Sinkholes in the Marina di Lesina area

Background

Sinkholes are in Apulia among the main geohazards, and are at the origin of severe interactions with the anthropogenic environment, and heavy losses to society. Since several years the territory of Marina di Lesina is diffusely affected by development of sinkholes (that have caused an emergency state to be declared), mostly concentrated near the Acquarotta Channel, linking the Lesina Lake to the Adriatic Sea.

Purpose

Define in detail the geological and hydrogeological model of the study area, aimed at reaching an effective hazard zonation, and to provide useful indications for the design and planning of the engineering works of stabilization.

Methods

Organization and management of the existing geological, geotechnical, and seismic data. Identification of the mechanisms of formation of the sinkholes. Geophysical surveys. Numerical modelling aimed at the evaluation of the stability conditions of the system soil/rock, and of the above structures as well. Seismic microzonation. Interferometric analysis.