Cambiamenti climatici e coste in Sicilia

The San Leone (Agrigento) dunes: geomorphological environment and managment

Landform characteristics and the impact of human structures on the coastal area of Pozzallo (South Sicily, Italy)

The marble field of Custonaci (Sicily-Italy)

Marble quarrying: an energy and waste intensive activity in the production of building materials

Marble represents an important component of Italian buildings, where it is often utilized as a covering for bottom surfaces, despite its relatively high price. Moreover, it characterizes several public buildings, for which it is by far the most important decorative material, also because of its structural features and its long durability. Unfortunately, marble quarrying is an energy intensive activity that requires relevant amounts of electric and thermal energy sources; in addition, the extraction of the marble blocks from the mountain sides does involve a noticeable quantity of explosives, particularly in sites where traditional working methods are utilized. Another important feature of t…

Evaporite karst in Sicily

Karst areas are distributed over most of Sicily. The most widespread karst rocks are carbonates, particularly limestones, but karst phenomena can also be seen in evaporites and particularly in salt mines. This report provides an overview of evaporite karst in Sicily, along with a “case history” that shows some of the evaporite karst risks to the environment. In the centre and south of Sicily, a thick sequence of Messinian evaporite rocks are subject to dissolution from meteoric and formation waters. In areas where potassium salts and rock salts are being mined, some geomorphologic changes result from the drilling of boreholes and the collapse of underground mines, thus lowering or collapsin…

SINKHOLES IN GESSOSO SOLFIFERA FORMATION (CENTRAL SICILY): HISTORICAL RESEARCH

Assessment of Coastal Vulnerability in South Sicily

Use of differential SAR interferometry for detecting and measuring ground displacement due to a extensive landslide near Niscemi (Sicily, Italy)

The quarry waste "Ravaneti" in Sicily: geomorphologic aspect

Grandwater resources in Sicily: vulnerability and management

Monitoring and management of the Ustica coasts (Sicily-Italy)

Rischi nelle aree carsiche in Sicilia: "case history" in aree carbonatiche ed evaporitiche

Marbles of Sicily (Italy)

Rischio nelle aree carsiche in Sicilia: "Case History" nella Piana di Cinisi (Palermo)

Tecniche di monitoraggio delle spiagge

Vulnerability assessment of a coastal sector in south sicily (Italy)

Nuove tecnologie radar per il monitoraggio delle deformazioni superficiali del terreno: casi di studio in Sicilia

Coastal erosion in Sicily: geomorphologic impact and mitigation (Italy)

Il bacino idrografico del Fiume Imera meridionale valutazione della pericolosità da frana

Coastal dynamics: shoreline detection in a Sicilian beach

Advanced radar-interpretation of InSAR time series for mapping and characterization of geological processes

Abstract. We present a new post-processing methodology for the analysis of InSAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry) multi-temporal measures, based on the temporal under-sampling of displacement time series, the identification of potential changes occurring during the monitoring period and, eventually, the classification of different deformation behaviours. The potentials of this approach for the analysis of geological processes were tested on the case study of Naro (Italy), specifically selected due to its geological setting and related ground instability of unknown causes that occurred in February 2005. The time series analysis of past (ERS1/2 descending data; 1992–2000) and current…

Medium-term shoreline evolution of the mediterranean coast of Andalusia (SW Spain)

Coastal environment is a dynamic system in which numerous natural processes are continuously actuating and interacting among them. As a result, geomorphologic, physical and biological characteristics of coastal environments are constantly changing. Such dynamic balance is nowadays seriously threatened by the strong and increasing anthropic pressure that favors erosion processes, and the associated loss of environmental, ecologic and economic aspects. Sandy beaches are the most vulnerable environments in coastal areas. The aim of this work was to reconstruct the historical evolution of the Mediterranean coastline of Andalusia, Spain. The investigated area is about 500 km in length and includ…

Mine sinkhole in Siciliy: geomorphologic and environment hazard

Vulnerability evaluation of a multilayer aquifer for a sustainable use the resources (western Sicily, Italy)

Slope instability in a historical and architectural interest site: the Agrigento hill (Sicily-Italy)

Sinkholes: dissoluzione delle evaporiti in Sicilia centromeridionale

Environmental hazard and water quality: the River Platani basin

The River Platani, situated in the western side of Sicily, is one of the greatest rivers of the island. It runs for about 103 Km and the basin extends to about 1,784.9 Km. It rises near Santo Stefano Quisquina (Ag); the river flows to Capo Bianco (Ag) ends in the Mediterranean Sea. The morphology of the basin is predominantly characterized by rises of modest entities with slopes sweet or calanques. In the containing gypsum and carbonatic stony heaps are diffused the karst phenomena. In the Platani basin some mines are located of rock salt and potassium salts; today the mines are closed after a long activity and they interact with the geomorphology of the territory and on the water quality o…

Natural and Anthropogenic Hazard: mine sinkholes in Sicily (Italy)

The San Leone (Agrigento) dunes: coastal geomorphology

Insar time-series analysis for management and mitigation of geological risk in urban area

This work shows the capabilities of InSAR time series analyses to support civil protection activities in the framework of geological risk management and mitigation. We discuss the outcomes from an integrated analysis of conventional in situ investigations and observations with advanced InSAR analyses carried out for the test sites of Agrigento and Naro (Italy), affected by ground instability respectively due to landsliding and tectonic forces. The study of past ground deformations provided valuable insights into the spatial and temporal patterns and behaviors of these phenomena, helping local civil protection authorities to focus resources on the areas of maximum need and to identify the mo…

Climatic changes and coastal erosion in Sicily

Detection and monitoring of ground deformation in urban areas with advanced multi-interferogram techniques

Earth flow. A case history in the upper valley of the Platani River

Geomorphic hazard and risk in Platani's basin: landslide risk valuation

Landslide Impacts on Agrigento’s Cathedral Imaged with Radar Interferometry

ERS1/2 (1992–2000), ENVISAT (2002–2008) and RADARSAT1 (2003–2007) satellite data, processed with Persistent Scatterer Interferometry, are exploited to study the historic urban area of Agrigento, Italy, whose structural stability is threatened by retrogressive landslide processes. Up to 2–5mm/year of line-of-sight displacement are observed in 1992–2008 on the staircase and the left aisle of the Cathedral. Displacement acceleration to 13–15mm/year is measured in July 2006–May 2007, in the northern portion of the churchyard, in front of the left aisle. The areas moving at higher rates, located at the edge of the NW slope of Girgenti hill, correspond to those showing major structural damages. A…

Tecnica Differenziale Interferometrica per l’individuazione di un dissesto: il caso della frana di Niscemi

Rischio nelle aree carsiche in Sicilia "case History" nella Piana di Cinisi

Evaporitic karst in Sicily

Field observations of an earth flow event in the valley of Platani River (Sicily-Italy)

Disused mines hazard: sinkoles in salt mine in racalmuto area (Sicily)

Geological and geomorphological aspects of the landslide of the Cathedral of Agrigento (Sicily-Italy)

Geomorphological environment: dunes in Agrigento coast

[ITA] La fascia costiera di San Leone (Agrigento-Siclia). è costituita da una spiaggia sabbiosa delimítala verso terra da un complesso dunale di particolare pregio. L'assetto geomorfologico di questo litorale è stato inlluenzato dal forte grado di antropizzazione del luogo. La fascia costiera nel tempo ha súbito degli avanzamenti e arreiramenti. Sono stati quindi analizzati e proposti alcuni rimedi. mirali alia ricostruzione. al mantenimenlo e alia diíesa della duna.

Decadal evolution of coastline armouring along the Mediterranean Andalusia littoral (South of Spain)

Abstract Emplacement of hard coastal defence structures, such as seawalls, revetments, groins and breakwaters, or even ports, harbours and marinas, is commonly known as coastline armouring. This paper deals with coastal armouring evolution along the 546 km Mediterranean coast of Andalusia (Spain). It is based on photo interpretation and GIS tools, which have been employed to map coastal structure emplacement and evolution by analysis of 1956, 1977, 2001 and 2010 aerial photos. Additionally the coefficient of infrastructural impact K , which represented the relation between the total length of maritime structures and the length of the study coastal section, was obtained - i.e. minimal at 0.0…

ASSESSMENT OF BEACH LITTER ALONG THE COAST: CASE STUDY OF THE CITY OF CADIZ (SPAIN)

The United Nations Environment Program defines as waste all the persistent marine debris deposited or abandoned in the sea (marine litter) and beach (beach litter) environment. Thus including all substances or products abandoned or involuntarily dispersed into the sea or on the coastline. It has been estimated that, all around the world, about 10 million tons of waste coming from domestic, commercial and industrial activities reach the seas every year. Moreover, waste floating adrift in the seas and oceans can be carried very far away, reaching different places from the ones they were originated. Further, damage may result to various human activities and equipment, such as navigation, energ…

The Muti Coffari mine: natural and antrhopogenic hazard in evaporitic area (Sicily)

Ground instability in the old town of Agrigento (Italy) depicted by on-site investigations and Persistent Scatterers data

We combine on-site investigations with the interpretation of satellite Persistent Scatterers (PS) to analyse ground instability in the historic town of Agrigento, Italy. Geological and geomorphologic surveys, together with geostructural and kinematic analyses, depict the deformational patterns of the northwestern sector of the town, previously documented by extensive literature available for the neighbouring Valley of the Temples. The geological and geomorphologic maps are reconstructed by combining bibliographic studies, field surveys and aerial stereo-interpretation. ERS-1/2 PS data reveal deformation velocities up to 18–20 mm yr<sup>−1</sup> in 1992–2000 over the Addolorata l…

Sinkholes risk analysis: case history of Marsala (Sicily, Italy)

Given the increasing phenomenon of Sinkholes all over Italy, the Gruppo Nazionale per la Difesa dalle Catastrofi Idrogeologiche (G.N.D.C.I) and the Dipartimento della Protezione Civile (D.P.C.), during 2004, started a plan called Sinkholes dedicated to the phenomena in Italy. The plan provides the publication of the database realized by the D.P.C. by means of the census of beyond 1000 cases scattered across the nation. The city of Marsala is strongly characterized by the presence of a great number of Calcarenite cavities. The material object of extraction is the Calcarenite di Marsala of the Pleistocene, frequently used in the construction of buildings. The presence of the underground cavit…

On the slabbing of stones throughdiamond wire cutting

Diamond wires are usually used in the cutting operations aimed to obtain slabs of stones. This tool consists of a steel cable on which are mounted annular metal–diamond pearls. The use of this technology expanded all over the world because of its advantages on other slabbing techniques as both technical and economical aspects are considered. It should be observed that with this technology wear phenomena must be properly monitored in order to obtain the best process conditions. Inthis article, thediamondwire cutting operation is investigated, highlighting the process mechanics and the wear phenomena occurring in the used tools. Furthermore, a modified version of the tool itself is proposed w…

Integrated Managment of Marsala Coast (Sicily-Italy)

Integrated Managment of Marsala coast (Sicily): application of a new evaluation method

The mediterranean coast of Andalusia (sw spain): the impacts of human coastal structures

Spanish coasts, especially the Andalusia Mediterranean one, were affected over time by progressive urbanization and associated construction of defense structures. Such structures protected small coastal sectors but at places triggered processes of coastal erosion and associated degradation of habitats and ecosystems. A correct management of coastal areas must be based on the monitoring of coastal evolution and human pressure. A useful tool to evaluate the level of human anthropization is the estimation of the "Coastal Armouring", e.g. the quantification of coastal defense structures, infrastructures, ports, etc. In this study, available aerial photographs and satellite images from 1956 to 2…

Integrated geomorphological mapping in the north-western sector of Agrigento (Italy)

The geomorphological map is an essential tool to perform a proper urban planning in mountainous or hilly areas. In this paper a multidisciplinary approach to derive a 1:2000 geomorphological map is described. The proposed methodology consists of the integration between aerial photographs, acquired in 2003, and four datasets of Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) measures to update a pre-existing landslide inventory. The integrated data were used to achieve a validated geomorphological map by means of a geomorphological survey. The study area is located in southern Italy (Agrigento, Sicily). The city of Agrigento, included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO in 1997, is located on the…

Bacino Idrografico del Fiume Imera Meridionale: valutazione del rischio frana

Quarry limestone dust as fine aggregate for concrete

In quarrying activities, rock is extracted and transformed into aggregate of various sizes for civil engineering applications. In this process waste fine aggregates (dust waste) are generated. The disposal of this type of waste is a further cost in the extraction process, but also a possible cause of environmental pollution (e.g. leaching into water reserves, atmospheric pollution as a result of small particles causing respiratory diseases or deposited on plants disrupting photosynthesis, affecting aquatic habitats, etc.). A strategy for the effective recycling of quarry dust does not only reduce waste generation and disposal, but also addresses protection of the environment. The Italian qu…

Environmental analysis of the sediments in the beaches of the Gulf of Palermo (Italy)

Quarry Limestone Dust as Fine Aggregate for Concrete

In quarrying activities, rock is extracted and transformed into aggregate of various sizes for civil engineering applications. In this process waste, fine aggregates is generated. The disposal of this type of waste is a further cost in the extraction process, but also a possible cause of environmental degradation and pollution (e.g. leaching into water reserves, atmospheric pollution as a result of small particles causing respiratory diseases or deposited on plants disrupting photosynthesis, affecting aquatic habitats, etc.). A strategy for the effective recycling of quarry dust, not only reduces waste generation and disposal but also addressed protection of the environment. The Italian qua…

Coastal dynamics in western Sicily