Overview of the variability of Late Quaternary continental shelf deposits of the Italian peninsula

This paper documents the Late Quaternary (120 ka BP–present) stratigraphic architecture of Italian continental shelves through the interpretation of single-channel, very high-resolution seismic reflection profiles and from data derived from published studies, by using the high-resolution sequence stratigraphy framework. The result of this analysis provides a detailed reconstruction of the variability of shelf stratigraphy in relation to differences in physiography, sediment supply, structural framework and local factors. We distinguish four stratigraphic types: (1) wide shelves with high sediment supply (e.g. the central Adriatic and the central-northern Tyrrhenian shelves); (2) wide but sediment-starved shelves (e.g. the southern Latium shelf); (3) narrow shelves with high sediment supply (e.g. shelves located in the Ionian and southern Tyrrhenian Sea); and (4) narrow and sediment-starved shelves (shelves located around islands and archipelagos). Besides physiography, sediment supply and vertical movements, local factors and specific processes play a significant role in determining Late Quaternary stratal architecture and sedimentary facies. For example, the attributes of antecedent topography commonly seem to govern the formation and preservation of transgressive deposits, whereas the formation and preservation of falling stage and lowstand systems deposits can be hindered by the presence of canyons indenting the shelf edge and/or slope instability.