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Dataset of Gravity-Induced Landforms and Sinkholes of the Northeast Coast of Malta (Central Mediterranean Sea)

Author

Listed:
  • Stefano Devoto

    (Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy)

  • Linley J. Hastewell

    (School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3HE, UK)

  • Mariacristina Prampolini

    (National Research Council, Institute of Marine Sciences, 40129 Bologna, Italy)

  • Stefano Furlani

    (Department of Mathematics and Geosciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy)

Abstract

This study investigates gravity-induced landforms that populate the North-Eastern coast of Malta. Attention is focused on tens of persistent joints and thousands of boulders associated with deep-seated gravitational slope deformations (DGSDs), such as lateral spreads and block slides. Lateral spreads produce deep and long joints, which partially isolate limestone boulders along the edge of wide plateaus. These lateral spreads evolve into large block slides that detach thousands of limestone boulders from the cliffs and transport them towards the sea. These boulders are grouped in large slope-failure deposits surrounding limestone plateaus and cover downslope terrains. Gravity-induced joints (n = 124) and downslope boulders (n = 39,861) were identified and categorized using Google Earth (GE) images and later validated by field surveys. The datasets were digitized in QGIS and stored using ESRI shapefiles, which are common digital formats for storing vector GIS data. These types of landslides are characterized by slow-moving mechanisms, which evolve into destructive failures and present an elevated level of risk to coastal populations and infrastructure. Hundreds of blocks identified along the shore also provide evidence of sinkholes; for this reason, the paper also provides a catalogue of sinkholes. The outputs from this research can provide coastal managers with important information regarding the occurrence of coastal geohazards and represent a key resource for future landslide hazard assessment.

Suggested Citation

  • Stefano Devoto & Linley J. Hastewell & Mariacristina Prampolini & Stefano Furlani, 2021. "Dataset of Gravity-Induced Landforms and Sinkholes of the Northeast Coast of Malta (Central Mediterranean Sea)," Data, MDPI, vol. 6(8), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jdataj:v:6:y:2021:i:8:p:81-:d:606187
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mariacristina Prampolini & Christopher Gauci & Anton S. Micallef & Lidia Selmi & Vittoria Vandelli & Mauro Soldati, 2018. "Geomorphology of the north-eastern coast of Gozo (Malta, Mediterranean Sea)," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 14(2), pages 402-410, November.
    2. Niccolò Baldassini & Agata Di Stefano, 2017. "Stratigraphic features of the Maltese Archipelago: a synthesis," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 86(2), pages 203-231, April.
    3. Daniela Piacentini & Stefano Devoto & Matteo Mantovani & Alessandro Pasuto & Mariacristina Prampolini & Mauro Soldati, 2015. "Landslide susceptibility modeling assisted by Persistent Scatterers Interferometry (PSI): an example from the northwestern coast of Malta," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 78(1), pages 681-697, August.
    4. Geoff Main & John Schembri & Ritienne Gauci & Kevin Crawford & David Chester & Angus Duncan, 2018. "The hazard exposure of the Maltese Islands," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 92(2), pages 829-855, June.
    5. Mariacristina Prampolini & Federica Foglini & Sara Biolchi & Stefano Devoto & Serafino Angelini & Mauro Soldati, 2017. "Geomorphological mapping of terrestrial and marine areas, northern Malta and Comino (central Mediterranean Sea)," Journal of Maps, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(2), pages 457-469, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Geoff Main & Ritienne Gauci & John A. Schembri & David K. Chester, 2022. "A multi-hazard historical catalogue for the city-island-state of Malta (Central Mediterranean)," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 114(1), pages 605-628, October.

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