Local and regional scale biodiversity patterns of forest snail assemblages in Tuscany (central Italy)

This work describes a new procedure aimed to semi-automatically identify clusters of active persistent scatterers and preliminarily associate them with different potential types of deformational processes over wide areas. This procedure consists of three main modules: (i) ADAfinder, aimed at the detection of Active Deformation Areas (ADA) using Persistent Scatterer Interferometry (PSI) data; (ii) LOS2HV, focused on the decomposition of Line Of Sight (LOS) displacements from ascending and descending PSI datasets into vertical and east-west components; iii) ADAclassifier, that semi-automatically categorizes each ADA into potential deformational processes using the outputs derived from (i) and (ii), as well as ancillary external information. The proposed procedure enables infrastructures management authorities to identify, classify, monitor and categorize the most critical deformations measured by PSI techniques in order to provide the capacity for implementing prevention and mitigation actions over wide areas against geological threats. Zeri, Campiglia Marittima–Suvereto and Abbadia San Salvatore (Tuscany, central Italy) are used as case studies for illustrating the developed methodology. Three PSI datasets derived from the Sentinel-1 constellation have been used, jointly with the geological map of Italy (scale 1:50,000), the updated Italian landslide and land subsidence maps (scale 1:25,000), a 25 m grid Digital Elevation Model, and a cadastral vector map (scale 1:5,000). The application to these cases of the proposed workflow demonstrates its capability to quickly process wide areas in very short times and a high compatibility with Geographical Information System (GIS) environments for data visualization and representation. The derived products are of key interest for infrastructures and land management as well as decision-making at a regional scale.

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Reviewing an eco-biogeographic question at regional scale: the unexpected absence of a ubiquitous mammal species (Microtus savii, Rodentia) in coastal Southern Tuscany (central Italy)

RENDICONTI LINCEI ◽

10.1007/s12210-019-00843-3 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 715-722 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Corrado Battisti ◽

Giuseppe Dodaro ◽

Ermellina Di Bagno ◽

Giovanni Amori

Keyword(s):

Regional Scale ◽

Central Italy ◽

Mammal Species ◽

Microtus Savii

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Regional wave propagation using the discontinuous Galerkin method

Solid Earth ◽

10.5194/se-4-43-2013 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 43-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

S. Wenk ◽

C. Pelties ◽

H. Igel ◽

M. Käser

Keyword(s):

Wave Propagation ◽

Discontinuous Galerkin ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Central Italy ◽

High Order ◽

Integration Scheme ◽

Computational Domain ◽

Dislocation Source ◽

High Order Derivative ◽

Dg Method

Abstract. We present an application of the discontinuous Galerkin (DG) method to regional wave propagation. The method makes use of unstructured tetrahedral meshes, combined with a time integration scheme solving the arbitrary high-order derivative (ADER) Riemann problem. This ADER-DG method is high-order accurate in space and time, beneficial for reliable simulations of high-frequency wavefields over long propagation distances. Due to the ease with which tetrahedral grids can be adapted to complex geometries, undulating topography of the Earth's surface and interior interfaces can be readily implemented in the computational domain. The ADER-DG method is benchmarked for the accurate radiation of elastic waves excited by an explosive and a shear dislocation source. We compare real data measurements with synthetics of the 2009 L'Aquila event (central Italy). We take advantage of the geometrical flexibility of the approach to generate a European model composed of the 3-D EPcrust model, combined with the depth-dependent ak135 velocity model in the upper mantle. The results confirm the applicability of the ADER-DG method for regional scale earthquake simulations, which provides an alternative to existing methodologies.

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A meteorological–hydrological regional ensemble forecast for an early-warning system over small Apennine catchments in Central Italy

Hydrology and Earth System Sciences ◽

10.5194/hess-24-3135-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 24 (6) ◽

pp. 3135-3156

Author(s):

Rossella Ferretti ◽

Annalina Lombardi ◽

Barbara Tomassetti ◽

Lorenzo Sangelantoni ◽

Valentina Colaiuda ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Central Italy ◽

Warning System ◽

Radar Data ◽

Rain Gauge ◽

Ensemble Forecast ◽

Precipitation Forecast ◽

Statistical Indicator ◽

Abruzzo Region

Abstract. The weather forecasts for precipitation have considerably improved in recent years thanks to the increase of computational power. This allows for the use of both a higher spatial resolution and the parameterization schemes specifically developed for representing sub-grid scale physical processes at high resolution. However, precipitation estimation is still affected by errors that can impact the response of hydrological models. To the aim of improving the hydrological forecast and the characterization of related uncertainties, a regional-scale meteorological–hydrological ensemble is presented. The uncertainties in the precipitation forecast and how they propagate in the hydrological model are also investigated. A meteorological–hydrological offline coupled ensemble is built to forecast events in a complex-orography terrain where catchments of different sizes are present. The Best Discharge-based Drainage (BDD; both deterministic and probabilistic) index, is defined with the aim of forecasting hydrological-stress conditions and related uncertainty. In this context, the meteorological–hydrological ensemble forecast is implemented and tested for a severe hydrological event which occurred over Central Italy on 15 November 2017, when a flood hit the Abruzzo region with precipitation reaching 200 mm (24 h)−1 and producing damages with a high impact on social and economic activities. The newly developed meteorological–hydrological ensemble is compared with a high-resolution deterministic forecast and with the observations (rain gauges and radar data) over the same area. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) statistical indicator shows how skilful the ensemble precipitation forecast is with respect to both rain-gauge- and radar-retrieved precipitation. Moreover, both the deterministic and probabilistic configurations of the BDD index are compared with the alert map issued by Civil Protection Department for the event showing a very good agreement. Finally, the meteorological–hydrological ensemble allows for an estimation of both the predictability of the event a few days in advance and the uncertainty of the flood. Although the modelling framework is implemented on the basins of the Abruzzo region, it is portable and applicable to other areas.

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Sustainable yield of the Colle Quartara carbonate aquifer in the Southern Lepini Mountains (Central Italy)

Acque Sotterranee-Italian Journal of Groundwater ◽

10.7343/as-2016-205 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Giovanni Conte ◽

Pio Di Manna ◽

Rossella Maria Gafà ◽

Lucio Martarelli ◽

Gennaro Maria Monti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Numerical Model ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Central Italy ◽

Pumping Test ◽

Tectonic Activity ◽

Spring Discharge ◽

Carbonate Aquifer ◽

First Results ◽

Result Interpretation ◽

Groundwater Body

The present research is aimed to contribute to the groundwater resource sustainable management of a carbonate aquifer in a test area of the Lepini Mountains (Central Italy). This aquifer constitutes a major exploited groundwater body of central Apennines. At regional scale, the hydrogeological features of the Lepini hydrostructure are well known. The present study focuses on a portion of the Lepini Mountains where important tapping-works for drinking water supply are in activity (about 1.2 m3/s). New investigations were carried out including: meteo-climatic analysis, spring discharge and hydrometric time series processing, pumping test result interpretation. In addition, a detailed lithostratigraphical and structural survey of a portion of the Lepini hydrostructure at 1:10,000 scale was performed also examining the dense network of discontinuities affecting the carbonate aquifer. Extensional Plio-Pleistocene tectonic activity displaced the carbonate rock sequence under the Pontina Plain, where the carbonate aquifer is confined. The investigation results have allowed the reconstruction of the hydrogeological conceptual model of the studied portion of carbonate massif. Given the scale of the study and the results of the investigation, the carbonate aquifer can be treated as an equivalent porous medium, and the simplified numerical model of the aquifer was constructed with the code MODFLOW-2005. The numerical model, still now under continuous implementation, produced first results on the current withdrawal sustainability, allowing evaluation of possible alternative exploitation scenarios of the carbonate aquifer also considering the probably not significant flow exchanges with the Pontina Plain aquifer.

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A Sentinel-1-based clustering analysis for geo-hazards mitigation at regional scale: a case study in Central Italy

Geomatics Natural Hazards and Risk ◽

10.1080/19475705.2019.1690058 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 2257-2275 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Roberto Montalti ◽

Lorenzo Solari ◽

Silvia Bianchini ◽

Matteo Del Soldato ◽

Federico Raspini ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clustering Analysis ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Central Italy

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Dynamical Downscaling in Seasonal Climate Forecasts: Comparison between RegCM- and WRF-Based Approaches

Atmosphere ◽

10.3390/atmos12060757 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 757

Author(s):

Lorenzo Sangelantoni ◽

Antonio Ricchi ◽

Rossella Ferretti ◽

Gianluca Redaelli

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Climate Models ◽

Dynamical Downscaling ◽

Regional Climate ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Central Italy ◽

Probabilistic Approach ◽

Regional Climate Models ◽

Added Value ◽

Temperature Fields

The purpose of the present study is to assess the large-scale signal modulation produced by two dynamically downscaled Seasonal Forecasting Systems (SFSs) and investigate if additional predictive skill can be achieved, compared to the driving global-scale Climate Forecast System (CFS). The two downscaled SFSs are evaluated and compared in terms of physical values and anomaly interannual variability. Downscaled SFSs consist of two two-step dynamical downscaled ensembles of NCEP-CFSv2 re-forecasts. In the first step, the CFS field is downscaled from 100 km to 60 km over Southern Europe (D01). The second downscaling, driven by the corresponding D01, is performed at 12 km over Central Italy (D02). Downscaling is performed using two different Regional Climate Models (RCMs): RegCM v.4 and WRF 3.9.1.1. SFS skills are assessed over a period of 21 winter seasons (1982–2002), by means of deterministic and probabilistic approach and with a metric specifically designed to isolate downscaling signal over different percentiles of distribution. Considering the temperature fields and both deterministic and probabilistic metrics, regional-scale SFSs consistently improve the original CFS Seasonal Anomaly Signal (SAS). For the precipitation, the added value of downscaled SFSs is mainly limited to the topography driven refinement of precipitation field, whereas the SAS is mainly “inherited” by the driving CFS. The regional-scale SFSs do not seem to benefit from the second downscaling (D01 to D02) in terms of SAS improvement. Finally, WRF and RegCM show substantial differences in both SAS and climatologically averaged fields, highlighting a different impact of the common SST driving field.

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Shallow landslides involving weathered and fractured bedrock: a comparative susceptibility analysis between deterministic and statistical models

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-18614 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Enrico D'Addario ◽

Leonardo Disperati ◽

José Luís Zêzere ◽

Raquel De Melo ◽

Sérgio Oliveira

Keyword(s):

Statistical Models ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Central Italy ◽

Shallow Landslide ◽

Geological Strength Index ◽

Predictive Capacity ◽

Predisposing Factor ◽

Fractured Bedrock ◽

Susceptibility Analysis ◽

Physically Based

Shallow landslide susceptibility modelling at regional scale may be performed using both a physically based and statistical approach. For the same area, these two approaches can have inconsistent results, mainly because the two methods are conceptually different. Physically based models are based on the infinite slope model and consists on the computation cell by cell of a safety factor comparing between driving and resisting forces. The assumption that landslides occur in slopes that are characterized by predisposing factors similar to those in which landslides have occurred in the past, is the concept behind the statistical models. The aim of this work is to compare the two approach and investigate the differences between the two models. The study area is located in northern Tuscany, central Italy, in which an extensive field survey highlighted that about 60% of landslides involve bedrock. For this reason, we developed a physically based susceptibility analysis taking into account both the surficial layer (slope deposit, SD) and the underlying layer (BR), characterized by weathered and fractured bedrock. This model is compared to the statistically based one, which take into account topographic and geologic predisposing factor as well as bedrock geo-mechanical properties, such Geological Strength Index (GSI), Schmidt hammer rebound values (Rv) and Joint density (Jv). The accuracy of the models is evaluated using a multi-temporal landslide inventory, in which involving bedrock landslides are distinct from slope deposits landslides. Within this general framework results are discussed regarding the model&#8217;s predictive capacity and spatial agreement.

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Lithological and structural control on the seismicity distribution in Central Italy

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-10607 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Massimiliano R. Barchi ◽

Lauro Chiaraluce ◽

Cristiano Collettini

Keyword(s):

Regional Scale ◽

Central Italy ◽

Shear Zones ◽

Geological Structure ◽

Rock Properties ◽

Mountain Range ◽

Upper Crust ◽

Seismogenic Layer ◽

Brittle Ductile Transition ◽

Seismicity Distribution

In the seismically active region of Central Italy, national (permanent) and local (not-permanent) seismic networks provided very accurate location of the seismicity recorded during the major seismic sequences occurred in the last 25 years (e.g. 1997-1998; 2009; 2016-2017), as well as of the background seismicity registered in the intervening periods.&#160; In the same region, a network of seismic reflection profiles, originally acquired for oil exploration purposes, is also available, effectively imaging the geological structure at depth, to be compared with the seismicity distribution.&#160;This comparison reveals that, if the position of the brittle/ductile transition exerts a role at regional scale for the occurrence of crustal seismicity, at a more local scale the depth and thickness of the seismogenic layer is mostly controlled by the contrasting rheological properties of the different lithological groups involved in the upper crust.&#160;The upper crust stratigraphy, including the sedimentary cover and the uppermost part of the basement, consists of alternated strong (rigid, e.g. carbonates and dolostones) end weak (not-rigid, e.g. shales, sandstones, and phyllites) layers. This mechanically complex multilayer is involved in a belt of imbricated thrusts (Late Miocene-Early Pliocene), displaced by subsequent extensional (normal) faults (Late Pliocene-present), responsible for the observed regional seismicity. The top of the basement s.l. (composed of clastic sedimentary and slightly metamorphosed rocks) is involved in major thrusts. &#160;For these different lithological units, combined field and lab studies of fault rock properties have documented localized and potentially unstable deformation occurring in granular mineral phases (carbonates) and distributed and stable slip within phyllosilicate-rich shear zones (shales and phyllites).By comparing the geological structure with the seismicity distribution, we observed that:-&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;The seismicity cut-off (i.e. the bottom of the seismogenic layer) is structurally (not thermally) controlled, and grossly corresponds to the top basement; the upper boundary of the seismogenic layer corresponds to the top of carbonates.-&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Most seismicity occurs within the rigid layers (carbonates and evaporites), and do not penetrate the turbidites and basements rocks.-&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Close to the axial region of the mountain range, where the larger amount of shortening is observed, the presence thrust sheets from the previous compressional phase, significantly affect the seismicity distribution and propagation.-&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;Major east-dipping extensional detachments, recognized in the seismic profiles, are also marked by distinctive seismicity alignments.

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Dissecting macroecological and macroevolutionary patterns of forest biodiversity across the Hawaiian archipelago

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1901954116 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 116 (33) ◽

pp. 16436-16441 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Dylan Craven ◽

Tiffany M. Knight ◽

Kasey E. Barton ◽

Lalasia Bialic-Murphy ◽

Jonathan M. Chase

Keyword(s):

Species Diversity ◽

Community Assembly ◽

Native Species ◽

Local Community ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Oceanic Islands ◽

Local Scale ◽

Hawaiian Archipelago ◽

Biodiversity Patterns ◽

Island Area

Biodiversity patterns emerge as a consequence of evolutionary and ecological processes. Their relative importance is frequently tested on model ecosystems such as oceanic islands that vary in both. However, the coarse-scale data typically used in biogeographic studies have limited inferential power to separate the effects of historical biogeographic factors (e.g., island age) from the effects of ecological ones (e.g., island area and habitat heterogeneity). Here, we describe local-scale biodiversity patterns of woody plants using a database of more than 500 forest plots from across the Hawaiian archipelago, where these volcanic islands differ in age by several million years. We show that, after controlling for factors such as island area and heterogeneity, the oldest islands (Kaua’i and O’ahu) have greater native species diversity per unit area than younger islands (Maui and Hawai’i), indicating an important role for macroevolutionary processes in driving not just whole-island differences in species diversity, but also local community assembly. Further, we find that older islands have a greater number of rare species that are more spatially clumped (i.e., higher within-island β-diversity) than younger islands. When we included alien species in our analyses, we found that the signal of macroevolutionary processes via island age was diluted. Our approach allows a more explicit test of the question of how macroevolutionary factors shape not just regional-scale biodiversity, but also local-scale community assembly patterns and processes in a model archipelago ecosystem, and it can be applied to disentangle biodiversity drivers in other systems.

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