Geohazard features of the Gulf of Taranto

Here, we explore the complex seabed morphologies of the Gulf of Taranto in southern Italy including their connection to the geodynamic evolution of the region that began during the Neogene period when the Adria plate started subducting beneath the retreating Calabrian arc. We compiled the first Maps of the Geohazard Features of the Gulf of Taranto through comprehensive and collaborative high-resolution seabed surveys, integrating regional high-resolution multibeam sonar and sub-bottom profiling. Our findings indicate that the most significant marine geohazards identified are (i) the headwall of the shelf-indenting retrogressive canyon near Cirò Marina, situated close to the harbour, (ii) multiple landslide scarps on the steep slopes of intra-slope basins, along with buried stacked debris flow deposits at their base, indicating repeated mass movements, (iii) large-scale landslide scarps eroding the Apulian slopes (some controlled by faults). We propose that seismicity and tectonic tremor associated with slow slip events, represent potential triggers for geohazards in the Gulf of Taranto. The distinctive physiography of the Gulf creates a natural laboratory for studying and monitoring coastal and marine geohazards. Our study offers a resource for improving the understanding of marine geohazards along the Ionian Calabrian and Apulian margins in the Gulf of Taranto crucial for safeguarding coastal communities and marine infrastructures.

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Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Maps
Published
2024-12-31
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/17445647.2024.2431073
Citations
8
Primary Topic
Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
23.39
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article

Geohazard features of the Gulf of Taranto

Francesco Muto, Lorenzo Facchin, Oliviero Candoni, Michele Deponte et al.
8 citations
Journal of Maps
Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
23.39
article

Geohazard features of the Gulf of Taranto

Francesco Muto, Lorenzo Facchin, Oliviero Candoni, Michele Deponte, Nora Markezic, Massimo Zecchin, Alessandro Bosman, Edy Forlin, Emiliano Gordini, Daniele Casalbore, Salvatore Critelli, Diego Cotterle, Rocco Dominici, Maria Rosaria Senatore, Dario Civile, Silvia Ceramicola, Roberto Romeo, Eleonora Morelli, Daniel Praeg, Marianne Coste, Andrea Cova, Agostino Meo, Francesco Latino Chiocci
article en
8 citations

Abstract

Here, we explore the complex seabed morphologies of the Gulf of Taranto in southern Italy including their connection to the geodynamic evolution of the region that began during the Neogene period when the Adria plate started subducting beneath the retreating Calabrian arc. We compiled the first Maps of the Geohazard Features of the Gulf of Taranto through comprehensive and collaborative high-resolution seabed surveys, integrating regional high-resolution multibeam sonar and sub-bottom profiling. Our findings indicate that the most significant marine geohazards identified are (i) the headwall of the shelf-indenting retrogressive canyon near Cirò Marina, situated close to the harbour, (ii) multiple landslide scarps on the steep slopes of intra-slope basins, along with buried stacked debris flow deposits at their base, indicating repeated mass movements, (iii) large-scale landslide scarps eroding the Apulian slopes (some controlled by faults). We propose that seismicity and tectonic tremor associated with slow slip events, represent potential triggers for geohazards in the Gulf of Taranto. The distinctive physiography of the Gulf creates a natural laboratory for studying and monitoring coastal and marine geohazards. Our study offers a resource for improving the understanding of marine geohazards along the Ionian Calabrian and Apulian margins in the Gulf of Taranto crucial for safeguarding coastal communities and marine infrastructures.

Journal of MapsVol. 20(1)
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR), University of Trieste (IT), University of Sannio (IT), Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering (IT), National Research Council (IT), Géoazur (FR), National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics (IT), University of Calabria (IT), Sapienza University of Rome (IT)
Life below water
Openalex Percentile: Top 1%
Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
23.39
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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