A multidisciplinary study involving experts from various fields (botany, geology, climatology, geotechnics, and hydrology) has recently begun to investigate the role of vegetation cover on the stability of sloping pyroclastic deposits in Campania, southern Italy, that are frequently affected by rapid, weather-induced shallow landslides. The research, conducted in an experimental field situated on a 32° steep slope in Salerno, primarily aims to identify the detected plant species and assess their impact on the slope's hydrogeological behavior. The first objective was addressed through an investigation conducted at both the landscape and microhabitat scales. The second goal was pursued by using high- esolution atmospheric data (rainfall height, temperature, and air relative humidity) and soil suction and moisture content data (collected at different locations and depths). The goal consists of comparing the response of a naturally forested plot to that of a deforested one where vegetation was mechanically removed, thus inhibiting rainfall interception and lowering the physiological processes of the woody plants.
Influence of vegetation on the hydrogeological behaviour of a slope in pyroclastic soils
Luca Comegna
;Assunta Esposito;Roberto Greco;Luciano Picarelli;Gennaro Sequino;Adriano Stinca;
2026
Abstract
A multidisciplinary study involving experts from various fields (botany, geology, climatology, geotechnics, and hydrology) has recently begun to investigate the role of vegetation cover on the stability of sloping pyroclastic deposits in Campania, southern Italy, that are frequently affected by rapid, weather-induced shallow landslides. The research, conducted in an experimental field situated on a 32° steep slope in Salerno, primarily aims to identify the detected plant species and assess their impact on the slope's hydrogeological behavior. The first objective was addressed through an investigation conducted at both the landscape and microhabitat scales. The second goal was pursued by using high- esolution atmospheric data (rainfall height, temperature, and air relative humidity) and soil suction and moisture content data (collected at different locations and depths). The goal consists of comparing the response of a naturally forested plot to that of a deforested one where vegetation was mechanically removed, thus inhibiting rainfall interception and lowering the physiological processes of the woody plants.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
