Science Festivals are events world wide organized, and they have became more and more one of the ... more Science Festivals are events world wide organized, and they have became more and more one of the most effective playground where science meet people. Genova Science Festival, held since 2003, is the Italian most interesting event of that type. The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), one of the largest European scientific institution dealing with Earth Sciences research and real-time surveillance, early warning, and forecast activities in geophysics and volcanology, participates every year developing a specific educational path, concerning some of its research areas. For the 2010 Genova Science Festival, the INGV has produced an educational exhibition called "Mediterraneo Dinamico" (Dynamic Mediterranean). This is a journey in the geodynamical history of the Mediterranean region from 200 million years ago till present. This long process took place also through some instantaneous dramatic events as eruptions, tsunami, earthquakes, whose studies have revealed their strong impact on cultural Mediterranean evolution as well as on environmental aspects as climate. The exhibition path aim is to illustrate and explain to general public, and especially to teachers and students, the results from researches conducted by INGV also in collaboration with other Italian and International partners, as well as from the real time Mediterranean sea water monitoring. The chosen exhibition instruments are wide colourful illustrated posters, greatly illustrated, together with smart interactive exhibits. In particular the path starts with a "Time Machine", that allows visitors to retrace the main steps of the Mediterranean geological evolution, supported by posters. The following section concerning the "Mediterranean catastrophic event" welcome visitors with a glass pyramid projecting a virtual eruption almost as an "ologramma", and side panels with two short videos explaining two great explosive eruptions and a tsunami event. The section on Mediterranean Tsunami are equipped with an interactive large map of the location of Mediteranean where occurred tsunami events, illustrated posters and also a microscope with a camera where visitors can analyse a core with a tsunami deposits. Also an interactive model of a GEOSTAR-Geophisical and Oceanographic Station of Abyssal Research provide visitors an entertaining approach on how a submarine observatory works with all his sensors, while a computer station permits visitors to read real time measures of some marine environmental indicators. The exhibition journey trough the Mediterranean geo-history and Earth Science and Geophysical research shows how the continuous knowledge and monitoring of to this Region dynamics are fundamental to design a future bearable development for the 30 million people living along the Mediterranean shores.
ABSTRACT We analyzed sea level data from a set of tide gauge stations located in the central and ... more ABSTRACT We analyzed sea level data from a set of tide gauge stations located in the central and western Mediterranean Sea, that recorded the tsunami generated by the Mw 6.8 Boumerdès earthquake striking the coast of Algeria on May 21, 2003. This earthquake caused more than 2200 victims and thousands of injured. The causative fault was located a few km offshore and during the rupture a tsunami was triggered. Waves were felt along a large part of the western and northern Mediterranean coasts, and in the Balearic islands waves higher that 2 m were measured. In this paper we analyze a more complete tidal data set, with respect to previous studies, now consisting of 22 tidal stations located in Italy, France and Spain. To characterize the change of the tidal signal at each station we used the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD). By means of this technique, which is suitable to analyze and to characterize the dynamical behavior of non-stationary time series, we provide a precise measurement of the arrival times and amplitudes at the tidal stations and identify how this tsunami affected the principal and long term tidal components. Our findings improve previous results for this earthquake, since they allow the detection of significant amplitude fluctuations associated with the tsunami in the majority of stations, including the farthest ones.
The Mediterranean area represents the collision zone between the Africa/Arabian and Eurasian plat... more The Mediterranean area represents the collision zone between the Africa/Arabian and Eurasian plates. The deformation pattern of this region is characterized by a complex space-time distribution of compressional and tensional events, with strong distortion and lateral migration of several hundred kilometers of the Paleocene and Neogene orogenic belts, mainly caused by indentation of the two African promontories, i.e. Adria and
La zona attualmente investigata è quella compresa tra la Sila e Le Serre e include la Stretta di ... more La zona attualmente investigata è quella compresa tra la Sila e Le Serre e include la Stretta di Catanzaro. Dal punto di vista morfologico, il territorio ad Est di Catanzaro si divide in una parte bassa costituita da sedimenti di origine marina del Pliocene medio - Pleistocene e da una ...
The Lake Albano is situated in the Colli Albani volcanic district, about 20 km SE from the city c... more The Lake Albano is situated in the Colli Albani volcanic district, about 20 km SE from the city centre of Rome. It is 287 m above sea level and is the deepest among the volcanic crater lakes of Italy, being presently 167 m deep. It is 3.5 km long and 2.3 km wide with an area of about 6 km. The crater has a long history, which starts with the formation of the Albano crater ~70 ka B.P., and shows evidence of human settlements since pre-historical times. Geological evidence indicates that a catastrophic overflow of the lake occurred in 396 B.C.E. due to a rapid increase of the water level. This phenomenon persuaded the Romans to excavate an artificial outlet though the crater wall to control the lake level. The lake is thought to be hazardous for the surroundings human settlements and the city of Rome, high resolution multibeam bathymetry of the of Lake Albano was performed for the Italian Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, in order to evaluate the potential for CO2 storage and erup...
This paper shows and discusses the results of gravity and magnetic surveys of Panarea Island and ... more This paper shows and discusses the results of gravity and magnetic surveys of Panarea Island and its archipelago. The most recent volcanic manifestation occurred in November 2002 with a shallow submarine gas eruption between the islets of Dattilo, Panarelli, Lisca Bianca, Bottaro and Lisca Nera. Currently, the activity of Panarea is monitored through a multidisciplinary study under the umbrella of the Italian Department of Civil Protection with the goal of defining the hazard of this area. With this aim, in May 2006 the first gravity and magnetic surveys of Panarea Island and its archipelago were performed. The offshore magnetic data were obtained using a marine magnetometer, a Geometrics G880, from the Istituto Idrografico dell Marina (IIM). Onshore and offshore magnetic data were integrated into an unique dataset for complete magnetic coverage of the study area. By using two micro-gravimeters (LaCoste & Romberg), gravity data were collected along tracks every 250 m. The gravity dataset was processed using the standard method. A Bouguer reduction was applied to the free-air gravity dataset using a detailed digital elevation model of the island and the neighbouring sea after evaluation of the optimal Bouguer density to reduce the topographic effect. The result is a Bouguer anomaly map that shows lateral variations in density distribution and the relationships between the shallow volcanic/crustal features and tectonic lineaments. This evidence is also highlighted by the magnetic pattern, which suggests the importance of the youngest volcanic deposits with respect to the magnetic features of the island.
Since 2004, a continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) network has been operated by the Istitut... more Since 2004, a continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) network has been operated by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) to investigate active tectonic processes in Italy and the surrounding regions, which are still largely debated. This important infrastructure is known as Rete Integrata Nazionale GPS (RING) network, and it consists of about 130 stations that are deployed all over Italy. The development and realization of a stable GPS monumentation, its integration with seismological instruments, and the choice of both satellite and internet data transmission, make this network one of the most innovative and reliable CGPS networks in the world. The technologically advanced development of the RING network has been accompanied by the development of different data processing strategies, which are mainly dependent on the use of different GPS analysis software. The different software-related solutions are here compared at different scales for this large network, and the consistency is evaluated and quantified within an RMS value of 0.3 mm/yr.
The coasts of Italy still preserve several remnants of coastal quarries built in antiquity, that ... more The coasts of Italy still preserve several remnants of coastal quarries built in antiquity, that now provide insights into the intervening sea-level changes occurred during the last millennia. In this paper, we show and discuss a new class of sea level indicator consisting of millstones carved along the rocky coast of southern Italy since 2500 BP, that are currently submerged. They were extracted from beachrocks, sandstones or similar sedimentary rocks, easier for carving by ancient carving tools. Our study focuses on 10 coastal sites located at Capo d'Orlando, Avola, and Letojanni, in Sicily; Soverato, Tropea, and Capo dell'Armi, in Calabria; Castellabate, Palinuro, and Scario, in Campania; and Polignano San Vito, in Apulia. Unfortunately, only limited archaeological information is available for these anthropic structures. Scario, one of these millstone quarries discussed here, has been dated through independent archaeological remains, allowing us to restrict the exploitation age to the end of XVII century. Present day elevations of these coastal sites were obtained through geo-archaeological surveys calibrated using the nearest tidal stations, together with geomorphological and tectonic interpretations. Data were compared against the latest sea level predictions based on glacio-hydro-isostatic models. Our results allow proposal of the age-range of these millstone quarries and to estimate the intervening relative sea level changes since the time when they were carved.
The Aeolian Arc (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) is one of the most active volcanic areas of the ... more The Aeolian Arc (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) is one of the most active volcanic areas of the Mediterranean basin, affected by volcanic/hydrothermal and seismic activity. Ancient populations settled this region since historical times, buildingcoastal installations currently used as valuable archaeological indicators of relative sea level changes and vertical land movements. In this study we show and discuss data on the relative sea level change estimated from a submerged wharf of Roman age dated between 50 B.C. and 50 A.D.,located at Basiluzzo Island,. This structurehas been studied through marine surveys and archaeological interpretations and is presently located at a corrected depth of-4.10±0.2 m.We explain this submergence by a cumulative effect of the relative sea level change caused by the regional glacio-hydro-isostatic signal,active since the end of the last glacial maximum,andthe local volcano-tectonic land subsidence.Finally, a total subsidence rate of 2.05±0.1 mm/yr-1 , with a volcano-tectonic contribution of 1.43±0.1 mm/yr-1 for the last 2ka BP, is inferred from the comparison against the latest predicted sea level curve for the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, suggestingnew evaluations of the volcano-tectonic hazard for this area of the Aeolian islands.
A multidisciplinary approach has been applied to study sea level changes along the coast of Malta... more A multidisciplinary approach has been applied to study sea level changes along the coast of Malta using data collected from underwater archaeological remains. The elevation of archaeological markers have been compared with predicted sea level curves providing new bodies of evidence that outline the vertical tectonic behaviour of this region, allowing estimation of the relative sea level changes that occurred in this area of the Mediterranean since the Bronze Age. During the Roman Age, sea level was at À1.36 AE 0.1 m, while in the Midde Age it was at À0.56 AE 0.2 m, in agreement with previous estimations for the Mediterranean region. Data indicate that Malta was tectonically stable during the studied period. The occurrence of the present-day notch along the coasts of the island indicates recent vertical stability of the area. The lack of MIS 5.5 deposits all over the island could simply be due to high rates of erosion, as its coasts are highly exposed to storm waves, rather than tectonic movements. However, even very slight vertical movements could completely remove field evidence. The relative stability of the Maltese Islands allowed a first attempt to provide a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of its coasts at different time windows since the Last Glacial Maximum. The results have been used to infer time and mode of mammal dispersal to the island during the Pleistocene.
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 1998
Colli Albani is a volcanic complex located in central Italy, very close to the city of Rome. Its ... more Colli Albani is a volcanic complex located in central Italy, very close to the city of Rome. Its last eruption is dated at 0.03-0.02 Ma. Now it displays a recurrent seismicity, sporadic gas emissions from soils, wells and springs, and post volcanic hydrothermal circulation. Moreover an uplift of about 30 cm over the last 43 years was recently detected by comparing the height differences between some vertices of repeated leveling surveys, thus suggesting a recent active magmatic process beneath the volcano. In 1995 a first-epoch GPS campaign was canied out with last generation receivers, the repetition campaign was performed in 1996. Data coming from the two repeated surveys were carefully processed and analyzed. A statistical analysis rigorously applied between the 1995 and 1996 adjusted coordinates shows significant coordinate differences. Some sites of the network, in particular, the sites of Vivaro (WR), Cava di Ciampino (CVA) and Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica (INGR) display a significant subsidence of 2.6 f 0.7, 2.7 + 0.8 and 2.0 f 0.8 cm, respectively, with a confidence interval at 95 percent level. This subsidence seems to be induced by a water table level lowering in Vivaro, while in the area where the sites of Cava di Ciampino and INGR are located, this motion is also confiied by historical levelling data that show a subsidence of N 2 cm/yr during the last 45 years and could be due to local tectonics. Moreover, significant planimetric deformations are exhibited by the site of Caste1 Roman0 (CSR). It is remarkable that the stations of CVA, INGR and CSR are located in the area that was struck by the June 12, 1995, M, = 3.8 earthquake, although the displacement vectors are quite small. The motion of the Capranica Prenestina (CPR) station, which shows an uplift of 2.7 f 0.7 cm, must be considered separately, being located outside the volcanic structure and placed over the carbonatic outcrops of the Prenestini Mts. Furthermore, the accuracy obtained in height determinations does not allow us to confirm if the central part of the GPS network corresponding to the area investigated by Amato and Chiarabba is uplifting within the analyzed time span. 0 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
The largest events of the 1997 Umbria-Marche seismic sequence were the two September 26 earthquak... more The largest events of the 1997 Umbria-Marche seismic sequence were the two September 26 earthquakes of Mw=5.7 (00:33 GMT) and Mw=6.0 (09:40 GMT), which caused severe damage and ground cracks in a wide area around the epicenters. We created an ERS-SAR differential interferogram, where nine fringes are visible in and around the Colfiorito basin, corresponding to 25 cm of coseismic surface displacement. GPS data show a maximum horizontal displacement of (14 + 1.8) cm and a maximum subsidence of (24 + 3) cm. We used these geodetic data and the seismological parameters to estimate geometry and slip distribution on the fault planes. Modeled fault depths and maximum slip amplitudes are 6.5 km and 47 cm for the first event and 7 km and 72 cm for the second one, in good agreement with those derived from the seismological data.
In this paper we present observations of crustal motion related to a large GPS network located in... more In this paper we present observations of crustal motion related to a large GPS network located in the central-western Mediterranean area. Velocities are obtained by the analysis of more than 30 observing sites at which at least three different GPS campaigns were carried out in the time span 1991-1999. The results are presented both in the ITRF96 reference frame and with respect to a Eurasian fixed reference frame. The sites located along the northern African margin, in Sicily and southern Italy show prevalent northeastward movements with a mean velocity of roughly 0.7 cm yr x1. The relatively dense network available in the southern Apennines led us to try a tentative estimate of the average strain rate in this zone, resulting in a maximum extension of 0.021t0.006r10 x6 yr x1 normal to the chain. In Ionian Greece the two sites located south of the Kephallinia discontinuity (Lefkas and Kastro Ilias) consistently indicate a south to southwestward motion at an average rate of roughly 15 mm yr x1 .
Science Festivals are events world wide organized, and they have became more and more one of the ... more Science Festivals are events world wide organized, and they have became more and more one of the most effective playground where science meet people. Genova Science Festival, held since 2003, is the Italian most interesting event of that type. The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), one of the largest European scientific institution dealing with Earth Sciences research and real-time surveillance, early warning, and forecast activities in geophysics and volcanology, participates every year developing a specific educational path, concerning some of its research areas. For the 2010 Genova Science Festival, the INGV has produced an educational exhibition called "Mediterraneo Dinamico" (Dynamic Mediterranean). This is a journey in the geodynamical history of the Mediterranean region from 200 million years ago till present. This long process took place also through some instantaneous dramatic events as eruptions, tsunami, earthquakes, whose studies have revealed their strong impact on cultural Mediterranean evolution as well as on environmental aspects as climate. The exhibition path aim is to illustrate and explain to general public, and especially to teachers and students, the results from researches conducted by INGV also in collaboration with other Italian and International partners, as well as from the real time Mediterranean sea water monitoring. The chosen exhibition instruments are wide colourful illustrated posters, greatly illustrated, together with smart interactive exhibits. In particular the path starts with a "Time Machine", that allows visitors to retrace the main steps of the Mediterranean geological evolution, supported by posters. The following section concerning the "Mediterranean catastrophic event" welcome visitors with a glass pyramid projecting a virtual eruption almost as an "ologramma", and side panels with two short videos explaining two great explosive eruptions and a tsunami event. The section on Mediterranean Tsunami are equipped with an interactive large map of the location of Mediteranean where occurred tsunami events, illustrated posters and also a microscope with a camera where visitors can analyse a core with a tsunami deposits. Also an interactive model of a GEOSTAR-Geophisical and Oceanographic Station of Abyssal Research provide visitors an entertaining approach on how a submarine observatory works with all his sensors, while a computer station permits visitors to read real time measures of some marine environmental indicators. The exhibition journey trough the Mediterranean geo-history and Earth Science and Geophysical research shows how the continuous knowledge and monitoring of to this Region dynamics are fundamental to design a future bearable development for the 30 million people living along the Mediterranean shores.
ABSTRACT We analyzed sea level data from a set of tide gauge stations located in the central and ... more ABSTRACT We analyzed sea level data from a set of tide gauge stations located in the central and western Mediterranean Sea, that recorded the tsunami generated by the Mw 6.8 Boumerdès earthquake striking the coast of Algeria on May 21, 2003. This earthquake caused more than 2200 victims and thousands of injured. The causative fault was located a few km offshore and during the rupture a tsunami was triggered. Waves were felt along a large part of the western and northern Mediterranean coasts, and in the Balearic islands waves higher that 2 m were measured. In this paper we analyze a more complete tidal data set, with respect to previous studies, now consisting of 22 tidal stations located in Italy, France and Spain. To characterize the change of the tidal signal at each station we used the Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD). By means of this technique, which is suitable to analyze and to characterize the dynamical behavior of non-stationary time series, we provide a precise measurement of the arrival times and amplitudes at the tidal stations and identify how this tsunami affected the principal and long term tidal components. Our findings improve previous results for this earthquake, since they allow the detection of significant amplitude fluctuations associated with the tsunami in the majority of stations, including the farthest ones.
The Mediterranean area represents the collision zone between the Africa/Arabian and Eurasian plat... more The Mediterranean area represents the collision zone between the Africa/Arabian and Eurasian plates. The deformation pattern of this region is characterized by a complex space-time distribution of compressional and tensional events, with strong distortion and lateral migration of several hundred kilometers of the Paleocene and Neogene orogenic belts, mainly caused by indentation of the two African promontories, i.e. Adria and
La zona attualmente investigata è quella compresa tra la Sila e Le Serre e include la Stretta di ... more La zona attualmente investigata è quella compresa tra la Sila e Le Serre e include la Stretta di Catanzaro. Dal punto di vista morfologico, il territorio ad Est di Catanzaro si divide in una parte bassa costituita da sedimenti di origine marina del Pliocene medio - Pleistocene e da una ...
The Lake Albano is situated in the Colli Albani volcanic district, about 20 km SE from the city c... more The Lake Albano is situated in the Colli Albani volcanic district, about 20 km SE from the city centre of Rome. It is 287 m above sea level and is the deepest among the volcanic crater lakes of Italy, being presently 167 m deep. It is 3.5 km long and 2.3 km wide with an area of about 6 km. The crater has a long history, which starts with the formation of the Albano crater ~70 ka B.P., and shows evidence of human settlements since pre-historical times. Geological evidence indicates that a catastrophic overflow of the lake occurred in 396 B.C.E. due to a rapid increase of the water level. This phenomenon persuaded the Romans to excavate an artificial outlet though the crater wall to control the lake level. The lake is thought to be hazardous for the surroundings human settlements and the city of Rome, high resolution multibeam bathymetry of the of Lake Albano was performed for the Italian Dipartimento della Protezione Civile, in order to evaluate the potential for CO2 storage and erup...
This paper shows and discusses the results of gravity and magnetic surveys of Panarea Island and ... more This paper shows and discusses the results of gravity and magnetic surveys of Panarea Island and its archipelago. The most recent volcanic manifestation occurred in November 2002 with a shallow submarine gas eruption between the islets of Dattilo, Panarelli, Lisca Bianca, Bottaro and Lisca Nera. Currently, the activity of Panarea is monitored through a multidisciplinary study under the umbrella of the Italian Department of Civil Protection with the goal of defining the hazard of this area. With this aim, in May 2006 the first gravity and magnetic surveys of Panarea Island and its archipelago were performed. The offshore magnetic data were obtained using a marine magnetometer, a Geometrics G880, from the Istituto Idrografico dell Marina (IIM). Onshore and offshore magnetic data were integrated into an unique dataset for complete magnetic coverage of the study area. By using two micro-gravimeters (LaCoste & Romberg), gravity data were collected along tracks every 250 m. The gravity dataset was processed using the standard method. A Bouguer reduction was applied to the free-air gravity dataset using a detailed digital elevation model of the island and the neighbouring sea after evaluation of the optimal Bouguer density to reduce the topographic effect. The result is a Bouguer anomaly map that shows lateral variations in density distribution and the relationships between the shallow volcanic/crustal features and tectonic lineaments. This evidence is also highlighted by the magnetic pattern, which suggests the importance of the youngest volcanic deposits with respect to the magnetic features of the island.
Since 2004, a continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) network has been operated by the Istitut... more Since 2004, a continuous Global Positioning System (GPS) network has been operated by the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV) to investigate active tectonic processes in Italy and the surrounding regions, which are still largely debated. This important infrastructure is known as Rete Integrata Nazionale GPS (RING) network, and it consists of about 130 stations that are deployed all over Italy. The development and realization of a stable GPS monumentation, its integration with seismological instruments, and the choice of both satellite and internet data transmission, make this network one of the most innovative and reliable CGPS networks in the world. The technologically advanced development of the RING network has been accompanied by the development of different data processing strategies, which are mainly dependent on the use of different GPS analysis software. The different software-related solutions are here compared at different scales for this large network, and the consistency is evaluated and quantified within an RMS value of 0.3 mm/yr.
The coasts of Italy still preserve several remnants of coastal quarries built in antiquity, that ... more The coasts of Italy still preserve several remnants of coastal quarries built in antiquity, that now provide insights into the intervening sea-level changes occurred during the last millennia. In this paper, we show and discuss a new class of sea level indicator consisting of millstones carved along the rocky coast of southern Italy since 2500 BP, that are currently submerged. They were extracted from beachrocks, sandstones or similar sedimentary rocks, easier for carving by ancient carving tools. Our study focuses on 10 coastal sites located at Capo d'Orlando, Avola, and Letojanni, in Sicily; Soverato, Tropea, and Capo dell'Armi, in Calabria; Castellabate, Palinuro, and Scario, in Campania; and Polignano San Vito, in Apulia. Unfortunately, only limited archaeological information is available for these anthropic structures. Scario, one of these millstone quarries discussed here, has been dated through independent archaeological remains, allowing us to restrict the exploitation age to the end of XVII century. Present day elevations of these coastal sites were obtained through geo-archaeological surveys calibrated using the nearest tidal stations, together with geomorphological and tectonic interpretations. Data were compared against the latest sea level predictions based on glacio-hydro-isostatic models. Our results allow proposal of the age-range of these millstone quarries and to estimate the intervening relative sea level changes since the time when they were carved.
The Aeolian Arc (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) is one of the most active volcanic areas of the ... more The Aeolian Arc (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy) is one of the most active volcanic areas of the Mediterranean basin, affected by volcanic/hydrothermal and seismic activity. Ancient populations settled this region since historical times, buildingcoastal installations currently used as valuable archaeological indicators of relative sea level changes and vertical land movements. In this study we show and discuss data on the relative sea level change estimated from a submerged wharf of Roman age dated between 50 B.C. and 50 A.D.,located at Basiluzzo Island,. This structurehas been studied through marine surveys and archaeological interpretations and is presently located at a corrected depth of-4.10±0.2 m.We explain this submergence by a cumulative effect of the relative sea level change caused by the regional glacio-hydro-isostatic signal,active since the end of the last glacial maximum,andthe local volcano-tectonic land subsidence.Finally, a total subsidence rate of 2.05±0.1 mm/yr-1 , with a volcano-tectonic contribution of 1.43±0.1 mm/yr-1 for the last 2ka BP, is inferred from the comparison against the latest predicted sea level curve for the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, suggestingnew evaluations of the volcano-tectonic hazard for this area of the Aeolian islands.
A multidisciplinary approach has been applied to study sea level changes along the coast of Malta... more A multidisciplinary approach has been applied to study sea level changes along the coast of Malta using data collected from underwater archaeological remains. The elevation of archaeological markers have been compared with predicted sea level curves providing new bodies of evidence that outline the vertical tectonic behaviour of this region, allowing estimation of the relative sea level changes that occurred in this area of the Mediterranean since the Bronze Age. During the Roman Age, sea level was at À1.36 AE 0.1 m, while in the Midde Age it was at À0.56 AE 0.2 m, in agreement with previous estimations for the Mediterranean region. Data indicate that Malta was tectonically stable during the studied period. The occurrence of the present-day notch along the coasts of the island indicates recent vertical stability of the area. The lack of MIS 5.5 deposits all over the island could simply be due to high rates of erosion, as its coasts are highly exposed to storm waves, rather than tectonic movements. However, even very slight vertical movements could completely remove field evidence. The relative stability of the Maltese Islands allowed a first attempt to provide a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of its coasts at different time windows since the Last Glacial Maximum. The results have been used to infer time and mode of mammal dispersal to the island during the Pleistocene.
Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 1998
Colli Albani is a volcanic complex located in central Italy, very close to the city of Rome. Its ... more Colli Albani is a volcanic complex located in central Italy, very close to the city of Rome. Its last eruption is dated at 0.03-0.02 Ma. Now it displays a recurrent seismicity, sporadic gas emissions from soils, wells and springs, and post volcanic hydrothermal circulation. Moreover an uplift of about 30 cm over the last 43 years was recently detected by comparing the height differences between some vertices of repeated leveling surveys, thus suggesting a recent active magmatic process beneath the volcano. In 1995 a first-epoch GPS campaign was canied out with last generation receivers, the repetition campaign was performed in 1996. Data coming from the two repeated surveys were carefully processed and analyzed. A statistical analysis rigorously applied between the 1995 and 1996 adjusted coordinates shows significant coordinate differences. Some sites of the network, in particular, the sites of Vivaro (WR), Cava di Ciampino (CVA) and Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica (INGR) display a significant subsidence of 2.6 f 0.7, 2.7 + 0.8 and 2.0 f 0.8 cm, respectively, with a confidence interval at 95 percent level. This subsidence seems to be induced by a water table level lowering in Vivaro, while in the area where the sites of Cava di Ciampino and INGR are located, this motion is also confiied by historical levelling data that show a subsidence of N 2 cm/yr during the last 45 years and could be due to local tectonics. Moreover, significant planimetric deformations are exhibited by the site of Caste1 Roman0 (CSR). It is remarkable that the stations of CVA, INGR and CSR are located in the area that was struck by the June 12, 1995, M, = 3.8 earthquake, although the displacement vectors are quite small. The motion of the Capranica Prenestina (CPR) station, which shows an uplift of 2.7 f 0.7 cm, must be considered separately, being located outside the volcanic structure and placed over the carbonatic outcrops of the Prenestini Mts. Furthermore, the accuracy obtained in height determinations does not allow us to confirm if the central part of the GPS network corresponding to the area investigated by Amato and Chiarabba is uplifting within the analyzed time span. 0 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.
The largest events of the 1997 Umbria-Marche seismic sequence were the two September 26 earthquak... more The largest events of the 1997 Umbria-Marche seismic sequence were the two September 26 earthquakes of Mw=5.7 (00:33 GMT) and Mw=6.0 (09:40 GMT), which caused severe damage and ground cracks in a wide area around the epicenters. We created an ERS-SAR differential interferogram, where nine fringes are visible in and around the Colfiorito basin, corresponding to 25 cm of coseismic surface displacement. GPS data show a maximum horizontal displacement of (14 + 1.8) cm and a maximum subsidence of (24 + 3) cm. We used these geodetic data and the seismological parameters to estimate geometry and slip distribution on the fault planes. Modeled fault depths and maximum slip amplitudes are 6.5 km and 47 cm for the first event and 7 km and 72 cm for the second one, in good agreement with those derived from the seismological data.
In this paper we present observations of crustal motion related to a large GPS network located in... more In this paper we present observations of crustal motion related to a large GPS network located in the central-western Mediterranean area. Velocities are obtained by the analysis of more than 30 observing sites at which at least three different GPS campaigns were carried out in the time span 1991-1999. The results are presented both in the ITRF96 reference frame and with respect to a Eurasian fixed reference frame. The sites located along the northern African margin, in Sicily and southern Italy show prevalent northeastward movements with a mean velocity of roughly 0.7 cm yr x1. The relatively dense network available in the southern Apennines led us to try a tentative estimate of the average strain rate in this zone, resulting in a maximum extension of 0.021t0.006r10 x6 yr x1 normal to the chain. In Ionian Greece the two sites located south of the Kephallinia discontinuity (Lefkas and Kastro Ilias) consistently indicate a south to southwestward motion at an average rate of roughly 15 mm yr x1 .
International Online Conference (Eastern European Summer Time (UTC +3)
Palaeogeography, History ... more International Online Conference (Eastern European Summer Time (UTC +3)
Palaeogeography, History and Sea Level Fluctuations: Harbours and Ports of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Eastern European Summer Time (UTC +3) zone
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Papers by M. Anzidei
Palaeogeography, History and Sea Level Fluctuations: Harbours and Ports of the Eastern Mediterranean.
Eastern European Summer Time (UTC +3) zone