1,721,083 research outputs found
Jeanne M. Santilli, Westbrook College, Class of 1975
No full textWestbrook College student Jeanne M. Santilli, Class of 1975, was a Nursing major and lived in Hersey Hall. For her senior class candid photo, which appeared in the 1975 Tower Yearbook, she wore jeans with a wide leather belt sitting on her hips and a short-sleeve, poor-boy sweater. Her hair was long, parted in the middle and partially pulled over her right shoulder. Jeanne stands in the sun in front of a variety of evergreen trees.https://dune.une.edu/wchc_photos_students1970s/1067/thumbnail.jp
Debris flow ed erosione torrentizia in valle del Gallo (Valtellina - SO): analisi dendrocronologica della distribuzione, frequenza e intensità dei processi
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Antiprotons or pseudoprotons?
Full text linkThe author, an undergraduate physics student, reviews in this paper: 1) positive mass negative charge antiprotons according to 20th cen- tury particle physics; 2) positive mass negative charge pseudopro- tons according to hadronic mechanics; 3) the notion of antiprotons according to the isodual theory of antimatter; 4) a theorem recently proved by R. M. Santilli essentially implying that, under the spinorial Poincare ́ symmetry, the 20th century conjugation from particles to an- tiparticles prohibits partlcle-antiparticle annihilation into light; and 5) consequential doubts on the recent gravity test for the anti-hydrogen atom. Therefore, the author examines the possibility that antiparti- cles are actually gravitationally rejected by matter and 20th century antiprotons are in reality pseudoprotons with a consequential number of intriguing open problems in antimatter, like the astrophysical ori- gin of true antiprotons from cosmic rays, and others. We conclude by examining: the 1994 proposal for a resolutory test on the gravity of true antiparticles, such as the positrons; the possible existence of antimatter bodies in the universe which originate cosmic antiprotons; and related aspec
Frequency of debris flows and their relation with precipitation : a case study in the Central Alps, Italy
No full textDebris flows are very important and widespread mass movements, and represent a remarkable
geomorphological hazard. This research deals with debris flows in an alpine environment, studied using
dendrogeomorphological dating techniques, outlining their relation with precipitation, and analysing
possible changes in their frequency and intensity over time. The study area is the upper Valle del Gallo
(Northern Italy), a typical high mountain environment dominated by mass wasting processes, where many
debris-flow fans occupy the valley bottom. Dendrogeomorphological research was conducted on twelve of
these fans and two channels located on slopes. Tree growth anomalies (abrasion scars, compression wood
and abrupt growth changes) were used as dating methods. Two hundred and thirty nine debris debris-flow
events between 1875 and 2003 were dated using 757 trees (Pinus montana Mill.). Analysis between dated
events and precipitation suggests that debris flows in the study area could be triggered by 20–30 mm of rain
concentrated in a few hours. The debris-flow frequency tends to increase gradually, but the highest value
seems to have occurred in the period 1974–1983. This trend agrees with the historical occurrence of flooding
events in Northern Italy as inferred by literature, and with similar studies conducted in the Swiss Alps. The
results of this research are intended as a contribution for understanding the response of geomorphological
processes to climatic changes
The variation of Italian Glaciers between 1980 and 1999 inferred by the data supplied by the italian glaciological committee
No full textThe study synthesis the analysis of those data relevant to the variation registered in the Italian glaciers during glaciological surveys carried out by the Italian Glaciological Committee between 1980 and 1999. The last twenty years of the 20th century were characterized by a phase of general retreat of the glaciers, that followed an advancement phase that took place in the 70s and in the early 80s. The data matrix, which is largely incomplete, includes 335 glaciers. The percentages of advancing, stationary and retreating glaciers have been reckoned on the entire sample and on the single geographic sectors, mountain groups and glaciers having comparable aspects and size. Cumulative and yearly values of the front variations and of the terminus elevation changes have been quantified for those glaciers with at least 10 data out of 20. The percentage of advancing glaciers decreased from 66% in 1980 to 4% in 1999, while that of the retreating ones increased from 12% to 89%. These values changed quickly during the first decade, and then stabilized during the following one. The decrease in the number of advancing glaciers took place first in the Eastern Alps (Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto and Friuli- Venezia Giulia: Triveneto Regions) and later in the Central (Lombardy) and Western (Piedmont-Aosta Valley) sectors. A similar trend has been also observed in the bigger glaciers and in those having a northern or southern exposure, while the smaller glaciers and those facing east and west have shown more irregular variations. The average annual variation per glacier was of -4.8 m/year, for an average total variation per glacier of -95.4 m, during the twenty years considered. However, marked differences have been observed over the two decades, with stronger variations during the period between 1990 and 1999. The retreat phase was more marked in the Central sector (Lombardy), where the average total retreat of the fronts was of nearly 150 m. Modest variations (-44 m) occured instead in the Western sector (Piedmont-Aosta Valley). The small glaciers had little annual average variations compared to the bigger ones, but greater, in proportion. The magnitude of the retreat was greater for those having an eastern and western exposure compared to the others. The minimum altitude of the glacier fronts raised 18 m on average. Marked variations (+38 m) were recorded in the Central (Lombardy) sector, while those in the Eastern sector were smaller (+12 m) and those in the Western one marginal (+3 m)
Geomorphological and dendrochronological analyses of a complex landslide in the Southern Apennines
No full textComplex landslides, capable of reactivation,
are typical slope movements in high relief
areas. Due to their distribution, size and kinematics,
these landforms represent a major hazard, posing a
high risk to populations, settlements and infrastructures.
This paper integrates geomorphological
analyses, instrumental measurements and dendrochronological
approaches in assessing a large, reactivated
landslide system on the southern piedmont
of Monte Sirino (southern Italy). The landslide
system is associated with weak geological structures,
earthquake activity, and rapid recent incision
of the mid-Pleistocene Noce lake deposits. Potential
reactivation triggers include a higher regional annual
rainfall, one of the highest in southern Italy, and
more frequent heavy snowfalls in recent decades.
Reactivation of the Sirino landslide system has important
implications for the motorway connecting
Salerno and Reggio Calabria, which crosses it. The
results of our study show that the slide is reactivated
with an almost decadal frequency and that major
reactivations are correlated to prolonged snowfall,
which occurs with increasing frequency in the
southern Apennines. The last observation suggests
the need for similar studies on the behaviour of other
landslide systems in the southern Apennines,
performing integrated approaches such as geotechnical
and dendrogeomorphological analysis
Cupressus dupreziana: a dendroclimatic record for the middle-late Holocene in the central Sahara
No full textDendroclimatology of Cupressus dupreziana, the Tassili cypress, has been attempted on samples obtained from the door beams of the old cities of Ghat and Barkat located at the foot of the Tassili, where the cypress still lives. The tree rings of 20 samples were measured and dated by 24 AMS 14C dates. A mean ring-width chronology has thus been obtained, spanning, though discontinuously, 5220 to 100 14C BP (5990-65 cal. BP). As the tree-ring width in dry lands depends mainly on water availability, the mean ring-width chronology represents a detailed record of changes in rainfall on a decade scale for the middle and late Holocene of the central Sahara. It indicates main drought spells at 5200-5000 14C BP (5900-5760 cal. BP) and at 4350 BP (5120 cal. BP), followed by phases of enhanced precipitation and by the onset of extreme arid conditions at 1550 14C BP (1500 cal. BP)
Dendrogeomorphological analyses on exposed roots along two mountain hiking trails in the Central Italian Alps
No full textMountain landscapes show rapid evolution,
especially at high altitudes, in response to
current climate changes. In addition, the greater
number of routes and trails made available and the
increase in tourism have caused some impacts on
mountain areas. Gradual soil erosion has been observed
along some hiking trails, with the latter tending
to deepen, and with stronger erosion where the
trail cuts the slope. Where trails cross forested areas,
trees can suffer root damage from foot trampling
as roots become exposed. A dendrogeomorphological
study was conducted on trees along two
hiking trails in upper Valtellina (Italian Alps). On the
first trail, in Valle dei Forni, European larches and
stone pines, mostly with exposed roots, were sampled.
A mean erosion rate of 2.7 mm/a, related to
deepening of the footpath, was obtained, and various
degrees of root growth disturbance along the
trail were observed. In particular, the growth of
many sampled roots shows an increase in ring
width corresponding with the moment when root
exposure occurred, followed, after 3–5 years, by
rapid growth suppression. The exposure of many
roots has taken place since the 1980s. No significant
variations in stem growth were observed, even
when there were exposed and damaged roots.
Along the second trail, in Valle Alpisella, exposed
roots of mountain pines were analysed. A mean
erosion rate of 3.2–3.7 mm/a, related to the escarpments
bordering the footpath, was obtained, while
no significant changes were detected in root
growth
Debris flow activity and relevant effects on the tree radial growth - An example from the Central Italia Alps
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