Unità Funzionale Gravimetrica e Magnetismo - Sezione di Catania - INGV - 2006 Annual Report

Abstract

The Unità Funzionale Gravimetria e Magnetismo (UFGM) is dedicated to improve the efficiency of gravity and magnetic monitoring networks, to better the capacity of predicting unrests through the observation and interpretation of complete sets of geophysical parameters, and to develop innovative methods for simulation and modelling techniques useful for volcano hazard assessment. The volcano eruptions create some of nature’s most dramatic displays. Depending on their magnitude and location, they also have the potential for becoming major social and economic disasters. In the face of these dangers, the UFGM keeps track of the status of main active volcanoes in Sicily.
South-East crater at Mt Etna on 05 September 2006.
The primary areas of application of the UFGM include the Applied Research, the Volcano Monitoring and the Hazard Mitigation. The extraordinary breadth of UFGM reflects the interdisciplinary approaches required to understand complex systems like the volcanoes. The diverse expertise of researchers in different geophysical methods is brought together and is addressed towards advancing the state of art in interpretation of complete sets of geophysical data for volcanological problems.
Sight from south of Mt Etna on 22 December 2006.
This is a complex task that starts with fundamental research on the processes controlling the way volcanoes erupt. Research provides the basic concepts that underlie the various methods of volcano data collection and interpretation. The oversight continues with three operational components: assessment of hazard based on past history, monitoring of early warning signals that can indicate incipient eruptions, and design of crisis response strategies when large eruptions take place. A final outreach stage is necessary to inform civil defense officials and the public at large about the risks they face from volcanoes.
Valle del Bove at Mt Etna on 12 November 2006.
One of the main tasks of Volcano Geophysics is to reveal quantitatively the structure and dynamics of the volcanoes. In this task field measurements are the starting point. However, field data alone are not enough for making any quantitative interpretation, but in addition
UFGM 2006 Annual Report
theoretical responses (model responses) are needed and for realistic volcano models they are obtained by numerical modeling. And finally, by examining together field data and model data, the quantitative statement of the...