IL CONTROLLO DELLA STRUTTURA E DELLA TETTONICA PLIO-QUATERNARIA SULL'EVOLUZIONE DEL RETICOLO IDROGRAFICO DELL'APPENNINO MERIDIONALE

Abstract

The main features of the Southern Apennines hydrog­raphy are deeply linked to the tectonic setting of this belt, the latter being an asymmetric accretionary wedge migrating towards East with a back are basin opening to the West side. The mean gradient of the Western side of the orogen, which is larger than the Eastern one, together with the strong subsidence of both the Tyrrhenian coastal plains and the in­termountain basins, caused the fluvial piracy of the upper Adri­a tic catchments. For this reason the main watershed is located in the eastern side of the chain, but, differently from what could be expected, it doesn't match the highest summit line. [...]