The MAGIC Project: Large scale geohazard mapping of the Italian continental margins

The Italian continental margins display intense tectonic activity reflecting their recent origin and the complex geodynamic setting. In addition to tectonic activity, sea level and supply fluctuation (related to Quaternary climate changes) greatly impacted on the growth and overall morphology of modern continental margins. The Italian coast and territorial water are therefore particularly exposed to geologic processes that determine rapid and frequent geomorphic evolution that may bear significant geohazard potential. The Italian project MAGIC (Marine Geohazards along the Italian Coasts), funded by the National Civil Protection Department, has been conceived in order to investigate and monitor on the geohazards of the Italian continental margins by producing detailed morpho-bathymetric maps as a base for geohazard interpretation and representation. Geohazards will be defined and represented in the Map of Geohazard Features of the Italian Seas, consisting of 72 sheets (scale 1:50.000) along the most active Italian margins; they include volcanic activity and vents, active faulting, sediment deformation associated to sediment loading/dewatering, sediment mass wasting, bedform migration, seafloor erosion and instability.