RETRACE-3D PROJECT, a multidisciplinary approach for the construction of a 3D crustal model: first results and seismotectonic implications

The RETRACE-3D (centRal italy EarThquakes integRAted Crustal modEl) Project has been launched with the ambitious goal to build, as first result, a new, robust, 3D geological model of broad consensus of the area struck by the 2016-2018 Central Italy seismic sequencePublishedBologna3T. Sorgente sismica4T. Sismicità dell'Itali

Vel-IO 3D: A tool for 3D velocity model construction, optimization and time-depth conversion in 3D geological modeling workflow

We present Vel-IO 3D, a tool for 3D velocity model creation and time-depth conversion, as part of a workflow for 3D model building. The workflow addresses the management of large subsurface dataset, mainly seismic lines and well logs, and the construction of a 3D velocity model able to describe the variation of the velocity parameters related to strong facies and thickness variability and to high structural complexity. Although it is applicable in many geological contexts (e.g. foreland basins, large intermountain basins), it is particularly suitable in wide flat regions, where subsurface structures have no surface expression. The Vel-IO 3D tool is composed by three scripts, written in Python 2.7.11, that automate i) the 3D instantaneous velocity model building, ii) the velocity model optimization, iii) the time-depth conversion. They determine a 3D geological model that is consistent with the primary geological constraints (e.g. depth of the markers on wells). The proposed workflow and the Vel-IO 3D tool have been tested, during the EU funded Project GeoMol, by the construction of the 3D geological model of a flat region, 5700 km2 in area, located in the central part of the Po Plain. The final 3D model showed the efficiency of the workflow and Vel-IO 3D tool in the management of large amount of data both in time and depth domain. A 4 layer-cake velocity model has been applied to a several thousand (5000–13,000 m) thick succession, with 15 horizons from Triassic up to Pleistocene, complicated by a Mesozoic extensional tectonics and by buried thrusts related to Southern Alps and Northern Apennines.Published171-1822TR. Ricostruzione e modellazione della struttura crostaleJCR Journa

3D Architecture and evolution of the Po Plain-Northern Adriatic Foreland basin during Plio-Pleistocene time

The Pliocene-Pleistocene tectonic and sedimentary evolution of the eastern Po Plain and northern Adriatic Fore- land Basin (PPAF) (extended ca. 35,000 km2) was the consequence of severe Northern Apennine compressional activity and climate-driven eustatic changes. According with the 2D seismic interpretation, facies analysis and sequence stratigraphy approach by Ghielmi et al. (2013 and references therein), these tectono-eustatic phases generated six basin-scale unconformities referred as Base Pliocene (PL1), Intra-Zanclean (PL2), Intra-Piacenzian (PL3), Gelasian (PL4), Base Calabrian (PS1) and Late Calabrian (PS2). We present a basin-wide detailed 3D model of the PPAF region, derived from the interpretation of these uncon- formities in a dense network of seismic lines (ca. 6,000 km) correlated with more than 200 well stratigraphies (courtesy of ENI E&P). The initial 3D time-model has been time-to-depth converted using the 3D velocity model created with Vel-IO 3D, a tool for 3D depth conversions and then validated and integrated with depth domain dataset from bibliography and well log. Resultant isobath and isopach maps are produced to inspect step-by-step the basin paleogeographic evolution; it occurred through alternating stages of simple and fragmented foredeeps. Changes in the basin geometry through time, from the inner sector located in the Emilia-Romagna Apennines to the outermost region (Veneto and northern Adriatic Sea), were marked by repeated phases of outward migration of two large deep depocenters located in front of Emilia arcs on the west, and in front of Ferrara-Romagna thrusts on the east. During late Pliocene-early Pleistocene, the inner side of the Emilia-Romagna arcs evolved into an elongated deep thrust-top basin due to a strong foredeep fragmentation then, an overall tectono-stratigraphic analysis shows also a decreasing trend of tectonic intensity of the Northern Apennine since Pleistocene until present

Central Apennines and its earthquakes: from sedimentology and active tectonics to seismic microzonation studies

The Central Apennines represents a wonderful record of a still active complex stratigraphic and structural history, as testified by recent earthquakes (L'Aquila 2009, Mw 6.1; Amatrice-Norcia 2016, Mw 6.5). Normal faults activity contributed to the formation of tectonic basins that hosted continental deposits, which recorded the long term traces at surface of large earthquakes. Moreover local seismic amplification has been observed, as result of peculiar geological and structural conditions. The field trip will illustrate examples of earthquake-induced effects due to the recent seismic sequence, in relation to the local stratigraphic and structural setting. The main steps of the geological evolution of Central Apennines, from Jurassic up to the Present, will be investigated which will help define contrasting responses to earthquakes between the cover terrains and the seismic bedrock. Evidences for regional uplift and active faulting, which interplayed with Quaternary climatic changes to feed the mountain chain into its present shape will be illustrated. The effects of recent earthquakes on towns and villages will be described considering the contributon of sediments characterization and the results of the recent advanced seismic microzonation studies

Central Apennines and its earthquakes: from sedimentology and active tectonics to seismic microzonation studies

The Central Apennines represents a wonderful record of a still active complex stratigraphic and structural history, as testified by recent earthquakes (L'Aquila 2009, Mw 6.1; Amatrice-Norcia 2016, Mw 6.5). Normal faults activity contributed to the formation of tectonic basins that hosted continental deposits, which recorded the long term traces at surface of large earthquakes. Moreover local seismic amplification has been observed, as result of peculiar geological and structural conditions. The field trip will illustrate examples of earthquake-induced effects due to the recent seismic sequence, in relation to the local stratigraphic and structural setting. The main steps of the geological evolution of Central Apennines, from Jurassic up to the Present, will be investigated which will help define contrasting responses to earthquakes between the cover terrains and the seismic bedrock. Evidences for regional uplift and active faulting, which interplayed with Quaternary climatic changes to feed the mountain chain into its present shape will be illustrated. The effects of recent earthquakes on towns and villages will be described considering the contributon of sediments characterization and the results of the recent advanced seismic microzonation studies.PublishedRome, Italy2T. Deformazione crostale attiva4T. Sismicità dell'Italia5T. Sismologia, geofisica e geologia per l'ingegneria sismic

Urban Services to Ecosystems - Green Infrastructure Benefits from the Landscape to the Urban Scale

The aim of this book is to bring together multidisciplinary research in the field of green infrastructure design, construction and ecology. The main core of the volume is constituted by contributions dealing with green infrastructure, vegetation science, nature-based solutions and sustainable urban development. The green infrastructure and its ecosystem services, indeed, are gaining space in both political agendas and academic research. However, the attention is focused on the services that nature is giving for free to and for human health and survival. What if we start to see things from another perspective? Our actions shall converge for instance to turn man-made environment like cities from heterotrophic to autotrophic ecosystems. From landscape ecology to urban and building design, like bricks of a wall, from the small scale to the bigger landscape scale via ecological networks and corridors, we should start answering these questions: what are the services that are we offering to Nature? What are we improving? How to implement our actions? This book contains three Open Access chapters, which are licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0)