Geomorphological map of the Tremiti Islands (Puglia, Southern Adriatic Sea, Italy), scale 1:15,000

Abstract

This paper describes the Geomorphological map of the Tremiti Islands (Puglia, Southern Adriatic Sea, Italy), scale 1:15,000. The Tremiti Islands, located north of Gargano promontory's coast, are part of a complex geological area within the Adriatic basin, facing the junction between the central and southern Apennines. This area is well known for Neogenic-Quaternary stratigraphic, tectonic and seismologic aspects and is crucial for the definition of Late Quaternary Adriatic basin evolution. The map is the result of a geomorphological study carried out on the islands and the inner continental shelf around them. This study incorporates: (1) field recognition of Quaternary continental deposits and geomorphological mapping, supported by radiometric dating, focused on the morpho-lithostratigraphic correlation of deposits among the different islands and the recognition of landforms that controlled landscape evolution; (2) bathymetric analysis; (3) geomorphological analysis of data from a side scan sonar survey, focused on the recognition of the main submerged landforms, from the coastline down to about 70 m b.s.l.; and (4) scuba-dive geomorphological survey, for improving analysis of geophysical data with direct observations. The study outlines a complex geological and geomorphologic setting. Despite the small size of the islands, the Quaternary continental succession of the archipelago is characterized by widespread deposits, a result of slope, fluvial and aeolian environments. The landforms of the islands are related to karst, fluvial, marine, and gravitational processes. The inner continental shelf features marine and coastal landforms, but also tectonic, fluvial, karst, and slope landforms. The correlation of the below sea-level geomorphological features with landforms and deposits of above sea-level areas, has provided a contribution to the reconstruction of Late Quaternary landscape and geomorphological evolution, as the result of tectonics, sea-level fluctuations and marine, coastal, and continental geomorphological processes.