Movements detection of deep seated gravitational slope deformations by means of InSAR data and photogeological interpretation: northern Sicily case study

We investigated the northern-central portion of Sicily region (southern Italy) using aerial photographs and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data obtained by ERS1 and ERS2 satellites. This area shows a geological-structural setting generated by the tectonic superposition of Apenninic-Maghrebian carbonatic structures on terrigenous deposits. Such a structural setting favoured the development of large-scale gravity driven phenomena (known in the geological literature as deep-seated gravitational slope deformations) that are mostly responsible for the landscape evolution of the whole area. Morphological evidences such as landslides, sacking or rock-flow, lateral spread and block slide can be detected from photogeological analysis. In order to understand the temporal behaviour and spatial distribution of such deformations we applied the interferometric SAR (InSAR) technique. Interferograms show fringe patterns spatially coinciding with some of the large-scale gravitative phenomena previously identified by means of aerialphoto analysis. The comparison between photogeological data and InSAR results allows delimiting the active sectors in the study area

A simple thermodynamical witness showing universality of macroscopic entanglement

We show that if the ground state entanglement exceeds the total entropy of a given system, then this system is in an entangled state. This is a universal entanglement witness that applies to any physical system and yields a temperature below which we are certain to find some entanglement. Our witness is then applied to generic bosonic and fermionic many body systems to derive the corresponding "critical" temperatures that have a very broad validity.Comment: 3 pages, Torun conference, June 25-28, 200

Investigation of the active Celano-L'Aquila fault system, Abruzzi (central Apennines, Italy) with combined ground-penetrating radar and palaeoseismic trenching

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The real-time earthquake monitoring system in Italy

As regards the transmission vectors – one of the most critical points of a seismic network – we adopted a mixed strategy: half of the stations are connected through satellite links, and half through cable links. The use of satellite transmission presents several advantages: the link is very robust, the constraints for site selection are weak, and the cost is lower than telephone lines. As regards the terrestrial cable links, we use INGV digitizers (named GAIA), protected IP connections of the Italian Public Administration Network (RUPA): site selection is more delicate, and a compromise must be found between low environmental noise and availability of network infrastructures

Release of a 10-m-resolution DEM for the Italian territory: Comparison with global-coverage DEMs and anaglyph-mode exploration via the web

The 10-m-resolution TINITALY/01 DEM (Tarquini et al., 2007) is compared with the two, coarser-resolution, global-coverage, spaceborne-based SRTM and ASTER DEMs and with a high-resolution, LIDAR-derived DEM. Afterwards, we presented a webGIS which allows to explore a 10-m-resolution anaglyph layer showing the landforms of the whole Italian territory in 3D. The webGIS (http://tinitaly.pi.ingv.it/) is open to the public, and can be used to carry out a preliminary analysis of landforms. The TINITALY/01 DEM is available for scientific purposes on the basis of a research agreement (see the above website or write to [email protected])

The relationship between seismic deformation and deep seated gravitational

This paper re-evaluates the origin of some peculiar patterns of ground deformation observed by space geodetic techniques during the two earthquakes of September 26th of the Colfiorito seismic sequence. The surface displacement field due to the fault dislocation, as modeled with the classic Okada elastic formulations, shows some areas with high residuals which cannot be attributed to unsimulated model complexities. The latter was investigated using geomorphological analysis, by recognising the geologic evidence of deep seated gravitational slope deformations (DSGSD) of the block-slide type. The shape and direction of the co-seismic ground displacement observed in these areas are correlated with the expected pattern of movement produced by the reactivation of the identified DSGSD. At least a few centimetres of negative Line of Sight ground displacement was determined for the Costa Picchio, Mt. Pennino, and Mt. Prefoglio areas. A considerable horizontal component of movement in the Costa Picchio DSGSD is evident from a qualitative analysis of ascending and descending interferograms. The timing of the geodetic data indicates that the ground movement occurred during the seismic shaking, and that it did not progress appreciably during the following months. In this work it has been verified the seismic triggering of DSGSD previously hypothesized by many authors. A further implication is that in the assessment of DSGSD hazard it is necessary to consider the seismic input as an important cause of acceleration of the deformation rates

The New AIS-INGV Ionosonde at Italian Antarctic Observatory

The Italian Ionospheric Antarctic Observatory of Terra Nova Bay (74.70S, 164.11E) was recently equipped with the AIS-INGV ionosonde developed at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), Rome, (Italy). This paper aims to describe briefly which are the main characteristics of the instrument and show the good quality and reliability of the recorded ionograms

Progettazione e realizzazione del Centro Operativo Emergenza Sismica (COES)

Nel 2008, in occasione della prima esercitazione sul rischio sismico a valenza regionale organizzata dal Dipartimento per le Politiche Integrate di Sicurezza e per la Protezione Civile della Regione Marche “Operazione Blue Mountains” [Moretti et al., 2010a], è stata inaugurata la nuova struttura di Pronto Intervento dell’Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). Esistente fin dai primi anni ’70, la struttura negli ultimi anni ha subito un restyling sostanziale. Servendosi delle più moderne innovazioni tecnologiche, dai nuovi mezzi di comunicazione a quelli di trasmissione dati, è stata resa maggiormente modulare e adattabile alle attuali esigenze, dotata di facilities che favoriscono la velocità e la semplicità dell’intervento senza rinunciare alla qualità delle prestazioni offerte. La vera novità di tale organismo è rappresentata dal Centro Operativo Emergenza Sismica (COES), la struttura che funge, in occasione di un forte terremoto, da presidio INGV in area epicentrale. Progettato primariamente come punto di riferimento per il supporto tecnico-logistico ai colleghi impegnati nelle attività di campagna, il COES è stato concepito anche per essere il centro remoto per la diffusione dell’informazione scientifica sia per la Protezione Civile che per tutti gli operatori di soccorso (Vigili del Fuoco, associazioni di volontariato, Forze dell’Ordine, Esercito, ecc) impegnati nell’emergenza, i dipendenti delle amministrazioni locali e degli uffici pubblici e soprattutto per la popolazione colpita dall’evento. In questo lavoro, viene presentata la progettazione e la realizzazione del COES e alcune sue applicazioni in eventi simulati di diversa entità prima della sua utilizzazione in una reale emergenza sismica (terremoto de L’Aquila, 6 aprile 2009)

Relative Sea-Level Rise Projections and Flooding Scenarios for 2150 CE for the Island of Ustica (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

The island of Ustica (Italy) is constantly exposed to the effects of sea-level rise, which is threatening its coastal zone. With the aim of assessing the sea levels that are anticipated by 2150 CE under the climatic projections shown in the AR6 report from the IPCC, a detailed evaluation of potential coastal flooding under different climatic scenarios and the ongoing land subsidence has been carried out for three coastal zones. Scenarios are based on the determination of the current coastline position, a high-resolution digital terrain and marine model, and the SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5 climatic projections. Relative sea-level rise projections allowed the mapping of the potential inundated surfaces for 2030, 2050, 2100, and 2150. The results show rising sea levels for 2150, ranging from a minimum of 66 ± 40 cm (IPCC AR6 SSP2.6 scenario) to a maximum of 128 ± 52 cm (IPCC AR6 SSP8.5 scenario). In such conditions, considering the SSP8.5 scenario during storm surges with return times (RTs) of 1 and 100 years, the expected maximum wave run-up along the island may vary from 3 m (RT = 1) to 14 m (RT = 100), according to the coastal morphology. Our results show that adaptation and mitigation actions are required to protect the touristic and harbor installations of the island

Ionospheric Observatory Development At Mario Zucchelli Station

Since 1995 Italian Ionospheric Antarctic Observatory at Terra Nova Bay, now “MARIO ZUCCHELLI”, station (geographic coordinates: 74.70°S, 164.11°E) performs continuous and systematic ionospheric vertical soundings. Long time series of continuous and accurate ionospheric observations (more than one solar cycle) are necessary for a deeper understanding of the complex phenomena occurring in the upper atmosphere at high latitude; furthermore high rate soundings (at least four soundings per hour or more) contribute to the short-time prediction of the radiopropagation conditions and to the Space Weather. During 2003–2004 Antarctic campaign a new digital ionosonde, recently developed at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) in Rome, (Italy), has been installed the Ionospheric Observatory and preliminary tests have been carried out. This new Advanced Ionospheric Sounder-INGV, briefly AIS, is integrated in a stand alone system during winter time: the sounding, device settings and data sending to Rome are completely automatic and remote programmable. Ionograms are available on line at the INGV web and ftp server. The new features of the Ionospheric Observatory are presented and preliminary statistics on the reliability and validation of the experimental observation are shown and discussed