http://hdl.handle.net/2122/84 2013-05-25T23:46:30Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8697 Title: Sulphur-gas concentrations in volcanic and geothermal areas in Italy and Greece: Characterising potential human exposures and risks Authors: D'Alessandro, W.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Aiuppa, A.; Università di Palermo, Dipartimento DiSTeM; Bellomo, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Brusca, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Calabrese, S.; Università di Palermo, Dipartimento DiSTeM; Kyriakopoulos, K.; University of Athens, Dept. Geology and Geoenvironment, Greece; Liotta, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia; Longo, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Palermo, Palermo, Italia Abstract: Passive samplers were used to measure the atmospheric concentrations of SO2 naturally emitted at three volcanoes in Italy (Etna, Vulcano and Stromboli) and of H2S naturally emitted at three volcanic/geothermal areas in Greece (Milos, Santorini and Nisyros). The measured concentrations and dispersion patterns varied with the strength of the source (open conduits or fumaroles), the meteorological conditions and the area topography. At Etna, Vulcano and Stromboli, SO2 concentrations reach values that are dangerous to people affected by bronchial asthma or lung diseases (>1000 μg m−3). H2S values measured at Nisyros also exceed the limit considered safe for the same group of people (>3000 μg m−3). The data obtained using passive samplers represent time-averaged values over periods from a few days up to 1 month, and hence concentrations probably reached much higher peak values that were potentially also dangerous to healthy people. The present study provides evidence of a peculiar volcanic risk associated with tourist exploitation of active volcanic areas. This risk is particularly high at Mt. Etna, where the elderly and people in less-than-perfect health can easily reach areas with dangerous SO2 concentrations via a cableway and off-road vehicles 2013-07-31T22:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8642 Title: Thermal gradiometer's array:mechanical and electrical design and first field test results Authors: Romeo, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Bello, S.; Benedetti, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Mari, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Urbini, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia Editors: Marzocchi, W.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Zollo, A. Abstract: Conception, Verification and application of innovative techniques to study active volcanoes 2007-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8641 Title: Thermal gradiometer's calibration system Authors: Romeo, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Urbini, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Benedetti, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Mari, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia Abstract: This document describes a calibrator prototype designed for thermal gradiometer's calibration. 2006-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8640 Title: Geochemical Monitoring System II prototype(GMSII) installation at the "Acqua Difesa" well, within the Etna region: first data during the 1999 volcanic crisis. Authors: Quattrocchi, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Di Stefano, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Pizzino, L.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Pongetti, F.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Romeo, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Scarlato, P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Sciacca, U.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia; Urbini, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia Abstract: The Geochemical Monitoring System II (GMSII)prototype was designed, assembled, tested and installed at the Acqua Difesa test site, near Belpasso (Catania). 1999-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8593 Title: Testing for the possible influence of unknown climate forcing upon global temperature increases from 1950 to 2000 Authors: Anderson, B. T.; Boston Univ; Boston Univ; Boston Univ; Boston Univ, Dept Earth & Environm, Boston, MA 02215 USA; Knight, J. R.; Hadley Ctr, Met Off, Exeter, Devon, England; Ringer, M. A.; Hadley Ctr, Met Off, Exeter, Devon, England; Yoon, J. H.; Pacific NW Natl Lab, Richland, WA 99352 USA; Cherchi, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia Abstract: Global-scale variations in the climate system over the last half of the twentieth century. including long-term increases in global-mean near-surface temperatures. are consistent with concurrent human-induced emissions of radiatively active gases and aerosols. However, such consistency does not preclude the possible influence of other forcing agents, including internal modes of climate variability or unaccounted for aerosol effects. To test whether other unknown forcing agents may have contributed to multidecadal increases in global-mean near-surface temperatures from 1950 to 2000. data pertaining to observed changes in global-scale sea surface temperatures and observed changes in radiatively active atmospheric constituents are incorporated into numerical global climate models. Results indicate that the radiative forcing needed to produce the observed long-term trends in sea surface temperatures-and global-mean near-surface temperatures-is provided predominantly by known changes in greenhouse gases and aerosols. Further, results indicate that less than 10% of the long-term historical increase in global-mean near-surface temperatures over the last half of the twentieth century could have been the result of internal climate variability. In addition. they indicate that less than 25% of the total radiative forcing needed to produce the observed long-term trend in global-mean near-surface temperatures could have been provided by changes in net radiative forcing from unknown sources (either positive or negative). These results, which are derived from simple energy balance requirements. emphasize the important role humans have played in modifying the global climate over the last half of the twentieth century. 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8592 Title: Influence of ENSO and of the Indian Ocean dipole on the Indian summer monsoon variability Authors: Cherchi, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; Navarra, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia Abstract: Indian summer monsoon (ISM) variability is forced from external factors (like the El Nino Southern Oscillation, ENSO) but it contains also an internal component that tends to reduce its potential for predictability. Large-scale and local monsoon indices based on precipitation and atmospheric circulation parameters are used as a measure of ISM variability. In a 9-members ensemble of AMIP-type experiments (with same boundary SST forcing and different initial conditions) their potential predictability is comparable using both local and large-scale monsoon indices. In the sample analyzed, about half of more predictable monsoon years coincide with El Nino and/or positive Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) events. Summer monsoon characteristics during ENSO and IOD years are analyzed through composites computed over a three years period (i.e. one year before and one year after the event peak) to investigate the mutual relationship between the events lagged in time. The connection between ISM and IOD is mostly confined in the summer and autumn, while that with ENSO is stronger and extends more in time. In the coupled model results the IOD influence on the monsoon is large, even because in the model IOD events are intense and easily reproduced due to a strong air-sea feedback in the eastern side of the basin. Monsoon seasons preceding or following an El Nino or a La Nina event are not exactly symmetric, even in terms of their biennial character. In most of the cases, both in reanalysis and model, El Nino and positive IOD events tend to co-occur with larger anomalies either in the Indo-Pacific ocean sector or over India, while La Nina and negative IOD do not. From the observed record, the ENSO-IOD correlation is positive strong and significant since mid-60s and it may correspond with either strong or weak ENSO-monsoon relationship and with strong or weak IOD-monsoon relationship. A main difference between those periods is the relationship between Indian monsoon rainfall and SST in other ocean basins rather than the Indo-Pacific sector alone. 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8588 Title: Predictability of the mid-latitude Atlantic meridional overturning circulation in a multi-model system Authors: Pohlmann, H.; Max-Planck-Institut fu ̈r Meteorologie,; Smith, D. M.; Met Office Hadley Centre; Balmaseda, M. A.; ECMWF; Keenlyside, N. S.; Geophysical Institute and Bjerknes Centre, University of Bergen; Masina, S.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; Matei, D.; Max-Planck-Institut fu ̈r Meteorologie,; Muller, W. A.; Max-Planck-Institut fu ̈r Meteorologie,; Rogel, P.; CERFACS Abstract: Assessing the skill of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) in decadal hindcasts (i.e. retrospective predictions) is hampered by a lack of obser- vations for verification. Models are therefore needed to reconstruct the historical AMOC variability. Here we show that ten recent oceanic syntheses provide a common signal of AMOC variability at 45°N, with an increase from the 1960s to the mid-1990s and a decrease thereafter although they disagree on the exact magnitude. This signal corre- lates with observed key processes such as the North Atlantic Oscillation, sub-polar gyre strength, Atlantic sea surface temperature dipole, and Labrador Sea convection that are thought to be related to the AMOC. Furthermore, we find potential predictability of the mid-latitude AMOC for the first 3–6 year means when we validate decadal hindcasts for the past 50 years against the multi-model signal. However, this predictability is not found in models driven only by external radiative changes, demonstrating the need for initialization of decadal climate predictions. 2012-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8581 Title: Strengthening of the hydrological cycle in future scenarios: atmospheric energy and water balance perspective Authors: Alessandri, A.; ENEA; Fogli, P. G.; CMCC; Vichi, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia; Zeng, N.; University of Mariland Abstract: Future climate scenarios experiencing global warming are expected to strengthen the hydrological cycle during the 21st century (21C). We analyze the strengthening of the global-scale increase in precipitation from the perspective of changes in whole atmospheric water and energy balances. By combining energy and water equations for the whole atmosphere, we obtain constraints for the changes in surface fluxes and partitioning at the surface between sensible and latent components. We investigate the differences in the strengthening of the hydrological cycle in two centennial simulations performed with an Earth system model forced with specified atmospheric concentration pathways. Alongside the Special Report on Emissions Scenario (SRES) A1B, which is a medium-high non-mitigation scenario, we consider a new aggressive-mitigation scenario (E1) with reduced fossil fuel use for energy production aimed at stabilizing global warming below 2 K. Our results show that the mitigation scenario effectively constrains the global warming with a stabilization below 2 K with respect to the 1950–2000 historical period. On the other hand, the E1 precipitation does not follow the temperature field toward a stabilization path but continues to increase over the mitigation period. Quite unexpectedly, the mitigation scenario is shown to strengthen the hydrological cycle even more than SRES A1B till around 2070. We show that this is mostly a consequence of the larger increase in the negative radiative imbalance of atmosphere in E1 compared to A1B. This appears to be primarily related to decreased sulfate aerosol concentration in E1, which considerably reduces atmospheric absorption of solar radiation compared to A1B. The last decades of the 21C show a marked increase in global precipitation in A1B compared to E1, despite the fact that the two scenarios display almost the same overall increase of radiative imbalance with respect to the 20th century. Our results show that radiative cooling is weakly effective in A1B throughout the 21C. Two distinct mechanisms characterize the diverse strengthening of the hydrological cycle in the middle and end- 21C. It is only through a very large perturbation of surface fluxes that A1B achieves a larger increase in global precipitation in the last decades of the 21C. Our energy/water budget analysis shows that this behavior is ultimately due to a bifurcation in the Bowen ratio change between the two scenarios. This work warns that mitigation policies that promote aerosol abatement, may lead to an unexpected stronger intensification of the hydrological cycle and associated changes that may last for decades after global warming is effectively mitigated. On the other hand, it is also suggested that predictable components of the radiative forcing by aerosols may have the potential to effectively contribute to the decadal-scale predictability of changes in the hydrological strength. 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8556 Title: Caratterizzazione di antenna a 22 GHz presso il laboratorio microonde dell’ISCTI Authors: Restuccia, E.; Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico - Dipartimento per le Comunicazioni - ISCOM; Dal Molin, R.; Ministero dello Sviluppo Economico - Dipartimento per le Comunicazioni - ISCOM; Bertagnolio, P. P.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Muscari, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia Abstract: Il Laboratorio Microonde dell’Istituto Superiore delle Comunicazioni e delle Tecnologie dell’Informazione esegue misurazioni su apparati e componenti operanti fino alle frequenze delle onde millimetriche. Il campo delle applicazioni comprende anche la caratterizzazione di alcuni parametri delle antenne ed in questo articolo vengono esposti i risultati ottenuti su di un’antenna paraboloidica offset destinata ad uno spettrometro per il monitoraggio del vapor d’acqua nella media atmosfera in sviluppo presso i laboratori dell’Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia di Roma. 2011-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/2122/8533 Title: Bedmap2: improved ice bed, surface and thickness datasets for Antarctica Authors: Fretwell, P.; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK; Pritchard, H. D.; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK; Vaughan, D. G.; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK; Bamber, J. L.; School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK; Barrand, N. E.; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK; Bell, R.; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, USA; Bianchi, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia; Bingham, R. G.; School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, UK; Blankenship, D. D.; Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin, USA; Casassa, G.; Centro de Estudios Cientificos, Santiago, Chile; Catania, G.; Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin, USA; Callens, D.; Laboratoire de Glaciologie, Universit´e Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium; Conway, H.; Earth and Space Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, USA; Cook, A. J.; Department of Geography, Swansea University, Swansea, UK; Corr, H. F. J.; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK; Damaske, D.; Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hannover, Germany; Damm, V.; Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Hannover, Germany; Ferraccioli, F.; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK; Forsberg, R.; National Space Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Denmark; Fujita, S.; National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo, Japan; Gim, Y.; Jet Propulsion Laboratory. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA; Gogineni, P.; Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA; Griggs, J. A.; School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK; Hindmarsh, R. C. A.; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK; Holmlund, P.; Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden; Holt, J. W.; Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin, USA; Jacobel, R. W.; St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN 55057, USA; Jenkins, A.; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK; Jokat, W.; Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany; Jordan, T.; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK; King, E. C.; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK; Kohler, J.; Norwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway; Krabill, W.; NASA Wallops Flight Facility, Virginia, USA; Riger-Kusk, M.; College of Science, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand; Langley, K. A.; Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Norway; Leitchenkov, G.; Institute for Geology and Mineral Resources of the World Ocean, St.-Petersburg, Russia; Leuschen, C.; Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA; Luyendyk, B. P.; Earth Research Institute, University of California in Santa Barbara, USA; Matsuoka, K.; Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromso, Norway; Mouginot, J.; Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, USA; Nitsche, F. O.; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, USA; Nogi, Y.; National Institute of Polar Research, Tokyo, Japan; Nost, O. A.; Norwegian Polar Institute, Tromso, Norway; Popov, S. V.; Polar Marine Geosurvey Expedition, St.-Petersburg, Russia; Rignot, E.; School of Physical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, USA; Rippin, D. M.; Environment Department, University of York, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK; Rivera, A.; Centro de Estudios Cientificos, Santiago, Chile; Roberts, J.; Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Australian Antarctic Division, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia; Ross, N.; School of Geography, Politics and Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK; Siegert, M. J.; School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, UK; Smith, A. M.; British Antarctic Survey, Cambridge, UK; Steinhage, D.; Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany; Studinger, M.; NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, USA; Sun, B.; Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, China; Tinto, B. K.; Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, USA; Welch, B. C.; Alfred Wegener Institute, Bremerhaven, Germany; Wilson, D.; Institute for Crustal Studies, University of California in Santa Barbara, USA; Young, D. A.; Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin, USA; Xiangbin, C.; Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai, China; Zirizzotti, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma2, Roma, Italia Abstract: We present Bedmap2, a new suite of gridded products describing surface elevation, ice-thickness and the seafloor and subglacial bed elevation of the Antarctic south of 60 S. We derived these products using data from a variety of sources, including many substantial surveys completed since the original Bedmap compilation (Bedmap1) in 2001. In particular, the Bedmap2 ice thickness grid is made from 25 million measurements, over two orders of magnitude more than were used in Bedmap1. In most parts of Antarctica the subglacial landscape is visible in much greater detail than was previously available and the improved datacoverage has in many areas revealed the full scale of mountain ranges, valleys, basins and troughs, only fragments of which were previously indicated in local surveys. The derived statistics for Bedmap2 show that the volume of ice contained in the Antarctic ice sheet (27 million km3) and its potential contribution to sea-level rise (58 m) are similar to those of Bedmap1, but the mean thickness of the ice sheet is 4.6% greater, the mean depth of the bed beneath the grounded ice sheet is 72m lower and the area of ice sheet grounded on bed below sea level is increased by 10 %. The Bedmap2 compilation highlights several areas beneath the ice sheet where the bed elevation is substantially lower than the deepest bed indicated by Bedmap1. These products, along with grids of data coverage and uncertainty, provide new opportunities for detailed modelling of the past and future evolution of the Antarctic ice sheets. 2012-12-31T23:00:00Z