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Dynamics of the Basilicata Ionian coast: human and natural drivers

  • COASTAL PROTECTION
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Abstract

Starting from the second half of the twentieth century, the Ionian coast of the Basilicata Region (southern Italy) has shown a progressive retreat. The analysis of the shoreline variations covering a time lapse of about 150 years has been carried out over the last 20 years according with the evolution of technology over time, so using various data sources and methods, as historical cartography, aerial and high-resolution (HR) satellites images, and Global Position System (GPS) surveys. The results of the analyses have proven to be helpful in describing the coastal dynamics, driven by several factors, natural or human induced, with their own intensity and frequency or persistency. In the case of Basilicata Ionian coast, the main reason of the progressive retreat is found in the huge sedimentary budget deficit, coming from the repeated damming of four of the five rivers flowing towards the sea in the Ionian coastal stretch. Moreover, the long observation period allows reading the punctual response of the coastal environment to the severe human induced variations either in the catchment areas of the rivers, or at coastal works along an already stressed coastline.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of European and Mediterranean Cultures, University of Basilicata, Via Lanera 20, 75100, Matera, Italy

    Roberta Pellicani

  2. Department of Agricultural and Environmental Science (DISAAT), University of Bari Aldo Moro, Via Amendola 165/A, 70126, Bari, Italy

    Ilenia Argentiero

  3. Department of Civil, Environmental, Land, Building Engineering and Chemistry, Polytechnic University of Bari, Via Edoardo Orabona 4, 70125, Bari, Italy

    Maria Dolores Fidelibus, Giulia Motta Zanin & Alessandro Parisi

  4. Support Unit, Institute for the Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment (IREA), National Research Council (CNR), Via Amendola 122/D, 70126, Bari, Italy

    Giuseppe Spilotro

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  1. Roberta Pellicani
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  2. Ilenia Argentiero
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  3. Maria Dolores Fidelibus
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Correspondence to Maria Dolores Fidelibus.

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Pellicani, R., Argentiero, I., Fidelibus, M.D. et al. Dynamics of the Basilicata Ionian coast: human and natural drivers. Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei 31, 353–364 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12210-020-00910-0

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