Intensità dell’erosione nel bacino idrografico del Rio Torbido (Bagnoregio, VT)

We present the results of a research carried out over the past decade in the area of Civita di Bagnoregio (Viterbo, Northern Lazio). The aim is understanding the geomorphological dynamics that affected the town and the adjacent Badlands Valley. The area is characterized by the presence of formations for three different lithological complexes: volcanic, marine and superficial deposits. The surface drainage network has deeply entrenched the valleys, isolating a number of reliefs characterized by from flat the top surfaces and steep slopes. On the top of one of these surfaces the town of Civita is located, connected to the town of Bagnoregio by a narrow saddle. Civita is included within an area subject to erosion carving the slopes, rendering the entire are extremely charming and with an high touristic value. The research has identified and quantified the main processes responsible for the denudation of the slopes, through the geomorphological survey, the indirect analysis of predisposing factors and by field monitoring. The results show that the local conditions of lower connectivity side/talweg produce widespread and important accumulation. In this context, the landscape of Civita di Bagnoregio acquires a double meaning, in which the erosion landforms are important for their spectacular nature conservation purposes. Moreover, the same spectacular slopes and landscape are subject to violent processes of denudation which generate widely levels of geomorphological risk.