Knowledge and planning for the future of submerged areas
Providing a comprehensive representation of the main tectonic units and geological structures present in Italian seas, from the abyssal depths to the submerged ridges, offering an updated and integrated picture of the geological structure of submerged areas; this is the objective of the new Structural Map of Italian Seas, now available online, a fundamental tool for understanding the geological structures that characterize the seabed of our country.
Produced by the Department of Geological Services of Italy of the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), in collaboration with the Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Council (CNR-ISMAR), the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the National Institute of Oceanography and Experimental Geophysics – OGS, and the Universities of Genoa, Palermo, Roma Tre, and Trieste, the map is the result of years of joint research between Italian public research institutions and universities.
The project was developed as part of the European EMODnet Geology (European Marine Observation and Data Network) program, which collects and makes accessible, through a web portal, a large amount of marine geological data acquired over decades in European seas.
The Italian peninsula is almost entirely surrounded by marine basins of different ages, depths, and geological characteristics. under the surface of the Mediterranean Sea lies a complex system of submerged mountains and volcanoes, escarpments, and faults that, over millions of years, have formed and shaped the seabed, generating a wealth of highly diverse environments that are fundamental to the development of biodiversity, as well as major eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis. In this context, mapping the submerged territory is a fundamental step towards increasing our knowledge of the geological evolution of the Mediterranean and the processes that govern its dynamics.
To create the map, data from the literature has been integrated to provide a comprehensive description of the submerged areas and improve understanding of the geological relationships between the different areas into which the Earth’s crust is divided (domains), in relation to the types of plates that compose it and their mutual contacts. Areas of foreland (continental areas not yet affected by tectonic movements), subduction zones (where one plate dives beneath another), volcanic systems, back-arc basins (which open behind subduction-induced volcanic alignments), and Mesozoic ocean basins are identified. The harmonization and systematization of the available information now provides a scientific reference tool that is useful not only for research but also for marine environment planning and management activities.
The data collected is of strategic value for environmental protection, for the planning and sustainability of offshore infrastructure—such as cables, pipelines, and energy plants—and for safety with regard to the risks associated with volcanic and seismic activity, including earthquakes, tsunamis, and underwater landslides. The map will also contribute to the exploration of georesources in the basins surrounding the Italian peninsula, which are closely linked to the geological history of each basin and to contributions from adjacent land areas and deep regions of the Earth’s crust.
The new Structural Map of the Italian Seas serves as a reference document for the scientific community and a solid basis for the development of further studies and future research. The project is part of the European marine strategy, promoting the sharing of open and interoperable data to support scientific research and the blue economy, including the search for alternative energy sources—for example, for the identification of sites for wind farms and geothermal plants—and for the search for drinking water and other applications. Knowledge and planning for the future of submerged areas
Providing a comprehensive representation of the main tectonic units and geological structures present in Italian seas, from the abyssal depths to the submerged ridges, offering an updated and integrated picture of the geological structure of submerged areas; this is the objective of the new Structural Map of Italian Seas, now available online, a fundamental tool for understanding the geological structures that characterize the seabed of our country.
To create the map, data from the literature was integrated to provide a comprehensive description of submerged areas and improve understanding of the geological relationships between the different areas into which the Earth’s crust is divided (domains), in relation to the types of plates that compose it and their mutual contacts. Areas of foreland (continental areas not yet affected by tectonic movements), subduction zones (where one plate dives beneath another), volcanic systems, back-arc basins (which open behind subduction-induced volcanic alignments), and Mesozoic ocean basins are identified. The harmonization and systematization of the available information now provides a scientific reference tool that is useful not only for research but also for marine environment planning and management activities.
The data collected is of strategic value for environmental protection, for the planning and sustainability of offshore infrastructure—such as cables, pipelines, and energy plants—and for safety with regard to the risks associated with volcanic and seismic activity, including earthquakes, tsunamis, and underwater landslides. The map will also contribute to the exploration of georesources in the basins surrounding the Italian peninsula, which are closely linked to the geological history of each basin and to contributions from adjacent land areas and deep regions of the Earth’s crust.
The new Structural Map of the Italian Seas serves as a reference document for the scientific community and a solid basis for the development of further studies and future research. The project is part of the European marine strategy, promoting the sharing of open and interoperable data to support scientific research and the blue economy, including the search for alternative energy sources—for example, for the identification of sites for wind farms and geothermal plants—and for the search for drinking water and other applications.
Link:
https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/en/projects/soil-and-territory/emodnet-geology?set_language=en
