Perfezionamenti nelle misure di elettricità atmosferica

Riassunto Nelle misure di elettricità atmosferica già altri AA. (L. Koenigsfeld & Ph. Piraux) si sono serviti di valvole ad elettrodi invertiti (placca pilota), accorgimento che eleva a qualche centinaia di volt la tensione di controllo senza ricorrere a resistenze di riduzione. Partendo da tale impiego di una valvola elettronica opportuna, gli AA. hanno costruito un elettrometro per la registrazione del potenziale atmosferico che presenta le principali caratteristiche seguenti: 1) la valvola elettrometrica fa corpo unico con la sonda radioattiva di captazione del campo, il che elimina le difficoltà di isolamento; 2) con una opportuna controtensione, l'apparecchio è atto a registrare sia il campo positivo come quello negativo, con diversi valori scala; 3) lo strumento, completo di captatore elettrometrico, registratore e batterie, è completamente autonomo e facilmente trasportabile.

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Summary A recording electrometer for atmospheric potential is described. It makes use of a special triode with inverted electrodes (controlled by the anode, as already made byL. Koenigsfeld & Ph. Piraux). Among the improvements realised, the following chief characteristics are to be noted; 1) The difficulties of electric insulation are overcomed because the electrometric tube is built as a whole with the radioactive eollector; 2) Both the positive and the negative field can be recorded with different sensitivity by a convenient back-voltage; 3) The instrument operates with dry batteries alone and, also in account of its light weight, can be carried about quite easily and quickly installed.

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Comunicazione presentata l'll Aprile 1953 alla Prima Assemblea Generale della Società Italiana di Geofisica e Meteorologia (Genova, 10–12 Aprile 1953).     

La brezza di mare a Genova ed in altre località costiere italiane

Riassunto Vengono illustrate le principali caratteristiche della brezza marina a Genova, a Savona ed a Belvedere Marittimo. L'esame relativo alle prime due località dimostra fra l'altro l'intervento di unacorrente costiera, diretta in senso ciclonico lungo la Liguria, la cui azione è importante per l'origine della brezza marina e per determinarne il suo comportamento. In base alle registrazioni della radiazione globale eseguite a Genova si trova altresì che la durata minima della brezza di mare dipende dall'intensità della medesima radiazione globale.

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Summary In the present treatise the chief characteristics of the sea breeze of Genoa, Savona and Belvedere Marittimo are being elucidated. Investigations carried out at the first two mentioned places showed a temporary coastal current which is pointing cyclonically along the coast of Liguria. Its activity has an important bearing upon the origin and behaviour of the breeze. The registrations of the total radiation from sun and sky at Genoa furthermore show that the minimum duration of sea breeze depends on the intensity of that radiation.

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Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden die wichtigsten Charakteristiken der Seebrise von Genua, Savona und Belvedere Marittimo erläutert. Die Untersuchung an den zwei ersten Orten ergab eine zeitweilige Küstenströmung, die längs der Liguria zyklonal gerichtet ist. Ihre Aktivität ist für den Ursprung und das verhalten der Brise wichtig. Die Registrierungen der Globalstrahlung in Genua zeigen überdies, dass die Minimaldauer der Seebrise von der Intensität der Globalstrahlung abhängt.

     

Nuovo metodo di registrazione dello stato del mare e primi risultati ottenuti a Genova

Riassunto Viene descritto ed illustrato un nuovo procedimento di registrazione del moto ondoso marino, il quale consiste sostanzialmente nel trasformare l'escursione verticale che subisce la superficie del mare nella compressione o dilatazione di una massa d'aria sovrastante racchiusa in un tubo verticale munito superiormente di opportuna membrana sensibile. Un tale apparecchio, installato a Prà (Genova) dal-l'Istituto Geofisico dell'Università di Genova, funziona con successo da alcuni mesi. Segue un esame dei primi risultati ivi conseguiti, dal quale appare l'importanza del passaggio dei fronti freddi sul moto ondoso del mare.

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Summary A new method for the recording of sea-wave motion is described and explained. It consists in having the vertical movement of the sea surface transformed into compression or expansion of a volume of air enclosed in a tube which is carrying on its upper part a sensitive membrane. This self-recording instrument, set up at Prà (Genoa) by the Istituto Geofisico dell'Università di Genova is functioning since several months already without giving rise to objections. Some first results obtained up now are also examided, from which it appears the importance of the passage of cold fronts.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird ein neues Verfahren für die Registrierung der Meereswellenbewegung beschrieben und erläutert. Es besteht darin, dass der vertikale Gang der Meeresoberfläche umgewandelt wird in Kompression oder Expansion einer in einem Rohre befindlichen Luftmasse, welche am oberen Teil von einer empfindlichen Membran geschlossen ist. Dieser Gerät, vom Istituto Geofisico dell'Università di Genova in Prà (Genua) aufgestellt, arbeitet bereits seit einigen Monaten einwandfrei. Einige vorläufige Ergebnisse werden dann erläutert, wofür auf die Bedeutung des Durchganges von Kaltfronten hingewiesen wird.

     

On-line identification and convergence analysis of excitation-force and drag-force models for moored floating structures

This work presents an approach to identify hydrodynamic models for incident, diffraction and viscous forces acting on a moored floating structure. An important aspect treated here is the analysis of the unknown initial condition of the hydrodynamic state for the potential-radiation force. There is established its influence on the parameter convergence and the long-term effects. Afterwards the persistency of excitation of the regressor is analyzed in the case of both poor and rich excitation conditions. Theoretical results show that asymptotic convergence of the estimates takes place under arbitrary conditions of the wave excitation. A case study consisting in the identification of a moored semisubmersible is carried out to exemplify the application of the approach.     

A study of wave impact of horizontal slabs

With the potential danger posed by freak waves, impact loads due to wave slamming on horizontal slabs has become crucial in the context of design of offshore platform decks. A laboratory model study has been carried out to investigate the slamming effect on horizontal slabs using regular waves at different frequencies with the measurement of vertical forces. A modified slamming coefficient independent of frequency has been suggested to be used conveniently for design purposes. A new technique for the generation of freak waves in the laboratory has been successfully achieved without close loop iterations. Finally the impact phenomenon due to freak waves on slabs has been discussed, which includes the study of both vertical and horizontal forces.     

Computational improvement of gravitational mode calculation of basins discretised by orthogonal curvilinear grids

The present note illustrates a criterion to improve the computational capability of the approaches proposed by Beltrami et al. [Beltrami, G.M., Bargagli, A., Briganti, R., 2003. Gravitational mode calculation of basins discretised by orthogonal curvilinear grids. Ocean Engineering 30, 833–853] for the direct numerical solution of the eigenvalue problem associated to the linear shallow-water equations when adiabatic boundary conditions apply. It is shown that—given the nature of its spatial differential operator—the problem can be solved by the singular value decomposition (SVD) of the real bidiagonal matrix resulting from a previous ad hoc Householder reduction of the operator matrix image. This procedure actually requires 1/8 of the random-access memory (RAM) needed by a standard library routine to compute all the eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the matrix image of the above-mentioned differential operator. Given the intrinsic limitation of a computing-machine RAM, this procedure dramatically improves the computational capability of both the proposed approaches.     

On the uniformity of anthropogenic Venice uplift

A programme of Venice uplift because of seawater injection into a 600–800 m deep brackish aquifer underlying the lagoon has recently been advanced. As the actual spatial variability of the hydro‐geological parameters is to a large extent unknown, a controversial issue concerns the 25–30 cm heave prediction with the possible generation of differential displacements that might jeopardize the integrity of the architectural patrimony. It is shown that significant differential displacements have occurred in Venice in the past and are still presently occurring as evidenced by SAR interferometry. The results of a stochastic analysis addressing the variability of the hydraulic conductivity of the injected formation indicate that even a highly uneven aquifer expansion does not migrate to ground surface because of the smoothing effect exerted by the overburden. The predicted differential displacements are well below the values Venice is experiencing. Any a priori alarmism appears to be unfounded and unjustified.     

Mapping of H2S fluxes from the ground using copper passive samplers: An application study at the Zolforata di Pomezia degassing area (Alban Hills,Central Italy)

A new method for measuring H₂S mass flux from the ground, based on the digital analysis of the interference colours produced by the sulphidation of copper passive samplers (CPS), is proposed and discussed in this article. CPS sulphidation has a wide range of linear responses to H₂S doses and can be used together the accumulation chamber method to estimate gas fluxes from natural degassing areas. These are often characterized by the presence of vent centred degassing areas (VCDAs), which are recognizable from the absence or rarefaction of vegetation due to high acid gas concentrations in the soil pores and in the air at ground level. A reference emission curve, accounting for the advective and diffusive components of the flux, can be modelled and used to estimate the total H₂S mass released from each VCDA. The application of this method can be supported by remote sensing analysis that helps identify VCDAs in the field in perivolcanic H₂S degassing areas.As an illustrative application, H₂S gas fluxes from the ground were measured in spring 2007 at the Zolforata di Pomezia degassing area (ZPDA, Alban Hills, Central Italy) using an accumulation chamber internally equipped with CPS. H₂S peak fluxes were measured over the vents after remote sensing assisted identification of the VCDAs. Further measurements were carried out in two ponds and one artificial channel bordering the study area. The total atmospheric flux released at the ZPDA, estimated to be about 1207.6 kg day^? 1, was calculated as the summation of the fluxes from all the H₂S sources, the background flux being negligible.     

Mercury transport in response to storm events from a northern forest landscape

Concentrations and fluxes of mercury (Hg) species in surface waters of forested watersheds are affected by hydrological events. The mechanisms of Hg transport during these events are poorly understood and yet may influence Hg bioavailability and exposure to aquatic biota. Three storm events with varying magnitude and intensity were investigated (June, September and November 2005) at a forested watershed in the Adirondack region of New York State, USA. Concentrations of Hg species increased during these events, both above and downstream of wetlands in the watershed. While Hg flux was higher from wetland drainage, the Hg flux from the upland site exhibited a greater relative increase to elevated runoff. Hg flux was controlled by discharge; however, Hg species concentrations were not well correlated with discharge, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), or total suspended solids (TSS) through the duration of events. A counter‐clockwise hysteresis response of DOC with increasing runoff contrasted with the clockwise response for total Hg, suggesting different contributions from source areas for these solutes. Correspondence with elevated total K and NO₃^? (α < 0·05) during the rising limb of the hydrograph suggests rapid delivery of throughfall Hg, potentially enhanced by hillslope hollows, to the stream channel. As the watershed saturated, stream Hg appears to be derived from the soil Hg pool. Results suggest that particulate Hg did not contribute substantially to total Hg flux during events (<25%). These results emphasize the role of watershed attributes and storm characteristics in Hg transport and bioavailability. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.