See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

net/publication/271631332

The role of drainage systems and intermontane basins in the Quaternary

landscape of the Central Apennines chain (Italy)

Article  in  Rendiconti Lincei. Scienze Fisiche e Naturali · December 2014

DOI: 10.1007/s12210-014-0312-2

CITATIONS READS

28 400

2 authors:

Tommaso Piacentini Enrico Miccadei

Università degli Studi G. d'Annunzio Chieti e Pescara Università degli Studi G. d'Annunzio Chieti e Pescara
123 PUBLICATIONS   932 CITATIONS    158 PUBLICATIONS   1,520 CITATIONS   

SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

Object-Based Image Analysis for the seafloor characterization of the Wadden Sea, North Sea (Germany) View project

Landslide Hazard and Environment Risk Assessment View project

All content following this page was uploaded by Tommaso Piacentini on 10 September 2015.

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei
DOI 10.1007/s12210-014-0312-2
INTERMONTANE BASINS IN CENTRAL-SOUTHERN ITALY
The role of drainage systems and intermontane basins
in the Quaternary landscape of the Central Apennines chain
(Italy)
Tommaso Piacentini • Enrico Miccadei
Received: 15 December 2013 / Accepted: 18 June 2014
Ó Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei 2014
Abstract The Central Apennines chain (Central Italy) is
an asymmetric NW–SE thrust belt, NE verging, that has
developed since the Neogene. The present landscape is
made up of alternating calcareous ridges, valleys on pelitic
arenaceous bedrock, as well as wide intermontane basins
filled by Quaternary continental deposits. The chain is
characterised at high elevation by glacial and isolated
patches of dissected karst relict landscapes elevations, and
by slope landforms, alluvial fans and fluvial landforms
within valleys and intermontane basins; in the latter ancient
lacustrine deposits are preserved. Intermontane basins,
valley and drainage systems, and relict landscapes are
affected by active geodynamic processes resulting in
regional uplift, extensional faulting and local subsidence,
and by Quaternary climate fluctuations. In this work, the
main intermontane basins have been correlated along a
SW–NE transect, comparing sedimentary sequences and
morphotectonic features, the evidence of local tectonics
and uplift pulses, and the main features of the drainage
systems, in order to outline the drainage changes occurred
during the Quaternary in the Central Apennines chain.
This peer-reviewed article is part of a coordinated collection of
scientific researches on the comparative evolution of intermontane
basins of the central-southern Apennines.
Electronic supplementary material The online version of this
article (doi:10.1007/s12210-014-0312-2) contains supplementary
material, which is available to authorized users.
T. Piacentini (&)
E. Miccadei
Department of Engineering and Geology, INGEO, Università
degli Studi ‘‘G. D’Annunzio’’ Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini,
31, 66100 Chieti Scalo (CH), Italy
e-mail: tpiacentini@unich.it
E. Miccadei
e-mail: miccadei@unich.it
Along a SW–NE swath profile, min, mean and max
topography elevations, the basins’ min elevation, the ele-
vation of the main karst landforms, and the Pleistocene
uplift have been compared. These correlations and com-
parisons allowed us to provide a further contribution to the
understanding of the Quaternary evolution of the drainage
systems and the landscape of the Central Apennines chain.
Keywords Drainage systems
Intermontane basins

Tectonic geomorphology
Landscape
Central Apennines
1 Introduction
The mountain chains’ landscape is the result of the compe-
tition of tectonics that moves rock masses and surface pro-
cesses that shape the landscape reworking and redistributing
rocks, controlled by climate, eustasy and lithologies distri-
bution. The resulting topography of a chain is composed of
different morphostructures and morphosculptures. In this
framework, the analysis of drainage systems and intermon-
tane basins provides evidence for the understanding of the
landscape evolution of mountain chains. The Central A-
pennines, located in Central Italy, are a NW–SE asymmetric
mountain chain, tectonically active due to Quaternary uplift
and extensional tectonics, and are characterised by alter-
nating ridges (NW–SE to N–S, up to 2,900 m high) and
valleys, as well as by intermontane basins (elevations
250–1,500 m, Fig. 1). The landscape shows alternating
glacial and karst landforms on the ridges’ top, slope land-
forms and alluvial fans on the slopes, and fluvial landforms
on the bottom of the valleys and intermontane basins;
Pleistocene lacustrine landforms and deposits are preserved
within the basins. The Quaternary overall geomorphological
features have been studied by several authors (e.g.
123

Fig. 1 Geologic scheme (a) and regional geological cross section (b) of Central Italy (Parotto et al. 2003)
Demangeot 1965; Mazzanti and Trevisan 1978; Ambrosetti
et al. 1982; D’Agostino et al. 2001; D’Alessandro et al. 2003;
Molin and Fubelli 2005; Ascione et al. 2008 and references
therein), however the relationship between drainage sys-
tems, intermontane basins (and their connexion), and karst
landscapes, is still not fully understood, particularly as
regards the role played on drainage systems evolution.
In this work we explored the link existing between
intermontane basins, drainage systems and karst relict
landscapes on top of the ridges, in order to contribute to the
understanding of the geomorphological and drainage sys-
tems evolution of the Central Apennines chain’s landscape.
The analysis is based on: (a) a comparison of the main
123
Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei
features (i.e. sedimentary sequence, tectonics, geomorpho-
logical features) of the largest intermontane basins and (b) an
analysis of the elevation’s distribution of intermontane
basins, karst relict landscapes, and drainage features, along a
SW–NE 100 km-wide swath profile across the Central Italy.
2 Area description: Central Apennines chain
The Central Apennines chain (Central Italy) is a NW–SE
thrust belt, NE verging (Fig. 1), generated since the Neo-
gene by the westward subduction of the Adriatic plate. The
present topography outlines an asymmetric chain with the
Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei
Fig. 2 Swath profile *190 km long, SW–NE 100 km wide, sampled with a 100 m window from a 40 m DEM (location in Fig. 1), showing the
max, min, and mean topography elevations of the Central Apennines chain
highest peaks (Gran Sasso, 2,912 m; Maiella, 2,793 m)
shifted westward from the drainage divide (Fig. 2), and is
defined by the superimposition of different wavelength
undulations: (1) a wide bulging ([100 km wavelength); (2)
intermediate undulations (10–20 km wavelength); (3)
minor undulations (\2 km) (D’Agostino et al. 2001; Molin
and Fubelli 2005). The chain is made up of Mesozoic–
Cenozoic calcareous thrust sheets and Neogene pelitic
arenaceous terrigenous foredeep deposits (Patacca et al.
2008; Vezzani et al. 2010; Cosentino et al. 2010). Since the
Upper Pliocene the thrust belt has been affected by regional
uplift (average rate 0.2–1 mm/a), connected to mantle
dynamic, responsible for a long-wavelength topographic
bulge (D’Agostino et al. 2001; Ascione et al. 2008; Car-
minati and Doglioni 2012; Faccenna et al. 2014). Exten-
sional tectonics was localised in the axial part of the bulge
and has produced intermediate topography undulations
along major NW–SE extensional fault systems (Fig. 2)
(average slip rate *0.1–1.5 mm/a; Papanikolaou et al.
2005 and references therein), which have formed the main
faulted ridges and tectonic intermontane basins, inducing
the passive control of the thrust belt structure on the surface
processes (resulting in exhumed ridges, fault line valleys,
transversal valleys) (Cavinato and De Celles 1999; Gala-
dini and Messina 2004). Finally, the surface processes,
resulting from climate fluctuations (i.e. slope, glacial, and
karst processes) and from local base level variations (i.e.
fluvial processes) due to local tectonic subsidence, have
produced minor topography undulations, outlining the
present landscape. Otherwise, effects of regional base level
variations, induced by sea level fluctuation (Antonioli and
Vai 2004; Parlagreco et al. 2011; Miccadei et al. 2011) and
regional uplift, are confined to the mountain front and
piedmont areas, and the outer intermontane basins
(D’Agostino et al. 2001).
The drainage systems of the Central Apennines chain
show an overall rectangular pattern controlled by the
extensional tectonics, while the Adriatic piedmont parallel
pattern, perpendicular to the chain, is related to the regional
uplift bulging, and in the Tyrrhenian side the drainage is
controlled by volcanic landscape. The major intermontane
basins of the axial part of Central Apennines are Rieti,
Sora, Fucino, L’Aquila, Subequan and Sulmona, while
minor ones are scattered all along the chain at elevations
from \300 to [1,500 m (Figs. 1, 3; Table 1). All of the
major basins are presently externally drained, except for
the Fucino basin (artificially drained since 1876).
According to the relevant literature most of the intermon-
tane basins are controlled by local tectonic subsidence
along major NW–SE extensional faults. Most of these
faults are still active and affected by a recent and historical
seismicity. Only some basins are the result of surface
processes passively controlled by bedrock geology (fault
line basins; e.g. Castel di Sangro basin). They show dif-
ferent morphotectonic features due to: (a) bedrock geology
(calcareous/arenaceous pelitic), (b) tectonic setting (Pleis-
tocene-Holocene grabens–half grabens/Pliocene–Lower
Pleistocene faults), (c) Quaternary continental deposits fill
(lacustrine-fluvial deposits/fluvial-slope deposits), (d) geo-
morphological nature (tectonic/erosional), (e) timing of
their evolution (since Upper Pliocene/since Lower-Middle
Pleistocene) (Cavinato et al. 1994, 2002; Miccadei et al.
123
 Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei

Table 1 Main morphometric parameters of the intermontane basins investigations (Capelli et al. 1997; Ciccacci et al. 1999;
and plains of the Central Apennines Miccadei et al. 1999a, b; Cavinato et al. 2002; Miccadei
N Name Area Emin Emax Emean Type et al. 2004; Ascione et al. 2007; Boncio et al. 2011; Santo
(km2) (m) (m) (m) et al. 2014), compared with the relevant literature (Bosi and
Bertini 1970; Bertini and Bosi 1993; Blumetti et al. 1997,
1 Sora 190.1 276 554 372 Tectonic
2002; Bosi et al. 2003; Guerrieri et al. 2004; APAT 2006a,
2 Carsoli 20.0 565 736 629 Fault line
b, c, 2008; Giaccio et al. 2012, 2013 and references
3 Rieti 130.3 365 711 413 Tectonic
therein), mostly focusing on the recording of the main
4 Cornino-Rascino 1.3 1,274 1,366 1,292 Tectonic
stages of geomorphological evolution.
5 Fucino 380.9 642 1,102 701 Tectonic
The present day drainage systems of the chain are
6 Piani di Pezza 4.5 1,447 1,568 1,412 Tectonic
mostly composed of longitudinal tectonic valleys and fault
7 Campo Felice 10.0 1,525 1,650 1,556 Tectonic
line valleys, locally reincised into longitudinal gorges, that
8 Ovindoli 10.3 1,319 1,487 1,371 Fault line
join the tectonic intermontane basins (Fig. 3). The longi-
9 Altopiano delle 17.3 1,248 1,367 1,285 Fault line
tudinal drainage is linked by transversal gorges/valleys
Rocche
incising the main compressive ridges of the chain and
10 L’Aquia-Scoppito 67.5 613 951 700 Tectonic
composing the overall rectangular pattern; a transversal
11 Paganica-Dan 58.1 547 761 600 Tectonic
Demetrio drainage connects also tectonic basins and the chain’s
12 Subequana 31.2 443 882 587 Tectonic drainage system with the consequent drainage of the Tyr-
13 Montereale 15.8 808 955 846 Tectonic
rhenian and Adriatic piedmont areas (Rieti, Sulmona). The
14 Castelnuovo 18.0 717 862 782 Tectonic
only present day endorheic area is preserved in the Fucino
Civitaretenga basin in the axial part of the chain. Knickpoints on the
15 Navelli 8.6 671 756 683 Tectonic stream long profiles (due to lithological contrasts or
16 Aremogna 4.0 1,397 1,517 1,446 Tectonic extensional faults) correspond to gorges transversally
17 Cinquemiglia 11.3 1,221 1,337 1,265 Tectonic incising compressive structures or longitudinally incising
18 Roccaraso 3.6 1,215 1,271 1,227 Tectonic tectonic or fault line valleys.
19 Quarto Grande 20.8 1,234 1,525 1,293 Tectonic Major karst surfaces are now preserved on the summit
20 Castel di Sangro 20.3 788 1,032 840 Fault line landscape of carbonate ridges (Figs. 3, 4), with an average
21 Campo Imperatore 31.9 1,464 1,650 1,518 Tectonic
area of 3.3 km2 (0.2–17.9 km2), and their elevation’s dis-
22 Tirino 42.4 260 583 395 Tectonic
tribution ranges between 630 and 2,250 m (weighted
23 Sulmona 126.0 243 643 376 Tectonic
average elevation of 1,367 m). In most cases karst features
are flat or gently undulated (average elevation range
24 Valle Giumentina 1 660 800 720 Fault line
239 m; average slope 25.5 %) and are dissected and pre-
served above the present valleys. Some areas (south of
Campo Imperatore) show large tectonic-karst landscapes
1999a; Blumetti et al. 2002; Bosi et al. 2003; Guerrieri made up of small karst basins controlled by extensional
et al. 2004; Giaccio et al. 2012; Santo et al. 2014). The tectonics (structural polje).
summit areas of the chain are marked by relict glacial The intermontane basins have variable sizes (upto
landforms, which developed during the Pleistocene cold [380 km2) and are located from SW to NE, at different
stages, and by widespread karst landscapes. elevations (240–1,525 m a.s.l., Table 1). The comparison
of minimum elevations outlines three different clusters of
basins: (1) with min elevation from 270 to 570 m in the
3 Distribution and features of drainage systems, karst SW side of the chain; (2) with min elevation from 640 to
summit surfaces and intermontane basins 1,525 m in the axial part; (3) with min elevation ranging
from 240 to 1,460 m in the NE side.
This work is focused on second order topographic features The sedimentary fill of the basins is composed of
(intermontane basins, drainage systems) and partly on third complex sequences of slope, alluvial fan, fluvial and
order features (tectonic and fluvial valleys, karst surfaces) lacustrine Quaternary deposits, which unconformably
of the Central Apennines chain (D’Agostino et al. 2001; overlie the deformed pre-Quaternary bedrock (sealing
D’Alessandro et al. 2003; Molin and Fubelli 2005). In this thrust faults) and are displaced and tilted by extensional
section the main geomorphological features and distribu- faults (ESM 1.1–7).
tion of the drainage systems and karst summit surfaces are The oldest continental deposits (Upper Pliocene) lying
presented, as well as basin fill and geomorphological fea- on the bedrock of the intermontane basins are related to
tures of intermontane basins, resulting from previous slope, alluvial fan and fluvial processes and locally

123
Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei
Fig. 3 Central Apennines morphostructural scheme. Major present drainage features, major knick points and major karst relict landscapes
intersecting the main tectonic and fault line intermontane basins
lacustrine deposits are present (ESM 1). A 300–400 m
thick fluvial–alluvial fan deposit is present in the Rieti
basin and particularly all along a NNW–SSE elongated
depression south of Rieti (now at 400–800 m a.s.l), in
which gravel paleocurrents outline a SSE paleodrainage
opposite to the present one (ESM 1.1; Guerrieri et al. 2004;
Cosentino et al. 2008). Anomalous NNW drainage (oppo-
site to the present SE one) is also outlined in the Liri valley
by fluvial remnants dissected and preserved on the valley
slopes (Giraudi 1988). Tectonically tilted slope and alluvial
fan deposits (with lacustrine levels) are preserved in the NE
margin of the Fucino basin at 700–1,000 m a.s.l. (ESM 1.5;
Cavinato et al. 2002; Bosi et al. 2003; APAT 2006b) and
dissected on the slopes of the main ridges and in the main
drainage divide area (ESM 1.2, 6; east Marsica, L’Aquila,
Sangro, Bosi et al. 2003; APAT 2006a, b, c; Ascione et al.
2007; Miccadei et al. 2012). Buried lacustrine and alluvial
fan deposits are also present in the northern part of the
L’Aquila basin (ESM 1.2; GeMiNa 1963; APAT 2006a;
Santo et al. 2014) and in the Fucino basin (Cavinato et al.
2002).
No or small patches of Lower Pleistocene slope and
alluvial fan deposits are dissected and tilted on the slopes
of the eastern basins (Aterno-Subequan, Sulmona, Castel di
Sangro basins; Miccadei et al. 1999a, 2004; APAT 2006c;
Giaccio et al. 2012; Santo et al. 2014). On relief summits,
and on the main drainage divide area, evidence of the
moulding of gently rolling erosional landscapes took place,
mainly due to fluvial and karstic planation outlining a NW–
SE longitudinal paleodrainage (paleo Sangro) different
from the present transversal one (Fig. 3, ESM 1.6; Ascione
et al. 2007; Miccadei et al. 2012; Santo et al. 2014).
The Lower–Middle Pleistocene interval is characterised
by the development of a thick lacustrine sequence within
fault-bounded internally draining basins, while on the main
slopes of the drainage divide and in the Castel di Sangro
plain, slope and alluvial fan deposits are terraced and
hanging on erosional landscapes (ESM 1.1–7). In the Rieti,
123

Fig. 4 Panoramic views of the Central Apennines outlining the relationship between intermontane basins, drainage features, glacial landscape
and karst summit landscapes (white shadow). a Area between the Fucino, L’Aquila and Sulmona basins. b Western Marsica-Sangro area
basin fluvial, alluvial fan, and lacustrine deposits fill a new
inner basin, which has progressively formed in the northern
part of the earliest NNW–SSE depression by tectonic sub-
sidence (along previous NNW–SSE and new E–W exten-
sional faults). The subsidence induced a drainage inversion
from SSE to NNW, evidenced by a change in the gravel
paleocurrent orientation (ESM 1.1; Cavinato 1993; Gu-
errieri et al. 2004; Cosentino et al. 2008). A drainage
inversion occurred also in the Sora basin area, from the
previous NNW drainage (evidenced by dissected fluvial
remnants) to the present SE one (Giraudi 1988), and in the
Sangro area, where the incision of a deep transversal gorge
into the previous gentle erosional landscape forced the
drainage reorganization, outlining the transversal Sangro
river similar to the present one (ESM 1.6; Ascione et al.
2007). In the Fucino basin, a *150–200 m lacustrine
sequence is buried in the present-day basin and uplifted on
the NE side (Cavinato et al. 2002) and outlines a strong
tectonic subsidence. Along the main drainage divide areas
and tributary valleys at least two entrenched units of slope
and alluvial fan deposits are present (Bosi et al. 2003;
Miccadei et al. 2012; Ascione et al. 2007) (ESM 1.6). Thick
lacustrine deposits are widespread in the entire L’Aquila-
Aterno-Subequan basin (from *100–150 m in the Sube-
quan basin to[300 m in the L’Aquila area; ESM 1.2, 3) and
123
Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei
in the Sulmona basin (upto [300 m; ESM 1.4). They are
made up of grey clayey siltstone and/or white calcareous
siltstone units and, along the basins’ border, they are int-
erbedded with alluvial fan deposits (GeMiNa 1963; Bosi
and Bertini 1970; Bertini and Bosi 1993; Miccadei et al.
1999b; Bosi et al. 2003; APAT 2006a, b, c; Giaccio et al.
2012). In this time interval, the thresholds between these
basins show evidence of surface connexion with the for-
mation of alluvial fans at the inlet into the basins but also
evidence of underground karst connexions along the lon-
gitudinal valleys (between L’Aquila and Sulmona) or the
transversal valleys (to the north of Sulmona). Finally, major
fault escarpments formed during Middle Pleistocene,
affected by slope deposits (all the basins), huge landslides
(Rieti, Fucino, L’Aquila, Sulmona) and occasionally (Rieti)
volcanic activity (ESM 1.1, 2, 4, 5; Cavinato et al. 2002;
Guerrieri et al. 2004; Miccadei et al. 2004; APAT 2006a, b,
c; Giaccio et al. 2012; Blumetti et al. 2013; Santo et al.
2014).
In the late Middle Pleistocene, in most of the basins,
erosional features truncated previous lacustrine deposits,
that are overlaid by widespread fluvial deposits and locally
by travertine deposits (ESM 1.1–7). In the Rieti basin
scattered fluvial and travertine deposits are located on the
valleys that incise the eastern fault escarpment and buried
Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei
in the inner basin (ESM 1.1; Soligo et al. 2002; Guerrieri
et al. 2004); travertine deposits defined thresholds at the
eastern inlet and western outlet of the basin. In the Fucino
basin fluvial deltaic deposits overlie lacustrine deposits
uplifted in the NE side of the basin, while lacustrine
deposits are buried under the present basin fill (ESM 1.2;
Cavinato et al. 2002). On the slopes and valleys of the main
divide and in the Castel di Sangro area, fluvial and alluvial
fan deposits are present and the progressive incision of
gorges and valleys into the previous relict landscape occur
(ESM 1.6, 7; Galadini et al. 2003; Ascione et al. 2007;
Santo et al. 2014). In the L’Aquila-Aterno-Subequan and
Sulmona basins, fluvial and fluvial deltaic deposits largely
overlie lacustrine deposits, with the emplacement of allu-
vial fans or fan deltas (ESM 1.2). Along the main gorges
connecting the basins, evidence of the collapse of previous
underground karst drainage can be found. In Sulmona,
temporary travertine threshold have formed at the basin
northern outlet. In the Castel di Sangro area previous
alluvial fan and fluvial units are terraced and a new unit of
entrenched fluvial deposits has formed (ESM 1.7). The
fault escarpments are still growing mostly in the northern
and north-eastern sides of the basins (except for Castel di
Sangro) and are scarcely weathered. Along the thresholds
between intermontane lakes, transversal and longitudinal
gorges were incised with the collapses of the underground
karst connexions, forming terraced and entrenched alluvial
fans at the inlet into the basins (e.g. Sulmona) (ESM 1.4).
In the Upper Pleistocene–Holocene interval the basins
and fluvial valleys are dominated by fluvial and alluvial fan
deposits, terraced and entrenched along the main rivers
(ESM 1.1–7). Lacustrine deposits are present in the
remaining endorheic lacustrine areas (i.e. Fucino basin;
lower part of the Rieti basin). Recent tectonic activity is
documented on most of the NW–SE fault systems bor-
dering the basins by paleoseismological studies (Galli et al.
2008) and by recent-historical seismicity, which still
affects the main fault systems (e.g. 1915 Fucino and 2009
L’Aquila earthquakes).
4 Discussion
The intermontane basins of the Central Apennines chain
have been first correlated along a SW–NE transect, com-
paring sedimentary and morphotectonic features, local
tectonics and uplift, and the main features of the drainage
systems (Fig. 5), in order to outline the drainage changes in
the chain (Fig. 6). Then, they have been correlated along
the SW–NE swath profile (Fig. 7) comparing min–mean–
max topograpy with the basins’ min elevation, the eleva-
tion of the dissected karst surfaces, and the Pleistocene
uplift (after Ascione et al. 2008).
4.1 Correlation of intermontane basins and drainage
systems
The correlation (Fig. 5; ESM 1.8) outlines an asynchrony
of the first depositional process in the basins–Upper Plio-
cene in the W and axial part (i.e. Rieti, Fucino, L’Aquila-
Aterno), Lower Pleistocene in the E part (i.e. Subequan,
Sulmona, Castel di Sangro)––and an overall synchrony of
the evolution of the basins.
During the Upper Pliocene the incipient tectonic subsi-
dence along the main NW–SE to NNW–SSE normal faults
(i.e. NE Rieti and Fiamignano faults, N and NE Fucino
faults, NE L’Aquila faults) induced the formation of gentle
elongated basins. The western basins mostly show thick
slope and alluvial fan deposits, outlining an exorheic
drainage (Rieti), while in the axial basins (L’Aquila, Fu-
cino) lacustrine deposits are present, outlining an endorheic
drainage (Fig. 6a). On top of the ridges, gently rolling
fluvial-karst erosional landscapes are progressively moul-
ded up to Lower Pleistocene.
During the Lower Pleistocene a progressive enlargement
of the endorheic areas occurred (Fig. 6b), shown by the
spread of lacustrine deposits and by a first rearrangement of
the drainage (inversion in the Rieti area).
During the Middle Pleistocene the development of an
impressive system of lakes within internally draining fault-
bounded basins (except for Castel di Sangro) outlined a strong
drainage rearrangement with the development of a large en-
dorheic drainage system within the chain (Fig. 6c) and the
prevailing of fault escarpments growth and local tectonic
subsidence (along the main NW–SE to NNW–SSE normal
faults) over sedimentary fill and over the effects of regional
uplift. This is testified by: (a) thick lacustrine deposits, tec-
tonically displaced and tilted; (b) the hang-up, dissection, and
tilting of previous deposits on the basins’ border; (c) their
downthrow in the basins’ centre; (d) the formation of major
fault escarpments. The lake drainage occured both through
lake thresholds (forming alluvial fans downstream) and along
underground karst connexions, showing that these basins
possibly have had the features of large structural polje, at least
in this time interval. Out of the endorheic area (Castel di
Sangro and divide area), a rearrangement from a longitudinal
drainage to a transversal one also occurred, due to the incision
of previous gentle erosional landscapes (Fig. 6c).
During the late Middle Pleistocene, an abrupt change
occurred, from an endorheic drainage system to an open
through-going drainage system dominated by rivers con-
necting intermontane basins due to the incision and col-
lapse or lake threshold forming deep longitudinal and
transversal gorges and the capture of lake systems
(Fig. 6d). This is outlined, in most of the basins, by ero-
sional features truncating lacustrine sediments and by the
shifting to a widespread fluvial sedimentation; the change
123

Fig. 5 Morphotectonic correlation of major intermontane basins in the Central Apennines, including main stratigraphic features, main uplift,
local tectonic subsidence and drainage incisions geomorphological effects. For more detail see ESM 1.1–8
in facies and in the geomorphological environment is
unlikely to be only climatically driven (high sediment yield
in late Middle Pleistocene cold climate stage), since some
endorheic lake basins (i.e. the Fucino basin) have survived
until recent times. At this stage surface processes overcome
the effects of local tectonic subsidence and fault escarp-
ment growth; the combination of headward fluvial incision
and underground karst drainage collapses incised deep
subsequent and transversal gorges into most of the lakes’
thresholds, dismantling the previous endorheic drainage,
due to local base level lowering in tectonically subsiding
basins and to regional uplift. Moreover, the regional uplift
induced the drainage incision and the dissection of previ-
ous karst landscapes.
Finally, from Upper Pleistocene the present drainage
system was outlined by river incision and the development
of fluvial terraces entrenched within the basins and sur-
rounding valleys (Fig. 6d).
4.2 Swath profile correlation
The correlation, along the SW–NE swath profile, of uplift
distribution (Ascione et al. 2008) with intermontane basins’
elevation and type and with karst surfaces (Fig. 7) outlines
two main features.
First, the elevation of the intermontane basins is mostly
between the mean and min topography elevation and in
some cases corresponds to the min elevation. This sug-
gests that in most cases the major basins correspond––or
are very close––to the local base level within the chain
123
Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei
and they are in equilibrium with the present open drain-
age systems towards the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Adriatic
Sea (i.e. Sora, Subequan, Sulmona). However, on the SW
Tyrrhenian side some of them (e.g. Rieti) are still
between the mean and min topography elevation or close
to major river knickpoints (Fig. 7); here a further drainage
rearrangement and incision is expected. In the Fucino
endorheic basin, according to the elevation above the min
topography and to the east highest divide, a westward
drainage rearrangement (connexion with the Tyrrhenian
drainage) is likely to occur. On the NE side of the chain:
(a) some basins are above the min topography (L’Aquila-
Aterno) or close to major knickpoints (Subequan),
(b) some small basins are well above the min topography,
also above the mean topography, and (c) the area shows
the highest topographic relief (highest peaks and very low
min elevation; Fig. 7). This confirms that the NE side of
the Apennines chain is in a strong topographic disequi-
librium, and further local tectonic subsidence and drain-
age rearrangement are expected, with regressive erosion
and knick points retreat from the lowest elevation area
(Sulmona basin).
Second, karst surfaces outline landscapes mostly above
the mean elevation and in some cases at max elevations
(Fig. 7), that are dissected and preserved above the base
level. This confirms that major karst surfaces are remnants
of ancient landscapes (at least pre-Middle Pleistocene) that
developed at the beginning of the chain landscape evolu-
tion, before regional uplift, local tectonic subsidence and
drainage systems incision.
 Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei

Fig. 6 Drainage system evolution in the Central Apennines chain: a upper Pliocene paleodrainage; b lower Pleistocene drainage system; c closed endorheic Middle Pleistocene drainage system
and major drainage inversions; d open through-going drainage system (except for the Fucino and other minor basins) and major drainage connections and gorge incisions

123

Fig. 7 Correlation along a 100 km wide SW–NE coast-to-coast
swath profile of the Central Apennines chain of karst present and
paleo landscapes, intermontane basins elevation (for numbers see
5 Conclusions
By comparing intermontane basins’ features and their
space-time distribution, drainage features and main karst
surfaces and landscapes arrangement through a SW–NE
transect and a swath profile, we have explored the rela-
tionship between drainage systems and intermontane basins
of the Central Apennines chain, outlining the role of uplift,
local tectonics and surface processes in the drainage evo-
lution. Comparing the results with the geological frame-
work of the study area drawn by previous studies, the
following contribution to the understanding of the Qua-
ternary landscape of the chain’s are provided.
After the asynchronous inception of the formation of
intermontane basins––Upper Pliocene in the western part,
Lower Pleistocene in the eastern part––related to the
eastward migration of the extensional tectonics in the A-
pennines, due to sublithospheric processes (e.g. slab retreat,
mantle upwelling, Cavinato and De Celles 1999; D’Agos-
tino et al. 2001; Galadini and Messina 2004; Carminati and
Doglioni 2012), the geomorphological evolution of the
basins is mostly comparable: (1) the Upper Pliocene-Lower
Pleistocene interval is characterised by fluvial, alluvial fan
and lacustrine sedimentation and by the progressive
development of NW–SE and NNW–SSE fault bounded
basins, which induced strong drainage rearrangements
(drainage inversions, change from longitudinal to trans-
versal drainage) and the progressive enlargement of
123
Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei
Table 1), with Pleistocene uplift (from Ascione et al. 2008), min,
mean and max topography elevation
endorheic areas in the axial part of the chain; (2) the
Lower–Middle Pleistocene interval is dominated by thick
lacustrine deposits and by the development of an impres-
sive system of lakes within internally draining fault
bounded basins in the whole Apennines chain, induced by a
strong local tectonic subsidence along the main extensional
fault systems overcoming the effects of regional uplift; (3)
during the late Middle Pleistocene, the abrupt change from
an endorheic drainage system to an open going-through
one occurred, resulting from the basins’ connexion by deep
longitudinal gorges (incised on tectonic valleys or fault line
valleys) and transversal gorges (across the main ridges) due
to headward fluvial incision and underground drainage
collapse. At this stage, the effects of surface processes
induced by regional uplift and climate overcome those of
local tectonics and subsidence within the basins.
The correlation of intermontane basins, karst landscapes
and Pleistocene uplift along the swath profile of the Central
Apennines chain outlines that: (1) karst surfaces are rem-
nants of relict dissected landscapes (at least older than the
Middle Pleistocene) that developed at the beginning of the
landscape evolution, before drainage incision; (2) in the
western side of the chain, which already experienced a
strong drainage rearrangement (i.e. Rieti, Sora), a further
rearrangement and incision is expected, at least along the
main knickpoints due to their eastward retreat (Rieti); (3) in
the axial part (Fucino) a westward drainage connexion is
expected; (4) the NE side of the chain is in a strong
Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei
topographic disequilibrium (highest topographic relief;
basins above the present base level or even above the mean
topography), except for the Sulmona basin, and further
local tectonic subsidence, knick points retreat and drainage
rearrangement is expected.
Acknowledgments The authors wish to thank the anonymous
reviewers and the special volume’s editors, whose precious comments
and suggestions greatly improved the manuscript. The work was
financed by the University ‘G. d’Annunzio’ of Chieti Pescara (E.
Miccadei, T. Piacentini). The paper is the result of a research carried
out by: Enrico Miccadei (research guideline) and Tommaso Piacentini
(geomorphological analysis, GIS data processing, mauscript).
References
Ambrosetti P, Carraro F, Deiana G, Dramis F (1982) Il sollevamento
dell’Italia centrale tra il Pleistocene inferiore e il Pleistocene
medio. CNR Progetto Finalizzato Geodinamica 2:219–223
Antonioli F, Vai GB (2004) Climex Map Italy and explanatory notes.
Project sponsored by ENEA, In: Margottini C, Vai GB, 32nd
International Geological Congress, Florence, Italy
APAT (2006a) Carta geologica d’Italia alla scala 1:50.000, Foglio
359 ‘‘L’Aquila’’. APAT Servizio Geologico d’Italia
APAT (2006b) Carta geologica d’Italia alla scala 1:50.000, Foglio
368 ‘‘Avezzano’’. APAT Servizio Geologico d’Italia
APAT (2006c) Carta geologica d’Italia alla scala 1:50.000, Foglio
369 ‘‘Sulmona’’. APAT Servizio Geologico d’Italia
APAT (2008) Carta geologica d’Italia alla scala 1:50.000, Foglio 357
‘‘Cittaducale’’. APAT Servizio Geologico d’Italia
Ascione A, Miccadei E, Villani F, Berti C (2007) Morphostructural
setting of the Sangro and Volturno rivers divide area (Central-
Southern Apennines, Italy). Geografia Fisica e Dinamica Qua-
ternaria 30:13–29
Ascione A, Cinque A, Miccadei E, Villani F, Berti C (2008) The Plio-
Quaternary uplift of the Apennine chain: new data from the analysis
of topography and river valleys in Central Italy. Geomorphology
102:105–118. doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2007.07.022
Bertini T, Bosi C (1993) La tettonica quaternaria della Conca di Fossa
(L’Aquila). Il Quaternario 6(2):281–286
Blumetti AM, Coltorti M, Ferreli L, Michetti AM, Petronio C, Raffy
J, Sardella R (1997) Fucino Basin. Supplementi di Geografia
Fisica e Dinamica Quaternaria 2:79–103
Blumetti AM, Di Filippo M, Zaffiro P, Marsan P, Toro B (2002)
Seismic hazard characterization of the city of L’Aquila (Ab-
ruzzo, Central Italy): new data from geological, morphotectonic
and gravity prospecting analyses. Studi Geol Camerti 1:7–18
Blumetti AM, Guerrieri L, Vittori E (2013) The primary role of the
Paganica-San Demetrio fault system in the seismic landscape of
the Middle Aterno Valley basin (central Apennines). Quatern Int
288(4):183–194. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2012.04.040
Boncio P, Pizzi A, Cavuoto G, Mancini M, Piacentini T, Miccadei E
et al (2011) Geological and geophysical characterization of the
Paganica––San Gregorio area after the April 6 2009 L’Aquila
earthquake (Mw 6.3, central Italy): implications for site
response. Boll Geofis Teorica e Applicata 52(3):491. doi:10.
4430/bgta0014
Bosi C, Bertini T (1970) Geologia della media valle dell’Aterno.
Mem Soc Geol Italiana 9:719–777
Bosi C, Galadini F, Giaccio B, Messina P, Sposato A (2003) Plio-
Quaternary continental deposits in the Latium-Abruzzi Apen-
nines: the correlation of geological events across different
intermontane basins. Il Quaternario 16:55–76
Capelli G, Miccadei E, Raffi R (1997) Fluvial dynamics in the Castel
di Sangro plain: morphological changes and human impact from
1875 to 1992. Catena 30:295–309
Carminati E, Doglioni C (2012) Alps vs. Apennines: the paradigm of
a tectonically asymmetric earth. Earth Sci Rev 112:67–96.
doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2012.02.004
Cavinato GP (1993) Recent tectonic evolution of the quaternary
deposits of the Rieti Basin (Central Apennines, Italy): southern
part. Geol Romana 29:411–434
Cavinato GP, De Celles PG (1999) Extensional basins in the
tectonically bimodal central Apennines fold-thrust belt, Italy:
response to corner flow above subducting slab in retrograde
motion. Geology 27:955–958
Cavinato GP, Cosentino D, De Rita D, Funiciello R, Parotto M (1994)
Tectonic-sedimentary evolution of intrapenninic basins and
correlation with the volcano-tectonic activity in Central Italy.
Mem Descrittive Car Geol d’Italia 49:63–76
Cavinato GP, Carusi C, Dall’Asta M, Miccadei E, Piacentini T (2002)
Sedimentary and tectonic evolution of Plio-Pleistocene alluvial
and lacustrine deposits of the Fucino Basin (central Italy). Sed
Geol 148:29–59. doi:10.1016/S0037-0738(01)00209-3
Ciccacci S, D’Alessandro L, Dramis F, Miccadei E (1999) Geomor-
phologic evolution and neotectonics of the Sulmona intramon-
tane basin (Abruzzi, Apennine, Central Italy). Zeirschrift für
Geomorphologie 118:27–40
Cosentino D, Miccadei E, Barberi R, Basilici G, Cipollari P, Parotto
M, Piacentini T (2008) Note illustrative alla Carta Geologica
d’Italia (scala 1:50.000), Foglio 357 ‘‘Cittaducale’’. Servizio
Geologico d’Italia, ISPRA
Cosentino D, Cipollari P, Marsili P, Scrocca D (2010) Geology of the
Central Apennines: a regional review. J Virtual Explorer, 36
D’Agostino N, Jackson JA, Dramis F, Funiciello R (2001) Interac-
tions between mantle upwelling, drainage evolution and active
normal faulting: an example from the Central Appennines
(Italy). Geophys J Intern 147(2):475–497
D’Alessandro L, Miccadei E, Piacentini T (2003) Morphostructural
elements of central-eastern Abruzzi: contributions to the study of
the role of tectonics on the morphogenesis of the Apennine
chain. Quatern Int 101(102):115–124
Demangeot J (1965) Geomorphologie des Abruzzes Adriatiques.
Memoires et Documentes 1:403
Faccenna F, Becker TW, Auer L, Billi A, Boschi L et al (2014)
Mantle dynamics in the Mediterranean. Am Geophys Union.
doi:10.1002/2013RG000444
Galadini F, Messina P (2004) Early-Middle Pleistocene eastward
migration of the Abruzzi Apennine (central Italy) extensional
domain. J Geodynamics 37:57–81. doi:10.1016/j.jog.2003.10.002
Galadini F, Messina P, Giaccio B, Sposato A (2003) Early uplift
history of the Abruzzi Apennines (central Italy): available
geomorphological constraints. Quatern Int 101(102):125–135.
doi:10.1016/S1040-6182(02)00095-2
Galli P, Galadini F, Pantosti D (2008) Twenty years of paleoseis-
mology in Italy. Earth-Sci Rev 88:89–117
GeMiNa (1963) Ligniti e torbe dell’Italia continentale. I.L.T.E.,
Torino, pp 319
Giaccio B, Galli P, Messina P, Peronace E, Scardia G, Sottili G et al
(2012) Fault and basin depocentre migration over the last 2 Ma
in the L’Aquila 2009 earthquake region, Central Italian Apen-
nines. Quatern Sci Rev 56:69–88
Giaccio B, Castorina F, Nomade S, Scardia G, Voltaggio M, Sagnotti
L (2013) Revised Chronology of the Sulmona Lacustrine
Succession, Central Italy. J Quat Sci 28(6):545–551. doi:10.
1002/jqs.2647
Giraudi C (1988) Inversione pleistocenica del drenaggio in alta Val
Roveto (Abruzzo sud-occidentale). Mem Soc Geol Italiana
35:847–853
123

Guerrieri L, Brunamonte F, Comerci V, Ferreli L, Michetti AM,
Pompili R, Serva L (2004) Geological evolution of the
intermountain Rieti basin (Central Apennines). In: Pasquarè G,
Venturini C, Groppelli G (eds) Mapping Geology in Italy.
SELCA, Firenze
Mazzanti R, Trevisan L (1978) Evoluzione della rete idrografica
nell’Appennino centro-settentrionale. Geografia Fisica e Dinam-
ica Quaternaria 1:55–62
Miccadei E, Barberi R, Cavinato GP (1999a) La geologia quaternaria
della Conca di Sulmona. Geol Romana 34:59–86
Miccadei E, Parotto M, Piacentini T (1999b) Assetto geologico-
strutturale dei monti della Conca Subequana (Appennino
abruzzese, Italia centrale). Geol Romana 34:31–50
Miccadei E, Paron P, Piacentini T (2004) The SW escarpment of the
Montagna del Morrone (Abruzzi, Central Italy): geomorphology
of a faulted-generated mountain front. Geografia Fisica e
Dinamica Quaternaria 27:55–87
Miccadei E, Mascioli F, Piacentini T (2011) Quaternary geomorpho-
logical evolution of the Tremiti Islands (Puglia, Italy). Quatern
Int 232:3–15. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2010.04.028
Miccadei E, D’Alessandro L, Parotto M, Piacentini T, Praturlon A (2012)
Note illustrative alla Carta Geologica d’Italia (scala 1:50.000),
Foglio 378 ‘‘Scanno’’. Servizio Geologico d’Italia ISPRA
Molin P, Fubelli G (2005) Morphometric evidences of the topo-
graphic growth of the central Apennines. Geografia Fisica e
Dinamica Quaternaria 28:47–61
123
View publication stats
Rend. Fis. Acc. Lincei
Papanikolaou ID, Roberts GP, Michetti AM (2005) Fault scarps and
deformation rates in Lazio-Abruzzo, Central Italy: comparison
between geological fault slip-rate and GPS data. Tectonophysics
408(1–4):147–176
Parlagreco L, Mascioli F, Miccadei E, Antonioli F, Gianolla D,
Devoti S, Leoni G (2011) New data on Holocene relative sea
level rise along the Abruzzo coast (central Adriatic). Quatern Int
232:179–186. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2010.07.021
Parotto M, Cavinato GP, Miccadei E, Tozzi M (2003) Line CROP 11:
central Apennines. Mem Descr Carta Geol Italiana 62:145–153
Patacca E, Scandone P, Di Luzio E, Cavinato GP, Parotto M (2008)
Structural architecture of the central Apennines: Interpretation of
the CROP 11 seismic profile from the Adriatic coast to the
orographic divide. Tectonics 27:TC3006
Santo A, Ascione A, Di Crescenzo G, Miccadei E, Piacentini T,
Valente E (2014) Tectonic-geomorphological map of the middle
Aterno river valley (Abruzzo, Central Italy).
J Maps 10(3):365–378. doi:10.1080/17445647.2013.867545
Soligo M, Tuccimei P, Barberi R, Delitala MC, Miccadei E,
Taddeucci A (2002) U/Th dating of freshwater travertine from
middle Velino valley (Central Italy): geological and paleocli-
matic implication. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol
184:147–161
Vezzani L, Festa A, Ghisetti FC (2010) Geology and tectonic
evolution of the Central-Southern Apennines, Italy. Spec Pap
Geolo Soc Am 469:1–58