Geomorphic effects caused by heavy rainfall in southern Calabria (Italy) on 30 October–1 November 2015

Abstract

A severe rainfall event occurred in southern Calabria between 29 October and 2 November 2015, causing two deaths and serious damage to transport infrastructure. Widespread slope erosion and thousands of shallow landslides were triggered on the slopes, combined with flooding and transport of debris along the streams. Rains recorded by the regional gauge network and the national radar monitoring system were analysed by means of Kriging techniques. Ground effects were surveyed in the field, and mapped using post-event air photos taken along the coastal sector. Shallow landslides, soil erosion (including sheet, rill, and gully erosion), flooding, lateral erosion, and debris deposition along streambeds, overflow on lateral slopes, and fan deposition at the mouths of the streams were mapped at 1:60,000 scale. Isohyets of the rainfall event – in terms of cumulative maxima over 24 h – are also shown on the Main Map. In Annex A, a list of notices of processes and/or damage, arranged by municipalities, with coordinates, types of ground effect, and synthetic descriptions, is also provided.

Keywords

• Ground effects
• shallow landslides
• soil erosion
• heavy rainfall
• southern Calabria