Photo-geology of the Montefalco Quaternary Basin, Umbria, Central Italy

<p>We present a photo-geological map for the 185 km² fault-bounded, Montefalco Basin, Umbria, Central Italy. The basin formed in the Quaternary in response to extensional tectonics dissecting folds and thrusts of the northern Apennines range. To prepare the 1:25,000 geological map, we integrated geological and morphological information obtained through the visual analysis of three sets of aerial photographs of different age, the collection of new field data, and the review of pre-existing surface and sub-surface geological data. We show that systematic interpretation of aerial photographs contributed to improving the geological mapping, providing information not readily available through traditional field mapping. We expect that the new map will be used for different types of geological and geomorphological investigations, including studies of active tectonic, Quaternary morpho-tectonics, sedimentological and stratigraphic analyses, mining and exploration investigations, and the analysis of landslide types, patterns and distribution.</p

Landslide inventory map of the upper Sinni River valley, Southern Italy^†

<p>In this paper, we present a geomorphological landslide inventory map for an intermountain catchment in the southern Italian Apennines. The study area is seismically active, and it is characterized by high uplift rates produced by Quaternary tectonics. A total of 531 landslides of different types, relative age, and sizes, including some kilometer-scale relict landslides were mapped through the visual interpretation of 1:33,000-scale stereoscopic aerial photographs, and dedicated field surveys. Analysis of the inventory map revealed that recent landslides consist chiefly of reactivations of older landslides, and of the new landslides formed in pre-existing landslide deposits, triggered primarily by intense rainfall events, or prolonged rainfall periods. We expect that the inventory will be used for the evaluation of landslide susceptibility and hazard in the area, and to investigate the long-term geomorphological evolution of a portion of the southern Apennines.</p