MIDDLE-LATE PLEISTOCENE EVOLUTION OF THE ADRIATIC COASTLINE OF SOUTHERN APULIA (ITALY) IN RESPONSE TO RELATIVE SEA-LEVEL CHANGES

Abstract

The Adriatic coastal area stretching from Monopoli to Brindisi in Apulia is characterised by landforms and marine/coastal deposits attributed to the Middle-Late Pleistocene. It shows the effects of different phases of coastal evolution. During the Middle Pleistocene, in the area to the north of Soglia Messapica, abrasion surfaces were cut whereas, to the south, coastal deposits accumulated. These two areas were characterised by opposite uplift rates. \nDuring last interglacial period, thin transgressive beach deposits formed along with a dune belt and back dune deposits. Facies and altitude of deposits suggests that before 125 ky the region placed to the south of Soglia Messapica was uplifted with higher rate than the northern one. Afterward, the regions north and south of Soglia Messapica show the same tectonic behaviour marked by a low downlift rate. These behaviour could put in relation to the uplift rates changes could be put in relation to the passage to SE of the peripheral bulge related to the Apenninic subduction zone as seismic activity during Tyrrhenian suggest.