Seismogenic COmpression in southern Italy? – High-resolution topography (Lidar) and mOrphotectonic analySis to test the active nature of the Southern ApenninE Outer Thrust Front
ProjectOver the past decade (1999-2009), earthquakes proved to be the deadliest of all European disasters. Italy is one of the most
seismically active countries in Europe and, Southern Italy, is recognized as the most seismically active sector of the
peninsula. The sector is traversed by the Apennine fold-and-thrust belt which is seismogenic, along the Outer Front, in
northern-central Italy and in Sicily. On the contrary, it is considered often inactive in southern Italy. Nevertheless, historical
seismicity reports several destructive earthquakes and geological-geomorphological indications of recent deformation have
been recently pointed out. The geological setting contrasts the recognition of the seismogenic sources since the Apennine
Outer Front is buried under Plio-Quaternary foredeep successions. It is urgent to develop new approaches to investigate the
active deformation in this sector.
This research aims to detect evidence of Late Quaternary active compressional faulting along the Southern Apennine Outer
Front. The peculiar geological setting of the sector necessarily requires a multidisciplinary approach. The research plan
envisages the integration of HRT (high resolution topography) data analysis, morphotectonic analysis in GIS/Matlab
environments, geochronologic dating and classical methodologies of analysis belonging the seismotectonics. Airborne lidar
topographic data are able to capture fault offsets and landscape properties recording the complexity and sensitivity of
deformation. The drainage pattern analysis and morphometric indices computed using GIS (Geographic Information System)
and Matlab programming language are suitable for evaluating the effects of active tectonics on the topography or
morphological features. These novel approaches are exploding worldwide. Exploiting them in order to investigate the active
deformation represents an excellent chance to improve the knowledge on the southern Apennines seismotectonic setting.
seismically active countries in Europe and, Southern Italy, is recognized as the most seismically active sector of the
peninsula. The sector is traversed by the Apennine fold-and-thrust belt which is seismogenic, along the Outer Front, in
northern-central Italy and in Sicily. On the contrary, it is considered often inactive in southern Italy. Nevertheless, historical
seismicity reports several destructive earthquakes and geological-geomorphological indications of recent deformation have
been recently pointed out. The geological setting contrasts the recognition of the seismogenic sources since the Apennine
Outer Front is buried under Plio-Quaternary foredeep successions. It is urgent to develop new approaches to investigate the
active deformation in this sector.
This research aims to detect evidence of Late Quaternary active compressional faulting along the Southern Apennine Outer
Front. The peculiar geological setting of the sector necessarily requires a multidisciplinary approach. The research plan
envisages the integration of HRT (high resolution topography) data analysis, morphotectonic analysis in GIS/Matlab
environments, geochronologic dating and classical methodologies of analysis belonging the seismotectonics. Airborne lidar
topographic data are able to capture fault offsets and landscape properties recording the complexity and sensitivity of
deformation. The drainage pattern analysis and morphometric indices computed using GIS (Geographic Information System)
and Matlab programming language are suitable for evaluating the effects of active tectonics on the topography or
morphological features. These novel approaches are exploding worldwide. Exploiting them in order to investigate the active
deformation represents an excellent chance to improve the knowledge on the southern Apennines seismotectonic setting.