M. Del Monte

Morphological and morphometric approach to the study of the structural arrangement of northeastern Abruzzo (central Italy)

Abstract The morphotectonic research at the Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra of the Universita di Roma “La Sapienza” aims to define the role of tectonics and neotectonics in the morphological evolution of central Italy. In this context the relationships between morphology and tectonics have been investigated in an area of northern Abruzzo extending from the Apennine chain to the Adriatic Sea. Morphological and morphometric analyses carried out show that the geomorphological evolution of the study area was strongly affected by tectonics, especially recently. The most recent extensional tectonics intersect the previous compressive structures (overthrust, reverse faults, folds, strike-slip faults) determining the structural arrangement characterized by uplifted and downthrown blocks. Morphological analysis shows that extentional tectonics occurred with the following alignments: NW-SE, NNW-SSE, NE-SW, ENE-WSW, N-S and E-W. The spatial variability of amplitude of relief values corroborated the observations obtained from previous analyses; in particular the existence of different blocks, differentially uplifted along the alignments mentioned above. Finally, data obtained through the statistical analysis of preferred stream orientations confirm the previous considerations, showing that the same tectonic directions markedly influenced the drainage network development. Streams of lower order preferentially follow the N-S and E-W directions which suggests that these tectonic trends were active until very recent times (at least up to the Late Pleistocene). The results obtained testify both to the effectiveness of the methodological approach and the likelihood of the proposed morphotectonic arrangement of the study area.

The Aeterna Urbs Geomorphological Heritage (Rome, Italy)

The largest European cities are characterised by millennia of urbanisation. ‘Man-made layering’ over time has modified the original natural setting on which these cities have developed, but an expert eye can often still recognise the ancient geomorphological features of the landscape. We show an example of the identification of the original geomorphological characteristics of the landscape over which the city centre of Rome developed, by means of a geomorphological survey conducted in this urban environment. The aim of the analysis is the enhancement of geotourism in the city centre, by describing the palaeogeography of ancient Rome through the landforms that are still visible. The geomorphological survey led to the identification of two geomorphosites. We developed an evaluation model of the Geotourist Value of a Site (VSG index), which consists of the quantification of five fundamental attributes for a geosite, characterizing its scientific and geotourist interests. The VSG index produces an order of priority for geosites for their enhancement. These results are transferred to the proposal for a geotourist itinerary, along which the selected geosites are joined and related to the historical and cultural features of the city. The itinerary is also represented on a geotourist map, created through the union of scientific and popularised electronic devices. The major outcome of this study is to supplement a proposal for the developing the historical and cultural tourism of the Aeterna Urbs combined with its natural environment features, highlighting the importance of the close connection between these themes.