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Climatic signal and its variations in the tree rings from extreme environments bordering the Mediterranean region [Il segnale climatico e le sue variazioni negli anelli di accresci...

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Geomorphological maps as a key approach for enhancing the natural and cultural heritage of the Apuan Alps Regional Park area and surroundings (, )

C. Baroni (*), M. Bini (*), M. Coltorti (**), P. Fantozzi (**), G. Guidobaldi (*), D. Nannini (*), P. Pieruccini (**), A. Ribolini (*) & M.C. Salvatore (*)

______(*) Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra , University of Pisa, Via S. Maria 53, 56126, Pisa, Italy. E-mail: [email protected] (**) Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche della Terra e dell’Ambiente, University of Siena, Strada Laterina, 2, 53100 Siena, Italy

Document type: Short note Manuscript history: received 30 May 2013; accepted 22 July 2013; editorial responsibility and handling by Domenico Calcaterra. ______

ABSTRACT location of the Apuane Alps parallel to the coast (Ligurian Sea) and the rapid rise of the relief (around 2000 m of elevation in The Apuan Alps represent an extraordinary area for investigating the less than 10 km) favours the rapid cooling of damp air masses natural and cultural heritage of a park of relevant scientific interest in the of Atlantic or Mediterranean origin, inducing intense mountain Mediterranean basin, being a key site for reconstructing palaeoclimate and defining the anthropogenic impact on the environment. Through dedicated rainfall (`barrier effect'). Recorded rainfall on the Apuane Alps field survey complemented by remote sensing analyses, we planned a shows an average of over 3000 mm/yrs (Rapetti & Vittorini, geomorphological map of the Apuan Alps area with the aim to provide a 1994). useful tool in the management of the Apuan Alps Geopark (inserted in the European Geopark Network since 2011). Here we present two examples of selected areas depicting different aspects of the geomorphological and METHODS cultural heritage of the Apuan Alps, sculpted by deeply different morphogenetic agents: the Late Pleistocene glacial activity and the The geomorphological map is carried out through a antropogenic contribution. dedicated geomorphological survey complemented by remote sensing analyses. Landforms and deposits have been mapped KEY WORDS: Apuan Alps, cultural heritage, geomorphological map, GIS, glacial landform, historical quarry. according to the guidelines adopted by the National Group of Physical Geography and Geomorphology of the CNR and the INTRODUCTION National Geological Survey, Working Group for the Geomorphological Cartography (Gruppo di Lavoro per la In this work we illustrate the motivations, the Cartografia Geomorfologica, 1994). A colour has been methodological approach and some preliminarily results of a assigned to each landform and deposit for identifying the running project finalized to the geomorphological map of the geomorphic process it originated from. Different shades of the Apuan Alps Geopark area and surroundings, promoted and same colour have been set to indicate the state of activity funded by the Geopark itself. Inserted in the European and/or the age of the feature, while distinct symbols represent Geoparks Network since 2011, this geopark presents several the geometry and the nature of the feature itself. Active and peculiarities that in overall constitute a natural and cultural inactive landforms can be distinguished on the basis of the heritage of high relevance in the Mediterranean Basin. The compatibility of the morphogenic factor that originated them wide variety of geomorphological landforms and with the morphoclimatic conditions acting at present. anthropogenic features, sometimes interconnected, allows to Because of the geomorphological peculiarities insight the history of the Apuan environment from many points characterizing the landscape of the Apuan Alps and of view. A geomorphological map, specifically planned, is a surrounding region the symbols have been implemented in formidable tool to depict this history. The Apuan Alps, located respect to the dataset commonly used. Particular attention has in the northern Tuscany, are an elliptic massif with the main been dedicated to the anthropogenic processes such as those axis, 50 km long, running parallel to the coast. The mountain that strongly modeled the landscape in the large marble quarry chain is bordered by the Basin hosting the Serchio area. Typical tools of remote sensing analysis and historical River towards NE, by the Lunigiana Basin cut by the Magra cartography have been also employed, in particular for River towards NW (at the NW margin of the map in Figure 1) investigating the floodplains and piedmont areas. All the while Versilia Plain separates the Apuan Alps from the geomorphological data, obtained with both direct and indirect Ligurian Sea. Monte Pisanino (1947 m a.s.l.) and Monte surveys, can be managed in a GIS environment and are here Tambura (1891 m a.s.l.) situated only 10 km inland from the considered in order to build a geomorphological database of coast are the highest peaks of the massif. The combined the area. Geomorphological features will be organized in GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAP AS A KEY APPROACH FOR ENHANCING THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE 11 OF THE APUAN ALPS REGIONAL PARK AREA AND SURROUNDINGS (TUSCANY) different layers on the basis of their geometry (areal, linear and Domain and the Apuan Alps Metamorphic Complex. The punctual features). Layers will be associated with attribute External Tuscan Domain (Apuan Alps Metamorphic table in order to describe the occurrences belonging to each Complex), even called “Autochton Unit”, is the lower tectonic information layer. In particular, attributes associated with Unit of the chain. Characterized by a Paleozoic basement individual morphotypes will describe the morphogenesis, the covered by a Mesozoic – Tertiary sedimentary succession morphodynamics, the morphometry and, when available, the affected by greenshist facies metamorphism, it outcrops in a chronology of both erosional and depositional landform tectonic window below the “Allochton Units” of the Inner features. Tuscan Domain. Morphochronological data should be obtained also from comparison between multitemporal aerial photographs, as GEOMORPHOLOGICAL SETTING previously applied in other Tuscany area (Ciccacci et al., 2009). The geomorphological database will allow us to quickly The area has been modeled by a great variety of integrate and update the information layers also with data from geomorphic processes, many of them still active. Landforms other sources, as well as to highlight and identify the main and deposits generated by marine and aeolian actions are geomorphosites in the area. widespread along the coast (Bini et al., 2009; 2010; 2012) while moving inland features typical of floodplains have been mapped (i.e. palaeomeanders; Bisson & Bini, 2012). The areas at the outskirts of the core of the Apuan Alps are strongly affected by slope and fluvial processes as documented by several landslides, deep-seated-slope-gravitational- deformations, and huge alluvial fans; (Federici et al., 2007; Coltorti et al., 2008). Many of these processes are favoured by the structural lineaments crossing the Apuane Alps (Putzolu, 1996). Intensive karst process originated in this area more than 1500 caves (Fallani & Piccini, 2003), some of these present big dimensions and relevant scientific interest (Corchia system, Saragato-Aria Ghiaccia-Squisio complex, Abisso Revel and Abisso Roversi). Also the epigeous features are widely evident, becoming a dominant elements of large slope sectors (Vetricia plateau and Carcaraia slope). Fig.1 – Location map of the Apuan Alps area. In pink is evidenced the Moving toward the top of the mountains, landforms and limit of the” Geomorphological map of the Apuan Alps Geopark and deposits originated by the action of glaciers during the Upper surrandings” (in progress). In red the Campocatino and Fossacava area (Figs. 2 and 4, respectively). Pleistocene are relatively well preserved (Braschi et al., 1987). Finally, the territory of the Apuan Alps includes the renowned marble extractive areas of . In these areas extensive GEOLOGICAL SETTING landforms and deposits related to the past and modern marble quarrying activity are extraordinarily evident since a long The geological evolution of the Apuan Alps is directly distance (Baroni et al., 2000). related to the processes that brought to the development of the Northern Apennines fold – thrust belt. Subduction of Adria Plate under Sardinia – Corsica block and back – arc rifting due EXAMPLES OF SITES RELEVANT FOR NATURAL to the eastward migration of the subduction and to the slab AND CULTURAL HERITAGE retreat are the two main processes responsible of the actual setting of the area. The collisional tectonic phases, started from Here below we present two geomorphological sketch maps Oligocene, produced overlapping structures and metamorphic exemplifying the complex landscape texture of the Apuan processes. Normal faulting, uplift and exhumation are the Alps. The selected areas (Fig. 1) depict different aspect of the onsequence of the later extensional tectonics, that developed geomorphological and cultural heritage of the Apuan Alps, and since Late Miocene (Carmignani & Klingfield, 1990; should be proposed as geomorphosites, sculpted by deeply Carmignani et al., 2000). In the whole area of the Apuan Alps different morphogenetic agents: the Late Pleistocene glacial three main tectonic domains, can be identified. activity and the anthropogenic contribution. The Ligurian Domain (Craetaceous sup.-Paleogene) is what remains of the Alpine Tethys oceanic basement, covered by CAMPOCATINO AREA marine sediments, and represents the upper unit of the fold- thrust belt. The Inner Tuscan Domain (Tuscan Nappe) is a Evidences of Pleistocene glaciations, principally consistent sedimentary succession, part of the Adria Plate continental with the Last Glacial Maximum cold period, are documented in margin, that develops from Upper Triassic to Lower Miocene. the Apuan Alps. In this respect, the low latitude, the proximity The unit is tectonically interposed between the Ligurian to the sea and the altitudes not exceeding 2000 m a.s.l., makes 12 C. BARONI ET AL. the Apuan Alps a key site for the study of the glacial phenomenon in the Mediterranean realm, potentially providing striking data to be compared and contrasted with those coming from similar areas (Finsinger & Ribolini, 2001; Ribolini et al., 2011; Federici et al., 2012). The Campocatino site, located in the eastern sector of the Apuan Alps, is an exemplificative example showing how the Pleistocene glaciers shaped the Apuan landscape. Campocatino preserves several of the most common features of the glacial forefields of the mid latitude ranges (i.e. glacial cirques, morainic ridges, erratic boulders, intra-morenic plain). Therefore, the area acquires a relevant didactical role, also because the geomorphology assessment plays a role in the ecosystem development (several endemism are attested here). Fig. 3 - Relict of Roman quarry cuts in the area of Fossacava. The main glacial features in this area are mapped in Fig. 2. The Roccandagia glacial cirque is carved in the marble of Monte Roccandagia (1709 m). The overdeepened hollow HISTORICAL MARBLE QUARRIES directly below the cirque is filled by lacustrine and fluvio- lacustrine deposits encompassed by moraine ridges. The area of the Apuan Alps, besides its relevant naturalistic Campocatino morainic complex constitute a concentric system value, is known for being a site where the anthropogenic of lateral and frontal moraines, eventually dismantled in the activity significantly contributes to shape the landscape, frontal sector by fluvial erosion acting during the retreat phases especially by past and present quarrying activity. of the glacier. The most external morainic ridge system starts at The history of quarrying activity in the Apuan Alps, in 1085 m and at 1150 m on the E and W side respectively, and particular in basins, goes back to the Pre- continues downward converging in correspondence of the Roman and Roman period (I millennium B.C.; Fig. 3). The Campocatino village. Minor moraine ridges are preserved gallic poet Rutilio Namaziano (De reditu suo, 417 A.D.) was within the external moraine (Fig. 2), testifying some minor the first to mention the existence of dump deposits (ravaneti) at retreat phases (pulses). Moraines have been locally reworked least since the Roman period, describing this landscape from by shallow landslides, human actions as quarrying and the port of Luni (10 km to the NW of Carrara): `Dives agricultural activities. marmoribus tellus quae luce coloris provocat intactas luxuriosa nives' (… in a marble-covered land which glitters like unblemished snow …). After a long period of break following the Roman period, quarrying activity revived in the 12th Century, increasing during the Renaissance. Legendary is the example of Michelangelo’s works of art carved in marble blocks extracted in the Carrara quarry basins. In the 18th Century explosives were introduced in quarrying activities, that was until that time carried out almost exclusively by hand. Thus, huge volumes of dump material were produced, with a consequent increase in the debris deposit, combined with remarkable changes in the landscape. Today enormous tips of dump quarry material cover entire hillsides and valley bottoms (Fig. 4).

The dump deposits (ravaneti), being the result of such Fig. 2 – Geomorphological sketch map of the area of Campocatino. 1: intense and lasting quarrying activity, constitute a widespread bedrock; 2: morainic ridge; 3: glacial deposit; 4: debris flow deposit; 5: feature of the present landscape. Frequently, they are involved fluvial deposit; 6: active debris cone; 7: inactive debris cone; 8: inactive slope debris; 9: landslide (flow); 10: inactive scree; 11 active scree; 12: in debris flows processes, representing a source of quarry dump; 13: glacial cirque; 14: fluvial channel; 15: saddle of structural environmental hazard in the area (Baroni et al., 2000). influence; 16: edge of landslide scarp; 17: channel carved in bedrock; 18: The multimillennial history of the quarrying activity surface of structurale influence. combined with their role in modelling the landscape, made necessary to create an appropriate cartography. Baroni et al. (2010) realized a geomorphological map of the Carrara marble In overall, the study of the morainic complex of basins at a scale of 1:10.000 where the evolution of the Campocatino can enable us to formulate hypothesis about the anthropogenic landscape is presented. The Authors identify glacial phases occurred in the Apuan Alps, and more in general four main stratigraphic units in the ravaneti, mirror of the on the effects of global palaeoclimatic changes in this evolution of the quarrying techniques over the centuries. The Mediterranean mountain range. geomorphological map allows us to detect the past and active GEOMORPHOLOGICAL MAP AS A KEY APPROACH FOR ENHANCING THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE 13 OF THE APUAN ALPS REGIONAL PARK AREA AND SURROUNDINGS (TUSCANY)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work is financial supported by the Apuan Alps Geopark.

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