Dataset of Gravity-Induced Landforms and Sinkholes of the Northeast Coast of Malta (Central Mediterranean Sea)

Stefano Devoto,Mariacristina Prampolini,Linley J Hastewell,Stefano Furlani

doi:10.3390/data6080081

Abstract

This study investigates gravity-induced landforms that populate the North-Eastern coast of Malta. Attention is focused on tens of persistent joints and thousands of boulders associated with deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DGSDs), such as lateral spreads and block slides. Lateral spreads produce deep and long joints, which partially isolate limestone boulders along the edge of wide plateaus. These lateral spreads evolve into large block slides that detach thousands of limestone boulders from the cliffs and transport them towards the sea. These boulders are grouped in large slope-failure deposits surrounding limestone plateaus and cover downslope terrains. Gravity-induced joints (n = 124) and downslope boulders (n = 39,861) were identified and categorized using Google Earth (GE) images and later validated by field surveys. The datasets were digitized in QGIS and stored using ESRI shapefiles, which are common digital formats for storing vector GIS data. These types of landslides are characterized by slow-moving mechanisms, which evolve into destructive failures and present an elevated level of risk to coastal populations and infrastructure. Hundreds of blocks identified along the shore also provide evidence of sinkholes; for this reason, the paper also provides a catalogue of sinkholes. The outputs from this research can provide coastal managers with important information regarding the occurrence of coastal geohazards and represent a key resource for future landslide hazard assessment.

Highlights

Large landslides occur in several coastal areas of Europe and are common in Spain [1], Greece [2], Italy [3,4,5,6], and Slovenia [7]
This study has increased the knowledge and understanding of coastal deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DGSDs) that affect the north-eastern coast of Malta
The research objective was achieved by conducting an inventory and the subsequent analysis of gravity-induced joints and downslope megaclast deposits

Summary

Introduction

Large landslides occur in several coastal areas of Europe and are common in Spain [1], Greece [2], Italy [3,4,5,6], and Slovenia [7]. Extensive mapping activities carried out in North-West Malta and Gozo have classified these large landslides as lateral spreads and blocks slides [9,13]. These landslide types are widespread in North Malta and relate directly to the distinct geological setting which features several SW–NE oriented faults [10,12]. These faults degrade the limestone rock masses located along the edges of the Marfa Ridge peninsula and the

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Conclusion