INTERAZIONE TRA TETTONICA RECENTE E PROCESSI GEOMORFICI

Abstract

The interaction between active tectonics and geomorphic processes.This paper was addressed to point out the main geomorphic indicators of active tectonics and to clarify the possible interactions between tectonics and erosional/depositional processes in various geomorphic scenarios. For each group of processes (fluvial, slope, karst and coastal) the most common indicators have been selected
trying also to discern the typology of the tectonic movement (uplift, faulting, tilting) that they can outline. The problem of the “calibration” and sensitivity of the various indicators was also faced.
The analysis outlines that the use of many indicators is limited by several factors represented by the difficulty on finding precise chronological constraints, by their low degree of preservation and by the convergence between some landforms actively and passively controlled by structure.
Moreover, due to the variable erodibility of the outcropping rocks and to the variable rates of deformation with respect to the rates of
geomorphic processes, the various geomorphic scenarios can be more or less favourable for the genesis and preservation of the indicators. The absence of geomorphic indicators will not necessarily outline the absence of active tectonics, but could represent the
response to tectonics active with rates lower than the rates of the main geomorphic processes.
For this reason, the research for the indicators will have to be detailed and calibrated in relation to the scenario in which it will be carried out.