Controlling Factors of Badland Morphological Changes in the Emilia Apennines (Northern Italy)

Badlands are typical erosional landforms of the Apennines (Northern Italy) that form on Plio-Pleistocene clayey bedrock and rapidly evolve. The present study aimed at identification assessment areal temporal changes badlands within a pilot area Modena Province (Emilia Apennines), where no previous detailed investigation has been carried out. For this purpose, diachronic was out to map drainage basin networks linear erosion features in during last 40 years, evaluate basins morphometry surface, land use pluviometry. indicated general stabilisation trend area. In fact, reduction bare surface from 6187.1 m2 1973 4214.1 2014 (31%), due an intensified revegetation process around badland areas, recorded. This trend, line with results research other sector Northern Apennines, is mainly intensive changes, mostly increase forest cover agricultural land, occurred 1970s onwards.