Marco Piccarreta

Geomorphological map of the area between Craco and Pisticci (Basilicata, Italy)

This paper presents the results of geomorphological investigations carried out in Basilicata region (southern Italy) from the most external thrust front of the Apennines, where the town of Craco is located, to the adjacent sector of the Apennines foredeep (Fossa Bradanica; Pisticci area). The importance of the chosen area mostly resided in the presence of really diffuse running-waters and gravity-induced landforms which strictly affect urban areas. The geomorphological processes are linked with the Quaternary tectonic uplift affecting the Apennine front-Bradanic foredeep sectors. Series of field surveys, supported by aerial photo-interpretation, have led to the production of a geomorphological map at 1:16,000 scale which outlines the main processes and related landforms recognized in the study area. The latter are the result of the complex interplay of structural, gravitational and fluvial processes. Particular attention was devoted to the recognition, identification and mapping of landslides which affect the slope of the main villages (Craco and Pisticci), locally giving rise to hazardous conditions.

Landslide Triggering and Local Rainfall Thresholds in Bradanic Foredeep, Basilicata Region (Southern Italy)

It is recognised that a lot of the landslides occurred in the Mediterranean region are triggered by short intense storms. Due to its geological, geomorphological and climatic settings, the Bradanic Foredeep (Basilicata region) is affected by the widespread presence of landslides. The main objective of this paper is to identify the empirical triggering thresholds in Bradanic Foredeep and to investigate the role of antecedent rainfall. Using a variety of information sources, we have compiled a catalogue listing 97 rainfall events linked to landslides triggering in the investigated area. For each event in the catalogue, the exact or approximate location of the landslide and the time or period of initiation of the slope failure is known, together with information on the rainfall duration D, and the rainfall mean intensity I , that have resulted in the slope failure. The local rainfall threshold for the study area has been established using the statistical Frequentist approach. The comparison with regional thresholds proposed for other Italian regions has revealed that the Bradanic Foredeep thresholds are lower; which is probably due to the different quality of rainfall dataset. In fact, all the previous threshold have been evaluated starting from hourly data, while for the Basilicata region only daily data are available. Throughout this study we could not identify a significant correlation between antecedent rainfall and critical rainfall.

Geomorphology of Pisticci area (Basilicata, Southern Italy)

ABSTRACT This paper presents the results of geomorphological investigations carried out in Basilicata region (Southern Italy) in the sector of the youngest foredeep (Bradano trough) relative to most of the communal territory of Pisticci. The importance of the chosen area mostly lies in the presence of diffuse running-water landforms and landslides affecting urban areas. The geomorphological processes are linked with Quaternary tectonic uplift affecting the Apennine front-Bradanic foredeep sectors. A series of field surveys, supported by aerial photo interpretation, have led to the production of a geomorphological map at 1:35,000 scale which outlines the main processes and related landforms recognised in the study area. The latter are the result of the complex interplay of structural, gravitational and fluvial processes. Particular attention has been devoted to the recognition, identification and mapping of landslides which affect the slope, locally giving rise to hazardous conditions.