Geomorphological evolution of coastal landslides in Malta: integration of terrestrial and marine datasets

The paper shows the main results of multidisciplinary research carried out in the Island of Malta aiming at the integration of terrestrial and marine datasets. Identification, mapping, monitoring and dating of landslides, including submerged ones, have enabled to define a time frame for the development of landslides and to reconstruct the geomorphological evolution of the investigated areas. This has provided useful means for landslide susceptibility and hazard mapping, which is crucial for north-west coast of Malta

Tutela e valorizzazione di una risorsa per il territorio: la valle del Rio della Rocca (Appennino reggiano)

Le attività estrattive condotte a partire dagli anni ‘50 del XX secolo hanno profondamente modificato la porzione orientale e mediana del bacino del Rio della Rocca nel Comune di Castellarano (Appennino reggiano). Considerato l’elevato pregio degli elementi naturali dell’area e per contro il degrado ambientale – essenzialmente legato alla presenza di cave abbandonate – in cui essa versa, è emersa da tempo la necessità di una riqualificazione territoriale basata su una fruizione a fini turistico-ricreativi della valle, che tenga in debita considerazione i diversi aspetti naturalistici che la caratterizzano, compresi quelli di interesse geologico. Per definire opportune strategie e azioni di riqualificazione, si è resa necessaria un’analisi delle restrizioni e delle opportunità che il territorio presenta. A tale scopo è stata effettuata una dettagliata ricognizione della normativa vigente con particolare riguardo per le disposizioni previste dagli strumenti di gestione per i siti inclusi nella Rete Natura 2000, di cui la valle del Rio della Rocca fa parte come Sito di Importanza Comunitaria. Tra le risorse territoriali che l’area offre è emerso come la spettacolarità e l’esemplarità degli elementi del patrimonio geologico della valle rappresentino un’opportunità per operare una valorizzazione in chiave geoturistica. A tal proposito, sono stati individuati i siti di interesse geologico che meglio si prestano agli obiettivi di valorizzazione, al fine di indirizzare i primi interventi di riqualificazione e conservazione.Conservation and improvement of a natural territorial resource: the valley of Rio della Rocca (Italy). The quarrying activities carried out since the 1950s have deeply modified the lower-middle sector of the Rio della Rocca valley in the municipality of Castellarano (Reggio Emilia Apennines, Italy). The great value of the natural elements is, however, accompanied by environmental degradation, mainly due to abandoned quarries. Interventions aimed at territorial upgrading for the purpose of recreation and tourism had to be devised, taking into account the different naturalistic aspects of the area including its geological features. In order to define suitable strategies and actions, an analysis of territorial restrictions and opportunities was necessary. For this purpose, a detailed review of current legislation was carried out, with particular regard to the provisions stated by the management tools of “Natura 2000 Network”, in which the Rio della Rocca catchment is included as a Site of Community Importance. Among the territorial resources of the area, the scenic value and the exemplarity of its geological heritage are an opportunity to carry out territorial upgrading by assigning the valley to qualified geotourism activities. The sites of most considerable geological interest have therefore been selected, in order to establish preliminary requalification and conservation measures

Bridging Terrestrial and Marine Geoheritage: Assessing Geosites in Porto\ufb01no Natural Park (Italy)

Interest in geoheritage research has grown over the past 25years and several countries have issued laws to encourage improvement and conservation. Investigations on geosites are prevalently carried out on land environments, although the study of underwater marine environments is also of paramount scienti\ufb01c importance. Nevertheless, due to the constraints of underwater environments, these sites have been little explored, also on account of the higher costs and di\ufb03culties of surveying. This research has identi\ufb01ed and assessed the terrestrial and marine geosites of the Porto\ufb01no Natural Park and Protected Marine Area, which are internationally famous owing to both the land scenic features and the quality of the marine ecosystem. The goal was to pinpoint the most suitable sites for tourist improvement and fruition and identify possible connections between the two environments. Inall,28 terrestrial sites and 27 marine sites have been identi\ufb01ed and their scienti\ufb01c value as well as their ecological, cultural, and aesthetic importance has been assessed. In addition, accessibility, services, and economic potential of geosites has also been taken into account. Both the updated database of terrestrial and marine geo sites in the Porto\ufb01no protected areas and the assessment procedure adopted can become useful tools for the managers of these sites and provide decision-makers with possible strategies for tourist development

Geomorphology of the central Po Plain, Northern Italy

A micro-relief map (1:90,000 scale) and a geomorphological map (1:25,000 scale) of the central sector of the Po Plain (northern Italy) are presented. The geomorphological map represents fluvial and anthropogenic landforms as well as the distribution of the textures of superficial alluvial deposits. It resulted from the integration of different study methods, including remote sensing data analysis, field surveys and grain size analysis of superficial deposits. The micro-relief map was a fundamental tool for identifying many inconspicuous landforms. The geomorphological map can provide local authorities with useful information for correct territorial management and planning, in particular for seismic and flood hazard assessment

Potential Sea Level Rise Inundation in the Mediterranean: From Susceptibility Assessment to Risk Scenarios for Policy Action

Coastal ecosystems and anthropic activities are prone to be affected by the negative impact of marine-related processes induced by climate change, such as erosion, flooding and permanent inundation. Studies aiming at defining potential risk scenarios represent a valuable tool for the identification of the most suitable coastal adaptation measures. After outlining sea level rise implications at the Mediterranean scale, this paper deals with inundation risk scenarios for the years 2050 and 2100 for the north-eastern sector of the Island of Gozo (Malta), central Mediterranean Sea. The analysis, carried out by applying an index-based procedure, firstly required the evaluation of the susceptibility to inundation of the investigated coastal stretch under different sea level projections. Then, the spatial combination of inundation susceptibility with the exposure and vulnerability of the area allowed identification of the most critical sectors in terms of coastal risk. The results of the analysis showed that, under the worst-case climate scenarios, 5.5% and 8.1% of the investigated coastal sector are prone to very high inundation risk (Class R4) in 2050 and 2100, respectively. In particular, the bays of Ramla and Marsalforn, which are characterized by significant economic and touristic activities, were found to be the sites where the expected impacts of future sea level rise will be higher if no management strategy and adaptation action are taken in the near future

Tutela e valorizzazione di una risorsa per il territorio: la valle del Rio della Rocca (Appennino reggiano).

Il contributo riguarda la progettazione di un Master Plan, in collaborazione con il Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche e Geologiche dell’Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), finalizzato alla riqualificazione della valle, attraverso la ricognizione e la valorizzazione del patrimonio geologico e naturalistico che la valle offre e dell’estesa rete sentieristica presente

Measurement of the cross-section for electroweak production of dijets in association with a Z boson in pp collisions at s√=13TeV with the ATLAS detector

The cross-section for the production of two jets in association with a leptonically decaying Z boson (Zjj) is measured in proton–proton collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, using data recorded with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.2 fb−1. The electroweak Zjj cross-section is extracted in a fiducial region chosen to enhance the electroweak contribution relative to the dominant Drell–Yan Zjj process, which is constrained using a data-driven approach. The measured fiducial electroweak cross-section is σEW Zjj = 119±16(stat.)±20(syst.)±2(lumi.) fb for dijet invariant mass greater than 250 GeV, and 34.2±5.8(stat.)±5.5(syst.)±0.7(lumi.) fb for dijet invariant mass greater than 1 TeV. Standard Model predictions are in agreement with the measurements. The inclusive Zjj cross-section is also measured in six different fiducial regions with varying contributions from electroweak and Drell–Yan Zjj production

Increasing Geoheritage Awareness through Non-Formal Learning

Non-formal learning can have a crucial role in increasing citizens’ literacy to geoscience providing the opportunity to raise the public profile of geology and geomorphology. Starting from these remarks, the project presented here is one of the first attempts, at national level, aimed at achieving the territorial upgrading based on geoheritage enhancement. The project started thanks to a bottom-up input and involved the collaboration between scholars and local administrations and stakeholders for the valorization of a fluvial area within the Municipality of Castellarano (Emilia Apennines, Northern Italy). To achieve this aim of non-formal learning activities, based on the interpretation of the geoheritage, have been implemented. In fact, the investigated area includes valuable geological and geomorphological features which have been used, in the frame of the project here presented, to promote local geodiversity and geotourism. In particular, three geosites of regional significance were considered for the creation of EarthCaches, interpretative panels and guided excursions. Interpretative contents were designed to be educational, providing accurate but non-technical explanations. Attention was given in including illustrations playing an important role in the learning process. The results revealed that the implemented activities positively contribute to raising public awareness on the value of geoheritage

Doppler echocardiographic evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Patients with Right Ventricular Infarction

The aim of the present study was to assess the utility of the myocardial performance index in patients with right ventricular infarction. During the study period, 120 patients were evaluated: 50 patients had a right ventricular infarction and 70 patients had an inferior left ventricular infarction without right ventricularinvolvement. On admission, an echocardiogramwas obtained from all patients prior to the initiation of thrombolytic therapy. The right ventricular myocardial performance index was calculated, aswere the Doppler-derived parameters of the right side of the heart. All patients with right ventricular infarction had undergone a right ventricular dilation, compared with 70 patients with left ventricular infarction (right ventricular end diastolic diameter32 ± 13 versus 26 ± 24 mm; P < 0.01) and increased areas (diastolic area 24.8 ± 9.9 versus 15.1 ± 6.8 cm2;P < 0.01). Tricuspid regurgitation was detected in 26 patients. The mean peak velocity of tricuspid regurgitation was 3.8 ± 0.8 m/s. The Doppler intervals,isovolumetric contraction times (136 ± 30 versus 49 ± 11 ms; P < 0.01), and relaxation times (71 ± 28 versus 37 ± 9 ms; P < 0.01) were prolonged in patients with right ventricular infarction, whereas the ejection time was significantly reduced (250 ± 31 versus 330 ± 26 ms; P < 0.001). The myocardial performance index was significantly increased in patients with right ventricular infarction (0.85 ± 0.2 versus 0.26 ±0.1; P < 0.01). The inferior vena cava collapse was reduced in all patients with right ventricular infarction (35 ± 20%). The right ventricular myocardial performance index was a useful indicator of right ventricular performance in patients with right ventricularinfarction. The use of echocardiographic parameters of the right side of the heart and Doppler echocardiographic parameters of right ventricular function provides a reliable diagnosis of right ventricular infarction