OA Earth-prints Repository
Not a member yet
16457 research outputs found
Sort by
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and earthquake: the teaching of emotions meets Geoscience
No full textIn the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the 2019 L’Aquila earthquake,
the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia of Lerici (SP), together with
the Fire brigade Command of La Spezia and the Seismic Sector-Office of the
Tuscany Region, designed a transformational learning path for the 2019 INGVScienzAperta
involving about 300 students of Middle Schools (ISCED 2) of Liguria
in their classrooms. Images, videos and readings of earthquake testimonies told
by rescuers, seismologists and geologists were shown to students, underling the
great humanity of people who worked during the emergency. The Social Emotional
Learning (SEL) experiment revealed an enriching experience for both recipients
and trainers, as it was well put in evidence by the touching students’ essays after
the ScienzAperta meetings and by the satisfaction questionnaires differentiated
for students and teachers. The results were also presented at the University of
Camerino 2019 Summer School for Geosciences teachers.PublishedOS: Terza missioneJCR Journa
A regional modelling study of halogen chemistry within a volcanic plume of Mt Etna's Christmas 2018 eruption
No full textVolcanoes are known to be important emitters of atmospheric gases and aerosols, which for certain volcanoes can include halogen gases and in particular HBr. HBr emitted in this way can undergo rapid atmospheric oxidation chemistry (known as the bromine explosion) within the volcanic emission plume, leading to the production of bromine oxide (BrO) and ozone depletion. In this work, we present the results of a modelling study of a volcanic eruption from Mt Etna that occurred around Christmas 2018 and lasted 6 d. The aims of this study are to demonstrate and evaluate the ability of the regional 3D chemistry transport model Modèle de Chimie Atmosphérique de Grande Echelle (MOCAGE) to simulate the volcanic halogen chemistry in this case study, to analyse the variability of the chemical processes during the plume transport, and to quantify its impact on the composition of the troposphere at a regional scale over the Mediterranean basin.
The comparison of the tropospheric SO2 and BrO columns from 25 to 30 December 2018 from the MOCAGE simulation with the columns derived from the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) satellite measurements shows a very good agreement for the transport of the plume and a good consistency for the concentrations if considering the uncertainties in the flux estimates and the TROPOMI columns. The analysis of the bromine species' partitioning and of the associated chemical reaction rates provides a detailed picture of the simulated bromine chemistry throughout the diurnal cycle and at different stages of the volcanic plume's evolution. The partitioning of the bromine species is modulated by the time evolution of the emissions during the 6 d of the eruption; by the meteorological conditions; and by the distance of the plume from the vent, which is equivalent to the time since the emission. As the plume travels further from the vent, the halogen source gas HBr becomes depleted, BrO production in the plume becomes less efficient, and ozone depletion (proceeding via the Br+O3 reaction followed by the BrO self-reaction) decreases. The depletion of HBr relative to the other prevalent hydracid HCl leads to a shift in the relative concentrations of the Br− and Cl− ions, which in turn leads to reduced production of Br2 relative to BrCl.
The MOCAGE simulations show a regional impact of the volcanic eruption on the oxidants OH and O3 with a reduced burden of both gases that is caused by the chemistry in the volcanic plume. This reduction in atmospheric oxidation capacity results in a reduced CH4 burden. Finally, sensitivity tests on the composition of the emissions carried out in this work show that the production of BrO is higher when the volcanic emissions of sulfate aerosols are increased but occurs very slowly when no sulfate and Br radicals are assumed to be in the emissions. Both sensitivity tests highlight a significant impact on the oxidants in the troposphere at the regional scale of these assumptions.
All the results of this modelling study, in particular the rapid formation of BrO, which leads to a significant loss of tropospheric ozone, are consistent with previous studies carried out on the modelling of volcanic halogens.Published10533–105613V. Proprietà chimico-fisiche dei magmi e dei prodotti vulcaniciJCR Journa
Effect of undercooling on clinopyroxene crystallization in a high K basalt: Implications for magma dynamics at Stromboli volcano
No full textWe present undercooling (∆T) experiments aimed at investigating the effect of growth kinetics on the textural and compositional evolution of clinopyroxene crystals growing from a high-K basalt erupted during the 2003 paroxysm of Stromboli volcano (Italy). The experiments were performed at P = 350 MPa, T = 1050–1210 °C, H2Omelt = 0–3 wt%, and fO2 = Ni-NiO + 1.5 buffer. An initial stage of supersaturation was imposed to the melt under nominally anhydrous (∆Tanh = 10–150 °C) and hydrous (∆Thyd = 25–125 °C) conditions. Afterwards, this supersaturation state was mitigated by melt relaxation phenomena over an annealing time of 24 h. Results show that plagioclase is the liquidus mineral phase of the high-K basalt at ∆Tanh = 10 °C and dominates the phase assemblage as the degree of undercooling increases. Conversely, clinopyroxene and spinel co-saturate the melt at ∆Thyd = 25 °C, followed by the subordinate formation of plagioclase. At ∆Tanh/hyd ≤ 50 °C, the textural maturation of clinopyroxene produces polyhedral crystals with {−111} (hourglass) and {hk0} (prism) sectors typical of a layer-by-layer growth mechanism governed by an interface-controlled crystallization regime. At ∆Tanh/hyd ≥ 75 °C, the attainment of dendritic and skeletal morphologies testifies to the establishment of diffusion-limited reactions at the crystal-melt interface. 3D reconstructions of synchrotron radiation X-ray microtomographic data reveal a composite growth history for clinopyroxene crystals obtained at ∆Tanh/hyd ≥ 95 °C. The early stage of melt supersaturation produces rosette-like structures composed of dendritic branches of clinopyroxene radiating from a common spinel grain, which acts as surface for heterogeneous nucleation. As diffusive relaxation phenomena progress over the annealing time, the elongate dendrites that constitute the inner crystal domain are partially infilled by the melt and develop skeletal overgrowths in the outer domain. With the increasing degree of undercooling, TAl and M1Ti cations are progressively incorporated in the lattice site of clinopyroxene at the expense of TSi and M1Mg cations. Because of the effect of H2Omelt on the liquidus depression and melt depolymerization, crystals obtained at ∆Thyd are also more enriched in TAl and M1Ti and depleted in TSi and M1Mg than those growing at ∆Tanh. The emerging picture is that the morphological and geochemical evolution of clinopyroxene is mutually controlled by the combined effects of melt supersaturation and relaxation phenomena. A new empirical relationship based on the cation exchange reactions in the lattice site of clinopyroxene is finally proposed to estimate the degree of undercooling governing the crystallization of augitic phenocrysts erupted during normal and violent explosions at Stromboli.Published107327OSV2: Complessità dei processi vulcanici: approcci multidisciplinari e multiparametriciJCR Journa
CRISP: an archive for the site characterization of permanent Italian seismic stations
No full textSet of data and metadata that characterize a site hosting a seismic stationIn this paper we describe an advanced database for the site characterization of seismic stations,
named “CRISP—Caratterizzazione della RIsposta sismica dei Siti Permanenti della
rete sismica” (http:// crisp. ingv. it, quoted with https:// doi. org/ 10. 13127/ crisp), designed for
the Italian National Seismic Network (Rete Sismica Nazionale, RSN, operated by Istituto
Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia). For each site, CRISP collects easily accessible station
information, such as position, type(s) of instrumentation, instrument housing, thematic
map(s) and descriptive attributes (e.g., geological characteristics, etc.), seismic analysis
of recordings, and available geophysical investigations (shear-wave velocity [VS] profile,
non-linear decay curve). The archive also provides key proxy indicators derived from the
available data, such as the time-averaged shear-wave velocity of the upper 30 m from the
surface (
VS30) and site and topographic classes according to the different seismic codes.
Standardized procedures have been applied as motivated by the need for a homogenous set
of information for all the stations. According to European Plate Observing System infrastructural
objectives for the standardization of seismological data, CRISP is integrated into
pre-existing INGV instrument infrastructures, shares content with the Italian Accelerometric
Archive, and complies map information about the stations, as well as local geology,
through web services managed by Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale.
The design of the CRISP archive allows the database to be continually updated and
expanded whenever new data are available from the scientific community, such as the ones
related to new seismic stations, map information, geophysical surveys, and seismological
analyses.Published2415 - 24395T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismicaJCR Journa
On the fractal pattern of the current structure at ion scales in turbulent space plasmas
No full textThe recent ability to investigate the features of magnetic field fluctuations at ion/sub-ion scales employing both measurements and simulations has clearly demonstrated how, at these scales, the current has a filamentary structure, i.e., it is not a compact structure. This points toward the idea that the current and the dissipation field may have a fractal structure. An intriguing question immediately arises: is there a relationship between the fractal topology of currents at ion/sub-ion scales and the observed spectral features at the same scales? The goal of this work is to investigate the fractal topology of currents at the Low-end of MHD inertial domain and at ion scales using Hall-MagnetoHydroDynamics and Hybrid Vlasov-Maxwell simulations. The results show a clear relationship between the fractal dimension of the current pattern and the spectral features at ion scales. The relevance of this link is discussed in connection with the dynamics of coherent plasma structures at these scales.Published114253OSA3: Climatologia e meteorologia spazialeJCR Journa
UAS-LC-GNSS: Precision Surveying with a Low-Cost GNSS System for Commercial Drones
No full textINGV (National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Italy) is one of the institutions that studies and monitors the geophysical phenomena (earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, etc.) that occur on Earth. During these events, it is essential to carry out a large, detailed and fast map of the aected areas. If we think of the diculties encountered during the mapping of the fault sources for the 2016 earthquake in central Italy, we can understand how the UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) can be a valid “low-cost” alternative to the traditional methods of surveys. These devices, thanks to precision instrumentation such as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) receivers and IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) control units, allow a detailed reconstruction of the investigated areas, especially for small-scale analysis applications. These aircraft are based on multiple technologies and show great investigative capabilities, therefore they must be considered as complete systems.Starting from these concepts, we have developed a low-cost RTK/PPK (Real Time Kinematic/Post Processing Kinematic) GNSS survey system on “commercial” UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), i.e. professional drones that are not created to be modified. We have demonstrated how the integration of a GNSS RTK/PPK module on commercial UAVs makes the system ecient for the reconstruction of a highly detailed and precise DEM (Digital Elevation Model), without using GCP (Ground Control Point), allowing to make precision measurements in areas that are dicult to explore and investigate. Indeed, the altimetric trends of the PPK processing without GCPs are perfectly comparable with those of the PVs (Verification Points) deriving from RTK analysis and sshow small acceptable deviations. The height dierences between PVs measurements and those deriving from the DEM in the same planar coordinates vary between a minimum of 1 cm and a maximum of 7.8 cm. Based on these results, we can state that the precision mapping with a drone equipped with an on-board GNSS module does not dier much from the technique that involves measuring GCP on the ground, in reality, it is comparable in terms of errors, even on the more dicult field of altitudes.Published134-1397TM.Sviluppo e Trasferimento TecnologicoJCR Journa
Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy (CLEM): A Multifaceted Tool for the Study of Geological Specimens
No full textCorrelative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) is an advanced imaging approach that faces critical challenges in the analysis of both materials and biological specimens. CLEM integrates the strengths of both light and electron microscopy, in a hardware and software correlative environment, to produce a composite image that combines the high resolution of the electron microscope with the large field of view of the light microscope. It enables a more comprehensive understanding of a sample’s microstructure, texture, morphology, and elemental distribution, thereby facilitating the interpretation of its properties and characteristics. CLEM has diverse applications in the geoscience field, including mineralogy, petrography, and geochemistry. Despite its many advantages, CLEM has some limitations that need to be considered. One of its major limitations is the complexity of the imaging process. CLEM requires specialized equipment and expertise, and it can be challenging to obtain high-quality images that are suitable for analysis. In this study, we present a CLEM workflow based on an innovative sample holder design specially dedicated to the examination of thin sections and three-dimensional samples, with a particular emphasis on geosciences.Published74-85N/A or not JC
Trusted Autonomous Operations of Distributed Satellite Systems Using Optical Sensors
No full textRecent developments in Distributed Satellite Systems (DSS) have undoubtedly increased mission value due to the ability to reconfigure the spacecraft cluster/formation and incrementally add new or update older satellites in the formation. These features provide inherent benefits, such as increased mission effectiveness, multi-mission capabilities, design flexibility, and so on. Trusted Autonomous Satellite Operation (TASO) are possible owing to the predictive and reactive integrity features offered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), including both on-board satellites and in the ground control segments. To effectively monitor and manage time-critical events such as disaster relief missions, the DSS must be able to reconfigure autonomously. To achieve TASO, the DSS should have reconfiguration capability within the architecture and spacecraft should communicate with each other through an Inter-Satellite Link (ISL). Recent advances in AI, sensing, and computing technologies have resulted in the development of new promising concepts for the safe and efficient operation of the DSS. The combination of these technologies enables trusted autonomy in intelligent DSS (iDSS) operations, allowing for a more responsive and resilient approach to Space Mission Management (SMM) in terms of data collection and processing, especially when using state-of-the-art optical sensors. This research looks into the potential applications of iDSS by proposing a constellation of satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for near-real-time wildfire management. For spacecraft to continuously monitor Areas of Interest (AOI) in a dynamically changing environment, satellite missions must have extensive coverage, revisit intervals, and reconfiguration capability that iDSS can offer. Our recent work demonstrated the feasibility of AI-based data processing using state-of-the-art on-board astrionics hardware accelerators. Based on these initial results, AI-based software has been successively developed for wildfire detection on-board iDSS satellites. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed iDSS architecture, simulation case studies are performed considering different geographic locations.Published33447A. Geofisica per il monitoraggio ambientaleJCR Journa
The Italian Quaternary volcanism
No full textThe peninsular and insular Italy are punctuated by Quaternary volcanoes and their rocks constitute an important aliquot of the Italian Quaternary sedimentary successions. Also away from volcanoes itself, volcanic ash layers are a common and frequent feature of the Quaternary records, which provide us with potential relevant stratigraphic and chronological markers at service of a wide array of the Quaternary science issues. In this paper, a broad representation of the Italian volcanological community has joined to provide an updated comprehensive state of art of the Italian Quaternary volcanism. The eruptive history, style and dynamics and, in some cases, the hazard assessment of about thirty Quaternary volcanoes, from the northernmost Mt. Amiata, in Tuscany, to the southernmost Pantelleria, in Sicily Channel, are here reviewed in the light of the substantial improving of the conceptual models, methodological approaches and the overall knowledge made in the last decades in the volcanological field study. We hope that the prest review can represent an useful and agile document summarising the knowledege on the Italian volcanism at the service of the Quaternary community operating in central Mediterranean area.Published221-284OSV2: Complessità dei processi vulcanici: approcci multidisciplinari e multiparametriciN/A or not JC
The effects of hot and pressurized fluid flow across a brittle layer on the recent seismicity and deformation in the Campi Flegrei caldera (Italy)
No full textThe influence of the hydrothermal circulation on seismicity and uplift observed at the Campi Flegrei caldera
(Italy) is a topic of great interest to the scientific community. Recently, Thermo-Poro-Elastic (TPE) inclusions
were proposed as likely deformation sources. They are suitable to explain the mechanical effects induced by hot and pressurized hydrothermal fluids, possibly exsolved from underlying magma, and pervading an overlying
brittle layer. Recent works show that a TPE inclusion located at approximately 2 km depth below the Campi
Flegrei caldera significantly contributed to the large and rapid soil uplift observed during the ‘82-’84 unrest
phase. In the present work we demonstrate that such a source of deformation is likely playing a role even in the
current unrest phase, which is characterized by a much lower uplift-rate with respect to the one occurred in the
previous unrest phase. We will show that the time-series of soil uplift observed in the last 18 years can be
reproduced by assuming the reactivation of the same deformation source responsible of the ‘82-’84 unrest
located within a shallow brittle layer at about 2 km depth. The presence of a brittle layer has been evidenced in
the past by tomographic studies and is confirmed by a sharp variation of the b-value at the corresponding depth.We believe that our results provide very important insights and evidences, supporting the existence and the importance of an active thermo-poro-elastic deformation source, which can be useful for understanding the
unrest of the Campi Flegrei caldera, from both a scientific and geohazard perspective.Published107930JCR Journa