Acquisition, processing and geologic interpretation of Multibeam bathymetric datasets and correlations with multichannel seismic profiles: applications to the Naples and Salerno Gulfs

The research project is based on the processing and the interpretation of bathymetric data recorded by the IAMC-CNR of Naples, Italy through different types of Multibeam lateral echosoundings. An analytic comparison between one of the automatic methods most efficient for the data processing, i.e. the CUBE and the manual processing of swath packages has been attempted. The efficiency of the algorithm has been tested on complex morphologies, such as the Capri continental slope and the related geological structures occurring in the Salerno Gulf. Multibeam data processing and interpretation has been carried out for the following research projects: 1) CNR SGN Convention for the redaction of marine geological maps at the 1:25.000 scale of Naples and Salerno Gulfs (maps n. 465 Procida, n. 466 Sorrento, n. 467 Salerno) 2) CARG Project at the scale 1:10.000 of the Campania region at the 1:10.000 scale (maps n. 464 Ischia, n. 465 Procida, n. 466 Sorrento, n. 446-447 Napoli, n. 484 Capri, n. 468 Foce del Sele, n. 502 Agropoli, n. 519 Capo Palinuro, n. 520 Sapri); GEOSED project for the acquisition of morphological data for the geomorphological and sedimentological study of selected areas of Campania continental shelf (Capri and Ischia islands); 4) SISTER II oceanographic cruise of morpho-bathymetric acquisition in intermediate and deep sea bottoms through the RESON 8160 Multibeam and finalized to the geological knowledge of the Sorrento continental slope, Salerno Valley, northern and Southern Sele highs; 5) morpho-bathymetric surveys committed to the CNR by the Authority of Naples Harbour for monitoring the marine pollution of sediments. Dedicated software as the PDS2000 (Thales), the NEPTUNE (Merlin) and the ISIS (Triton Elics) have been used for the cartographic restitution of bathymetric and Sidescan Sonar data. The bathymetric maps, both contour isobath maps and shaded-relief maps have been interpreted with the aim of reconstructing the main morphological lineaments occurring at the sea bottom, in particular for the Naples Bay canyons, the continental slope offshore the Sorrento Peninsula, the sedimentary basin of the Salerno Valley and the related depocenters. Bathymetric profiles have been also produced, allowing to distinguish erosional and depositional areas. The correlation of Multibeam data with some significant seismic profiles recorded in Naples and Salerno Gulfs has completed the geological interpretation.