- 1Department of Engineering , Università Telematica Pegaso, Naples, Italy (claudia.caporizzo@unipegaso.it)
- 2Department of Science and Technology, Università degli Studi di Napoli “Parthenope”, Naples, Italy
- 3Department of Earth Sciences, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
- 4Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and Resources, Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy
- 5Italian National Research Council, Rome, Italy
- 6Department of European and Mediterranean Cultures, Environment, and Cultural Heritage, Università della Basilicata, Matera, Italy
Understanding long-term relative sea-level (RSL) changes and coastal dynamics in geologically stable areas is vital to decoding the interplay of natural processes and human adaptations. This multidisciplinary research explores the connection between mid-to-late Holocene sea-level shifts and tectonic influences along the mid-Tyrrhenian coastline, spanning the Fondi and Garigliano coastal plains.
During the Roman era, the city of Formia emerged as a pivotal observation point for the Tyrrhenian Sea, functioning as a major commercial hub with extensive urban development along its shores. Nowadays, this is testified by numerous archaeological remnants perfectly preserved along the coastal area.
To reconstruct the morpho-evolution of the coastline and RSL changes during the mid-to-late Holocene, a geodatabase comprising 52 sea-level markers (SLMs) was created. These markers were derived from direct geoarchaeological assessments, stratigraphic and paleoecological analyses of new borehole data, and existing stratigraphic studies. Radiocarbon dating of three peat samples yielded fresh RSL insights, ranging from 7.62 ± 47 ka BP to 1.00 ± 51 ka BP. The dataset shows that between 9.0 and 8.0 ka BP, the sea level rose from -19 m to -6.5 m at a rate of approximately 15.6 mm/year, eventually decelerating to 0.8 mm/year and stabilizing near present-day levels. During the 1st century BC, the local sea level is estimated to have reached no higher than -0.55 ± 0.29 m.
The analysis of these SLMs supports the notion of tectonic stability in the region over the past 2.0 ka. This conclusion aligns with RSL data falling within the glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) signal, and the calculated average vertical ground movement rates of -0.017 ± 0.23 mm/year.
Additionally, by integrating data from bibliographic sources, new geoarchaeological surveys, and geomorphological investigations, the study identifies significant coastal changes over the last 2.0 ka. These transformations are largely marked by coastal progradation, driven by a combination of natural forces and human interventions.
How to cite: Caporizzo, C., Gionta, A., Mattei, G., Vacchi, M., Aiello, G., Barra, D., Parisi, R., Corrado, G., Pappone, G., and Aucelli, P. P. C.: Holocene Coastal Dynamics and Relative Sea-Level Variations along the Mid-Tyrrhenian Coastline, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4382, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4382, 2025.
