More people too poor to move: divergent effects of climate change on global migration patterns

The observed temperature increase due to anthropogenic carbon emissions has impacted economies worldwide. National income levels in origin and destination countries influence international migration. Emigration is relatively low not only from high income countries but also from very poor regions, which is explained in current migration theory by credit constraints and lower average education levels, among other reasons. These relationships suggest a potential non-linear, indirect effect of climate change on migration through this indirect channel. Here we explore this effect through a counterfactual analysis using observational data and a simple model of migration. We show that a world without climate change would have seen less migration during the past 30 years, but that this effect is strongly reduced due to inhibited mobility. Our framework suggests that migration within the Global South has been strongly reduced because these countries have seen less economic growth than they would have experienced without climate change. Importantly, climate change has impacted international migration in the richer and poorer parts of the world very differently. In the future, climate change may keep increasing global migration as it slows down countries’ transition across the middle-income range associated with the highest emigration rates

Numerical analysis of interseismic, coseismic and postseismic phases for normal and reverse faulting earthquakes in Italy

The preparation, initiation, and occurrence dynamics of earthquakes in Italy are governed by several frequently unknown physical mechanisms and parameters. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for developing new techniques and approaches for earthquake monitoring and hazard assessments. Here, we develop a first-order numerical model simulating quasi-static crustal interseismic loading, coseismic brittle episodic dislocations, and postseismic relaxation for extensional and compressional earthquakes in Italy based on a common framework of lithostatic and tectonic forces. Our model includes an upper crust, where the fault is locked, and a deep crust, where the fault experiences steady shear. The results indicate that during the interseismic phase, the contrasting behavior between the upper locked fault segment and lower creeping fault segment generates a stretched volume at depth in the hanging wall via extensional tectonics while a contracted volume forms via compressional tectonics. The interseismic stress and strain gradients invert at the coseismic stage, with the interseismic dilated volume contracting during the coseismic stage, and vice versa. Moreover, interseismic stress gradients promote coseismic gravitational subsidence of the hanging wall for normal fault earthquakes and elastic uplift for reverse fault earthquakes. Finally, the postseismic relaxation is characterized by further ground subsidence and uplift for normal and reverse faulting earthquakes, respectively, which is consistent with the faulting style. The fault is the passive feature, with slipping generating the seismic waves, whereas the energy activating the movement is stored mostly in the hanging wall volume. The main source of energy for normal faulting and thrust is provided by the lithostatic load and elastic load, respectively

Cosesimic liquefaction phenomena from DInSAR after the May 20, 2012 Emilia earthquake

In this paper, we have investigated the capability of Differential Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) technique to detect the ground effects induced by liquefaction phenomena occurred during the May 20, 2012 Emilia earthquake. To this aim, a set of COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) SAR images covering the coseismic phase has been used. The detected surface effects have been related to liquefaction of deep sandy layers. Thanks to the geological/geotechnical data in the area and a liquefaction susceptibility analysis of the subsoil, it has been identified a sandy layer between 9 and 13 m in deep, which probably liquefied during the earthquake. The estimated vertical displacements due to liquefaction are comparable with the values measured by DInSAR.Published5-95T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismicaN/A or not JC

Dual-energy CT in musculoskeletal imaging:technical considerations and clinical applications

Dual-energy CT stands out as a robust and innovative imaging modality, which has shown impressive advancements and increasing applications in musculoskeletal imaging. It allows to obtain detailed images with novel insights that were once the exclusive prerogative of magnetic resonance imaging. Attenuation data obtained by using different energy spectra enable to provide unique information about tissue characterization in addition to the well-established strengths of CT in the evaluation of bony structures. To understand clearly the potential of this imaging modality, radiologists must be aware of the technical complexity of this imaging tool, the different ways to acquire images and the several algorithms that can be applied in daily clinical practice and for research. Concerning musculoskeletal imaging, dual-energy CT has gained more and more space for evaluating crystal arthropathy, bone marrow edema, and soft tissue structures, including tendons and ligaments. This article aims to analyze and discuss the role of dual-energy CT in musculoskeletal imaging, exploring technical aspects, applications and clinical implications and possible perspectives of this technique.</p

InSAR Monitoring of Italian Coastline Revealing Natural and Anthropogenic Ground Deformation Phenomena and Future Perspectives

In this work, we use X and C-band SAR data provided by the COSMO-SkyMed and ENVISAT missions to detect and measure some ground deformation phenomena along six coastal areas of Italy. In particular, we exploit multi-temporal interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR), i.e., small baseline subsets (SBAS) and interferometric point target analysis (IPTA) methods, to retrieve the deformation rate maps and time series for each investigated area. Multi-temporal InSAR analysis revealed local subsidence and uplifting effects in Ravenna Coastal Areas, Fiumicino, Campi Flegrei, Sibari Plain, Augusta Bay, and Taranto Gulf. Our work is meant as a demonstrator to show how InSAR-based analysis can provide a detailed understanding of the coastal hazards. Such analysis also opens up new monitoring scenarios such as the possibility of designing a near real-time surveillance service based on Sentinel-1 SAR data.Publishedid 31522T. Deformazione crostale attivaJCR Journa

Combining OCT and NMR-MOUSE techniques to study the stratigraphy of historical violins: the thickNESS project

In this work, Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR-MOUSE) have been applied to precious historical violins made by the most renowned makers of the Italian lutherie, such as Amati, Stradivari and Guarneri ‘del Gesù’, and hosted in the Museo del Violino in Cremona. Several large fragments removed during past restorations from instruments produced by the luthiers Stainer, Gasparo da Salò, Maggini and Guadagnini, as well as laboratory models simulating musical instruments stratigraphy, were further examined. OCT study was carried out with a prototype high-resolution portable SdOCT instrument providing layer thickness measurements and information about the presence of particles, cracks and delaminations. NMR analyses were performed with a Magritek Kea spectrometer and a Profile NMR-MOUSE (PM5) giving information on the wood density and elasticity, the last one possibly related to adopted treatments. The analyses have been conducted within the MOLAB Transnational Access - EU H2020 Project IPERION CH (thickNESS Project). Data interpretation is still in progress and promising results are expected to reveal in-depth insight into the finishing violin making process. These outcomes will be integrated with the results from UVIFL, FT-IR, Raman and XRF techniques in order to set up a methodology which allowed researchers to non-invasively characterize the stratigraphy of historical violins

A multi-sensor approach for coastal area monitoring

This study proposes a multi-sensor approach to promote and effective coastal area monitoring strategy over areas that include critical infrastructures, e.g.; on-shore and off-shore oil/gas extraction platforms and groundwater reservoirs. The monitoring strategy includes both sea-side and land-side observations using remotely sensed measurements. With respect to the land-side, multi-temporal differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) and Global Positioning System (GPS) techniques are exploited to monitor of subsidence phenomena along on-shore hydrocarbon and groundwater reservoirs, where surface deformations can be correlated to the extraction / pumping of resources from / into the subsoil. This is a non-trivial issue, which aims at improving the standards of security for the production / exploitation / storage of underground resources, as well as providing / implementing ad-hoc procedures for the monitoring of interested. With respect to the sea-side, effective SAR techniques are exploited to take benefit of multi-polarization SARs to observe oil/gas rigs/platforms and to observe oil discharges close to the oil extraction sites.PublishedCopenaghen, Denmark7A. Geofisica per il monitoraggio ambientale e geologia medic

New insights into earthquake precursors from InSAR

We measured ground displacements before and after the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake using multitemporal InSAR techniques to identify seismic precursor signals. We estimated the ground deformation and its temporal evolution by exploiting a large dataset of SAR imagery that spans seventy-two months before and sixteen months after the mainshock. These satellite data show that up to 15 mm of subsidence occurred beginning three years before the mainshock. This deformation occurred within two Quaternary basins that are located close to the epicentral area and are filled with sediments hosting multi-layer aquifers. After the earthquake, the same basins experienced up to 12 mm of uplift over approximately nine months. Before the earthquake, the rocks at depth dilated, and fractures opened. Consequently, fluids migrated into the dilated volume, thereby lowering the groundwater table in the carbonate hydrostructures and in the hydrologically connected multi-layer aquifers within the basins. This process caused the elastic consolidation of the fine-grained sediments within the basins, resulting in the detected subsidence. After the earthquake, the fractures closed, and the deep fluids were squeezed out. The pre-seismic ground displacements were then recovered because the groundwater table rose and natural recharge of the shallow multi-layer aquifers occurred, which caused the observed uplift.Published120356T. Variazioni delle caratteristiche crostali e precursoriJCR Journa