenous processes, in relation to climatic conditions.