Papers by marco antonellini
Mud volcanoes are fluid escape structures allowing for surface venting of hydrocarbons (mostly ga... more Mud volcanoes are fluid escape structures allowing for surface venting of hydrocarbons (mostly gas but also liquid condensates and oils) and water-sediment slurries. For a better understanding of mud volcano dynamics, the characterization of the fluid dynamics within mud volcano conduits; the presence, extent, and depth of the fluid reservoirs; and the connection among aquifers, conduits, and mud reservoirs play a key role. To this aim, we performed a geoelectrical survey in the Nirano Salse Regional Nature Reserve, located at the edge of the northern Apennines (Fiorano Modenese, Italy), an area characterized by several active mud fluid vents. This study, for the first time, images the resistivity structure of the subsoil along two perpendicular cross sections down to a depth of 250 m. The electrical models show a clear difference between the northern and southern sectors of the area, where the latter hosts the main discontinuities. Shallow reservoirs, where fluid muds accumulate, are spatially associated with the main fault/fracture controlling the migration routes associated with surface venting and converge at depth towards a common clayey horizon. There is no evidence of a shallow mud caldera below the Nirano area. These findings represent a step forward in the comprehension of the Nirano Salse plumbing system and in pinpointing local site hazards, which promotes safer tourist access to the area along restricted routes.
The groundwater of the San Vitale Pine forest in Ravenna (Italy), are severely affected by coasta... more The groundwater of the San Vitale Pine forest in Ravenna (Italy), are severely affected by coastal saline intrusion. Sixteen piezometers were sampled at various depths in order to understand the dynamics of groundwater chemistry occurring close to the freshwater/saline interface. A staddle packer was applied to recover 3 to 4 samples from the upper aquifer in each piezometer, sampling the top, the bottom of the upper aquifer (ca. 10 m) and some sample above and below the saline interface. Major chemical composition and selected trace elements were investigated in this study and were used to characterize the hydrogeochemical features of the phreatic aquifer in the area. Also arsenic was determined, and the results show total arsenic concentrations in the range of 0.6 to 92 μg/l, the average being 26.6 μg/l. About 60% of these wells reached arsenic concentrations which exceeded the current Italian legal maximum contaminant level of 10 μg/l. The maximum amounts of dissolved arsenic in ...
We characterized the mechanical properties of compactive shear bands (CSB) with cataclasis and as... more We characterized the mechanical properties of compactive shear bands (CSB) with cataclasis and associated calcite-cement concretions in high-porosity arkose sandstone of the Northern Apennines, Italy (Loiano Sandstones). The CSBs, localize carbonate diagenetic structures in the form of isolated or multiple spheroid or irregular-shape nodules and tabular concretions, which weather out in positive relief with respect to the poorly-cemented host rock (HR). Porous sandstones are pressure sensitive rocks and their mechanical (Uniaxial Compressive Strength – UCS) and petrophysical (porosity, permeability) properties may change significantly during volumetric deformation. Pore cement precipitation affects these same properties to an extent that is larger than that of the CSBs alone.
Sulfuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) has been widely recognized as one of the most aggressive proces... more Sulfuric acid speleogenesis (SAS) has been widely recognized as one of the most aggressive processes involving carbonate dissolution and rapid formation of karst porosity under hypogenic conditions. Italian carbonate sequences, and especially those outcropping in the Central Apennines, host some of the best studied hypogenic SAS caves of Italy (such as Frasassi, Monte Cucco, Acquasanta Terme, just to mention the most famous).
Water Resources Management, 2016
. Coastal wetlands are fundamental for climate-change mitigation thanks to their ability to store... more . Coastal wetlands are fundamental for climate-change mitigation thanks to their ability to store large amounts of organic carbon in the soil. They also represent the first natural emitter of methane (CH4). Salinity is known to inhibit CH4 production, but its effect in brackish ecosystems is still poorly understood. Our study aims to understand how environmental variables may affect greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in coastal temperate wetlands. We present the results of over one year of measurements performed in four wetlands located along a salinity gradient on the northeast Adriatic coast near Ravenna, Italy. Soil properties were determined by collecting soil samples, while carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes from soils and standing waters, water levels, surface, and groundwater physical-chemical parameters (temperature, pH, electrical conductivity, and sulphate concentrations of water) were monthly monitored by a portable gas flux-meter and multiparametric probes, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to investigate emergent relationships between GHGs fluxes and environmental variables. Our results suggest that, among all variables, temperature and irradiance play a significant role in CH4 emissions from water and soil whereas water column depth and salinity are limiting factors of GHGs emissions.
Regione Emilia Romagna eBooks, 2008
Le dune costiere, grazie alle loro caratteristiche di alta porosit\ue0 e permeabilit\ue0, possono... more Le dune costiere, grazie alle loro caratteristiche di alta porosit\ue0 e permeabilit\ue0, possono rappresentare un buon serbatoio di acqua dolce, facilmente ricaricabile dalle precipitazioni meteoriche. Date la topografia rilevata e la buona capacit\ue0 infiltrante, l\u2019accumulo d\u2019acqua piovana porta la superficie freatica sopra il livello del mare, inducendo un controllo idrostatico sull\u2019intrusione di acque marine
Zbynek Hrkal & Karel Kovar, 2012
Monte Conero is an asymmetric anticline on the Adriatic coast in the Marche Region, Italy.....
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Apr 1, 2018
European geosciences union general assembly, 2007
Novel methodology to identify areas of localized deformation in a sinking urban area of Tuzla (Bi... more Novel methodology to identify areas of localized deformation in a sinking urban area of Tuzla (BiH). Given that the major damage to buildings and infrastructure has been focused in areas of strain localization (surface fractures and faults), we used surface attributes to identify them. The surface attributes used are the directional, gaussian and normal curvatures computed from the cumulative subsidence surface. We compared maps of faults and fractures exposed at the surface to the curvature maps obtained with the previously mentioned methods
Idrogeologia dell'acquifero freatico costiero romagnol
23rd SWIM Saltwater Intrusion Meeting, 2014
The hydrochemistry of gravel pit lakes excavated into Holocene beach gravel deposits near the Adr... more The hydrochemistry of gravel pit lakes excavated into Holocene beach gravel deposits near the Adriatic Coast of Emilia Romagna (Italy) was studied to determine the influence of these lakes on water and chemical budgets of the aquifer
<p>Coastal wetlands play a strategic role in the context of mitigat... more <p>Coastal wetlands play a strategic role in the context of mitigating climate-change thanks to their ability of sequestering large amounts of organic carbon (C) and store it in the ground. However, methane (CH4) may form in the sediments of freshwater wetlands, so that these ecosystems may switch from a net sink to a net source of greenhouse gases (GHGs). Salinity is known to be one of the main inhibitors of CH4 production; however, its influence in brackish water systems is still poorly studied. Our study aims at understanding how the consequences of climate change (sea-level rise, salinization, and temperature increase) may affect the C storage in vegetated coastal wetlands.</p><p>Here we present the results of almost one year of measurements performed in four wetlands located along the northeast Adriatic coast near Ravenna, Italy. Despite a very limited distance among the four sites (1-4 km), they present a significant salinity gradient, going from fresh- to brackish waters. Air and soil temperatures and solar irradiance were continuously monitored through a network of sensors. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and CH4 fluxes from soils and waters, water head levels, surface, and ground water physical-chemical parameters (redox potential (Eh), temperature (T), pH, conductivity (EC), sulphate and sulfide concentrations) were measured monthly. Finally, soil samples were collected at each site in order to determine soil properties, i.e. organic matter content, bulk density, granulometry. </p><p>We used multivariate statistics to investigate emergent relationships between GHGs fluxes from water and soil and environmental factors. The results of the principal component analysis (PCA) suggest that air T, water T  and irradiance play a significant role in both CH4 and CO2 emissions from water and soil. On the other hand, water head level and EC have been found to be limiting factors of the GHGs emissions. Soil properties seem to be secondary factors both in soil and water emissions.</p><p>The results obtained from these and other analyses will be presented to provide a critical insight on correlations between GHGs emissions and the environmental drivers in temperate coastal wetlands. A remote-sensing approach to upscale the results obtained on the four studied wetlands, to the adjacent coastal wetland system will also be presented. Remote sensing turns out to be a key method to extend the assessment on C fluxes to areas difficult to access and that could not be characterized otherwise.</p>
EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, Apr 1, 2019
The territory of Cervia municipality represents a coastal flat zone and a strong rate subsidence ... more The territory of Cervia municipality represents a coastal flat zone and a strong rate subsidence area, often attributable to the winning uncontrolled gas and groundwater extractions. The increase of the urbanized areas, exploded in 1950 and that brought to 50% coverage of the land by buildings and paved surfaces, today it is still increased by the tourist activity.The monitoring data collection, implemented in GIS, allows the construction of maps of water table depth and of surface and deep salinity distribution. The freatimetric maps evidence a water talbe depth located a few centimetres above the mean sea level; the only areas placed above sea level are placed along the coastline and along the present canals, because of their influence on the water table. Consequently, most of the aquifer does not have a hydraulic head able to contrast the salt water intrusion at its base. Most of the aquifer is salt; the presence of fresh water in the aquifer in the form of bubbles floating over the salt water, placet along the coast line and along the dreinage canals
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Papers by marco antonellini