Christian MASSARI

Research personnel
Senior Researcher
+39 075 5014405
+39 075 5014420
christian.massari (at) irpi.cnr.it
Via della Madonna Alta, 126 06128, Perugia
Perugia


hydrology

  1. Dari, J., Morbidelli, R., Saltalippi, C., Massari, C., & Brocca, L. (2019). Spatial-temporal variability of soil moisture: addressing the monitoring at the catchment scale. Journal of Hydrology. (in press). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2019.01.014
  2. Jalilvand, E., Tajrishy, M., Brocca, L., Massari, C., Hashemi, S. G. Z., & Ciabatta, L. (2018). Estimating the drainage rate from surface soil moisture drydowns: Application of DfD model to in situ soil moisture data. Journal of Hydrology, 565, 489-501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.08.035
  3. Bauer-Marschallinger, B., Paulik, C., Hochstöger, S., Mistelbauer, T., Modanesi, S., Ciabatta, L., Massari, C., Brocca, L., Wagner, W. (2018). Soil moisture from fusion of scatterometer and SAR: closing the scale gap with temporal filtering. Remote Sensing, 10(7), 1030. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10071030.
  4. Bauer-Marschallinger, B., Naeimi, F., Cao, S., Paulik, C., Schaufler, S., Stachl, T., Modanesi, S., Ciabatta, L., Massari, C., Brocca, L., Wagner, W. (2018). Towards global soil moisture monitoring with Sentinel-1: harnessing assets and overcoming obstacles. IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, in press, https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2018.2858004.
  5. Camici, S., Ciabatta, L., Massari, C., Brocca, L. (2018). How reliable are satellite precipitation estimates for driving hydrological models: a verification study over the Mediterranean area. Journal of Hydrology, 563, 950-961, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.06.067.
  6. Chiaravalloti, F., Brocca, L., Procopio, A., Massari, C., Gabriele, S. (2018). Assessment of GPM and SM2RAIN-ASCAT rainfall products over complex terrain in southern Italy. Atmospheric Research, 206, 64-74, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosres.2018.02.019.
  7. Ciabatta, L., Massari, C., Brocca, L., Gruber, A., Reimer, C., Hahn, S., Paulik, C., Dorigo, W., Kidd, R., Wagner, W. (2018). SM2RAIN-CCI: a new global long-term rainfall data set derived from ESA CCI soil moisture. Earth System Science Data, 10, 267-280. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-267-2018.
  8. Jalilvand, E., Tajrishy, M., Brocca, L., Massari, C., Hashemi, S.A.G., Ciabatta, L. (2018). Estimating the drainage rate from surface soil moisture drydowns: application of DfD model to in situ soil moisture data. Journal of Hydrology, 565, 489-501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.08.035.
  9. Maggioni, V., & Massari, C. (2018). On the performance of satellite precipitation products in riverine flood modeling: A review. Journal of Hydrology, 558, 214-224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.01.039
  10. Loizu, J., Massari, C., Álvarez-Mozos, J., Tarpanelli, A., Brocca, L., Casalí, J. (2018). On the assimilation set-up of ASCAT soil moisture data for improving streamflow catchment simulation. Advances in Water Resources, 111, 86-104, doi: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.10.034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.10.034.
  11. Massari, C., Camici, S., Ciabatta, L., Brocca, L. (2018). Exploiting satellite-based surface soil moisture for flood forecasting in the Mediterranean area: state update versus rainfall correction. Remote Sensing, 10(2), 292, doi: 10.3390/rs10020292. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10020292.
  12. Ciabatta, L., Massari, C., Brocca, L., Gruber, A., Reimer, C., Hahn, S., Paulik, C., Dorigo, W., Kidd, R., Wagner, W. (2018). SM2RAIN-CCI: a new global long-term rainfall data set derived from ESA CCI soil moisture. Earth System Science Data, http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/essd-2017-86.
  13. Brocca, L., Crow, W.T., Ciabatta, L., Massari, C., de Rosnay, P., Enenkel, M., Hahn, S., Amarnath, G., Camici, S., Tarpanelli, A., Wagner, W. (2017). A review of the applications of ASCAT soil moisture products. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 10(5), 2285-2306, doi:10.1109/JSTARS.2017.2651140. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2017.265114
  14. Brocca, L., Ciabatta, L., Massari, C., Camici, S., Tarpanelli, A. (2017). Soil moisture for hydrological applications: open questions and new opportunities. Water, 9(2), 140, doi:10.3390/w9020140. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w9020140
  15. Ciabatta, L., Marra, A.C., Panegrossi, G., Casella, D., Sanò, P., Dietrich, S., Massari, C., Brocca, L. (2017). Daily precipitation estimation through different microwave sensors: verification study over Italy. Journal of Hydrology, 545, 436-450, doi: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.12.057. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2016.12.057
  16. Massari, C., Crow, W., Brocca, L. (2017). An assessment of the accuracy of global rainfall estimates without ground-based observations. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 21, 4347-4361, doi:10.5194/hess-21-4347-2017. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-4347-2017
  17. Massari, C., Su, C.-H., Brocca, L., Sang, Y.F., Ciabatta, L., Ryu, D., Wagner, W. (2017). Near real time de-noising of satellite-based soil moisture retrievals : An intercomparison among three different techniques. Remote Sensing of Environment., 198, 17-29, doi:10.1016/j.rse.2017.05.037. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2017.05.037
  18. Masseroni, D., Cislaghi, A., Camici, S., Massari, C., Brocca, L. (2017). A reliable rainfall-runoff model for flood forecasting: review and application to a semiurbanized watershed at high flood risk in Italy. Hydrology Research, 48(3), 726-740, doi:10.2166/nh.2016.037. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/nh.2016.037
  19. Román-Cascón, C., Pellarin, T., Gibon, F., Brocca, L., Cosme, E., Crow, W., Fernández, D., Kerr, Y., Massari, C. (2017). Correcting satellite-based precipitation products through SMOS soil moisture data assimilation in two land-surface models of different complexity: API and SURFEX. Remote Sensing of Environment, 200, 295-310, doi:10.1016/j.rse.2017.08.022. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2017.08.022.
  20. Tarpanelli, A., Amarnath, G., Brocca, L., Massari, C., Moramarco, T. (2017). Discharge estimation and forecasting by MODIS and altimetry data in Niger-Benue River. Remote Sensing of Environment, 195, 96-106, doi:10.1016/j.rse.2017.04.015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2017.04.015
  21. Tarpanelli, A., Massari, C., Ciabatta, L., Filippucci, P., Amarnath, G., Brocca, L. (2017). Exploiting a constellation of satellite soil moisture sensors for accurate rainfall estimation. Advances in Water Resources, 108, 249-255, doi: 10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.08.010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2017.08.010.
  22. Brocca, L., Pellarin, T., Crow, W.T., Ciabatta, L., Massari, C., Ryu, D., Su, C.-H., Rudiger, C., Kerr, Y. (2016). Rainfall estimation by inverting SMOS soil moisture estimates: a comparison of different methods over Australia. Journal of Geophysical Research, 121(20), 12062-12079, doi:10.1002/2016JD025382. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2016JD025382
  23. Brocca, L., Massari, C., Ciabatta, L., Wagner, W., Stoffelen, A. (2016). Remote sensing of terrestrial rainfall from Ku-band scatterometers. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Applied Earth Observations and Remote Sensing, 9(1), 533-539, doi:10.1109/JSTARS.2015.2508065. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2015.2508065 -: CLEANED :-
  24. Ciabatta, L., Brocca, L., Massari, C., Moramarco, T., Gabellani, S., Puca, S., Wagner, W. (2016). Rainfall-runoff modelling by using SM2RAIN-derived and state-of-the-art satellite rainfall products over Italy. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 48, 163-173, doi:10.1016/j.jag.2015.10.004.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2015.10.004
  25. Masseroni, D., Cislaghi, A., Camici, S., Massari, C.,Brocca, L. (2016). A reliable rainfall- runoff model for flood forecasting: review and application to a semiurbanized watershed at high flood risk in Italy. Hydrology Research, in press, doi:10.2166/nh.2016.037.  http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/nh.2016.037
  26. Brocca, L., Massari, C., Ciabatta, L., Moramarco, T., Penna, D., Zuecco, G., Pianezzola, L., Borga, M., Matgen, P., Martínez-Fernández, J. (2015). Rainfall estimation from in situ soil moisture observations at several sites in Europe: an evaluation of SM2RAIN algorithm. Journal of Hydrology and Hydromechanics, 63(3), 201-209, doi:10.1515/johh-2015-0016.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/johh-2015-0016
  27. Ciabatta, L., Brocca, L., Massari, C., Moramarco, T., Puca, S., Rinollo, A., Gabellani, S., Wagner, W. (2015). Integration of satellite soil moisture and rainfall observations over the Italian territory. Journal of Hydrometeorology, 16(3), 1341-1355, doi:10.1175/JHM-D-14- 0108.1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1175/JHM-D-14-0108.1
  28. Massari, C., Brocca, L., Ciabatta, L., Moramarco, T., Gabellani, S., Albergel, C., de Rosnay, P., Puca, S., Wagner, W. (2015). The use of H-SAF soil moisture products for operational hydrology: flood modelling over Italy. Hydrology, 2(1), 2-22, doi:10.3390/hydrology2010002. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/hydrology2010002
  29. Massari, C., Brocca, L., Tarpanelli, A., Moramarco, T. (2015). Data assimilation of satellite soil moisture into rainfall-runoff modelling: a complex recipe? Remote Sensing, 7(9),

    11403-11433, doi:10.3390/rs70911403. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/rs70911403

  30. Massari, C., Yeh, T. C. J., Ferrante, M., Brunone, B., and Meniconi, S. (2015). A stochastic approach for extended partial blockage detection in viscoelastic pipelines: numerical and laboratory experiments. Journal of Water Supply: Research and Technology - AQUA, 64 (5), pp. 583-595, http://dx.doi:10.2166/aqua.2015.034
  31. Brocca, L., Ciabatta, L., Massari, C., Moramarco, T., Hahn, S., Hasenauer, S., Kidd,

    R., Dorigo, W., Wagner, W., Levizzani, V. (2014). Soil as a natural rain gauge: estimating global rainfall from satellite soil moisture data. Journal of Geophysical Research, 119(9), 5128-5141, doi:10.1002/2014JD021489. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2014JD021489

  32. Massari, C., Brocca, L., Barbetta, S., Papathanasiou, C., Mimikou, M., Moramarco, T. (2014). Using globally available soil moisture indicators for flood modelling in Mediterranean catchments. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences, 18, 839-853, doi:10.5194/hess-18-839-2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-839-2014
  33. Massari, C., Brocca, L., Moramarco, T., Tramblay, Y., Didon Lescot, J.-F. (2014). Potential of soil moisture observations in flood modelling: estimating initial conditions and correcting rainfall. Advances in Water Resources, 74, 44-53, doi:10.1016/j.advwatres.2014.08.004.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2014.08.004
  34. Ferrante, M., Brunone, B., Meniconi, S., Karney, B. W., Massari, C. (2014). Leak size, detectability and test conditions in pressurized pipe systems. Water Resources Management, 28(13), 4583-4598. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11269-014-0752-6
  35. Meniconi, S., Brunone, B., Ferrante, M., and Massari, C. (2014). Energy dissipation and pressure decay during transients in viscoelastic pipes with an in-line valve. Journal of Fluids and Structures, 45, 235-249. doi: 10.1016/j.jfluidstructs.2013.12.013.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jfluidstructs.2013.12.013
  36. Massari, C., Yeh, T. C., Ferrante, M., Brunone, B., & Meniconi, S. (2014). A stochastic tool for determining the presence of partial blockages in viscoelastic pipelines: first experimental results. Procedia Engineering, 70, 1112-1120.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2014.02.123
  37. Ferrante, M., Brunone, B., Meniconi, S., Capponi, C., & Massari, C. (2014). The leak law: From local to global scale. Procedia Engineering, 70, 651-659.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2014.02.071
  38. Brunone, B., Ferrante, M., Meniconi, S., Massari, C. (2013). Effectiveness assessment of pipe systems by means of transient test-based techniques. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 19, 814-822. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.proenv.2013.06.090
  39. Massari, C., Yeh, T. C. J., Brunone, B., Ferrante, M., Meniconi, S. (2013). Diagnosis of pipe systems by means of a stochastic successive linear estimator. Water resources management, 27(13), 4637-4654. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11269-013-0433-x
  40. Massari, C., Yeh, T. C. J., Ferrante, M., Brunone, B., Meniconi, S. (2013). Diagnosis of pipe systems by the SLE: first results. Water Science & Technology: Water Supply, 13(4), 958-965. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/ws.2013.051
  41. Meniconi, S., Brunone, B., Ferrante, M., Massari, C. (2013). Numerical and experimental investigation of leaks in viscoelastic pressurized pipe flow. Drinking Water Engineering and Science, 6(1), 11-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/dwes-6-11-2013
  42. Massari, C., Yeh, T. C. J., Ferrante, M., Brunone, B., Meniconi, S. (2013). Detection and sizing of extended partial blockages in pipelines by means of a stochastic successive linear estimator. Journal of Hydroinformatics. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/hydro.2013.172
  43. Ferrante, M., Massari, C., Brunone, B., Meniconi, S. (2013). Leak behaviour in pressurized PVC pipes. Water Science & Technology: Water Supply, 13(4), 987-992,  http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2012.696558
  44. Ferrante, M., Massari, C., Todini, E., Brunone, B., Meniconi, S. (2012). Experimental investigation of leak hydraulics. Journal of Hydroinformatics 15(3) 666-675.  http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/hydro.2012.034
  45. Meniconi, S., Brunone, B., Ferrante, M., Massari, C. (2013). Numerical and experimental investigation of leaks in viscoelastic pressurized pipe flow. Drinking Water Engineering and Science, 6(1), 11-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/dwes-6-11-2013
  46. Massari, C., Ferrante, M., Brunone, B., Meniconi, S. (2012). Is the leak head–discharge relationship in polyethylene pipes a bijective function?. Journal of Hydraulic Research, 50(4), 409-417. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00221686.2012.696558
  47. Meniconi, S., Brunone, B., Ferrante, M., Massari, C. (2012). Transient hydrodynamics of in-line valves in viscoelastic pressurized pipes: long-period analysis. Experiments in fluids, 53(1), 265-275. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00348-012-1287-3
  48. Ferrante, M., Todini, E., Massari, C., Brunone, B., Meniconi, S. (2012). Equivalent hydraulic resistance to simulate pipes subject to diffuse outflows. Journal of Hydroinformatics, 14(1), 65-74. http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/hydro.2011.043
  49. Meniconi, S., Brunone, B., Ferrante, M., Massari, C. (2011). Transient tests for locating and sizing illegal branches in pipe systems. Journal of Hydroinformatics, 13(3), 334-345.  http://dx.doi.org/10.2166/hydro.2011.012
  50. Meniconi, S., Brunone, B., Ferrante, M., Massari, C. (2011). Small amplitude sharp pressure waves to diagnose pipe systems. Water resources management, 25(1), 79-96.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11269-010-9688-7
  51. Ferrante, M., Massari, C., Brunone, B., & Meniconi, S. (2011). Experimental evidence of hysteresis in the head-discharge relationship for a leak in a polyethylene pipe. Journal of Hydraulic Engineering 137 (7), pp. 775-780. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)HY.1943-790
  52. Meniconi, S., Brunone, B., Ferrante, M., Massari, C. (2011). Potential of transient tests to diagnose real supply pipe systems: What can be done with a single extemporary test. Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management, 137(2), 238-241. http://dx.doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000098

Since 2008, Christian Massari has been conducting research in the field of hydraulic and hydrology focussing on topics that span from water resource management to flood forecasting, drought monitoring and remote sensing. He has developed works in these areas producing +50 contributions in peer reviewed hydrologic and hydraulic journals. His research interests include:

 

  • Hydrological and land surface water balance modeling.
  • Development of land data assimilation systems to ingest remote sensing retrievals.
  • Microwave and radar remote sensing of soil moisture and precipitation
  • supply pipe system diagnosis for the reduction of energy and water waste
  • Floods and drought hazards assessment through remote sensing information

Academic Record

Christian Massari was born in Cascia (Perugia), Italy, in 1981. He received the M.S. degree in environmental engineering and the Ph.D. degree in hydraulic engineering, both with excellence, from the University of Perugia (Perugia), Italy, in 2008 and 2012, respectively. In support of his Ph.D. he received fellowships to carry out research at The Department of Hydrology and Water Resources of the University of Arizona, Tucson (United States), where he has worked in the field of hydraulic groundwater and Hydraulic Tomographic techniques in the research group of Professor Jim Yeh. From November 2011 to February 2013 Christian Massari has been research fellow at the “Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile ed Ambientale” of the University of Perugia - Italy, where he has worked in the development of data fusion techniques for the diagnosis of pressurized pipe systems in the research group of Professor Bruno Brunone. From March 2013 to December 2016 he carried out research activities as a postdoctoral researcher at the Research Institute of Geo-Hydrological Protection (IRPI) of the National Research Council (CNR) of Perugia (Italy). In December 2016 Christian Massari won the public competition for the research permanent position (he classified first out of about 350 participants) at CNR-IRPI where he currently works.