First results of morphometric analysis, multitemporal geomorphological investigation and numerical modeling of the Montebello sul Sangro landslide (Abruzzo, Central Italy)

In this work the first results of an integrated geomorphological analysis of a large earth flow in Montebello sul Sangro (Abruzzo, Central Italy) are presented. The study is based on a new morphometric analysis of the drainage network, a multitemporal geomorphological investigation and a numerical landslide modeling. In order to reconstruct the topography of the Montebello area before the landslide and, accordingly, to explore the possible triggering causes of the instability phenomena, autocorrelation of local slope was introduced as a morphometric index. Multitemporal geomorphological investigation is based on the interpretation of aerial photos, LiDAR data and field geomorphological mapping. The analysis allowed for the outline of the recent multiple activation phases of the landslides. Finally, a 2D Finite Difference Method (FLAC) analysis of a slope, particularly representative because close to the village of Montebello sul Sangro (Italy), was performed.