The Mediterranean Basin is characterized by a significant variability in tectonic behaviour, ranging from subsidence to uplifting. However, those coastal areas considered to be tectonically stable show coastal landforms at elevations consistent with eustatic and isostatic sea level change models. In particular, geomorphological indicators—such as tidal notches or shore platforms—are often used to define the tectonic stability of the Mediterranean coasts. We present the results of swim surveys in nine rocky coastal sectors in the central Mediterranean Sea using the Geoswim approach. The entire route was covered in 22 days for a total distance of 158.5 km. All surveyed sites are considered to have been tectonically stable since the last interglacial (Marine Isotope Stage 5.5 [MIS 5.5]), because related sea level markers fit well with sea level rise models. The analysis of visual observations and punctual measurements highlighted that, with respect to the total length of surveyed coast, the occurrence of tidal notches, shore platforms, and other indicators accounts for 85% of the modern coastline, and only 1% of the MIS 5.5 equivalent. Therefore, only 1% of the surveyed coast showed the presence of fossil markers of paleo sea levels above the datum. This significant difference is mainly attributable to erosion processes that did not allow the preservation of the geomorphic evidence of past sea level stands. In the end, our research method showed that the feasibility of applying such markers to define long-term tectonic behaviour is much higher in areas where pre-modern indicators have not been erased, such as at sites with hard bedrock previously covered by post-MIS 5.5 continental deposits, e.g., Sardinia, the Egadi Islands, Ansedonia, Gaeta, and Circeo. In general, the chances of finding such preserved indicators are very low.

Active tectonics and coastal deformation predispose continental margins to submarine gravitational instability and canyon head retreat. Here we investigate the drivers of this susceptibility along the Italian coasts. We analyze a dataset of over 2700 canyon heads using a multi-parametric susceptibility model that integrates bathymetry, instrumental seismicity, uplift rates, and crustal deformation fields derived from satellite geodesy. Results indicate that proximity to river mouths and regional seismicity are primary drivers of retreat susceptibility, suggesting that such susceptibility characterizes canyon dynamics at least since the establishment of the current tectonic regime. By integrating these results with demographic exposure data, we identify priority areas for mitigating natural disasters such as landslide-generated tsunamis and coastal erosion in highly populated regions.

Among microplastic, plastic pellets (2-5 mm in size), represent the most abundant pollutants in coastal environment. Although plastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea has been extensively investigated, the occurrence of plastic pellets within beach sediment remain poorly documented.,In this study, a sedimentological approach was applied to investigate the transport, sedimentation and burial of plastic pellets in three Sicilian sandy beaches (Mediterranean coast). A new sampling method is used to detect the presence of plastic pellets from the beach surface to a depth up to 1 m, exceeding the depth currently reached by other studies. The vertical distribution of plastic pellets throughout the sediment column, demonstrates that they behave as sedimentary particles and undergo the same transport and depositional processes as natural sediments. The highest pellet concentrations were recorded within storm berms and at the dune base, identifying these sectors as the main accumulation and long-term burial zones. The observed horizontal and vertical distributions are consistent with a conceptual model involving storm-driven deposition, subsequent redistribution across the backshore, and progressive burial within dune system. This study demonstrates that conventional surface monitoring of beaches underestimates the amount of plastic stored in the coastal environment.