Recent Researches in Information Science and Applications Erosion Hazard Assessment of the Cilento Coastal Stretch (Southern Italy) PAOLO BUDETTA Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering University of Naples Piazzale Tecchio, 80 – 80125 Napoli ITALY
[email protected] Abstract: - This paper deals with natural and human causes giving rise to the coastal erosion of the Cilento shoreline. It is predictable that, in 2100, along the coasts of the Mediterranean Sea a sea level rise varying between 9 and 30 cm will be attained. This increase will cause also a marked rise in the coastal erosion of beaches and rocky coasts of the studied area. The current state of knowledge about erosion processes affecting beaches and cliffs of the Cilento shoreline was shown. Finally, a hazard zonation of potential beach erosions and landslides also was proposed. Key-Words: - Sea level rise, erosion, sandy beaches, rocky coasts, hazard zonation, Cilento, Southern Italy. 1 Introduction The aim of this paper is to show the current state Although still controversial, the gradual increase in of knowledge about erosion processes affecting the mean global warming, probably induced in part by Cilento shoreline. This stretch of coast is crossed by human activities, will among other things lead to a some important transportation corridors (state roads rise in the sea level. In the last 2,000 years the sea and the Tyrrhenian railway) linking famous tourist level has risen about 1.30 metres, in tectonically resorts such as Agropoli, Casalvelino, Palinuro, and stable areas of the central Mediterranean Sea. Due Sapri. Furthermore, during the summer the whole to a probable effect of the anthropic global coast stretch is intensely inhabited and exploited for warming, the sea level has risen about 12 cm during bathing purposes.