Stefania Pascale

Denudation processes and landforms map of the Camastra River catchment (Basilicata – South Italy)

This paper performs denudation processes and landforms characterizing the Camastra River catchment (Basilicata – South Italy), on a 1:40,000 scale map. The map, which includes gravitational processes and landforms and water erosion processes and landforms, was obtained by combining field surveys with the analysis of topographic maps and of multi-temporal aerial photos, ranging from 1954 to 2010. These latter provided information on both spatial and temporal evolution of geomorphic processes. The integration and the elaboration of the data obtained in a GIS environment provided the inventory map of denudation processes and landforms. Landslides are widespread in the study area, and play an important role in the present-day landscape evolution. A total of 953 landslides were recognized, occupying a surface of 79 km2, about 22% of the whole study area. The recognized landslides were mapped on the basis of movement type, as follows: slides, flows, falls and complex landslides. With regard to water erosion processes, the most evident and spectacular landforms in the study area are represented by badlands (the so called calanchi), due to concentration of running water on steep clayey slopes, producing narrow and knife-edge ridges. Finally, sheet, rill and gully erosion are particularly active on areas devoid of vegetation cover, as well as on cultivated fields. This kind of map is an useful tool for land planning policy. Also, these types of studies are basic and complementary to applied methods for investigation and mapping of land susceptibility to denudation processes, as landslides and water erosion.

Landslide Susceptibility Mapping Using Artificial Neural Network in the Urban Area of Senise and San Costantino Albanese (Basilicata, Southern Italy)

Landslides are significant natural hazards in many areas of the world. Mapping the areas that are susceptible to landslides is essential for a wise territorial approach and should become a standard tool to support land-use management. A landslide susceptibility map indicates landslide-prone areas by considering the predisposing factors of slope failures in the past. In the presented work, we evaluate the landslide susceptibility of the urban area of Senise and San Costantino Albanese towns (Basilicata, southern Italy) using an Artificial Neural Network (ANN). In order, this method has required the definition of appropriate thematic layers, which parameterize the area under study. To evaluate and validate landslide susceptibility, the landslides have been randomly divided into two groups, each representing the 50% of the total area subject to instability. The results of this research show that most of the investigated area is characterized by a high landslide hazard.

Geochemistry and quality of the groundwater from the karstic and coastal aquifer of Geropotamos River Basin at north-central Crete, Greece

In Geropotamos River Basin, located on the north-central part of Crete, Greece, two main factors were believed to be affecting the geochemistry of the groundwater with high salt contents: seawater intrusion and/or Miocene evaporates. To identify the origin of the high salinity in groundwater, a hydrogeochemical and isotopic study was performed. Water samples from 22 wells and 2 springs were analyzed for physico-chemical parameters, major ions analysis, as well as stable isotopes (δ18O, δD). From the present survey, in which detailed hydrogeochemical investigation was conducted, the uncertainty of the contamination sources was decreased in the northern part of Geropotamos Basin. The results complement the scenario in which seawater and the widespread human activities are the principal sources of groundwater contamination. Moreover, the results of the stable isotopes analyses (δ18O and δD) support the same hypothesis and make seawater intrusion the most probable cause for the highest salinity waters. It is indicated that saline intrusion is likely to occur along fractures in a fault zone through otherwise low-permeability phyllite–quartzite bedrock, which demonstrates the critical role of fracture pathways in salination problems of coastal aquifers.

Mass movements inventory map of the Rubbio stream catchment (Basilicata – South Italy)

In the Basilicata region (South Italy) slope movements, caused by soft rocks, rapid tectonic uplift, earthquakes, and seasonally heavy precipitation, constitute one of the major geologic hazards. For this reason a detailed inventory map of mass movements has been created in a test area of south-eastern Basilicata. The map was compiled from field surveys and multi-temporal air photo interpretation. For each landslide, the map depicts the state of activity and dominant type of slope movement. The integration and analysis of the data obtained by using a geographic information system has produced the mass movements inventory map at a scale of 1:25,000. Mass movements are widespread and play a key role in the landscape evolution of the study area. A total of 175 landslides were recognized, occupying a surface area of 16.2 km2, about 9% of the whole basin of interest. The spatial distribution and type of mass movements are mainly related to the lithology and structural features. Field surveys coupled with interpretation of multi-temporal aerial photos allowed us to distinguish between active (20.6%) and inactive (79.4%) landslides. Mass movements, mapped on the basis of movement type, are represented by slides, flows and complex landslides. The complex and slide type movements are very common, and represent more than 86% of the landslides mapped.

Use of Remote Sensing Data for Landslide Change Detection: Montescaglioso Large Landslide (Basilicata, Southern Italy)

Remote sensing techniques have been widely used since the 1990s in landslide research, deploying for this purpose different spatial and spectral resolution imagery. This research includes photo-interpretation and inventory of large landslides, determinant factors analysis, stereo-plotting of movements, and automatic detection by textural analysis. The potential or intrinsic factors of landslides include geological and morphological factors, while the external or triggering factors include earthquakes, climate, and hydrological and human activities (deforestation, the expansion of urban areas, and the increase of agricultural activity). In this paper, the variations of land use are analyzed using a historical series of aerial-photographic and satellite data (1988 – 2006). Land use affects the stability of landslides. In this paper the proposed model has been applied in the Montescagliso municipality (Basilicata, Southern Italy).

Assessment of Systemic Vulnerability in Flood Prone Areas

This paper deals with the conception, the development and the subsequent validation of an integrated numerical model for the assessment of systemic vulnerability in complex and urbanized areas subject to flood risk. The proposed model, which is based on the studies of Tamura et al. (Eu. J. Oper. Res., 2000) and Pascale et al. (Ad. Geo., 2007) considers vulnerability not as a characteristic of a particular element at risk, but as a peculiarity of a complex territorial system, in which different elements are reciprocally linked in a functional way. Therefore, it facilitates the identification, in selected areas, of the elements that are mainly responsible for functional loss and which thus make the whole system critical. This feature makes the proposed model effectively able to support correct territorial planning and suitable management of an emergency following natural disasters that trigger or remobilize mass movements.

Landslide Susceptibility in Archaeological and Natural Historic Park of Rupestrian Churches

The paper deals with evaluation and mapping of landslide hazard of an area located in the Archaeological Historic and Natural Park of the Rupestrian Churches in Matera. This park and old urban area of Matera town (“Sassi di Matera”) were recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage list since 1993.

Assessment and mapping of the intrinsic vulnerability to pollution: an example from Keritis River Basin (Northwestern crete, Greece)

Due to the geological and hydrogeological characteristics, the carbonate aquifers are frequently vulnerable to natural and/or anthropogenic polluting sources. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the intrinsic vulnerability to pollution of the Keritis River Basin (northwestern Crete, Greece). The huge amount of the flowing groundwater represents a strategic water resource to be allocated to drinking water purpose and to agricultural activities, too. The studied groundwater are characterized by quality degradation processes represented by the anthropogenic and natural pollution such as olive oil farming, agriculture activities, industrial waste and salt water intrusion. For a better management and protection of the water resources, the assessment and mapping of groundwater vulnerability to pollution are very important. From this investigation, the Keritis Basin showed an intrinsic vulnerability degree from extremely high to very low. This study allows to define the strategies which will permit a proper safeguard criteria, against the pollution sources of the Keritis Basin groundwater resources.

Rockfall Hazard Assessment in an Area of the “Parco Archeologico Storico-Naturale Delle Chiese Rupestri” of Matera (Basilicata Southern–Italy)

This work contains the results of the methodology used for the evaluation of the possible trajectories of the unstable blocks and their location along the slope that could destroy valuable rupestrian testimonies. The software used is the Rockfall, managed by RocScience (2002). It is an important tool allowing the rockfalls risk assessment. In the study area various simulations have been performed; they have led to the evaluation of the different parameters of the blocks movements: trajectories, maximum heights of bounce, propagation distances and energies of the blocks, to obtain a mapping of areas with different susceptibility to the transit and to the invasion of the blocks. In order to describe the blocks movement, the RocFall Software apply the parabolic equation of a corps motion in free fall and the principle of total energy conservation. This work leds to the result that the southern side of the site “Belvedere delle Chiese Rupestri” presents a big criticality to the collapse phenomena that reverberates on archaeological assets therein.

A GIS Model for Systemic Vulnerability Assessment in Urbanized Areas Supporting the Landslide Risk Management

This paper aims to create a model for analyzing the systemic vulnerability of a complex urban area at landslide risk. The proposed approach of vulnerability evaluation differs from traditional methods as it provides an analysis of “Systemic Vulnerability” measuring the direct and indirect consequences of a simulated event on the territorial system. For example, the collapsing of a bridge, apart from the intrinsic loss, could bring about the interruption of an entire traffic zone, or interrupt the functions of a hospital with consequences on the health system in general as well as on mobility, communication, efficiency of civil protection forces, etc.