The Turin fluvial terraces as evidence of the new Holocene setting of the Po River

A detailed geomorphological mapping of the Po River fluvial terraces into Turin was performed through a field survey. Although Turin is crossed by the Po River, most of the town is built on the extended alpine outwash fans linked to its tributaries (essentially fed by the Dora Riparia Basin), made by 20–60 m thick gravel with sand lenses, or on erosional terraces (T1 and T2) shaped by the Po River into these sediments. Only a small sector of the town is built on a narrow belt formed by thin soft sand deposited by the Po, forming depositional terraces (T3 and T4) entrenched in the alpine fans. This research allowed us to recognize three steps in the geological evolution of the area: the construction of the alpine fans (Last Glacial Maximum), the first flow of the Po River that erodes the tributary sediments (Lateglacial-Holocene) and the deposition by Po River (Holocene)

Geomorphology of the Po Fluvial Terraces in Turin Deduced by New Subsoil Data (NW Italy)

Urban geomorphology is a theme of increasing interest over the last decades. The present research about the Turin geomorphology (NW Italy) was carried out based on the drilling of 40 boreholes, of which 34 were designed for the construction of a new sewer collector by SMAT-Società Metropolitana Acque Torino, while other 6 were in the Valentino Park. These investigations allow us to evaluate the detailed morphology of the proglacial plain of the Rivoli-Avigliana end-moraine system (RAES) and facies, thickness and petrographic composition of fluvial sandy gravel forming this plain (Turin Unit). The local discovery of a truncated palaeosol suggests that this unit lies on a significant erosional surface shaped on more ancient fluvial sediments. New radiocarbon dating of woody macrorest above the palaeosol proves the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) age of the Turin Unit. The same investigations suggest the presence of erosional terraces (Molinette T1 and Murazzi T2), shaped by the Po River in the proglacial sediments, and depositional terraces (Vallere T3 and Parco Stura T4), which are essentially formed by sand. Dating of woody macrorest confirms the widespread presence of RAES Late Pleistocene proglacial sediments and the subsequent entrenched Po fluvial terraces due to a significant Holocene fluvial deviation

Deep seated gravitational slope deformation effects on Quaternary deposits in the Western Alps (NW Italy )

Deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSDs) are well-known to affect the landscape and the morphology of Alpine valleys. In contrast, little is known on their influence on Quaternary deposits. This paper, focused on the Western Italian Alps, aims to fill this gap. Eight case studies, identified after a long term field experience, are presented, representative of different geological settings. To fully define their distinctive features, such sites have been characterized using various methods: geological surveys, geophysics and geomatic techniques. DSGSD proved to influence the sediment deposition primarily with the continuous supply of centimetric/decimetric angular clasts. This have different consequences on sediments, depending on their features, in some cases deeply modifying their typical facies (i.e., glacial, colluvial and lacustrine sediments), whilst in other cases their influence is less evident (i.e., debris, avalanche and torrential deposits). This paper can be a useful tool when dealing with DSGSD-related deposits, helping avoid misinterpretations

gstop a new tool for3d geomorphological survey and mapping

In geological mapping activities, geomatics can facilitate data collection during field survey and avoid practical problems related to the transposition of these data onto maps for GIS production. The Solid True Orthophoto (STOP) can reduce these difficulties using a dedicated instrument developed by the Authors called GSTOP. It can run on laptops or tablets, managing a direct connection with low cost navigation sensors in real time, to define its location and attitude. The user can produce a 3D solid image in order to compare the effective scene to record notes and to acquire evidence. GSTOP has been used to produce a geomorphological map of the Rodoretto Valley (Germanasca Valley, NW Italy), reconstructing its Quaternary evolutio

Urban groundwater warming in Turin area (NW Italy)

Low enthalpy, geothermal systems, alluvial, temperatur