RAPID UPLIFT, STEPPED MARINE TERRACES AND RAISED SHORELINES ON THE CALABRIAN COAST OF MESSINA STRAIT, ITALY

A series of 26 Quaternary shorelines, stepped between present sea leve l and 5 56 m, are studied. They are part of the flight of marine terra ces of the Aspromonte region. The shorelines were determined using thr ee geomorphological models: wave-cut platforms and gravel-built terrac es associated with their sea-cliff foot, and observations of lateral c hanges between marine terraces and fluvial terraces. The elevation of the sea-cliff foot is either measured directly, by exposure in cross-s ection, or by estimation from geomorphological patterns. With caution, we connect the different landmarks of the shorelines which are discon tinuous because of destruction between interfluves or because they are overlain by torrential deposits. The results of mapping show that the re are few differential movements from one transect to another and mea n uplift rate is 98 cm ka-1. This rate is calculated on the basis of a correlation of the area studied with the Ravagnese Tyrrhenian site, 1 25 m high, whose date is isotopic substage 5e. Middle and Late Quatern ary tectonic activity leads to faulting, slight folding and warping bu t some scarps associated with faults are actually ancient sea cliffs.