ALBERT

Description: Mt. Etna is one of the most active volcanoes representing an exceptional natural laboratory for in-depth studies on volcano-tectonic processes. The volcano is well monitored by the INGV-OE seismic and geodetic network onshore given the high population density along its slopes, which have been affected not only by volcanic eruptions but also by damaging earthquakes. Seismicity is higher in the eastern slope which is also affected by slow gravitational sliding toward the sea with an active deformation also offshore. Flank instability is accommodated by fault systems characterized by seismic and aseismic segments with normal and strike-slip kinematics, and bounded to the N by the Pernicana Fault and to the S by the Tremestieri-Trecastagni-Aci Trezza Faults. The Trecastagni Fault is monitored by two extensometers held by INGV-OE, while offshore monitoring has been recently improved with five GEOMAR transponders along the Aci Trezza Fault offshore extension. Dyke intrusions on Etna can cause stress variations along faults triggering earthquakes and fank instability; moreover, fault creep events can follow or precede earthquakes. This pattern of interacting phenomena demonstrates how changes in the stress regime trigger seismic and aseismic transients on different faults and also causes eruptions probably related to significant extensional regime in the crust. Thus, it is important to improve the actual monitoring system with creepmeters providing time series of displacement across active faults with continuous and high-resolution measurements (1 µm). In this work we provide the first results of the geological and geophysical investigations in the Etna eastern flank and we present the methodology to characterize best suited sites, currently in progress, for future installation.

Description: Comprehensive hydrogeochemical studies have been conducted in the Campi Flegrei volcanic aquifer since late 20th century due to the volcanic unrest. In the last decade, groundwater samples were grouped based on the dominant anion species (i.e. bicarbonate, sulfate and chloride) to explain the general hydrogeochemical processes. In this article, 44 groundwater samples are collected from Campi Flegrei aquifer to geochemically and spatially capture the main characteristics of the groundwater body. The hierarchical clustering algorithm is then performed on proportion of bicarbonate, sulfate and chloride, and the optimum number of clusters are determined regarding the results of deep hydrogeochemical investigations published in the past. The collected samples are categorized in the following groups: (1) bicarbonate-rich groundwater; (2) chlorine-rich groundwater; (3) sulfate-rich groundwater; and (4) mixed groundwater. The first group (As = 158.2 ± 169 μg/l, electric conductivity = 1,732.1 ± 1,086 μS/cm and temperature = 25.6 ± 8 ◦C) is mainly derived from poor arsenic meteoric water, but there is significant thermal/seawater contribution in the second one (As = 1,457.8 ± 2,210 μg/l, electric conductivity = 20,118.3 ± 11,139 μS/cm and temperature = 37.1 ± 20 ◦C). Interaction of the bicarbonate-rich groundwater and hydrothermal vapors gives rise to the sulfate-rich groundwater (As = 847.2 ± 679 μg/l, electric conductivity = 3,940.0 ± 540 μS/cm and temperature = 82.8 ± 3 ◦C) around Solfatara volcano. The mixed groundwater (As = 451.4 ± 388 μg/l, electric conductivity = 4,482.9 ± 4,027 μS/cm and temperature = 37.1 ± 16 ◦C) is observed where the three main groundwater groups undergo a mixing process, depending on the hydrogeology of the volcanic aquifer. Contrary to the bicarbonate- and sulfate-rich groundwater, the chlorine-rich and mixed groundwater generally occurs at low piezometric levels (approximately 〈1 m above sea level) near the coastline. The hierarchical cluster analysis provides more information about the volcanic aquifer, particularly when compositional data analysis is applied to study hydrogeochemistry of the homogeneous groundwater groups and to uncover the relationships between variables. Addressing compositional nature of data is recommended in the future studies for developing new tools that help deeper understanding of groundwater evolution in volcanic aquifers and identifying promising precursors of volcanic eruption.

Description: Published

Description: 106922

Description: 4V. Processi pre-eruttivi

Description: 2IT. Laboratori analitici e sperimentali

Description: JCR Journal

Description: Muography consists in observing the differential absorption of muons - elementary particles produced through cosmic-ray interactions in the Earth atmosphere - going through the volcano and can attain a spatial resolution of tens of meters. We present here the first experiment of nuclear emulsion muography at the Stromboli volcano. Muons have been recorded during a period of five months by a detector of 0.96 m2 area. The emulsion films were prepared at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory and were analyzed at Napoli, Salerno and Tokyo scanning laboratories. Our results highlight a significant low-density zone at the summit of the volcano with density contrast of 30-40% with respect to bedrock. The structural setting of this part of the volcanic edifice controls the eruptive dynamics and the stability of the "Sciara del Fuoco" slope, which is affected by recurrent tsunamigenic landslides. Periodical imaging of the summit of the Stromboli volcano such as that provided by muography can become a useful method for studying the evolution of the internal structure of the volcanic edifice.

Description: Published

Description: id 6695

Description: 2V. Struttura e sistema di alimentazione dei vulcani

Description: JCR Journal

Description: We present the main features of the permanent monitoring system managed by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia-Osservatorio Vesuviano in the Campi Flegrei caldera. Eruptive history of this active volcano shows that the majority of the eruptive events has been characterised by high explosivity and was accompanied by pyroclastic density currents. Its last eruption occurred in AD 1538 and in the next centuries the Campi Flegrei caldera has experienced several episodes of bradyseism and also the progressive increasing of the urbanisation in the area (west of Naples). Monitoring the dynamics of a mainly explosive volcano completely embedded in a very populated area is a challenging task. In order to detect any variation in the physical and chemical parameters of the Campi Flegrei caldera, the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia-Osservatorio Vesuviano manages a permanent multi-parametric monitoring system. All the recorded h24 continuous data are transmitted to the Monitoring Room of the Osservatorio Vesuviano in Naples, where they are acquired, processed and evaluated to define changes in the dynamical state of the volcano. The caldera, since the end of 2004, is experiencing a bradyseismic episode characterised by a low velocity rate uplift, low energy earthquakes and increasing in the magmatic components of fumarolic fluids. The monitoring and surveillance activity of the Campi Flegrei caldera plays a crucial role in the volcanic emergency plan that includes evacuation of approximately 500,000 people before the beginning of the eruption.

Description: Published

Description: 219-237

Description: 6SR VULCANI – Servizi e ricerca per la società

Description: 1IT. Reti di monitoraggio e sorveglianza

Description: 2IT. Laboratori analitici e sperimentali

Description: 4IT. Banche dati

Description: Gypsum plasterboards are nowadays very appreciated in buildings, mainly due to their lightness, thermal insulation and suitable sound transmission loss when used in double walls. However thermal and acoustic features of gypsum plasterboard can be enhanced. In the present study an innovative method, consisting in the direct addition of a pre-manufactured foam to gypsum pastes is used to increase the gypsum porosity improving sound absorption, lightness and thermal insulation features. In this aim, the role of both different amounts and dilutions of a vegetal foaming agent on the main physical, mechanical and microstructural characteristics of the gypsum was experimentally investigated. Moreover, also X-ray computed micro tomography technique (Micro- CT) was carried out in order to investigate the 3D internal microstructure of the materials. The results confirmed the effectiveness of the foaming agent in increasing the gypsum porosity, with a linear correlation between densities and mechanical strengths. Moreover, the presence of large bubbles, mainly connected each other, involved in a strong reduction of the thermal coefficient (λ), from 0.57 W/m∙K of REF sample to 0.25 W/m∙K of LG10_5% sample, and in a strong increase of the normal sound absorption coefficient (α0), from 0.06 of REF sample to 0.20 of LG10_5% sample. Finally, in the light of the results obtained by the present research, the use of a pre-whipped vegetal foaming agent represents a suitable way to obtain lightweight gypsum-based materials with enhanced thermal and acoustic properties.

Description: Published

Description: 124948

Description: 7A. Geofisica per il monitoraggio ambientale

Description: JCR Journal

Description: The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) has developed an interactive application, for educational purposes, in order to make schools aware of the dangers deriving from radon, and in general from harmful gases (gas hazards), near volcanic areas. To raise children awareness on the dangers related to an invisible enemy, often odorless “gases”, is not a simple task. Since our target are children between 11 and 13 years of age, we decided to develop a videogame with the scope of enabling them to learn the most appropriate solutions for identifying/avoiding/managing hazards. The use of a videogame for spreading information on gas hazards makes learning fun and, at the same time, feasible in a historic moment where Covid-19 does not allow for lessons to be physically partaken in a classroom. Furthermore, this type of learning known as “edutainment” is more effective, captivating and meaningful, allowing students to acquire a more concrete and longer remembered knowledge. The videogame, called GioGas, is a single player game running on both Android mobile phone and personal computers. GioGas has been developed using the Role Playing Game Maker MV graphic engine. The engine provides a map editor and several characters allowing for the creation of various biomes, also including the possibility to insert music. From the technical point of view the engine is based on javascript for the events creation and triggers management simplifying porting on mobile and desktop operating systems. The game characters are a INGV researcher, staying in a rented house during his vacation, and an elderly lady that asks for help to understand if her grandchild’s health issues are related to the recent digging of a well nearby the house. The characters move around in the virtual environment in different locations organized in several levels. Through the game, the student will learn the symptoms caused by gases, the instruments and the techniques to identify/measure them and the solutions to adopt to solve the problem. During the game, the researcher will hand out information and the student will choose which solution to apply: this will also stimulate student inclination to problem solving and overview capacities. Each solution will return a result in terms of risk mitigation and a score, from 1 to 3, based on the effectiveness of the identified solution. In the future, to add more stimulating and engaging elements for the student, a multiplayer mode will be developed, giving the students the possibility to challenge themselves.

Description: Published

Description: On-Line

Description: 6SR VULCANI – Servizi e ricerca per la società

Description: In aree di vulcanismo attivo e recente, oltre all’emissione di vapore e gas dai crateri centrali, si possono verificare emissioni di gas dal suolo che vengono rilasciati in modo diffuso o in mofete, o ancora che si disciolgono in acquiferi superficiali. Generalmente il gas più abbondante (fino al 99 vol.%) è l’anidride carbonica (CO2), ma in alcuni casi può essere anche il metano (CH4). La CO2 è un gas incolore e inodore che tende ad accumularsi in depressioni o scantinati dove ristagna in assenza di vento. Respirare aria con una concentrazione di anidride carbonica maggiore di 8 vol.% può condurre all’incoscienza o alla morte. Un esempio di quello che potrebbe accadere, anche se si tratta di un caso estremo, è rappresentato dal tragico evento avvenuto presso il lago Nyos in Camerun (un lago ospitato in un cratere vulcanico). Durante la notte del 21 agosto 1986 le acque del lago, sature di CO2, si rovesciarono improvvisamente e per decompressione si liberò una enorme quantità di gas che scese lungo i fianchi del cratere fino a raggiungere la valle sottostante dove vi era un villaggio. La nube di CO2, silenziosa e inodore, colse nel sonno gli abitanti e uccise circa 1700 persone e circa 3000 capi di bestiame [Barberi et al., 1986]. Numerosi incidenti dovuti all’inalazione di gas vulcanici sono avvenuti in varie altre parti del mondo, in particolare in Italia, Giappone, Nuova Zelanda [Hansell and Oppenheimer, 2004; Durand and Wilson, 2005] e nelle Isole Azzorre (Portogallo) [Viveiros et al., 2015]. Anche in Italia, purtroppo sono avvenuti diversi incidenti letali dovuti ad inalazione di CO2; si ricorda ad esempio che alla fine degli anni ’80 due bambini persero la vita nell’isola di Vulcano [Baubron et al., 1990] e ancora nel complesso vulcanico dei Colli Albani due uomini persero la vita, il primo a Cava dei Selci (frazione di Marino) nel 2000 e il secondo a Lavinio nel 2011 [Carapezza et al., 2003; Barberi et al., 2019]. Sempre in provincia di Roma, numerosi casi di intossicazione da CO2, che hanno altresì comportato l’evacuazione temporanea di alcune abitazioni, sono avvenuti per blowout (emissione incontrollata) di gas da pozzi d’acqua [Barberi et al., 2007; Carapezza et al., 2020]. La Campania ospita due dei vulcani quiescenti considerati tra i più pericolosi al mondo proprio per l’alta densità di popolazione che vive nelle zone esposte al pericolo: il Vesuvio e i Campi Flegrei. Anche in queste aree vulcaniche si hanno emissioni di gas endogeni e falde d’acqua ricche in CO2 e in caso di riattivazione del vulcano c’è da aspettarsi anche un forte incremento del rilascio del gas endogeno [Barberi et al., 2005]. Al fine di far conoscere tale problematica alla popolazione, si è ritenuto opportuno di agire sui ragazzi e di farlo in modo stimolante e divertente attraverso un Videogioco che catturi la loro attenzione in modo da portarli a scoprire le soluzioni più adeguate da adottare per individuare/evitare/gestire i pericoli legati a quello che spesso viene definito anche “carburante delle eruzioni”, i gas vulcanici. Le attività che hanno portato alla realizzazione di questo lavoro (e nello specifico del videogioco) sono state svolte nell’ambito del Progetto Europeo RESPIRE – Radon rEal time monitoring System and proactive Indoor Remediation (LIFE16ENV/IT/000553) e con la collaborazione di un Tirocinante del Dipartimento di Ingegneria dell’Informazione ed Elettrica e Matematica Applicata dell’Università degli Studi di Salerno. Il lavoro è stato descritto e sintetizzato in questo Report attraverso varie sezioni. La prima in cui si descrive la problematica dei Gas Vulcanici e della loro pericolosità; l’importanza e i vantaggi derivati dall’utilizzo di un videogioco come strumento di apprendimento; l’obiettivo che il videogioco si prefigge di raggiungere. Una seconda sezione in cui, in prima istanza, si evidenzia l’importanza di sviluppare un videogioco a partire da un Motore Grafico che consente di tralasciare i dettagli hardware e software di basso livello e di concentrarsi maggiormente sull’interattività e sulle regole del gioco, e in seconda istanza si descrivono le caratteristiche principali del motore grafico alla base del gioco (RPG Maker MV).Una terza sezione in cui viene presentato il videogioco sviluppato denominato “GioGas”; nello specifico, la sua trama, l’interfaccia grafica che lo caratterizza e alcuni sui dettagli implementativi. Infine, una sezione in cui vengono descritti gli sviluppi futuri come ad esempio la divulgazione presso le scuole e in occasione di eventi, l’implementazione di una versione multiplayer del gioco al fine di aggiungere ulteriori elementi di stimolo e di coinvolgimento per lo studente.

Description: Published

Description: 6SR VULCANI – Servizi e ricerca per la società

Description: N/A or not JCR

Description: On 21 August 2017, a shallow earthquake of Md 4.0 struck the Casamicciola Terme village in the north of Ischia volcanic island (Italy). The earthquake has the typical characteristics of volcano­tectonic events recorded at active volcanoes and occurred along the E­W normal system fault bounding the northern slope of Mt. Epomeo. The epicentral area has been repeatedly damaged in the last three centuries (1796, 1828, 1881, 1883) [Alessio et al., 1996; Carlino et al., 2011; Cubellis and Luongo, 1998]. In this work, we present a collection of pictures showing the geological effects produced on either the natural or the built environment by the Casamicciola earthquake. Most of the coseismic geologic effects were observed along the E­W piedmont belt of Mt. Epomeo, which extends for about 2 km between the village of Fango (Lacco Ameno) to the west and Bagni Square to the East (Fig. 1). Mapped effects define a belt which closely follows the trace of the Casamicciola E­W trending normal fault system, bounding the northern slope of Mt. Epomeo, previously known as a Latest Pleistocene to Holocene normal fault [Nappi et al., 2018]. The Emergeo Working Group conducted a field work, collecting data that were managed following the procedures codified after the earthquake sequences of Emilia 2012 and Amatrice­Visso­Norcia 2016­2017 [Emergeo Working Group, 2012, 2016; Pucci et al., 2017; Civico et al., 2018; Villani et al., 2018]. Photographic collections of the coseismic geological effects induced by these earthquake were also published [Emergeo Working Group, 2012; Emergeo Working Group, 2017 a, b]. Field measurements were greatly aided by the use of mobile devices equipped with a specific software employing GPS, compass and orientation sensors (Rocklogger© mobile app, www.rockgecko.com), which allowed for quick and accurate structural data collection and real­time sharing. The whole data set was stored and managed in a georeferenced database on an Environmental Systems Research Institute ArcGIS platform. Further data were acquired using remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) equipped with a Sony Alpha 6000 camera and a Flir SC655 thermal camera. We collected more than 100 observations of several different coseismic effects across the epicentral area and its sourroundings. These include fractures, ruptures, and a few minor gravitational phenomena like collapses and small landslides in volcanoclastic deposits. Moreover we observed widespread effects related to shaking, such as the collapse of drywalls made of green tuff and lava and known locally as “parracine”. The photographic dataset consist of 72 pictures of coseismic geological effects along a E­W direction. The pictures are grouped in three areas of observation. Each picture reports a series of information such as type of effect, site of observation, and geographical coordinates (decimal degrees). The reference system/datum used is WGS84. In Figure 1 we show the map of the pictures sites along with the location of the mainshock of the seismic event.

Description: Published

Description: 1-94

Description: 6T. Studi di pericolosità sismica e da maremoto

Description: N/A or not JCR