79 research outputs found
Un generale fra le milizie del papa. La vita di Claudio Acquaviva scritta da Francesco Sacchini della Compagnia di Gesù
No full textAcquaviva comprese l’enorme potenziale della parola e se ne avvalse in maniera esemplare, non solo scrivendo tanto quanto nessun generale credo abbia mai più fatto, ma sperimentando anche abili tattiche alternative che prevedevano la lettura in comune delle lettere dei missionari, stampe di libri devozionali e di lettere dei primi generali. Non è un caso neppure che proprio Acquaviva diede l’avvio alla storiografia gesuitica dando mandato al Sacchini di scrivere la storia della Compagnia e che le vite dei gesuiti più importanti, martiri, eroi, santi ecc. trovarono, sempre con lui, una fioritura impressionante
Heavy rains triggering flash floods in urban environment: A case from Chiavari (Genoa metropolitan area, Italy)
No full textBetween 10th and 11th November, 2014, heavy rainfall over a short period fell on the eastern Genoa metropolitan area. The geohydrological event had important ground effects, among them the simultaneous flooding of Entella and Rupinaro streams, in Chiavari city. In lower Lavagna valley, the main tributary of the Entella, a landslide caused two casualties, while serious damage to buildings and infrastructures were registered in Chiavari’s Old Town and in the nearby communities of Carasco and Cogorno. In the Entella basin, the rainfall peaked at 60 mm/hour and
accumulated 220 mm in six hours. The levels of the streams rose instantly, showing concentration times of less than an hour. The Entella rose seven meters, flooding Carasco, Cogorno, and the Caperana neighborhood of Chiavari. Flash flooding of the Rupinaro stream caused water to rise to 1.5 m in Chiavari’s historic core. Analyses were carried out of the weather conditions and the ground effects of the events; in addition, studies were made of the main causes of the geo-hydrological risk. In particular, variations in climate and uncontrolled urban development were the cause
of increased geo-hydrological hazards and vulnerability of this area, historically subject to flooding. Such conditions of risk are unacceptable, and urgent measures are required to mitigate the effects of heavy rainfall events
Rainfall intensity in the Genoa Metropolitan Area: secular variations and consequences
No full textAccording to historical papers the Genoa Metropolitan Area (GMA) is affected by floods since the Middle Ages. Anyhow in the last years an increase in flash floodings has been registered; recently in 2014, at least 4 floods took place, three of them in Fall.Then, secular pluviometric variations were analysed.
The research analyses the pluviometric data recorded at Genoa University (since 1833) and Chiavari (since 1877) stations, which represent, respectively, the central and the eastern zone of the GMA along the coast. Weather data recorded at Isoverde and Giacopiane Dam (since 1925) stations allow to complete the analysis in the hinterland of GMA, respectively in the western valley and eastern mountain. The analysis was based on mean annual, seasonal and monthly rainfall, rainy days and rainfall rate (the ratio between the formers) for the 4 stations. Furthermore, annual maximum data of hourly rainfall for Pontecarrega (Bisagno stream, the most hit valley in Genoa) and Giacopiane Dam stations were analysed. The annual rainfall does not show any trend while significant decreases for rainy days have been highlighted. As a consequence, the rainfall rate increase in the coastal and mountain stations. Also, hourly rainfall at 3 and 6 hours increase. These facts can be related with the intensification of flash flood events measured in the last decade. So, interventions to reduce flood risk in the GMA are no more postponin
Variazione del regime delle piogge e aumento dei fenomeni alluvionali nell'area metropolitana genovese (Italia)
No full textThe Genoa Metropolitan Area is historically affected by flash floods for the meteorological conditions and city’s geomorphologic arrangement. In the last years in GMA there is also an increase in flash floods due to man-made landforms and changes in rainfall regime. The research analyses the rain data collected over more than 100 years, registered by Genoa University (since 1833) and Chiavari (since 1877) stations. Furthermore, data recorded since 1932 at Isoverde and Diga Giacopiane stations allow to complete the analysis. The analysis was based on mean annual rainfall, rainy days and rainfall intensity. The annual rainfall does not show any trend, but the number of rainy days shows a negative one, statistically significant, in all selected rain gauges. As a consequence, the rate of daily rainfall shows a positive trend. The scenario above is confirmed by the analysis of maximum precipitation recorded by pluviographs for 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours: all the analyzed values indicate an increase over time, which may be linked to the intensification of flood events in the recent decades
Geomorphological Landscape Research and Flood Management in a Heavily Modified Tyrrhenian Catchment
No full textSince the nineteenth century, most urban catchments in Europe have been subject to significant landscape variations. These modifications have been caused by population change and the transition through rural, industrial and post-industrial economies. Land use and rainfall regime changes, together with land use variations, are frequently associated with flood hazard increase. This paper examines geomorphological landscape changes from the nineteenth century to the present day in the Bisagno Valley, Genoa metropolitan area. The Valley is internationally known for its recurring floods: the last events with fatalities occurred in 2011 and 2014. The extent of landscape change and the history of floods were examined by combining scientific data and information from historical maps, written accounts, topographical drawings and photographs. Historical–geographical and geomorphological analyses were used to reconstruct the runoff for three different periods since 1850. Our results demonstrate that geomorphological landscape variations, including modifications of the river bed, and the abandonment of the countryside and terraces are not sustainable and have progressively allowed an increase in flooding, making it necessary to implement sustainable management policies. In particular, specific spatial urban planning and management measures are necessary in order to mitigate flood hazard and vulnerability
Anthropogenic changes in the alluvial plains of the Tyrrhenian Ligurian basins
No full textRiverbeds and floodplains in the Mediterranean area have been largely affected by anthropogenic modifications mainly with incision, narrowing and channeling of the riverbed. In many cases these changes have also involved the river network, from braided to single thread.
The Ligurian coastal floodplains are historically affected by flooding. In recent decades, an increase in floods has been observed
either for the variation of the rainfall regime and for man-made landforms that influenced the geomorphological processes.
This paper provides a first analysis of the morphological evolution of the ‘floodplain-riverbed’ system in the recent past in Ligurian
Tyrrhenian basins. Human activities have modified the environment of the coastal floodplains: in all the analyzed cases the narrowing and the culverting of the riverbed have been found above all in the terminal stretch. Other changes concern diversion of watercourses and progradation of the coastline due to embankment.
In many cases, the extent of the changes obliterated the presence of watercourses, reducing or eliminating the perception of risk.
The knowledge of anthropic changes should therefore be used as a management and planning tool in the framework of risk reduction activities
The Bisagno stream catchment (Genoa, Italy) and its major floods: geomorphic and land use variations in the last three centuries
No full textThe city of Genoa (Liguria, Italy) and the Bisagno Valley are affected by frequent floods, often with loss of human lives. Historically characterised by high flood hazards, the Bisagno Valley was recently affected by a flood event on 9 October 2014, less than three years after the tragic flood event of 4 November 2011 when six people died, including two children. In the last 50 years, four destructive floods occurred in the Bisagno Valley, in addition to some other events that caused significant damage and economic losses.This paper examines the three largest flood events in terms of intensity and ground effects which affected the Bisagno Valley in the last three centuries: the flood of 25 October 1822, well documented by contemporary sources, the flood of 8 October 1970, undoubtedly the most tragic on record, and the very recent event of 9 October 2014. For this purpose scientific and historical-geographical methodologies were adopted, the latter particularly useful for the reconstruction of the flood event of 1822 and the landscape history of the Bisagno Valley in the nineteenth century.This comparison shows that the Bisagno Valley is characterised by climatic and landform features that have been making the flood events historically common in the area. However, recent climate change and land-use variations, including some major modifications of the catchment basin, have progressively determined a decrease of the concentration time and an increase of runoff, solid transport, and flood hazard. Consequently, in recent decades a growth in the number of flood events occurred, to the extent that the Bisagno today is a famous case study on an international scale
Role of rainfall intensity and urban sprawl in the 2014 flash flood in Genoa City, Bisagno catchment (Liguria, Italy)
No full textFlash floods are typical for the Mediterranean region, however they have been recurring at increasing frequency over the past few decades especially over the Italian Peninsula. The region of Genoa has recently moved into the international spotlight due to frequent and disastrous flash floods of the Bisagno River and its tributaries as a result of intense autumn rainfall and dense floodplain urbanization. The last flood events even caused loss in human lives, with 6 casualties in 2011 and 1 in 2014. However, it has not yet been investigated whether the increase in these flash flood events is due to a change in rainfall regime or due to urban expansion in areas prone to flash floods. This study investigates the meteorological conditions and the ground effects of the Bisagno River flash flood of October 9th, 2014 in the city of Genoa. Application of a Standard Anomaly Index and a Cluster Analysis reveals a positive trend in intense and short-duration rainfall recorded in the Bisagno Valley for the period of 1945–2016. Urban sprawl in the catchment, assessed through a multi-temporal cartographic and photographic comparison, highlights the progressive and total consumption of land in the floodplain. In the river basin surrounding Genoa the risk of flash floods has increased, both due to a change in rainfall regime and associated increase in discharge but also due to increased vulnerability caused by progressive urban expansion and land use change, including in particular transformations of the Bisagno riverbed. The results obtained demonstrate the need for urgent action to mitigate flood risk by introducing, amongst other measures, a citizen observatory for early warning of flash floods
Men and times. Studies from Machiavelli to Malvezzi
No full textreview of ALESSANDRO MONTEVECCHI, Gli uomini e i tempi. Studi da Machiavelli a Malvezzi
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