Possible Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling effects prior to the 2018 Mw = 7.5 Indonesia earthquake from seismic, atmospheric and ionospheric data

In this study, we analyse Lithosphere Atmosphere Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) effects to identify some phenomena that could, possibly, be linked to the preparation phase of the MW=7.5 earthquake occurred in Indonesia on September 28th, 2018, by investigating the eight months preceding the seismic event. First, we find a seismic acceleration that started two months before the mainshock. Then, studying some physical properties of the atmosphere (skin temperature, total column water vapor and aerosol optical thickness), we find two increases of atmospheric anomalies about 6 and 3.7 months before the mainshock, and the latter one is very promising as a candidate for seismic-related phenomena. Furthermore, we investigate ionospheric disturbances, by analysing the Swarm and, for the first time, China Seismo-Electromagnetic Satellite (CSES), magnetic and electron density data during quiet geomagnetic time. From different techniques, we find interesting anomalies concentrated around 2.7 months before the mainshock. On August 19th, 2018, Swarm and CSES showed an enhancement of the electron density during night time. We critically discuss the possibility that such phenomenon can be a possible pre-seismic-induced ionospheric effect. Finally, we performed a cumulative analysis using all detected anomalies, as a test case for a possible chain of physical phenomena that could happen before the earthquake occurrence. With this study, we support the usefulness to collect and store large Earth ground and satellite observational dataset that in the future could be useful to monitor in real time the seismic zones to anticipate earthquakes, although nowadays, there is no evidence about useful prediction capabilities.Published1040972A. Fisica dell'alta atmosferaJCR Journa

CRITTERBASE, a science-driven data warehouse for marine biota

Data on marine biota exist in many formats and sources, such as published literature, data repositories, and unpublished material. Due to this heterogeneity, information is difficult to find, access and combine, severely impeding its reuse for further scientific analysis and its long-term availability for future generations. To address this challenge, we present CRITTERBASE, a publicly accessible data warehouse and interactive portal that currently hosts quality-controlled and taxonomically standardized presence/absence, abundance, and biomass data for 18,644 samples and 3,664 benthic taxa (2,824 of which at species level). These samples were collected by grabs, underwater imaging or trawls in Arctic, North Sea and Antarctic regions between the years 1800 and 2014. Data were collated from literature, unpublished data, own research and online repositories. All metadata and links to primary sources are included. We envision CRITTERBASE becoming a valuable and continuously expanding tool for a wide range of usages, such as studies of spatio-temporal biodiversity patterns, impacts and risks of climate change or the evidence-based design of marine protection policies

Magnetic Field and Electron Density Data Analysis from Swarm Satellites Searching for Ionospheric Effects by Great Earthquakes: 12 Case Studies from 2014 to 2016

We analyse Swarm satellite magnetic field and electron density data one month before and one month after 12 strong earthquakes that have occurred in the first 2.5 years of Swarm satellite mission lifetime in the Mediterranean region (magnitude M6.1+) or in the rest of the world (M6.7+). The search for anomalies was limited to the area centred at each earthquake epicentre and bounded by a circle that scales with magnitude according to the Dobrovolsky’s radius. We define the magnetic and electron density anomalies statistically in terms of specific thresholds with respect to the same statistical quantity along the whole residual satellite track (|geomagnetic latitude| ≤ 50°, quiet geomagnetic conditions). Once normalized by the analysed satellite tracks, the anomalies associated to all earthquakes resemble a linear dependence with earthquake magnitude, so supporting the statistical correlation with earthquakes and excluding a relationship by chance.PublishedID 3711A. Geomagnetismo e PaleomagnetismoJCR Journa

Precursory worldwide signatures of earthquake occurrences on Swarm satellite data

The study of the preparation phase of large earthquakes is essential to understand the physical processes involved, and potentially useful also to develop a future reliable short-term warning system. Here we analyse electron density and magnetic field data measured by Swarm three-satellite constellation for 4.7 years, to look for possible in-situ ionospheric precursors of large earthquakes to study the interactions between the lithosphere and the above atmosphere and ionosphere, in what is called the Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC). We define these anomalies statistically in the whole space-time interval of interest and use a Worldwide Statistical Correlation (WSC) analysis through a superposed epoch approach to study the possible relation with the earthquakes. We find some clear concentrations of electron density and magnetic anomalies from more than two months to some days before the earthquake occurrences. Such anomaly clustering is, in general, statistically significant with respect to homogeneous random simulations, supporting a LAIC during the preparation phase of earthquakes. By investigating different earthquake magnitude ranges, not only do we confirm the well-known Rikitake empirical law between ionospheric anomaly precursor time and earthquake magnitude, but we also give more reliability to the seismic source origin for many of the identified anomalies.Publishedid 202872A. Fisica dell'alta atmosferaJCR Journa

A multi-parametric and multi-layer study to investigate the largest 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai eruptions

On 20 December 2021, after six quiet years, the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai volcano erupted abruptly. Then, on 15 January 2022, the largest eruption produced a plume well registered from satellites and destroyed the volcanic cone previously formed in 2015, connecting the two islands. We applied a multi-parametric and multi-layer study to investigate all the possible pre-eruption signals and effects of this volcanic activity in the lithosphere, atmosphere, and ionosphere. We focused our attention on: (a) seismological features considering the eruption in terms of an earthquake with equivalent energy released in the lithosphere; (b) atmospheric parameters, such as skin and air temperature, outgoing longwave radiation (OLR), cloud cover, relative humidity from climatological datasets; (c) varying magnetic field and electron density observed by ground magnetometers and satellites, even if the event was in the recovery phase of an intense geomagnetic storm. We found different precursors of this unique event in the lithosphere, as well as the effects due to the propagation of acoustic gravity and pressure waves and magnetic and electromagnetic coupling in the form of signals detected by ground stations and satellite data. All these parameters and their detailed investigation confirm the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling (LAIC) models introduced for natural hazards such as volcano eruptions and earthquakes

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Improvements in bottomside electron density definition in the Autoscala program

Some improvements introduced in the Autoscala program are presented. They include improvements in E valley modeling of the electron density profile Ne(h), and in the link between the E valley and bottom-side F regions. An abrupt variation in Ne(h) generated by the previous version of Autoscala under night conditions has been eliminated. A series of ionograms recorded by the Millstone Hill digisonde (42.6°, 288.5°) were automatically interpreted by the previous version of Autoscala and by the new one. Data from Incoherent Scatter Radar (ISR) were used to comparatively assess the performance of the two versions. For this purpose, the root mean square errors (RMSEs) of the Ne(h) provided by Autoscala were calculated relative to the corresponding values provided by ISR. A more accurate overall modeling of Ne(h) was achieved by the new Autoscala version (RMSE = 0.51 MHz for the new version against RMSE = 0.67 MHz for the previous one).Published1432-14382A. Fisica dell'alta atmosferaJCR Journa

Applicazione di OIASA a ionogrammi obliqui di scarsa qualità

Lo studio riguarda l’applicazione del sistema OIASA (Oblique Ionogram Automatic Scaling Algorithm) per l’interpretazione automatica degli ionogrammi obliqui a un set di 288 ionogrammi test di scarsa qualità registrati a Icheon (37.14°N, 127.55°E), Corea del Sud, dalla ionosonda VIPIR2 (Vertical Incidence Pulsed Ionospheric Radar, Version 2), allo scopo di testare la capacità di OIASA di scartare ionogrammi non interpretabili a mano da un operatore e così ridurre il numero di output erronei. Alla base del funzionamento di OIASA vi è una tecnica di riconoscimento dell’immagine utilizzata per scalare dagli ionogrammi la Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) tra le ionosonde ricevente e trasmittente. Allo scopo di ridurre il numero di falsi positivi sono state applicate tecniche di scarto basate sul metodo del massimo contrasto e sull’utilizzo combinato di un algoritmo di conversione degli ionogrammi obliqui in ionogrammi verticali equivalenti e del software Autoscala. Quest’ultima procedura permette di associare a ciascuna MUF autoscalata un valore di un fattore di qualità definito come differenza tra il valore di foF2 ottenuto da Autoscala e quello ricavato dalla MUF stessa per mezzo della legge della secante. I valori delle soglie da applicare ai processi di scarto sono stati infine ottenuti applicando il metodo della curva ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic curve) al data set in esame.UnpublishedIstituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Roma (Italy)2A. Fisica dell'alta atmosfer

A Regional Adaptive and Assimilative Three-Dimensional Ionospheric Model

An adaptive three-dimensional (3D) regional ionospheric model is proposed. It is able to ingest real-time data from different ionosondes, providing the ionospheric bottom side plasma frequency fp over the Italian area. The model is built using as basis empirical values over the considered region of a set of ionospheric parameters Pibase, to some of which has been assigned an increment Pi. Then, the values of the ionospheric parameters actually observed at a given time in a given site will be Pi= Pibase+Pi. These Pi values are used as input of an electron density N(h) profiler. The latter is derived from the Advanced Ionospheric Profiler (AIP), which is the software used by Autoscala as a part of the process of automatic inversion on the ionogram trace. The 3D-model ingests ionosonde data by minimizing the root-mean-square deviation between the observed and modeled values of fp(h) obtained from the N(h) associated ones, at the points where the observations are available. The Pi values are obtained through the minimization procedure. The 3D-model is tested adapting it with data collected at the ionospheric stations of Rome (41.8 N, 12.5 E) and Gibilmanna (37.9 N, 14.0 E) and using data from the ionospheric station of San Vito dei Normanni (40.6 N, 18.0 E) for comparison. The software developed is able to produce maps of critical frequencies foF2 and foF1 and of fp at fixed altitude, and transverse and longitudinal sections of the bottomside ionosphere, in scale of colors. fp(h) profiles of and associated simulated ionograms are easily producible for each geographic location of the Italian region. Values of fp within the considered volume can be also provided

Improvements on foF1 estimation at polar regions

The analysis of a sample of polar ionograms reveals that the DuCharme and Petrie empirical formula often fails in the foF1 estimation at polar regions. A study of the discrepancies between modeled and observed foF1 values is presented, using a data set of Antarctic ionograms from different stations. Such discrepancies have been quantitatively evaluated. Based on this study a correction to the DuCharme and Petrie formula is proposed. This correction is performed to be implemented in an improved version of Autoscala software for a particular ionospheric station, in the frame of AUSPICIO (Automatic Interpretation of Polar Ionograms and Cooperative Ionospheric Observations) project.UnpublishedVienna (Austria)2A. Fisica dell'alta atmosfer