Short‐term dynamics of drainage density based on a combination of channel flow state surveys and water level measurements

Headwater streams often experience intermittent flow. Consequently, the flowing drainage network expands and contracts and the flowing drainage density (DD) varies over time. Monitoring the DD dynamics is essential to understand the processes controlling it. However, our knowledge of the event‐scale DD dynamics is limited because high spatial and temporal resolution data on the DD remain sparse. Therefore, our team monitored the DD dynamics and hydrologic variables in two 5‐ha headwater catchments in the Swiss pre‐Alps in the summer of 2021, through mapping surveys of the flow state and a wireless streamwater level sensor network. We combined the two data sources to calculate the DD at the event‐time scale. Our so‐called CEASE method assumes that flow in a channel reach occurs above a set of water level thresholds, and it determined the DDs with accuracies >94%. DD responses to events differed for the two catchments, despite their proximity and similar size. DD ranged from 2.7 to 32.2 km km$^{−2}$ in the flatter catchment (average slope: 15°). For this catchment, the discharge‐DD relationship became steeper when DD exceeded 20 km km$^{−2}$ and DD increased substantially with relatively small increases in discharge. For rainfall events during dry conditions, the discharge‐DD relationship showed counterclockwise hysteresis, likely due to initially high groundwater discharge from the area near the catchment outlet; once rainfall stopped, DD remained high during the streamflow recession due to rising groundwater levels throughout the catchment. For events during wet conditions, the discharge and DD responded synchronously. In the steeper catchment (average slope: 24°), the DD varied only from 7.8 to 14.6 km km$^{−2}$ and there was no hysteresis or threshold behaviour in the discharge‐DD relationship, likely because multiple groundwater springs maintained streamflow throughout the network during the monitoring period. These results highlight the high variability in DD and its dynamics across small headwater catchments

SYDDARTA: new methodology for digitization of deterioration estimation in paintings

ABSTRACT The SYDDARTA project is an on-going European Commission funded initiative under the 7th Framework Programme. Its main objective is the development of a pre-industrial prototype for diagnosing the deterioration of movable art assets. The device combines two different optical techniques for the acquisition of data. On one hand, hyperspectral imaging is implemented by means of electronically tunable filters. On the other, 3D scanning, using structured light projection and capturing is developed. These techniques are integrated in a single piece of equipment, allowing the recording of two optical information streams. Together with multi-sensor data merging and information processing, estimates of artwork deterioration and degradation can be made. In particular, the resulting system will implement two optical channels (3D scanning and short wave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral imaging) featuring a structured light projector and electronically tunable spectral separators. The system will work in the VIS-NIR range (400-1000nm), and SWIR range (900-2500nm). It will be also portable and user-friendly. Among all possible art work under consideration, Baroque paintings on canvas and wooden panels were selected as the project case studies

TempAqua App iOS for Intermittent Streams Mapping

<p>The TempAqua App for iOS is a mobile phone application that facilitates the mapping of intermittent streams. It is designed to make field work more efficient and less error-prone.</p> <p>A user collects the data in the field and then exports it directly to the database. The application helps him/her to navigate among mark-points, and record the stream-related data, including photos and videos. The application is configurable; A user can import mark points, stream network, and catchment shapes from geo-json files.</p> <p>The mapping mechanics is fairly simple. A user navigates to interested mark points based on his/her current location and imported catchment definition. He/she enters in the app the data collected in these locations, like current stream state, discharge, comment, photos, or even movies of the flowing stream. After all, he/she clicks a button to simply export the survey to the database.</p&gt

ConsEnsuAl State Estimation Method (CEASE): v0.8

<p>The ConsEntuAl State Estimation method (CEASE) is a framework aiming at providing the scientific community open source software for the flowing drainage network length estimation based on a combination of surveys and water level measurements.</p> <p>CEASE is written in R programming language.</p&gt

Multi-pollutants impact on modern cement built heritage

It is well known that the deposition of gaseous pollutants and aerosols plays a major role in causing the deterioration of monuments and built cultural heritage in European cities. Despite of many studies dedicated to the environmental damage of cultural heritage, in case of cement mortars, commonly used in the 20th century architecture, the deterioration due to air multipollutants impact, especially the formation of black crusts, is still not well explored making this issue a challenging area of research. This work centers on cement mortars – environment interactions, focusing on the diagnosis of the damage on the modern built heritage due to air multi-pollutants. For this purpose three sites, exposed to different urban areas in Europe, were selected for sampling and subsequent laboratory analyses: Centennial Hall, Wroclaw (Poland), Chiesa dell'Autostrada del Sole, Florence (Italy), Casa Galleria Vichi, Florence (Italy). The sampling sessions were performed taking into account the height from the ground level and protection from rain run off (sheltered, partly sheltered and exposed areas). The complete characterization of collected damage layer and underlying materials was performed using a range of analytical techniques: optical and scanning electron microscopy, X ray diffractometry, differential and gravimetric thermal analysis, ion chromatography, flash combustion/gas chromatographic analysis, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer. The data were elaborated using statistical methods (i.e. principal components analyses) and enrichment factor for cement mortars was calculated for the first time. The results obtained from the experimental activity performed on the damage layers indicate that gypsum, due to the deposition of atmospheric sulphur compounds, is the main damage product at surfaces sheltered from rain run-off at Centennial Hall and Casa Galleria Vichi. By contrast, gypsum has not been identified in the samples collected at Chiesa dell'Autostrada del Sole. This is connected to the restoration works, particularly surface cleaning, regularly performed for the maintenance of the building. Moreover, the results obtained demonstrated the correlation between the location of the building and the composition of the damage layer: Centennial Hall is mainly undergoing to the impact of pollutants emitted from the close coal power stations, whilst Casa Galleria Vichi is principally affected by pollutants from vehicular exhaust in front of the building

Characterization of black crust layers of different sites in Europe and North Africa

The EC TeACH project (Technologies and tools to prioritize assessment and diagnosis of air pollution impact on immovable and movable cultural heritage) sets out to understand the different types of deterioration due to pollution impact on cultural heritage in different European and North Africa sites. The characterization of damage layers was focused on ions by chromatography (IC) and elemental composition by coupled plasma-optical emission and mass spectrometer (ICP-OES, ICP-MS). The obtained data were analyzed applying Pearson’s correlation to understand the origin of the ions and elements detected in the black crusts. In all cases, SOx and NOx have the priority role in damage layer formation. The impact in surface deterioration of local pollutant sources, e.g. past restoration treatments in Florence Cathedral, coal combustion and emission from railway transport in case of Cologne Cathedral, marine aerosol deposition, in the cases of the coastal sites of Salè and Oslo, are also observed

Assessment of air pollutant sources in the deposit on monuments by multivariate analysis

A proper recognition of the pollutant sources in atmospheric deposit is a key problem for any action aiming at reducing their emission, being this an important issue with implications both on human health safeguard and on the cultural heritage conservation in urban sites. Thiswork presents the results of a statistical approach application for the identification of pollutant sources in deposits and damage layers onmonuments located in different European sites: Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence (Italy), Cologne Cathedral, Cologne (Germany), Ancient ramparts, Salè (Morocco), National Museum, Cracow (Poland) and National Gallery, Oslo (Norway). For this aim, the surface damage layers on monuments and historical buildings of the selected sites were collected and analyzed, in terms of ionic and elemental composition, through application of ion chromatography and induced coupled plasma-opticalemission spectroscopy. The achieved results were processed bymultivariate analyses such as correlation matrix and principal component analysis in order to identify the possible origin of pollutants affecting the state of conservation of the monuments. This allowed us to assume that in all case studies the traffic emission is the main pollutant source. In the case of Ancient ramparts, Salè (Morocco), and National Gallery, Oslo (Norway), the surfaces are also under influence of marine aerosols. Moreover, concerning the Cologne Cathedral, the strong impact of the pollutants emitted by railway station was also revealed

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ON UNESCO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN PANAMA

In Panama two archaeological sites have been included in the World Heritage List of UNESCO in the last decade [1]. Both located near the sea, one is situated on the North Coast, exactly on the Caribbean Sea and it consists in military Spanish fortifications (XVII-XVII cent.), built in Portobelo and San Lorenzo areas, aimed at protecting the coasts and the transoceanic commerce from the pirate attacks (Fig. 1). The second one arises on the opposite littoral, just in front of the Pacific Ocean, in the downtown of Panama City (Fig. 2). Nowadays it is known as Panama Viejo and it is the first Spaniards settlement on the Pacific coast, founded in the 1519 A.D.. Archaeological excavations showed also the presence of a previous indigenous community, called Cueva, dating from 500 A.D. and representing a symbol of national identity [2-4]. At the beginning of the next year the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, (ISACCNR, Bologna), in collaboration with the "Panama Viejo Patronage" and the Department of Physics and Earth Sciences of the University of Ferrara, will start a research project in Panama focused on the evaluation of the state of conservation and damage due to climate and pollution impact on the two sites described above. Specifically the selection of these two locations was done to compare a rural archaeological site with an urban one, both exposed to the same climatic conditions and located in adjacent areas of the Panama Canal

A methodology to monitor the pollution impact on historic buildings surfaces: The TeACH project

The available scenarios of pollutant trends in Europe indicate that the effect of industrial, domestic and transport emissions on corrosion and soiling will continue to constitute a serious threat to Cultural Heritage. Such effects require improved methods for a more accurate diagnosis, monitoring and assessment of the damage. Within this framework, the monitoring methodology applied within the European project TeACH (Technologies and tools to prioritize assessment and diagnosis of air pollution impact on immovable and movable cultural heritage) (2008-2012) allows to assess the impact of the main pollutants on historic buildings. As a part of this approach, a new kit able to monitor the environmental parameters critical for the conservation of architectural surfaces and to evaluate the related damage in terms of surface color change was developed. The monitoring methodology described in the present paper has valuable application potential in the definition of preventive conservation strategies for a wide range of heritage assets.Peer reviewe