Large sackung along major tectonic features in the Central Italian Alps

Deep-seated gravitational slope deformation (sackung) is common in alpine mountain belts. It is controlled by lithological, geomorphological, and structural features. We describe and discuss five examples of DSGSD along the Insubric Line (Periadriatic Fault) in the Central Italian Alps. The five examples are different in morphology, size, state of activity, and distribution, and are located along both primary and secondary valleys. We demonstrate relations between structural and gravitational features and discuss the possibility that structural has both passive and active roles in sackung development. Analysis of PS-SAR data shows that the studied examples are not active today. Numerical modelling demonstrates the importance of lithological and structural constraints, postglacial debuttressing, groundwater fluctuations, and weathering on sackung triggering and development. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.