Characteristics and morphological evolution of the Aeolian volcanoes from the study of submarine portions.

The seven Aeolian Islands are far larger underwater than above water, so that indications given by the submarine portions are fundamental to better understand the development of volcanism in the area, the tectonic control from the regional structural setting and the morphological evolution of volcanic edifices. The interplay between destructive processes (due to marine erosion, mass-wasting and flank instability) and constructive processes in the growth and evolution of the Aeolian volcanoes is discussed, based on the study of their present-day morphology. In particular, the distribution and characteristics of insular shelves in the shallow-water sectors of volcanic edifices are compared and discussed, considering that variable geological/local factors combined with sea level fluctuations controlled the development and morphology of these features. It is proposed that submerged shelves may furnish relative chronological constraints for the development of the Aeolian volcanoes, enlarging the present knowledge mostly based on subaerial portions.