Riverbeds and floodplains in the Mediterranean area have been largely affected by anthropogenic modifications mainly with incision, narrowing and channeling of the riverbed. In many cases these changes have also involved the river network, from braided to single thread. The Ligurian coastal floodplains are historically affected by flooding. In recent decades, an increase in floods has been observed either for the variation of the rainfall regime and for man-made landforms that influenced the geomorphological processes. This paper provides a first analysis of the morphological evolution of the ‘floodplain-riverbed’ system in the recent past in Ligurian Tyrrhenian basins. Human activities have modified the environment of the coastal floodplains: in all the analyzed cases the narrowing and the culverting of the riverbed have been found above all in the terminal stretch. Other changes concern diversion of watercourses and progradation of the coastline due to embankment. In many cases, the extent of the changes obliterated the presence of watercourses, reducing or eliminating the perception of risk. The knowledge of anthropic changes should therefore be used as a management and planning tool in the framework of risk reduction activities.

Anthropogenic changes in the alluvial plains of the Tyrrhenian Ligurian basins

Guido Paliaga;Anna Roccati;Francesco Faccini
2019-01-01

Abstract

Riverbeds and floodplains in the Mediterranean area have been largely affected by anthropogenic modifications mainly with incision, narrowing and channeling of the riverbed. In many cases these changes have also involved the river network, from braided to single thread. The Ligurian coastal floodplains are historically affected by flooding. In recent decades, an increase in floods has been observed either for the variation of the rainfall regime and for man-made landforms that influenced the geomorphological processes. This paper provides a first analysis of the morphological evolution of the ‘floodplain-riverbed’ system in the recent past in Ligurian Tyrrhenian basins. Human activities have modified the environment of the coastal floodplains: in all the analyzed cases the narrowing and the culverting of the riverbed have been found above all in the terminal stretch. Other changes concern diversion of watercourses and progradation of the coastline due to embankment. In many cases, the extent of the changes obliterated the presence of watercourses, reducing or eliminating the perception of risk. The knowledge of anthropic changes should therefore be used as a management and planning tool in the framework of risk reduction activities.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Luino.pdf

accesso chiuso

Descrizione: articolo principale
Tipologia: Documento in versione editoriale
Dimensione 1.12 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.12 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11567/957587
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 21
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 21
social impact