Paolo Orrù

Geomorphological map of the Tremiti Islands (Puglia, Southern Adriatic Sea, Italy), scale 1:15,000

This paper describes the Geomorphological map of the Tremiti Islands (Puglia, Southern Adriatic Sea, Italy), scale 1:15,000. The Tremiti Islands, located north of Gargano promontorys coast, are part of a complex geological area within the Adriatic basin, facing the junction between the central and southern Apennines. This area is well known for Neogenic-Quaternary stratigraphic, tectonic and seismologic aspects and is crucial for the definition of Late Quaternary Adriatic basin evolution. The map is the result of a geomorphological study carried out on the islands and the inner continental shelf around them. This study incorporates: (1) field recognition of Quaternary continental deposits and geomorphological mapping, supported by radiometric dating, focused on the morpho-lithostratigraphic correlation of deposits among the different islands and the recognition of landforms that controlled landscape evolution; (2) bathymetric analysis; (3) geomorphological analysis of data from a side scan sonar survey, focused on the recognition of the main submerged landforms, from the coastline down to about 70 m b.s.l.; and (4) scuba-dive geomorphological survey, for improving analysis of geophysical data with direct observations. The study outlines a complex geological and geomorphologic setting. Despite the small size of the islands, the Quaternary continental succession of the archipelago is characterized by widespread deposits, a result of slope, fluvial and aeolian environments. The landforms of the islands are related to karst, fluvial, marine, and gravitational processes. The inner continental shelf features marine and coastal landforms, but also tectonic, fluvial, karst, and slope landforms. The correlation of the below sea-level geomorphological features with landforms and deposits of above sea-level areas, has provided a contribution to the reconstruction of Late Quaternary landscape and geomorphological evolution, as the result of tectonics, sea-level fluctuations and marine, coastal, and continental geomorphological processes.

Preliminary data on habitat characterization relevance for red coral conservation and management

Through a non-invasive and interdisciplinary approach, distribution and size/age structure of deep dwelling populations of the precious red coral Corallium rubrum (LINNAEUS, 1758), were described in two different areas of the south Sardinia continental shelf: San Pietro Island and Capo Carbonara. Although its presence in south Sardinian waters is known, data on coral populations dwelling in deeper waters (below 50 meters of depth) are still represented by few studies. Data collected in the framework of the project MaGIC (Marine Geohazard along Italian Coasts), carried out in summer 2009 and spring 2010, furnished the guideline to map and identify rocky habitats (e.g. submarine canyons and outcrops) along the continental margin, which are suitable for red coral settlement. An extensive ROV survey, carried out in autumn 2011, provided useful information on occurrence, abundance, density and morphometric parameters of coral colonies. Red coral was found in both sites, distributed in patches, in different scenarios characterized by different habitat complexity. Over 1400 colonies were found in Capo Carbonara along the steep walls of a secondary channel of the Carbonara Canyon, while hundreds of specimens were found west of San Pietro Island along the outcrops ridges and on small boulders. Both populations were mainly composed by small and young colonies, while densities were different among sites, possibly affected by the role that habitat complexity plays in hydrodynamic and, consequently, on food supply, sedimentation, and settlement of colonies. These preliminary results contribute to advance knowledge on distribution and demography of deep dwelling populations of C.rubrum, which gain considerable importance in conservation and management of this precious resource. We strongly stress that interdisciplinary approaches that combines different scales of multibeam and ROV investigation are today fundamental to better understand distribution patterns within habitats, at species or community level.

Flooding scenario for four Italian coastal plains using three relative sea level rise models

ABSTRACT The coastal areas of the central Mediterranean Sea are sensitive to climate change and the consequent relative sea level rise. Both phenomena may affect densely urbanized and populated areas, causing severe damages. Our maps show the land-marine flooding projections as effects of the expected relative sea level rise for four Italian coastal plains using (i) IPCC AR5 estimations, based on the IPCC RCP 8.5 emission scenarios and (ii) the Rahmstorf 2007 model. Isostatic and tectonic data were added to the global projections to estimate the relative sea changes expected along the coastline by 2100, as well as sea-flooding. The northern Adriatic map shows the study area, extending for about 5500 km2, and is presented at a scale of 1:300,000 with two inset maps at a scale of 1:150,000. The Oristano coastal plain is about 125 km2; the map scale is at 1:60,000 with an inset map scale at 1:33,000. The Cagliari coastal study area extends for 61 km2; the map scale is at 1:60,000 with two inset maps at 1:30,000. The Taranto area extends for 4.2 km2 and is represented at a scale map of 1:30,000, while the three inset maps are at a scale of 1:10,000.

Teorema: a literary and cinematographic parable

Pier Paolo Pasolini’s Teorema stands out as an example of originality and complexity, due, above all, to its genesis and to the “double” intersemiotic translation which has been carried out. In fact, the peculiarity of this work (conceived as a drama in 1966, but soon abandoned in favor of this dual version) is its concurrent development in two parallel ways: the cinematic one and the literary one. Two different languages and two visions of the same object as well. The adopted forms intertwine and mix together, thus constituting a whole. Although they keep their structural and organic autonomy, the examination of both is fundamental to fully understand the author’s theorem. Pasolini, by means of narrative form, tried to give life not only to a story, but rather to an event, a parable, an exemplum . In short he wanted to depict a miracle. The author himself, also, claimed the impossibility to handle in a realistic and mimetic way a novel centered on a middle class/bourgeois reality. Our goal is to demonstrate how the author forces cinematographic and literary conventions with the aim of describing a peculiar allegory of the Italian society; in doing this we focused primarily on the analysis of characteristic features pertaining to the different codes used.