Climatic influence on slope dynamics and shoreline variations: examples from Marche region (Central Italy)

Abstract

The present work aims to establish relationships between shoreline historical variations (close to the river mouths) and slope dynamics on mountain and hilly areas: these are considered as fundamental physiographic units of the Adriatic central Italy. The study deals about the deltaic system of the Chienti river, which is representative of the deltaic systems of the main Marchean rivers. Goal is to recognize possible geomorphological indicators of climatic variations during late Holocene. Debris flows on the Sibillini Mts were analysed and interpreted. Their activation can be associated with: late Pleistocene-early Holocene deglaciation, with regard to the oldest phenomena; agricultural, forestry and grazing activities during the Late Middle Ages, even though evidence of climatic conditioning is also present. Moreover, some important landslide phenomena on the high hilly areas were examined: historical data demonstrated an intense post-Middle Age activity (XVth-XVIIIth centuries) related to the strong rainfall increase as a consequence of climatic worsening.