A comparative study of mass movement morphometry in two adjacent watersheds of southern Italy

This study examines the integration of geomorphometric and geological data to understand landslide dynamics in the Bradano and Basento river basins in southern Italy. Despite their proximity and shared climatic conditions, these basins display distinct geomorphological and lithological features, making them ideal for a comparative analysis. High-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) and landslide data from official databases were combined with key geomorphometric indices. This approach allowed a detailed assessment of mass movement distributions and their relationships with geological and morphological factors. Results reveal substantial differences between the basins. Furthermore, significant variability inside the same basin was observed, with landslides unevenly distributed across lithological units and valley sides. This research underlines the value of integrating geomorphometric and geological analyses to identify patterns in landslide susceptibility and spatial variability. The findings highlight the critical role of local geological settings in shaping mass movement dynamics and stress the need for basin-specific strategies for risk assessment and landuse planning. Future work will refine this integrated methodology and explore predictive models to evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on landslide activity in the region’s diverse landscapes.