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

Abstract

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.