Large-scale geomorphology of the Entella River floodplain (Italy) for coastal urban areas management

Abstract

This research presents a geomorphological map of the Entella River floodplain (scale 1:10,000), one of the largest and urbanized Ligurian Tyrrhenian flat area. The coastal floodplain suffered substantial modifications due to human activities since the latter half of the nineteenth century, which transformed the natural landscape into an anthropogenic environment. Fluvial, marine and anthropogenic geomorphological features have been investigated through a multi-temporal analysis and the reviewing, re-elaboration and summarization of previous geographical and geomorphological materials. An historical analysis has been performed to reconstruct morphological modifications and their correlation with anthropogenic interventions. The main geomorphological map includes a multi-temporal analysis of shoreline and major anthropogenic landforms. Small sketch maps on the geographical, geological and land use settings are also provided. The detailed geomorphological map can be used for urban and land planning, including the mitigation of the meteo-and geo-hydrological risk, which historically has dramatically influenced the Entella coastal floodplain.

Flood-induced ground effects and flood-water dynamics for hydro-geomorphic hazard assessment: the 21–22 October 2019 extreme flood along the lower Orba River (Alessandria, NW Italy)

“…River-related floods occur frequently in large areas of the world (Bathrellos et al, 2018), and are the most prevalent natural hazard and among the most damaging events in Europe (EEA, 2010(EEA, , 2016Gaume et al, 2009;Kundzewicz et al, 2013Kundzewicz et al, , 2018Llasat et al, 2010). Long lists of past inundations and relative damage testify the relevant flood-proneness of Italy (Brandolini et al, 2020;Faccini et al, 2015Faccini et al, , 2016Luino et al, 2002;Mandarino et al, 2019aMandarino et al, , 2020aPavese et al, 1992;Roccati et al, 2020;Salvati et al, 2012;Zani, 2000), where there were 581 deaths and 171,764 evacuated and homeless due to floods in the 50-years period 1969-2018(CNR-Polaris, 2019, and about thirty floods and a hundred victims from 2010 to 2019 (Paliaga et al, 2020).…”

Anthropogenic landforms and geo-hydrological hazards of the Bisagno Stream catchment (Liguria, Italy)

“…Considering the difficulty of distinguishing these features from loworder channels without works and their impact, both of them were mapped as poorly modified riverbeds. The progressive urbanization of lowland areas and adjacent slopes resulted in the riverbeds narrowing and channelization with consequent occupation of riverine areas, as largely documented in other cases (Cencetti et al, 2017;Mandarino et al, 2019b;Roccati et al, 2020;Surian et al, 2009). Furthermore, in the lower part of the catchment, most of the Bisagno tributaries are partly or completely culverted, along with the Bisagno riverbed itself between Brignole and Foce (Figure 4(B)).…”

Application of Bioengineering Techniques as Geo-Hydrological Risk Mitigation Measures in a Highly Valuable Cultural Landscape: Experiences from the Cinque Terre National Park (Italy)

“…Liguria (Figure 1a) is included within the group of Italian regions that have the highest number of cultural sites located in areas classified as having high and very high landslide hazard and medium to high flood hazard [2]. This region is highly vulnerable to geo-hydrological processes because of its rugged morphology [56][57][58][59][60], which is characterized by prevalently hilly and mountainous-like slopes and small flood plains [61,62], and because of its peculiar climatic features, which favor the occurrence of high intensity rainfall [63][64][65][66]. Over the past centuries, large portions of steep slopes have been terraced by local inhabitants to develop agricultural activities [67][68][69].…”