Earth and Environmental Physics in Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool for Earth Sciences [email protected] Wolfango Plastino Department of Physics

Earth and Environmental Physics in Earth and Environmental Physics in Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool

for Earth Sciencesfor Earth Sciences

[email protected]@fis.uniroma3.it

Wolfango PlastinoWolfango Plastino

Department of Physics – University of Roma TreDepartment of Physics – University of Roma Tre

National Institute of Nuclear Physics – Section of Roma TreNational Institute of Nuclear Physics – Section of Roma Tre

2626thth January 2010, Cairo – Egypt January 2010, Cairo – Egypt

Wolfango Plastino – Wolfango Plastino – Earth and Environmental Physics in Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool for Earth SciencesEarth and Environmental Physics in Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool for Earth Sciences

ContentsContents

- Hydrological Cycle and and Water ResourcesHydrological Cycle and and Water Resources

- Atmospheric Transport Modeling Atmospheric Transport Modeling

- Oceanographic Processes in the Benthic Boundary LayerOceanographic Processes in the Benthic Boundary Layer

- Geodynamic Processes in the Earth’s Lithosphere and - Geodynamic Processes in the Earth’s Lithosphere and MantleMantle


Hydrological Cycle and Water ResourcesHydrological Cycle and Water Resources

• Development of an integrated view of the water resource Development of an integrated view of the water resource

management, bridging the evaluation of the water resources area management, bridging the evaluation of the water resources area

with the study of the large and basin-scale hydrological cyclewith the study of the large and basin-scale hydrological cycle

• Development of effective, internationally shared tools for public Development of effective, internationally shared tools for public

and private institutions for the correct management of the water and private institutions for the correct management of the water

resources as well as for planning future developmentresources as well as for planning future development

• Development of set of standards for the collection, evaluation, Development of set of standards for the collection, evaluation,

storage and interpretation of the hydro-meteorological data, with storage and interpretation of the hydro-meteorological data, with

particular regard to extreme events of great potential impact on particular regard to extreme events of great potential impact on

the welfare of the population and on the state of the environmentthe welfare of the population and on the state of the environment



[..] Il corpo della Terra, a similitudine de’ corpi de li animali, è tessuto di ramificazione [..] Il corpo della Terra, a similitudine de’ corpi de li animali, è tessuto di ramificazione di vene, le quali son tutte insieme congiunte, e son costituite a nutrimento e di vene, le quali son tutte insieme congiunte, e son costituite a nutrimento e vivificazione d’essa Terra e de’ suoi creati, e si partano dalle profondità del mare, e a vivificazione d’essa Terra e de’ suoi creati, e si partano dalle profondità del mare, e a quelle dopo molta revoluzione, ànno a tornare per li fiumi creati dalle altre rotture quelle dopo molta revoluzione, ànno a tornare per li fiumi creati dalle altre rotture d’esse vene. [..] (Leonardo Da Vinci, 1508 -1510)d’esse vene. [..] (Leonardo Da Vinci, 1508 -1510)Wolfango Plastino – Wolfango Plastino – Earth and Environmental Physics in Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool for Earth SciencesEarth and Environmental Physics in Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool for Earth Sciences


Wolfango Plastino – Earth and Environmental Physics in Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool for Earth SciencesWolfango Plastino – Earth and Environmental Physics in Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool for Earth Sciences


© © UNESCO/IAEAUNESCO/IAEA




+ e




+ e







W. Plastino, W. Plastino, Radionuclides in the EnvironmentRadionuclides in the Environment, Elsevier, , Elsevier, 20062006



• Lagrangian particle models compute trajectories of a large number of so-Lagrangian particle models compute trajectories of a large number of so-

called particles to describe the transport and diffusion of tracers in the called particles to describe the transport and diffusion of tracers in the

atmosphereatmosphere

• The models simulate the long-range and mesoscale transport diffusion, The models simulate the long-range and mesoscale transport diffusion,

dry and wet deposition, and radioactive decay of tracers released from dry and wet deposition, and radioactive decay of tracers released from

point, line, area and volume sourcespoint, line, area and volume sources

• The models can be used backward in time to determine the potential The models can be used backward in time to determine the potential

source contributions for given receptors, or forward in time to simulate the source contributions for given receptors, or forward in time to simulate the

dispersion of tracers from their sources dispersion of tracers from their sources

• The most suitable resolution of the input data is equivalent to the The most suitable resolution of the input data is equivalent to the

characteristic scales in space and time (scale: typical orders of characteristic scales in space and time (scale: typical orders of

magnitude) considered to be relevant for the ATM outputmagnitude) considered to be relevant for the ATM output

Atmospheric Transport ModelingAtmospheric Transport Modeling



– Spatial and Spatial and temporal scales of temporal scales of physical processes physical processes taking place in the taking place in the atmosphere are atmosphere are closely linked closely linked togethertogether

– A spatial grid A spatial grid resolution of 1resolution of 1 ((100 km) fits well 100 km) fits well to a temporal to a temporal resolution of 6 hoursresolution of 6 hours

– (2(2x = 200 km x = 200 km corresponds with corresponds with t t = 2x10= 2x1044 s, i.e. 5.6 s, i.e. 5.6 hours)hours)

Planetary Planetary WavesWaves

Convect

ion

Convect

ion

Micro Micro TurbulenceTurbulence

CumulusCumulus--

Cumulo- Cumulo- nimbus-nimbus-

Cloud Cloud ClusterCluster

Extra Extra Tropical Tropical CyclonesCyclones

Gravi

ty W

aves

Gravi

ty W

aves

Sonic

Sonic

Wav

es

Wav

esU = 1

0 m

/s

g = 10 m/s2

K =

1.5

x10

-5 m

2 /s

StationStationttstopstop-24 hrs-24 hrs

•Backward in time integrationBackward in time integration

•Release of n particles/h across Release of n particles/h across 24h-sampling period24h-sampling period

•Store surface level „retro-plume“ Store surface level „retro-plume“ concentration (=SRS) every 3 concentration (=SRS) every 3 hourshours

timetime

ttstopstop

((measurementmeasurement stopstop))

-t-t

ttstartstart

((measurementmeasurement start)start)

Start of simulationStart of simulation

Start of adjoint releaseStart of adjoint release

End of End of adjoint adjoint releaserelease

ttstopstop-48 hrs-48 hrs





Most of the major floodings occurred in central-eastern Europe are Most of the major floodings occurred in central-eastern Europe are due to a typical Mediterranean meteorological pattern, the Genoa due to a typical Mediterranean meteorological pattern, the Genoa cyclone cyclone



Heat signatures Heat signatures and ash plume and ash plume from Mount Etna from Mount Etna Volcano eruption Volcano eruption extending from extending from Sicily southward Sicily southward across Malta across Malta towards Libyatowards Libya





Oceanographic Processes in the Benthic Boundary LayerOceanographic Processes in the Benthic Boundary Layer

• The Benthic Boundary Layer is the dynamic interface between litosphere The Benthic Boundary Layer is the dynamic interface between litosphere

(seafloor) and ocean (seawater) where many physical, geochemical and (seafloor) and ocean (seawater) where many physical, geochemical and

biological processes occur playing an important role in environmental biological processes occur playing an important role in environmental

global changeglobal change

• Geohazards, carbon cycle, heat flow, life generation, climatic Geohazards, carbon cycle, heat flow, life generation, climatic

oceanography, are only some examples of local or global processes whose oceanography, are only some examples of local or global processes whose

comprehension is today limitedcomprehension is today limited

• Earthquakes produce short-term effects (landslides and tsunamis) that Earthquakes produce short-term effects (landslides and tsunamis) that

threaten the lives and economy of coastal communities, while outgassing threaten the lives and economy of coastal communities, while outgassing

of greenhouse gases impact long-term global climatesof greenhouse gases impact long-term global climates

Key point:

AS OBSERVING SITE OF SOLID EARTH PROCESSES-GEOPHYSICAL MONITORING-(seismicity, geomagnetic field)AS SITE OF PHYSICAL, GEOCHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROCESSES playing important roles in environmental global changes

(e.g., geohazards, carbon cycle, heat flow, life generation, climatic oceanography).

ATMOSPHERATMOSPHEREE

OCEANOCEAN

GEOSPHEREGEOSPHERE

BBLBBL

Benthic Boundary Benthic Boundary LayerLayer

W. Plastino W. Plastino et alet al., ., The Benthic Boundary LayerThe Benthic Boundary Layer, IAEA, , IAEA, 20042004

Etna, 27 ottobre 2002, MEtna, 27 ottobre 2002, M ll=4.3=4.3



Marsili volcano

Sicily

Sout

hern

Ital

y


GEOSTAR-2 GEOSTAR-2 (1999-2001) (1999-2001)

Tyrrhenian Sea 2000-01 Tyrrhenian Sea 2000-01 (7 months, 2000 m w.d.)(7 months, 2000 m w.d.)



CTD dataCTD data

CTD dataCTD data. . a) pressure;a) pressure;b) potential water b) potential water temperature; temperature; c) salinity; d) density;c) salinity; d) density;e) light transmission.e) light transmission.




Sketch of the oscillating water mass interface in the BBL. Sketch of the oscillating water mass interface in the BBL. EOW: EOW: Eastern Overflow Water;Eastern Overflow Water; WW: WW: Western Water;Western Water; bnl: bnl: benthic benthic nepheloyd layer;nepheloyd layer; inl: inl: intermediate nepheloyd layer. GEOSTAR intermediate nepheloyd layer. GEOSTAR detected WW for most of the time and events of EOW cascading, as detected WW for most of the time and events of EOW cascading, as suggested by T/S peaks, lower gas and radiogenic helium contents suggested by T/S peaks, lower gas and radiogenic helium contents and lower radionuclide activities and lower radionuclide activities

WW

EOW

bnl

seafloor

inloscillating interface






• More attention should be devoted to the pre-earthquake studies of

geodynamic processes, especially on characteristics of fluids filling

the fractures before the main shock. Uranium in groundwater has

been testesd as a potential indicator of pre-earthquake processes

as it may be associated with geodynamics of preparation phases of

earthquakes.

• Another possible physical process during the pre- and post-phases

of the earthquake could be investigated: the first stage seems to

be characterized by U variations in groundwater that can modulate

the radon concentration, the second one (after the main shock) do

not show any U anomalies, justifying the different radon patterns

before and after the main shock.

Geodynamic Processes in the Earth’s Lithosphere and Geodynamic Processes in the Earth’s Lithosphere and MantleMantle

© J. Eikenberg, Paul Scherrer Institute© J. Eikenberg, Paul Scherrer Institute



HeHeRnRnRaRa 44

22222222

8686226226

8888

The emanating power of rocks is defined as the ratio between the amount of radon escaping from the solid matrix and that produced by radioactive decay.

Radium decay involves the release of the excess energy which is shared between the particle which forms (98.1%), and the new radon atom.

© United States Geological Survey© United States Geological Survey





Plastino,W., Plastino,W., et al.et al., Uranium groundwater anomalies and L’Aquila earthquake, 6th April 2009 (Italy), J. Environ. , Uranium groundwater anomalies and L’Aquila earthquake, 6th April 2009 (Italy), J. Environ. Radioact. (2009), doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.08.009.Radioact. (2009), doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.08.009.



Plastino,W., Plastino,W., et al.et al., Uranium groundwater anomalies and L’Aquila earthquake, 6th April 2009 (Italy), , Uranium groundwater anomalies and L’Aquila earthquake, 6th April 2009 (Italy), J. Environ. Radioact. (2009), doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.08.009.J. Environ. Radioact. (2009), doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.08.009.



Plastino,W., Plastino,W., et al.et al., Uranium groundwater anomalies and L’Aquila earthquake, 6th April 2009 (Italy), J. Environ. , Uranium groundwater anomalies and L’Aquila earthquake, 6th April 2009 (Italy), J. Environ. Radioact. (2009), doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.08.009.Radioact. (2009), doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2009.08.009.





…….. there are a lot of computing demands impossible to solve .. there are a lot of computing demands impossible to solve using the memory and the computing power of a single or using the memory and the computing power of a single or limited numbers of workstationslimited numbers of workstations

The increasing computational power solves a lot of complex The increasing computational power solves a lot of complex problems in theoretical and experimental Physics……although it problems in theoretical and experimental Physics……although it produces a lot of more complex numerical problems…..it is a produces a lot of more complex numerical problems…..it is a beatifulbeatiful way to realize a way to realize a cooperative computingcooperative computing in order to in order to increase communications and cooperations between scientific increase communications and cooperations between scientific communitiescommunities

Conclusions

Memoria est thesaurus omnium rerum et custosMemoria est thesaurus omnium rerum et custos

Marcus Tullius Cicero, De oratore (1, 5, 18)Marcus Tullius Cicero, De oratore (1, 5, 18)

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Francesco BellaFrancesco Bellaandand

Alessandro Bettini, Eugenio Coccia, Giacomo Maurizio Cuttone, Mario Alessandro Bettini, Eugenio Coccia, Giacomo Maurizio Cuttone, Mario De Vincenzi, Mario Greco, Manfred Gröning, Pavel Povinec, Kazimierz De Vincenzi, Mario Greco, Manfred Gröning, Pavel Povinec, Kazimierz Rozanski, Federico Ruggieri, Ludovico Tortora, Lucia Votano…Arthur Rozanski, Federico Ruggieri, Ludovico Tortora, Lucia Votano…Arthur

Schopenhauer…..Schopenhauer…..

INFN-ERMES Roma Tre and LNGSINFN-ERMES Roma Tre and LNGSWolfango Plastino – Wolfango Plastino – Earth and Environmental Physics in Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool for Earth SciencesEarth and Environmental Physics in Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool for Earth Sciences


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Earth and Environmental Physics in Mediterranean: GRID a powerful tool for Earth Sciences [email protected] Wolfango Plastino Department of Physics