LA CATASTROFE IDROGEOLOGICA DEL 1581 NEI MONTI PICENTINI (SA) TRA EVIDENZE D’ARCHIVIO E INDAGINI GEOMORFOLOGICHE

Abstract

Esposito G. & Galli P., The 1581 hydrogeologic disaster in the Picentini Mounts (Campania, southern Italy) between archive and geomorphological researches. The western slopes of the carbonate Picentini mountains have been historically affected by mud or debris flows involving the thick pyroclastic-derived soils mainly originated from the Vesuvius volcano tephra. In this paper we took both a historical and geomorphological approach to the revisiting of one of the most catastrophic hydrogeological events of the whole Campania region (Tyrrhenian southern Italy). We carried out researches in archives looking for original documents describing the effects of the poorly known 1581 alluvial flood, finding coeval reports which account for more than 700 victims and terrific damage to buildings and factories. We have also carried out aerophotos interpretation and field survey in the area affected by this historical storm and flood (i.e., in the municipalities of Castiglione del Genovesi, San Cipriano Picentino and Giffoni Sei Casali, NE of Salerno), finding conclusive evidence of ancient, recent and present flow-like mass movements, involving mainly distal volcanic deposits (reworked and pedogenized ashes and pumices) and slope debris. These features affect several inhabited settlements of the area, constituting a very high risk factor for the region.Mud flow