Pubblicazioni
Publications found: 7385
Toward a self-calibrated and independent SM2RAIN rainfall product
Filippucci, Paolo; Brocca, Luca; Massari, Christian; Saltalippi, Carla; Wagner, Wolfgang; Tarpanelli, Angelica, 2021, Toward a self-calibrated and independent SM2RAIN rainfall product,
Journal of hydrology (Amst.) 603 (2021). doi_10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126837,
DOI: 10.1016%2Fj.jhydrol.2021.126837
Abstract
Rainfall monitoring is fundamental in many hydrological applications such as flood and landslide forecasting and ...
Rainfall monitoring is fundamental in many hydrological applications such as flood and landslide forecasting and water resources management. In-situ measurements are the traditional data source of rainfall, but the worldwide declining number of stations, their low spatial representativeness and the data access problem limit their use. Satellite products are being widely used as an alternative data source. Among them, SM2RAIN-based products, which exploit the inversion of the water balance equation to derive rainfall from soil moisture observations, have shown relatively good skills for hydrological applications. However, the need of calibrating the SM2RAIN parameter values against a reference represents one important limitation, particularly over data scarce regions. In this study, we explore the possibility to self-calibrate SM2RAIN and thus to obtain rainfall estimates from the Advanced SCATterometer (ASCAT) soil moisture independently from any reference rainfall dataset. Four parametric relationships relating SM2RAIN parameter values to static descriptors (average rainfall, topography, soil moisture noise) are developed. To develop such relationships, a sample of 1009 points uniformly distributed over the areas covered by rain gauges in Australia, India, Italy and the United States is selected. A global validation of the methodology is conducted by comparing the performances of the parameterized product with the classical product in which the parameter values are estimated by calibration against a reference rainfall dataset. The Final Run of the Integrated Multi-Satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG) precipitation dataset is used for performance assessment, together with the triple collocation techniques by using the Gauge-based Global Precipitation Climatology Center (GPCC) product and the Late Run of IMERG. The aim of the analysis is to obtain an uncalibrated SM2RAIN methodology to retrieve rainfall whose performance are similar to those obtained with calibration. The results at 1009 points show that the performances of the parameterized SM2RAIN product are in line with those of the calibrated one, with an increased capability in the detection of intense rainfall events and an acceptable reduction of the performance according to both Pearson Correlation and Root Mean Square Error indexes. The application of triple collocation confirms these findings on a global scale, showing that the SM2RAIN product outperforms both GPCC and IMERG -- Late run estimations in areas characterized by low density of rain gauges and good quality of ASCAT soil moisture retrievals (i.e., Africa and South America).
Performance evaluation of long ndvi timeseries from avhrr, modis and landsat sensors over landslide-prone locations in qinghai-tibetan plateau
Sajadi, Payam; Sang, Yan Fang; Gholamnia, Mehdi; Bonafoni, Stefania; Brocca, Luca; Pradhan, Biswajeet; Singh, Amit, 2021, Performance evaluation of long ndvi timeseries from avhrr, modis and landsat sensors over landslide-prone locations in qinghai-tibetan plateau,
Remote sensing (Basel) 13 (2021). doi_10.3390/rs13163172,
DOI: 10.3390%2Frs13163172
Abstract
The existence of several NDVI products in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) makes it challenging to identify ...
The existence of several NDVI products in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) makes it challenging to identify the ideal sensor for vegetation monitoring as an important factor for landslide detection studies. A pixel-based analysis of the NDVI time series was carried out to compare the performances of five NDVI products, including ETM+, OLI, MODIS Series, and AVHRR sensors in QTP. Harmonic analysis of time series and wavelet threshold denoising were used for reconstruction and denoising of the five NDVI datasets. Each sensor performance was assessed based on the behavioral similarity between the original and denoised NDVI time series, considering the preservation of the original shape and time series values by computing correlation coefficient (CC), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and signal to noise ratio (SNR). Results indicated that the OLI slightly outperformed the other sensors in all performance metrics, especially in mosaic natural vegetation, grassland, and cropland, providing 0.973, 0.015, 0.022, and 27.220 in CC, MAE, RMSE, and SNR, respectively. AVHRR showed similar results to OLI, with the best results in the predominant type of land covers (needle-leaved, evergreen, closed to open). The MODIS series performs lower across all vegetation classes than the other sensors, which might be related to the higher number of artifacts observed in the original data. In addition to the satellite sensor comparison, the proposed analysis demonstrated the effectiveness and reliability of the implemented methodology for reconstructing and denoising different NDVI time series, indicating its suitability for long-term trend analysis of different natural land cover classes, vegetation monitoring, and change detection.
The impact of probability density functions assessment on model performance for slope stability analysis
Volpe, Evelina; Ciabatta, Luca; Salciarini, Diana; Camici, Stefania; Cattoni, Elisabetta; Brocca, Luca, 2021, The impact of probability density functions assessment on model performance for slope stability analysis,
Geosciences (Basel) 11 (2021). doi_10.3390/geosciences11080322,
DOI: 10.3390%2Fgeosciences11080322
Abstract
The development of forecasting models for the evaluation of potential slope instability after rainfall events ...
The development of forecasting models for the evaluation of potential slope instability after rainfall events represents an important issue for the scientific community. This topic has received considerable impetus due to the climate change effect on territories, as several studies demonstrate that an increase in global warming can significantly influence the landslide activity and stability conditions of natural and artificial slopes. A consolidated approach in evaluating rainfall-induced landslide hazard is based on the integration of rainfall forecasts and physically based (PB) predictive models through deterministic laws. However, considering the complex nature of the processes and the high variability of the random quantities involved, probabilistic approaches are recommended in order to obtain reliable predictions. A crucial aspect of the stochastic approach is represented by the definition of appropriate probability density functions (pdfs) to model the uncertainty of the input variables as this may have an important effect on the evaluation of the probability of failure (PoF). The role of the pdf definition on reliability analysis is discussed through a comparison of PoF maps generated using Monte Carlo (MC) simulations performed over a study area located in the Umbria region of central Italy. The study revealed that the use of uniform pdfs for the random input variables, often considered when a detailed geotechnical characterization for the soil is not available, could be inappropriate.
Assimilation of satellite soil moisture products for river flow prediction_ An extensive experiment in over 700 catchments throughout europe
De Santis, D.; Biondi, D.; Crow, W. T.; Camici, S.; Modanesi, S.; Brocca, L.; Massari, C., 2021, Assimilation of satellite soil moisture products for river flow prediction_ An extensive experiment in over 700 catchments throughout europe,
Water resources research 57 (2021). doi_10.1029/2021WR029643,
Abstract
In this study, we perform a data assimilation (DA) experiment on a very large number ...
In this study, we perform a data assimilation (DA) experiment on a very large number (>700) of small-and medium-scale (150-10,000 km) European catchments to assess the impact of satellite soil moisture (SM) DA on streamflow simulations for different climatic and hydrologic conditions. In the experiment, Climate Change Initiative SM active, passive and combined products are assimilated over a time period 2003-2016 via an Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF). The results show that, on average, the assimilation of the three products provides relatively small improvements as compared to analogous open loop (OL) results (i.e., with an increase on median Kling-Gupta Efficiency equal to 0.0048, 0.0033, and 0.0022 [-] for the active, the passive, and the combined products, respectively). OL performance itself is found to be a significant driver of the assimilation results_ greater improvements are observed in catchments with poor OL streamflow predictions and inaccurate precipitation estimates. The remotely sensed product accuracy also emerges as relevant for assimilation efficiency, while factors affecting SM retrievals such as vegetation density, topographic complexity and basin area are found to have only a limited impact on the spatial pattern of performance. Small and detrimental effects of SM assimilation are observed over fully humid catchments and at high latitudes where pre-storm soil moisture has reduced control on runoff generation as well as in basins where the hydrological model contains structural limitations.
Learning case study of a shallow-water model to assess an early-warning system for fast alpine muddy-debris-flow
Pasculli A.; Cinosi J.; Turconi L.; Sciarra N., 2021, Learning case study of a shallow-water model to assess an early-warning system for fast alpine muddy-debris-flow,
Water (Basel) 13 (2021). doi_10.3390/w13060750,
DOI: 10.3390%2Fw13060750
Abstract
The current climate change could lead to an intensification of extreme weather events, such as ...
The current climate change could lead to an intensification of extreme weather events, such as sudden floods and fast flowing debris flows. Accordingly, the availability of an early- warning device system, based on hydrological data and on both accurate and very fast running mathematical-numerical models, would be not only desirable, but also necessary in areas of particular hazard. To this purpose, the 2D Riemann-Godunov shallow-water approach, solved in parallel on a Graphical-Processing-Unit (GPU) (able to drastically reduce calculation time) and implemented with the RiverFlow2D code (version 2017), was selected as a possible tool to be applied within the Alpine contexts. Moreover, it was also necessary to identify a prototype of an actual rainfall monitoring network and an actual debris-flow event, beside the acquisition of an accurate numerical description of the topography. The Marderellos basin (Alps, Turin, Italy), described by a 5 x 5 m Digital Terrain Model (DTM), equipped with five rain-gauges and one hydrometer and the muddy debris flow event that was monitored on 22 July 2016, were identified as a typical test case, well representative of mountain contexts and the phenomena under study. Several parametric analyses, also including selected infiltration modelling, were carried out in order to individuate the best numerical values fitting the measured data. Different rheological options, such as Coulomb-Turbulent-Yield and others, were tested. Moreover, some useful general suggestions, regarding the improvement of the adopted mathematical modelling, were acquired. The rapidity of the computational time due to the application of the GPU and the comparison between experimental data and numerical results, regarding both the arrival time and the height of the debris wave, clearly show that the selected approaches and methodology can be considered suitable and accurate tools to be included in an early-warning system, based at least on simple acoustic and/or light alarms that can allow rapid evacuation, for fast flowing debris flows.
Flash flood events along the west mediterranean coasts_ Inundations of urbanized areas conditioned by anthropic impacts
Faccini F.; Luino F.; Paliaga G.; Roccati A.; Turconi L., 2021, Flash flood events along the west mediterranean coasts_ Inundations of urbanized areas conditioned by anthropic impacts,
Land (Basel) 10 (2021). doi_10.3390/land10060620,
Abstract
Flash floods represent one of the natural hazards that causes the greatest number of victims ...
Flash floods represent one of the natural hazards that causes the greatest number of victims in the Mediterranean area. These processes occur by short and intense rainfall affecting limited areas of a few square kilometers, with rapid hydrological responses. Among the causes of the flood frequency increase in the last decades are the effects of the urban expansion in areas of fluvial pertinence and climatic change, namely the interaction between anthropogenic landforms and hydro-geomorphological dynamics. In this paper the authors show a comparison between flood events with very similar weather-hydrological characteristics and the ground effects occurred in coastal areas of three regions located at the top of a triangle in the Ligurian Sea, namely Liguria, Tuscany and Sardinia. With respect to the meteorological-hydrological hazard, it should be noted that the events analyzed occurred during autumn, in the conditions of a storm system triggered by cyclogenesis on the Genoa Gulf or by the extra-tropical cyclone Cleopatra. The "flash floods" damage recorded in the inhabited areas is due to the vulnerability of the elements at risk in the fluvio-coastal plains examined. There are numerous anthropogenic forcings that have influenced the hydro-geomorphological dynamics and that have led to an increase in risk conditions.
Il monitoraggio microsismico dello sperone roccioso di Capanna J.A. Carrel
Arattano M. (1), Chiarle M. (1), Coviello V. (1), Morra di Cella U. (2), Pogliotti P. (2), 2021, Il monitoraggio microsismico dello sperone roccioso di Capanna J.A. Carrel,
Il Monte Cervino, pp. 138–139. Bard_ Forte di Bard, 2021,
Abstract
I cambiamenti climatici stanno determinando un aumento dell'instabilità dei versanti rocciosi di alta quota. Questo ...
I cambiamenti climatici stanno determinando un aumento dell'instabilità dei versanti rocciosi di alta quota. Questo fenomeno è divenuto particolarmente evidente a partire dalla torrida estate 2003, quando numerosi massicci alpini hanno manifestato un'attività di crolli senza precedenti, mettendo a rischio escursionisti, alpinisti e infrastrutture di alta quota. Nell'ambito dei progetti Interreg Alcotra PERMAdataROC e MASSA, il CNR-IRPI e ARPA Valle d'Aosta, con il supporto finanziario e logistico della Regione Valle d'Aosta, hanno realizzato presso la Capanna J.A. Carrel un sistema sperimentale di monitoraggio microsismico delle deformazioni dell'ammasso roccioso, in relazione all'andamento della temperatura. La formazione e l'apertura di fratture nella roccia, così come il distacco di blocchi rocciosi, sono infatti fenomeni che producono vibrazioni che possono essere percepite e registrate da geofoni_ l'installazione di una rete di sensori adeguatamente posizionati può consentire di individuare non solo quando, ma anche dove avvengono i fenomeni di interesse. Lo studio ha evidenziato una correlazione tra i "rumori" sismici prodotti dallo sviluppo di stati tensionali della roccia e/o da crolli, da un lato, e le variazioni di temperatura, dall'altro. La brevità dello studio non ha tuttavia consentito di verificare il possibile utilizzo applicativo dei segnali registrati dai geofoni quali precursori di eventi di crollo.
I ghiacciai del Cervino nei rilievi del Comitato Glaciologico Italiano
Giorcelli M. (1), Chiarle M. (1, 2), 2021, I ghiacciai del Cervino nei rilievi del Comitato Glaciologico Italiano,
Il Monte Cervino, pp. 118–119, 2021,
Abstract
Nella Conca di Cervinia il Catasto dei Ghiacciai Italiani (Comitato Glaciologico Italiano - CNR, 1961) ...
Nella Conca di Cervinia il Catasto dei Ghiacciai Italiani (Comitato Glaciologico Italiano - CNR, 1961) censisce 13 ghiacciai, per lo più ghiacciai montani di piccole dimensioni. La quota media delle fronti si aggira intorno ai 3000 m_ in virtù di ciò, questi ghiacciai hanno risentito meno di altri degli effetti del riscaldamento climatico, anche se alcuni sono ormai da considerarsi estinti.
I ghiacciai della Conca di Cervinia sono oggetto di rilevamenti annuali da parte del Comitato Glaciologico Italiano da quasi 100 anni. Tra gli operatori che si sono avvicendati nel monitoraggio, ricordiamo in particolare Manfredo Vanni (attivo tra il 1925 e il 1971), Carla Origlia (1952-1977), Augusto e Marco Giorcelli (dal 1980). Augusto Giorcelli, in particolare, ha documentato l'ultima fase di relativa avanzata glaciale avvenuta a inizio anni '80, seguita dalla rapida contrazione delle masse glaciali tuttora in corso. In considerazione delle caratteristiche morfologiche e della collocazione topografica, per la quasi totalità dei ghiacciai di questo settore non è più possibile effettuare misure dirette di variazione frontale. L'unica eccezione è rappresentata dal Ghiacciaio di Valtournenche (0,9 km2, Smiraglia et al., 2015), dove dal 2010 al 2020 è stato misurato un ritiro pari a 230 m.
Propensione all’instabilità del versante orientale delle Grandes Murailles e variazioni multitemporali del Ghiacciaio di Mont Tabel
Silvestri P., Nigrelli G., Chiarle M., Giardino M., 2021, Propensione all’instabilità del versante orientale delle Grandes Murailles e variazioni multitemporali del Ghiacciaio di Mont Tabel,
Il Monte Cervino, pp. 140–141. Bard_ Forte di Bard, 2021,
Abstract
Nell'ambito di un lavoro di tesi in collaborazione tra il Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra ...
Nell'ambito di un lavoro di tesi in collaborazione tra il Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra dell' Università di Torino e il gruppo di ricerca GeoClimAlp del CNR-IRPI, è stata analizzata la correlazione tra instabilità dei versanti ed evoluzione della criosfera per un settore delle Grandes Murailles. Seguendo i criteri proposti per la "Carta delle litofacies in funzione dell'instabilità della Valle d'Aosta" (Progetti "IFFI "e "Risknat"), è stata realizzata una classificazione dello stato reologico del substrato roccioso, integrata dalla caratterizzazione geomorfologica dell'area. L'interpretazione si è basata su dati di terreno e riprese aeree. Servendosi di immagini storiche e ortofoto digitali è stata anche analizzata l'evoluzione degli ambienti glaciale e periglaciale dell'area. In particolare, oltre alla ricostruzione cronologica di alcuni eventi di frana, sono state mappate le variazioni dell'estensione del Ghiacciaio di Mont Tabel a partire dalla Piccola Età Glaciale (1850 circa) e più dettagliatamente fra il 1954 e il 2012. Dalla Alpine Permafrost Index Map (Boeckli et al., 2012) è stata infine ricavata la probabilità di occorrenza di permafrost nell'area indagata. La correlazione tra le caratteristiche geologico-geomorfologiche del versante e l'evoluzione della criosfera ha permesso la formulazione di ipotesi sull'evoluzione futura del paesaggio geomorfologico nel contesto dei cambiamenti climatici in atto.
Gradiente termico verticale e processi di instabilità naturale in alta quota_ il caso di studio del Cervino
Nigrelli G., Chiarle M., Fratianni S., 2021, Gradiente termico verticale e processi di instabilità naturale in alta quota_ il caso di studio del Cervino,
Il Monte Cervino, pp. 142–143. Bard_ Forte di Bard, 2021,
Abstract
Le relazioni tra la temperatura dell'aria e le frane in alta quota sono importanti da ...
Le relazioni tra la temperatura dell'aria e le frane in alta quota sono importanti da conoscere, ma sono molto difficili da studiare. Questa difficoltà è causata principalmente dalla mancanza di stazioni meteorologiche posizionate alle quote dei distacchi. La diminuzione della temperatura dell'aria con la quota in atmosfera libera è di circa 0,6 °C /100 m, ma sui versanti montuosi questa diminuzione varia in relazione a diversi fattori locali, sia geografici e sia climatici. Un metodo affidabile per stimare la temperatura dell'aria a quote elevate consiste nell'utilizzare il gradiente altitudinale di temperatura calcolato localmente (ATLR) e applicarlo in alta quota. Per calcolare l'ATLR, abbiamo utilizzato i dati acquisiti dalle stazioni meteorologiche automatiche ubicate ad un'altitudine superiore a 2500 m (Centro Funzionale Regione Autonoma Valle d'Aosta). I principali risultati sono riportati negli Highlights. Questo lavoro ha messo in luce che non è sufficiente migliorare le conoscenze sulla temperatura dell'aria, ma è anche necessario conoscere le condizioni termiche dei diversi litotipi coinvolti in questi processi. Per ulteriori informazioni_ https_//cnrirpicervinia.panomax.com/plateaurosa
Questo contributo è dedicato alla professoressa Simona Fratianni.
Very high resolution and frequent revisiting SAR systems applied to the environmental protection_ A contribution based on the use of COSMO-SkyMed Interferometric Data
Fornaro, Gianfranco; Noviello, Carlo; Pauciullo, Antonio; Reale, Diego; Sansosti, Eugenio; Verde, Simona; Zamparelli, Virginia; Cascini, Leonardo; Cascini, Lucrezia; D'Agostino, Nicola; Di Maio, Caterina; Giuliani, Roberta; Gullà, Giovanni; Nicodemo, Gianfranco; Peduto, Dario, 2021, Very high resolution and frequent revisiting SAR systems applied to the environmental protection_ A contribution based on the use of COSMO-SkyMed Interferometric Data,
EUSAR 2021; 13th European Conference on Synthetic Aperture Radar, pp. 1168–1172, online, 29/03/2021, 01/04/2021,
Abstract
Since the early nineties SAR has been developed to provide contributions to several areas of ...
Since the early nineties SAR has been developed to provide contributions to several areas of the environmental risk monitoring. With the launch of X-Band Very High Resolution sensors, a significant advance in the extension of the applications to the monitoring of deformation affecting the built environment exposed to hazards has been achieved. In this work we summarize the outcomes of the studies resulting from the application of our interferometric chain developed for the processing of data acquired by the COSMO-SkyMed constellation. Applications regard geophysical processes of seismic and volcanic genesis, as well as areas affected by landslides and cultural heritage.
IDENTIFICATION OF BEDROCK TOPOGRAPHY-RELATED ICE FRACTURES IN THE PLANPINCIEUX GLACIER USING HELICOPTER-BORNE GPR AND DTM ANALYSIS
Niccolò Dematteis, Fabrizio Troilo, Melchior Grab, Hansruedi Maurer, Daniele Giordan, 2021, IDENTIFICATION OF BEDROCK TOPOGRAPHY-RELATED ICE FRACTURES IN THE PLANPINCIEUX GLACIER USING HELICOPTER-BORNE GPR AND DTM ANALYSIS,
International geoscience and remote sensing symposium 2021, pp. 1043–1046, Brussels, Belgio, 11-16/07/2021,
Abstract
In the last years, large portions of the Planpincieux Glacier became ...
In the last years, large portions of the Planpincieux Glacier became unstable and menaced to break-off toward one of the most touristic Alpine areas in Italy. Runout simulations have been conducted, but they were driven by the actual volume involved in the collapse. During the critical periods, the widening of large transversal fractures in the glacier body caused the destabilization of ice chunks that can break-off. The position of such fractures is recurrent throughout the years, with planimetric median deviations from 8 to 17 m. Combining the data of ground-penetrating radar and digital terrain models, we were able to measure the glacier thickness
(20 to 60 m ± 10) and to derive the bedrock and glacier surface sections. We observed a strong spatial correspondence between the bedrock topography and the
position of the major glacier fractures. Such a correspondence has been rarely demonstrated in Alpine glaciers, and it might help in the glacier-related risk
assessment.
Assessment of earthquake-induced landslide inventories and susceptibility maps using slope unit-based logistic regression and geospatial statistics
B. Pokharel(1), M. Alvioli(2), S. Lim(1), 2021, Assessment of earthquake-induced landslide inventories and susceptibility maps using slope unit-based logistic regression and geospatial statistics,
Scientific reports (Nature Publishing Group) (2021). doi_10.1038/s41598-021-00780-y,
DOI: 10.1038%2Fs41598-021-00780-y
Abstract
Inventories of seismically induced landslides provide essential information about the extent and severity of ground ...
Inventories of seismically induced landslides provide essential information about the extent and severity of ground effects after an earthquake. Rigorous assessment of the completeness of a landslide inventory and the quality of a landslide susceptibility map derived from the inventory is of paramount importance for disaster management applications. Methods and materials applied while preparing inventories influence their quality, but the criteria for generating an inventory are not standardized. This study considered five landslide inventories prepared by different authors after the 2015 Gorkha earthquake, to assess their differences, understand the implications of their use in producing landslide susceptibility maps in conjunction with standard landslide predisposing factors and logistic regression. We adopted three assessment criteria_ 1) an error index to identify the mutual mismatches between the inventories; 2) statistical analysis, to study the inconsistency in predisposing factors and performance of susceptibility maps; and 3) geospatial analysis, to assess differences between the inventories and the corresponding susceptibility maps. Results show that substantial discrepancies exist among the mapped landslides. Although there is no distinct variation in the significance of landslide causative factors and the performance of susceptibility maps, a hot spot analysis and cluster/outlier analysis of the maps revealed notable differences in spatial patterns. The percentages of landslide-prone hot spots and clustered areas are directly proportional to the size of the landslide inventory. The proposed geospatial approaches provide a new perspective to the investigators for the quantitative comparisons of earthquake-triggered landslide inventories and susceptibility maps.
Merge historical documents digitalisation with LiDAR_ a method for assessing and disseminating rockfall mitigation strategies
Davide Notti 1, Daniele Giordan 1, Diego Guenzi 1 & Rosa Lasponara 2, 2021, Merge historical documents digitalisation with LiDAR_ a method for assessing and disseminating rockfall mitigation strategies,
3RD EUROPEAN REGIONAL CONFERENCE OF IAEG, pp. 105–112, Athens, 06/10/2021 - 10/10/2021,
Abstract
In this work, we present a methodology to improve the rockfall risk assessment and the
population ...
In this work, we present a methodology to improve the rockfall risk assessment and the
population preparedness for small communities. Lauria town, southern Italy, is shown as a case history. We
used traditional digitalisation of the paper archive to reconstruct and geocoding the history of mitigation
works. We coupled this with the very-high resolution orthophotos and DTM derived from the LiDAR-RPAS
survey. The aim was to create a reliable state of the art, resumed in an operative monography, for experts
who need to design affordable and efficient new rockfall mitigation structures. The very-high resolution DTM
is also aimed to improve rockfall modelling. Moreover, we made webGIS and 3-D interactive views to
disseminate rockfall hazard and mitigation strategies among the population and local authorities
Landslides along the Lago Maggiore western coast (northern Italy): intense rainfall as trigger or concomitant cause?
Ciampittiello M.; Saidi H.; Dresti C.; Coluccino M.; Turconi L.; Little W.W.; Luino F., 2021, Landslides along the Lago Maggiore western coast (northern Italy): intense rainfall as trigger or concomitant cause?,
Natural hazards (Dordr., Online) (2021). doi_10.1007/s11069-021-04626-8,
DOI: 10.1007%2Fs11069-021-04626-8
Abstract
The Lago Maggiore catchment is characterized by medium to high altitude (up to 4633 m a.s.l. ...
The Lago Maggiore catchment is characterized by medium to high altitude (up to 4633 m a.s.l. with a median of 1270 m a.s.l.), high precipitation (~ 1700 mm/yr), and brittle tectonic deformation of impermeable rocks, such as granite and gneiss, that are characterized by a predisposition to slope failure. We analysed daily rainfall data associated with 38 landslides that occurred between 1980 and 2017 from meteorological stations placed into four sub-basins. The purpose was to determine whether or not extreme rainfall events exceeded landslides thresholds reported by previous studies. A statistical analysis using the RClimDex package was done, to verify changes in extreme rainfall over time. A spatial approach using Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) in QGIS was used to extrapolate rainfall data specific to landslide areas, as well as GIS techniques and processing tools to conduct geomorphic analyses. Finally, a multivariate analysis, (general linear model), was used to understand associations between variables (landslide types, lithology, valley, elevation, slope, land use, rainfall, and the presence of rivers, roads, paths, and buildings), known to affect the generation of landslides. Results show extreme rainfall events to be a secondary factor in the triggering of landslides, whereas the most significant factors are presence of building, proximity to rivers and lithology. It was found that intense rainfall is a concomitant cause to landslides in some instances but does not play a role in others.
Ten-year monitoring of the Grandes Jorasses glaciers kinematics. Limits, potentialities, and possible applications of different monitoring systems
Niccolò Dematteis, Daniele Giordan, Fabrizio Troilo, Aleksandra Wrzesniak, Danilo Godone, 2021, Ten-year monitoring of the Grandes Jorasses glaciers kinematics. Limits, potentialities, and possible applications of different monitoring systems,
Remote sensing (Basel) (2021). doi_10.3390/rs13153005,
DOI: 10.3390%2Frs13153005
Abstract
In the Ferret Valley (NW Italy), anthropic activities coexist close to the Grandes Jorasses massif's ...
In the Ferret Valley (NW Italy), anthropic activities coexist close to the Grandes Jorasses massif's glaciological complex. In the past, break-off events have caused damage to people and infrastructure. These events concerned two specific sectors_ the Montitaz Lobe (Planpincieux Glacier) and the Whymper Serac (Grandes Jorasses Glacier). Since 2010, permanent and discontinuous survey campaigns have been conducted to identify potential failure precursors, investigate the glacier instability processes, and explore different monitoring approaches. Most of the existing terrestrial apparatuses that measure the surface kinematics have been adopted in the Grandes Jorasses area. The monitoring sites in this specific area are characterized by severe weather, complex geometry, logistic difficulties, and rapid processes dynamics. Such exceptional conditions highlighted the limitations and potentialities of the adopted monitoring approaches, including robotic total station (RTS), GNSS receivers, digital image correlation applied to time-lapse imagery, and terrestrial radar interferometry (TRI). We examined the measurement uncertainty of each system and their monitoring performances. We discussed their principal limitations and possible use for warning purposes. In the Grandes Jorasses area, the use of a time-lapse camera appeared to be a versatile and cost-effective solution, which, however is not suitable for warning applications, as it does not guarantee data continuity. RTS and GNSS have warning potentialities, but the target installation and maintenance in remote environments remain challenging. TRI is the most effective monitoring system for early warning purposes in such harsh conditions, as it provides near-real-time measurements. However, radar equipment is very costly and requires extreme logistic effort. In this framework, we present data integration strategies to overcome the abovementioned limits and we demonstrate that these strategies are optimal solutions to obtain data continuity and robustness.
Il monitoraggio delle colate detritiche_ caratteristiche tecniche, utilizzo in sistemi di allerta e costi di riferimento
Marchi Lorenzo, 2021, Il monitoraggio delle colate detritiche_ caratteristiche tecniche, utilizzo in sistemi di allerta e costi di riferimento,
IL MONITORAGGIO DEI VERSANTI - CORSO DI ALTA FORMAZIONE (Earth Technology Expo), Firenze, 14-15/10/2021,
Abstract
La presentazione, destinata ad un pubblico di professionisti e funzionari dei serviti tecnici delle pubbliche ...
La presentazione, destinata ad un pubblico di professionisti e funzionari dei serviti tecnici delle pubbliche amministrazioni, illustra le principali problematiche del monitoraggio delle colate detritiche, con particolare riguardo ai sistemi di allertamento.
Aggiornamento della validazione delle previsioni del SARF Sardegna
Stefano Luigi Gariano, Massimo Melillo, Maria Teresa Brunetti, Silvia Peruccacci, Mauro Rossi, Ivan Marchesini, Cinzia Bianchi, Barbara Denti, 2021, Aggiornamento della validazione delle previsioni del SARF Sardegna,
2021,
Abstract
Il presente documento contiene la definizione delle procedure per la validazione del sistema SARF Sardegna. ...
Il presente documento contiene la definizione delle procedure per la validazione del sistema SARF Sardegna. Le attività qui riportate sono state realizzate nell'ambito delle Modifiche all'Estensione dell'Accordo di Collaborazione tra la Direzione Generale della Protezione Civile della Regione Autonoma della Sardegna servizio previsione rischi e dei sistemi informativi, infrastrutture e reti e il Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ricerca per la Protezione Idrogeologica (CNR IRPI) per la "Sperimentazione, validazione e sviluppo del Sistema di Allertamento Regionale per la previsione di Frane pluvio-indotte in Sardegna (SARF Sardegna)".
Il rapporto rappresenta la prima valutazione delle prestazioni del SARF Sardegna per la previsione di frane pluvio-indotte sul territorio regionale da aprile 2020 a febbraio 2021. Tale attività ha riguardato la raccolta e l'uso di informazioni sull'occorrenza di frane pluvio-indotte sul territorio regionale e l'implementazione di procedure per il confronto delle previsioni del SARF Sardegna con l'occorrenza di frane nei giorni successivi, nel periodo di validità delle previsioni stesse.
Il presente documento è suddiviso in quattro capitoli. Il Capitolo 1 contiene un'introduzione ai contenuti del documento. Nel Capitolo 2 sono descritti i dati utilizzati nella procedura di validazione del SARF Sardegna, mentre nel Capitolo 3 è descritta la procedura di validazione stessa. Il Capitolo 4 riporta le schede di validazione e un'analisi complessiva della capacità predittiva del sistema sulla base dei risultati della validazione.
Advances in Geomorphometry
M. Alvioli(1), I. Marchesini(1), L.Melelli(2), P. Guth(3), 2021, Advances in Geomorphometry,
Transactions in GIS (Online) 25 (2021): 1–5. doi_10.1111/tgis.12859,
DOI: 10.1111%2Ftgis.12859
Effect of snow-covered ground albedo on the accuracy of air temperature measurements
Chiara Musacchio, Graziano Coppa, Gaber Bege?, Christina Hofstätter-Mohler, Laura Massano, Guido Nigrelli, Francesca Sanna, and Andrea Merlone, 2021, Effect of snow-covered ground albedo on the accuracy of air temperature measurements,
Atmospheric measurement techniques (Print) 14 (2021): 6195–6212. doi_10.5194/amt-14-6195-2021,
DOI: 10.5194%2Famt-14-6195-2021
Abstract
Solar radiation is one of the main factors which introduce significant deviations between thermometers reading ...
Solar radiation is one of the main factors which introduce significant deviations between thermometers reading and true air temperature value. Techniques to protect the sensors from direct radiative influence have been adopted almost since the beginning of meteorological observations. Reflected radiation from a snow-covered surface can also cause extra warming to thermometers hosted in solar shields, which are not always optimised to protect the sensors from this further radiative heat transfer. This phenomenon can cause errors in near-surface temperature measurements results, with a relevant impact on the quality of data records and series. This study experimentally evaluates the effect of reflected radiation from a snow-covered surface on the accuracy of air temperature measurements. The investigation is based on the evaluation of temperature differences between pairs of identical instruments, positioned above ground covered by natural vegetation, with one instrument in snow-free conditions and the other above a snow-covered surface, at the same time and at the same site. The work involved a representative number of sensors and shields, in terms of different typologies, technologies and engineering solutions, from different manufacturers. A mountain site with acceptable field conditions, offering long-lasting snow presence to maximise data availability, was selected to perform the experiment. Quantities of influence, such as relative humidity, wind speed and direction and solar radiation (global and reflected), were constantly measured. The main findings of this work show that none of the involved instruments were immune to the extra heating due to the snow-reflected radiation. Excluding nighttimes and days of high wind or low incident radiation, the differences among sensors positioned above natural soil and identical ones exposed to snow albedo ranged up to more than 3 ?C. Solar screens with forced ventilation showed a partially reduced effect compared to most of the naturally ventilated ones. A full data analysis is reported here, together with complete results and uncertainties.
I movimenti delle montagne_ tutto quello che c’è da sapere sulle frane (e non solo)!
Giorgia Macchi, 2021, I movimenti delle montagne_ tutto quello che c’è da sapere sulle frane (e non solo)!,
2021,
Abstract
Presentazione multimediale interattiva presentata durante il laboratorio della Notte dei Ricercatori "VeneToNight 2021", presso il ...
Presentazione multimediale interattiva presentata durante il laboratorio della Notte dei Ricercatori "VeneToNight 2021", presso il complesso Beato Pellegrino, per avvicinare il pubblico alle attività dell'istituto di Protezione e Ricerca Idrogeologica di Padova.
Colata detritica del rio Gadria (Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano)
Marchi L., Coviello V., 2021, Colata detritica del rio Gadria (Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano),
Linee Guida per il Monitoraggio delle Frane, edited by Luca Dei Cas, Alessandro Trigila, Carla Iadanza, pp. 195–199, 2021,
Abstract
Nell'ampio di una comprensiva monografia dedicata al monitoraggio delle frane, il paragrafo descrive il bacino ...
Nell'ampio di una comprensiva monografia dedicata al monitoraggio delle frane, il paragrafo descrive il bacino attrezzato del Rio Gadria ed i principali dati in esso raccolti
Strumentazione colate rapide
Marchi L., Coviello V., Crema S., 2021, Strumentazione colate rapide,
Linee Guida per il Monitoraggio delle Frane, edited by Luca Dei Cas, Alessandro Trigila, Carla Iadanza, pp. 131–137, 2021,
Abstract
Nell'ampio di una comprensiva monografia dedicata al monitoraggio delle frane, il paragrafo descrive i principali ...
Nell'ampio di una comprensiva monografia dedicata al monitoraggio delle frane, il paragrafo descrive i principali tipi di sensori utilizzabili la misura delle colate detritiche per finalità di studio e di allertamento
Misure per colate rapide
Marchi L., Coviello V., Crema S., 2021, Misure per colate rapide,
Linee Guida per il Monitoraggio delle Frane, edited by Luca Dei Cas, Alessandro Trigila, Carla Iadanza, pp. 52–54, 2021,
Abstract
Nell'ampio di una comprensiva monografia dedicata al monitoraggio delle frane, il paragrafo descrive le principali ...
Nell'ampio di una comprensiva monografia dedicata al monitoraggio delle frane, il paragrafo descrive le principali problematiche relative alla misura delle colate detritiche per finalità di studio e di allertamento.
Sediment connectivity assessment through geomorphometry_ review of recent applications.
Cavalli M., Crema S., Marchi L., 2021, Sediment connectivity assessment through geomorphometry_ review of recent applications.,
Geomorphometry 2021, da remoto, 13-15/09/2021,
Abstract
Sediment connectivity, defined as the degree to which a system facilitates the transfer of water ...
Sediment connectivity, defined as the degree to which a system facilitates the transfer of water and sediment through itself by means of coupling relationships between its components, has become a key issue in sediment transfer processes analysis and one of the building blocks of modern geomorphology. The growing availability of high-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) offers new opportunities for the characterization of sediment
connectivity spatial patterns. An index of sediment connectivity, based on DEM derivatives as drainage area, slope, flow length and surface roughness, has been recently developed along with related freeware software tool (SedInConnect). The index aims at depicting spatial connectivity patterns at the catchment scale to support the assessment of the contribution of a given part of the catchment as sediment source and define sediment transfer paths. The increasing interest in the quantitative characterization of the linkages between landscape units and the straightforward applicability of this index led to numerous applications in different contexts. Such works demonstrate that, when carefully applied considering the intrinsic limitations of the geomorphometric approach, the index can rapidly provide a spatial characterization of sediment dynamics, thus improving the understanding geomorphic system behavior and, consequently, hazard and risk assessment. This work presents and discusses the main applications of this sediment connectivity index.
Report rilevamento in Val d’Ansiei, Auronzo di Cadore
Macchi G.*, Boretto G.*, Monegato G.*'', Crema S.*, Cavalli M*., 2021, Report rilevamento in Val d’Ansiei, Auronzo di Cadore,
2021,
Abstract
Nell'ambito del progetto Interreg SedInOut è stata effettuata una campagna di rilievi nei giorni ...
Nell'ambito del progetto Interreg SedInOut è stata effettuata una campagna di rilievi nei giorni 24-26 agosto 2021 nelle aree di studio del bacino idrografico del torrente Ansiei, in Auronzo di Cadore (BL), al fine di_ valutare la dinamica del sedimento in ambienti di alta montagna (trasporto, disponibilità e genesi del sedimento...), determinare la connessione o disconnessione del sedimento rispetto all'asta del corso d'acqua principale,
validare la mappatura ottenuta tramite interpretazione da ortofoto e DTM in ambiente GIS. In questo report vengono riportati i principali risultati. In questo report vengono riportati i principali risultati.
Hydrogeology and seawater intrusion proneness in the Metaponto plain aquifer (Basilicata, Italy)
Rosalba Muzzillo, Livia Emanuela Zuffianò', Filomena Canora, Giorgio De Giorgio, Pier Paolo Limoni, Maurizio Polemio, Francesco Sdao, 2021, Hydrogeology and seawater intrusion proneness in the Metaponto plain aquifer (Basilicata, Italy),
Italian journal of engineering geology and environment (Online) 1 (2021): 139–149. doi_10.4408/IJEGE.2021-01.S-13,
DOI: 10.4408%2FIJEGE.2021-01.S-13
Abstract
In the Metaponto coastal plain (Basilicata region, southern Italy), the anthropogenic impact, mainly linked to ...
In the Metaponto coastal plain (Basilicata region, southern Italy), the anthropogenic impact, mainly linked to agriculture and tourism, has significantly modified the land use and threatened the groundwater quality over the last century. Five protected sites located near the river mouths are included in the Natura 2000 network thanks to the high ecological value of their flora and fauna. The reduction of the groundwater flow, probably caused by the construction of dams and reservoirs for water storage, threatens the equilibrium of the coastal vegetated areas. Among the effects of groundwater quality modifications, the risk of salinity increase should be considered relevant.
The purpose of this paper is to describe the approach, which is preliminary to the density-driven flow modeling, supporting the implementation of management criteria facing seawater intrusion, climate change, and water demand in future scenarios. The definition of an accurate physically-based model is based on the geological and hydrogeological conceptualization and hydrochemical discussion.
Rilievo delle aree sorgenti di sedimento nel bacino del torrente Liera (Canale d’Agordo – BL)
Boretto G., Macchi G., Monegato G., Marchi L., Crema S., Cavalli M., 2021, Rilievo delle aree sorgenti di sedimento nel bacino del torrente Liera (Canale d’Agordo – BL),
2021,
Abstract
Nell'ambito del progetto Interreg SedInOut è stata effettuata una campagna di rilievi nei mesi di ...
Nell'ambito del progetto Interreg SedInOut è stata effettuata una campagna di rilievi nei mesi di maggio e giugno 2021 nel bacino del torrente Liera (Canale d'Agordo -BL), al fine di_ (i) valutare in campo le mappature
delle aree sorgenti di sedimento pre- e post-evento ottenute dall'interpretazione di ortofoto ad alta risoluzione e le risultanze delle analisi del confronto tra Modelli Digitali del Terreno (DTM) derivati da dati LiDAR aerei (risoluzione di 1 m) acquisiti nel 2015 e nel 2019; (ii) raccogliere dati mediante compilazione di schede tecnico-descrittive che permettono di caratterizzare in dettaglio le aree sorgenti in situ; (iii) valutare la dinamica di sedimento nell'area di studio considerando trasporto, disponibilità, connessione-disconnessione del sedimento. In questo report vengono riportati i principali risultati.
Description of a complex, rainfall-induced landslide within a multi-stage three-dimensional model
T.V. Tran(1), M. Alvioli(2), V.H. Hong(1), 2021, Description of a complex, rainfall-induced landslide within a multi-stage three-dimensional model,
Natural hazards (Dordr.) 110 (2021): 1953–1968. doi_10.1007/s11069-021-05020-0,
DOI: 10.1007%2Fs11069-021-05020-0
Abstract
The mechanical processes involved in movements of earth or rock masses under the effect of ...
The mechanical processes involved in movements of earth or rock masses under the effect of gravity - a landslide - may include several phases where the failure of one portion of terrain can lead to the instability of the surrounding parts. An earlier landslide might have follow-up landslides until the landscape finds the equilibrium state. Soon thereafter, recurring landslides are often recorded in landslide inventories but are seldom exploited in physical landslide modeling. Here, we study the landslide mechanism using Scoops3D - a three-dimensional, physically based landslide model. The program employs the three-dimensional column limit equilibrium and a digital elevation model to perform a slope stability analysis. Scoops3D evaluates the stability of rotational, spherical slip surfaces encompassing many grid cells, producing the least-stable sliding surface throughout the entire digital landscape. The program creates two important outputs, namely a factor of safety map and a terrain map showing the new topographical conditions of the site with unstable areas removed. To define the final predicted landslide boundary, we have run Scoops3D repeatedly to assess the site's stability using a newly produced terrain profile until the model predicts as stable all of the grid cells within the entire landscape. We compared the method's prediction with the actual sliding scar that took place on August 05th, 2019, following a historical rainstorm in Sapa - Vietnam. Results for modified success rate, a performance metric, show that with reliable input data, the approach can predict the evolution of landslides with improved results compared to the traditional method using Scoops3D.
Rockfall susceptibility and network-ranked susceptibility along the Italian railway
Alvioli M.; Santangelo M.; Fiorucci F.; Cardinali M.; Marchesini I.; Reichenbach P.; Rossi M.; Guzzetti F.; Peruccacci S., 2021, Rockfall susceptibility and network-ranked susceptibility along the Italian railway,
Engineering geology 293 (2021): 106301–106301. doi_10.1016/j.enggeo.2021.106301,
DOI: 10.1016%2Fj.enggeo.2021.106301
Abstract
Rockfalls pose a substantial threat to ground transportation, due to their rapidity, destructive potential and ...
Rockfalls pose a substantial threat to ground transportation, due to their rapidity, destructive potential and high probability of occurrence on steep topographies, often found along roads and railway routes. Approaches for the assessment of rockfall susceptibility range from purely phenomenological methods and statistical methods, suitable for modeling large areas, to purely deterministic ones, usually easier to use in local analyses. A common requirement is the need to locate potential detachment points, often found uphill on cliffs, and the subsequent assessment of the runout areas of rockfalls stemming from such points. Here, we apply a physically based model for the calculation of rockfall trajectories along the whole Italian railway network, within a corridor of total length of about 17,000 km and varying width. We propose a data-driven method for the location of rockfall source points based on expert mapping of potential source areas on sample representative locations. Using empirical distributions of gridded slope angle values in source areas mapped by experts, we derived probabilistic maps of rockfall sources in the proximity of the railway network, regardless of a particular trigger. Source areas act as starting points of simulated trajectories within the three-dimensional model STONE. The program provides a pixel-by-pixel trajectory count, covering 24,500 km and representing the largest homogeneous application of the model to date. We classified the raster map into a vector susceptibility map, analyzing the railway track as a collection of segments, for which we provide segment-wise rockfall susceptibility. Eventually, we considered an equivalent graph representation of the network, which helps classifying the segments both on the basis of rockfall susceptibility and the role of each segment in the network, resulting in a network-ranked susceptibility. Both maps are useful for subsequent hazard assessment, and to prioritize safety improvements along the railway, at national scale.
An Integration of UAV-Based Photogrammetry and 3D Modelling for Rockfall Hazard Assessment_ The Cárcavos Case in 2018 (Spain).
ILENIA G. GALLO, MÓNICA MARTÍNEZ-CORBELLA, ROBERTO SARRO, GIULIO IOVINE, JUAN LÓPEZ-VINIELLES, MARIO HÉRNANDEZ, GAETANO ROBUSTELLI, ROSA
MARÍA MATEOS, JUAN CARLOS GARCÍA-DAVALILLO, 2021, An Integration of UAV-Based Photogrammetry and 3D Modelling for Rockfall Hazard Assessment_ The Cárcavos Case in 2018 (Spain).,
Remote sensing (Basel) 13 (2021). doi_10.3390/rs13173450,
DOI: 10.3390%2Frs13173450
Abstract
An example of the combined use of UAV photogrammetry and rockfall numerical simulation is described. ...
An example of the combined use of UAV photogrammetry and rockfall numerical simulation is described. A case of fragmental rockfall occurred on 17 November 2018 in Cárcavos, a
site located in the Spanish municipality of Ayna (Albacete). The event caused a great social alarm as some infrastructure was affected. By using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) photogrammetry, a
high-resolution 3D model has been generated from point cloud data, and distribution and size of the fragmented rocks (more than 600 boulders) determined. The analysis has been performed through
numerical simulations to_ (1) reproduce the paths followed by the real blocks; and (2) estimate the speed and energy of the blocks, together with their heights, impacts and stopping points. Accordingly,
source areas have been identified, including the potential source areas and unstable blocks on the slope. In addition, the exposed elements at risk (buildings, facilities, infrastructures, etc.) have been
identified, and the effectiveness of mitigation measures against future events evaluated.
Accounting for compositional nature of soil constituents in digital mapping of organic carbon
Gabriele Buttafuoco, Donatella Civitelli, Massimo Conforti, Anna Lia Gabriele, 2021, Accounting for compositional nature of soil constituents in digital mapping of organic carbon,
Eurosoil 2021. Connecting People and Soil., Geneva (Switzerland ) - Virtual, 23/08/2021, 27/08/2021,
Abstract
There is a recognized importance of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its profound influence on ...
There is a recognized importance of soil organic carbon (SOC) and its profound influence on soil properties and crucial part of the global carbon cycle. Organic carbon is a single component of soil constituents and its mapping should take into account its compositional nature. The statistical analysis of compositional data sets is based on the Aitchison's idea (1986) and its developments that if all chemical elements in a soil sample are analysed, their concentrations sum up to a constant and the relationships that variables have to one another are conditioned from the rest of the elements included in the composition. The study was carried out within the project AlForlab PON03PE_00024_1, and aimed to map soil organic carbon within a forested catchment in southern Italy accounting for its compositional nature. The study area is a 139 ha catchment on granitic parent material and subordinately alluvial deposits, where soils are classified as Typic Xerumbrepts and Ultic Haploxeralf crop out. Soils samples were collected at 135 locations and the sample design was developed using a spatial simulated annealing algorithm with two steps. First, one half of the samples were located over the whole basin onto a 5 m grid, optimizing for minimal distance between observations. Then, the remaining samples were located using the Weighted Means of Shortest Distances algorithm, with slope gradient as a weigh function. In the field, soils were sampled up to a depth of 0.20 m and the geographical coordinates of each point were recorded with a differential Trimble receiver at 1-m accuracy. In the laboratory, SOC concentration was measured using a Shimadzu TOC-L analyzer with a SSM-5000A solid sample module whereas through sieve and hydrometer methods, the percentage of sand, silt and clay was determined. A geostatistical approach was used to map SOC concentration at the 0.20 m depth over the whole catchment. A complementary variable (filler) was calculated to complete the composition and to ensure constant sum of SOC interpolated values at a given location. The isometric logratio (irl) transformation of raw data was used. Moreover, to assess the contribution of soil textural fractions in improving the estimation of SOC concentration at unsampled locations, sand, silt and clay concentrations were used as auxiliary information within ordinary cokriging. The three textural components were used as both raw data and isometric logratio (irl) transformations. Four approaches were compared to map SOC using (1) only raw SOC data concentrations, (2) isometric logratio transformation of SOC and the complementary variable, (3) raw data both for SOC and textural components, and (4) isometric logratio transformation of SOC and textural components. The comparison was evaluated splitting the SOC data randomly into calibration and validation sets. Since textural data were used as auxiliary variables in the estimation procedure, whole data set was used. In both cases (univariate and multivariate), using isometric logratio transformations compared to raw data was more computationally intensive and in estimating SOC concentrations, slightly better results were obtained.
Relazione Annuale “INSTALLAZIONE, SUPPORTO, MISURE ED ANALISI DEI DATI DI UN SISTEMA TERMOMETRICO IN FIBRA OTTICA – FESR 4036, STUDIO ED ANALISI DI STABILITÀ DEL TRATTO ARGINALE DEL FIUME ADIGE CHE AFFIANCA L’AUTOSTRADA A22”
Luca Schenato, Gianluca Marcato, Giacomo Tedesco, 2021, Relazione Annuale “INSTALLAZIONE, SUPPORTO, MISURE ED ANALISI DEI DATI DI UN SISTEMA TERMOMETRICO IN FIBRA OTTICA – FESR 4036, STUDIO ED ANALISI DI STABILITÀ DEL TRATTO ARGINALE DEL FIUME ADIGE CHE AFFIANCA L’AUTOSTRADA A22”,
pp.1–37, 2021,
Abstract
La presente relazione costituisce il rapporto dopo il primo anno di attività previsto dall'incarico stipulata ...
La presente relazione costituisce il rapporto dopo il primo anno di attività previsto dall'incarico stipulata dall'Agenzia della Protezione Civile della Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano - Alto Adige
Area funzionale Bacini Montani, nel testo a seguire citata come Protezione Civile di Bolzano, e l'Istituto di Ricerca per la Protezione Idrogeologica del Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, sede
secondaria di Padova - a seguire CNR IRPI o semplicemente IRPI - per "Installazione, supporto, misure ed analisi dei dati di un sistema termometrico in fibra ottica - FESR 4036, Studio ed analisi
di stabilità del tratto arginale del fiume Adige che affianca l'Autostrada A22." Documento annuale richiesto ai sensi dell'art. 3 dell'incarico identificato da Raccolta nr. 252/2020 (protocollo 13651
Agenzia della Protezione Civile della Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano - Alto Adige del 29.06.2020).
Sediment-water flows in mountain catchments_ Insights into transport mechanisms as responses to high-magnitude hydrological events
Brenna A.; Marchi L.; Borga M.; Ghinassi M.; Zaramella M.; Surian N., 2021, Sediment-water flows in mountain catchments_ Insights into transport mechanisms as responses to high-magnitude hydrological events,
Journal of hydrology (Amst.) 602 (2021). doi_10.1016/j.jhydrol.2021.126716,
DOI: 10.1016%2Fj.jhydrol.2021.126716
Abstract
Sediment transfer in mountain streams occurs via processes classified as debris flows, hyperconcentrated flows, debris ...
Sediment transfer in mountain streams occurs via processes classified as debris flows, hyperconcentrated flows, debris floods, and water flows under the control of the water energy and the amount of involved sediment. Despite the extensive documentation of the channel changes caused by high-magnitude hydrological events, the analysis of the sediment-water flows occurring during such floods is currently a minimally explored issue. This study investigated how the transport mechanisms activated in a mountain stream during a high-magnitude flood differ from those triggered during ordinary floods. It also evaluated the effectiveness of three morphometric approaches in predicting high-magnitude flows expectable in a channel sub-reach. The study area is the Tegnas catchment (Dolomites, Italy), a mountain basin affected in 2018 by a severe hydrological event (Vaia Storm), whose recurrence interval is approximately 200 years. We determined the transport processes typifying the stream network in the catchment during ordinary floods through field surveys and direct monitoring and compared these flows with the high-magnitude flow types that occurred during the Vaia Storm. Additionally, we examined the flows predicted using the morphometric approaches for high-magnitude events. We observed water flow as a response to ordinary events occurring along the entire Tegnas main stem, whereas debris flow ordinarily determines sediment transfer at steep tributaries. During the Vaia Storm, water flow still dominated along the Tegnas Torrent, although debris flows and debris floods were also documented at several sub-reaches of the main stem. The morphometric approaches satisfactorily predicted debris flows but often failed to recognize the debris floods occurred during the high-magnitude 2018 flooding. The analysis of different flow types enabled us to infer relationships among transport mechanisms, hydraulic forcing, and channel dynamics and to gain new insights on the poorly explored debris flood processes. Water flows transitioned into debris floods under unit stream powers exceeding the threshold of 5000 to 5500 W m or downstream of sediment-injection points. The occurrence of debris floods, which caused higher channel widening than that induced by water flows, appeared to be facilitated by the presence of tributaries prone to debris flow occurrence connected to a receiving stream, the injection of fine material into the flows, and channels characterized by high slope and narrow section. The morphometric approaches enabled adequate first-order discrimination of expectable high-magnitude flows, but a more detailed characterization that includes field observations is necessary to understand the transport mechanisms that can affect a specific channel site during high-magnitude hydrological events for a more accurate and reliable definition of flood hazard at the local scale.
Geomorphologic landslide inventory by air photo interpretation of the High Agri Valley (Southern Italy)
Bucci F.; Santangelo M.; Fiorucci F.; Ardizzone F.; Giordan D.; Cignetti M.; Notti D.; Allasia P.; Godone D.; Lagomarsino D.; Pozzoli A.; Norelli E.; Cardinali M., 2021, Geomorphologic landslide inventory by air photo interpretation of the High Agri Valley (Southern Italy),
Journal of maps 17 (2021): 376–388. doi_10.1080/17445647.2021.1943552,
DOI: 10.1080%2F17445647.2021.1943552
Abstract
Landslide inventories provide the knowledge basis for many geomorphological applications and also planning and emergency ...
Landslide inventories provide the knowledge basis for many geomorphological applications and also planning and emergency management. Detailed landslide inventories should also be prepared where pre-existing inventories are available, as knowledge updates. In this paper, we present a new geomorphological landslide inventory for an area of the High Agri Valley, Southern Italian Apennines. The map was prepared through systematic interpretation of historical aerial photographs testing extensive use of anaglyph glasses in StereoPhoto Maker freeware. A total of 2124 landslides were classified based on the type of movement, estimated depth, estimated relative age and three levels of uncertainty, providing landslide attributes and map constraints useful for land planning and hazard studies. The map also documents the relationships between landslides and fluvial landforms of different generations, recording important information to investigate the geomorphological evolution of the area further. We expect that landslide mapping in similar environments will benefit from the workflow here presented.
The response of calcareous plankton to the Sapropel S1 interval in North Ionian Sea
Antonio Cascella a,*, Sergio Bonomo a, b, Fabrizio Lirer c, Giulia Margaritelli d, Helena Checa e, Isabel Cacho e, Leopoldo D. Pena e, Jaime Frigola e, 2021, The response of calcareous plankton to the Sapropel S1 interval in North Ionian Sea,
Global and planetary change (Print) (2021). doi_10.1016/j.gloplacha.2021.103599,
DOI: 10.1016%2Fj.gloplacha.2021.103599
Abstract
A high resolution study of calcareous nannofossils has been performed on samples from the Sapropel ...
A high resolution study of calcareous nannofossils has been performed on samples from the Sapropel S1interval deposited in the North Ionian Sea, with the aim to assess the paleoenvironmental changes in the photic zone during this crucial interval in Mediterranean circulation. Calcareous nannofossil data have been integrated with planktonic foraminiferal data recently published in Checa et al. (2020) from which the paleoclimatic curve has been constructed.
Placoliths (namely Emiliania huxleyi) and Florisphaera profunda distributions, along with that of planktonic foraminifer Globigerinoides ruber white, evidence that, after a progressive weakening of surface water mixing, a deep chlorophyll maximum developed just prior to the sapropel deposition. We suggest that these changes took place as a response to enhanced precipitation conditions and riverine discharge as testified by increasing trend of reworked coccoliths and the occurrence of lower salinity taxon Braarudosphaera bigelowii. Calcareous nannofossils also point out that the oceanographic (water column stratification, reduced bottom water ventilation) and biogeochemical (increased primary production) processes that occurred during the S1 formation were particularly dominant during the earliest part of the older S1 warm phase (S1a). Our results support than some re-ventilation events of the shallow depth of studied site (665 m) occurred to some extent, particularly during the final phases of S1a.
The distribution of holococcoliths, more abundant during the cold interruption phase Si, seems confirm that the preservation of these tiny coccoliths, highly susceptible to dissolution, is enhanced under seafloor re-ventilation conditions.
Finally, we tentatively suggest that preservation also plays a significant role in the distribution of the warm upper photic zone taxa, particularly during the warm S1b interval.
Slope failures at high elevation in the Italian Alps in the period 2000-2020
Michele Guerini
Marco Giardino
Roberta Paranunzio
Guido Nigrelli
Laura Turconi
Fabio Luino
Marta Chiarle, 2021, Slope failures at high elevation in the Italian Alps in the period 2000-2020,
2021,
Abstract
This dataset implements and updates with 106 new records the one published by Paranunzio et ...
This dataset implements and updates with 106 new records the one published by Paranunzio et al. 2019 (doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.903761). The two datasets have the same survey methodology, making the new dataset homogeneous with the previous one. All together, we collected and validated a dataset of 392 slope instability events documented from 2000 to 2020, at high elevation (above 1500 m a.s.l.) in the Italian Alps. The dataset includes landslides, blockfalls, rockfalls, soil slips, rock avalanches and complex landslides. It was realized in the framework of a study aimed to assess the susceptibility to failure of slopes with specific geomorphological characteristics and the role of climatic elements in the preparation and/or triggering of slope instability. At present, this is the most comprehensive dataset on slope failures occurred at high elevation in the Italian Alps in the last two decades. This work is intended as a contribution to the creation of an alpine/global dataset of slope failures at high elevation, useful for studying the impacts of climate change on fragile
mountain environments.
The Joint IPWG
R. Roca, Z.S. Haddad, F.F. Akimoto, L. Alexander, A. Behrangi, G. Huffman, S. Kato, C. Kidd, P.E. Kirstetter, T. Kubota, C. Kummerow, T.S. L'Ecuyer, V. Levizzani, V. Maggioni, C. Massari, H. Masunaga, M. Schröder, F.J. Tapiador, F.J. Turk, N. Utsumi, 2021, The Joint IPWG,
2021,
Abstract
This report is a result of an interesting journey that originated in discussions between Rémy ...
This report is a result of an interesting journey that originated in discussions between Rémy Roca, chair of Global Energy and Water Exchanges (GEWEX) Data and Analysis Panel (GDAP), and Ziad Haddad, chair of International Precipitation Working Group (IPWG), during visits to Toulouse and to Pasadena as well as during many of the various workshops and conferences dedicated to precipitation. It culminated in the present report built from contributions by more than 20 scientists from all over the world. The first written draft was completed immediately following an open meeting for interested contributors that took place on a Saturday morning in a public library in the heights of San Diego (Haddad and Roca, 21 October 2017). From this initial plan, many objectives were successfully achieved without modification, while a few required maturation before we were able to include them in the completed assessment, all of this in spite of the ongoing pandemic. The current report completes the GEWEX assessment portfolio and follows the previous IPWG assessment by 10+ years (Gruber and Levizzani, 2008). Hopefully it is the first of a more frequent and regular series of precipitation assessments.
Report attività 2° periodo di rendicontazione – Progetto ITAT3032 SedInOut – “Sviluppo di una metodologia di gestione del rischio tramite la valutazione della disponibilità di sedimento al trasporto in massa in ambiente montano”)
Marco Cavalli, Stefano Crema, Gabriella Boretto, Giorgia Macchi, Matteo Mantovani, Gianluca Marcato, Lorenzo Marchi, Giovanni Monegato, Giacomo Tedesco, 2021, Report attività 2° periodo di rendicontazione – Progetto ITAT3032 SedInOut – “Sviluppo di una metodologia di gestione del rischio tramite la valutazione della disponibilità di sedimento al trasporto in massa in ambiente montano”),
2021,
Abstract
Il progetto SedInOut, finanziato dal programma Interreg Italia-Austria, Fondo Europeo per lo Sviluppo Regionale dell'Unione ...
Il progetto SedInOut, finanziato dal programma Interreg Italia-Austria, Fondo Europeo per lo Sviluppo Regionale dell'Unione Europea è coordinato dall'Ufficio Geologia e Prove Materiali, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano-Alto Adige e vede come partner la Difesa del Suolo della Regione del Veneto, la Regione Autonoma Friuli-Venezia Giulia - Direzione Centrale, Difesa dell'ambiente, Energia e Sviluppo Sostenibile - Servizio Geologico, il Dipartimento 6 - Infrastrutture e Trasporti del Land di Salisburgo e il Dipartimento 8 - Ambiente, Energia e Conservazione della Natura del Land della Carinzia. In questo contesto, il CNR IRPI ha sottoscritto un accordo di collaborazione con la Regione del Veneto ed il presente rapporto relaziona sulle attività condotte nell'ambito del progetto nel periodo novembre 2020-maggio 2021.
Seconda relazione Tecnica (revisione 01) – Accordo di collaborazione tecnico-scientifica ex art. 15 della l.241
Marco Cavalli, Stefano Crema, Velio Coviello, Lorenzo Marchi, Carlo Gregoretti, Andreas Schimmel, Francesco Comiti, Alessandro Pasuto, 2021, Seconda relazione Tecnica (revisione 01) – Accordo di collaborazione tecnico-scientifica ex art. 15 della l.241,
2021,
Abstract
Il presente rapporto è stato prodotto nell'ambito dell'Accordo di collaborazione tecnico-scientifica per la definizione delle ...
Il presente rapporto è stato prodotto nell'ambito dell'Accordo di collaborazione tecnico-scientifica per la definizione delle soglie di allarme e le conseguenti logiche di funzionamento del Sistema di monitoraggio ed allarme della colata detritica di Cancia (Borca di Cadore), tra l'Agenzia Regionale per la Prevenzione e Protezione Ambientale del Veneto (ARPAV), il Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Ricerca per la Protezione Idrogeologica (CNR IRPI), l'Università degli Studi di Padova, Dipartimento TESAF (UNIPD) e la Libera Università di Bolzano (UNIBZ). Il rapporto, dopo aver richiamato le soglie di allertamento implementate nel 2020, presenta le risultanze delle osservazioni post-evento effettuate a seguito degli eventi verificatisi nel corso dello stesso anno e propone poi l'aggiornamento delle soglie pluviometriche, di livello e geofoniche, delle logiche di funzionamento del Sistema di monitoraggio ed allarme, precedentemente presentate nella relazione tecnica (rev. 1) del 15/04/2020 (Cavalli et al., 2020).
Thunderslide – from rainfall to preliminary landslide mapping_ implementing an open data-oriented framework for landscape management authorities
Crema S., Marchi L., Borga M., Sarretta A., Macchi G., Cavalli M., 2021, Thunderslide – from rainfall to preliminary landslide mapping_ implementing an open data-oriented framework for landscape management authorities,
EGU General Assembly 2021, 19-30 April 2021,
Abstract
Gathering systematic information on the effects of extreme weather events (e.g., flooded areas, shallow landslide ...
Gathering systematic information on the effects of extreme weather events (e.g., flooded areas, shallow landslide and debris flow activations, windthrows) is a fundamental prerequisite for local authorities to put into practice management strategies and establishing early-intervention priorities. The collection of these data is a resource-demanding task requiring huge personnel effort and financial means. Furthermore, events occurring in remote areas with a low chance of intersecting human infrastructure, are rarely detected and mapped accurately, thus leading to incorrect assumptions in relation to both extreme events spatial distribution and especially to the real occurrence probability. The present work aims at tackling some of the above-mentioned issues by providing a framework for obtaining the automatic identification of severe weather events that may have caused important erosional processes or vegetation damage, combined with a quick and preliminary change detection mapping over the identified areas.
The proposed approach leverages the free availability of both high-resolution global scale radar rainfall products and Sentinel-2 multispectral images to identify the areas to be analyzed and to carry out change detection algorithms, respectively. Radar rainfall data are analyzed and areas where high intensity rainfall and/or very important cumulative precipitation has occurred are used as a mask for restricting the subsequent analysis, which, in turn, is based on a multispectral change detection algorithm.
The testing phase of the proposed methodology provided encouraging results_ applications to selected mountain catchments hit by the VAIA storm in northeastern Italy (October 2018) were capable of identifying flooded areas, debris-flow and shallow landslide activations and windthrows with good accuracy and with the ability to distinguish between erosional processes and windthrows.
The described approach can serve as a preliminary step toward detailed post-event surveys, but also as a preliminary "quick and dirty" mapping framework for local authorities especially when resources for ad hoc field surveys are not available.
Such a systematic potential change identification, in combination with regular expert-driven validation, can finally pave the way for a process of self-improvement in detection and classification accuracy_ if classified changes are validated, machine-learning algorithms can be trained to learn and improve performance not only in change detection accuracy but also in single-scene classification.
Future improvements of the described procedure could be finally devised for allowing a continuous operational activity and for maintaining an open-source software implementation.
Assessing the effect of the Vaia storm on sediment source areas and connectivity storm in the Liera catchment (Dolomites)
Gabriella Boretto, Stefano Crema, Lorenzo Marchi, Giovanni Monegato, Giorgia Macchi, Luciano Arziliero and Marco Cavalli, 2021, Assessing the effect of the Vaia storm on sediment source areas and connectivity storm in the Liera catchment (Dolomites),
EGU General Assembly 2021, 19-30 April 2021,
Abstract
Extreme meteorological events are important causes of environmental damages, particularly in mountain areas that can ...
Extreme meteorological events are important causes of environmental damages, particularly in mountain areas that can be heavily affected by destructive processes such as landslides and debris flows. From 27 and 30 October 2018, an extraordinary storm - named Vaia - hit Northeastern Italy. The Vaia storm triggered mass wasting processes, generated new slope instabilities, caused widespread windthrows, and damaged human infrastructure. This work aims at assessing the effect of the Vaia storm in the Liera Torrent basin (Venetian Dolomites, Italy), by building and comparing sediment source inventories before and after the Vaia storm. The Liera basin drains an area of 35 km2 and elevation ranges between 976 and 3192 m a.s.l. The mapping and classification of the sediment sources have been carried out through the interpretation of high-resolution orthophotos and Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) derived from airborne LiDAR data (1-m resolution) acquired in 2015 and 2019. A topography-based index of sediment connectivity has been applied to characterize connectivity spatial patterns at catchment scale and identifying the sediment sources on the hillslopes effectively connected to the Liera torrent. A preliminary connectivity analysis showed that the upstream sector the catchment located in the Pale di San Martino plateau is not effectively connected to the lower Liera valley because of its karstic environment and debris originated from the highest portion of the relief are confined in a hollow. Thus the inventories have been limited to the medium and lower parts of the catchment considering an area of 20 km2. Results indicated a total of 1650 sediment source areas after the Vaia event, with an areal increase of about 20% with respect to 2015 inventory, especially due to the development of landslide (843 in total for the 2019 inventory), expansion of the debris flow channel (257) and areas subject to surficial erosion (127). Other areas that have been identified encompass debris flow deposit (288), rock fall deposit (31), stream bank erosion (45), and other sediment source areas which need field survey to be properly classified (59). The analysis allowed_ (1) obtaining reliable and detailed pre- and post- event sediment sources inventories, (2) assessing sediment connectivity at the catchment scale, which is fundamental for estimating the contribution of sediment sources and related transfer paths, (3) improving sediment dynamics understanding related to the Vaia storm in the study area. Future analysis will focus on field validation and residual sediment availability for the investigated areas. This study was carried out in the frame of the Interreg V-A Italy - Austria SedInOut project.
Impact of a volcanic eruption on the sediment connectivity of a Chilean river basin_ the Calbuco study case
Andreoli M., Martini L., Cavalli M., Iroumé A., Picco L., 2021, Impact of a volcanic eruption on the sediment connectivity of a Chilean river basin_ the Calbuco study case,
EGU General Assembly 2021, da remoto, 19-30/04/2021,
Abstract
Volcanic eruptions are natural disturbances capable of introducing large quantities of sediment
into river systems as ...
Volcanic eruptions are natural disturbances capable of introducing large quantities of sediment
into river systems as to upset the transport regime for several years. Such a disturbance can have
a strong impact on the water and sediment flows and consequently on the transport capacity.
Moreover, changes in morphological settings and land cover lead to an alteration of the sediment
connectivity within the catchment. This study aims to investigate the changes of sediment
connectivity in a catchment affected by an explosive volcanic eruption using the Index of
Connectivity (IC) with a multi-temporal approach. Potential variations were analyzed at the
catchment scale over a period of 6 years, before and after the eruption. The study area, located in
southern Chile, is the Blanco Este River basin (39,6 km²), affected by the eruption of the Calbuco
volcano (April 2015, total volume of sediment expelled of about 0,28 km³) which profoundly
changed its vegetation cover, geomorphology and hydrology. IC analyses were based on lowresolution
and freely available data (i.e., GDEM, Landsat 8 satellite images). Through supervised
image classification and field data survey, a Manning's n coefficient for overland flow is derived as
weighting factor (W) due to its suitability to represent the impedance to sediment flows in
catchments characterized by land cover variations. Following the eruption, bare soil cover on the
basin doubled (from 5% to 10% of total basin area). Consequently, the multi-temporal analysis
results in an overall increase of IC with the median value ranges from -3,58 to -3,26 in pre-eruptive
(2015) and first post-eruptive scenario (2016), respectively. The connectivity maps show that the
higher IC values (i.e. range from -1,23 to 1,66) are persistently located in three areas_ at the base of
the volcanic dome, on the steepest slopes near the main channel and in a sub-basin on the right
side of the catchment. Moreover, the Difference of IC (DoIC) among different scenarios highlighted
the major variations. Such changes are found along the volcano slopes, in a flat area located in the
upper part of the basin and along the lower valley of the Rio Blanco Este. The study proposes a
useful methodology to evaluate the sediment connectivity, and its evolutionary trends, in
environments affected volcanic eruptions starting from low-resolution data and field survey. These
results may help to better define types, location and typologies of interventions to improve the
river management approaches, considering the ongoing cascading processes. This research is
funded by the Fondecyt 1200079 project.
Unravelling sediment connectivity during an extreme event in an Alpine catchment
Scorpio V., Cavalli M., Comiti F., Steger S., 2021, Unravelling sediment connectivity during an extreme event in an Alpine catchment,
EGU General Assembly 2021, da remoto, 19-30/04/2021,
Abstract
This work presents the results of the basin-scale analysis of sediment connectivity between hillslopes and ...
This work presents the results of the basin-scale analysis of sediment connectivity between hillslopes and the main channel during an extreme event in a mountain catchment. The Stolla basin (South Tyrol, Italy) was affected by a high-magnitude event in August 2017, during which the channel experienced widening and bed level changes and more than 600 debris flows, and landslides occurred in the basin.
Hillslope and channel processes were mapped and characterized by using geomorphological analysis of orthophotos and pre- and post-event Digital Terrain Models (DTMs). Mass wasting process connectivity was derived by combining field survey evidence and GIS analysis. The coupling between the debris flows and landslides and the main channel was also evaluated by applying the Index of sediment connectivity (IC) by Cavalli et al. (2013). Binary logistic regression and the receiver operating characteristic curve was used to define thresholds that allow to discriminate connected from disconnected debris flows and landslides, based on IC values with respect to the main channel of the Stolla stream.
First results indicate that the Stolla's post-event channel width was up to five times the pre-event width. Channel widening occurred mainly through bank erosions, removals of riparian vegetation and over bank depositions. Widening appeared to be accompanied by channel bed aggradation up to 1 m or incision up to -2 m. Depending on the morphological characteristics of the channel and of the valley, sediments were eroded from the banks, from the bed or were delivered by connected debris flows, landslides, and toe erosion processes. Statistical analyses indicate a high efficiency of the logistic regression model and the associated threshold to separate connected from disconnected debris flows and landslides using the IC as a predictor variable.
Unraveling the relationship between geomorphodiversity and sediment connectivity in a small alpine catchment
Bollati I.M.; Cavalli M., 2021, Unraveling the relationship between geomorphodiversity and sediment connectivity in a small alpine catchment,
Transactions in GIS (Print) (2021). doi_10.1111/tgis.12793,
DOI: 10.1111%2Ftgis.12793
Abstract
Mountain regions are characterized by a spatial geomorphic heterogeneity that confers on the environment a ...
Mountain regions are characterized by a spatial geomorphic heterogeneity that confers on the environment a significant geomorphodiversity. A methodology based on a different scale/spatial/resolution approach is proposed to evaluate the relationship existing among geomorphodiversity, geomorphological processes. and sediment connectivity. Starting from the geomorphological mapping of the Veglia Devero Natural Park (Lepontine Alps), indexes of fragmentation (IFrm) and geomorphodiversity (IGmf) were computed. The results were used to select a meaningful sub-area (Buscagna stream catchment) for calculating the index of connectivity (IC). The relationships among these three indexes are discussed, using a semi-quantitative approach including descriptive statistics (i.e., box plot) and analysis of the different geomorphoconnectivity sectors, testifying to the role of geomorphic processes in regulating sediment fluxes and, consequently, controlling landscape units. IGmf turned out to be more conservative than IFrm and more management-oriented for protected areas, while IC was confirmed to be particularly suitable to characterize connectivity in small mountain catchments featuring different geomorphic processes and a complex topography. This study suggests that coupling the sediment connectivity with the geomorphology and geomorphodiversity of a given area represents a quite novel approach that could be usefully applied in the framework of protected areas to investigate also biodiversity patterns and consequently environmental evolution in space and time.
Inseguendo i ghiacciai
Smiraglia C. (1), Mortara G. (2), 2021, Inseguendo i ghiacciai,
Montagne 360 104 (2021): 46–47.,
Abstract
Un progetto di collaborazione fra il Club alpino italiano e il Comitato glaciologico italiano per ...
Un progetto di collaborazione fra il Club alpino italiano e il Comitato glaciologico italiano per la valorizzazione dei segnali di misura alla fronte dei ghiacciai
Definition of an Operative Methodology for the Management of Rockfalls along with the Road Network
Daniele Giordan, Martina Cignetti, Danilo Godone, Davide Bertolo, Marco Paganone, 2021, Definition of an Operative Methodology for the Management of Rockfalls along with the Road Network,
Sustainability (Basel) (2021). doi_10.3390/su13147669,
DOI: 10.3390%2Fsu13147669
Abstract
Rockfalls are widespread events in mountain areas worldwide. The management of this process can be ...
Rockfalls are widespread events in mountain areas worldwide. The management of this process can be done using different approaches. In this paper, we want to analyze the procedure that can be adopted to manage a rockfall event considering the safety of infrastructure and settlements. Focusing on an Alpine region highly affected by rockfalls like the Aosta Valley Region (north-western Italy), we implemented a dedicated procedure for the road network emergency management. This procedure can be activated immediately after a rockfall, and it aims to identify the effect of the collapse, define the danger zone, plan the recovery project and propose temporary solutions for correct residual risk management until the end of the remedial works. In natural hazards, the lack of codified methods can create critical conditions and increase the responsibility of the single operators, who have to effectively manage a critical situation in a limited amount of time without a well-defined procedure. For this reason, the proposed method aims to be a first example of how a correct codification can be used for more sustainable management of this widespread phenomenon.
Opening Marine Long-Term Ecological Science_ Lesson Learned From the LTER-Italy Site Northern Adriatic Sea
Minelli A, Sarretta A, Oggioni A, Bergami C, Bastianini M, Bernardi Aubry F, Camatti E and Pugnetti A, 2021, Opening Marine Long-Term Ecological Science_ Lesson Learned From the LTER-Italy Site Northern Adriatic Sea,
Frontiers in Marine Science 8 (2021). doi_10.3389/fmars.2021.659522,
DOI: 10.3389%2Ffmars.2021.659522
Abstract
This work presents a practical case study of the Open Science principles applied to the ...
This work presents a practical case study of the Open Science principles applied to the valorization of a long-term marine dataset collected in the Northern Adriatic Sea, one of the Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) sites of the LTER-Italy network. The dataset covers a temporal range of 50 years (1965-2015), and it is composed of abiotic, and phyto- and zooplankton data, for a total of 21 parameters. The case study involved many actions, which will be described here, distinguishing between the ones affecting the whole research project workflow and those acting more specifically on the dataset. We evaluate strengths, weaknesses, and possible improvements for each action. The present study pointed out that, despite the initial and still some remaining mistrust, opening research projects is more than a best practice. It is (i) important because it improves research transparency (increasing researchers' credibility, replicability of science, and products reuse), (ii) required by many international initiatives and regulations, and (iii) enriching because it encourages cooperation between scientists across different fields and laboratories.
Assessing two methods to define rainfall intensity and duration thresholds for shallow landslides in data-scarce catchments of the Colombian Andean Mountains
Roberto J. Marin(a,b), María Fernanda Velásquez (a,b), Edwin F. García (b), Massimiliano Alvioli (c), Edier Aristizábal (d), 2021, Assessing two methods to define rainfall intensity and duration thresholds for shallow landslides in data-scarce catchments of the Colombian Andean Mountains,
Catena (Cremling.) 206 (2021): 105563. doi_10.1016/j.catena.2021.105563,
DOI: 10.1016%2Fj.catena.2021.105563
Abstract
Rainfall thresholds are intensity-duration relations supposedly able to distinguish precipitation events that may or may ...
Rainfall thresholds are intensity-duration relations supposedly able to distinguish precipitation events that may or may not trigger landslides. The most common method for defining rainfall thresholds relies on observed landslides and the corresponding values of rainfall intensity and duration that caused each failure. Alternative methods to define rainfall thresholds, using physically-based models, recently gained importance, as they may provide complementary information to other methods. Still, their applicability in most of the world's regions, including the Colombian Andes' mountainous basins, has not been demonstrated or validated. In this study, we evaluated the applicability of the physically-based model TRIGRS to define rainfall intensity and duration thresholds in individual basins from the Colombian Andes. We obtained rainfall thresholds using two different methods and compared them with landslide-triggering rainfall events in two distinct basins, namely La Arenosa and La Liboriana. Furthermore, we used a (presumably incomplete) landslide database from Medellín to rebuild the rainfall events associated with individual landslides and compared them with the physically-based thresholds. The rainfall thresholds calculated in the three study areas and the applicability of the methods in data-scarce environments were assessed. Results showed that both methods for defining rainfall intensity and duration thresholds have merits and represent potential tools to improve or complement landslide early warning systems, especially in data-scarce regions.
Satellite rainfall products outperform ground observations for landslide prediction in India
Maria Teresa Brunetti1, Massimo Melillo1, Stefano Luigi Gariano1, Luca Ciabatta1, Luca Brocca1, Giriraj Amarnath2, and Silvia Peruccacci1, 2021, Satellite rainfall products outperform ground observations for landslide prediction in India,
Hydrology and earth system sciences 25 (2021): 3267–3279. doi_10.5194/hess-25-3267-2021,
DOI: 10.5194%2Fhess-25-3267-2021
Abstract
Landslides are among the most dangerous natural hazards, particularly in developing countries, where ground observations ...
Landslides are among the most dangerous natural hazards, particularly in developing countries, where ground observations for operative early warning systems are lacking. In these areas, remote sensing can represent an important detection and monitoring process to predict landslide occurrence in space and time, particularly satellite rainfall products that have improved in terms of accuracy and resolution in recent times. Surprisingly, only a few studies have investigated the capability and effectiveness of these products in landslide prediction in reducing the impact of this hazard on the population.
We have performed a comparative study of ground- and satellite-based rainfall products for landslide prediction in India by using empirical rainfall thresholds derived from the analysis of historical landslide events. Specifically, we have tested Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) and SM2RAIN-ASCAT satellite rainfall products, and their merging, at daily and hourly temporal resolution, and Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) daily rain gauge observations. A catalogue of 197 rainfall-induced landslides that occurred throughout India in the 13-year period between April 2007 and October 2019 has been used.
Results indicate that satellite rainfall products outperform ground observations thanks to their better spatial (0.1? vs. 0.25?) and temporal (hourly vs. daily) resolutions. The better performance is obtained through the merged GPM and SM2RAIN-ASCAT products, even though improvements in reproducing the daily rainfall (e.g. overestimation of the number of rainy days) are likely needed. These findings open a new avenue for using such satellite products in landslide early warning systems, particularly in poorly gauged areas.
Data from https://intranet.cnr.it/people/
