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Seismically induced ground effects of the 1805, 1930 and 1980 earthquakes in
the Southern Apennines (Italy

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14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 333
SGI Bollettino Dgs04 137
Boll.Soc.Geol.It. (Ital.J.Geosci.), Vol. 126, No. 2 (2007), pp. 333-346, 10 figs., 6 tabs.
Seismically induced ground effects of the 1805, 1930 and 1980
earthquakes in the Southern Apennines, Italy
SABINA PORFIDO (*), ELIANA ESPOSITO (*), LUCA GUERRIERI (**),
EUTIZIO VITTORI (**), GIUSEPPE TRANFAGLIA (**) & RAIMONDO PECE (***)
ABSTRACT
Seismically induced environmental effects (in particular, sur-
face faults, ground cracks, slope failures, liquefaction, soil com-
paction, hydrological changes, tsunamis) are assumed to provide
fundamental information on the earthquake size and its intensity
field, crucial for a more efficient seismic hazard assessment.
Accordingly, this study is aimed at substantiating this assumption
by showing that the knowledge about ground effects acquired in
recent earthquakes, when combined with that illustrated in histo-
rical documents, allows to build an improved picture of historic
seismic events, with respect to that usually provided by the solely
damage-based macroseismic scales.
In this perspective, the environmental effects are analysed and
catalogued of three of the most ruinous earthquakes in Southern
Italy of the last two centuries: the July 26,1805, Molise event (XI
MCS, M 6.8), the July 23, 1930, Irpinia event (X MCS, M 6.7), and
the November 23, 1980 Campania-Basilicata event (X MSK, Ms 6.9).
The distribution of the earthquake environmental effects, in particu-
lar their distance from the known or supposed causative fault, has
been investigated to obtain a more detailed and comprehensive pic-
ture of the macroseismic field, a key parameter in seismic hazard
assessment and seismic zonation.
KEY WORDS: historical seismicity, intensity, ground effects,
earthquakes, Southern Apennines.
RIASSUNTO
Effetti sul terreno indotti dai terremoti del 1805, 1930 e
1980 nell’Appennino Meridionale.
Per una corretta analisi della valutazione dell’hazard sismico di
una regione è di fondamentale importanza il riconoscimento, l’anali-
si ed il censimento degli effetti sismoindotti. Ciò rappresenta un me-
todo innovativo per la definizione della vulnerabilità del territorio:
infatti tenendo conto, degli effetti indotti sull’ambiente dai terremoti
storici, come di quelli indotti dai terremoti più recenti, si può ipotiz-
zare una pianificazione degli interventi in prospettiva futura.
Strutture tettoniche superficiali, attivate in occasione di terre-
moti con moderata-elevata energia (M>5), possono provocare modi-
ficazioni più o meno permanenti nel paesaggio. I più comuni effetti
geomorfologici indotti da un evento sismico sono: la fagliazione su-
perficiale (rotture primarie e secondarie), i fenomeni di liquefazione
(vulcanelli di sabbia, iniezioni, espandimenti laterali, deformazioni
plastiche in sedimenti soffici saturi), i fenomeni franosi (crolli in
roccia, ribaltamenti, scorrimenti, colate, sackungen), le variazioni
idrologiche, per lo più temporanee (mutamenti di portata di fiumi,
pozzi e sorgenti, intorbidimenti, cambi delle proprietà chimico-fisi-
che) e gli tsunami. È stato intrapreso uno studio sistematico degli ef-
(*) CNR-IAMC, Calata Porta di Massa, Interno Porto - 80133
Naples, Italy. E-mail: sabina.porfido@iamc.cnr.it
(**) Italian Agency for Environment Protection and for Tech-
nical Services (APAT), Rome, Italy.
(***) Department of Earth Sciences, Federico II University,
Naples, Italy.
Queste bozze, corrette e accompagnate dall’al-
legato preventivo firmato e dal buono d’ordine,
debbono essere restituite immediatamente alla
Segreteria della Società Geologica Italiana
c/o Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra
Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5 – 00185 ROMA
fetti indotti sull’ambiente fisico innescati da alcuni tra i più forti ter-
remoti che hanno colpito l’Appennino meridionale negli ultimi due
secoli: il terremoto del 26 luglio 1805 (Molise I= XI MCS, M=6.8), il
terremoto del 23 luglio 1930 (Irpinia I=X MCS, M=6.7) ed il terremo-
to del 23 novembre 1980 (Campania-Basilicata I=X MSK, M=6.9).
Per la ricerca degli effetti indotti dagli eventi sismici è stato adot-
tato un approccio multidisciplinare, che ha visto il coinvolgimento di
specifiche competenze geologiche, sismologiche e storiche. Per il ter-
remoto più antico in esame, avvenuto nel 1805, si è operato attraverso
la raccolta e l’analisi critica della bibliografia e del patrimonio docu-
mentario esistente, e contestualmente il recupero di nuove fonti, pos-
sibilmente originali e coeve all’evento sismico. La ricerca è stata effet-
tuata soprattutto presso gli Archivi di Stato di Napoli, Benevento,
Isernia e Campobasso, nonché presso archivi privati e parrocchiali del
Molise. Per gli eventi sismici del XX secolo (1930 e 1980), ci si è basati
soprattutto su una vasta bibliografia a carattere tecnico-scientifico (ol-
tre un centinaio di pubblicazioni-relazioni tecniche), non trascurando
le fonti giornalistiche ed iconografiche, il tutto integrato con l’analisi
delle foto aeree, con nuovi rilevamenti sul terreno, e mediante il con-
tributo delle testimonianze dirette (ESPOSITO et alii, 1987, 1998, 2000;
BLUMETTI et alii, 2002; PORFIDO et alii, 2002 e relative bibliografie).
Sono stati riconosciuti e censiti un elevato numero di fenomeni
sismoindotti: dai fenomeni di fagliazione superficiale, fenomeni di
fratturazione, fenomeni franosi e variazioni idrologiche, ai fenomeni
di liquefazione. È stato possibile analizzarne la distribuzione degli
stessi rispetto alle intensità assegnate e rispetto alla distanza dalla
faglia riconosciuta o direttamente sul terreno, come nel caso del ter-
remoto del 1980, o il cui andamento è stato ricostruito attraverso le
descrizioni dedotte dalle fonti storiche, come nel caso dei terremoti
del 1805 e del 1930. Sono state individuate relazioni tra intensità,
numero di effetti e distanze dall’epicentro, valide per l’Appennino
Meridionale e confrontate con quelle individuate da KEEFER (1984)
e RODRIGUEZ et alii (1999) per i maggiori terremoti avvenuti nel
mondo.
Infine, la ricostruzione dei terremoti storici attraverso il ricono-
scimento e la definizione degli effetti sismoindotti è stata un valido
contributo per la verifica e la calibrazione della nuova scala macrosi-
smica (MICHETTI et alii, 2004) proposta in ambito INQUA, che si
basa essenzialmente sulla valutazione degli effetti nell’ambiente fisi-
co completando, di fatto, l’archivio informativo raccolto attraverso le
scale macrosismiche tradizionali.
TERMINI CHIAVE: effetti geologici sismoindotti, intensità,
sismicità storica, terremoto del 1805, terremoto del
1930, terremoto del 1980, Appennino meridionale.
INTRODUCTION
Earthquakes of moderate to high magnitude (M > 5)
commonly produce temporary and permanent environmen-
tal effects. The effects can be primary (surface faulting and
distributed deformation at the surface) and secondary
effects. The latter include sand blows, dykes, sills, lateral
spreads and soft-sediment deformation, slope failures (rock
falls, topples, slides, flows), sackungen, hydrological anom-
alies (chemical or physical changes in springs and wells,
flow changes of rivers and springs, turbidity) and tsunamis.
14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 334

334 S. PORFIDO ET ALII

Noteworthy case studies, with a variety of often

Fig. 1 - Epicentres of studied earthquakes in this paper (yellow stars), ci-
ted in the text (white stars) and other seismic events (M>5.5) (CPTI04).
– Mappa degli epicentri di eventi sismici con M>5.5 (CPTI04). In giallo
sono riportati gli epicentri dei terremoti studiati in questo lavoro, in
bianco gli epicentri dei terremoti citati nel testo.
impressive primary and secondary effects, include the
following earthquakes: 1957 Gobi-Altai (M=7.9), 1960
Chile (M=8.4), 1964 Alaska (M=8.6), 1964 Niigata
(M=7.5), 1975 Haicheng (M=7.3), 1989 Loma Prieta
(M=7.1), 1992 Landers (M=7.6), 1994 Northridge event
(Mw=6.7), 1995 Kobe (Mw=6.9), 1999 Izmit (M=7.4)
and Chichi 1999 (M=7.3) (USGS, 1994; AZUMA et alii,
1995; S ASSA et alii, 1996; M ICHETTI et alii, 2004 and
references therein; O TA et alii, 2005). Some of these
seismic events produced surface ruptures up to several
hundreds of kilometres in length with 10 m and more
of offset, liquefaction and lateral spreading and land-
slides, effects that have significantly and permanently
modified the landscape. In contrast, coseismic environ-
mental effects are often disregarded for smaller events,
due to their paucity and lack of significant practical
impact. For the same reasons, they are overlooked for
the lower degrees of the macroseismic fields of the
major events.
In this paper, the environmental effects of three of the
most ruinous earthquakes in Southern Italy of the last
two centuries are analysed and catalogued (fig. 1): the
July 26, 1805, Molise event (X MCS, M 6.8), the July 23,
1930, Irpinia event (X MCS, M 6.7) and the November 23,
1980 Campania-Basilicata event (X MSK, Ms 6.9).
In this perspective, this is a contribution to docu-
ment the basic assumption of the new Earthquake Envi-
ronmental Effects (EEE) scale developed under the
umbrella of the International Union for Quaternary

Fig. 2 - Distribution of geological effects reported for the 1805 Molise earthquake (after PORFIDO et alii, 2002).
– Distribuzione degli effetti geologici indotti dal terremoto Molisano del 1805 (PORFIDO et alii, 2002).
14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 335

SEISMICALLY INDUCED GROUND EFFECTS OF THE 1805, 1930 AND 1980 EARTHQUAKES 335

Research (INQUA) (MICHETTI et alii, 2004), that coseis- TABLE 1

mic environmental effects provide invaluable infor-
mation on the earthquake size and its intensity field,
complementing, de facto, the traditional damage-based
macroseismic scales.
Landslides of the 1805 Molise earthquake.
LEGEND: Sef (slump-earthflow); RF (rockfall); Ef (earth flow); Und
(Undefined). In brackets the number of land-slides on site.
– Fenomeni franosi indotti dal terremoto Molisano del 1805.
LEGENDA: Sef (slump-earth flow); RF (rockfall); Ef (earth flow); Und
(indefinito). Tra parentesi è indicato il numero di frane nel sito.

BACKGROUND AND METHODOLOGY N° Sites Latitude Longitude Fault IMCS Type of

distance landslide
(km)
The recognition, cataloguing and analysis of seismi-
cally induced environmental effects is of fundamental 1 Acquaviva d’Isernia 41.867 14.750 13.0 7 Sef
importance for seismic hazard assessment. Environmen- 2 Bagnoli del Trigno (2) 41.083 14.433 18.0 7 Rf
3 Bojano (2) 41.483 14.467 1.0 9 Rf
tal effects are an unexplored source of information bear-
4 Calitri 40.900 15.433 82.0 7 Sef
ing on the size of earthquakes and seismic risk. Historical 5 Cerreto Sannita 41.283 14.550 10.0 8 Ef
documents contain a wealth of information on ground 6 Civitella Licino 41.317 14.517 9.0 7 Rf
effects, which complement knowledge provided by recent 7 Dragoni 41.267 14.300 25.5 6 Rs
earthquakes. 8 Formicola 41.200 14.217 34.5 7 Rf
This approach is commonly applied for large earth- 9 Lago Matese 41.400 14.417 9.0 7 Rf
10 Melizzano (2) 41.150 14.050 24.0 7 Rf
quakes (M>6), but not to moderate quakes (M≤5-6), 11 Pesche 41.617 14.283 0.0 8 Rf
even though these events may produce a variety of 12 Ripalimosani (2) 41.617 14.667 22.5 9 Rs
ground effects. An example of a moderate earthquake 13 Ruviano 41.217 14.400 24.5 8 Rs
with numerous ground effects is the Mw=5.3 event in 14 Salcito 41.50 14.47 24.0 – Und
the Dead Sea (Israel) on February 11, 2004. This earth- 15 San Bartolomeo
in Galdo 41.417 15.017 30.0 7 Rs
quake produced cracks, compaction, landslides, col-
16 San Giorgio la Molara 41.267 14.917 23.0 7 Ef
lapse of gully and channel banks, liquefaction, 17 San Lorenzello 41.267 14.533 12.0 7 Rf
tsunamis up to 1 m high, a rough sea, hydrological and 18 Solopaca (3) 41.533 14.533 18.0 8 Sef, Rf
chemical changes, dust (SALOMON, 2004 and references 19 Trivento 41.783 14.550 30.0 7 Und
therein). 20 Vesuvio 40.817 14.417 60.0 7 Rf
A series of earthquakes struck the Umbria-Marche
regions of Central Italy in September and October 1997:
the two largest events had Mw 6.0 and 5.7. Primary and
secondary effects were observed, including surface fault-
ing, landslides (mostly rock falls and rotational slides), TABLE 2
ground fractures in Quaternary colluvial and fluvio-lacu-
strine deposits and in rock, compaction and hydrological Hydrological effects of the 1805 Molise earthquake.
changes (CELLO et alii, 1998; ESPOSITO et alii, 1999b, – Effetti idrologici indotti dal terremoto Molisano del 1805.
2000b; VITTORI et alii, 2000).
On September 9, 1998, a Mw=5.6 earthquake struck N° Sites Latitude Longitude Fault IMCS
the west side of the Southern Apennines. A fault in distance
(km)
bedrock 200 m long developed a free-face up to 1-2 cm
high in what was thought to be an aseismic area 1 Agnone 41.800 14.367 27.0 8
(MICHETTI et alii, 2000b). Numerous secondary effects 2 Alvignanello 41.200 14.400 33.0 6
were observed, including ground fractures in a road, 3 Alvignano 41.233 14.333 31.0 7
4 Arienzo 41.017 14.483 53.0 7
landslides (mostly rockfalls in limestone), changes in 5 Bojano 41.483 14.467 4.5 9
water flow and turbid water in the aqueduct and in some 6 Caiazzo 41.183 14.367 38.5 7
springs (MICHETTI et alii, 2000b). 7 Carpinone 41.583 14.317 2.5 9
The most recent significant earthquake in Italy is the 8 Caserta 41.067 14.317 49.0 7
9 Cassino 41.483 13.817 55.0 7
2004 Salò event in the Lake Garda region at Northern 10 Castelvenere 41.233 14.533 26.5 7
Italy, within the active fold and thrust belt of the South- 11 Cerreto Sannita 41.283 14.550 20.5 8
ern Alps. It had a Ml=5.2 and a focal depth of 8 km, 12 Civitanova 41.650 14.400 13.0 8
according to INGV (http://www.ingv.it/terremoti/bre- 13 Dragoni 41.267 14.300 27.0 6
14 Formicola 41.200 14.217 39.0 7
sciano2004/mecc-focale.html). It produced ground effects 15 Frigento 41.000 15.083 79.0 6
in the area of Salò and along the Chiese River valley (Val 16 Isernia 41.583 14.217 9.0 9
Sabbia). Rockfalls up to about 100 m3 occurred at four 17 Lago Matese 41.400 14.417 13.5 7
sites, other landslides up to ca. 1000 m3 at three sites, 18 Madonna dell’Arco 40.850 14.367 70.0 7
19 Melizzano 41.150 14.500 34.5 7
fractures on the ground and on paved roads at five sites, 20 Morcone 41.350 14.667 14.0 8
fractures along the lake shore at two sites, and temporary 21 Piana di Monteverna 41.167 14.333 39.0 7
turbidity of the water in an aqueduct and a stream. In 22 Pietraroja 41.350 14.533 15.0 7
particular, liquefaction and localized lateral spreading 23 San Giorgio la Molara 41.267 14.917 33.0 7
24 San Salvo 41.267 14.417 27.5 7
and settlement, with fissures up to 30 cm wide parallel to 25 S.S. Giovanni e Paolo 41.183 14.400 37.5 6
the shoreline, were observed in the Salò harbour. These 26 Schiavi 41.217 14.433 53.5 7
effects were similar to those reported during a compara- 27 Solopaca 41.183 14.533 35.0 8
ble event in 1901 (ESPOSITO et alii, 2005b; MICHETTI et 28 Telese 41.200 14.517 33.5 7
29 Villamaina 40.967 15.083 84.0 7
alii, 2005a,b).
14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 336
336
Fig. 3 - Isoseismal map of the 1930 Irpinia earthquake (after SPADEA et alii, 1985).
– Campo macrosismico del terremoto Irpino del 1930 (SPADEA et alii, 1985).
This paper analyses the characteristics and spatial
distribution of ground effects of three devastating
earthquakes with comparable magnitudes that affected
broad adjoining and partly overlapping areas in the
Southern Apennines during the last two centuries. For
these events, studied with modern criteria, there is a
large availability of descriptions of coseismic ground
effects, well-established MCS intensities, and possibility
to infer EEE intensities either from primary and sec-
ondary effects.
The ground effects of the 1805, 1930 and 1980 earth-
quakes were identified and catalogued, using a multidis-
ciplinary approach involving geology, seismology, histori-
cal and archive data. The 1805 event was studied by
critically evaluating contemporary documents (IADONE,
1805; POLI, 1805; FORTINI, 1806; PEPE, 1806; CAPOZZI,
1834). A document search was carried out in the State
Archives of Naples, Benevento, Isernia and Campobasso,
and in some private and parish archives in the Molise
Region (ESPOSITO et alii, 1987, 1991, 1999a).
The study of the 1930 and 1980 earthquakes was
based on examination and interpretation of more than
100 publications, technical reports, examination of aerial
photographs, field surveys and a collection of eyewitness
S. PORFIDO ET ALII
accounts (ESPOSITO et alii, 1998a, b; BLUMETTI et alii,
2002; PORFIDO et alii, 2002 and references therein).
A large number of ground seismic effects were cata-
logued, including ground cracks, landslides, ground set-
tlements, liquefaction features and hydrological anom-
alies. Their distribution was analyzed with respect to the
distance from the fault trace and observed local macro-
seismic intensities. This analysis has permitted relation-
ships to be developed among intensity, number and
dimension of effects and epicentral distances, which are
valid for the Southern Apennines (ESPOSITO et alii, 1998a;
PORFIDO et alii, 2002) and are comparable to those
obtained for major earthquakes worldwide by KEEFER
(1984) and RODRIGUEZ et alii (1999).
THE MOLISE EARTHQUAKE OF 1805
On July 26, 1805, a ruinous earthquake hit the Molise
Region and part of Campania. It damaged over 200 locali-
ties, with its maximum recorded intensity at Frosolone
(I=XI MCS), and claimed more than 5,000 lives. The esti-
mated magnitude is 6.7-6.8 (ESPOSITO et alii, 1987; WOR-
KING GROUP CPTI04, 2004). The Bojano basin, between
14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 337

SEISMICALLY INDUCED GROUND EFFECTS OF THE 1805, 1930 AND 1980 EARTHQUAKES 337

the provinces of Isernia and Campobasso, was the most TABLE 3

damaged area. Most ground effects were within the area
delineated by the isoseismal VIII MCS. Ground effects of the 1930 Irpinia earthquake.
LEGEND: Tsr (tectonic surface rupture); C (compaction); Sef (slump-
One hundred seismically induced environmental earth flow); Fr (Fractures).
effects are known for the 1805 earthquake mostly in the – Effetti al suolo indotti dal terremoto Irpino del 1930.
near-field area (fig. 2), although some were reported as LEGENDA: Tsr (rottura di superficie tettonica); C (compattazione);
far as 70 km from the epicentre (ESPOSITO et alii, 1987; Sef (slump-earth flow); Fr (fratture).
MICHETTI et alii, 2000a; PORFIDO et alii, 2002).
According to the contemporary sources, vertical N° Sites Latitude Longitude Fault IMCS Type of
ground displacements of about 1.5 m occurred at distance ground
(km) effects
Guardiaregia and Morcone, likely due to movements along
a Holocene normal fault about 30 km long on the north- 1 Acerenza 40.800 15.950 49.0 7.5 Slide
eastern slopes of the Matese Massif (N-Matese fault sy- 2 Andretta 40.933 15.317 7.0 7.0 Fr.Slide
stem). A detailed description of the fault rupture was given 3 Anzano di Puglia 41.117 15.283 9.0 9.5 Slide
by a priest (CAPOZZI, 1834), standing on the front door of 4 Apice 41.117 14.933 11.0 8.0 Slide
5 Aquilonia 40.983 15.483 5.5 10.0 Rs-sef. Fr
an inn: «flames from the ground ... were seen near the inn,
6 Ariano Irpino 41.150 15.083 1.5 8.0 Rs-sef. Fr
where horrible chasms opened over a length of about one 7 Ascoli Satriano 41.200 15.567 30.0 8.0 Slide
third of a mile, some of which had the ground overthrown 8 Bisaccia 41.017 15.383 2.5 8.0 C. Fr. Slide
at a height exceeding six palmi (Neapolitan palmo = 9 Buonalbergo 41.217 14.983 11.0 8.0 Sef.
26.45 cm), and of which the width was over three palmi 10 Calitri 40.900 15.433 9.0 8.0 Rs-sef
and comparable the depth. These fractures now can be 11 Carife 41.033 15.217 4.0 8.0 Slide
seen from far away, because the grass along the crevasses 12 Castelbaronia 41.050 15.183 3.5 9.0 Slide
13 Durazzano 41.067 14.450 52.0 8.0 Slide
is desiccated as it had been on fire. In one such crevasse I
14 Flumeri 41.083 15.150 2.0 8.5 Sef.Tsr
observed a pear tree, that, in that moment (of the earth- 15 Lacedonia 41.050 15.417 9.0 10.0 Slide. Fr
quake), lost all its unripe fruits, threw many branches to 16 Melfi 41.000 15.650 21.0 9.0 Slide. Fr
the ground and, of the ones left, many are now desiccated. 17 Montecalvo Irpino 41.200 15.033 5.5 9.0 Sef. Fr
In the same place the soil was completely disturbed, as it 18 Rapolla 40.983 15.683 22.0 8.0 Slide
had excavated by innumerable moles. Here a spring 19 Rocchetta S. Antonio 41.100 15.467 14.5 9.0 Slide. Fr
increased its flow rate, leaving a slight smell of sulphur. 20 S. Giorgio la Molara 41.267 14.917 19.0 7.0 Rs-sef. Fr
A new spring gushed out from the ground...». 21 S.Sossio Baronia 41.067 15.200 0.0 8.0 Slide. Tsr
22 Savignano Irpino 41.233 15.183 14.0 8.0 Slide
A geophysical survey in the same area confirmed the
23 Scampitella 41.100 15.300 7.0 9.5 Slide
presence of a near surface, north-northwest trending, 24 Tocco Caudio 41.133 14.617 36.0 8.0 Slide.Fr
normal fault (GEMINA, 1963) located at the south-eastern 25 Trevico 41.050 15.233 1.0 9.0 Sef. Fr
end of the Bojano and Sepino fault system (GUERRIERI et 26 Vallata 41.033 15.250 2.0 8.0 Sef
alii, 1999). 27 Vallesaccarda 41.067 15.250 1.0 7.5 Sef. Fr
The earthquake triggered at least 26 slides (tab. 1): 28 Villanova del Battista 41.117 15.167 2.0 10.0 Tsr
mainly rock falls, topples, slumps, earth flows and slump- 29 Zungoli 41.117 15.200 5.0 8.0 Fr
earth flows. Among the largest of them were the earth
flow of San Giorgio la Molara (Benevento), which
affected the course of the Tammaro River, the earth flow
of Acquaviva di Isernia, the rotational slide at San Bar-
tolomeo in Galdo (Benevento), and a rotational slide-flow
at Calitri (Avellino) (PEPE, 1806; ESPOSITO et alii, 1987,
ESPOSITO et alii, 1998b).
The earthquake also caused hydrological changes. In
29 localities, mainly around Bojano (Biferno springs) and
the Matese Massif, 48 hydrological anomalies were
reported, mainly changes in discharge of springs. Flow
increases were observed in at least 16 springs, mainly
south-southwest of the Matese Mountains. New springs
appeared at S. Salvatore Telesino (Caserta), Morcone
(Benevento), the Matese Mountains, and Bojano (Cam-
pobasso). The new spring at Bojano was active for about
two months after the earthquake (ESPOSITO et alii, 1987;
ESPOSITO et alii, 2001). Only one case of liquefaction was
reported at Cantalupo (tab. 2).
Furthermore, small tsunami waves were noted in the
gulfs of Naples and Gaeta (CAPUTO & FAITA, 1984; TINTI
& MARAMAI, 1996).

Fig. 4 - Ancient Aquilonia (Avellino). Rotational slump-earth flow

THE 1930 IRPINIA EARTHQUAKE
The earthquake of July 23, 1930, affected a large
area in the Campania, Basilicata and Puglia regions.
induced by the 1930 earthquake on the Nord side of S. Pietro.
(Courtesy of Museo Etnografico of Aquilonia).
– Aquilonia Vecchia (Avellino). Scorrimento rotazionale-colata indotto
dal terremoto del 1930 nella parte settentrionale del rione S. Pietro
(Cortesia del Museo Etnografico di Aquilonia).
14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 338

338 S. PORFIDO ET ALII

TABLE 4
Hydrological effects of the 1930 Irpinia earthquake.
– Effetti idrologici indotti dal terremoto Irpino del 1930.

N° Sites Latitude Longitude Fault distance (km) IMCS

1 Aterno River at Molina 42.133 13.733 154.0 3.0
2 Tasso River at Scanno 41.900 13.883 127.5 4.0
3 Sagittario River at Capo Canale 42.133 13.867 142.5 3.0
4 Pescara River at Maraone 42.250 13.817 150.0 3.0
5 Pescara River at Scafa 42.267 13.983 153.0 3.0
6 Lavino River at Scafa 42.250 14.017 150.0 3.0
7 Zittola River at Montenero 41.750 14.083 102.0 3.0
8 Rio Torto River at Alfedena 41.733 14.033 106.0 3.0
9 Trigno River at Trivento 41.800 14.567 86.5 5.0
10 Biferno River at Guardialfiera 41.800 14.817 92.5 5.0
11 Biferno River at Boiano (Maiella spring) 41.483 14.467 62.5 3.5
12 Fortore River at Stretta di Occhito 41.633 15.000 55.0 5.5
13 Cervaro River at Beccarini bridge 41.517 15.900 80.0 6.0
14 Atella River at Atella 40.850 15.633 21.0 8.0
15 Ofanto River at Rocchetta S. Antonio 41.067 15.550 17.5 9.0
16 Pila spring at Pontelatone 41.200 14.283 84.0 7.0
17 Rio Palazzo spring at Sarno 40.817 14.617 62.5 7.0
18 Sarno River at S. Valentino Torio 40.800 14.567 58.0 7.0
19 Sabato River at Serino (Urciuoli spring) 40.883 14.850 36.0 6.5
20 Tanagro River at Contursi 40.633 15.233 41.0 5.0
21 Caposele (Sanità spring) 40.800 15.217 22.5 6.0
22 Torretta 41.617 15.433 62.5 6.0
23 Mercaldi Vecchio 41.600 15.650 63.0 6.0
24 Tuoro di Massella 41.400 15.500 48.5 6.0
25 Petrulla 41.567 15.683 62.0 7.0
26 Mortelito 41.317 15.567 37.5 7.0
27 Bucciano 41.067 14.567 42.5 7.5
28 Pomigliano 40.950 14.383 100.0 6.0
29 Procida 40.750 14.017 97.5 6.0
30 Vallata (Madonna del Carmine spring) 41.033 15.250 2.0 8.0
31 Aquilonia (Monte della Guardia spring) 40.983 15.483 5.5 10.0
32 Atella 40.883 15.650 22.5 8.0
33 Venosa 40.967 15.817 34.5 7.5
34 Rocchetta S. Antonio 41.100 15.567 14.5 9.0
35 Telese 41.200 14.517 45.0 7.0
36 Boiano 41.483 14.467 61.0 3.5
37 Rocca S. Felice (Mefite d’Ansanto) 40.950 15.167 13.0 8.0
38 Pozzuoli (Solfatara) 40.833 14.133 86.0 6.0
39 Bacoli (Stufe di Nerone) 40.800 14.083 91.0 6.0

About 1425 people were killed, more than 10,000 were
injured and 100,000 were left homeless (SPADEA et alii,
1985; DIPARTIMENTO DI PROTEZIONE CIVILE-SERVIZIO
SISMICO NAZIONALE, 2002). Magnitude estimates range
from 6.2 to 6.72 (MARGOTTINI et alii, 1993; CPTI04,
2004). The maximum intensity (X MCS, fig. 3) was at
Villanova del Battista, Aquilonia, and Scampitella in the
upper Irpinia (Avellino district; SPADEA et alii, 1985).
Contemporary technical and scientific reports
(ALFANO, 1931; MAJO, 1931; ODDONE, 1931, 1932) pro-
vide rich documentation of primary and secondary
effects. Northwest-trending surface ruptures at Flumeri,
Villanova del Battista and Ariano Irpino (PORFIDO et
alii, 2001; ESPOSITO et alii, 2004) were interpreted by
ODDONE (1931; 1932) to be fault reactivations. The rup-
ture extended over distances of at least 30 km and had
up to 40 cm of offset. Oddone (1932) described the rup-
tures and their effects: «at S. Sossio.... the road on the
southern side is cut by a frightening fault, a true
crevasse that evilly crosses Flumeri heading toward
between Villanova and Ariano. It follows a path of
many kilometres, and we had already noted it during
our first trip from Ariano to Villanova. In the country-
side the farms along its trace were all razed to the
ground. Somebody states that two were the faults,
nearly parallel...».
Ground fissures up to several hundred meters long
were seen in the Irpinia area close to the fronts of the
mountains Formicoso and Serralonga and in the villages
of Aquilonia, Bisaccia, Lacedonia, Melfi, Monteverde, S.
Sossio Baronia, Zungoli (Avellino) and Rocchetta S. Anto-
nio (Foggia).
At least, 26 landslides were triggered by the earth-
quake (tab. 3). Large landslides struck Aquilonia (Avel-
lino) and San Giorgio la Molara (Benevento). The former
was a reactivation of a slump-earth flow, along the north
side of the Rione San Pietro, that forced the abandon-
ment of the entire village (fig. 4) (ESPOSITO et alii,
14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 339
SEISMICALLY INDUCED GROUND EFFECTS OF THE
Fig. 5 - The 1930 Irpinia earthquake. Hydrological anomaly recorded at the Sanità spring, Caposele.
– Terremoto Irpino del 1930. Anomalie idrologiche registrate nella sorgente Sanità a Caposele.
2000a). The latter was a 1 km wide and 3 km slump
within the Argille Varicolori formation, on the left bank
of the Tammaro River, that dammed a short section of
the river (VARI, 1931). A slide occurred at the same loca-
tion at least twice before, during the 1688 and 1805
earthquakes, and was reactivated also during the 1962
and 1980 earthquakes (PORFIDO et alii, 1991; ESPOSITO et
alii, 1998a; 2000a; PRESTININZI & ROMEO, 2000). Other
noteworthy landslides occurred at Ariano Irpino, Vallata,
Montecalvo Irpino, Lacedonia, Rocchetta S. Antonio and
Acerenza.
Ground settlements were observed in the historical
centre of Bisaccia, due to compaction of late Cenozoic
clastic sediments (GENIO CIVILE DI AVELLINO, 1930;
ODDONE, 1931; D’ELIA, 1992). Hydrological changes
were observed throughout the area affected by the earth-
quake, mainly in the far field near the main aquifers
(tab. 2). Thirty nine documented anomalies included
flow-rate changes of springs and wells, turbid water,
drying up of springs, appearance of new springs, and
variations in the chemistry of waters (ESPOSITO et alii,
2001; 2004). Changes in discharge were observed at Val-
lata, Aquilonia, Caposele and Telese (tab. 4). Fig. 5
shows a hydrological anomaly in the Sanità spring at
Caposele. An increase in flow rate of 150 l/s (about 3%)
was noted few hours after the earthquake (CELENTANI
UNGARO, 1931).
An anomalous emission of CO2 and H2S was noted in
the small lake of Mefite (Rocca San Felice) in the Ansanto
Valley. A change in the gas emission activity was observed
1805, 1930 AND 1980 EARTHQUAKES 339
also near Naples in the Campi Flegrei, in particular at the
Solfatara (Pozzuoli), and in the Nero’s Ovens at Bacoli
(ALFANO, 1931; MAJO, 1931a).
THE 1980 CAMPANIA-BASILICATA EARTHQUAKE
The November 23, 1980, earthquake affected 800
localities over a large area of the Southern Apennines,
killing 3,000 people. The highest intensity was IX-X MSK
(fig. 6), in several towns in the Campania and Basilicata
regions, including Castelnuovo di Conza, Pescopagano,
Laviano and S. Angelo dei Lombardi (POSTPISCHL et alii,
1985).
The rupture process was complex, with three main
events at 0,20 and 40 seconds. Several normal faults were
reactivated over a distance of at least 40-45 km. Coseis-
mic east-dipping ruptures with a maximum downthrow
of nearly 1.1 m were mapped at M. Marzano-M. Ogna, S.
Gregorio Magno and Bella, Muro Lucano (CINQUE et alii,
1981; WESTAWAY, 1993; PANTOSTI et alii, 1993; PANTOSTI
& VALENSISE, 1993; BLUMETTI et alii, 2002). Reinterpreta-
tion of the field data also indicates the reactivation of a
southwest dipping fault over a distance of ca. 8 km at
Castelgrande, Bella and Muro Lucano (fig. 7). Such rup-
ture likely produced the 40 seconds event (BLUMETTI et
alii, 2002).
Many either isolated and grouped secondary ground
fractures were also observed, mainly inside the isoseismal
14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 340
340
Fig. 6 - Distribution of geological effects reported for the 1980 Campania-Basilicata earthquake (after BLUMETTI et alii, 2002).
– Distribuzione degli effetti geologici indotti dal terremoto Campano-Lucano del 1980 (BLUMETTI et alii, 2002).
zone VIII MSK. These fractures ranged in length from a
few centimetres to several kilometres (CANTALAMESSA et
alii, 1981; CARMIGNANI et alii, 1981).
The review of more than 100 technical and scientific
publications has allowed to locate and classify 200 land-
slides over a total area of 22,000 km2. About 47,2% of the
landslides were rock falls/topples, 20,1% rotational slides,
20,1% slump-earthflows, 3.5% rapid earth flows, 9,1%
left undefined (tab. 5) (ESPOSITO et alii, 1998; PORFIDO
et alii, 2002).
The frequency of slope failures was particularly
high in the Ofanto and Sele River valleys. In the for-
mer, weakly-to-well cemented conglomerates and sand-
stones commonly overlie fine-grained soft deposits.
The geologic setting of the Sele Valley is characterized
by steep limestone fault scarps, with the hanging-wall
made of basin Flysch-type deposits with a complex
rheology, often masked by a veneer of slope deposits
of highly variable thickness. The largest rock falls
occurred mostly in the epicentral area, at Acerno, Cala-
britto, Capaccio, Castelgrande, Colliano, Laviano,
Muro Lucano, Senerchia and Valva. Their volumes
ranged from 1,000 to 10,000 m 3. The distribution of
rotational slides was strongly influenced by pre-exist-
ing instabilities. The largest one (23 million m3) was a
S. PORFIDO ET ALII
slump-earth flow that affected the historical centre of
Calitri (Avellino) and its recent urban expansion
(S AMUELLI -F ERRETTI & S IRO , 1983; H UTCHINSON &
D EL P RETE , 1985; C OTECCHIA , 1986; M ARTINO &
S CARASCIA M UGNOZZA , 2005). Even larger were the
mudflows at Buoninventre (30 million m 3), near
Caposele (C OTECCHIA , 1986; E SPOSITO et alii, 1998)
and Serra d’Acquara, Senerchia (28 million m 3). At
Costa Monticello, eyewitnesses described the coseismic
reactivation of a sackung, with the formation of a
trench in limestone across the mountain slope (fig. 8)
(BLUMETTI et alii, 2002).
Liquefaction (21 cases) was recorded at Buccino, Cal-
itri, Lago Laceno, Lioni, Montecalvo Irpino, Muro
Lucano, Senerchia, Pontecagnano, Ruvo del Monte, San
Giorgio la Molara, San Marzano del Sarno, Scafati,
Sturno, San Michele di Serino, Volturara Irpina (CARULLI
et alii, 1981; DA RIOT et alii, 1983; GALLI, 2000).
The earthquake also produced significant changes of
the flow rates of rivers, springs and wells (tab. 6); anom-
alies were reported at seven of 30 springs in the upper
Sele Valley and the Matese Massif (COTECCHIA & NUZZO,
1986; ESPOSITO et alii, 2001). Flow of the Caposele spring
increased of 3000 l/s. A general increase in discharge was
observed for a period of 6 to 12 months after the earth-
14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 341
SEISMICALLY INDUCED GROUND EFFECTS OF THE
Fig. 7 - Isoseismals of the 1980 Irpinia-Basilicata earthquake (after POSTPISCHL et alii, 1985).
– Campo macrosismico del terremoto Campano-Lucano del 1980 (POSTPISCHL et alii, 1985).
quake (Acqua Fetente near Montecorvino Pugliano,
Caposele and Cassano springs) (COTECCHIA et alii, 1986;
ESPOSITO et alii, 1999 b).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS
The Southern Italy earthquakes occurred in 1805,
1930 and 1980 share similar magnitudes and complex
rupture mechanisms. In all cases, several fault segments
reactivated over a time period of a few seconds to min-
utes. The distribution of seismically induced surface phe-
nomena can help defining the location and total extent of
the fault ruptures. For example, this is the case of the
1930 earthquake, for which the actual precise location of
the causative fault segments is lost hidden by erosion.
Here, the distribution of the secondary effects well con-
strains the location of the coseismic ruptures, as reported
but not mapped by ODDONE (1931, 1932).
The observed or estimated fault rupture lengths and
displacements for the three seisms analyzed here
(respectively, 40-45 km and 1-1.50 m) scale well with the
1805, 1930 AND 1980 EARTHQUAKES 341
worldwide database (WELLS & COPPERSMITH, 1994) and
the preliminary regression analysis with intensity given
in MICHETTI et alii (2004). For all the considered earth-
quakes, the distribution of landslides generally follows
that of the isoseismals: most landslides are scattered
within the area encircled by the intensity VIII isoseis-
mal, and their density declines rapidly away from it.
Most (88.5%) of the landslides triggered by the 1805
earthquake occurred less than 30 km from the causative
fault, and the remainder within 80 km of it. During the
1930 event, there were no landslides at more than 50 km
from the fault. Most (84.7%) of the slides occurred less
than 30 km from the fault. Half of the landslides trig-
gered by the 1980 earthquake were at less than 10 km
from the causative faults, and about 80% were within
30 km (fig. 9).
The distribution of hydrologic anomalies displays an
almost linear decay away from the causative faults, with
90% of the effects within 40 km for the 1805 event and
130 km for the 1980 event. In contrast, most of the anom-
alies produced by the 1930 earthquake were 30 to 120 km
from the fault (tabs. 2, 4, 6) (ESPOSITO et alii, 2001; POR-
FIDO et alii, 2002) (fig. 10).
14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 342

342 S. PORFIDO ET ALII

TABLE 5
Landslides of the 1980 Campania-Basilicata earthquake.
LEGEND: Sef (Slump earthflow); RF (Rockfall); Ef (Earth flow); Und (Undefined).
In brackets the number of land-slides on site.
– Fenomeni franosi indotti dal terremoto Campano-Lucano del 1980.
LEGENDA: Sef (slump-earth flow); RF (rockfall); Ef (earth flow); Und (indefinito).
Tra parentesi è indicato il numero di frane nel sito.

N° Sites Latitude Longitude Fault IMSK Type of

distance landslide
(km)
1 Acerno (2) 40.732 15.058 9.0 8 Rf
2 Ailano 41.383 14.200 97.0 5 Rs
3 Albano di Lucania 40.584 16.036 54.0 7 Und
4 Aliano 40.317 16.233 79.0 6 Und
5 Andretta 40.932 15.322 20.0 7 Sef
6 Ariano Irpino (Villanova del Battista) 41.153 15.089 33.5 7 Und
7 Atella (10) 40.877 15.253 34.5 7 Rf
8 Auletta 40.558 15.426 6.0 8 Rf. Und
9 Avigliano (6) 40.730 15.717 30.0 6 Rs, Sef
10 Balvano (2) 40.650 15.512 10.0 8 Rf
11 Bella (3) 38.972 16.306 19.0 8 Sef, Ef
12 Bisaccia 41.014 15.375 29.0 7 Rf
13 Brindisi di Montagna 40.609 15.939 47.0 6 Sef
14 Caggiano 40.567 15.489 7.0 7 Sef
15 Calabritto (13) 40.786 15.218 2.5 9 Rf, Rs, Sef, Ef
16 Calitri (2) 40.900 15.435 12.0 8 Rs, Ef
17 Campagna (Camaldoli) (3) 40.665 15.107 12.0 7 Rs, Sef
18 Capaccio (3) 40.417 15.017 34.0 6 Rf
19 Caposele (5) 40.813 15.225 5.5 9 Rf, Rs, Sef
20 Carife (2) 41.027 15.209 22.5 7 Rf, Und
21 Castelfranci 40.931 15.043 11.0 7 Sef
22 Castelgrande 40.783 15.433 14.0 8 Rf
23 Castelnuovo di Conza (2) 40.815 15.320 10.5 9 Rs
24 Castelpoto 41.140 14.704 46.0 6 Sef
25 Chiusano di San Domenico 40.932 14.917 19.0 7 Rf
26 Colliano (9) 40.726 15.289 2.0 8 Rf, Und
27 Controne 40.500 15.200 21.0 7 Und
28 Contursi (5) 40.649 15.238 7.5 6 Rs, Sef
29 Conza della Campania (2) 40.870 15.331 14.0 10 Rs, Und
30 Ferrandina (3) 40.500 16.467 91.0 5 Rs
31 Frigento (3) 41.011 15.099 19.0 6 Rs
32 Galdo 40.533 15.300 10.0 6 Rf
33 Gesualdo 41.006 15.069 19.0 6 Und
34 Grassano 40.633 16.283 75.0 7 Rs
35 Guardia Sanframondi 41.267 14.600 62.5 6 Und
36 Laviano (8) 40.784 15.305 7.5 10 Rf, Rs
37 Lioni - Teora road 40.876 15.187 10.0 9 Rf
38 Luogosano 40.983 15.000 19.0 7 Und
39 Magliano Vetere - Felitto 40.367 15.217 30.5 6 Rf
40 Montecalvo Irpino 41.196 15.034 40.0 7 Und
41 Muro Lucano (6) 40.752 15.486 15.5 8 Rs, Und
42 Nusco (2) 40.887 15.085 6.0 7 Rf. Ef
43 Oliveto Citra (13) 40.683 15.233 4.0 7 Rf, Rs, Sef
44 Ottati 40.462 15.316 19.0 7 Rf
45 Pago Veiano (4) 41.247 14.871 49.5 7 Rs, Sef
46 Palomonte 40.667 15.283 2.5 7 Rs
47 Paupisi 41.195 14.666 54.0 6 Und
48 Pescopagano (3) 40.836 15.399 17.0 9 Rs, Sef
49 Piaggine 40.350 15.383 29.0 6 Ef
50 Rocca San Felice (3) 40.951 15.164 14.0 8 Sef, Rs
51 Sacco 40.383 15.367 25.0 6 Rf
52 San Fele (3) 40.819 15.541 23.0 8 Rf, Sef
53 San Giorgio la Molara (4) 41.270 14.919 53.0 7 Sef, Ef
54 San Gregorio Magno 40.656 15.404 3.5 8 Und
55 San Rufo 40.434 15.464 19.0 7 Rf
56 Sant Angelo dei Lombardi 40.927 15.176 11.0 10 Rs
57 Senerchia (28) 40.739 15.202 2.5 9 Rf, Sef
58 Sicignano degli Alburni 40.558 15.308 11.0 6 Rf
59 Solofra 40.828 14.848 21.0 8 Rf
60 Stigliano 40.400 16.217 75.0 6 Und
61 Tito 40.582 15.675 21.0 7 Rs
62 Torella dei Lombardi (3) 40.941 15.115 12.0 8 Rf, Sef
63 Tricarico 40.622 16.144 64.0 7 Rs
64 Vaglio Basilicata (2) 40.665 15.921 42.5 5 Sef, Rf
65 Valva (9) 40.750 15.267 1.0 8 Rf, Rs
66 Vietri di Potenza 40.599 15.508 7.5 8 Rs
14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 343

SEISMICALLY INDUCED GROUND EFFECTS OF THE 1805, 1930 AND 1980 EARTHQUAKES 343

TABLE 6
Hydrological effects of the 1980 Campania-Basilicata
earthquake.
– Effetti idrologici indotti dal terremoto Campano-Lucano
del 1980.

N° Sites Latitude Longitude Fault IMSK

distance
(km)

1 Pescara a Maraone 42.200 13.883 182.5 4

2 Tirino a Madonnina 42.200 13.850 187.5 4
3 Zittola a Montenero 41.700 14.083 129.5 4
4 Triolo a P.te Lucera 41.550 15.333 82.0 5
5 Celone a P.te Foggia 41.467 15.500 78.0 5
6 Cervaro ad Incoronata 41.400 15.650 77.5 5
7 Ofanto a Cairano 40.900 15.417 19.0 8
8 Venosa a P.te Ferroviario 41.017 15.767 55.0 6
9 Gari a Cassino 41.483 13.833 129.0 5
10 Fibreno a Broccostella 41.683 13.467 156.0 5
11 Rio Mollo a Settignano 41.633 13.483 144.0 4
12 Sordo ad Isernia 41.567 14.217 110.5 5
13 Calore Irp. a Montella 40.850 15.050 6.0 7
14 Sabato a P.te Barba 41.050 14.767 36.0 8
15 Sarno a S.Marzano 40.783 14.567 46.0 7
16 Tanagro a Polla 40.517 15.467 11.0 8
17 Caposele 40.817 15.217 5.0 9
18 Cassano Irpino 40.867 15.017 7.5 7
19 Serino (Acquaro-Pelosi +
Urciuoli) 40.867 14.850 22.0 8
20 Quaglietta (Fontana 3) 40.717 15.233 0.0 8
21 Montecorvino P.
(Acqua Fetente) 40.667 14.917 24.5 7
22 Piedimonte Matese
(Torano) 41.350 15.367 87.5 6
23 Piedimonte Matese
(Maretto) 41.367 15.383 85.0 6
24 Pratella (Jelo) 41.400 15.183 99.0 5
25 S. Maria La Foce 40.833 14.600 43.0 6
26 S. Marina di Lavorate 40.783 14.650 41.0 6
27 Gruppo Mercato
e Palazzo 40.817 14.617 42.0 6
28 Bucciano 41.067 14.567 53.0 7
29 Cascano (di Sessa
Aurunca) 41.217 13.967 105.0 6
30 Nocelleto (di Carinola) 41.133 14.000 99.5 6
Fig. 8 - The 1980 Campania-Basilicata earthquake effects. Top: at 31 S. Andrea al Pizzone 41.133 14.033 97.0 6
Costa Monticello fault scarp. Bottom: sackung scarp produced by 32 Parete 40.950 14.117 80.0 7
33 Acerra 40.917 14.350 64.0 7
earthquake near Bella (after BLUMETTI et alii, 2002).
34 Torre Annunziata
– Terremoto Campano-Lucano del 1980: scarpata di faglia presso (Stazione Centrale) 40.917 14.433 57.5 7
Costa Monticello (in alto), traccia del sackung nei pressi di Bella, in 35 Nola (Stella) 40.917 14.517 50.0 6
basso (BLUMETTI et alii, 2002).

The results of this study demonstrate that moderate
to large earthquakes in the Southern Apennines can trig-
ger landslides at distances larger than 100 km, in areas
with macroseismic intensities I=V MCS/MSK. The area
distribution of the slope failures mirrors, in general, the
pattern of the isoseismals, displaying a higher concen-
tration in the areas of higher intensity, and a typical
decay with distance from the epicentre and the
causative fault. Most of the landslides were restricted to
the areas enclosed by the intensity VIII isoseismals (c.a.
4000 Km2) (ESPOSITO et alii, 1998), in good agreement
(PORFIDO et alii, 2002) with the area-magnitude relation
proposed by RODRIGUEZ et alii (1999) and the maximum
distance of landslides from faults vs. magnitude pro-
posed by KEEFER (1984).
Liquefaction has occurred at distances of up to 55 km
from the epicentre within intensity zone VI MCS/MSK.
The distribution of hydrologic anomalies is more vari-
able. Anomalies in discharge can occur more than 200 km
away from the epicentre, due to the high sensitivity of
aquifers to stress changes and seismic shaking (ESPOSITO
et alii, 2001; PORFIDO et alii, 2002).
Similar studies are underway for other earthquakes in
the Southern Apennines, starting from magnitude 5.5, the
approximate threshold for producing environmental effects.
The aim is to have available a comprehensive database of
geological phenomena induced by moderate to strong
earthquakes in Italy. Such data are basic to enhance the
intensity assessment, by allowing a more exhaustive com-
parison of historic and recent quakes, which is one of the
aims of the new EEE scale (MICHETTI et alii, 2004). This is
crucial for better constrained seismic hazard assessment,
and consequently, for improving the efficiency of emer-
gency intervention and urban and infrastructural planning.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are grateful to J.J. Clague (Simon Fraser University -
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada) and G. Scarascia Mugnozza
(Università La Sapienza - Roma, Italy) for their constructive reviews,
that have significantly improved the initial version of the paper.
14 137-Dgs04(333-346) 25-06-2007 14:43 Pagina 344
344 S. PORFIDO ET ALII
Fig. 9 - Plot of cumulative number of landslides vs. fault distance for
the 1805, 1930 and 1980 earthquakes.
– Relazione tra il numero cumulative di fenomeni franosi innescati
dagli eventi sismici del 1805, 1930 e 1980 con la distanza dalla faglia.
Fig. 10 - Relationship Intensity vs. distance for the hydrological ano-
malies reported after the 1805, 1930 and 1980 earthquakes.
– Anomalie idrologiche relative agli eventi sismici del 1805, 1930 e
1980: relazione tra intensità e distanza dalla faglia.
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