Canal-U

Holocene Climatic Changes and Their Effect on Morphodynamics and Sedimentation in Campania

High-resolution paleoclimatic studies (e.g. 18O, 13C, CH4, MS, ect) provide 38 detailed reconstructions of the Holocene climatic variability, but they don’t are unable to provide direct informations about the effects of the climatic changes on landscape and human ecosystems. In order to assess the response of the subaerial geomorphologic/pedo-sedimentary systems to the climatic changes and their potential impact on the ancient human communities, detailed stratigraphical investigations in Campania (southern Italy) have been carried out. In addition to indications provided by litho-pedostratigraphical and geomorphological investigations, the study has recurred to historical, archaeological, and palaeobiological data. Some of the main global cyclical climatic changes, centred at c. 5.5-5.0; 4.0-3.7; 3.0-2.5; 1.5-1.0 ka BP, appear to coincide with significant changes of the morphodynamical processes recognised in the investigated successions. More precisely the climatic variability affected the subaerial environments principally by arresting or enhancing specific pedogenetic, erosional and/or sedimentary processes in different environmental contexts of the Campania.