Geomorphologic Evolution of a Coastal Karst: The Gulf of Orosei (Central-East Sardinia, Italy)

Abstract

Orosejski zaliv je eno najpomembnejsih obalnokraskih obmocij v Italiji. Stevilne nove meritve jam so omogocile boljse razumevanje speleogeneze na obmocju zaliva. Razvoj krasa na tem obmocju smo raziskovali z razlicnimi geomorfoloskimi raziskavami na povrsju in pod morjem, ter speloloskimi raziskavami v jamah. Glavni faktorji morfoloskih procesov so litologija, tektonika, paleoklima in nihanja morske gladine. Studija nekaterih pomembnih jamskih sistemov je pokazala kompleksen geoloski razvoj, kjer so kraski procesi igrali pomembno vlogo od zgodnjega terciarja in dosegli visek v pliokvartarju. In the past ten years cave surveying has allowed better understanding of speleogenesis in the Orosei Gulf (Central-East Sardinia, Italy), one of the most important coastal karst areas of Italy. Surface geomorphologic research has been accompanied by subterranean and submarine landform analysis in order to try and understand the evolution of this coastal karst since its emersion in Upper Eocene. The main factors influencing the geomorphic processes are lithology, tectonics, palaeo-climate and sea level changes. The study of several important cave systems demonstrates a complex geological history with karst processes that started in Early Tertiary and accelerated during Plio-Quaternary.