Integrated dataset of deformation measurements in fractured volcanic tuff and meteorological data (Coroglio coastal cliff, Naples, Italy)

Abstract

Abstract. Along the coastline of the Campi Flegrei volcanic district, near Naples (Italy), severe retreat processes affect a large part of the coastal cliffs, mainly made of fractured volcanic tuff and pyroclastic deposits. Progressive fracturing and deformation of rocks can lead to hazardous sudden slope failures on coastal cliffs. Among the triggering mechanisms, the most relevant are related to meteorological factors, such as precipitation, freezing conditions, and thermal expansion due to solar heating of rock surfaces. In this paper, we present a database of measurement time series taken over a period of ∼ 4 years (Dec 2014–Oct 2018), referred to the deformations of selected tuff blocks in the Coroglio coastal cliff. The monitoring system is implemented on five unstable tuff blocks and is formed by nine crackmeters and two tiltmeters equipped with internal thermometers. The system is coupled with a total weather station, measuring rain, temperature, wind and atmospheric pressure operating since January 2014 up to Dec 2018. A measurement frequency of 10 and 30 minutes has been respectively set for meteorological and deformation sensors. The aim of the measurements is to assess the magnitude and temporal pattern of rock block deformations (fracture opening and block movements) before block failure and their correlation with selected meteorological parameters. The results of a multivariate statistical analysis of the measured time series suggest a close correlation between temperature and deformation trends. The recognized cyclic, sinusoidal changes in the width (opening/closing) of fractures and tuff blocks rotations are ostensibly linked to multiscale (i.e. daily, seasonal and annual) temperature variations. Some trends of cumulative multi-temporal changes have been also recognized. The full databases are freely available online at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.896000 (Matano et al., 2018) and https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.899562 (Fortelli et al., 2019).

Remote monitoring techniques for rehabilitated slope

“…Matano et al [4] reported implementing an integrated fibre optic system to control the rock slope stability in the Coroglio tuff cliff at the border of the active volcanic caldera of Campi Flegrei. Schenato et al [5] used a distributed optical fibre sensing system to measure landslide-induced strains on an optical fibre buried in a large-scale physical model of a slope.…”