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Comastri, Alberto
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Comastri, Alberto
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- ProductOpen AccessCFTI5Med, Catalogo dei Forti Terremoti in Italia (461 a.C.-1997) e nell’area Mediterranea (760 a.C.-1500)(2018)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ; ; 235 1186 - PublicationRestrictedThe large earthquake on 29 June 1170 (Syria, Lebanon, and central southern Turkey)(2004)
; ; ; ; ;Guidoboni, E.; SGA Storia Geofisica Ambiente ;Bernardini, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Comastri, A.; SGA Storia Geofisica Ambiente ;Boschi, E.; Università degli Studi di Bologna ;; ; On 29 June 1170 a large earthquake hit a vast area in the Near Eastern Mediterranean, comprising the present-day territories of western Syria, central southern Turkey, and Lebanon. Although this was one of the strongest seismic events ever to hit Syria, so far no in-depth or specific studies have been available. Furthermore, the seismological literature (from 1979 until 2000) only elaborated a partial summary of it, mainly based solely on Arabic sources. The major effects area was very partial, making the derived seismic parameters unreliable. This earthquake is in actual fact one of the most highly documented events of the medieval Mediterranean. This is due to both the particular historical period in which it had occurred (between the second and the third Crusades) and the presence of the Latin states in the territory of Syria. Some 50 historical sources, written in eight different languages, have been analyzed: Latin (major contributions), Arabic, Syriac, Armenian, Greek, Hebrew, Vulgar French, and Italian. A critical analysis of this extraordinary body of historical information has allowed us to obtain data on the effects of the earthquake at 29 locations, 16 of which were unknown in the previous scientific literature. As regards the seismic dynamics, this study has set itself the question of whether there was just one or more than one strong earthquake. In the former case, the parameters (Me 7.7 ± 0.22, epicenter, and fault length 126.2 km) were calculated. Some hypotheses are outlined concerning the seismogenic zones involved.1029 78 - PublicationRestrictedAncient and Medieval Earthquakes in the Area of L’Aquila (Northwestern Abruzzo, Central Italy), A.D. 1–1500: A Critical Revision of the Historical and Archaeological Data(2012-08-01)
; ; ; ; ; ;Guidoboni, E.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Comastri, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Mariotti, D.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Ciuccarelli, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Bianchi, M. G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;; ; ; This historical seismology study examines and supplements what is currently known from written sources and archaeological literature about the earthquakes that took place in the area of L’Aquila (central Italy), struck by a damaging earthquake on 6 April 2009 (Mw 6.3), from the ancient Roman period to the late Middle Ages (first through fifteenth century A.D.). The persistence and magnitude of earthquakes in this area has had a strong bearing on the economy and culture of the communities that resided there, a fact borne out by historical accounts. The goal of this revision is to prompt thinking about earthquakes missing from the hazard estimates as well as on return periods for destructive earthquakes in the area. It presents a critical collation of data previously scattered among historical catalogs and writings. Ten earthquakes are examined for their historical and cultural background with a view to highlighting the existence of written sources and explaining both the quality of the available data and the information shortfall. We also show the limits and uncertainty of the information available, coming as it does from tersely written texts giving patchy coverage. This state of knowledge is due either to sources being lost or in certain centuries not being produced (there is a millennium of “lost” earthquakes) and to the present state of historical and archaeological research in this field. The historical and archaeological data we present are often poor/hard to quantify. Yet they are known and hence pose the problem of how to improve the earthquake catalogs and devise new quantitative approaches to hazard estimation based on multi-disciplinary dialog.820 70 - ProductOpen Access
50 9 - PublicationOpen AccessCFTI5Med, the new release of the catalogue of strong earthquakes in Italy and in the Mediterranean area(2019-06)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ; ; ; ; A key element for assessing seismic hazard and risk is the availability of a comprehensive dataset on past earthquakes. Here we present the rationale, structure and contents of CFTI5Med ( https://doi.org/10.6092/ingv.it-cfti5 ), the 2018 version of the Catalogue of Strong Earthquakes in Italy: a large multidisciplinary effort including historians, seismologists and geologists. It was conceived in 1989, following the inception of GIS technology, and first published in 1995 to offer a full account of Italy's strongest earthquakes, of their territorial impact and associated social and economic upheaval. Subsequent versions (1997, 2000, 2007) entailed a fine tuning of research methodologies, included additional research on Italian earthquakes, and were extended to large earthquakes of the Mediterranean area. CFTI5Med comprised an opportunity to streamline the structure of the Catalogue database and propose a renovated user interface. The new front-end (1) grants an easier, intuitive access to the data, including earthquake effects on the environment, and (2) allows all data to be displayed jointly with relevant topographic, geological and seismological overlays published as web services.847 19 - PublicationRestrictedLago Albano, the “anti-Nyos-type” lake: The past as a key for the future(2019)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; On 21 August 1986 almost 1800 people were asphyxiated by a CO2 cloud violently released by Lake Nyos, Cameroon. Post-1986 monitoring of Lake Nyos revealed that CO2 steadily accumulates in bottom waters through recharge from soda-rich aquifers. The 1986 lake roll-over event triggered scientific research on volcanic lakes, creating “Nyos biased” interpretations: the search for dissolved CO2 in other lakes might have led to over- interpretations regarding hazard assessment. In this study, a thorough review of the historical literature on Lago Albano over the past approx. 2800 years shows no clear evidence of Nyos-type bursts, contrary to previous ideas. In 1989 Lago Albano was affected by a large CO2 pulse, concomitant with a seismic swarm below Colli Albani volcano. Tracing back in historical literature, at least two similar anomalous degassing episodes occurred out of five seismic crises between 1829 and 1927. Partial temperature- and density-driven roll-over of the top-9 m of Lago Albano commonly releases accumulated CO2 each winter (Chiodini et al., 2012). This degassing dynamics avoids long-term CO2 accumulation in bottom waters, as is the case at permanently stratified lakes in the tropics, such as Lake Nyos. Here we show that Lago Albano is an “anti-Nyos-type" lake: sudden recharge and regularly periodic release of CO2 (Lago Albano) vs. steady recharge and sudden release of CO2 (Lake Nyos). Despite past evidence of ha- zardous events, (1) the intensive well pumping from the Albano aquifer might lower lake level, and hence decrease the CO2 saturation pressure threshold, and (2) the absence of cold winters, hence avoiding yearly lake roll-over favoring CO2 accumulation at bottom layers, are modern factors that rise the need to revise hazard assessment and future monitoring strategies. Despite the fact that CO2 concentration in bottom waters was far from saturation conditions during the last survey (May 2010; Chiodini et al., 2012), making a limnic eruption highly unlikely, it is necessary to know the saturation state of CO2 in bottom waters and physical lake stability at any time, in order to be prepared for a next anomalous co-seismic CO2 degassing event of unknown quantity near Lago Albano.389 5 - PublicationOpen AccessCostantinopoli e Il Cairo: effetti sismici in due capitali mediterranee dal tardo antico al XV secolo(2011-09-08)
; ;Comastri, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, ItaliaIstanbul (l’antica Costantinopoli) e Il Cairo sono oggi due delle più importanti megalopoli del bacino del Mediterraneo. I terremoti che le hanno colpite rispettivamente nel 1999 e nel 1992 sono solo gli ultimi due episodi della lunga storia sismica di queste due città. La millenaria continuità di sito e la ricchezza delle testimonianze storiche disponibili (pur in mancanza degli archivi amministrativi per il periodo antico e medievale) permettono di delineare alcuni degli antichi scenari dei danni subiti in queste due capitali, qui ricostruiti per il periodo dalla tarda antichità alla fine del XV secolo. A fronte di informazioni precise sui danni, poco si sa sulle risposte istituzionali e amministrative, sui tempi delle ricostruzioni e sull’impatto culturale complessivo. L’importanza acquisita da Bisanzio (poi Costantinopoli) a partire dal IV secolo d.C., e la maggiore disponibilità di fonti storiche rispetto al periodo precedente, permettono di delineare una storia sismica dell’attuale Istanbul. Tale storia urbana è tra le più dettagliate del bacino del Mediterraneo, una preziosa eredità dal punto di vista scientifico. I terremoti di più elevata intensità che hanno colpito Costantinopoli-Istanbul si originano nei segmenti orientali della faglia Nord Anatolica e nell’area del Mar di Marmara. Tra la metà del IV secolo e la fine del XV, i maggiori eventi sismici accaddero il 14 dicembre 557, 26 ottobre 740, 26 ottobre 989, 23 settembre 1063, 11 marzo 1231, 18 ottobre 1343. Questi terremoti hanno lasciato le loro tracce distruttive anche su alcuni importanti edifici di Costantinopoli: per questo è possibile delineare, seppure in modo parziale, una mappa degli effetti sismici anche a scala urbana. Uno dei più famosi edifici di Costantinopoli, la chiesa di Santa Sofia, edificata al tempo dell’imperatore Giustiniano, consacrata nel 537, assunse la sua forma definitiva nel 562, dopo le riparazioni che si erano rese necessarie in conseguenza dei terremoti del 557. L’edificio rappresenta una sorta di ‘sismografo monumentale’ che scandisce la storia sismica urbana. L’altra megalopoli mediterranea qui presa in esame è Il Cairo. La sua fondazione risale all’epoca della conquista araba dell’Egitto, nel 641, come insediamento fortificato di al-Fustat (o Misr al-Fustat). Nel 969 la dinastia dei Fatimidi fondò, a nord di al-Fustat, il Cairo (al-Qahira, ossia “la vittoriosa”). È solo da questo periodo che è possibile delineare la storia sismica della città, per la continuità abitativa e per la ricchezza delle fonti storiche. Il Cairo risente degli effetti di terremoti lontani, che si originano in parte nell’Arco ellenico, in particolare nell’area di Creta, in parte nella faglia del Mar Morto e da una sorgente sismica localizzata a una decina di chilometri dal Cairo vecchio. Per il periodo fino alla fine del XV secolo, il più forte teremoto che ha colpito la città fu quello dell’8 agosto 1303, uno degli eventi sismici di più elevata magnitudo (Me = 8.0) della storia conosciuta del Mediterraneo, paragonabile solo a quello 21 luglio 365 d.C. Del terremoto del 1303, che danneggiò numerose moschee e madrase (scuole coraniche) è stato possibile localizzare gli effetti su scala urbana e avere indicazioni sulla risposta sismica della parte oggi più antica della città.167 626 - PublicationRestrictedIpotesi sul ‘predecessore’ del terremoto del 1908: archeologia, storia, geologia(2008-12)
; ; ; ; ;Guidoboni, E.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Muggia, A.; SGA Storia Geofisica Ambiente ;Comastri, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Valensise, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;Bertolaso, G.; Dipartimento della Protezione Civile ;Boschi, E.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia ;Guidoboni, E.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Valensise, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; ; ; È già accaduto nello Stretto, e quando, un terremoto di energia e impatto territoriale simile a quello del 1908? Potrebbe accadere nuovamente, e quando? Questa ricerca è il tentativo di utilizzare un sistema di dati archeologici che delineano dinamiche territoriali e di popolamento per rispondere a una domanda di forte interesse sociale e scientifico. È emersa l’ipotesi di un grande evento sismico accaduto nella seconda metà del IV secolo d.C., congruente con i più recenti dati geofisici e geodetici.160 46 - PublicationRestrictedThe 1138-1139 and 1156-1159 destructive seismic crises in Syria, south-eastern Turkey and northern Lebanon(2004)
; ; ; ;Guidoboni, E.; SGA Storia Geofisica Ambiente ;Bernardini, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Comastri, A.; SGA Storia Geofisica Ambiente ;; The aim of this study is to shed light ontwo important destructive seismicsequences, about 20 years apart (1138–1139and 1156–1159), which hit the northernsector of the Dead Sea transform faultsystem (DSTFS), in the easternMediterranean region. Although some ofthese earthquakes were already known to thescholarly tradition, the interpretationsprovided until today have largely beenpartial and characterised by uncertaintiesand discrepancies among the variousauthors. Our study has developed throughresearch into the original Arabic, Syriac,Armenian and Latin texts and a criticalanalysis relating to a territory fragmentedby the presence of the Christian-Latinstates. This analysis has allowed us toshed light on the already existing, albeitoften uncertain, information and to add newelements of these two important series ofearthquake shocks to our knowledge base.As regards the first seismic sequence(October 1138–June 1139), apart from havingdefined the date with greater accuracy,eight new locations affected have beenidentified, unknown to previous studies.The shocks jolted a vast area withdestructive effects, including theterritory of Aleppo (modern Halab, Syria)and the western part of the region ofEdessa (modern Urfa, Turkey).The second seismic sequence (September1156–May 1159) was much longer anddevastating, and hit a huge area, includedbetween the present-day territories ofnorth-western Syria, northern Lebanon andthe region of Antioch (modern Antakya, insouthern Turkey). A detailed analysis ofthe primary sources has allowed toreconstruct the series of shocks withchronological detail of the effects,improving our previous knowledge. Lastly,the authors formulate an hypothesis as tothe possible seismogenic zones affected.437 45 - PublicationOpen AccessA critical evaluation of tsunami records reported for the Levant Coast from the second millennium BCE to the present(2012)
; ; ; ; ;Salamon, A.; Geological Survey, Jerusalem, Israel ;Rockwell, T.; Department of Geological Sciences, San Diego State University, CA, USA ;Guidoboni, E.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Comastri, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; ; ;We present here a compilation of known, reliable, historically documented tsunamis that have affected the Levant coast between about the 14th century B.C. in Syria, up through the 1956 Jaffa tsunami. The list is based on a careful review of published studies and catalogs that have previously reappraised the original contemporaneous sources. In total, 23 events are included within our compilation, whereas 40 other events were found questionable and excluded. We first describe the dependable tsunamis in detail, including their probable source, whether they were generated from a close or distant earthquake source, or whether they were likely the consequence of an earthquake-triggered submarine slump. This is followed by a critical evaluation of the dubious (uncertain) tsunami reports, as an aid to future investigations that may include a search for new data, fieldwork, modeling and hazard assessments. Next, the list is parameterized in accordance with the format used by the tsunami catalog of the European community. Finally, the historical descriptions are used to assess the impact and effects caused by the tsunamis. The most regularly mentioned (about 90%) is a significant change in sea level. Damage and loss of life in coastal cities and harbors are reported for only one third of the events, leading to the conclusion that the majority of tsunamis on the Levant coast may have resulted in only moderate to no damage. Yet, this is not to mean that the Levantine coast is not at risk. The modern coastline is now far more populated and developed than before, and a similar tsunami that resulted in only moderate damage in the past might be more disastrous in the same location at present.359 136
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