2D electrical resistivity imaging of some complex landslides in Lucanian Apennine chain, southern Italy

Abstract

We use high-resolution electrical resistivity imaging to delineate the geometry of complex landslides in the Lucanian Apennine chain of southern Italy, to identify the discontinuity between the landslide material and bedrock, and to locate possible surfaces of reactivation. The Lucanian Apennine chain is characterized by high hydrogeological hazard and shows a complete panorama of mass movements. In this area, all typologies of landslides markedly predisposed and tightly controlled by the geostructural characteristics, are found: rotational and translational slides, rototranslational slides, earth and mudflows, as well as deep-seated gravitational slope phenomena with a predominance of rototranslational slides evolving as earthflow slides. Three test sites, characterized by complex geology and a high hydrogeologic hazard, are studied. The Giarrossa and Varco Izzo earthflow slides are located to the west and east of the town of Potenza, whereas the Latronico slide is located close to the town of Latronico. Electrical images are produced from dipole-dipole geoelectric data acquired along arrays spanning selected profiles positioned perpendicular and parallel to the landslide bodies. High-resolution electrical resistivity images are attained through the use of geologic and borehole constraints in the interpretation phase. Integration and comparison of our results with other geophysical data delineate the geometries and hydrologic characteristics of the landslide structures.