Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Morphotectonic features of the Tammaro River basin, Southern Apennines, Italy

  • Intermontane basins in central-southern Italy
  • Published:
Rendiconti Lincei Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, the preliminary results of a research aimed to reconstruct the morphotectonic framework of the Tammaro River basin are presented. The use of dedicated geographic information systems (GIS) enabled an efficient managing and processing of heterogeneous datasets, produced using GIS-aided classical techniques of geological and geomorphological analysis of the relief. On these data, advanced statistical processing procedures were carried out. The Tammaro R. basin corresponds to a sector of the Southern Apennines experiencing a general SW–NE extension, with several evidence of recent seismicity, and looks very similar to other intermontane basins hosted along the axis of the Apennines. The basin is dominated by NE–SW striking faults that seem to be the key structures for the morphotectonic evolution of the area. NW–SE, N–S and E–W azimuthal sets of faults are also well represented and seem to have played a minor role. The existence of these faults is confirmed by clear geomorphological evidence, such as fluvial elbows, subsequent reaches of streams, straight slopes shaped as triangular or trapezoidal facets, fault scarps and displacements of five orders of palaeosurfaces.

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

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Amato V, Aucelli PPC, Russo Ermolli E, Rosskopf C, Cesarano M, Pappone G (2012) Quaternary morpho-evolution, tectonic and environmental changes in the Boiano intermontane basin (central-southern Italy). Rend Online Soc Geol Ital 21:1225–1227

    Google Scholar 

  • Azor A, Keller EA, Yeats RS (2002) Geomorphic indicators of active fold growth: south Mountain – Oak Ridge anticline, Ventura basin, southern California. Geol Soc Am Bull 114(6):745–753

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belisario F, Del Monte M, Fredi P, Funiciello R, Lupia Palmieri E, Salvini F (1999) Azimuthal analysis of stream orientations to define regional tectonic lines. Fourth International Geomorphology Conference, Bologna. Z Geomorphol, Suppl.-Bd, vol 118, p 41–63

  • Bergomi G, Manfredini M, Martelli G (1975) Note illustrative della Carta Geologica d’Italia alla scala 1:100.000. Foglio 173 “Benevento”. Serv Geol d’Italia, p 83

  • Boenzi F, Capolongo D, Cecaro G, D’Andrea E, Giano SI, Lazzari M, Schiattarella M (2004) Evoluzione geomorfologica polifasica e tassi di sollevamento del bordo sud-occidentale dell’Alta Val D’Agri (Appennino meridionale). Boll Soc Geol It 123:357–372

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosi C, Galadini F, Giaccio B, Messina P, Sposato A (2003) Plio-Quaternary continental deposits in the Latium-Abruzzi Apennines: the correlation of the geological events across different intramontane basins. Il Quat 16(1 Bis):55–76

    Google Scholar 

  • Brancaccio L, Cinque A, Sgrosso I (1978) Forma e genesi di alcuni versanti di faglia in rocce carbonatiche: il riscontro reale di un modello teorico. Rend Acc Sci Fis Mat serie 4 46:1–21

    Google Scholar 

  • Bull WB, McFadden LD (1977) Tectonic geomorphology north and south of Garlock fault, California. In: Doehring DO (ed) Geomorphology in Arid Regions. Binghamton State Univ, NY, pp 115–138

    Google Scholar 

  • Cartojan E (2011) Studio geomorfologico del bacino idrografico del Fiume Tammaro (Appennino meridionale, Italia). Unpublished PhD Thesis, Dottorato di Ricerca in “Scienze della Terra e della Vita” XXIII Ciclo, Università degli Studi del Sannio, p 173

  • Cello G, Lentini F, Tortorici L (1990) La struttura del settore calabro-lucano e suo significato nel quadro dell’evoluzione tettonica del sistema a thrust sudappenninico. Studi Geol Camerti 1:27–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Cestari G, Malferrari N, Manfredini M, Zattini N (1975) Note illustrative della Carta Geologica d’Italia alla scala 1:100.000, Foglio 162 “Campobasso”. Serv Geol d’Italia, p 126

  • Ciccacci S, D’Alessandro L, Fredi P, Lupia Palmieri E (1992) Relation between morphometric characteristics and denudational processes in some drainage basins of Italy. Z Geomorphol 36(1):53–67

    Google Scholar 

  • Corrado S, Di Bucci D, Naso G, Butler RWH (1997) Thrusting and strike-slip tectonics in the Alto Molise region (Italy): implications for the Neogene-Quaternary evolution of the Central Apennine orogenic system. J Geol Soc 154:679–688

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D’Agostino N, Jackson JA, Dramis F, Funiciello R (2001) Interactions between mantle upwelling, drainage evolution and active normal faulting: an example from the central Apennines (Italy). Geophys J Int 147:475–497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dazzaro L, Di Nocera S, Pescatore TS, Rapisardi L, Romeo M, Russo B, Senatore M, Torre M (1988) Geologia del margine della catena appenninica tra il F. Fortore ed il T. Calaggio (Monti della Daunia–Appennino Meridionale). Mem Soc Geol Ital 41:411–422

    Google Scholar 

  • Del Monte M (1996) Rapporti tra caratteristiche morfometriche e processi di denudazione nel bacino idrografico del torrente Salandrella (Basilicata). Geol Rom 32:151–165

    Google Scholar 

  • Della Seta M, Del Monte M, Fredi P, Lupia Palmieri E (2004) Quantitative morphotectonic analysis as a tool for detecting deformation patterns in soft rock terrains: a case study from the southern Marches, Italy. Géomorphol Relief Process Environ 4:267–284

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Bucci D, Massa B, Zuppetta A (2006) Relay ramps in active normal fault zones: a clue to the identification of seismogenic sources (1688 Sannio earthquake, Italy). Geol Soc Am Bull 118:430–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Galadini F (1999) Pleistocene changes in the central Apennine fault kinematics: a key to decipher active tectonics in central Italy. Tectonics 18:877–894

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gasperini P, Bernardini F, Valensise G, Boschi E (1999) Defining seismogenic sources from historical earthquakes felt reports. Bull Seismol Soc Am 89:94–110

    Google Scholar 

  • Giano SI, Gioia D, Schiattarella M (2012) The connected Auletta, Vallo di Diano, and Sanza basins, southern Apennines, Italy: opening kinematics and morphostructural evolution. Rend Online Soc Geol It 21(2012):1239–1241

    Google Scholar 

  • Gioia D, Schiattarella M (2010) An alternative method of azimuthal data analysis to improve the study of relationships between tectonics and drainage networks: examples from southern Italy. Z Geomorphol 54(2):225–241

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gioia D, Schiattarella M, Mattei M, Nico G (2011) Quantitative morphotectonics of the Pliocene to Quaternary Auletta basin, southern Italy. Geomorphology 134:326–343

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gruppo di Lavoro CPTI (1999) Catalogo Parametrico dei Terremoti Italiani. ING, GNDT, SGA, SSN, Bologna

  • Guadagno FM, Focareta M, Bencardino M, Grelle G, Lupo G, Revellino P, Rivellini G (2006) Carta delle frane della Provincia di Benevento. Dipartimento di Studi Geologici ed Ambientali. Università degli studi del Sannio. GNDCI Pubbl. no 2906/2006 (U.O. 2.24, resp. F.M. Guadagno)

  • Hack JT (1973) Stream-profile analysis and stream-gradient index. J Res US Geol Surv 1(4):421–429

    Google Scholar 

  • ISPRA Carta Geologica d’Italia alla scala 1:50000, F. 419 San Giorgio La Molara (in press). http://www.isprambiente.gov.it/Media/carg/419SANGIORGIO_LAMOLARA/Foglio.html. Accessed 15 Oct 2014

  • Keller EA, Pinter N (1996) Active tectonics (earthquakes uplift and landscape). Prentice Hall, New Jersey, p 399

    Google Scholar 

  • Knott SD (1987) The Liguride complex of southern Italy—a Cretaceous to Paleogene accretionary wedge. Tectonophysics 142:217–226

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lupia Palmieri E, Biasini A, Caputo C, Centamore E, Ciccacci S, Del Monte M, Fredi P, Pugliese F (2001) Geomorfologia quantitativa e morfodinamica del territorio abruzzese: III–Il bacino idrografico del Fiume Saline. Geogr Fis Din Quat 24:157–176

    Google Scholar 

  • Magliulo P, Valente A (2013) Post-dam channel adjustments of the Tammaro River (southern Italy). Epitome, FIST GEOITALIA 2013, IX Forum di Scienze della Terra, Pisa 16–18 Settembre 2013, 277

  • Magliulo P, Russo F, Valente A (2007) Tectonic significance of geomorphological features in the Telesina Valley (Campanian Apennines). Boll Soc Geol Ital 126(2):397–409

    Google Scholar 

  • Massa B, Di Bucci D, Tornaghi ME, Zuppetta A (2005) Geological survey of Quaternary deposits in the 1688 Sannio earthquake epicentral area (Benevento, Italy). Boll Soc Geol Ital 4:105–117

    Google Scholar 

  • Massaro ME, Russo M, Zuppetta A (1996) Analisi indiretta dell’entità dell’erosione nel bacino del Fiume Tammaro. Geogr Fis Din Quat 19:381–394

    Google Scholar 

  • Merritts D, Vincent KR (1989) Geomorphic response of coastal streams to low, intermediate, and high rates of uplift, Mendocino triple junction region, northern California. GSA Bull 101:1373–1388

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Molin P, Pazzaglia FJ, Dramis F (2004) Geomorphic expression of active tectonics in a rapidly deformic forearc, Sila Massif, Calabria, southern Italy. Am J Sci 304:559–589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montone P, Amato A, Pondrelli S (1999) Active stress map of Italy. J Geophys Res 104(B11):25595–25610

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mostardini F, Merlini S (1986) Appennino centro meridionale. sezioni geologiche e proposta di modello strutturale. Mem Soc Geol Ital 35:177–202

    Google Scholar 

  • Nappi R, Alessio G, Bronzino G, Terranova C, Vilardo G (2008) Contribution of the SISCam Web-based GIS to the seismotectonic study of Campania (Southern Apennines): an example of application to the Sannio area. Nat Hazards 45(1):73–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pantosti D, Valensise G (1988) La faglia sud-appenninica: identificazione oggettiva di un lineamento sismogenetico nell’Appennino Meridionale. Atti del VII GNGTS, 205-220

  • Partsch J (1911) Schlesien: eine Landeskunde für das deutsche Volk. F. Hirt, Breslau, p 690

  • Pérez-Peña JV, Azor A, Azañón JM, Keller EA (2010) Active tectonics in the Sierra Nevada (Betic Cordillera, SE Spain): insights from geomorphic indexes and drainage pattern analysis. Geomorphology 119:74–87

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pescatore T, Pinto F, Renda P, Senatore MR, Tramutoli M, Valente A (1996) Avanfosse mioceniche dell’Appennino meridionale (Italia). Rend Acc Sci Fis Mat Napoli 63:85–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Pescatore TS, Di Nocera S, Matano S, Pinto F, Quarantiello R, Amore O, Boiano U, Civile D, Fiorillo L, Martino C (2008) Geologia del settore centrale dei Monti del Sannio: nuovi aspetti stratigrafici e strutturali. Mem Descr Carta Geol d’Ital 77:77–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Roure F, Casero P, Vially R (1991) Growth processes and melange formation in the southern Apennines accretionary wedge. Earth Planet Sci Lett 102:395–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russo F, Schiattarella M (1992) Osservazioni preliminari sull’evoluzione morfostrutturale del bacino di Castrovillari (Calabria settentrionale). Stud Geol Camerti 1:271–278

    Google Scholar 

  • Salvini F, Billi A, Wise DU (1999) Strike-slip fault-propagation cleavage in carbonate rocks: the Mattinata fault zone, Southern Apennines, Italy. J Struct Geol 21:1731–1749

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiattarella M (1998) Quaternary tectonics of the Pollino ridge, Calabria-Lucania boundary, Southern Italy. In: Holdsworth RE, Strachan RA, Dewey JF (eds) Continental transpressional and transtensional tectonics, vol 135. Geological Society, London, Spec Publ, pp 341–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiattarella M, Torrente MM, Russo F (1994) Analisi strutturale ed osservazioni morfostratigrafiche nel bacino del Mercure (confine calabro-lucano). Il Quat 7(2):613–626

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiattarella M, Di Leo P, Beneduce P, Giano SI (2003) Quaternary uplift vs tectonic loading: a case study from the Lucanian Apennine, southern Italy. Quat Int 101–102:239–251

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schiattarella M, Giano SI, Gioia D, Martino C, Nico G (2013) Age and statistical properties of the summit palaeosurface of southern Italy. Geogr Fis Din Quat 36(2):289–302

    Google Scholar 

  • Selli R (1957) Sulla trasgressione del Miocene nell’Italia meridionale. Giorn Geol 2(26):1–54

    Google Scholar 

  • Troiani F, Galve JP, Piacentini D, Della Seta M, Guerrero J (2014) Spatial analysis of stream length-gradient (SL) index for detecting hillslope processes: a case of the Gállego River headwaters (Central Pyrenees, Spain). Geomorphology 214:183–197

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Valensise G, Pantosti D (eds) (2001) Database of potential sources for earthquakes larger than M 5.5 in Italy. Annali di Geofisica, vol 44, Issue no 4, p 180 (with database on CD-ROM)

  • Valente A, Di Lisio A, Cartojan E, Russo F (2010) Caratterizzazione geoambientale delle unità di paesaggio del bacino idrografico del Torrente Tammarecchia (Appennino Campano-Molisano). Rend Online Soc Geol Ital 12:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Wise DU, Funiciello R, Parotto M, Salvini F (1985) Topographic lineament swarms: clues to their origin from domain analysis of Italy. Geol Soc Am Bull 96:952–967

Download references

Acknowledgments

Thanks are due to Reviewers and Editors for their thoughtful suggestions that greatly improved the manuscript. This research was founded by FRA, Università degli Studi del Sannio (Resp.: P. Magliulo, B. Massa and A. Valente). Finally, authors are grateful to Federica Bozzi for the support in editing the geolithological map of Fig. 2.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie, Università degli Studi del Sannio, Via dei Mulini, 59a, 82100, Benevento, Italy

    Elena Cartojan, Paolo Magliulo, Bruno Massa & Alessio Valente

Authors
  1. Elena Cartojan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paolo Magliulo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bruno Massa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Alessio Valente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alessio Valente.

Additional information

This peer-reviewed article is part of a coordinated collection of scientific researches on the comparative evolution of the intermontane basins of the central-southern Apennines.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cartojan, E., Magliulo, P., Massa, B. et al. Morphotectonic features of the Tammaro River basin, Southern Apennines, Italy. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 25 (Suppl 2), 217–229 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-014-0349-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-014-0349-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation