Two geomagnetic regional models for Albania and south-east Italy from 1990 to 2010 with prediction to 2012 and comparison with IGRF-11

Here we present a revised geomagnetic reference model for the region comprising Albanian territory, southeast part of Italian Peninsula and Ionian Sea from 1990 to 2010 with prediction to 2012. This study is based on the datasets of magnetic measurements taken during different campaigns in Albania and Italy in the time of concern, together with a total intensity data set from the ∅rsted and CHAMP satellite missions. The model is designed to represent the Cartesian components, X, Y, Z and the total intensity F of the main geomagnetic field (and its secular variation SV) for the period of interest. To develop the model, we applied a Spherical Cap Harmonic Analysis (SCHA) of the geomagnetic potential over a 16° cap with most of the observations concentrated in the central 4° half-angle. The use of a larger cap than that containing the data was made to reduce the typical problems in SV modelling over small regions. Also a new technique, called "Radially Simplified Spherical Cap Harmonic Analysis" (RS-SCHA), was developed to improve the model especially in the radial variation of the geomagnetic field components. Both these models provide an optimal representation of the geomagnetic field in the considered region compared with the International Geomagnetic Reference Field model (IGRF-11) and can be used as reference models to reduce magnetic surveys undertaken in the area during the time of validity of the model, or to extrapolate the field till 2012

Repeat-station surveys: implications from chaos and ergodicity of the recent geomagnetic field

The present geomagnetic field is chaotic and ergodic: chaotic because it can no longer be predicted beyond around 6 years; and ergodic in the sense that time averages correspond to phase-space averages. These properties have already been deduced from complex analyses of observatory time series in a reconstructed phase space [Barraclough and De Santis 1997] and from global predicted and definitive models of differences in the time domain [De Santis et al. 2011]. These results imply that there is a strong necessity to make repeat-station magnetic surveys more frequently than every 5 years. This, in turn, will also improve the geomagnetic field secular variation models. This report provides practical examples and case studies

Preliminary analysis of surface temperature anomalies that preceded the two major Emilia 2012 earthquakes (Italy)

In the 1980's, from an analysis of satellite images, Russian scientists reported on a short-term thermal infrared radiation enhancement that occurred before some medium-to-large earthquakes in central Asia [Gorny et al. 1988]. Since then, many researchers have been studying earthquake thermal anomalies with satellite remote sensing data [Qiang et al. 1991, Tronin 1996, Tramutoli et al. 2001, Ouzounov and Freund 2004, Saraf and Choudhury 2004, Aliano et al. 2008, Blackett et al. 2011]. Recently, abnormal surface latent heat flux [Dey and Singh 2003, Cervone et al. 2005, Qin et al. 2009, Qin et al. 2011, Qin et al. 2012], outgoing long-wave radiation [Ouzounov et al. 2007] and microwave radiation [Takashi and Tadashi 2010] have also been shown to precede earthquakes. To investigate the possible physical mechanisms of such satellite thermal anomalies, some studies conducted a series of detecting experiments on rock loaded to fracturing [Wu et al. 2000, Freund 2002, Wu et al. 2002, Wu et al. 2006a, Wu et al. 2006b, Freund et al. 2007], and some hypotheses have been proposed. These have included: leaking of pore-gas, and hence the resulting greenhouse effect [Qiang et al. 1995]; activating and recombining of p-holes during rock deformation [Freund 2002]; release of latent heat due to near-surface air ionization [Pulinets et al. 2006], and stress-induced thermal effects due to friction and fluids [Wu and Liu 2009]. According to the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV; National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology), two major earthquakes with almost the same large magnitudes struck northern Italy, on the Po Plain in the Emilia Region. The first hit on May 20, 2012, at 02:03 UTC, with ML 5.9 (44.89 °N, 11.23 °E; 6 km in depth), and the second on May 29, 2012, at 07:00 UTC, with ML 5.8 (44.85 °N, 11.09 °E; 10 km in depth). These caused a total of 27 deaths and widespread damage. In this study, the long-term temperature data from both satellite and ground (with greater emphasis on the satellite data) have been used to determine whether there were thermal anomalies associated with this Emilia 2012 seismic sequence. In particular, the next section will be dedicated to describing both the data and the method of analysis. In Section 3, we provide the more significant results, which we discuss in Section 4, together with the main conclusions. We acknowledge that this work cannot be exhaustive, as it will require more data and analyses. However, although further studies will be welcome, we are confident that we have done the best with the data at our disposal

Magnetic transfer function entropy and the 2009 Mw = 6.3 L'Aquila earthquake (Central Italy)

Abstract. With the aim of obtaining a deeper knowledge of the physical phenomena associated with the 2009 L'Aquila (Central Italy) seismic sequence, culminating with a Mw = 6.3 earthquake on 6 April 2009, and possibly of identifying some kind of earthquake-related magnetic or geoelectric anomaly, we analyse the geomagnetic field components measured at the magnetic observatory of L'Aquila and their variations in time. In particular, trends of magnetic transfer functions in the years 2006–2010 are inspected. They are calculated from the horizontal to vertical magnetic component ratio in the frequency domain, and are very sensitive to deep and lateral geoelectric characteristics of the measurement site. Entropy analysis, carried out from the transfer functions with the so called transfer function entropy, points out clear temporal burst regimes of a few distinct harmonics preceding the main shock of the seismic sequence. A possible explanation is that they could be related to deep fluid migrations and/or to variations in the micro-/meso-fracturing that affected significantly the conductivity (ordered/disordered) distribution in a large lithospheric volume under the seismogenic layer below L'Aquila area. This interpretation is also supported by the analysis of hypocentres depths before the main shock occurrence

Searching for possible seismogenic signatures in ionosphere by an entropy-based analysis of magnetic satellite data: A case study.

The importance of detecting possible electromagnetic signatures due to large earthquakes is self-evident, signatures which can be either anticipating, simultaneous or subsequent with respect to the main shock. Taking advantage of the present low Earth’s orbiting CHAMP satellite, we apply an “ad hoc” technique based on the Information Theory, to the satellite magnetic data with the aim at extracting eventual time anomalies. This technique has small time-space resolution using a preliminary wavelet analysis in order to detect shorter-wavelength anomalies. Some examples are given for magnetic satellite data taken over periods including the times of two large earthquakes, one being the Sumatra region event on 26 December 2004 (M=9.1)

Entropy based analysis of satellite magnetic data for searching possible electromagnetic signatures due to big earthquakes

The importance of detecting possible electromagnetic signatures due to big earthquakes is self-evident, signatures which can be either anticipating, simultaneous or subsequent with respect to the main shock. Taking advantage of the present low Earth orbiting CHAMP satellite, we apply two “ad hoc” techniques both based on the Information Theory (after the seminal monograph by Shannon [1]) to the satellite magnetic data with the aim at extracting eventual time anomalies. These techniques have different time-space resolutions: the first technique requires a preliminary spherical harmonic analysis of daily magnetic data and, potentially, detects long-wavelength variations, while the second uses a preliminary wavelet analysis and can detect shorter-wavelength anomalies. Some examples are given for magnetic satellite data taken in correspondence with the two big earthquakes occurred in the Sumatra region on 26 December 2004 (M = 9.1) and 28 March 2005 (M = 8.6)

Two geomagnetic regional models for Albania and south-east Italy from 1990 to 2010 with prediction to 2012 and comparison with IGRF-11

Here we present a revised geomagnetic reference model for the region comprising Albanian territory, south-east part of Italian Peninsula and Ionian Sea from 1990 to 2010 with prediction to 2012. This study is based on the datasets of magnetic measurements taken during different campaigns in Albania and Italy in the time of concern, together with a total intensity data set from the Ørsted and CHAMP satellite missions. The model is designed to represent the Cartesian components, X, Y, Z and the total intensity F of the main geomagnetic field (and its secular variation) for the period of interest. To develop the model, we applied a Spherical Cap Harmonic Analysis (SCHA) of the geomagnetic potential over a 16° cap with most of the observations concentrated in the central 4° half-angle. The use of a larger cap than that containing the data was made to reduce the typical problems in SV modelling over small regions. Also a new technique, called ``Radially Simplified Spherical Cap Harmonic Analysis" (RS-SCHA), was developed to improve the model especially in the radial variation of the geomagnetic field components. Both these models provide an optimal representation of the geomagnetic field in the considered region compared with the International Geomagnetic Reference Field model (IGRF-11) and can be used as reference models to reduce magnetic surveys undertaken in the area during the time of validity of the model, or to extrapolate the field till 2012

Magnetic transfer function entropy and the 2009 Mw = 6.3 L’Aquila earthquake (Central Italy)

With the aim of obtaining a deeper knowledge of the physical phenomena associated with the 2009 L’Aquila (Central Italy) seismic sequence, culminating with a Mw = 6.3 earthquake on 6 April 2009, and possibly of identifying some kind of earthquake-related magnetic or geoelectric anomaly, we analyse the geomagnetic field components measured at the magnetic observatory of L’Aquila and their variations in time. In particular, trends of magnetic transfer functions in the years 2006–2010 are inspected. They are calculated from the horizontal to vertical magnetic component ratio in the frequency domain, and are very sensitive to deep and lateral geoelectric characteristics of the measurement site. Entropy analysis, carried out from the transfer functions with the so called transfer function entropy, points out clear temporal burst regimes of a few distinct harmonics preceding the main shock of the seismic sequence. A possible explanation is that they could be related to deep fluid migrations and/or to variations in the micro-/meso-fracturing that affected significantly the conductivity (ordered/disordered) distribution in a large lithospheric volume under the seismogenic layer below L’Aquila area. This interpretation is also supported by the analysis of hypocentres depths before the main shock occurrence

Psoriasis remission after gastric bypass surgery: a case report

Case reports suggest that gastric bypass surgery in patients with psoriasis may result in complete remission of the disease. A substantial weight loss is achieved in the months following surgery, which is likely to reduce psoriasis symptoms and risk of comorbidities. A 50-year-old man was followed in our Department for several years. He had severe plaque psoriasis requiring superpotent topical steroids and methotrexate. His medical history included morbid obesity (138 kg), dyslipidemia , hypertension and positive family history for psoriasis. He underwent gastric bypass surgery on November 2011. Eight months later, his weight decreased to 86 kg, and he noted a marked improvement in his psoriasis, with reduction of body surface area involvement. In our opinion weight loss may be a useful adjunctive therapy for obese patients with psoriasis