Geomorphological Signature of Late Pleistocene Sea Level Oscillations in Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (Adriatic Sea, SE Italy)
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water Article Geomorphological Signature of Late Pleistocene Sea Level Oscillations in Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (Adriatic Sea, SE Italy) Francesco De Giosa 1, Giovanni Scardino 2 , Matteo Vacchi 3,4 , Arcangelo Piscitelli 1, Maurilio Milella 1, Alessandro Ciccolella 5 and Giuseppe Mastronuzzi 2,* 1 Environmental Surveys Srl, Via Dario Lupo 65, 74121 Taranto, Italy; [email protected] (F.D.G.); [email protected] (A.P.); [email protected] (M.M.) 2 Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e Geoambientali, Università degli Studi di Bari “Aldo Moro”, Via Edoardo Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy; [email protected] 3 Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Pisa, Via Santa Maria 53, 56126 Pisa, Italy; [email protected] 4 CIRSEC, Center for Climate Change Impact, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy 5 Consorzio di Gestione di Torre Guaceto, Via Sant’Anna 6, 72012 Carovigno (Brindisi), Italy; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 10 September 2019; Accepted: 12 November 2019; Published: 16 November 2019 Abstract: Morphostratigraphy is a useful tool to reconstruct the sequence of processes responsible for shaping the landscape. In marine and coastal areas, where landforms are only seldom directly recognizable given the difficulty to have eyewitness of sea-floor features, it is possible to correlate geomorphological data derived from indirect surveys (marine geophysics and remote sensing) with data obtained from direct ones performed on-land or by scuba divers. In this paper, remote sensing techniques and spectral images allowed high-resolution reconstruction of both morpho-topography and morpho-bathymetry of the Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (Italy). These data were used to infer the sequence of climatic phases and processes responsible for coastal and marine landscape shaping. Our data show a number of relict submerged surfaces corresponding to distinct phases of erosional/depositional processes triggered by the late-Quaternary interglacial–glacial cycles. In particular, we observed the presence of submerged marine terraces, likely formed during MIS 5–MIS 3 relative highstand phases. These geomorphic features, found at depths of ~26–30, ~34–38, and ~45–56 m, represent important evidence of past sea-level variations. Keywords: morphostratigraphy; sea-level changes; marine terraces; river incisions; Adriatic Sea 1. Introduction Ice-cores and marine sediment records indicate that the climate of the last 500 ky was characterized by ~100 ky warm–cold cyclicity [1,2] which led to repeated transitions between glacial and interglacial periods. These transitions triggered cycles of accretion and melting of the major ice-sheets with consequent major oscillations of sea-level position [3–5] and significant modifications of the on-land and sea-floor landscapes. Morphostratigraphy applied to landscape evolution has allowed recognition of relict sequences of past morphogenetic processes associated with these glacial and interglacial climatic phases [6,7]. In particular, past landscapes have been often reconstructed through a combination of geomorphological and sedimentological analyses [8–10]. In the Mediterranean Sea, this multidisciplinary approach has proved to be very useful to understand genesis and evolution of particular landforms and sea-floor Water 2019, 11, 2409; doi:10.3390/w11112409 www.mdpi.com/journal/water Water 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 15 multidisciplinary approach has proved to be very useful to understand genesis and evolution of particular landforms and sea-floor features as well as to infer relative sea-level (RSL) changes and their influence on coastal landscape evolution (e.g., [11–14]). However, many relict landforms are often difficult to observe and to analyze because they are located in submarine areas or covered by thick layers of more recent sediments. This is, for instance, the case of colder climatic phases when sea level was many m below the modern position, considering the tectonic contribution as well (e.g., [15,16]). This issue was progressively resolved thanks to recent technological advances that allow collecting high-resolution data to characterize the morpho- Water 2019, 11, 2409 2 of 14 bathymetry and morpho-topography of a specific zone, even in underwater environments [17–19], using remote sensing techniques and spectral images. featuresIn this as well paper, as towe infer investigated relative sea-level the coastal (RSL) and changes off-shore and zones their influenceof the Marine on coastal Protected landscape Area evolution(MPA) of (e.g.,Torre [11 Guaceto–14]). (Adriatic Sea, SE Italy, Figure 1) through remote sensing techniques, morphological,However, manyand stratigraphic relict landforms surveys are oftenin or diderffi cultto recognize to observe and and correlate to analyze chronologically because they aresubaerial located and in submerged submarine landforms. areas or covered by thick layers of more recent sediments. This is, for instance,Pleistocene the marine case of terraces colder and climatic Holocene phases deposit whens seacan levelprovide was an many important m below insight the into modern late- position,Quaternary considering rates of vertical the tectonic displacements contribution [20,21 as well]. In (e.g.,south-eastern [15,16]). ThisApulia, issue evidence was progressively of Marine resolvedIsotope Stage thanks (MIS) to 5 recent are rare technological and poorly constrain advancesed that in terms allow of collectingchronology high-resolution and elevation. The data sole to characterizeavailable indirect the morpho-bathymetry age comes from the andsouth-eastern morpho-topography Murge (Torre of aSanta specific Sabina zone, locality even in near underwater Brindisi, environmentsFigure 1b). Here, [17– a19 coastal], using deposit remote sensingsituated techniquesat ~3 m a.s.l. and overlies spectral a images. colluvial deposit bearing Late Paleolithic–MousterianIn this paper, we investigatedflints and, thus, the it coastal can be andcorrelated off-shore to a zonesgeneric of MIS the 5 Marine [22,23]. ProtectedIn the northern Area (MPA)part of Apulia, of Torre near Guaceto Manfredonia (Adriatic (Figure Sea, 1a,b), SE Italy, MIS Figure 5 deposits1) through were found remote at depth sensing of –22 techniques, m [24]; it morphological,implies significant and subsidence stratigraphic rate surveys (–0.17 in mm/y) order tothat recognize are comparable and correlate to the chronologically areas placed in subaerial a very anddifferent submerged geodynamic landforms. context (e.g., Trieste, Versilia, and Sarno plains [20]). Figure 1. ((aa)) Study Study area area located located in in Apulia Apulia region; region; ( (bb)) location location of of Torre Torre Guaceto Guaceto surveyed surveyed area (Adriatic Sea, SE Italy); (c)) surveyssurveys werewere performedperformed fromfrom PuntaPunta PennaPenna GrossaGrossa toto ApaniApani Islands.Islands. PleistoceneIn this study, marine we identified terraces the and presence Holocene of depositsrelict marine can provideterraces anand important other subaerial insight landforms into late- Quaternarypresently lying rates along of verticalthe Apulian displacements continental [shelf.20,21 ].We In correlated south-eastern them Apulia,to the major evidence late-Quaternary of Marine Isotopeclimatic Stagephases (MIS) coupling 5 are rare models and poorly with constraineddata availa inble terms on ofland chronology [20,21]. andThis elevation.analysis Theallowed sole availablereconstructing indirect the age coastal comes evolution from the of south-eastern the Torre Guaceto Murge Marine (Torre SantaProtected Sabina Area locality (MPA) near during Brindisi, the Figurelast 1501 b).ky. Here, a coastal deposit situated at ~3 m a.s.l. overlies a colluvial deposit bearing Late Paleolithic–Mousterian flints and, thus, it can be correlated to a generic MIS 5 [22,23]. In the northern part2. Geological of Apulia, Settings near Manfredonia (Figure1a,b), MIS 5 deposits were found at depth of 22 m [24]; − it implies significant subsidence rate ( 0.17 mm/y) that are comparable to the areas placed in a very Torre Guaceto is a tower of the XV− century, placed on a promontory located north of the town different geodynamic context (e.g., Trieste, Versilia, and Sarno plains [20]). of Brindisi, inside of the MPA of Torre Guaceto (Figure 1). The study area overlaps the Canale Reale In this study, we identified the presence of relict marine terraces and other subaerial landforms river, which divides the Murge plateau from the Taranto-Brindisi plain [25,26]. Different lithological presently lying along the Apulian continental shelf. We correlated them to the major late-Quaternary units crop out in this area, whose deposition is connected to past sea level stands and tectonic factors climatic phases coupling models with data available on land [20,21]. This analysis allowed reconstructing the coastal evolution of the Torre Guaceto Marine Protected Area (MPA) during the last 150 ky. 2. Geological Settings Torre Guaceto is a tower of the XV century, placed on a promontory located north of the town of Brindisi, inside of the MPA of Torre Guaceto (Figure1). The study area overlaps the Canale Reale river, which divides the Murge plateau from the Taranto-Brindisi plain [25,26]. Different lithological units crop out in this area, whose deposition is connected to past sea level stands and tectonic factors Water 2019, 11, 2409 3 of 14 Water 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of