The Subsurface Geology and Landscape Evolution of the Volturno Coastal Plain, Italy: Interplay between Tectonics and Sea-Level Changes during the Quaternary

Giuseppe Corrado,Pietro P C Aucelli,Gerardo Pappone,Sabrina Amodio,Marcello Schiattarella

doi:10.3390/w12123386

Giuseppe Corrado, Pietro P C Aucelli + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123386

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Journal: Water	Publication Date: Dec 2, 2020
Citations: 12	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Basilicata, Parthenope University of Naples

Abstract

The Volturno alluvial-coastal plain is a relevant feature of the Tyrrhenian side of southern Italy. Its plan-view squared shape is due to Pliocene-Quaternary block-faulting of the western flank of the south-Apennines chain. On the basis of the stratigraphic analysis of almost 700 borehole logs and new geomorphological survey, an accurate paleoenvironmental reconstruction before and after the Campania Ignimbrite (CI; about 40 ky) eruption is here presented. Tectonics and eustatic forcing have been both taken into account to completely picture the evolution of the coastal plain during Late Quaternary times. The upper Pleistocene-Holocene infill of the Volturno plain has been here re-organized in a new stratigraphic framework, which includes seven depositional units. Structural analysis showed that two sets of faults displaced the CI, so accounting for recent tectonic activity. Yet Late Quaternary tectonics is rather mild, as evidenced by the decametric vertical separations operated by those faults. The average slip rate, which would represent the tectonic subsidence rate of the plain, is about 0.5 mm/year. A grid of cross sections shows the stratigraphic architecture which resulted from interactions among eustatic changes, tectonics and sedimentary input variations. On the basis of boreholes analysis, the trend of the CI roof was reconstructed. An asymmetrical shape of its ancient morphology—with a steeper slope toward the north-west border—and the lack of coincidence between the present course of the Volturno River and the main buried bedrock incision, are significant achievements of this study. Finally, the morpho-evolutionary path of the Volturno plain has been discussed.

Highlights

The Tyrrhenian coast of Italy is edged by several coastal plains separated by more or less pronounced promontories, especially in its southern segment
In northern Campania, the region of Naples, one of the major alluvial-coastal plains is that of the Volturno River (Figure 1), characterized by a regular shape due to the regional-scale Pliocene-Quaternary block-faulting of the western flank of the southern Apennines, accompanying the back-arc basin opening
In order to reconstruct the paleo-morphology of the buried roof of the Campania Ignimbrite, to determine the paleoenvironmental conditions of the area coinciding with the present-day Volturno plain, and to provide the stratigraphic synthesis of the Quaternary succession, a large amount of stratigraphic data has been acquired by the analysis of a collection of borehole logs from previous works and public institutions, such as the technical offices of municipalities and ISPRA (Italian Agency for Environmental Research and Protection)

Summary

Introduction

The Tyrrhenian coast of Italy is edged by several coastal plains separated by more or less pronounced promontories, especially in its southern segment. In northern Campania, the region of Naples, one of the major alluvial-coastal plains is that of the Volturno River (Figure 1), characterized by a regular (i.e., roughly quadrangular) shape due to the regional-scale Pliocene-Quaternary block-faulting of the western flank of the southern Apennines, accompanying the back-arc basin opening. Water 2020, 12, x FOR PEER REVIEW.

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