ABSTRACT
Disastrous Hydrogeological Events (DHEs), defined as the complex of landslide and flood phenomena induced by heavy or prolonged rainfall, represent a source of economic damages for wide areas of the Earth. Knowing the effects of the DHEs historically recorded in a selected area, a characterisation of meteorological framework and the range of rainfall thresholds preceding to the occurrence of a DHE can be carried out. The analysis of DHE, occurred over more than 50 years in a study area located in Calabria (Southern Italy), allow us to characterise meteorological antecedent conditions for DHEs which have also been classified on the basis of distinguishing features as 1) types of failures triggered; 2) geographical sectors hit; 3) seasons of occurrence; 4) meteorological antecedent conditions; 5) return periods and critical duration of triggering rainfall; 7) magnitude of damage.
