Pier Paolo Poncia | Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy (original) (raw)
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Papers by Pier Paolo Poncia
Geomorphology
An enigmatic, c. 2 km-long and 15 m-high travertine ridge, the Colle Fiorito ridge, occurs in the... more An enigmatic, c. 2 km-long and 15 m-high travertine ridge, the Colle Fiorito ridge, occurs in the northwestern sector of the Tivoli travertine plateau, central Italy. The main questions addressed in this paper concern the origin and mode of growth of this prominent ridge. The presence of active structures beneath the studied ridge is inferred by recent and past earthquakes located at shallow depths immediately beneath Colle Fiorito. To understand the surficial structure of the Colle Fiorito ridge and the travertine depositional environment, we constructed a 10 m-resolution DEM, analyzed recent and past aerial photographs, and conducted field surveys and meso- to micro-scale sedimentological analyses. To understand the ridge subsurface structure, we studied a set of 32 stratigraphic well logs available from previous works and from the local decorative stone industry, and realized a 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) across the ridge. Results show a gentle antiformal structure affected by subvertical zones of strata discontinuity. The Colle Fiorito structure is interpreted as a previously-unknown fissure ridge travertine grown at the edge of the Tivoli travertine plateau, perhaps when the volumetric deposition rate reached its climax in the plateau for the abundance of fluid discharge and the rise of the water table. Such a fluid pressure may have activated the faults and fractures beneath Colle Fiorito, thus opening new pathways for the ascension of geothermal fluids toward the surface.
The revised Volume Method is used here to evaluate the geothermal potential of the practically ex... more The revised Volume Method is used here to evaluate the geothermal potential of the practically exploited Vicano-Cimino hydrothermal reservoir. This method is based on the distribution of pCO 2 (partial pressure of CO 2 ) in shallow and deep-originated waters to define areas of geothermal interest, according to the hypothesis that anomalous degassing zones of endogenous CO 2 , from either soil degassing and spring and well waters, are spatially related to deep fluids raising up from underlying hydrothermal reservoirs.
Abstract Geographic Information System (GIS) is very important tool in managing the interdiscipli... more Abstract Geographic Information System (GIS) is very important tool in managing the interdisciplinary researches and territorial resources. GIS integrates data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. They can represent a scientific and social benefit. Here we present an application of GIS to a potentially exploitable geothermal area. The geothermal resource can be used either indirectly or directly. In the first case electricity is produced from high enthalpy systems.
An enigmatic, c. 2 km-long and 15 m-high travertine ridge, the Colle Fiorito ridge, occurs in the... more An enigmatic, c. 2 km-long and 15 m-high travertine ridge, the Colle Fiorito ridge, occurs in the northwestern sector of the Tivoli travertine plateau, central Italy. The main questions addressed in this paper concern the origin and mode of growth of this prominent ridge. The presence of active structures beneath the studied ridge is inferred by recent and past earthquakes located at shallow depths immediately beneath Colle Fiorito. To understand the surficial structure of the Colle Fiorito ridge and the travertine depositional environment, we constructed a 10 m-resolution DEM, analyzed recent and past aerial photographs, and conducted field surveys and meso-to micro-scale sedimentological analyses. To understand the ridge subsurface structure, we studied a set of 32 stratigraphic well logs available from previous works and from the local decorative stone industry, and realized a 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) across the ridge. Results show a gentle antiformal structure affected by subvertical zones of strata discontinuity. The Colle Fiorito structure is interpreted as a previously-unknown fissure ridge travertine grown at the edge of the Tivoli travertine plateau, perhaps when the volumetric deposition rate reached its climax in the plateau for the abundance of fluid discharge and the rise of the water table. Such a fluid pressure may have activated the faults and fractures beneath Colle Fiorito, thus opening new pathways for the ascension of geothermal fluids toward the surface. Geomorphology j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / g e o m o r p h Please cite this article as: De Filippis, L., et al., The origin and growth of a recently-active fissure ridge travertine over a seismic fault, Tivoli, Italy, Geomorphology (2013), http://dx.
2003 Seattle Annual Meeting, Jan 1, 2003
The aim of present work is the assessment and mapping of landslide susceptibility in a test area ... more The aim of present work is the assessment and mapping of landslide susceptibility in a test area located in Cilento National Park (more precisely in Caselle in Pittari, situated in Campania, a region in Southern Italy). From the geologic point of view, this area of study is characterized by the outcrop of two stratigraphic-structural units, both deformed during Alpine orogenesis: the Alburno-Cervati unit (cretaceous), resulted from deformation of the central portion of the Campano-Lucanian carbonate platform, and the North-Calabrian unit (cenozoic) resulted from the deformation of sin-orogenic basin. The first unit is constituted by limestone formations and the second one by clayey, sandy, carbonate flysch. We studied the distribution and the characterization of landslides in the study area through photointerpretation and geomorphologic survey. This research shows that in the above mentioned area there are two types of landslides: slow earth flow and rock falls. Slow earth flow are numerous in the flysch formations and their landslide masses are quite large. Rock falls occur in limestone formations. They are less frequent and do not reach vast proportions. GIS-based techniques are the best approach to the study of landslide susceptibility because they allow the management of several themes concerning instability factors. Besides, morphometric characteristics, playing an important role in landsliding processes, can be determined through the analysis of the digital terrain model. Here follows a list of the main phases of our analysis focusing on the mapping of earth flow susceptibility: -selection of the most useful instability factors (i.e.: lithology, slope, land use, hydrography, etc.); -multivariate statistic analysis of the selected factors in landslide areas; -creation of a model of susceptibility; -mapping of landslide susceptibility; -testing phase. This method is based on the concept that instability factors in susceptible areas are similar to those observed in areas in which landslides have already happened. The application of this method would be useful to locate potential unstable areas, and so to predict the occurrence of future landslides.
Geomorphology
An enigmatic, c. 2 km-long and 15 m-high travertine ridge, the Colle Fiorito ridge, occurs in the... more An enigmatic, c. 2 km-long and 15 m-high travertine ridge, the Colle Fiorito ridge, occurs in the northwestern sector of the Tivoli travertine plateau, central Italy. The main questions addressed in this paper concern the origin and mode of growth of this prominent ridge. The presence of active structures beneath the studied ridge is inferred by recent and past earthquakes located at shallow depths immediately beneath Colle Fiorito. To understand the surficial structure of the Colle Fiorito ridge and the travertine depositional environment, we constructed a 10 m-resolution DEM, analyzed recent and past aerial photographs, and conducted field surveys and meso- to micro-scale sedimentological analyses. To understand the ridge subsurface structure, we studied a set of 32 stratigraphic well logs available from previous works and from the local decorative stone industry, and realized a 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) across the ridge. Results show a gentle antiformal structure affected by subvertical zones of strata discontinuity. The Colle Fiorito structure is interpreted as a previously-unknown fissure ridge travertine grown at the edge of the Tivoli travertine plateau, perhaps when the volumetric deposition rate reached its climax in the plateau for the abundance of fluid discharge and the rise of the water table. Such a fluid pressure may have activated the faults and fractures beneath Colle Fiorito, thus opening new pathways for the ascension of geothermal fluids toward the surface.
The revised Volume Method is used here to evaluate the geothermal potential of the practically ex... more The revised Volume Method is used here to evaluate the geothermal potential of the practically exploited Vicano-Cimino hydrothermal reservoir. This method is based on the distribution of pCO 2 (partial pressure of CO 2 ) in shallow and deep-originated waters to define areas of geothermal interest, according to the hypothesis that anomalous degassing zones of endogenous CO 2 , from either soil degassing and spring and well waters, are spatially related to deep fluids raising up from underlying hydrothermal reservoirs.
Abstract Geographic Information System (GIS) is very important tool in managing the interdiscipli... more Abstract Geographic Information System (GIS) is very important tool in managing the interdisciplinary researches and territorial resources. GIS integrates data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information. They can represent a scientific and social benefit. Here we present an application of GIS to a potentially exploitable geothermal area. The geothermal resource can be used either indirectly or directly. In the first case electricity is produced from high enthalpy systems.
An enigmatic, c. 2 km-long and 15 m-high travertine ridge, the Colle Fiorito ridge, occurs in the... more An enigmatic, c. 2 km-long and 15 m-high travertine ridge, the Colle Fiorito ridge, occurs in the northwestern sector of the Tivoli travertine plateau, central Italy. The main questions addressed in this paper concern the origin and mode of growth of this prominent ridge. The presence of active structures beneath the studied ridge is inferred by recent and past earthquakes located at shallow depths immediately beneath Colle Fiorito. To understand the surficial structure of the Colle Fiorito ridge and the travertine depositional environment, we constructed a 10 m-resolution DEM, analyzed recent and past aerial photographs, and conducted field surveys and meso-to micro-scale sedimentological analyses. To understand the ridge subsurface structure, we studied a set of 32 stratigraphic well logs available from previous works and from the local decorative stone industry, and realized a 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) across the ridge. Results show a gentle antiformal structure affected by subvertical zones of strata discontinuity. The Colle Fiorito structure is interpreted as a previously-unknown fissure ridge travertine grown at the edge of the Tivoli travertine plateau, perhaps when the volumetric deposition rate reached its climax in the plateau for the abundance of fluid discharge and the rise of the water table. Such a fluid pressure may have activated the faults and fractures beneath Colle Fiorito, thus opening new pathways for the ascension of geothermal fluids toward the surface. Geomorphology j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / g e o m o r p h Please cite this article as: De Filippis, L., et al., The origin and growth of a recently-active fissure ridge travertine over a seismic fault, Tivoli, Italy, Geomorphology (2013), http://dx.
2003 Seattle Annual Meeting, Jan 1, 2003
The aim of present work is the assessment and mapping of landslide susceptibility in a test area ... more The aim of present work is the assessment and mapping of landslide susceptibility in a test area located in Cilento National Park (more precisely in Caselle in Pittari, situated in Campania, a region in Southern Italy). From the geologic point of view, this area of study is characterized by the outcrop of two stratigraphic-structural units, both deformed during Alpine orogenesis: the Alburno-Cervati unit (cretaceous), resulted from deformation of the central portion of the Campano-Lucanian carbonate platform, and the North-Calabrian unit (cenozoic) resulted from the deformation of sin-orogenic basin. The first unit is constituted by limestone formations and the second one by clayey, sandy, carbonate flysch. We studied the distribution and the characterization of landslides in the study area through photointerpretation and geomorphologic survey. This research shows that in the above mentioned area there are two types of landslides: slow earth flow and rock falls. Slow earth flow are numerous in the flysch formations and their landslide masses are quite large. Rock falls occur in limestone formations. They are less frequent and do not reach vast proportions. GIS-based techniques are the best approach to the study of landslide susceptibility because they allow the management of several themes concerning instability factors. Besides, morphometric characteristics, playing an important role in landsliding processes, can be determined through the analysis of the digital terrain model. Here follows a list of the main phases of our analysis focusing on the mapping of earth flow susceptibility: -selection of the most useful instability factors (i.e.: lithology, slope, land use, hydrography, etc.); -multivariate statistic analysis of the selected factors in landslide areas; -creation of a model of susceptibility; -mapping of landslide susceptibility; -testing phase. This method is based on the concept that instability factors in susceptible areas are similar to those observed in areas in which landslides have already happened. The application of this method would be useful to locate potential unstable areas, and so to predict the occurrence of future landslides.