Gypsum cave notches and their palaeoenvironmental significance: A combined morphometric study using terrestrial laser scanning, traditional cave mapping, and geomorphological observations

A multidisciplinary study on gypsum cave notches in the northern Apennines reveals a consistent paleocurrent flow direction from ESE to WNW, supporting the ancient resurgence nature of the cave system. Despite inconclusive results from individual methods—such as terrestrial laser scanning and traditional cave mapping—the collective evidence suggests that water flow gently inclined toward the present main entrance, corroborated by sediment imbrication patterns. This research highlights the potential of combining geostatistical analyses with geomorphological observations to unravel paleoenvironmental dynamics in karst systems.

Sevil-Aguareles, J., Pisani, L., Chiarini, V., Santagata, T., & De Waele, J. (2025). Gypsum cave notches and their palaeoenvironmental significance: A combined morphometric study using terrestrial laser scanning, traditional cave mapping, and geomorphological observations. Geomorphology, 471, 109576. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109576