Abstract
The quality of chronologic resolution rapidly declines from the Present to the recent geologic past, and uncertainty of chronologic interpretation can make reliable quantification of depositional processes and sediment fluxes in the pre-Quaternary stratigraphic record almost impossible. Late Quaternary successions exhibit recurring and predictable motifs in stratigraphic architecture that can be delineated objectively and that reflect the overwhelming dominance of post-glacial eustatic change on sequence development. Although stratigraphic architecture on a systems tract scale is well understood, these successions reveal an unexpectedly intricate hierarchy of stratigraphic surfaces that is typically unresolved in ancient records. ON/OFF targeted a comprehensive (ONshore/OFFshore) analysis of key stratigraphic surfaces by innovatively examining sedimentary successions on well-constrained millennial to centennial time scales. Through the application of a multiscale sequence-stratigraphic method (from systems tract to parasequence and bedset) and integration of sedimentology, seismic stratigraphy, paleoecology and bulk-sediment geochemistry, the project developed a coherent picture integrating the sedimentary response of alluvial, coastal and shallow-marine depositional systems to short-lived eustatic and climatic events. The development of a predictive model of sequence stratigraphic distribution provided new insight into the quantification of subsurface heterogeneities, with obvious implications for aquifer characterization and a variety of engineering applications.
Results achieved
The project involved two operational units: 1. Bologna University, Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences (BIGEA). Principal Investigator: Prof. Alessandro Amorosi. 2. C.N.R., ISMAR, Bologna. Local Principal Investigator: Dr. Claudio Pellegrini. The research project has been primarily based on a pre-existing dataset comprising core samples from the onshore Adriatic coastal plain, the offshore sector of the Marche region, and an extensive collection of seismic reflection profiles available at CNR-ISMAR for the offshore domain. These datasets were further complemented by geochemical analyses conducted on discrete samples at the University of Bologna and by XRF core scanning performed at CNR-ISMAR. Three sediment cores (40-m long) were acquired in January 2024 beneath the modern Po Delta (key area for onshore-to-offshore correlations) and within the Tronto River coastal plain. Downhole seismic analyses were subsequently carried out within the boreholes. During 2025, the sediment cores were subjected to paleoecological, geochemical, and palynological analyses at the University of Bologna and CNR-ISMAR. With respect to the planned activities, Sedimentary Core Facies Analysis (WP1) and Seismic Reflection Analysis (WP2) were conducted in early 2024. Paleoecological and geochemical Analyses (WP3) were carried out throughout 2024 and continued into 2025. Finally, Integrated High-Resolution Sequence Stratigraphy (WP4) was completed in 2025. The major outcomes of the project can be summarized as follows: 1) Sequence stratigraphy, traditionally a tool of the petroleum industry, can be innovatively applied well beyond hydrocarbon exploration. The applications of Quaternary sequence stratigraphy, in particular, may extend effectively to groundwater management, environmental remediation, geohazard assessment, and infrastructure planning, as well as to geological mapping, demonstrating the potential of this project to deliver solutions with broad scientific, societal, and environmental impact. 2) A source-to-sink perspective focused on the land-sea transition, integrating onshore and offshore datasets from fluvial, deltaic, coastal, and shallow-marine environments, proved essential for reconstructing sediment dispersal patterns and contaminant pathways, distinguishing natural (Holocene) from anthropogenic coastal evolution, and assessing the impacts of climate change in the last 2,500 years. 3) Paleovalley systems, a key element of sequence-stratigraphic models, represent stratigraphically expanded successions that may preserve records of Holocene processes and events at centennial timescales. Accurate reconstruction of their stratigraphic architecture, further enhanced through the application of AI tools, proved effective in delineating zones prone to seismic amplification during earthquake ground motion. The project has demonstrated valuable dissemination outcomes, including: (i) organization of an international scientific session (SE4) at the IAS 38th International Meeting of Sedimentology, Huelva (Spain); (ii) delivery of advanced (“Environmental Sequence Stratigraphy”, ENI-REWIND, Milan) and short (“Sediment Core Facies analysis”, GEOSED Annual Meeting, Bologna) training courses; and (iii) 15 contributions to major national (SIMP-SGI) and international (IAS, SSA) conferences. It has produced a total of nine scientific articles, five of which have been published in high-impact factor scientific journals; two manuscripts have been submitted and are under review, and other two manuscripts are in preparation. The project is likely to provide valuable contributions to the fields of sequence stratigraphy, sedimentology, and Quaternary geology. The integration of onshore–offshore datasets within the Po-Adriatic system and the application of a multiscale sequence-stratigraphic framework represent a notable methodological advancement. The high-resolution sequence-stratigraphic predictive model developed for the Po-Adriatic system is expected to stimulate further research at the interface between stratigraphy, geochemistry, and paleoecology, while providing a transferable workflow applicable to other deltaic and coastal systems worldwide. The inclusion of AI-based approaches for sedimentological analysis further strengthens the innovative profile of the project and future scalability. In the medium to long term, the results are expected to evolve into: (i) refined regional stratigraphic frameworks, with direct implications for the national geological mapping project (CARG) and basin analysis; (ii) predictive stratigraphic models applicable to other Quaternary basins; and (iii) further development of quantitative source-to-sink models integrating climatic and anthropogenic forcings. The project also demonstrates strong translational potential of sequence stratigraphy toward applied and societal challenges. The main expected applications include groundwater resource management, environmental monitoring and remediation, geohazard assessment, and infrastructure planning. Overall, the project has contributed to extending the use of sequence stratigraphy beyond hydrocarbon exploration and has highlighted potential applications in societal and environmental contexts. It has also demonstrated the value of high-resolution onshore–offshore stratigraphic correlations at sub-millennial timescales. Dissemination activities ensured the visibility of results within the international sedimentological and stratigraphic community. Finally, the project offers promising perspectives for further development and potential future funding opportunities.Dettagli del progetto
Responsabile scientifico: Alessandro Amorosi
Strutture Unibo coinvolte:
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali
Coordinatore:
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM - Università di Bologna(Italy)
Contributo totale di progetto: Euro (EUR) 189.792,00
Contributo totale Unibo: Euro (EUR) 113.896,00
Durata del progetto in mesi: 24
Data di inizio
28/09/2023
Data di fine:
28/02/2026
