Geomorphologic Evolution of a Coastal Karst: The Gulf of Orosei (Central-East Sardinia, Italy)

Abstract

Orosejski zaliv je eno najpomembnejših obalnokraških območij v Italiji. Številne nove meritve jam so omogočile boljše razumevanje speleogeneze na območju zaliva. Razvoj krasa na tem območju smo raziskovali z različnimi geomorfološkimi raziskavami na površju in pod morjem, ter spelološkimi raziskavami v jamah. Glavni faktorji morfoloških procesov so litologija, tektonika, paleoklima in nihanja morske gladine. Študija nekaterih pomembnih jamskih sistemov je pokazala kompleksen geološki razvoj, kjer so kraški procesi igrali pomembno vlogo od zgodnjega terciarja in dosegli višek v pliokvartarju.

In the past ten years cave surveying has allowed better understanding of speleogenesis in the Orosei Gulf (Central-East Sardinia, Italy), one of the most important coastal karst areas of Italy. Surface geomorphologic research has been accompanied by subterranean and submarine landform analysis in order to try and understand the evolution of this coastal karst since its emersion in Upper Eocene. The main factors influencing the geomorphic processes are lithology, tectonics, palaeo-climate and sea level changes. The study of several important cave systems demonstrates a complex geological history with karst processes that started in Early Tertiary and accelerated during Plio-Quaternary.