Deep-Seated Gravitational Slope Deformations in Molise region (Italy): novel inventory and main geomorphological features

Figures & data

Figure 1. Location map of the study area and the Molise region, produced with 5 m/px digital elevation model (DEM) superposed on Molise hillshade.

Figure 2. Paleogeographic domains of central and southern Apennines including the Molise area (redrawn from Vezzani et al., 2010).

Paleogeographic domains of central and southern Apennines (redrawn from. Vezzani et al., 2010). Molise region lies among the Lazio-Abruzzi carbonate platform (Matese), the Molise basin and the western border of the Adriatic-Apulia foreland domains.

Figure 3. Examples of different types of DSGSDs mapped in Molise region (for location see the Inventory map): (a) sackung at Mt. Patalecchia (ID: 56), in the NW sector of Matese Massif; (b) sackung at Mt. Pietrereie (ID: 44), in the SW sector of Montagnola di Frosolone; (c) lateral spreading at Mt. Pizzi (ID: 46), in the Alto Molise sector; (d) rock mass spreading at Mt. Rocchetta (ID: 13), in the eastern sector of Meta Mts.; (e) complex type mechanism at Mt. Matese (ID: 74), along the NE margin of Matese Massif. All the images were produced with Google Earth.

Figure 4. Line of Sight (LoS) mean displacement rate maps: (a) ERS ascending; (b) ERS descending; (c) ENVISAT ascending; (d) ENVISAT descending; COSMO-SkyMed ascending; (f) COSMO-SkyMed descending.

Mean ground displacement rate along the Line of Sight (LoS) maps distinguished by data source and acquisition geometry: (a) ERS ascending; (b) ERS descending; (c) ENVISAT ascending; (d) ENVISAT descending; COSMO-SkyMed ascending; (f) COSMO-SkyMed descending.

Figure 5. Statistical distribution of DSGSDs in relation to lithological units. (A) Undifferentiated marine, transitional, and continental Quaternary deposits; (B) Sands, gravels, and conglomerates, with intercalations of calcarenites, sandstones, and micro-conglomerates; (C) Clays, silty clays, marls, and sands, with intercalations of sandstones, conglomerates, calcarenites, and gypsum; (D) Varicolored clays, silty clays, and marly clays, with olistoliths and intercalations of marls, limestones, and radiolaritis; (E) Marls, calcarenites, and calcilutites, with intercalations of clays, marly clays, calcirudites, and marly limestones; (F) Calcirudites and calcarenites, with intercalations of conglomerates and marly limestones; (G) Calcilutites, micritic limestones, and dolostones; detritic limestones, cherty limestones, and marly limestones.

Figure 6. Boxplots derived for the morphometric variables of DSGSDs. The bar plot is shown for aspect factor.

Boxplots representing the statistical distribution of the values of the morphometric variables (Area, H/L, W/L, Mean Slope, and Mean Relief) for each DSGSD type. The bar plot is shown for aspect factor.

Table 1. Morphometric statistical variables of Molise DSGSDs.

	Area (km^2)				H/L				W/L
	Sackung	Spreading	Complex		Sackung	Spreading	Complex		Sackung	Spreading	Complex
Valid	42	33	5	Valid	42	33	5	Valid	42	33	5
Missing	0	0	0	Missing	0	0	0	Missing	0	0	0
Mean	2.1	2.3	17.6	Mean	0.337	0.221	0.161	Mean	1.084	1.154	1.58
Median	1.2	1.7	14.8	Median	0.336	0.194	0.156	Median	0.986	1.016	1.678
Std. Dev.	2.5	1.8	6.9	Std. Dev.	0.108	0.134	0.031	Std. Dev.	0.525	0.469	0.449
Minimum	0.2	0.3	13.5	Minimum	0.138	0.081	0.121	Minimum	0.285	0.549	0.902
Maximum	10.4	7.4	29.8	Maximum	0.562	0.78	0.194	Maximum	2.509	2.439	2.145
25th perc.	0.5	1.1	14.1	25th perc.	0.245	0.139	0.143	25th perc.	0.671	0.816	1.497
50th perc.	1.2	1.7	14.8	50th perc.	0.336	0.194	0.156	50th perc.	0.986	1.016	1.678
75th perc.	2.1	3.2	15.7	75th perc.	0.406	0.24	0.19	75th perc.	1.345	1.392	1.679
	Mean slope (°)				Mean relief (m)				Mean aspect
	Sackung	Spreading	Complex		Sackung	Spreading	Complex		Sackung	Spreading	Complex
Valid	42	33	5	Valid	42	33	5	Valid	42	33	5
Missing	0	0	0	Missing	0	0	0	Missing	0	0	0
Mean	23.7	19.2	16.7	Mean	340.1	267.3	239.2	N	9	2	1
Median	23.5	16.7	15.2	Median	337.1	252.8	229.2	NE	12	7	1
Std. Dev.	5.1	6.5	4.3	Std. Dev.	90.1	94.7	60.7	E	5	6	0
Minimum	12.8	13.1	13.7	Minimum	194	167.2	190.2	SE	2	3	1
Maximum	34.6	38.9	24.4	Maximum	555.4	538.9	343.3	S	3	5	0
25th perc.	20.7	15.2	14.6	25th perc.	275	201.9	203.5	SW	8	6	1
50th perc.	23.5	16.7	15.2	50th perc.	337.1	252.8	229.2	W	2	4	1
75th perc.	26.3	20.4	15.9	75th perc.	388.4	287.4	229.6	NW	1	0	0

Figure 7. Plot matrix derived for the morphometric variables of DSGSDs. The analyses were conducted considering the three types of slope deformations mapped in the study area.

Plot matrix of the morphometric variables (Area, H/L, W/L, Mean Slope, Mean Aspect and Mean Relief) distinguished by DSGSD type.

Figure 8. Anomalous areas identified within the different types of DSGSDs: (a) sackung; (b) spreading; (c) complex type mechanism; (d) histogram of the distributions of the different types and number of DSGSDs identified by anomalous areas; the red bars indicate ongoing/active phenomena.

Vezzani, L., Festa, A., & Ghisetti, F. (2010). Geology and tectonic evolution of the Central-Southern Apennines, Italy. Geological Society of America Special Paper, 469, 1–58. https://doi.org/10.1130/SPE469

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Data availability statement

The inventory of ‘Deep-Seated Gravitational Slope Deformations (DSGSDs) and main geomorphological features of Molise region (Italy)’ is stored at the link https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7445688. Moreover, a web-GIS version of the database can be found at the Centro di ricerca, previsione e controllo dei rischi geologici (CERI) website https://gdb.ceri.uniroma1.it/index.php/view/.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Geoservizi srl for the data and information provided. This study is part of the research project ‘Integrated analysis and hazard-oriented modeling of large-scale slope instabilities featured by Mass Rock Creep’ (scientific responsible Carlo Esposito) funded by Sapienza University of Rome. The Authors gratefully acknowledge the Editors Mike J. Smith and Chi-Wen Chen, and the reviewers Samuele Segoni, Su-Min Shen, and Cecilia Furlan for their suggestions that improved the manuscript.