Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Regional-scale seafloor mapping and geohazard assessment. The experience from the Italian project MaGIC (Marine Geohazards along the Italian Coasts)

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Marine Geophysical Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Recent developments in seafloor imaging and mapping techniques greatly improved our capability of identifying marine geohazards affecting continental margins. Geomorphic features can be detected in great detail by high-resolution multibeam imaging and regarded as geohazard indicators; the most common include slide scars and deposits, canyon headscarps and steep erosional flanks, fault-related seafloor unevenness, mud volcanoes, pockmarks, gravity flow deposits, erosional scours and bedforms indicating sediment mobility at diverse temporal/spatial scale. These processes are widespread on Italian continental margins and are potential indicators of geohazard for human settlements and infrastructures in the offshore and coastal zones. The national Project MaGIC (Marine Geohazards along the Italian Coasts) aims at documenting potential geohazards based on the acquisition of high-resolution multibeam bathymetry and on the production of maps of the geohazard-related geomorphic features for most of the Italian continental margins. With reference to this issue, we discuss some of the most frequent problems dealing with reconnaissance, interpretation and cartographic representation of geohazard-related geomorphic features at a regional scale.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amelio M, Martorelli E (2008) Seismo-stratigraphic characters of paleocontourites along the Calabro-Tyrrhenian margin (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea). Mar Geol 252(3–4):141–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Argnani A, Bonazzi C (2005) Malta escarpment fault zone offshore eastern Sicily: Plio-Quaternary tectonic evolution based on new multichannel seismic data. Tectonics 24(4):TC4009. doi:10.1029/2004TC001656

  • Argnani A, Rovere M, Bonazzi C (2009) Tectonics of the Mattinata fault, offshore south Gargano (southern Adriatic Sea, Italy): implications for active deformation and seismotectonics in the foreland of the Southern Apennines. Geol Soc Am Bull 121(9/10):1421–1440. doi:10.1130/B26326.1

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnes PM, Pondard N (2010) Derivation of direct on-fault submarine paleoearthquake records from high-resolution seismic reflection profiles: Wairau Fault, New Zealand. Geochem Geophys Geosystems 11:Q11013. doi:10.1029/2010GC003254

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baztan J, Berne S, Olivet J, Rabineau M, Aslanian D, Gaudin M, Rehault JP, Canals M (2005) Axial incision; the key to understand submarine canyon evolution (in the western Gulf of Lion). Mar Petrol Geol 22:805–826

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bøe R, Bellec VK, Dolan MFJ, Buhl-Mortensen P, Buhl-Mortensen L, Slagstad D, Rise L (2009) Giant sandwaves in the Hola glacial trough off Vesteralen, North Norway. Mar Geol 267(1–2):36–54

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosman A, Chiocci FL, Romagnoli C (2009) Morpho-structural setting of Stromboli Volcano, revealed by high-resolution bathymorphological and backscatter data of its submarine portions. Bull Volcanol 71:1007–1019. doi:10.1007/s00445-009-0279-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Canals M, Casamor JL, Lastras G, Monaco A, Acosta J, Berné S, Loubrieu B, Weaver PPE, Grehan A, Dennielou B (2004) The role of Canyons on strata formation. Oceanography 17(4):80–91

    Google Scholar 

  • Casalbore D, Romagnoli C, Chiocci FL, Frezza V (2010) Morpho-sedimentary characteristics of the volcaniclastic apron around Stromboli volcano (Italy). Mar Geol 269(3–4):132–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiocci FL, de Alteriis G (2006) The Ischia debris avalanche: first clear submarine evidence in the Mediterranean of a volcanic island prehistorical collapse. Terra Nova 18:202–209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chiocci FL, Romagnoli C, Tommasi P, Bosman A (2008) The Stromboli 2002 tsunamigenic submarine slide: characteristics and possible failure mechanisms. J Geophys Res 113:B10102. doi:10.1029/2007JB005172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dalla Valle G, Gamberi F (2010) Erosional sculpting of the Caprera confined deep-sea fan as a result of distal basin-spilling processes (eastern Sardinia margin, Tyrrhenian Sea). Mar Geol 268(1–4):55–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Bucci D, Ridente D, Fracassi U, Trincardi F, Valensise G (2009) Marine paleoseismology from very high resolution seismic imaging: the Gondola Fault Zone (Adriatic Foreland). Terra Nova 21(5):393–400. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3121.2009.00895.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dimitrov L, Woodside J (2003) Deep sea pockmark environments in the eastern Mediterranean. Mar Geol 195(1–4):263–276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Faccenna C, Piromallo C, Crespo-Blanc A, Jolivet L, Rossetti F (2004) Lateral slab deformation and the origin of the western Mediterranean arcs. Tectonics 23:TC1012. doi:10.1029/2002TC001488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gamberi F, Marani M, Savelli C (1997) Tectonic, volcanic and hydrothermal features of a submarine portion of the Aeolian arc (Tyrrhenian Sea). Mar Geol 140(1–2):167–181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CPTI Working Group (2004) Catalogo Parametrico dei Terremoti Italiani, Version 2004 (CPTI04). INGV, Milan. Available at: http://emidius.mi.ingv.it/CPTI/. Accessed 23 March 2010

  • Hovland M (1982) Pockmarks and the recent geology of the central section of the Norwegian Trench. Mar Geol 47(3–4):283–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kvalstad TJ, Andresen L, Forsberg CF, Berg K, Bryn P, Wangen M (2005) The Storegga slide: evaluation of triggering sources and slide mechanics. Mar Petrol Geol 22(1–2):245–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lamarche G, Pelletier B, Goff J (2010) Impact of the 29 September 2009 South Pacific tsunami on Wallis and Futuna. Mar Geol 271:297–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lastras G, Canals M, Urgeles R, Amblas D, Ivanov M, Droz L, Dennielou B, Fabres J, Schoolmeester T, Akhmetzhanov A, Orange D, Garcia-Garcia A (2007) A walk down the Cap de Creus canyon, Northwestern Mediterranean Sea: recent processes inferred from morphology and sediment bedforms. Mar Geol 246(2–4):176–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leynaud D, Mienert J, Vanneste M (2009) Submarine mass movements on glaciated and non-glaciated European continental margins: a review of triggering mechanisms and preconditions to failure. Mar Petrol Geol 26(5):618–632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu JT, Lin H (2004) Sediment dynamics in a submarine canyon: a case of river–sea interaction. Mar Geol 207:55–81

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Locat J (2001) Instabilities along ocean margins: a geomorphological and geotechnical perspective. Mar Petrol Geol 18:503–512

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milia A, Torrente MM, Russo M, Zuppetta A (2003) Tectonics and crustal structure of the Campania continental margin: relationships with volcanism. Mineral Petrol 79(1–2):33–47

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Milkov AV (2000) Worldwide distribution of submarine mud volcanoes and associated gas hydrates. Mar Geol 167:29–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder T, Cochonat P (1996) Classification of offshore mass movements. J Sediment Res 66:43–57

    Google Scholar 

  • Nadim F (2006) Challenges to geo-scientists in risk assessment for submarine slides. Nor J Geol 86:351–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Orange DL, McAdoo BG, Moore JC, Tobin H, Screaton E, Chezar H, Lee H, Reid M, Vail R (1997) Headless submarine canyons and fluid flow on the toe of the Cascadia accretionary complex. Basin Res 9:303–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paris R, Lavigne F, Wassmer P, Sartohadi J (2007) Coastal sedimentation associated with the December 26, 2004 tsunami in Lhok Nga, west Banda Aceh (Sumatra, Indonesia). Mar Geol 238:93–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pepe F, Sulli A, Bertotti G, Cella F (2010) Architecture and Neogene to Recent evolution of the western Calabrian continental margin: an upper plate perspective to the Ionian subduction system, central Mediterranean. Tectonics 29:TC3007. doi:10.1029/2009TC002599

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piper DJW, Normark WR (2009) Processes that initiate turbidity currents and their influente on turbidites: a marine geology perspective. J Sediment Res 79:347–362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Piper DJW, Cochonat P, Morrison ML (1999) The sequence of events around the epicentre of the 1929 Great Banks earthquake: initiation of debris flows and turbidity current inferred from sidescan sonar. Sedimentology 46:79–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Polonia A, Gasperini L, Amorosi A, Bonatti E, Bortoluzzi G, Cagatay N, Capotondi L, Cormier M-H, Gorurd N, McHugh C, Seeber L (2004) Holocene slip rate of the North Anatolian Fault beneath the Sea of Marmara. Earth Planet Sci Lett 227:411–426

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Praeg D, Ceramicola S, Barbieri R, Unnithan V, Wardell N (2009) Tectonically-driven mud volcanism since the late Pliocene on the Calabrian accretionary prism, central Mediterranean Sea. Mar Petrol Geol 26:1849–1865

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pratson LF, Ryan WBF, Mountain GS, Twichell DC (1994) Submarine canyon initiation by downslope-eroding sediment flows: evidence in late Cenozoic strata on the New Jersey continental slope. Geol Soc Am Bull 106:395–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pratt TL, Holmes M, Schweig ES, Gomberg J, Cowan HA (2003) High resolution seismic imaging of faults beneath Limon Bay, northern Panama Canal, Republic of Panama. Tectonics 368:211–227

    Google Scholar 

  • Ridente D, Trincardi F (2006) Active foreland deformation evidenced by shallow folds and faults affecting late Quaternary shelf-slope deposits (Adriatic Sea, Italy). Basin Res 18:171–188

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ridente D, Foglini F, Minisini D, Trincardi F, Verdicchio G (2007) Shelf-edge erosion, sediment failure and inception of the Bari Canyon on the Southwestern Adriatic Margin (Central Mediterranean). Mar Geol 246:183–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sahling H, Bohrmann G, Spiess V, Bialas J, Breitzke M, Ivanov M, Kasten S, Krastel S, Schneider R (2008) Pockmarks in the Northern Congo Fan area, SW Africa: complex seafloor features shaped by fluid flow. Mar Geol 249(3–4):206–225

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santoro VC, Amore E, Cavallaro L, De Lauro M (2002) Evolution of sand waves in the Messina Strait, Italy. Ocean Dyn 54(2–3):392–398

    Google Scholar 

  • Tinti S, Maramai A, Graziani L (2004) The new catalogue of Italian tsunamis. Nat Hazards 33(3):439–465

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trincardi F, Cattaneo A, Correggiari A, Ridente D (2004) Evidence of soft-sediment deformation, fluid escape, sediment failure and regional weak layers within the late Quaternary mud deposits of the Adriatic Sea. Mar Geol 213:91–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trincardi F, Verdicchio G, Miserocchi S (2007) Seafloor evidence for the interaction between cascading and along-slope bottom water masses. J Geophys Res Earth Surf 112:F03011. doi:10.1029/2006JF000620

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trua T, Serri G, Marani M, Tenzulli A, Gamberi F (2002) Volcanological and petrological evolution of Marsili Seamount (southern Tyrrhenian Sea). J Volcanol Geotherm Res 114(3–4):441–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Twichell DC, Roberts D (1982) Morphology, distribution, and development of submarine canyons on the United States Atlantic continental slope between Husdon and Baltimore Canyons. Geology 10:408–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urgeles R, Leynaud D, Lastras G, Canals M, Mienert J (2006) Back-analysis and failure mechanisms of a large submarine slide on the ebro slope, NW Mediterranean. Mar Geol 226(3–4):185–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Urgeles R, Locat J, Sawyer DE, Flemings PB, Dugan B, Binh NTT (2010) History of pore pressure build up and slope instability in mud-dominated sediments of ursa basin, gulf of Mexico continental slope. In: Mosher DC et al (eds) Submarine mass movements and their consequences. Springer, Netherlands, pp 179–190

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work benefited from the contribution of all the researchers participating the MaGIC project, and in particular of D. Casalbore, A. Bosman and A. Sposato. The Italian National Civil Protection with special reference to Prof. B. De Bernardinis are acknowledged for supporting MaGIC initiative. We are grateful to R. Bøe and an anonymous reviewer for providing insightful comments and to R. Urgeles for constructive suggestions.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy

    Francesco L. Chiocci

  2. Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria (IGAG)-CNR, Rome, Italy

    Francesco L. Chiocci & Domenico Ridente

Authors
  1. Francesco L. Chiocci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Domenico Ridente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesco L. Chiocci.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chiocci, F.L., Ridente, D. Regional-scale seafloor mapping and geohazard assessment. The experience from the Italian project MaGIC (Marine Geohazards along the Italian Coasts). Mar Geophys Res 32, 13–23 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-011-9120-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-011-9120-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation