Hindcast and forecast of the Parsifal storm

On 2 November 1995 a Mistral storm in the Gulf of Lions sank the 16 metre yacht Parsifal claiming six lives out of the nine member crew. We analyse the storm with different meteorological and wave models, verifying the results against the available buoy and satellite measurements. Then we consider the accuracy of the storm forecasts and the information available the days before the accident. The limitations related to the resolution of the meteorological models are explored by hindcasting the storm also with the winds produced by some limited area models. Finally, we discuss the present situation of wind and wave hindcast and forecast in theMediterranean Sea, and the distribution of these results to the public

Hindcast and forecast of the Parsifal storm

On 2 November 1995 a Mistral storm in the Gulf of Lions sank the 16 metre yacht Parsifal claiming six lives out of the nine member crew. We analyse the storm with different meteorological and wave models, verifying the results against the available buoy and satellite measurements. Then we consider the accuracy of the storm forecasts and the information available the days before the accident. The limitations related to the resolution of the meteorological models are explored by hindcasting the storm also with the winds produced by some limited area models. Finally, we discuss the present situation of wind and wave hindcast and forecast in theMediterranean Sea, and the distribution of these results to the public

Reduced Gray to White Matter Tissue Intensity Contrast in Schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: While numerous structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies revealed changes of brain volume or density, cortical thickness and fibre integrity in schizophrenia, the effect of tissue alterations on the contrast properties of neural structures has so far remained mostly unexplored. METHODS: Whole brain high-resolution MRI at 3 Tesla was used to investigate tissue contrast and cortical thickness in patients with schizophrenia and healthy controls. RESULTS: Patients showed significantly decreased gray to white matter contrast in large portions throughout the cortical mantle with preponderance in inferior, middle, superior and medial temporal areas as well as in lateral and medial frontal regions. The extent of these intensity contrast changes exceeded the extent of cortical thinning. Further, contrast changes remained significant after controlling for cortical thickness measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings clearly emphasize the presence of schizophrenia related brain tissue changes that alter the imaging properties of brain structures. Intensity contrast measurements might not only serve as a highly sensitive metric but also as a potential indicator of a distinct pathological process that might be independent from volume or thickness alterations

Comparison between flood prone areas' geomorphic features in the Abruzzo region

Flood risk maps are one of the main non-structural measures for risk mitigation, but, as the risk knowledge degree is directly proportional to the community interest and financial capability, many sites are devoid of flood inundation areas studies. Recently many authors have investigated the capability of flood prone areas individuation with geomorphological DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL(DEM) based approaches. These approaches highlight the role of geomorphic features derived from DEM, in this case slope, curvature, elevation, and topographic wetness index, to preliminary inundated areas' identification, without using hydraulic simulations. The present studies aim to analyze the geomorphic features of different hazard levels that lie under the identified inundated areas that have been carried out by the Abruzzo Region Basin Authority. The Aterno-Pescara and Foro river basins have been investigated. The results show that the characteristics of the flooded areas can be clearly distinguished from those of the entire basin,however, the difficultly of geomorphic features in individuatingthe areas of different hazard classifications is obvious

On the hydrologic-hydraulic revaluation of large dams

The aim of the present work is to develop a criteria to evaluate the safety level of large dams. This is executed by comparing the discharge capability of a dam with the peak flow estimates, with respect to 100-, 200-, 500-, and 1000- year return periods. The methodology consists of estimating the intensity duration frequency (IDF) curves, starting from observational time series, collected by rain gauges. Then, through a rainfall-runoff transformation, the design hydrographs are obtained for different return periods. The results are compared to trends of peak discharges, obtained previously by the handler of the dam. It can be noted that, if the basin area is smaller than 1 km2, the peak discharges estimated are always lower than those calculated by the handler, regardless of the antecedent moisture conditions (AMC) assumed. Otherwise, the peak discharges obtained by the handler range between those we obtained for AMCII and AMCIII