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Comastri, Alberto
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Comastri, Alberto
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alberto.comastri@ingv.it
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- PublicationOpen AccessThe large earthquake of 8 August 1303 in Crete: seismic scenario and tsunami in the Mediterranean area(1997)
; ; ;By conducting a historical review of this large seismic event in the Mediterranean, it has been possible to identify both the epicentral area and the area in which its effects were principally felt. Ever since the nineteenth century, the seismological tradition has offered a variety of partial interpretations of the earthquake, depending on whether the main sources used were Arabic, Greek or Latin texts. Our systematic research has involved the analysis not only of Arab, Byzantine and Italian chronicle sources, but also, and in particular, of a large number of never previously used official and public authority documents, preserved in Venice in the State Archive, in the Marciana National Library and in the Library of the Museo Civico Correr. As a result, it has been possible to establish not only chronological parameters for the earthquake (they were previously uncertain), but also its overall effects (epicentral area in Crete, Imax XI MCS). Sources containing information in 41 affected localities and areas were identified. The earthquake also gave rise to a large tsunami, which scholars have seen as having certain interesting elements in common with that of 21 July, 365, whose epicentre was also in Crete. As regards methodology, this research made it clear that knowledge of large historical earthquakes in the Mediterranean is dependent upon developing specialised research and going beyond the territorial limits of current national catalogues.163 35 - PublicationOpen AccessThe “exceptional” earthquake of 3 January 1117 in the Verona area (northern Italy): A critical time review and detection of two lost earthquakes (lower Germany and Tuscany)In the seismological literature the 3 January 1117 earthquake represents an interesting case study, both for the sheer size of the area in which that event is recorded by the monastic sources of the 12th century, and for the amount of damage mentioned. The 1117 event has been added to the earthquake catalogues of up to five European countries (Italy, France, Belgium, Switzerland, the Iberian peninsula), and it is the largest historical earthquake for northern Italy. We have analyzed the monastic time system in the 12th century and, by means of a comparative analysis of the sources, have correlated the two shocks mentioned (in the night and in the afternoon of 3 January) to territorial effects, seeking to make the overall picture reported for Europe more consistent. The connection between the linguistic indications and the localization of the effects has allowed us to shed light, with a reasonable degree of approximation, upon two previously little known earthquakes, probably generated by a sequence of events. A first earthquake in lower Germany (I0 (epicentral intensity) VII–VIII MCS (Mercalli, Cancani, Sieberg), M 6.4) preceded the far more violent one in northern Italy (Verona area) by about 12–13 hours. The second event is the one reported in the literature. We have put forward new parameters for this Veronese earthquake (Io IX MCS, M 7.0). A third earthquake is independently recorded in the northwestern area of Tuscany (Imax VII-VIII MCS), but for the latter event the epicenter and magnitude cannot be evaluated.
184 416 - ProductOpen AccessCFTI5Med, Catalogo dei Forti Terremoti in Italia (461 a.C.-1997) e nell’area Mediterranea (760 a.C.-1500)(2018)
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;; ; ; ; ; 235 1185 - ProductOpen AccessCatalogue of Strong Earthquakes in Italy (461 B.C.-1997) and Mediterranean Area (760 B.C.-1500)(2007-08)
; ; ; ; ; ; ;Guidoboni, E.; SGA Storia Geofisica Ambiente ;Ferrari, G.; SGA Storia Geofisica Ambiente ;Mariotti, D.; SGA Storia Geofisica Ambiente ;Comastri, A.; SGA Storia Geofisica Ambiente ;Tarabusi, G.; SGA Storia Geofisica Ambiente ;Valensise, G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Roma1, Roma, Italia ;; ; ; ; The Catalogue lists earthquakes that occurred in Italy between 461 B.C. and 1997, and earthquakes that occurred in the general Mediterranean area between the VIII century b.C. and the XV century. Italian earthquakes are based on the latest release of the Catalogo dei Forti Terremoti in Italia (Catalogue of Strong Italian Earthquakes), commonly referred to as CFTI3 (Boschi et al., 2000), with subsequent additions and improvements. The CFTI4 contains all Italian earthquakes having epicentral intensity VIII or larger and a selection of smaller earthquakes (total number of earthquakes: 1257). All data supplied in the Catalogue are based on ad hoc historical investigations and on specifically reinterpreted and discussed historical sources. Since its first 1995 release the Catalogo dei Forti Terremoti has been substantially extended and improved with respect to a) the earthquakes analyzed, b) the number of historical sources considered, and c) the number of assessed intensities. Mediterranean earthquakes are based on two catalogues: the Catalogue of Ancient Earthquakes in the Mediterranean area up to the 10th century (Guidoboni et al., 1994), containing 300 earthquakes that involved 19 present-day countries around the Mediterranean, and on the Catalogue of Earthquakes and Tsunamis in the Mediterranean area from the 11th to the 15th century (Guidoboni and Comastri, 2005), containing 383 earthquakes relative to 19 countries. Overall the CFTI4 containes 1,739 earthquakes, 482 of which occurred outside of Italy. Both catalogues report historical sources in their original language. The Catalogue is accessible through a specifically designed web-GIS interface. All commands are easy to use and fully described in English in the Help section. Due to the nature and history of the Catalogue, however, the comment texts that accompany all Italian earthquakes are currently available only in Italian. To allow their visualization in the web-GIS environment of the Catalogue, data on Mediterranean earthquakes have been reorganized following the same standards and format as the data on Italian earthquakes. Nevertheless, some of the information available for Italian earthquakes may not be readily available for all Mediterranean earthquakes. General information on the adopted method of historical research and on the structure and contents of the Catalogue is given in a series of articles published in a special issue of ANNALI DI GEOFISICA (vol.43, N. 4, August 2000) along with CFTI3 (Boschi et al., 2000). Although there have been significant advancements since the year 2000, these articles describe satisfactorily the main research issues, most of which are still the object of scientific debate.1037 2201 - PublicationOpen AccessL'Etna nella storia. Catalogo delle eruzioni dall'antichità alla fine del XVII secolo(Bononia University Press, 2014-07)
; ; ; ; ; ;Guidoboni, E.; EEDIS, Spoleto ;Ciuccarelli, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Mariotti, D.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Comastri, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Bianchi, M. G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;; ; ; Questo nuovo Catalogo riguardante l’Etna, pubblicato nel mese di luglio 2014, presenta i risultati di una pluriennale ricerca storica e filologica condotta sulle fonti scritte, epigrafiche e iconografiche, estesa su un arco temporale più che bimillenario. Da sempre al centro dell’interesse della cultura mediterranea, l’Etna è stato oggetto fin dall’antichità di curiosità intellettuali e di indagini che hanno prodotto un vasto patrimonio di fonti letterarie e documentarie. Il lungo lavoro di ricerca su questi materiali storici è stato affiancato dal parallelo studio dei contesti sociali e culturali che li hanno prodotti. Ciò ha consentito di allargare l’ambito dei dati presentati: non solo le eruzioni e la sismicità correlata, ma anche descrizioni storiche del vulcano e antiche interpretazioni teoriche della sua attività. Dal punto di vista vulcanologico, i risultati della ricerca evidenziano un quadro di conoscenze nuove e consentono di fare chiarezza su molti dubbi e incertezze che la tradizione dei cataloghi e degli studi riguardanti le eruzioni dell’Etna aveva conservato senza risolverli. Tali risultati sono inoltre del tutto trasparenti perché, per la prima volta, di ciascun evento viene fornito non solo il commento storico, ma anche il testo delle fonti coeve originali che sono state utilizzate. Ciò rende ragione delle interpretazioni fatte offrendo anche ad altri studiosi e ricercatori l’opportunità di verificarle e di poterle ulteriormente sviluppare.1068 837 - 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 - PublicationOpen Access<> earthquakes: a growing contribution to the Catalogue of Strong Italian Earthquakes(2000-08)
; ; ; ;Mariotti, D.; SGA, Storia Geofisica Ambiente, Bologna, Italy ;Comastri, A.; SGA, Storia Geofisica Ambiente, Bologna, Italy ;Guidoboni, E.; SGA, Storia Geofisica Ambiente, Bologna, Italy; ; The particular structure of the research into historical seismology found in this catalogue has allowed a lot of information about unknown seismic events to be traced. This new contribution to seismologic knowledge mainly consists in: i) the retrieval and organisation within a coherent framework of documentary evidence of earthquakes that took place between the Middle Ages and the sixteenth century; ii) the improved knowledge of seismic events, even destructive events, which in the past had been "obscured" by large earthquakes; iii) the identification of earthquakes in "silent" seismic areas. The complex elements to be taken into account when dealing with unknown seismic events have been outlined; much "new" information often falls into one of the following categories: simple chronological errors relative to other well-known events; descriptions of other natural phenomena, though defined in texts as "earthquakes" (landslides, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.); unknown tremors belonging to known seismic periods; tremors that may be connected with events which have been catalogued under incorrect dates and with very approximate estimates of location and intensity. This proves that this was not a real seismic "silence" but a research vacuum.220 552 - PublicationOpen AccessI terremoti e i maremoti dello Stretto di Messina dal mondo antico alla fine del XX secolo: descrizioni e parametri(2008-12)
; ; ;Comastri, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Mariotti, D.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, 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; ; ; Un excursus storico di oltre duemila anni sintetizza le conoscenze attestate da fonti scritte. Antiche testimonianze, annotazioni in codici medievali, ma anche dettagliate relazioni di epoca moderna e rilevazioni contemporanee consentono di delineare un quadro il più possibile completo della sismicità di quest’area, abitata fin dai tempi più remoti. Emergono diversi terremoti minori, alcuni dei quali quasi dimenticati, che tuttavia confermano un’immagine dell’attività sismica nell’area dello Stretto caratterizzata da eventi frequenti, ma dominata da rari terremoti catastrofici.314 1492 - 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 AccessTHE SPIRAL OF CLIMATE. Civilizations of the Mediterranean and Climate Change in History(2011-05)
; ; ; ; ; ; ;Lorusso, D.; ; ;Guidoboni, E.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Navarra, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Boschi, E.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Bianchi, M. G.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Ciuccarelli, C.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Comastri, A.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Lorusso, D.; Università di Milano, Dipartimento di Geografia ;Mariotti, D.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;Pistoresi, M.; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Sezione Bologna, Bologna, Italia ;; ; ; ; ; ;Università di Milano, Dipartimento di Geografia; The climate has always been subject to changes, and these have often caused trouble and posed unexpected threats. People have had to adapt by finding socially, culturally and economically adequate answers. Based on authoritative scientific and historical studies, this book explores the civilizations that have called the Mediterranean their home during the last 3,000 years, and makes their history accessible to a wide readership. Aided by a group of researchers, the authors aim not only to delineate climatic trends and their social repercussions through the centuries, but also to address the ideas and theories set forth by thinkers since time immemorial. This book gives voice to ancient Greek and Latin philosophers, medieval encyclopedists (Christian and Arab), intellectuals of the modern era and the Enlightenment, and exponents of nineteenth-century positivism. Ancient and recent Mediterranean civilizations alike concerned themselves with weather forecasts, the climate and health, and the relationship between climate and the environment: they have elaborated on these issues and come up with answers since antiquity. Casting light on largely unexplored aspects of history, this journey through time works its way to the present global warming. The new challenge that lies before us is best assessed in a perspective of “historical climate change,” to which the doings of humankind are adding great momentum.322 789
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