Introduction to the Sedimentary Geology, Genesis, and Evolution of the Pontine Plain in Relation to the Alban Hills Volcanism and Associated Hazards

Abstract

The Pontine Plain was reclaimed by Fascists in the 1930s. The Plain morphology and sea level have persistently changed through the Pleistocene, and from the last post-glacial period, the coast started to retreat. The most recent hydrogeological maps (1957, 1977, and 2007) clearly show that water is saturating the plain, and this will cause serious mobility problems in the Pontine Plain in the future. Several hazards of the plain are listed in this chapter. These include volcanic, seismic, coastal erosion, and sinkhole hazards, as well as water contamination hazards (e.g., As F), which have increased the number of cancers. There is an urgent need for monitoring in the area (i.e., Latina).